Since 1979, the Staff Enrichment Program (SEP) has been committed to helping UCLA staff achieve their career goals. By fostering a sense of belonging, developing employees’ vocational and professional skills, and exploring career possibilities, SEP aims to retain high-potential employees and prepare them for leadership roles at UCLA. SEP, and other staff development programs, strive to provide the campus with a diverse pool of skilled applicants to meet the operational needs and manage the challenges afforded by UCLA's dynamic environment.
Program Objectives
- Empower staff to become active agents in their professional and career development
- Foster a culture of ongoing competency, skill, and knowledge development
- Teach staff knowledge, tools, and frameworks to set and achieve goals, manage performance, develop professional networks, and explore growth opportunities
- Foster a learning community committed to collective development and support
- Introduce staff to opportunities for growth and career exploration
Program Format
SEP is an in-person program with some hybrid elements. Program workshops will take place in person at UCLA. Orientation, coaching appointments, and meetings with your assigned team will take place remotely via Zoom. All participants must be able to travel to campus for in-person workshops and participate virtually via Zoom for remote activities.
Program Components
Workshops, assignments, and projects are intentionally designed to enhance participant skills, expand participant’s professional networks, and develop participant’s professional identities.
Participants should expect to spend approximately 10 hours each month on Staff Enrichment Program activities and assignments. Approximately three hours each month are spent in program workshops, and the remaining hours may be determined according to individual work schedules, priorities, and work styles. Program components include the following:
- Two Program Retreats: Two day-long professional development retreats hosted on-campus. These retreats will be focused on professional development and growth.
- Monthly Workshops: One 3-hour skill-building workshop each month of the program
- Capstone Project: Participants will use the skills they have developed throughout the program to complete a project of their own choosing that supports their department and allows them to expand their professional bandwidth.
- Individual career coaching: One-on-one career coaching from a trained career management coach.
- Career-expanding assignments: A variety of assignments will be completed throughout the program, designed to help participants apply new skills learned throughout the program and to expand their professional network.
- Educational stipend: Participants will have the chance to take advantage of a small educational stipend that can be used for further professional development.
Program Information
The program information folder includes descriptions of the program components and expectations for participants, supervisors, and the Professional & Career Development team.
Note: The program is dynamic and responsive to university and participant needs. Consequently, program components and details may change.
Program Timeline
If accepted into the Staff Enrichment Program, participants will attend an online orientation in July. The program will then officially run from August 2025 through June 2026.
Program Eligibility
Full-time career employment at UCLA in the following payroll title levels:
- Professional & Support Staff (PSS) Grades A-D & 1
- Career Tracks titles in the Professional categories 1& 2
- Career Tracks titles in the Supervisory 1 category
- If unsure about your eligibility, please view the list of eligible titles
- At least one year of service at UCLA as of August 1, 2025, is required. At least one year of service in current role is preferred.
- Contract employees who would otherwise be eligible for the program should contact the Professional & Career Development Coordinator (livy@chr.ucla.edu).
- A rating of “Meets Expectations” (or better) on the most current performance evaluation.
- Departmental support for participation (direct supervisor and department head)
- Selected participants must be able to travel to and attend workshops and other events on campus and in person.
- Selected participants must have access to Zoom, as well as a computer with a camera and microphone, and a private space to participate in remote meetings.
Application Submission Process
The application for SEP will be available from February 28, 2025 through April 4, 2025.
The SEP application components include:
- Online Participant Application, which includes an applicant information section, a number of personal response questions, and an upload of a current resume. Please note: when accessing the application, do not create a new Survey Monkey Account for your application. Instead, use the option "Or Sign in with UCLA Staff SSO” to log in with your UCLA Logon credentials.
- Supervisor Recommendation Form, completed by the applicant’s direct supervisor; supervisors will be sent an email with the form after the participant completes the Online Participant Application.
A list of sample questions for the Online Participant Application can be found in the program information folder.
To apply to the Staff Enrichment Program, please access the Staff Enrichment Program Application starting February 28, 2025.
Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
The Staff Enrichment Program is committed to providing development opportunities that reflect and support individuals with diverse backgrounds, identities, and experiences. We acknowledge that bias, discrimination, and oppression can impact professional and career development. We are committed to reviewing and assessing our program curriculum, content, and facilitation, as well as administration and management, to continually work toward a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive learning environment that supports dignity and advancement for all.
Information for Supervisors of Applicants
The close association between participants, their supervisors, and the Professional & Career Development team ensures that individual development plans and program activities remain consistent with the University's needs. Supervisors can expect that participants will need approximately 10 hours of paid release time each month. There is no cost to either the department or program member.
Contact Information
For additional information, please direct all questions to:
Lola Ivy, Professional & Career Development Coordinator
Campus Human Resources, Learning & Organizational Development
Email: livy@chr.ucla.edu
Campus Human Resources, Learning & Organizational Development
Phone: (310) 794-0850 | Fax: (310) 794-0855
