A521.5.1.RB_Shuck,Allison

After taking the Workplace Value Assessment, I determined my top 5 core values.

My top 5 core values are as follows: 

1. Opportunities for supervision, power, leadership, influence
2. Stability and security
3. Using creativity, imagination; being innovative
4. Strong financial compensation and financial rewards
5.  Respect, recognition, being valued

How do my top 5 core values align with my workplace?

I feel like I need to get a new job. As a Financial Aid Counselor at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, there is not much room for advancement. The Financial Aid department is a fairly new department and has yet to define any levels of advancement. The only way to advance within the department is for my supervisor to create a new position; new positions are costly and must receive approval from upper management. Although, I do have to say that I have security and stability as a Financial Aid Counselor with Embry Riddle. The University must give a person multiple warning before putting him or her on a Personal Improvement Plan.

Working for the University does have its perks. Every 6 months or so the University holds an All Hands Meeting in which every department is to attend; during the meeting the University caters lunch and always has prizes and/or giveaways. The All Hands Meetings are something we all look forward to.

Having creativity, imagination and innovation is what Embry Riddle is all about. We are innovators! In my department, my supervisor promotes creativity and innovation. He believes in allowing each member to find his or her own way to complete a task. In addition, he favors creativity in the workplace. If a process is not working, he seeks input from my colleagues and I and determines available alternatives; we work collaboratively as a team to find solutions.

Strong financial compensation and financial rewards is not something most universities employees see. A person working for a school or university must understand that he or she might not get a raise this year. For most schools, the budget is determined by the state and cannot be adjusted. Luckily for me and my colleagues, Embry Riddle is a private non-profit university that is rapidly growing in size and the budget is determined by the amount of revenue the school receives.  Thus, financial compensations and financial rewards are available.

At Embry Riddle respect, recognition and personal value is given to everyone! Every department has its own unique way of recognition. In the Advising Department management awards the advisor of the quarter with free PL (Personal Leave) hours. During the Enrollment Management Meeting, recognition awards are given to those nominated by upper management.  The awards are: Above and Beyond the Call of Duty, Keys to Success and Partners in Success. In the Financial Aid department however, recognition is almost nonexistent. Unfortunately, my colleagues and I only hear the bad news.

Overall, I think that Embry Riddle as a university provides me with my core values but my individual department does not.