Apply for UC Management Skills Assessment Program

Staff and academic people managers, are you ready for a leap in your management development? If yes, we encourage you to apply to the Management Skills Assessment Program (MSAP) by Wednesday, Jan. 18.

This program is designed to assess the management skills of high potential, early career supervisors and managers for future leadership opportunities at the University of California. The next MSAP will be April 17-20, 2017, at the UCLA Conference Center in Lake Arrowhead.

Two seats for the spring 2017 MSAP program are available for UC ANR employees.

Eligibility requirements include

• Full-time career status with a current, satisfactory (or better) performance evaluation
• Career Tracks job classification as a supervisor or manager

Participants will be selected based on an evaluation of the applicant's career goals in management, level of skills essential for performing management functions, and demonstrated career path and/or strong commitment to management skill development. The supervisor of the applicant is also required to complete a supporting statement as part of the application process and commit to participate in the required post-program activities. 

The cost for the program is $1,095 (including all program materials and room and board for three days and two nights). This does not include transportation or other related travel costs. ANR will cover the cost of the program (including eligible travel expenses) for the successful applicants.

Participants can expect a demanding program of activities from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. each day, with no time in between to check email or attend to work responsibilities. Assessees also eat with other assessees and share small condos.

Application instructions and further information about the program are at http://msap.ucr.edu/.  For affiliation, chooseUC ANR in the application. A UC ANR committee will review all applications and make the final selection. Completed applications must be submitted online at http://msap.ucr.edu by Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017. Supervisors also must complete a required section in the submission for application consideration. 

For more information, contact Jodi Azulai, ANR learning and development coordinator, at jlazulai@ucanr.edu.

Comments from MSAP participants

Vanessa Kenyon

Nutrition Education Program Manager, UCCE Sacramento

MSAP brought to awareness things right under the surface that I could not pinpoint. I received confirmation on things I already knew about myself and areas I was grappling and how to hone in on these areas to make modifications to get a better response. I found MSAP to be a unique experience that brings together its people and talents while creating a space for deeper reflection, awareness and collective synergy. I was reminded just how vast and wide our spectrum of experience and knowledge truly is. It was a wonderful experience.

Rob Bennaton

County Director, UCCE Alameda

MSAP helped me with goal setting, prioritizing, communication skills and gradually increasing efficiency. It also provided a greater context of the Country Director's role from a leadership perspective in team building.

MSAP cannot take place without Assessors. A big THANK YOU to Tunyalee Martin, associate director for UC IPM Communications, who said:

I was impressed by the MSAP assessees' communication and team skills, and ability to adapt and think on their feet. They were truly committed to going through the process and learning from the program. As a first time assessor, I felt welcomed and supported by my trainers to enable the learning process. What I wasn't prepared for was the intensity of each activity and how quickly the program went!  As a 2013 graduate of the MSAP program, I learned about myself and gained confidence as I worked through the activities. Being able to give back to the program was exceptionally rewarding. I feel fortunate to be able to experience MSAP again and I'm looking forward to next time.

Middle managers can become MSAP assessors

Assessors learn to observe and provide constructive feedback. They benefit in multiple ways:

• Receive intensive practice using a feedback method that promotes effective interaction with employees and sound management
• Contribute to the retention, growth, and development of University employees
• Expanded contact and collaboration with other University managers committed to professional excellence
• Develop greater self-awareness themselves
• Expand their own professional networks across UC beyond their individual location
• Learn better management practices from assessor training and from new colleague

Help UC ANR serve this systemwide initiative for upward mobility in the UC system. Academics may add the assessor service to their merit and promotion package. For information on how to become an assessor, contact Jodi Azulai at jlazulai@ucanr.edu.

 

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