HR Newsletter November 2025
Resources for Holiday Season
Spring Professional Development
Please help us shape future professional development offerings by offering your thoughts and ideas on future offerings you would like to see.
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Spring Professional Development Offerings
More coming soon!
Supervisor Sprint
Monday, January 12th, 9:00am-12:00pm CC MPR (College Center, 223)
Tuesday, January 13th, 9:00am-12:00pm CC MPR (College Center, 223)
Wednesday, January 14th, 9:00am-12:00pm CC MPR (College Center, 223)
Thursday, January 15th, 9:00am-12:00pm CC MPR (College Center, 223)
Friday, January 16th, 9:00am-12:00pm CC MPR (College Center, 223)
The supervisor sprint is a professional development opportunity for anyone who supervises employees at Vassar, including student employees. Join us for a series of interactive workshops across five days to develop skills setting expectations, making operational decisions, navigating conflict, providing feedback and coaching. Please be aware that we ask that individuals who register commit to attending all five days to have the ability to engage with each topic and get to know other sprint participants.
Presented by: Ginger Jurecka Blake, Associate Vice President of Human Resources
Click here to register
Reclaiming Agency: Seeing Your Impact at Work
Tuesday, January 20th, 10:00am - 12:00pm, CC MPR (College Center, 223)
Many employees want to feel a sense of agency and impact in their work, but competing priorities and complex systems can make that difficult. This session helps participants reconnect with where their work truly creates value, identify what they can control or influence, and practice simple strategies that increase clarity and momentum. Through reflection, discussion, and research-backed tools, participants learn how to reclaim power in their role. Open to all employees.
Presented by: Fresia Martinez Olivera, Associate Director of Organizational Development and Employee Equity
Click here to register
Cultivating Emotional Intelligence
Friday, January 23rd, 10:00am-12:00pm, Ordan Room (Main Building, 2nd Floor)
There are times when work dynamics feel complicated, often arising from misunderstood intentions. Fostering and developing emotional intelligence can increase collaboration and trust between yourself and others. In this training, we will break down the core components of emotional intelligence: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management. These skills enhance your ability to lead through change, manage stress effectively, and build resilient and highly collaborative relationships. Open to all employees.
Presented by: Ginger Jurecka Blake, Associate Vice President of Human Resources
Click here to register
Navigating Difficult Conversations
Thursday, February 12th, 10:00am - 12:00pm, Rockefeller 201
We all may encounter workplace conversations that are difficult to navigate, or are conversations we would rather avoid if we can, but not having these conversations can prevent important changes from taking root. In this training, we'll cover practical frameworks for approaching sensitive topics with clarity and confidence, focusing on mutual understanding and clear outcomes. These skills empower you to address performance gaps, navigate conflict, and uphold professional standards while strengthening relationships. Open to all employees.
Presented by: Ginger Jurecka Blake, Associate Vice President of Human Resources
Click here to register
Delegation
Thursday, March 5th, 9:30am - 11:30am, CC MPR (College Center 223)
It can feel more efficient to just handle every task yourself, but overburdening your plate limits your capacity for strategic work and stifles growth. In this training, we'll explore when and how to delegate, providing clear instructions, and establishing effective accountability. These skills unlock your capacity for leadership, maximize your team's output, and foster a culture of ownership and development. Open all employees.
Presented by: Ginger Jurecka Blake, Associate Vice President of Human Resources
Click here to register
Evaluation
Tuesday, April 21st, 1:00 - 2:30pm, Ordan Room (Main Building, 2nd Floor)
It's common to struggle with the ambiguity of assessment—how do you judge someone's work, and how do you navigate these conversations? In this training, we will demystify the evaluation process, exploring the core components of assessment and teaching you how to define clear, measurable criteria, as well as navigating evaluation meetings with confidence. These skills ensure your evaluations are objective and transparent, leading to more constructive outcomes. Open to managers and supervisors.
Presented by: Ginger Jurecka Blake, Associate Vice President of Human Resources
Click here to register
Vassar History Tour
Wednesday, April 29th, 1:30 - 2:30pm. Tour start: Inside Main Gate
On Matthew Vassar’s birthday—April 29th, join the Head of Special Collections and College Historian, Ronald Patkus, for an engaging tour that brings the story and history of our campus to life. Connect with other employees, and learn about the people and events that have shaped the environment we work in today! Open to all employees. Please note: Tour is limited to 20 people. After spots have filled, there will be a waitlist, and you will be notified if spots are available.
Presented by: Ronald Patkus, Head of Special Collections and College Historian and Adjunct Associate Professor of History on the Frederick Weyerhaeuser Chair
Click here to register
Benefits Open Enrollment Reminder
Open enrollment is closing November 30th.
Your enrollment in plans and any changes you make will be effective on January 1, 2026.
If you elected a Flexible Spending Account and/or chose to take the Insurance Waiver Payment in 2025, you must re-elect them for 2026. They will not automatically renew!
The 2026 rates for the plans are posted on the Benefits and Wellness Site.
Mid-Year Feedback in Workday
Mid-Year Feedback in Workday for Administrators, Sergeants, and Supervisors: The mid-year feedback process is now live in Workday. Please make time to reflect on your progress on your goals for this year. If you do not see the task in your Workday inbox, please contact us at humanresources@vassar.edu.
Academic Year jobs will end for student employees on 12/19/25!
Reminder: Students must be hired into a Winter Break job to work during the break (1/2-1/20/26).
If you are opening a department-, gift-, or grant-funded job this Winter Break, be sure to contact stuemp@vassar.edu no later than November 28th so the Student Employment Office can open the job and hire the student(s) for you in time for them to begin working this Winter.
As a reminder, students MUST be hired in JobX before they begin working.
Health Services Employee Events for Spring
