Welcome to CAPE – The Center for Academic and Professional Excellence for employees of the College of Southern Nevada!
CSN
CAPE
Mission
The College of Southern Nevada empowers our students and communities to achieve, succeed, and prosper.
The Center for Academic and Professional Excellence (CAPE) supports the mission of CSN by creating strategic learning and knowledge sharing opportunities for all employees to achieve excellence in performance and engagement.
Vision
The College of Southern Nevada is recognized as a leader among community colleges in fostering student success, shared governance, and performance excellence.
The Center for Academic and Professional Development (CAPE) leads NSHE in Performance Excellence for all employees through changing paradigms to cultivate a culture of lifelong learning.
Values
Integrity
Lifelong Learning
Excellence
Academic Freedom
Diversity
Caring
Collaboration
Communication
Connection
Courage
See what trainings are available - Click the calendar to find out
New Employee Required Trainings
Guiding Principles for Service Excellence (SE-Tier 1) - Live Training
Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Prevention - Live Training
Diversity 101 (SE-Tier 1) - Live Training
Virtual New Employee Orientation - Guest Presentations - Click Here
* Download the certificate of completion from the training and upload it into the checkpoint.
Who We Are and What We Do.
As a collaborative partner to all College departments, campuses, and employee groups, The Center for Academic and Professional Excellence, better known as CAPE, formulates, designs, and coordinates staff and faculty professional development and training to support the institution’s strategic goals. The purpose of CAPE is to foster a lifelong learning environment, provide opportunities for College service, and develop and facilitate leadership, service excellence, and professional skills training. CAPE focuses on the areas of Leadership, Pedagogy, Compliance, Technology, and People Skills to support the development and maturity of the organizational culture that improves institutional effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability. We are proud to be CSN Coyotes!
CAPE is your partner in the amazing journey of being a lifelong learner. Please take advantage of all the workshops you can attend; get involved in the College community, and set into motion the best plan for achieving your professional and personal goals. As a department in Human Resources, we are supportive of your learning and development and want to help you become your best self for you, your personal community, and the CSN community. As you take courses you will be asked for feedback, you can also send us your necessary feedback in an email through the Contact Us tab. Please visit the CAPE website regularly to see what courses are being offered each month. We look forward to seeing you in class and around campus.
CAPE is always concerned about the professional development needs and desires of employees. If you have an idea for professional development, please share it with us by emailing CAPE.
If you are a Subject Matter Expert (SME), please consider teaching a workshop for the regular CAPE calendar. You can co-present with another colleague, as well.
The Center for Academic and Professional Excellence (CAPE) is proud to offer the CSN Service Excellence Program. The Program consists of three tiers.
Tier 1 – Guiding Principles for Service Excellence
Tier 1 outlines The5 Guiding Principles in a workshop specifically for your role at the College and focuses on internal and external service.
The5 Guiding Principles are: (each Principle has specific points that are defined clearly in the class)
Offer a Warm and Personal Greeting
Be the Expert
Listen with Empathy, Act with Urgency
Create a Positive Atmosphere of “Yes”
Leave Them Feeling Valued
Guiding Principles Workshops (an employee only needs to take one of the following Guiding Principles workshops based on their role at the College):
Guiding Principles for Service Excellence – Supervisors & Leaders Designed for anyone who supervises another person to gain support for the program, and set the expectation of accountability and role modeling. Focuses on the leader’s role in delivering Service Excellence.
Improving Classroom Engagement Using Guiding Principles - Faculty Designed for full and part-time Faculty to discuss the expectations of service and how it relates to the classroom. Focuses on how to engage students to increase persistence, retention, and graduation rates.
Guiding Principles for Service Excellence – Classified & Administrative Professionals Designed for Classified and Administrative Professionals in non-supervisory roles. Focuses on the Principles and how we treat one another has a direct effect on how we treat the student.
New Employee Orientation – 2 consecutive full days Designed to be interactive and informational; Expanding NEO from 1 day to 2 days adds more time for Diversity and Inclusion and Service Excellence, adds the required online Compliance training – SaVE Act, and maintains the Discrimination and Sexual Harassment Prevention Training. Employees will receive credit for a minimum of 4 classes by attending this 2-Day Orientation.
Tier 2 – Excellence in Practice
Tier 2 workshops are for employees to continue to develop their skills and build a network of support to assist themselves and students around the College. This Certificate requires completion of four classes within Tier 2:
Diversity 101 (Required for All Employees, yet can be substituted in lieu of a previous Biases workshop taken on or after July 1, 2016.)
Emotional Intelligence 102
Acquiring Knowledge – Filling your CSN Toolbox
Understanding Communication Styles
Successfully Navigating the Road to Change
Removing the Air Pollutants from your Workplace
Tier 3 – Champion of Service Excellence
Tier 3 workshops are about specific topics regarding service, communication, and professional relationships. This Certificate requires completion of several classes within Tier 3.
