Charini Urteaga Named Global Campus Employee of the Quarter

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Charini Urteaga, instructional designer at Global Campus.

The U of A Global Campus has named Charini Urteaga employee of the fourth quarter.

Urteaga won the award for her exceptional service and support to U of A faculty who teach online and on campus. Urteaga is an instructional designer on the Instructional Design and Support Services Team. This is her second time receiving this award. In 2018, she received both the Global Campus employee of the quarter and employee of the year awards.

"It's a privilege and an honor to work with the faculty and staff here at the university," Urteaga said. "Their passion in fostering the next generation of learners is invigorating, to say the least.

Global Campus is a wonderful place to work, with the most caring and loving people I've ever met. I'm thankful for our leadership — their guidance and flexibility cultivate great teamwork, and it's a pleasure to see the innovative solutions that we've been able to implement."

Urteaga's instructional design work primarily involves online course design, maintenance and student success projects. Urteaga joined Global Campus in 2015 as an academic technologist, where she provided services and tools to faculty who use technology to enhance teaching and learning environments. She transitioned into her current instructional design position in 2019.

Co-workers who nominated Urteaga praised her consistent concern for, and commitment to, student success. Her dedication to providing top-quality support to students and faculty exemplifies the Global Campus' commitment to all advances in innovative teaching and learning.

"This has been another challenging quarter for the [instructional design] team," Urteaga's co-workers said. "IDs like Charini are carrying more than a full load of new course developments and are also managing last semester's course evaluations. Student success is so important to Charini that, without being asked, she sought to work with other staff members on projects such as a communication plan for online student coaches, as well as help establish instructions for software programs like TutorMe and WISR that provide 24-hour-a-day support and connections for students."

A student who participated in a math class that Urteaga helped design is quoted as saying, "I also wanted to tell you that you have a well-organized class. I appreciate not only your wonderfully prepared, interactive lectures, but the tools that you provide. Best math class I have ever taken."

Ken Muessig, instructional design manager for Global Campus, serves as Urteaga's immediate supervisor.

"I think it's wonderful that Charini is being recognized for the quality of her work and her commitment to student success," Muessig said. "She brings many different talents to her role as an instructional designer, but the one aspect that shows in everything she does is that the work is important to her. Making sure that students have the best possible chance for success is what drives her."

Cheryl Murphy, vice provost for distance education and head of the Global Campus, recognized Urteaga as the employee of the fourth quarter at a July staff meeting.

"Charini has a long track record as a talented and skilled problem-solver," Murphy said. "She exemplifies the service we here at the Global Campus strive to provide both to faculty who teach online and online learners. We are delighted to recognize the contributions Charini makes to the success of people studying in online degree programs."

The Global Campus awards the employee of the quarter to recognize outstanding achievements and accomplishments that relate to the unit's goals and the U of A mission. The award recipient receives a commemorative certificate and a monetary award. The four quarterly awardees may then be eligible to become the Global Campus Employee of the Year.

Other fourth quarter nominees include:

• Caroline Chandler, web/graphic designer, Marketing and Communications
• Mandy Eppley, e-learning workforce designer, Professional and Workforce Development
• Noel Sharif, data analyst, Recruitment and Student Outreach

The Global Campus supports the U of A academic colleges and schools in the development and delivery of online degree programs and courses, self-paced online courses and workforce development programs. This unit provides instructional design services, learning technology support, media production services and assistance with financial administration, recruitment and marketing.

The Global Campus also supports the W.E. Manning Memorial Scholarship, which is open to undergraduate and graduate students studying in online degree programs.