For Questions or to Suggest a Class
Terry Cartwright,
Training Specialist
(972) 883-5328
David Gleason,
Assistant Director
(972) 883-4633
(A-D) (E-H) (I-L) (M-P) (Q-T) (U-Z)
(A-D)
A Positive Approach to Discipline
Description: When you hear the word the discipline, what's your first thought? Does the word punishment come to mind? If it does, you are not alone. The idea of discipline has long been associated with punishment. Unfortunately, that has historically been true with regard to workplace disciplinary actions. More and more experts agree that to be effective in the workplace, discipline needs to be based on a more positive approach. This class offers a more positive approach to administering discipline in the workplace. Participants attending this class will learn:
- Punishment based discipline has a number of inherent problems associated with it
- Respect and responsibility is a better approach when administering discipline
- Effective workplace discipline must focus on solving problem behaviors and helping the employee to become responsible in solving the problem
- Positive approaches to some common disciplinary problems
Target Audience: This class is for supervisors, managers or anyone responsible for administering disciplinary actions.
Class Length: 2 hours
Account Reconciliation Training
Description: The Office of Finance offers Account Reconciliation training classes each quarter. The class is for faculty and staff who must reconcile their financial system account reports and for supervisors or department heads who must review and approve the account reconciliation.In this class you will learn how to read your monthly financial system reports and will be instructed in the steps necessary to conduct an account reconciliation. It is recommended that the person who reconciles the account and the person who reviews the reconciliation attend the class together, if possible.
Target Audience: Intended for UTD faculty and staff responsible for reconciling financial system account reports.
Class Length: 2.5 hours
Communication and Listening Skills
Description: Effective communication is an essential building block to successful relationships both at work and elsewhere. As such, we must examine both our role in the communication process and the roles of others. Through careful examination and exploration, we can begin the process of becoming better communicators. In this class, participants will have the opportunity:
- To examine the communication process
- To recognize your style of communication
- To become more aware of barriers to good communication
- To have a greater understanding of active listening and its benefits
- To learn ways in which you can improve your communication and listening skills
Target Audience: This class is open to all University employees.
Class Length: 2 hours
Conducting Effective Annual Performance Reviews (Supervisor's Toolbox series)
Description: It’s that time again—time for conducting annual performance reviews. According to UTD policy (D11-230.0), “Appraisal interviews should be conducted in the first quarter of the calendar year.” This class will focus on the things supervisors need to know and do in order to conduct effective annual performance reviews. The objectives for this class include the following:
- To call attention to the primary purpose behind the annual review process at UTD
- To identify some of the most common mistakes made when conducting annual performance reviews
- To examine the annual performance review tool used at UTD and emphasize techniques for using the tool correctly
- To review and discuss strategies for conducting fair, meaningful, and effective annual reviews
Target Audience: Class is open to any UTD staff or faculty responsible for conducting employee annual performance reviews.
Class Length: 2 hours
Conducting Effective Meetings
Description: Someone has said, “A meeting is an event where minutes are taken and hours wasted.” There is probably only one thing worse than attending a long, boring meeting and that is planning one. It doesn’t have to be this way. If you are charged with planning meetings here at UT Dallas, you have a responsibility to those attending. In this session, you will learn and discuss ways of making the meetings more effective for all who attend. Participants attending this session will:
- Learn the three most important questions to ask before convening any meeting.
- Be able to identify five different types of meetings and understand the advantages and disadvantages of each.
- Review techniques that when implemented will improve the quality of time spent in meetings.
Target Audience: Class is open to any UTD staff or faculty responsible for conducting meetings.
Class Length: 2 hours
Creating a Customer Service Culture: Going the Extra Mile
Description: The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach was quoted as saying, "There are no traffic jams along the extra mile." Good customer service is all about the extra mile. Increasingly, the thing that differentiates one organization from another is the level of customer service it provides, the willingness to go the extra mile. UTD is not exempt in its need to develop and maintain a strong customer service culture. What will it take to get there? What does it take to stay there? This class will examine these questions and encourage the following learning objectives:
- To explore and discuss personal conceptions of effective customer service
- To define what a customer service culture should look like
- To identify principles that will help UTD grow and maintain a strong customer service culture
Target Audience: Class is open to any employee of UTD.
