June 25, 2026

Leadership training workshops for staff set for July 28-30

Free leadership training workshops will be offered in July by the Staff Advisory Committee for the SIU System (StACSS). 

The 3 1/2 hour, in-person, interactive workshops are appropriate for all staff and will involve individual, small group and large group activities. The sessions follow similar workshops offered since fall 2022 to all interested non-faculty employees at SIU Carbondale, SIU Edwardsville and the School of Medicine in Springfield. Nearly 1,800 people from all job classifications have attended the workshops, and participant ratings average 4.9 out of 5.

The facilitator will again be Dave Heth, who retired after 24 years as finance director at SIU Edwardsville and who has broad training experience. Taylor Sparks is the StACSS training program registration coordinator. 

Employees are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to improve leadership skills, increase confidence, build relationships and have fun. 

Each workshop session is from 8 to 11:30 a.m. or 1-4:30 p.m. in Student Services Building Room 150/160. Participants are responsible for their own lunch. It is recommended to take The Roles of a Leader workshop first because the other workshops build on that. 

Many participants have indicated that giving and receiving feedback can be challenging, so the program added a “Giving and Receiving Feedback” workshop that provides practical strategies for making these conversations more productive and less stressful. Participants will learn how to receive feedback effectively and how supervisors can provide constructive feedback to employees. Discussion will include how these techniques can be adapted to provide constructive input to supervisors, coworkers, family members, and friends. 

The workshop schedule with registration links is: 

July 28

  • 8-11:30 a.m. — Section 507— The Roles of a Leader.
  • 1-4:30 p.m. — Section 508— Unleash Initiative to Improve Your Work and Workplace. 

July 29

  • 8-11:30 a.m. — Section 509 — Giving and Receiving Feedback (New).
  • 1-4:30 p.m. — Section 510— Empowerment and Delegation. 

July 30

  • 8-11:30 a.m. — Section 511— Time Management.
  • 1:00-4:30 p.m. — Section 512 — Giving and Receiving Feedback (New) 

Note: Please register for only one of Sections 509 or 512 on July 29-30 — they are the same workshop. 

Email Sparks at taysparx@outlook.com if you are unsure which workshops you have already taken. There is no deadline to register, but registration will close when a session is filled. If your plans change, email Sparks ASAP so the seat can be offered to someone else. 

As with the previous trainings, this workshop is supported by the system president, SIU Carbondale and SIU Edwardsville chancellors, and the dean and provost of the School of Medicine. The administration encourages supervisors to allow their employees to attend this professional development opportunity, as operations permit. Staff should seek approval to attend from their supervisors as early as possible. Staff are not required to take vacation, personal time or lose their lunch hour to attend this event. 

For more information, contact Heth at dheth@siue.edu.