Q.
Who can attend?
A. Training in the Universal Competencies is appropriate for all
NPS employees. NPS Fundamentals is designed particularly
for new permanent and term employees to achieve entry-level
competencies. Employees apply through DOILearn (https://doilearn.doi.gov)
Partners are welcome to apply through the Superintendent,
Albright Training Center.
Employees in all career fields are encouraged to participate
in this program. Coordinators ensure that participants
from as many disciplines as possible are represented
in each classroom course.
Return to FAQ 
Q.
Who pays?
A. There is no charge
for the web-based units (Fundamentals I, III, and IV).
All tuition, travel and per diem costs for all NPS employees
are paid by Servicewide learning and development funds.
Experienced employees may attend if space is available;
their participation is also fully funded.
Return to FAQ
Q.
How long is each unit?
A. Web-based units
are self-paced and the time to complete these courses
may vary. The courses are designed to be completed in
the timeframes given below.
Fundamentals I:
3 hours - online
Fundamentals II: 64
hours - classroom
Fundamentals III:
2 hours - online
Fundamentals IV: 2.5
hours - online
Fundamentals V: 40
hours - classroom
Return to FAQ
Q.
Why should I release my employee for training when there
is so much work to be done?
A. The NPS Fundamentals
program is critical for every employee in the organization,
and this makes it critical to organization as a whole.
NPS Fundamentals helps sustain a high-performing work
environment by developing employees who are well versed
in the basics of the NPS and in the Universal Competencies.
Supervisors should see a safer workplace, improvements
in employee ethics and conduct, and employees who are
more committed to the NPS Mission. Experienced employees
can become reconnected to the NPS and increase their
knowledge and skills. Performance improves, and employee
retention should improve as well. As one superintendent
stated, "Fundamentals training provides immeasureable
value in terms of staff development, which translates
ultimately to better public service."
Return to FAQ
Q.
What do you as a supervisor need to do to support your
employee’s successful completion of NPS Fundamentals?
A. Supervisors are the essential link
between employees, NPS Fundamentals and enhanced, improved
job performance. Supervisors need to do just four things:
1) Help new employees sign up for NPS Fundamentals
during their first few days of employment.
2)How? Enroll through DOILearn.
(https://doilearn.doi.gov)
3) Manage work schedules to allow employees time to
complete the online modules and attend the two on-site
sessions.
4) Support employees as they apply what they've learned
to their work.
Return to FAQ
Q. What are supervisors and participants
saying about NPS Fundamentals?
Supervisors:
| “Fundamentals
training provides immeasurable value in terms
of staff development, which translates ultimately
to better public service." |
| “As [a supervisor],
I feel that these online training programs are
a great idea. It helps a lot to offer them when
it is convenient for the employee and within
a timeframe that is workable.” |
Fundamentals II - Participants:
| “Again, thanks for
your support and for providing me and my colleagues
with valuable information and tools we need
to get our jobs done. It was an incredible two
weeks. [The coordinators] facilitated some friendships
that will last a lifetime.” |
| “I would like to take
the time to thank all the coordinators who helped
to make my training at the Grand Canyon, a pleasurable
and remarkable learning opportunity. Indeed,
the Fundamentals II “Why We’re Here”
was one of the most valuable training sessions
that I’ve taken with the National Park
Service. It goes without saying that there was
so much dedication and team spirit among the
training coordinators. I sincerely felt that
some of the training sessions gave participants
a chance to re-establish their goals and gain
a real “sense of place” within the
National Park Service System.” |
Fundamentals V - Participants:
| “I have to say that
[Fundamentals V] was one of the best experiences
I've had in evaluating teamwork skills, learning
how to work with different personalities and
styles in the work environment, and looking
inward to see how to be a more effective leader.
It was also an amazing opportunity to remind
myself of how many different types of people
make up the NPS.” |
| “The bond that resulted
from these sessions will last through our careers
and beyond.” |
Return to FAQ
Q. How does my
employee register for the Fundamentals program?
A. Employees enroll
through DOILearn.
Supervisory approval occurs on-line through DOILearn
as well. (https://doilearn.doi.gov)
Return to FAQ
Q. Why
does my employee enroll in both classroom courses at the
same time? Is this schedule flexible?
A. NPS Fundamentals
II and V, the two classroom courses, are scheduled as
paired courses. Therefore, when employees are selected
for a specific Fundamentals II course, they also enroll
in a specific “paired” Fundamentals V course.
This ensures that the same cadre of participants go
through the two classroom experiences together, strengthening
both the learning outcomes and networking.
Supervisors are strongly encouraged to manage time
and workloads so participants can attend the Fundamentals
V course to which they are assigned. Employees may reschedule
a course if there are extenuating circumstances. To
avoid cancellations, supervisors and employees are encouraged
to carefully consider workload and other responsibilities
when selecting course dates.
Return to FAQ
Q. Why is NPS Fundamentals
a two-year training program?
A. Ideally, employees
complete Fundamentals I and II during their first year.
They apply learning from these two courses at their
workplace, while completing Fundamentals III and IV.
They then bring this additional year’s experience
and growth with them to Fundamentals V, which focuses
on self-awareness, teamwork, and leadership skills.
