Training and development
Employee Career Development
The following courses are part of the Employee Career Development (Professional Development Certificate) training track. Each course includes a description and most include a link to the current registration schedule where you can see if it’s currently being offered.
In the event that a course also contributes to other training tracks, this information is denoted next to each course name as follows:
- Technical/Timekeeping [TT]
- Employee Career Development [ECD]
- Supervisor/Manager Development [SMD]
- Technical/Personnel Administrator [TPA]
If you can't find the training you need, contact VCU Training and Development at: traindev@vcu.edu or (804) 828-0179. You may also visit the Virginia Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM) for more training options.
View courses from another training track.
PAC005: Understanding and Avoiding the Grievance Procedure [TPA SMD] An Employee Relations specialist will lead a discussion on the various aspects of the State Employee Grievance Procedure, with emphasis on the supervisor’s role. View to see if it's currently offered on the registration schedule.
PAC006: Employee's Role in the Performance Appraisal Process [TPA] This session is designed to help the employee prepare for his/her performance appraisal, respond to feedback, and develop a performance plan. Course content also includes an overview of appeal options. View to see if it's currently offered on the registration schedule.
PAC009: Conflict Resolution [TPA SMD] After a brief overview of the causes and types of conflict, participants use information contained in their Conflict Dynamics Profile (CDP) ® to examine how they typically respond before, during, and after conflict. Also included are the types of behaviors (or the “hot buttons”) that provoke responses. View to see if it's currently offered on the registration schedule.
PAC011: Threat Assessment and Violence Prevention [TPA SMD] Can workplace violence be prevented? What is the difference between threatening and disruptive behavior? What is your role in preventing and reporting an incident? What is VCU Alert? What other resources are available to faculty and staff? Participants will learn the answers to these and other questions in this session, which is designed to help foster a safe university environment. View to see if it's currently offered on the registration schedule.
PAC012: How to Get Things Done When You're Not the Boss [TPA] How do you make things happen when you are not in charge? How can you effectively juggle multiple priorities when someone else is setting them? How do you interact effectively with a supervisor who has a different style of work then yours? The key is building a partnership with your manager that will help make you both successful. View to see if it's currently offered on the registration schedule.
PAC013: Managing Personal and Professional Change [TPA TT SMD] Change is a part of life and a natural occurrence in any successful organization. Participants will examine the stages of transition and learn ways to successfully manage personal and professional change. View to see if it's currently offered on the registration schedule.
PAC015: ARMICS and Ethics at VCU [TPA TT SMD] To improve your department’s records retention (as it pertains to PAs), security of computers, data and confidential information, and overall compliance through the use of ARMICS and the VCU Code of Ethics. View to see if it's currently offered on the registration schedule.
PAC021: Customer Compass [TPA TT] Positive interactions with students, visitors, faculty, and staff are critical to the continued success and growth of VCU. Participants examine behaviors necessary for successful encounters in person and over the telephone as well as the appropriate use of email. Also included are strategies for dealing with unhappy customers. View to see if it's currently offered on the registration schedule.
Alcohol and Drug Awareness [TPA SMD] An overview of VCU’s Alcohol and Drug Policy 
plus how to recognize impairment, alternative strategies for coping with stress, and employee and supervisor responsibilities.
Bullying at Work From the schoolyard to the workplace, bullying is defined as repeated aggressive behavior that deliberately causes physical or psychological distress. Bullying often results in increased turnover, frequent absences from work and reduced productivity. Participants learn what causes workplace bullying, the types of workplace bullies, and strategies for preventing and addressing bullying at work.
Can We Talk: Effective Communication Skills [TPA SMD] Course content focuses on identifying and recognizing different communication styles, effective listening skills, assertive communication, and conflict resolution through communication.
Career Planning and Development [TPA SMD] HR experts will be on hand to help participants explore ways to grow and develop in their jobs. Course content includes researching a career path, setting career goals, developing leadership skills, effective mentoring, skill development, and finding a work/life balance.
Coaching Employees on Performance [SMD] Participants will examine ways to monitor employee performance, set and hold staff accountable for expectations, and reward and recognize exceptional performance. Additional emphasis is placed on delivering feedback.
