Whether you’re working from a remote workspace or transitioning back to campus, HR Organization and Professional Development (OPD) has a variety of online, live courses to help you reach your professional goals. New courses designed to assist with the university’s return to on-site work are now available for registration in addition to other popular classes around a variety of topics.

New Course Offerings

• Conflict Management and Non-Escalation | August 30 AND 31: The primary goals of this course are conflict resolution, de-escalation, crisis management, and everyone’s safety. This training will prepare participants to apply skills to real-life situations and to retain those skills over time. Registration closes August 13.
• Building Cohesive Teams | September 15: Explore strategies to increase team cohesiveness and establish positive day-to-day interactions to enhance communication, build team awareness and cultivate trustworthiness in the work culture.
• Managing and Leading Across Locations | September 29: Teams working from multiple locations may encounter a unique set of challenges. In this course, you’ll learn the difference between managing and leading and what effective leadership entails in this new environment.
• Strategic Planning | October 13: Identify how to move from ideas to action in this hands-on workshop. Participants will gain a foundational base for implementing strategic planning in a unit.
• Performance Management for Hybrid Teams | October 27: While the overall goal of performance management is the same across all types of settings, it is important to consider how the process should be adapted to better support and develop employees working in hybrid teams. Learn tips and strategies for developing strong and high performing hybrid teams using MSU’s Performance Excellence process.

Additional Instructor-led Course Offerings

Many more professional development classes are being offered over the next few months. Learn more about select courses below and view all current Organization and Professional Development courses on the HR website.

Business Analysis

• Process Mapping Series | Begins September 1: Gain the knowledge and skills needed to confidently begin your process improvement journey. Explore the basics of process mapping and key terminology with hands-on exercises and an opportunity to begin using the interactive process mapping tool, Promapp.

Communication

• Writing Policies and Procedures | August 19 OR October 13: It can be challenging to write policies and procedures in clear terms that can be understood by all. This course will share proven strategies to successfully take on this task and provide methods for creating easy-to-understand resources.
• Crucial Conversations | 2.5-day series begins September 13: Learn step by step tools for promoting open, honest dialogue around high-stakes, emotional, or risky topics — at all levels of your organization. Registration closes August 25.

Customer Service

• Maximizing the Spartan Experience | September 30: Whether your customers are students, colleagues, or vendors, providing a high level of service is key. Learn how to plan, develop, and maintain high customer service standards.

Human Resources

• Certified Human Resources Specialist (CHRS) | August 10, 17, 24, 31 AND September 7: In this five-session series, participants receive fundamental knowledge to be a successful HR professional. Pass a take-home exam to achieve CHRS certification.
• Mitigating Bias in Hiring | September 14: Learn best practices and procedures for reducing potential bias in the screening and interview process.

Operations

• Records Management and Retention at MSU | August 25: Learn rules, regulations, and strategies to help manage university records.

Personal Development

• Identify and Maximize Your Strengths | September 2: Complete a CliftonStrengths Assessment to learn more about your natural patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving, so that you can discover what makes you exceptional and maximize your potential.
• READY, Set, Change! | September 9: Discover a framework to help you guide yourself and others through common change management scenarios including new programs, technological platforms, and systems.

Employees may use available educational assistance funds toward course fees, if any. Ready to enroll? Visit the EBS Portal for registration and reach out to OPD at prodev@hr.msu.edu with any questions.