Trainers have observed that participants who work within
an established network of colleagues, as they do in
Fundamentals V, push themselves beyond their comfort
zone, and their learning increases exponentially. The
NPS Fundamentals V course culminates in a one-day workshop
where participants must demonstrate mastery of the entry-level
Universal Competencies.
Return to FAQ
Q. Can participants earn Continuing
Education Units (CEUs) for completing the Fundamentals
courses?
A. Yes. NPS Fundamentals
meets the criteria set by the International Association
for Continuing Education and Training for the awarding
of Continuing Education Units. CEUs provide a permanent
record of educational accomplishments of an individual
and are accepted by many organizations and colleges. Participants
can request CEUs at the end of the online units, and during
the classroom courses at no cost.
Return to FAQ
Q. Where
are classes held?
A. NPS Fundamentals
II courses are held at the Horace M. Albright Training
Center, Grand Canyon, AZ. NPS Fundamentals V is held
at the Stephen T. Mather Training Center, Harpers Ferry,
WV. The online courses are completed at the employee's
worksite.
Return to FAQ
Q. Can employees
work on the online units at home?
A. Employees and
supervisors need to agree upon the most suitable location
for the online training to be completed. Remember employees
must use DOILearn (https://doilearn.doi.gov)
to receive the appropriate credit for the online training.
Supervisors should provide ample time and opportunity
for employees to complete the online training on the
job.
Return to FAQ
Q.
Many of my staff are interested in improving their teamwork
and leadership skills. May they enroll?
A. Experienced employees
may enroll in the program attend NPS Fundamentals II
and V if space is available.
Return to FAQ
Q.
Can partners attend NPS Fundamentals?
A. NPS Fundamentals
welcomes partners to participate in both classroom courses.
Inquiries may be made through the Superintendent, Albright
Training Center.
Return to FAQ
Q.
What reasonable accomodations are available for students
and instructors?
A. Every reasonable
accomodation is made to ensure a quality learning experience
for the student and instructor with special needs. Once
selected for Fundamentals II and V courses, individuals
should make their special needs known to the Fundamentals
staff as soon as possible.
Return to FAQ
Q.
How was NPS Fundamentals developed?
A. Northern
Arizona University developed the pilot online training
modules between 1999-2000. The Eppley Institute for
Parks and Public Lands (www.eppley.org),
a division of Indiana University’s School of Health,
Physical Education and Recreation, has played an integral
part in the creation of the NPS Fundamentals program
since it conducted the Universal Competencies
Servicewide Needs Assessment in 1998. Through ongoing
collaboration between the NPS and Eppley regarding instructional
design, curriculum revision, and training of NPS Fundamentals
instructors. In addition, Indiana University offers
Continuing Education Units. A long-term goal is to make
NPS Fundamentals available for undergraduate credit.
As part of our ongoing cooperative agreement, The Eppley
Institute recruits and hires two residential instructors
annually to be full-time NPS Fundamentals instructors.
"There are few, if any, other programs in the nation
that allow for this level of cooperation and experience
between a major university and a federal land management
agency," said Steve Wolter, director of Eppley Institute.
The instructors are based at both the Horace M. Albright
Training Center or the Stephen T. Mather Training Center.
Return to FAQ
Q. Can experienced employees pick
and choose which courses they attend?
A. Experienced employees
are encouraged to participate in the full program and
will be selected for classroom courses if space is available.
Supervisors earn 40 hours of supervisory refresher credit
by completing NPS Fundamentals V, which they may take
as a stand-alone course. All employees are encouraged
to take NPS Fundamentals I, III and IV.
Return to FAQ
Q. What are the requirements for
graduation?
A. Each participant
must complete the assessments with 80% or better proficiency
in all five NPS Fundamentals courses.
Return to FAQ
Q. Do I have to sign up for NPS
Fundamentals V?
A. If an employee
has enrolled in NPS Fundamentals II, he/she is automatically
enrolled and expected to attend the paired NPS Fundamentals
V class. NPS Fundamentals V courses are normally scheduled
approximately 12 months after their paired NPS Fundamentals
II course.
Return to FAQ
Q. Has the program been recognized
by any objective third party?
A. In 2005 and 2006,
the NPS Fundamentals program and NPS Training and Development,
were awarded the Indiana University Partnership Award.
In 2005 and 2006 NPS Fundamentals was a runner-up for
the W. Edwards Deming outstanding Training Award presented
by the USDA Graduate School to an "innovative and
impressive employee development and training initiative
that has made a difference the the achievement of [the
organization's] mission."
Return to FAQ
Q. The online courses are behind
the NPS firewall. Can partners, volunteers, seasonal
employees and the public access the course?
A. NPS Fundamentals
I is now available outside the NPS firewall. "Introduction
to the National Park Service: Its History and Mission"
can be accessed at www.Parktraining.org
and provides the first comprehensive introduction to
the National Park Service for partners, volunteers and
seasonals.
Top of Page
it is critical to ensuring the NPS legacy of preserving and protecting
resources, every new Park Service employee should complete
all five Fundamentals courses. Experienced employees
have found the training program very beneficial as well,
and it is open to all NPS employees. Two of the Fundamentals
courses are classroom-based: Fundamentals II and Fundamentals
V. Three of the courses are web-based: Fundamentals
I, III, and IV. 
