First Day
Orientation Activity/Tasks
Claim UNL Services
First day of work, follow respective Nebraska Extension IT support instructions on how to claim your My.UNL account. The My.UNL account must sync overnight prior to claiming your new UNL email account.
Tour work facility to locate
- Personal work space (desk, files)
- Meeting rooms
- Workroom
- Restrooms
- Vending machines
- Break room
Emergency exits
Inquire to secure details regarding the daily routine
Work Hour Policies
- Office hours
- Work hours
- Time documentation
- Flex time
- Comp time
- Meal, break, etc. arrangements
Office Policies, Norms, Expectations
- Dress
- Expectations associated to dress
- Review job expectations
- Program responsibilities
- Areas of expertise of all staff
Building Access and Security
- Keys
- Phone numbers (including emergency numbers)
- Parking arrangements, space, lighting
- Building information, scheduling, security
- Security systems and security codes
Mark your calendar for next new professionals' orientation program
Contact Linda Tempel
Review human resource info; available departments and phone numbers
First Week
Benefit Enrollment (if applicable)
Depending on your position, you may be eligible for UNL Health, Vision, and Dental Benefits. If eligible, you should have received an email from a GNBC Human Resources representative with attachments and links to UNL Benefits and Benefits Enrollment. You have 31 days from your first day of employment to enroll.
Procedures regarding equipment, software, supplies, etc.
- Available equipment
- Location of equipment manuals
- Equipment operations
- Location of supplies, stored materials
- Telephone system; usage
University of Nebraska Executive Memorandum No. 16.
Within first week of employment, review the policy for responsible use of University computers and information systems
County Personnel Office. (if applicable)
Meet with county Personnel officer to complete paperwork. Receive information on employee resources, county policies and procedures.
Become acquainted with co-workers and key individuals in unit
Review list of co-workers with their functions and phone numbers
Personnel Change Form
Complete the personnel change form after you have an active UNL email account. This information will update the Extension Personnel Directory and be provided to Extension Administration, Engagement Zone Coordinators and key Extension Personnel and IT staff.
Check need for campus parking pass/or how to get campus parking pass
Nebraska County Extension Office Cash Handling Policies and Procedures.
Within the first week of employment, you should review the guidelines, sign an acknowledgement, and email the acknowledgment to your county’s Greater Nebraska Business Center (GNBC) County Financial contact.
Ask when and where the next staff meeting/office conference will be conducted/or date of regular staff meetings
Sign up for email distribution lists (mailman)
- Mailman addresses for you to utilize: go.unl.edu/extension_mailman-lists
- For assistance, contact Linda Tempel
Schedule your Day on Campus
This is your orientation experience scheduled at the East Campus sometime during the your first week
Email Laura Tharnish
Check to see if your nametag and business cards have been ordered
Email Laura Tharnish
Sign up with Nebraska Extension Google Workspace for Education (NebExt)
To use Google Drive it’s important to do so using an NebExt.Org enabled Google Account. There are important advantages in doing so, Nebraska Extension faculty and staff will be included in a single domain, which will make it easy to identify others in Nebraska Extension with whom you want to share files, as well as the ability to share files and collaborate
Email John Ree
Review Employee Resources
Weeks 2 & 3
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Youth Safety Policy and Training.
All employees who have contact with youth must review the UNL Youth Safety Policy
4-H Youth Protection Screening.
Complete the Youth Protection Screening Form and give to your Unit Leader.
Youth Protection Screening Form
County Financial Processes (if applicable)
Within the second week of employment, schedule orientation with your county’s Engagement Zone GNBC County Financial contact.
Obtain scheduling/calendar system for yourself to track important activities, events and deadlines
Inquire as to when and how first paycheck will be received
Review vacation and sick leave policies; accumulation, usage, holiday schedule
Secure university/extension calendar with the dates of important events and holiday listings
Review the calendar of extension programs with your office staff to determine those events which will involve you
Learn procedures for ordering, purchasing supplies and program materials
Purchasing Card Training (if applicable)
Talk with your Leader Educator as to whether your position would be considered for UNL Procurement Card application. The Leader Educator and you are encouraged to contact the business center for additional details.
Receive instruction regarding mail system handling; incoming/outgoing mail
Secure list of key people and offices external and internal to “home” unit/department/college
Mark your calendar with date, times and locations of all upcoming staff meetings/office conferences
Review support staff responsibilities and procedures for getting work completed (typing priorities, preparing letters, filing, newsletters, etc.)
Discuss interoffice communication procedures (memo routing, keeping office informed of schedule, etc.)
Procedure to request specialist assistance with program planning, daily questions
Ask if there are other procedures unique to your office that you should be aware
Review IANR organizational chart
Identify your Extension Area of Expertise
Secure and review a personal file copy of your job description
Learn how to schedule the use of unit’s facilities and equipment for program use
Look at professional organizations in state
Review the use of office forms
- Travel/mileage reports
- Monthly reports
- Request for funds
- Request for leave/absence reports
- Individual leave record
- Engagement Zone reports
Learn about Reports
- Accountability report
- IANR Performance Management
Look at the operation of Extension
- County Account
- Revolving Account
- Engagement Zone Account
First Month
Participate in tour of the geographic area of which you are associated
Learn your role; your specific job duties and responsibilities
Discuss with your administrator, supervisor, co-workers your specific job description
- List your major duties and/or responsibilities
- List areas of joint responsibility with other staff members
- Identify required reporting
- Identify lines of accountability and evaluation
Meet with support team to discuss “Position Inventory”
- Set goals and plan for needed inservice training and professional development during your first and second years on the job
Review the professional development opportunities and Extension career development strategies and support.
Block dates and times on calendar for major county, engagement zone and state events in which you will be involved
Review previous year’s program area goals and objective impact for Activity Insights
Secure list of key people and offices external and internal to “home” unit/department/college
Review Extension policies
Review available office software programs
Gain an understanding of the filing system used by your unit
Review your program area’s existing mailing list
Visit with key leaders, volunteers and other professionals to learn more about the community and program
Using Community/Regional Assessment and Inventory
Conduct a survey to acquaint yourself with the geographic characteristics, demographics, history, constituents groups and services of the community in which you work
Extension personnel
- County program personnel
- Program area planning cluster
- Administration and program staff
Citizen leaders in extension programming
- Agriculture, Family and Youth, Community Development, 4-H programs
Community
- Extension Board Members (role and function, meeting dates, names, addresses, and phone numbers)
- Plan personal visits to meet committee members within your first three months in your position
- Personnel in other offices and departments (auditor, clerk of courts, social services, etc.)
- Funding sources (commissioners, state legislators)
- Elected officials (US legislators, mayors, school board members, etc.)
- US government agencies (ASCS, SCS, etc.)
- Civic groups (Chambers of Commerce, ministerial associations, etc.)
- Personnel in other educational institutions
Media
- Newspaper editors and reporters
- Radio station personnel
- Television station managers
Months 2 & 3
Register for professional development programs or in-service opportunities in your focus area
Schedule time to spend with experienced staff in your office and the surrounding area to become familiar with their programs, other staff members used and areas of expertise
Review again materials relating to:
- Health benefits
- Life insurance
- Retirement program
- Vacation and sick leave
- Extension employee resources
- Extension personnel director
- Communications and Marketing