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Training & Professional Development

HRO 128 is a Human Resources Policy, strongly encouraging every employee at the University of Tennessee to complete a minimum of 32 hours of job- and career-related training per calendar year. HRO 128 applies to exempt and non-exempt employees, regular, full and part time. Training for part-time employees may be prorated. With supervisor's approval, classes both within and outside the university, conferences and seminars will count toward your 32 hours. View HRO 128 FAQs.

How do I request credit for training? Complete this form and send to Human Resources for entry in IRIS.

How do I view my training history in IRIS? Within your department, the departmental specialist, who should have access to IRIS, may retrieve your training history. Read MORE...

Are you in the Training Hall of Fame?

Training Opportunities for the Summer Months


Certifications

The Office of Human Resources offers certifications in the following areas:

  • Communication Certification
    This certification is for staff members who are interested in communication skills training. Focusing on both oral and written communication, the course offerings build a solid foundation for productive teamwork and essential communication skills.
  • Customer Service Certification
    Employees who are interested in advancing their skills in customer service may obtain this certification, which is geared towards the needs of employees who serve in administrative support roles and management positions.
  • Leadership Certification
    Designed to enhance management competencies of current and aspiring managers through curriculum including a core of required sessions with a broad range of electives topics.
  • ModelNetics
    Model-Netics presents a broad range of organizational and managerial concepts through models which function as guides to individual thought and action.  Understanding and use of the models enables participants to effectively leverage knowledge gained from the program with past experience to improve communication, decision-making, problem-solving, and leadership skills. Classes begin January 2013.
  • Seven Habits of Highly Effective People new
    Join us for this 3-day interactive workshop based on one of the best-selling business books of all time.

Classes / On-Line Courses

  • Computer Based Training
    An interactive method of learning that provides a series of self-paced, hands-on, web-based courses.
  • IRIS Training
    Business software package used by the University for accounting, purchasing, budgeting, and human resources functions.
  • Microsoft E-Learning
    Access E-Learning courses online to help you keep up-to-date with the latest major software releases.

Communication Certification

The Office of Human Resources in collaboration with the UT Employee & Organizational Development offers a Communication Certification for staff members who are interested in communication skills training. Focusing on both oral and written communication, the course offerings build a solid foundation for productive teamwork and essential communication skills.

There is no cost and no time limit for completing the certification and classes need not be taken in a specific order. The certification requires completion of 11 classes, totaling 32 hours of training. On-site classes require registration, by emailing Melanie Sadler:

  • Balancing your Life and Career: What Gives? June 26 @ 1- 4 pm, Signal Mtn Room *e-sub available below*
  • Introduction to Communication, July 30, 1 - 3 pm, Signal Mtn Room, University Center
  • Working Effectively with Difficult People, July 31 @ 9 - noon, Signal Mtn Room *e-sub available below*
  • Business Etiquette: More than just good Manners, September 24 @ 9 - noon, Lookout Mtn Room *e-sub available below*
  • Communicating with Credibility and Diplomacy, October 3 @ 9 - noon, Lookout Mtn Room *e-sub available below*
  • What's your P. O.? How to Develop Patience & Optimism, Nov 12 @ 9 - noon, Lookout Mtn Room

These classes may be completed through Computer Based Training (CBT). To receive credit for courses taken through CBT, print a certificate of completion and submit along with a Request for Additional Credit to Melanie Sadler, Human Resources, Dept 3603.

