The following resources are offered to all employees through the Division of Human Resources' Organizational and Professional Development Office (HR-OPD) unless otherwise indicated.
Members of effective teams want to feel like they did a good job at providing their product or service, that they worked well together and that they personally got something out of their time spent together.
In this certificate program, we will explore what is required of teams and team leaders to build high performing teams and satisfy these three criteria.
Much of this content was previously available only in the leadership program curriculum. Employees who do not yet qualify for LEAD should complete this certificate to develop their team leadership skills.
Program Curriculum
Complete all courses to receive certificate. Team Dynamics should be completed first as a prerequisite to other courses. Other courses may be completed in any order.
- Team Dynamics (complete first) – 90 minutes (former course equivalent for credit: Team Management, Part I)
- Building Cohesive Teams– 1 hour (former course equivalent for credit: Team Management, Part I)
- Creating Positive Group Norms– 1 hour (former course equivalent for credit: Team Management, Part II)
- Team Decision Making Methods– 1 hour (former course equivalent for credit: Team Management, Part II)
- Team Problem-Solving– 90 minutes
- Lean Process Improvement – 2 hours (former course equivalent for credit: Lean Basics)
- Measuring Team Performance– 90 minutes
- Managing Change– 90 minutes
- Managing Inclusive Meetings– 90 minutes
- Giving and Receiving Feedback– 90 minutes
- Psychological Safety– 1 hour (former course equivalent for credit: Psychological Safety)
- Setting Team Performance Expectations– 90 minutes
Browse the HR training calendar or class list by subject to register for a course. Both online and in-person training courses will be offered.
Track your Effective Communication certificate progress through the Certificate Checklist .
The “soft skill” competency most in demand within organizations is the ability to effectively communicate with others.
This certificate program explores the skills individuals need, methods for advocacy and inquiry and many of the obstacles that must be overcome for us to communicate with one another successfully.
Program Curriculum
Complete all courses to receive certificate. Courses may be completed in any order.
- Communicating Effectively– 2 hours (former course equivalent for credit: Communication Skills for Managers)
- Difficult Conversations– 2 hours (former course equivalent for credit: Difficult Conversations)
- Generational Differences– 2 hours (former course equivalent for credit: Generational Differences)
- Conflict Resolution Skills– 2 hours (former course equivalent for credit: Conflict Resolution Skills)
- Emotional Intelligence – 2 hours (former course equivalent for credit: Emotional Intelligence)
- Negotiation Skills– 1 hour
Complete one course below:
- Presenting for Results, Parts I & II– 8 hours (former course equivalent for credit: Presenting for Results) OR
- Effective Online Presentations, Parts I & II– 4 hours (former course equivalent for credit: Presenting for Results)
Browse the HR training calendar or class list by subject to register for a course. Both online and in-person training courses will be offered.
Track your Effective Communication certificate progress through the Certificate Checklist .
Delivered by the Purchasing Office, this certificate program is for new business personnel and experienced business managers who need refresher training. Participants who complete all four courses in this program receive a certificate of recognition for mastering the fundamental business processes at USC. Courses in this certificate Program may be taken in any sequence.
Additional dates are coming soon.
Designed to familiarize business personnel with the requirements of the SC Consolidate Procurement Code, this course will include an overview of the different types of bids and how they are handled by Purchasing. There will be an emphasis on how each method affects work scheduling.
Date/Time:
- August 15, 2023, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
- October 3, 2023, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
This course will cover the most commonly used Administration and Finance policies and procedures, such as the basis for their inception and how they affect the day-to-day business of the university.
Date/Time:
- August 22, 2023, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
- October 10, 2023, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
This course is designed to give generalized information on the USC Purchasing Card, including how and when it should be used. This course is not the required purchasing card training for card holders or liaisons.
Date/Time:
- September 12, 2023, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
- October 17, 2023, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
This course will review the University’s small and minority business outreach goals, tracking our spend and data. We will also cover how you as an individual can make a difference in the University’s outreach efforts. We will provide a demonstration on how you can search for qualified small and minority businesses and how to report your efforts.
Date/Time:
- September 19, 2023, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
- October 24, 2023, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
The GRANT Certificate Program, sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Research, offers research administrators a foundational grant life-cycle education. The program provides an overview of the grant life cycle, from pre-award to post-award, taught by subject matter experts from across campus.
Self-mastery is the ability to take control of your life and begins with developing self-awareness. Learn how to recognize and understand your thought process, habits and behaviors and the way you choose to interact within the world, at work and in your personal life. This interactive, three-part course is available to non-supervisory employees and has a fee to cover the costs for assessments and reading material.
Browse the HR training calendar or class list by subject to register for a course. Both online and in-person training courses will be offered.
Take charge of your personal and professional development, network with other administrative professionals and learn how to achieve better success in your career.
This annual, half-day conference is designed for USC’s administrative professionals each April. The event is announced each Spring and registration is available on the HR Training Calendar.
WLI is offered through the Provost Office and features workshops, interactive presentations and a networking luncheon centered on promoting greater awareness of the challenges and opportunities women face as they seek to achieve a work/life balance.
There is also time for participants to informally network and collaborate with women across disciplines or even across institutions.
Oktoberfest is offered through the Center for Teaching Excellence. All USC faculty, instructors and graduate teaching assistants are invited to attend this free one-day symposium focused on sharing best practices in teaching.
One of the university’s top three strategic priorities is to transform service delivery and promote operational excellence. Participants in the Office of Organizational Excellence’s Improvement Practitioner Program will have an important role in making this priority a reality.
The program is results-focused, with each participant facilitating an improvement effort in their area. This practical approach benefits the unit, its customers, and the university. Participants gain valuable knowledge, skills, and abilities while strengthening their improvement credentials.
The 2023-2024 cohort will begin in September 2023 and conclude in March 2024. Applications will be accepted through August 1, and participants will be announced the week of August 7.”
Resources and strategies to help you learn new ways to interact with your colleagues and maintain your productivity while working remotely.
Training a task using 3 P+E helps employees learn to succeed with hands-on skills or learn by doing. To train a new skill an employee can use the proven method of 3 P + E approach or present, practice, perform and evaluate.
Offered through GCFGlobal.org
Skills to Advance your Career (career planning, applying for jobs, resume writing, interview skills, workplace skills)
Business Communication Skills (de-escalation, business writing and reports, phone anxiety)