Delivering Your Message with Clarity and Respect
Communicating Across Cultures
Emotional Intelligence 201
Conflict Management – Building Bridges in Workplace Relationships
Recognition – at the completion of each Tier 2 & 3, a special Certificate of Completion will be given by CAPE and your Department/Division.
Please send the CAPE team an email if you believe you have completed Tier 2 or 3 – Contact Us.
Convocation
Convocation is an opportunity to participate in your professional development. Generally, Faculty are available to participate in Convocation, however, all employees are welcome to participate.
Convocation occurs the week prior to the beginning of classes in the Fall and Spring.
Fall Convocation
President’s State of the College Address and Awards ceremony occurs the Monday of Fall Convocation.
Tuesday during Convocation is reserved for department/division meetings.
Wednesday through Friday several workshops are hosted on topics of pedagogy, student engagement, diversity, communication, technology, and compliance.
New Faculty Orientation is hosted on Friday of Convocation week.
Spring Convocation
Often the President hosts a Town Hall meeting during Spring Convocation or during the first part of the Spring Semester.
The Poster Fair is hosted on Monday.
Tuesday during Convocation is reserved for department/division meetings.
Wednesday through Friday several workshops are hosted on topics of pedagogy, student engagement, diversity, communication, technology, and compliance.
New Faculty Orientation is hosted on Friday of Convocation week.
Submit a Proposal to Present a Workshop at Convocation or During the Semester
Workshop Proposal Form. This form is also used to present a workshop during the semester and have it listed on the CAPE Calendar for colleagues and student workers to register for. Please be mindful of submission deadlines for Convocation.
Welcome to the College of Southern Nevada – Home of Coyote Pride!
Employee orientations are designed to welcome you to the College, provide you with valuable information about CSN, your employee experience, and helpful student information.
New Employee Orientation (NEO)
New Employee Orientation is for new Classified and Administrative Professional employees, 1000 Hour Workers, and Student Workers. NEO takes place over two consecutive days via Microsoft Teams. It is designed to engage, inform, and orient new employees to CSN. We cover everything from the importance of having College pride, service excellence, our diversity and inclusion philosophy, safety, employee groups to get involved in, the importance of networking, and discrimination and sexual harassment prevention. By attending both days, you will receive credit for the following workshops:
New Employee Orientation
Guiding Principles for Services Excellence for Classified and Administrative Professionals
Diversity 101
Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Prevention
You will also have an opportunity in orientation to take the SaVE Act online training and other required online courses you still need to complete. Upload your Certificate of Completion into the appropriate checkpoint in the CAPE platform.
NEO is generally offered once per month. You and your supervisor will receive a letter from CAPE notifying you of your Orientation days. However, please make sure you speak to your supervisor about the days you have been assigned. We look forward to seeing you in class. Welcome to CSN – we know you will be proud to be a Coyote!
You can register to attend our upcoming NEO classes below:
Welcome to the CSN Academic Faculty! New Faculty Orientation is for both full and part-time faculty. NFO is offered during Fall and Spring Convocation for new faculty starting that semester. NFO is a half-day workshop designed to provide you with valuable information to help you and your students. The keyword is engagement – fully engaged faculty foster an environment for students to be fully engaged in their learning process, campus life, and progression from semester to semester.
You can register to attend our next upcoming NFO below:
Convocation is an opportunity to participate in your professional development. Generally, Faculty are available to participate in Convocation, however, all employees are welcome to participate.
Convocation occurs the week prior to the beginning of classes in the Fall and Spring.
Fall Convocation
President’s State of the College Address and Awards ceremony occurs the Monday of Fall Convocation.
Tuesday during Convocation is reserved for department/division meetings.
Wednesday through Friday several workshops are hosted on topics of pedagogy, student engagement, diversity, communication, technology, and compliance.
New Faculty Orientation is hosted on Friday of Convocation week.
Spring Convocation
Often the President hosts a Town Hall meeting during Spring Convocation or during the first part of the Spring Semester.
The Poster Fair is hosted on Monday.
Tuesday during Convocation is reserved for department/division meetings.
Wednesday through Friday several workshops are hosted on topics of pedagogy, student engagement, diversity, communication, technology, and compliance.
New Faculty Orientation is hosted on Friday of Convocation week.
Submit a Proposal to Present a Workshop at Convocation or During the Semester
Workshop Proposal Form. This form is also used to present a workshop during the semester and have it listed on the CAPE Calendar for colleagues and student workers to register for. Please be mindful of submission deadlines for Convocation.
Adjunct Impact Conference
The Adjunct Impact Conference is held every year the Saturday before Fall Convocation (two Saturdays before Fall classes begin). This Conference is designed specifically for Adjunct Faculty to increase engagement and awareness, and provide Adjunct Faculty with an opportunity to network with their department, chair, and colleagues. The conference is offered at no cost to attendees. Look for the all-campus email inviting you to submit a Workshop Proposal from the Adjunct Conference Committee several during the Spring semester prior to the Conference. Please be mindful of submission deadlines for the Conference.