Class Length: 2 hours
Driver's Training
Description: Offered through the Office of Environmental Health and Safety, this class is required for all UTD employees who drive university owned vehicles. For more complete information, contact the Office of Environmental Health and Safety.
Target Audience: For UTD employees who drive university owned vehicles.
Class Length: Varies, depending on class type and format.
Dynamic Discipline (Supervisor's Toolbox series)
Description: Develop supervisor’s knowledge and skills to be able to use and apply the full scope of the University's discipline process as an effective management tool. Participants will be able to:
- Define and discuss discipline as a learning and communication process.
- Identify the full range of disciplinary options available to supervisors and understand the relationship of the disciplinary process to the performance management system at UTD.
- Recognize the progressive nature of the disciplinary process and how to distinguish the appropriate response according to the situation.
- Understand the importance of documentation to maintaining an effective and legal disciplinary process.
- Review University policies on discipline and dismissal and the employee grievance process.
Target Audience: This class is for supervisors, managers, or anyone responsible for overseeing the day-to-day performance of UTD staff or student workers.
Class Length: 2-2.5 hours
(E-H)
Email: Image Maker or Image Breaker?
Description:“Sticks and stones can break my bones but words will never hurt me.” As recent scandals and court cases have shown, words can hurt, especially those included in an email message. Email is a wonderful communication tool. It can also be abused and misused. Email can be an image maker or an image breaker. This class will focus on the basics of effective, professional email communications. Participants will learn the following:
- To identify and discuss the most common email communication errors
- To review basic professional standards and best practices
- To understand the importance of the image we transmit via email communications
- To learn tips for managing your email in-box
Target Audience: This class is open to any UTD employee.
Class Length: 2 hours
Emotional Intelligence Practicum: Know Yourself (Must meet prerequisite to attend)
Description: Self-awareness is an essential piece of developing emotional competence. It applies to all areas of our lives but this session will be focused on the workplace. Participants will engage in exercises and group activities designed to help them understand the importance of self-awareness. It will also include planning and action steps individuals can take to become more aware of how their emotions affect their work and the work of others.
Target Audience: Open to anyone but all registrants must have already attended the class, "EQ: Harnessing the Power of Emotional Intelligence."
Class Length: 2 hours
Employee Tuition & Fee Waiver Benefit Program
Description: The University of Texas at Dallas offers eligible employees the opportunity to enroll in up to six hours of regular academic credit per semester and receive a refund of the Designated Tuition and certain fees. This benefit program is a great way to advance your career at UTD.
Target Audience: This class is open to any UTD employee.
Class Length: 1 hour
EQ: Harnessing the Power of Emotional Intelligence for the Workplace.
Description: Emotional Intelligence, or EQ as some call it, has been defined as the ability to effectively recognize and manage emotions in yourself and in others. We've been told that emotions do not belong in the workplace. However, we all know that emotions do come to the workplace and impact our careers in a variety of ways. Daniel Goleman has written quite a lot on this topic and has suggested that EQ, in the long run, may matter more than IQ in predicting who will become successful leaders, managers and workplace contributors. Participants attending this session will:
- Learn about emotional intelligence and four important EQ skills
- Examine clips from classic television and movies that illustrate facets of emotional intelligence
- Discuss the importance and advantages of EQ
- Encourage and challenge each other to understand the role of emotional intelligence in influencing and contributing to success in today's workplace
Target Audience: This class is open to all University employees.
Class Length: 2 hours
Financial Information Systems (FINS) Training
Description: The Office of Fincance offers a Financial System (TINS/FRS) workshop that is designed to help the account manager or administrative assistant understand the financial system. The workshop covers the various screens that will be helpful in order to look up information, as well as some other general information. It is interactive and you will have computers to use for practice. You will need to bring your password information and account numbers. If you have ever been frustrated with the financial system because you do not know how to look up information, then this is the workshop for you.
Target Audience: Account Managers, Administrative Assistants or persons responsible for managing financial accounts using FINS.