Computer and Software Programs
Sponsored by VCU Technology Services [TPA TT]: www.ts.vcu.edu/
Sponsored by the VCU Center for Teaching Excellence [TT ECD]: www.vcu.edu/cte/
Creative Problem Solving [SMD] Albert Einstein said it best: “The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.” Participants will look at innovative ways to solve some of today’s common supervisory challenges.
Email Etiquette Course content includes recommended business practices for all professionals who use email. Some discussion topics will include: expediting responses, getting answers to requests in a timely manner, communicating clearly and appropriately, and ways to inform customers of the status of projects.
Empowering Employees [SMD] Participants will develop ways to empower others through increased involvement in and knowledge of work processes, decision-making, and opportunities for growth and recognition. The relationship between delegation and empowerment also will be examined.
Facilitation Skills [TPA SMD] Whether making a presentation to five people or giving a speech in front of 200, many people fear speaking before a group or audience. Participants will explore ways to strengthen their presentation skills in a fun and relaxed environment.
High School Days and Workplace Ways: Who We Were Then and Who We Are Now [SMD] The Honor Student, the Class Clown: can you think of others from your high school experiences? You probably know many different personality types, and some of them might be working right here in the office with you. Learn more about personality types and explore effective techniques for working with (and for) these individuals.
How to Reward and Recognize Staff [SMD] Recognition of good performance is key to staff retention. From using the formal Classified Employee Recognition Award to ongoing informal forms of appreciation, supervisors will examine options for recognizing and rewarding staff even on a tight budget.
Humor at Work Participants will learn about the benefits of humor in the workplace and of fostering a fun work environment. They will also develop an action plan for building fun into day-to-day operations.
Managing Multiple Priorities [SMD] Would you like help in balancing your time, priorities, and job tasks? Would you like to be more organized and efficient? Can you stay cool under the heat of an unexpected deadline? Learn skills that can immediately impact your effectiveness back in the office.
MBTI: Using the Myers Briggs Type Indicator [SMD] This session will explore one of the most widely used personality instruments in the world — the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). The MBTI looks at eight different personality preferences; participants will learn about their own preferences and how they can apply this knowledge to the workplace.
Sexual Harassment Prevention (EEO Office) [TPA TT SMD] This on-line training is sponsored by VCU's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action (EEO/AA) Services. For more information, visit training.newmedialearning.com/psh/vcu/.
Stress Management [TPA SMD] Participants will identify the causes of stress, explore the physical and behavioral impacts of stress, and develop positive skills for coping with it.
Tapping the Gap: The Cross-Generational Workforce [TPA SMD] One of VCU’s strengths lies in its diversity. But with a variety of talents and ideas come challenges in communication, work styles, and more. Participants will explore several distinct generations and examine ways to successfully work with and supervise different individuals in an age-diverse workplace.
The Successful Supervisor [SMD] What does it take to be a successful supervisor at VCU? Seminar participants will examine the various elements of successful supervision, including organizational knowledge, appropriate interpersonal skills, setting expectations/holding staff accountable, and recognizing good performance.
Teambuilding [TPA SMD] Like families, even the best teams experience challenges from time to time. Participants will examine the characteristics of successful teams as well as ways to be an effective an valued member of the team.
Time Bombs: Dealing with Angry Customers At some point, most employees will encounter individuals who are angry, confused, or upset. After briefly reviewing basic customer service skills, participants will examine ways to identify the various levels of anger and learn techniques for handling a variety of difficult situations.
VCU Mosaic: Diversity at VCU [TPA SMD] Age, class, race, ethnicity, gender, and more: characteristics that can build a stronger, more cohesive workforce. Participants will explore ways in which diversity impacts working relationships with an emphasis on exploring various “‘isms,” stereotypes, and the impact of diversity on communication.
Virginia Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM) [SMD] Participants have access to additional training options through DHRM, including the Knowledge Center online system and vendor-delivered training (i.e., media, computer-based, web-based, etc.).
Women’s Work: Supervisory Skills for Women [TPA SMD] Managing the work of others is difficult enough. Female managers often face issues not experienced by their male counterparts. Participants will explore general strategies for managing and supervising staff as well as other issues female managers often face including gender, race and other demographic considerations.