Employee Orientations
Welcome to the College of Southern Nevada – Home of Coyote Pride!
Employee orientations are designed to welcome you to the College, provide you with valuable information about CSN, your employee experience, and helpful student information.
New Employee Orientation (NEO)
New Employee Orientation is for new Classified and Administrative Professional employees, 1000 Hour Workers, and Student Workers. NEO takes place over two consecutive days via Microsoft Teams. It is designed to engage, inform, and orient new employees to CSN. We cover everything from the importance of having College pride, service excellence, our diversity and inclusion philosophy, safety, employee groups to get involved in, the importance of networking, and discrimination and sexual harassment prevention. By attending both days, you will receive credit for the following workshops:
New Employee Orientation
Guiding Principles for Services Excellence for Classified and Administrative Professionals
Diversity 101
Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Prevention
You will also have an opportunity in orientation to take the SaVE Act online training and other required online courses you still need to complete. Upload your Certificate of Completion into the appropriate checkpoint in the CAPE platform.
NEO is generally offered once per month. You and your supervisor will receive a letter from CAPE notifying you of your Orientation days. However, please make sure you speak to your supervisor about the days you have been assigned. We look forward to seeing you in class. Welcome to CSN – we know you will be proud to be a Coyote!
You can register to attend our upcoming NEO classes below:
Welcome to the CSN Academic Faculty! New Faculty Orientation is for both full and part-time faculty. NFO is offered during Fall and Spring Convocation for new faculty starting that semester. NFO is a half-day workshop designed to provide you with valuable information to help you and your students. The keyword is engagement – fully engaged faculty foster an environment for students to be fully engaged in their learning process, campus life, and progression from semester to semester.
You can register to attend our next upcoming NFO below:
Classified Professional Development Days is an opportunity for our Classified staff to continue their Lifelong Learning journey by attending classes on a variety of topics. Click on the name of the class you would like to attend to register.
Look for announcements coming May/June 2024
Managing a Team at CSN
Being a leader at CSN is more than just having a title and a level of authority, it’s more so about how you lead, and if people want to follow willingly. The Center for Academic and Professional Excellence is working in conjunction with the larger Human Resources team and an Advisory Council to create Core Professional Competencies for all employees. Once designed the CSN Mission, Vision, and Values, and Competencies will be the foundation for all management and leadership development workshops and programs moving forward.
For new employees starting at CSN in a leadership role and for employees who get promoted into a leadership role. Leadership is simply defined as supervising someone else.
Managing at CSN
Utilizing the foundational CSN Mission, Vision, and Values and the Core Professional Competencies to design a program for supervisors and above that focuses on “Courageous Leadership”, building trust and rapport, nurturing high-performance teams, communicating with tact and diplomacy, honoring diversity and inclusion, making effective decisions and delegating appropriately, public speaking, supporting innovation, and developing self and others.
Preparing to Chair
This program is a direct response to much feedback about preparing Chairs for their role as department head and colleague. Preparing to Chair will focus on the technical aspects of chairing a department, and also address the people skills necessary for leading successfully.
Executive Leadership Institute
The Institute will build on the foundation laid in Managing at CSN and Preparing to Chair. It will also encourage personal and professional growth that enhances your role at CSN within your department/division, fostering in you an opportunity to embrace innovation and collaboration that moves the College forward.
The Executive Leadership Institute will also provide high-level information and understanding of the financial, legal, legislative, human resources, academic, and strategic workings of CSN and how it relates to higher education in general. The goal will be to raise your administrative and executive-level awareness, understanding, and motivation to act in improving the processes, policies, and programs of the College, and improving the student experience and opportunity at CSN.
This Program will have eligibility and application requirements, yet to be specifically determined. So to prepare yourself for eligibility - some requirements may include years of service to CSN, level of employment with CSN, degree attainment, successful completion of Tier 1 of Service Excellence, successful completion of taking some of the Managing at CSN workshops, and/or successful completion of the Chairs program, if applicable, and collaborative and collegial work within the College, and be in good standing with the College. This is not an exhaustive list, but a list that will be recommended and reviewed by the Executive Committee, Human Resources, CAPE, and the Leadership Development Advisory Council.
If you would like to contribute to developing any of these programs, please contact Ayesha L. Kidd, MEd, Associate Vice President of Organizational Development and Effectiveness at (702) 651-7456 or Contact Us.
College of Southern Nevada CAPE – Center for Academic and Professional Excellence West Charleston Campus Sort Code WCE120 6375 West Charleston Blvd. Las Vegas, Nevada 89146 Phone: 702-651-5685 Email CAPE
Your CAPE Team
Ayesha Kidd
Associate Vice President - Organizational Development & Effectiveness