Class Length: 2 hours
Giving & Receiving Critical Feedback
Description: Feedback is a powerful communication tool to let others know how they are performing their jobs or how they are affecting others. The ability to provide critical feedback effectively is a much-needed skill for all employees. Timely and appropriate feedback can maximize the work environment. Poorly delivered critical feedback can injure and destroy work relationships, such that recovery becomes almost impossible. In this class, participants will learn the following:
- To examine common attitudes and practices concerning critical feedback
- To review and discuss key principles related to giving and receiving of critical feedback
- To explore and practice simple techniques for delivering & receiving critical feedback
Target Audience: This class is geared toward supervisors and managers. However, anyone can benefit from the principles discussed and practiced.
Class Length: 2 hours
Have You Met Fred?
Description: Fred is a postman for the U.S. Postal Service but Fred is not just a postman. Fred may work in a less-than-glamorous job but that doesn’t keep Fred from providing exceptional service to his customers. In this lunch-n-learn seminar findout how Fred puts passion into his work and turns the ordinary into the extraordinary. We will examine and discuss four “Fred principles” and learn what we can do to become more like Fred in our interactions with our customers and with each other. The seminar will be based on materials taken from the book, The Fred Factor, by Mark Sanborn.
Target Audience: Open to any UTD staff or faculty.
Class Length: 1 hour
HR Paperwork and I-9 Training
Description:This class will guide you through the HRM process and what forms are needed for newly hired or re-hired staff. It will also cover I-9 procedures.
Target Audience: Intended for all who process HRM forms.
Class Length: 2 hours
(I-L)
In Praise of Praise
Description: One of the most important communication tools in the modern workplace is praise. There is simply no substitute for effective praise. Praise, positive feedback or whatever you call it, is much more than a communication tool; it also plays a powerful role in worker motivation and morale. This class explores such relationships and the appropriate use of praise and worker recognition. The class includes the following learning objectives:
- To analyze personal attitudes about praise and worker recognition
- To review findings on the importance of praise and recognition in the workplace
- To identify and discuss examples that illustrate effective and appropriate workplace praise and recognition
- To learn and practice techniques for giving praise & recognizing employees
Target Audience: Supervisors and managers will benefit most from this class. However, any UTD employee may attend.
Class Length: 2 - 2.5 hours
Interviewing & Hiring: Improving Your Odds
Description: Is getting the right person for the job just dumb luck—or bad luck in the case of a poor hire? This class focuses on what needs to happen to ensure a successful selection and hiring process. Participants can expect the following learning objectives for this class:
- To understand what an effective selection and hiring process requires of those who conduct applicant interviews
- To learn different interviewing approaches and techniques
- To review strategies for conducting effective and successful interviews
- To discuss the kind of questions one should and should not ask
Finding the right person is not an easy task. Come to the class and learn how to improve your odds of selecting and hiring the right person. NOTE: This class does not discuss forms and procedures required to get a new hire into the HRS.
Target Audience: Anyone responsible for selecting and interviewing job applicants.
Class Length: 3 hours
It's Your Annual Review
Description: Whether you love it or love to hate it, the annual review is an important part of the performance management system at UTD. And, it's time again for them to begin. According to UTD policy, reviews "should be conducted in the first quarter of the calendar year." In this class you will take a closer look at the annual review process at UTD, learn how you can make it less painful and more productive, and get your questions or concerns about the process answered. Whether you are new to UTD or just want to better understand the performance management process at UTD, you should attend this session.
Target Audience: Open to all University employees.
Class Length: 2 hours
Learning to Think With More Than One Hat
Description: Everyone thinks. That’s a no brainer (no pun intended). But the truth is that not everyone thinks as productively and effectively as they can. One explanation for this, according to Edward de Bono, is our thinking model has largely become outdated, confusing and often influenced more by ego than by reason. In this class, we will learn an innovative and creative approach about thinking, problem-solving and decision-making. We will learn how to change our thinking behavior and give you an opportunity to try it out in class. The class will require you put on your thinking hat. As a matter of fact, you will learn to put on six different thinking hats. What’s that you say? You don’t have six. You will when you leave the session.
Target Audience: Open to all staff and faculty.
Class Length: 3 hours
McDermott Library
Description: McDermott Library offers occasional classes and library tours. These classes are for faculty and staff who would like information about library services, research history and information about the library.
McDermott Library's Information Literacy program provides the University of Texas at Dallas' faculty, and staff with assistance in developing library research skills and competent information use as part of lifelong learning. Instruction is offered as personal one-on-one sessions, library tours, or class presentations.
