Sept. 2, 1998
Contact:  Betty Wooding
U.Va. Facilities Management
(804) 982-5846


TWENTY ASPIRING SUPERVISORS TACKLE INNOVATIVE TRAINING

	Twenty aspiring supervisors received diplomas for completing an
innovative Supervisory Development Series designed by Alan R. Napier,
personnel and training manager for the University of Virginia's
Department of Facilities Management. Since September 1997, the group
attended 10 two-hour mandatory classes addressing such issues as
communications, employee relations, customer service, and team
development and career development. They also attended a series of
complementary electives.
	The graduates, as well as their instructors, were recognized
recently at a Training Recognition Ceremony in the Rotunda's Dome Room.
	A 1996 needs analysis showed that supervisors and employees
wanted greater access to training to enhance their computer, supervisory
and job-related skills. Conversely, most managers wanted their employees
to attend training that was shorter in duration and held closer to their
actual job sites, Alan Napier explained.
	"Our challenge was to develop a way to meet the training need
yet still meet our department's mission requirements. We had to do both
in a timely and cost effective manner," he said.										        
	 In collaboration with U.Va.'s division of Organizational
Development and Training, the supervisory development series was
launched last September and completed in May. It was carefully evaluated
and refined throughout the summer so that a second class could begin
this month.
						 ###

	For further information, contact Alan Napier at his e-mail
address arn3c@virginia.edu or call him at (804) 982-5896.