  • Optimizing your Work/Life Balance: Maintaining your Life Balance (e-sub for Balancing your Life & Career)
  • Communicating with Professionalism and Etiquette (e-sub for Business Communications for Every Day)
  • Using Business Etiquette to Build Professional Relationships (e-sub for Business Etiquette: More than Just Good Manners)
  • Interpersonal Communication: Communicating Assertively (e-sub for Communicate like you Mean It)
  • Strategies for Communicating with Tact and Diplomacy (e-sub for Communicating with Credibility & Diplomacy)
  • Presenting Successfully (e-sub for Effective Presentation Skills)
  • Optimizing Email at Work (e-sub for Email Etiquette: Strategies for Effective Communication)
  • Giving Feedback (e-sub for Giving and Receiving Feedback)
  • Facilitating Meetings and Work Groups (e-sub for Making Meetings Work)
  • Managing your Career: Professional Networking Essentails (e-sub for Meeting People: Guide to Effective Networking)
  • Business Writing: How to Write Clearly and Concisely (e-sub for Punctuation Basics)
  • Working with Difficult People: Identifying Difficult People (e-sub for Working Effectively with Difficult People)
  • Business Grammar Basics (Consists of six, 1-hour courses: Parts of Speech; Working with Words; Mechanics of Writing; Punctuation; Sentence Construction; Common Usage Errors) (e-sub for Writing Effectively)

Computer Based Training

The University has access to a broad range of training resources through Computer Based Training (CBT) which is readily accessible and free of charge to all UTC faculty and staff, using your Net ID/password. CBT is an interactive method of learning that provides a series of self-paced, hands-on, web-based courses. Managerial and Supervisory curricula contain courses for Business Skills, Human Resources, and Workplace Compliance. Some of these courses include Communication, Diversity, Leadership, and Team Building. To receive credit for courses taken through CBT, print a certificate of completion and submit along with a Request for Additional Credit to Melanie Sadler, Human Resources, Dept 3603.

Customer Service Certification

The Office of Human Resources in collaboration with the UT Employee & Organizational Development offers a Customer Service Certification is for employees interested in advancing their skills in customer service. The certification is geared towards the needs of employees who serve in administrative support roles and management positions. The purpose of this new certification is to provide training in service-related topics such as, establishing departmental standards; using technology for top-quality customer service; developing a positive, professional image; enhancing customer service relationships; creating satisfaction surveys, and more.

There is no cost and no time limit for completing the certification and classes need not be taken in a specific order. The certification requires completion of 11 classes, totaling 32 hours of training.

All classes, with the exception of Customer Service 101, may be completed through Computer Based Training (CBT). To receive credit for courses taken through CBT, print a certificate of completion and submit along with a Request for Additional Credit to Melanie Sadler, Human Resources, Dept 3603.

  • Customer Service Processes and Procedures (e-sub for Setting Top Quality Customer Service Standards)
  • Customer Interactions (e-sub for Fostering Relationships: The Many Faces of Customer Service)
  • The Customer Service Representative (e-sub for Keeping Good Customer Relations: The Royal Treatment)
  • Excellence in Internal Customer Service (e-sub for Your Forgotten Customers: Internal Customer Service)
  • Conflict, Stress, and Time Management (e-sub for Every Customer is an Opportunity)
  • Support Center Tools, Technologies, and Metrics (e-sub for Enhancing Customer Service with Technology)
  • Customer Service Fundamentals: Building Rapport in Customer Relationships (e-sub for Fundamentals of Outstanding Customer Service)
  • Professional Skills for Customer Service Agents (e-sub for Projecting a Positive Image: Customer Service on the Frontline)
  • Managing Challenges in Customer Service (e-sub for Rebounding from Challenging Customer Service Situations)
  • Using Surveys to Measure Customer Satisfaction (e-sub for Satisfaction Guaranteed: Implementing Customer Feedback)

IRIS Training

IRIS or Integrated R/3 Information System is a business software package used by the University for accounting, purchasing, budgeting, and human resources functions. In order to obtain an IRIS user ID/password, an employee must attend an IRIS Overview session and at least one functional module. Contact Melanie Sadler to register.

  • IRIS Overview, May 2 @ 2 - 3 pm, Student Technology Center (back lab), University Center
  • Time Entry, May 2 @ 3 - 4 pm, Student Technology Center
  • IRIS Overview, May 30 @ 2 - 3 pm, Student Technology Center
  • Time Entry, May 30 @ 3- 4 pm, Student Technology Center

Leadership Development

Through a variety of communication mechanisms in 2011/2012 (Employee Engagement Survey, Management Training Survey, and Leadership Development Focus Group Sessions), many of you indicated interest in leadership development, management training, and improved supervisor communication. 