Tour the library with knowledgeable staff. Find out about the history and trivia of this unique building.
For more information or Custom Tailored Sessions, contact Loreen Phillips at Loreen.phillips@utdallas.edu or x2126 or Susie Kutchi at susan.kutchi@utdallas.edu or x2613.
Target Audience: Open to faculty and staff.
Class Length: Varies. Library tours are 30 minutes to 1 hour. Most library sessions are one hour.
(M-P)
Managing Change (Supervisor's Toolbox series)
Description: Change is a fact of life in the 21st century, and we at UTD are in the midst of change. Do you find yourself asking, “Why do we have to change? Why can’t things stay the way they are right now?” As a supervisor, you’re also responsible for leading your staff through the change process in addition to adjusting to change yourself. Change is a part of our lives and the level and pace at which it shapes our lives, both at work and at home, will continue to increase. As leaders, we must prepare ourselves to adapt and cope with change and help our staffs to do the same. This course will help you:
- Understand what change means to you and your staff
- Deal with your response to change
- Develop skills and strategies to help you and your staff deal with change
- Understand the transition process individuals go through when faced with change
Target Audience: Open to all staff and faculty.
Class Length: 2 hours
Managing Conflict in the Workplace
Description: It is inevitable that people with competing interests, motivations and needs will experience conflict. Such is the nature of the modern workplace. Rather than avoid the conflict we must learn to manage it constructively. Learning objectives for this class include the following:
- To understand the nature of conflict and common reactions to it
- To review common approaches to conflict
- To learn practical management techniques for the resolution of conflict
- To assess their personal approach to handling conflict
- To identify a new way of looking at conflict
Whether the source of conflict comes from a customer or co-worker, this class is designed to better understand and manage workplace conflict.
Target Audience: This class is open to any UTD employee.
Class Length: 2.5 - 3 hours
Performance Improvement Plans (Supervisor's Toolbox series)
Description: The Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) is a performance management tool commonly used to identify and establish action plans that will help employees who may be struggling on the job. Participants attending this class can expect the following:
- To understand the role of the Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) in an effective performance management system.
- To identify and discuss the key components of a PIP and when it should be used.
- To examine common PIP formats.
- To participate in a small group exercise in creating a mock PIP and to discuss that process with other class members.
Target Audience: This class is for supervisors, managers, or anyone responsible for overseeing the day-to-day performance of UTD staff or student workers.
Class Length: 2-2.5 hours
Procurement Training
Description: The office of Procurement Management offers monthly training classes. These classes are for faculty and staff who would like information concerning Purchasing, Accounts Payable, Travel, Purchasing/Travel Cards, Property, Staples On-Line, and eShipGlobal.
Training can be set up for those who need guidance on completing Purchase Requisitions, Purchase Vouchers, Reimbursement of Business Expenses, Travel Authorizations, Travel Vouchers, Authorization for Professional Services, Request for Purchasing Card; Request for Travel Card; On line ordering from Staples; sending packages through eShipGlobal; transferring property to another department or to Surplus; or Annual Inventory
For more information or Custom Tailored Training Sessions, contact Mary Ann Routzahn in Procurement Management or call extension #2252.
Target Audience:Open to faculty and staff.
Class Length: 2 hours
Providing "Knock Your Socks Off" Customer Service
Description: Could it be said of UTD that we consistently deliver superior customer service to students, co-workers and community partners? If not, why not? This class will examine key principles and strategies from the popular "Knock Your Socks Off" customer service series developed by Ron Zemke. Learning objectives for the class include the following:
- To learn and understand key principles for "knock your socks off" customer services
- To assess how successfully UTD employs these principles
- To develop action plans that promote these principles both at a personal and departmental level
Target Audience: This class is open to any UTD employee.
Class Length: 1.5 - 2 hours
(Q-T)
Responding to the Angry and Upset Customer
Description: There is not one of us who starts our workday thinking, "I can't wait to run into someone at work who is angry or upset with me or UTD." That's just not a reality. If truth be told, most of us would be quite happy never to encounter an angry, upset customer. Unfortunately, that is not realistic either. Sooner or later we all experience the angry, upset customer--someone who feels wronged and is quite open about it. This class was designed to challenge us to look inward and to evaluate how to best respond to angry and upset customers. Learning objectives for this class focus on the following:
- To increase the confidence and comfort level of UTD employees as they respond to angry and upset customers
- To understand and examine different types of anger and appropriate responses to each
- To identify information and skills we need to help us become more responsive and effective when we do encounter the angry and upset customer
Target Audience: Class is open to all UTD employees.
