Staff Training & Enrichment Program
STEP (Staff Training and Enrichment Program) is an initiative established under the provost’s office to provide academic staff with training and career development opportunities, as well as workplace enrichment, in support of their vital contribution to Butler University.
Mission
Support Butler’s commitment to the highest quality of liberal and professional education by providing academic staff with meaningful learning opportunities that will enhance job skills, communication, collaboration, performance, and personal excellence.
Vision
A workplace culture that values and respects academic staff by providing learning, development, and enrichment opportunities and promoting innovation through communication and collaboration, thereby identifying Butler University as an employer of choice.
Have a topic to suggest for a STEP session? Interested in presenting at a STEP session? Please email STEP@butler.edu with suggestions or questions.
This page is updated regularly.
Butler Community Arts School (BCAS) – part of the “Learn About Butler” (LAB) series
Tuesday, March 25, 11:00 a.m.-noon, AU326
Session description forthcoming.
Guests will be provided with Market Place vouchers to enjoy lunch with colleagues following the session. Space is limited. RSVP to STEP@butler.edu is required.
Student Disability Services – part of the “Learn About Butler” (LAB) series
Wednesday, September 25, 11:00 a.m.-noon, AU 326
Session description forthcoming.
Guests will be provided with Market Place vouchers to enjoy lunch with colleagues following the session. Space is limited. RSVP to STEP@butler.edu is required.
“Communication Values and Ethics: Belonging with Purpose in our Butler University Community”
Presented by Eileen Taylor (CCOM)
Thursday, September 12, 11:00 a.m.-noon, AU 326
Session description forthcoming.
Guests will be provided with Market Place vouchers to enjoy lunch with colleagues following the session. Space is limited. RSVP to STEP@butler.edu is required.
Summer 2024 sound bath wellness opportunities – free to all students, staff, and faculty
Sound bathing is an experience designed solely to help you relax. Singing bowls, gongs, chimes, turning forks, and ambient music are there to help you get out of your head and into your body. There are many benefits to sound bathing, such as the promotion of deep rest and relaxation. The only thing you need to do is show up and relax.
Summer 2024 Sound Bath Schedule
If possible, participants are encouraged to arrive by a few minutes early to allow adequate time to settle in.
- Tuesday, July 16, noon-1 pm, Ford Salon, Robertson Hall
- Thursday, August 8, noon-1 pm, HRC 050 (wet room )
Free to all faculty, staff, and students. No registration required.
Please see designated tab on STEP website for additional information regarding sound baths at Butler.
STEP wellness opportunity: “Self-Care Day”
Thursday, July 11, 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., Dugan Hall lobby
Butler staff are invited to stop by on Thursday, July 11 any time between 11 a.m.-2 p.m. to take some time for self-care and wellness. Relaxation-themed activities and swag will be available to help you get in the self-care zone, along with the opportunity to participate in a collaborative community art project, and to register for a chance to win a door-prize. Light snacks provided. Stop by when you can, stay as long as you like.
No RSVP required. We look forward to seeing you there!
STEP wellness opportunity: “Slow-Flow Yoga”
led by Anni Hine, HRC yoga instructor
Friday, June 28, Noon-1:00 p.m., HRC 050 (wet room)
Slow-flow yoga is a gentler, slower-paced form of vinyasa yoga that’s often recommended for beginners. It’s a meditative practice that emphasizes linking breath to movement, relieving tension, and moving mindfully. Slow-flow yoga can help improve strength, flexibility, balance, and relaxation. It can also enhance emotional wellbeing and mental clarity.
All are invited to participate but space is limited.
RSVP to STEP@butler.edu is required.
Why practice yoga? Yoga improves health in many ways.
Improve flexibility – yoga increases flexibility by stretching and moving the body differently.
Reduce stress – yoga reduces stress and anxiety by encouraging mental and physical relaxation.
Promote better sleep – yoga promotes restful sleep by calming and relaxing the body after a stressful day.
Build strength – yoga helps build lean muscle and improve strength.
“Yoga brings you peace of mind.”
To request disability-related accommodations or inquire about accessibility, please contact STEP@butler.edu. Please allow two weeks’ advance notice in order to allow adequate time to make arrangements. Although attempts will be made to honor accommodation requests with less notice, it cannot be guaranteed that without two weeks’ notice a reasonable accommodation can be provided.
Sound bath opportunities – free to all students, staff, and faculty
Sound bathing is an experience designed solely to help you relax. Singing bowls, gongs, chimes, turning forks, and ambient music are there to help you get out of your head and into your body. There are many benefits to sound bathing, such as the promotion of deep rest and relaxation. The only thing you need to do is show up and relax.
Participants should plan to bring anything that would help make you comfortable; pillows, blankets, mats, warm socks, or eye masks (yoga mats from the HRC will be available if you do not have one).
