Public Participation and Engagement Professional Development Program

Level 1: "Introduction to Public Participation and Engagement: Inclusive Processes and Tools for Collaboration" This 12-hour, 6-week course will provide an overview of the core concepts, tools and processes in public engagement, including the IAP2 Spectrum, various key models and projects at various levels of size, scope, and complexity.  Participants will be asked to focus on personal projects in this area, form 'action learning teams' as an element of the course, and explore initial applications to real projects.

Level 2: Learning in Concert with Communities of Practice: As an aspect of the Level 1 course, participants will be encouraged to join the Public Participation Learning Community (PPLC) and the Community Partnership Outreach Network (CPO).  These ongoing learning communities offer critical support infrastructures for continuing learning and implementation of public engagement concepts.  Level 2 will essentially occur within the structures of the PPLC and CPO networks, with accountability and reporting measures still to be determined.  Participants will focus on specific projects and skills applications in a variety of UW and non-UW contexts, collaborating with colleagues for continues growth and development.

Level 3: "Facilitating Engagement Processes" is envisioned as an intermediate level course that builds upon the core models for dialogue and deliberation and enhances participans' skill and knowledge in a variety of areas.  Key competencies relate to assessment, design, planning, facilitation of group processes (both large and small-scale), and an understanding of complexity and aspects of Integral Theory.  Other courses pertaining to leadership like Journey of Facilitation and Collaboration (JOFC) and the Integral Theory / Spiral Dynamics Learning Community could also be part of one's learning contract for fulfilling Level 3 expectations.  For additional Level 3 course possibilities, see the OHRD Catalog.

Level 4: Applications of Learning to Leadership: At this level, participants are expected to exercise leadership in demonstrating and sharing their capacities around real challenges facing the UW.  This may occur by working on a number of key projects, through mentoring others at Level 2 and 3, or by teaching classes related to developing this capacity in others throughout the community.  Level 4 applications could also embrace the Wisconsin Idea, sharing our recource in partnership of the State.

Fully Prepared to Engage Overview/ Explanation

The format of the Fully Prepared to Engage Program consists of four levels that help partidipants learn key concepts, practice skills needed to use each approach, and apply these skills to meaningful situations.  Throughout the learning, participants are encouraged to reflect upon their own strengths and experiences, building their capacities upon others that have been developed in their careers. 

The four levels are:
1. Competency: Achievement of basic skills and knowledge expectation in a given competency area

2. Fluency: Achievement of a more complete level of knowledge and skill in a given area, coupled witha sustained application of shuch competency over time.

3. Mastery: Achievement of a higher order level of knowledge and skill in a given area, sustained over time, and demonstrated in a variety of supervisory situations and applications

4. Mastry in Leadership: Providing sustained leadership in a demonstrated mastry of skills and knowledge of a given competency area, including effective modeling and teaching to staff subordinates and colleagues

The behavioral expectations and assessment tools of these levels are based on specific skill sets from 5 competency clusters as well as 20 'archtypes' of facilitation from the Integral Facilitation Model.

For additional information about the Fully Prepared to Engage Program, please contact Harry Webne-Behrman, Training Officer, Office of Human Resource Development by phone at 608-262-9934 or by email at hwebnebehrman@ohr.wisc.edu