Tag Archives: Professional Development

New Course Launch: Fundamentals of Enrollment Management

We’re excited to announce the launch of a brand-new course in the Pathway to Employee Excellence training program: Fundamentals of Enrollment Management, part of the Exploratory Track. This course is designed to deepen professional knowledge and strengthen campus-wide collaboration. Provost Vincent Del Casino and Sr. AVP of Enrollment Management Andrew Wright will lead it, along with guest speakers.

Course Description

Fundamentals of Enrollment Management provides an overview of key strategies and best practices for attracting, enrolling, and retaining students. Participants will explore recruitment planning, admissions processes, financial aid considerations, student success initiatives, and data-driven decision-making. Through discussions and real-world examples, the course equips attendees with the foundational knowledge needed to support SJSU enrollment goals effectively.

You’ll leave with a stronger understanding of how your work supports SJSU’s broader enrollment goals—and practical tools to help move the needle.

Who Should Attend?

  • Staff and Management involved in student recruitment, admissions, financial aid, or student success initiatives
  • Team members interested in data-informed decision-making
  • Anyone who wants to understand better how SJSU attracts, enrolls, and retains its students

Whether you’re new to enrollment work or looking to refresh your skills, this course offers foundational insights that apply across departments.

What You’ll Learn

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

  • Understand Core Concepts
  • Analyze Enrollment Data
  • Develop Recruitment Strategies
  • Evaluate Admissions Processes
  • Assess Financial Aid Impacts
  • Apply Best Practices

Course Highlights

  • Format: A blend of lectures, interactive sessions, case studies, and hands-on workshops. Five modules, all delivered in person (no Zoom format) to maximize learning through collaboration, peer interaction, and hands-on engagement. If you cannot attend all modules, please consider registering for a future course.
  • Dates:
    • Module 1: July 31, 9:00 – 10:30 am
    • Module 2: August 5, 1:00 – 2:30 pm
    • Module 3: August 7, 1:00 – 2:30 pm
    • Module 4: August 12, 1:00 – 2:30 pm
    • Module 5: August 14, 9:00 – 10:30 am
  • Assessments:
    • Module quizzes
    • Final project to synthesize learning

Ready to Explore?

Join us for this valuable opportunity to learn how enrollment management connects to your daily work—and how you can help shape the student journey at SJSU from first contact to graduation.
Register by June 13, 2025.

Celebrating Staff Achievement: Honoring our first cohort of the ABSO Certificate Program

Three people stand together. The woman in the center holds flowers and a certificate. A blue and yellow decorated backdrop is behind them.

Celebrating Staff Achievement: Honoring our first cohort of the ABSO Certificate Program

On March 19, 2025, in a heartfelt ceremony, we proudly recognized five exceptional staff members who completed the foundational track of the ABSO Certificate Program, Pathway to Employee Excellence. Launched in Fall 2023, this professional development initiative aims to refresh, strengthen, and teach new skills to staff employees within Academic Affairs.

Since its inception, the program has offered three comprehensive courses focusing on basic personnel management, basic budget and financial management, and event planning. With approximately 100 Academic Affairs staff participating in at least one course, these five individuals demonstrated remarkable persistence by completing all three courses, which included assignments and quizzes.

Congratulations to:

  • Nima Abrishamkar, Senior Analyst, Programs and Operations, Applied Data Science
  • Sarah Kam, Senior College Resource Analyst, COSS Dean’s Office
  • Kristina Luna, Administrative Services Specialist, School of Information
  • Lydie Rashel, Administrative Analyst, Mechanical Engineering
  • Mahasti Tayebi, Administrative Support Coordinator, Sociology and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

During the ceremony, Provost Vincent Del Casino and AVP Sami Monsur presented certificates of completion, joined by colleagues, directors, and deans who came to celebrate and support their staff’s professional growth. The honorees can proudly showcase their ABSO training badge in their professional portfolios, highlighting their achievements and skills.

Honoree Highlights:

“I love communicating and being in touch with students…I love the training.” — Nima Abrishamkar
“I’m grateful for this training… it gave me exposure to how the university works.” — Sarah Kam
“I love my job. I grow and learn every day… this training was wonderful.” — Mahasti Tayebi
“The better I am, the better our faculty and students can focus on their work.” — Lydie Rashel
“I’ve learned in each module… it’s necessary to stay fresh.” — Kristina Luna

Leadership Reflections:

AVP Monsur encouraged participants to see this as a stepping stone: “These trainings show that the campus is open to you — even beyond our division — as growth opportunities arise.” The program seeks to empower employees through knowledge. 

Provost Del Casino applauded the dedication shown: “This is above and beyond your day-to-day work. It’s inspiring to see people invest in each other and build community. Congratulations to everyone!”

What’s Next?

We’re excited to announce new courses in the exploratory track this summer: Fundamentals of Enrollment Management and Intro to Change Management (ADKAR Method). We’re also offering Introduction to Courses & Class Scheduling as part of the foundational track. Stay tuned for more details!

Again, congratulations to our first cohort for their dedication and achievement. We look forward to seeing more staff continue to grow and thrive through this impactful program.

Spring 2022 Admin Q&A for Faculty RSCA, Start-Up, and Professional Development Funds

Thank you to those who attended our Spring 2022 Admin Q&A for Faculty RSCA, Start-Up, and Professional Development Funds yesterday.  We hope you find the information helpful.

A copy of the presentation is now live on the Hub.  You can find it in the Tools & Resources section in Budget & Finance or access it here.

Please feel free to share the presentation with colleagues who may not have been able to attend.

Spring 2021 Q&A Session for Faculty RSCA, Start-Up, and Professional Development Funds

In order to better assist the department admins in their support role to faculty, the Office of Research has partnered with ABSO to host a Spring 2021 Admin Q&A Session on Thursday, April 8 from 9 am to 10:30 am.

The session will include a short presentation on the different types of faculty funding prior to giving participants an opportunity to ask questions relating to RSCA, start-up, and/or professional development funds. Interested parties may register here.