HR council launches training academy

A council representing small federal agencies has launched its first-ever training academy for junior human resources staff.

The Small Agency Human Resources Council, a voluntary management association that represents more than 90 agencies across government, has launched the first in a series of courses designed to train the personnel staffs of its member agencies. The concept was introduced by Brenda Despanza, human resource director for the National Labor Relations Board.

"Our members have complained about not having funding to train our staffs, particularly when we're under lengthy continuing resolutions," said Janet Murphy, chief human capital officer at the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight and co-chairwoman of the council. "Most agencies, large or small, don't have enough training funds."

Marilyn Dickman, deputy human resource director for the National Science Foundation, volunteered to coordinate the initiative. Under her direction, small agency human resource directors decided late last year to pool resources, such as funding and staff, to conduct training for HR employees at other agencies. So far, senior staff from OFHEO, NSF and the Corporation for National and Community Service have agreed to provide training, said Hatsie Charbonneau, human resources director for the Federal Maritime Commission and co-chairwoman of the council.

The first course, held on Jan. 16, involved an interactive session designed to teach individuals how to manually figure service computation dates for leave purposes. The academy's second course on Feb. 14 provided information on recruitment tools. Both courses were fully attended, Murphy said.

The council has come up with 39 more topics it would like to offer in future courses. Twelve of those courses will be offered over the next year, Murphy said.

The Office of Personnel Management also has agreed to offer academy training to the small agencies' HR council in several areas, including Senior Executive Service certification, performance appraisal assessment tools and requesting voluntary early retirement authority.

"One of our biggest complaints as HR directors and chief human capital officers is that our staffs are so transactional and process-oriented," Murphy said. "We really need them to start being more strategic and understand how a piece of paper not only affects a person, but also the agency and our mission achievement."

The training initiative is similar to one offered by the Chief Human Capital Officers Council, which is made up of human resource directors from large agencies. The CHCO Council's academy involves monthly forums for members and some of their staff to learn from one another and to share best practices in human capital management. Small agencies are not included.

"We're expecting that other agencies that have resources are going to step up to the plate and offer subject matter experts to offer the training," Charbonneau said. "It's kind of a small start, but for us, it's a big start."