Free to all faculty, staff, and students. No registration required.
2024-25 Sound Bath Schedule
If possible, participants are encouraged to arrive by a few minutes early to allow adequate time to settle in. Dates, times, and locations are subject to change – please check this site regularly for updates.
- Tuesday, July 16, noon-1 pm, Ford Salon, Robertson Hall
- Thursday, August 8, noon-1 pm, HRC 050 (wet room )
- Tuesday, September 10, 5-6 pm, Ford Salon, Robertson Hall
- Tuesday, October 8, noon-1 pm, HRC 050 (wet room )
- Tuesday, November 12, 5-6 pm, Ford Salon, Robertson Hall
- Tuesday, December 17, noon-1pm, HRC 050 (wet room )
- Friday, January 17, noon-1 pm, HRC 050 (wet room )
Additional sessions may be added through the academic year – please check back for updates.
For more information and how to best prepare, check out the facilitator’s website for more info and resources: https://www.immersivesoundexperiences.co/ or visit her Instagram @immersivesoundexperiences for lots of video content and education.
Sessions sponsored by the Office of the Provost, Staff Training and Enrichment Program (STEP), Center for Faculty Excellence, and Human Resources.
Program: This program supports Butler University Academic Staff in professional development activities or training related to their work at Butler. Academic staff may receive up to only one award (up to $500) per fiscal year. Application requests should fund related activities or training required to meet the applicant’s normal job duties.
Examples of activities that would be supported through this funding opportunity:
- Course registration
- Webinar or online course registration
- Training for a new skill or program
- Purchase of equipment or supplies to support professional development goals
- Books, supplies, specialty, or other materials
- Association membership if applicable
This list is not exhaustive—other ideas may be accepted.
A maximum of $500 will be awarded, provided costs meet aforementioned guidelines. As application requests should fund related activities or training required to meet the applicant’s normal job duties, all efforts should be made to first receive departmental funding before applying for STEP funding. STEP can help provide bridge funding in those instances. If no departmental funding is available, written justification must be provided by the applicant’s supervisor. Please note that expenses related to degree-related tuition, tuition fees, or books for degree-related programs are not fundable through the STEP mini-grant program. STEP will continue to evaluate applications through the fiscal year as funding remains available.
Your application must consist of a program statement including:
- The nature of the program and the need for support
- Its relevance to your work at Butler or benefit to your department
- The objectives, significance, how the work will be conducted, and a time schedule for completion
Please use the form available at the STEP website to fill out a detailed budget, and also include documentation of any related costs. The proposal form should be signed by the applicant, head of department/program, or dean of the college. Proposals that do not conform to these guidelines will be returned without evaluation. Use the form that is currently on the website.
Deadline: Proposals are accepted on a rolling basis, but retroactive requests will not be considered, unless under special circumstances. Signed, scanned applications in a single pdf file should be sent to STEP@butler.edu. Decisions on applications will be communicated within 30 days. STEP will continue to evaluate applications through the fiscal year as funding remains available.
Expense paperwork and reports: A brief report (roughly one page) reflecting on or describing the outcome of the project using these funds is due to STEP at the time reimbursement is requested. Final reports and expense reimbursement requests must be submitted within the grant’s same fiscal year deadlines. Reimbursement requests submitted without a final report will not be processed and may jeopardize eligibility for future funding. The expenditure of STEP professional development funds requires adherence to Butler University fiscal regulations, and business office/procurement policies. Awardees should work directly with Rebecca DeGrazia regarding questions on business office or expense related concerns.
In cooperation with Butler’s Visiting Writers Series, STEP offers FREE reading opportunities to academic affairs staff during the fall and spring semesters.
Members of the STEP committee and VWS faculty and staff have provided recommendations of their favorite books from this semester’s visiting authors, and participants may select which book they’d like to receive by using the interface linked below. Books will be provided for the first 50 academic staff to register, and will be distributed via campus mail.
Participants may choose to read on their own, or may form book discussion groups with others who choose the same reading – whatever is most comfortable for you! Please indicate whether you are interested in joining a book discussion group by completing the prompt at the end of the registration form. Descriptions for each of the books being offered in the registration form.
Hurry! Deadline to register is Friday, February 23, 2024. We look forward to celebrating the Visiting Writers Series authors with you – happy reading!
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE SPRING 2024 STEP/VWS READING OPPORTUNITY.
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- Rebecca DeGrazia, Academic Affairs Assistant, Office of the Provost
- Calie Dickey, Associate Director for Study Abroad, Center for Global Education
- Beth Hospodarsky, Technical Specialist, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
- Mike Thomas, Sr. Associate Director, Career and Professional Success
- Holly Zimbelman, Administrative Specialist, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office and International Studies