A faculty/staff taskforce for Leadership Development has been working with the Office of Human Resources to develop a new approach to leadership development on our campus.  The result is the UTC Leadership Development Initiative, designed to help our current and aspiring leaders to develop and hone their management and leadership skills. Read MORE...

Microsoft E-Learning

As part of a new offering from Microsoft, you are eligible to access E-Learning courses online at Microsoft.com. These courses are meant to help you keep up-to-date with the latest major software releases. Enter your Net ID/password after clicking on this link, and follow the instructions to gain initial access to the Microsoft E-Learning courses or access your course at anytime.  To receive credit for courses taken through CBT, print a certificate of completion and submit along with a Request for Additional Credit to Melanie Sadler, Human Resources, Dept 3603.

ModelNetics

Model-Netics presents a broad range of organizational and managerial concepts through models which function as guides to individual thought and action.  Understanding and use of the models enables participants to effectively leverage knowledge gained from the program with past experience to improve communication, decision-making, problem-solving, and leadership skills. The program is comprehensive and organized around ten topical sessions that cover the full range of administrative responsibilities and concerns. The cost is $260 and enrollment is limited to 20 participants. Attendees will receive 40 hours training credit under UT Policy HRO 128. Spring classes are now full. Modelnetics will be presented in Spring, 2014.

Network & Learn Events for Administrative Professionals

Work is easier when you have support from your peers and you know who to contact for help. If you agree then you will be excited to know that 2013 will provide many opportunities for our UTC Administrative Support Professionals to network with one another and establish a community of support and learning. In collaboration with the Office of Human Resources, members of the Administrative Support Professionals Taskforce will be hosting Network & Learn sessions on the final Thursday of each month from 3:00-4:30pm in the University Center. These sessions will provide opportunities to network, share knowledge, and learn from a variety of training session topics that YOU identify as being important. If you are an administrative support professional, you will receive notification via email of these training opportunities with a link to register your attendance.

Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

The Office of Human Resources in collaboration with UT Employee and Organizational Development is pleased to offer The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People on May 14 - 16, 2013 in the University Center. This interactive three-day workshop will be led by certified Covey instructor Stefani Mundy and UT EOD trainer, who testifies that the program can be life-changing! The program created by the FranklinCovey company is based on one of the best-selling business books of all time, entitled The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.

Dr. Stephen Covey, author and creator of the Seven Habits program, was recognized by TIME magazine as one of 25 Most Influential Americans.  Stephen Covey spent decades observing highly effective people and discovered that they have several habits in common! 

This three-day experience will help you define yourself and unleash your inner potential. The results? Increased leadership skills. Improved relationships of trust. Achievement of work/life balance. During the workshop, you’ll experience interactive exercises, case studies, and poignant video segments, and learn from the experiences of other participants.

Would you benefit from learning how to be more effective in your work and personal life, truly manage your time by setting top priorities, and get better results from each hour/day?  Strategies provided in this training help us spend more time focusing on the important and meaningful things in life!  These areas are the main focus points in the Seven Habits program. 

In additional beneficial topics, participants will discover how to:

  • Take initiative and avoid procrastination
  • Balance key priorities based on important life roles
  • Use a personal planner to plan weekly, plan daily, and create To-Do lists
  • Improve interpersonal communication
  • Develop mission, vision, and values
  • Leverage creative collaboration

DATE: May 14 – 16, 2013
TIME: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm 
COST: $269.00 includes training materials (does not include lunch)
LOCATION: Lookout Mountain Room, University Center

A minimum class size of 20 participants are needed to hold this class. To register, email Melanie Sadler with your department’s account number. Payment will be made via direct transfer in IRIS, initiated by UT Employee & Organizational Development. Please note: UT Employee & Organizational Development has a 10 business day cancellation policy.