What is Focus and Learn Day?
Focus and Learn Day is a monthly initiative designed to reduce stress and boost wellbeing by giving employees a dedicated day to focus on professional development and wellness.
Falling on the third Friday of each month, it is meant to be free from calls, emails, and interruptions.
How to Make the most of Your Day
Innovation and Ideation
- Reflect: Assess your current projects and time management
- Explore: Professional Development classes and wellness opportunities
- Innovate: Brainstorm solutions and reflect future-forward conversations
Mark Your Calendars
2025
- September 19
- October 17
- November 21
- December 19
2026
- January 16
- February 20
- March 20
- April 17
More Information & Registration
To attend professional development and wellness sessions on Focus & Learn days, register in the MySLCC Employee Training Portal. View the Registration Tutorial for guidance.
- IT Workshops: Search under "Information Technology."
- Employee Wellness offerings: Search under “Human Resources”
- Professional Development: Search under "Staff Development" or "Faculty Development”
Focus & Learn Day
If you need ADA accommodations, please contact jessica.doyle@slcc.edu. If you have questions, please contact Anjali Pai at anjali.pai@slcc.edu.
FAQs
Reach out to your supervisor. Suggest alternatives to the meeting that allow you to participate consistently in Focus and Learn Days. We want the whole college in on this!
If your Associate Dean has meetings planned for the third Friday of each month, try discussing alternate options. We hope the consistency of our new calendar will help you and your department benefit from Focus and Learn Days.
SLCC’s Focus and Learn Days are intended for all employees. We recognize that Academic Departments and others may have work obligations that prevent them from participating on the dates scheduled, but this should not be a reason to keep departments from participating. The President encourages each of us to be “…intentional about your calendar and make sure you block off time for professional development and focused learning.” Departments are encouraged to be creative in how they support faculty's engagement with Focus and Learn Day efforts. Staggered half-day increments during the same week as Focus and Learn Day may work better for the department. Or consider consolidating meeting agenda items to better free up time for a Focus and Learn Day. Be creative in your efforts.
Contact a member of our team for help or if you have questions.
- Anjali Pai - anjali.pai@slcc.edu
- Christina McWhinnie - Christina.McWhinnie@slcc.edu
We know this can get tricky. Your supervisor is the best resource. They’ll help your team find a way to maintain essential operations while encouraging you and your colleagues to participate in monthly Focus and Learn Days.
Tempting, right? But the day is about creating conditions for employees to focus and learn. It's still a workday, albeit one free from interruptions and distractions.
We encourage you to respect your colleagues during Focus and Learn Day. This means avoiding calls, emails, texts and meetings. Try to postpone email correspondence until the following Monday. Utilize that “schedule send” feature!
Of course. We encourage all part-time, adjunct and full-time employees to participate in whatever way fits you best.