Academics

Workshop Descriptions

Business Plan Development

This three-day workshop explores how to find and capture seed capital for new ventures. You will learn how to target funders and develop a comprehensive executive summary so that your business plan can succeed in attracting new funding opportunities.

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

  • Identify viable business opportunities
  • Develop a business strategy that includes identifying revenue drivers, expense drivers, critical success factors and risk management techniques
  • Identify the human, information and financial resources required for launching and managing a new venture

Business Writing and Communication

This three-day workshop emphasizes the effective use of English in written communication. You will learn how to develop powerful reports and communicate effectively via e-mail, memos and letters.

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

  • Identify common grammatical and punctuation errors
  • Write persuasively and concisely
  • Update and improve your writing style
  • Organize and structure your writing with clear logic
  • Effectively format business letters and memos
  • Create reports tailored for specific audiences 

Change Management

This two-day workshop will review how to manage organizational change effectively.

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

  • Anticipate changes within the organization
  • Identify what to do when change occurs
  • Think strategically about change management
  • Prioritize the changes you want to occur
  • Communicate why change is necessary and reassure participants that change is good  

Finance, Accounting and Taxation for the Non-Financial Manager

This two-day workshop provides a practical review of finance, accounting and taxation topics.

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

  • Understand the basics of finance, accounting and taxation
  • Identify how finance and accounting support the mission of the enterprise
  • Explore strategies for making financial decisions in practical situations

Grant Writing

This two-day workshop provides an overview of grantsmanship, from developing and writing a competitive grant proposal to being an effective steward of grant funding.

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

  • Understand funding sources and the grant seeking process
  • Identify what makes an organization attractive to donors 
  • Understand the key elements of a successful grant proposal
  • Gain a basic understanding of a proposal budget and how it should be linked to the goals and objectives of the proposal

Lean Principles – Do More with Less

This two-day workshop provides an overview of the application of lean principles to reduce waste, improve efficiency of operations and enhance organizational performance. 

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

  • Understand how lean principles are applied within an organization
  • Identify lean tools and approaches
  • Create lean strategies that may be applied to simple processes within an organization
  • Identify how leading organizations have used lean principles to improve organizational performance

Managing Differences through Workplace Inclusion

This two-day workshop provides an understanding of and appreciation for workforce diversity.  In this course, you will explore methods for capitalizing on differences in the workplace through a strategy of inclusion.

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

  • Define diversity and the history of terms used and misused over the years
  • Understand the changing demographics of the country’s workforce
  • Discuss the strategic business case for embracing differences
  • Examine the cost of not leveraging diversity 
  • Develop strategies and methods to increase diversity awareness 

Presentation Skills

This three-day workshop explores the tools, tips and strategies for reaching your audience with a polished and professional approach.

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

  • Identify the needs of your audience
  • Format basic types of presentations 
  • Understand the core components of every presentation
  • Create effective PowerPoint slides, graphs, charts and tables to convey technical information
  • Convey critical information in a constructive manner
  • Highlight key points in memorable ways

Project Management Fundamentals

This two-day workshop emphasizes developing a framework for managing projects more effectively using proven planning, scheduling, resource management and budgeting tools. You will also examine teambuilding and continuous process improvement strategies for ensuring project success.

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

  • Effectively identify the tools and resources necessary for managing a project
  • Identify the key steps involved in effective project management
  • Understand how to engage stakeholders in a project
  • Manage a basic project from inception to completion

PMP Review

This three-day workshop will prepare you for the Project Management Professional (PMP®) certification exam.  You will receive in-depth review of the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK).  This workshop will also cover exam preparation courseware and practice testing.

Upon completion of this course, you will:

  • Be prepared to sit for the PMP exam
  • Develop a broad understanding of project management principles and applications
  • Be able to apply project management principles and skills to projects

Six Sigma Fundamentals

This two-day workshop reviews the role effective leadership plays in the development, implementation and support of Six Sigma projects

Upon completion of this course, you will:

  • Understand the principles, practices and processes of Six Sigma
  • Develop an appreciation for the role of the leader of a Six Sigma project
  • Be able to identify key solutions for rolling out a Six Sigma project
  • Be able to analyze primary challenges to the successful implementation of a Six Sigma project

Supervisory Excellence

This three-day workshop helps supervisors develop more effective planning, management and performance management skills.

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

  • Apply diverse supervisory styles and approaches
  • Effectively delegate 
  • Identify and use your strengths to manage people and tasks
  • Strategize about how best to approach complex problems and situations at work
  • Identify ways to engage other's strengths to continuously improve workflow and work dynamics
  • Create new communication approaches to manage work situations more effectively

Time Management and Organizational Skills

This two-day workshop examines ways to better manage your day, week, month and year. Learn how to use effective strategies to set priorities and accomplish the work that matters most to you and your employer.

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

  • Better manage your work day
  • Identify and understand common mistakes made in planning and prioritizing work
  • Create strategies to effectively address dysfunctional work habits
  • Eliminate or reduce waste in your workday
  • Delegate work projects to others when appropriate
  • Create work plans to help meet department or organizational goals
What started as a freshman prank in 1913?
The giant R

The giant "R" seen on the mountain north of the University that is about one-third the size of the Quad.

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