Web & Communication Services
Administrative Information Services (AIS), like many organizations, is divided into separate units, which can make communicating a challenge.
While the tips below--from a Chron.com post (How to Improve Interdepartmental Communication) and the University of Phoenix (How to promote interdepartmental communication)--don't apply directly to a university setting, they can serve as reminders about how to best communicate with other groups. I listed the key points; more detailed information can be seen by following the links above.
Chron.com
- Promote atmosphere of teamwork/good morale.
- Inspire workers with company's vision.
- Set practical and attainable goals with which employees can connect.
- Establish trust among the ranks.
- Give employees the confidence to talk about problems and then encourage them to offer solutions.
- Establish regular exchanges and collaboration among workers from different departments.
- Let other departments know what each department needs.
- Create opportunities for employees to mingle so that they get to know each other.
University of Phoenix
- Schedule team meetings between departments.
- Resolve problems before they escalate.
- Increase awareness of the need for interdepartmental communication through training seminars.
- Increase the interaction of various units through social activities.
- Create a shared vision.
- Acknowledge efforts made by employees to foster better interdepartmental relationships.
AIS Training Resources
Administrative Computing Courses
Administrative computing courses are offered at no charge.
In an effort to make training more accessible, funding has been secured to provide free training for the administrative tools that you use every day. If you haven’t already, then come and check us out!
Courses in Administrative Computing at Penn State are joint offerings of Administrative Information Services (AIS) and Information Technology Services (ITS) Training Services.
To register for Administrative Computing courses or to obtain additional information, go to the registration page of ITS Training Services or call (814) 863-9522.
| Course | Date |
|---|---|
| Data Warehouse: Introduction to Reports using MS Access 2010 | April 9-10 |
| Penn State Financial: Intro to IBIS Electronic Forms Processing (IBIS) | April 10 |
| Introduction to iTwo (via Meeting@PennState powered by Adobe Connect) | April 18 |
| Non-Credit Data Training | April 20 |
| Penn State Financial: IBIS Financial on the Mainframe (CCOM) | April 23-24 |
| Data Warehouse: Introduction to Queries Using MS Access 2010 | April 24-25 |
| Official Data Training | May 16 |
Online Tutorial for PAWS Available
Learn about the Penn State Administrative Web Suite (PAWS) through an online tutorial located on the ITS Training Services PAWS page.
Free Online Video Tutorials
Your one-stop shop for video tutorials on Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Access, Excel, PowerPoint, and hundreds of more topics--all free to active Penn State faculty, staff, and currently enrolled students.
With the recent enhancements, now you can:
- Manage information in your personal profile
- Keep track of your course history and recent activity
- Bookmark your favorite courses, tutorials, and specific points within movies
- Earn certificates of course completion
To learn more, go to the lynda.com at Penn State page.
Did You Know?
Information Resource Toward a More Open University
This was announced a while back on a Penn State Live story, but I thought this would be a good reminder.
Penn State has launched a site, Information Resource--Toward a More Open University, as part of fulfilling the commitment to openness and communication made by President Erickson and the Board of Trustees. The site contains information on a number of topics, including updates related to the ongoing investigations regarding the Jerry Sandusky scandal, frequently asked questions, information on the Board of Trustees, information on President Erickson, various documents, and links to important external sites.
One of the more informative sections, from my viewpoint, is the frequently asked questions section since it addresses many of the questions that I've had about the scandal and how it has affected--and might affect--Penn State. The section, as of this writing, included 34 questions and answers.
The site also mentions that "the University will try its best to respond to all questions from the media and post them on this site unless barred by law, contract, or privacy rights." With that information, along with regular updates in the "Updates" section, the site could be a good source for keeping up with the latest news about the ongoing investigation and other matters.