Want to enhance your management skills? Learn more about Excel or web design? Hone your communication skills? Get certified in CPR? The Office of Organizational Development and Training may be able to help. ODT is offering a variety of professional development opportunities for faculty and staff members this spring.
The UO encourages ongoing learning for employees, and ODT serves as a central resource to coordinate all professional development experiences that are happening on campus. The office also designs and delivers courses to meet department and employee needs.
Twenty-seven campus departments currently have courses on ODT’s “Making Tracks” website, and additional courses are listed as they become available. Employees can find and register for upcoming courses, which are listed both chronologically and by curriculum category. Most courses are offered at no cost, but for employees who need financial assistance for courses that do charge a registration fee, the Professional Development Opportunity Fund may serve as a resource.
“With support from central administration, we are able to keep the registration costs low so that all employees can participate in professional development experiences,” said Pam Farmer, director of Organizational Development and Training. “From that commitment, we have seen increased participation in professional development by all employee groups.”
Courses are designed to challenge participants to enhance their knowledge, skills and abilities, and to build networks of informed and supportive colleagues. Among the current listings are desktop software courses for Word, Excel, Outlook, Access and web design; business courses including procurement card training and accounts payable policies; communications courses including crucial accountability and crucial conversations; environmental health and safety courses including CPR and basic first aid certification; leadership, management and supervision courses; and a promotion and tenure course.
The full list of upcoming courses for spring 2014 is available online.
- by Melissa Foley, Office of Public Affairs Communications