Academies
The Talent and Learning department offers various academies both for professional growth and personal development. The academies are designed to empower our employees, foster deeper connection with our college's mission, nurture departmental familiarity and cooperation, and hone leadership skills.
New Hire Jaguar Academy
The Jaguar Academy engages new employees beyond the standard first day orientation and helps them connect to South Texas College’s Comprehensive Mission and to become part of the STC Family.
The Academy will focus on providing guidance, support and instill confidence in new employees as they adapt to their roles at the College. Participants will complete a service area tour to enlarge their vision of STC’s regional impact as well as connect employees with the many valuable resources available to them. The Academy will help them become familiar with the College culture and enable them to better assist students and colleagues.
Eligibility
Participation in the Jaguar Academy is intended for members of the STC family who have been here less than 6 months. Any new full-time regular or temporary staff member is eligible to attend.
Time Commitment
There are a total of six sessions held on Thursdays and a one full day service area tour. Supervisors are asked to sign a time commitment form to demonstrate their support of the employee’s participation in the academy.
Dates
The Jaguar Academy is held every Spring, Summer, and Fall semester. The dates for the 2023 – 2024 Academic Year are as follows:
- Fall 2023 Cohort: October 2023 – November 2023.
- Spring 2023 Cohort: February 2023 – March 2023.
- Summer 2024 Cohort: June 2024 – July 2024.
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Ambassador Cross-Training Academy (ACTA)
The Ambassador Cross-Training Academy is designed to provide STC employees the opportunity to continually improve their knowledge of all aspects of the college and increase their ability to assist students and colleagues. Ambassadors (cross-trained employees) will help to:
- Eliminate road-blocks for students and employees
- Provide better assistance to their colleagues
- Create greater transparency, understanding and collegiality among all areas of the college
Participation in the Ambassadors Cross Training Program is recommended for employees with at least one year experience in their present position. As part of the Benefits of the Academy, participants will be provided with in-depth information and understanding of other areas of the College such as Admissions, Advising, Financial Aid, Instructional Technology, Facilities and Public Relations. As an Ambassador, you’ll have confidence that you are assisting students and colleagues with information, procedures, improving everyone’s overall performance.
Time Commitment
Ambassador applicants are required to attend all sessions in their entirety on the scheduled Thursday mornings from 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. in order to be commissioned as an STC Ambassador. Should a conflict arise with any of the scheduled dates, it is the responsibility of the applicant to attend the needed sessions in order to graduate from the next scheduled Academy.
Dates
The Ambassador Cross-Training Academy is held every Spring and Fall semester. The dates for the 2023- 2024 Academic Year are as follows:
- Spring 2024 Cohort: February 2024 – May 2024.
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Distinguished Leadership Academy (DLA)
Cultivating Leadership at Every Level
The Distinguished Leadership Academy (DLA) will provide current leaders, and those who aspire to leadership positions, the structure and guidance to develop and refine their leadership skills. The Academy will prepare participants to create strong teams, promote powerful communication strategies, work within and support a culture of evidence and accountability, understand the state and national context for the community college, and design and manage a team project that will reflect and advance the goals of the institution. Academy participants will also be matched with a mentor and engage in job shadowing to help them articulate a leadership vision and create an individualized professional development plan. Each session will have expert presenters, open discussions, engagement sessions, and reflection activities for each session topic, which include:
- Leadership Styles, Self-Assessment, and Challenges.
- STC Organizational Structure, Culture, and Decision Making.
- Understanding and using data effectively.
- Impact of State Legislature & Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board on Community Colleges.
- Overview of the Budget Process at STC.
- Communication Skills, Conflict Resolution, and Team Building.
- Ethics in the Workplace.
- Managing Change.
- Developing Others through Coaching.
- Motivating through Recognition and Appreciation of Others.
- Strategic Planning and Engagement.
A steering committee, comprised of representatives from each campus, division, and employee classification, will review applications and select the membership for each cohort. The committee advises on each academy curriculum, presenters, as well as reviews and evaluates the team projects.
Time Commitment
Participants will meet on the second Friday of each month for one academic year.
Dates
The Distinguished Leadership Academy is held once per Academic year, running from the beginning of the Fall semester to the end of the Spring semester. The dates for the 2023 – 2024 Academic Year are as follows:
- 2023 – 2024 Cohort: September 2023 – May 2024
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