Class Length: 2 - 2.5 hours
Sexual Harassment Prevention: It’s Everyone’s Business
Description: The University of Texas at Dallas is committed to the principle that the learning and working environment of its students, employees, and guests will be free from sexual harassment and inappropriate sexual conduct. Sexual harassment is an issue that affects us all—faculty, staff and students. It is everyone’s business to understand what sexual harassment is and take appropriate steps to prevent it and report it when observed. To that end, learning objectives for this class include:
- To increase awareness as to what constitutes sexual harassment.
- To know the university policies regarding sexual harassment.
- To understand how to report sexual harassment.
- To learn how the courts have defined sexual harassment and where the courts appear to be headed.
- To understand the personal and institutional implications for failure to adhere to federal-state laws and university policies.
Target Audience: Class is open to all UTD employees.
Class Length: 2 hours
Tactical Communication: When Telling It Like It Is--Isn't
Description: It has been said that “Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy.” Sometimes, however, in our desire to “tell it like it is” our communication becomes more tactical than tactful and we become enemy makers. Sadly, such enemies are often our customers and co-workers. This class will explore what professional, tactful communication should look and sound like. Learning objectives for this class include the following:
- To describe and discuss what professional, tactful responsiveness to customer and co-workers should look like
- To review and practice tactful communication skills
- To learn how our responsiveness and tact toward others can be affected by workplace variables and what can be done to minimize such affects
Target Audience: Open to any employee of UTD.
Class Length: 2 hours
TEACH: Teaching Employees/Educators About Communicating with Hearing Impaired
Description:Have you ever had difficulty communicating with a student or coworker with hearing loss? Do you know whether anyone at a meeting is unable to hear you? The UTD Doctor of Audiology (AuD) Program is delighted to offer a 2-hour workshop that provides information to faculty and staff about effective strategies and assistive technology that enhances access to communication for all. You will learn:
- What it’s like to have a hearing loss via simulation
- Emotional consequences of hearing loss
- Strategies for communication success in the workplace/classroom
- Workplace responsibilities under the American with Disabilities Act
- Making things easier with assistive listening technology
Target Audience: Open to any employee of UTD.
Class Length: 2 hours
Teams That Cook Know How To Manage the Heat
Description: This is a variation on Managing Conflict in the Workplace designed to help teams and work units learn how to handle conflict and to assess their personal approach to handling conflict. Learning objectives for this class aim:
- To understand the nature of conflict and its effects on teams
- To review common approaches to conflict
- To teach practical management techniques for the resolution of conflict
- To assess personal approaches to handling conflict
- To view conflict as an opportunity for teams to learn and grow
Target Audience: Class is designed for UTD work teams, project teams or departments. To get the most benefit from the class, multiple members of a team or department should attend. Subject to availability, this class can be delivered as a training session for an entire department or large work unit. Departments interested in this should contact David Gleason to determine availability.
Class Length: 1.5 – 2 hours
Telephone Skills & Etiquette: Making Every Call Count
Description: Most experts agree that despite all the modern advances in technology, the telephone is still the most used communication tool in the modern workplace. It becomes critical then that we use this tool as effectively as possible. Every phone call is an opportunity to communicate a message about the University, our department and ourselves. So, we must make each call count. In this class, participants will focus on etiquette and professional phone skills. This class will help participants:
- To understand how effective telephone skills and etiquette are essential to the success of UTD
- To assess personal telephone skill strengths and weaknesses
- To identify common mistakes and best practices for telephone customer service
- To learn and practice techniques that communicate polish, professionalism and politeness
Target Audience: Open to any employee of UTD.
Class Length: 2 hours
Time Management: It’s More Than a Clock Skill
Description: It is probably a mistake to see time management as purely about clock management skills. Fundamentally, time management is about self-management, personal focus and workplace productivity. This class will help participants become better time managers by focusing on the following objectives:
- To assess personal and work values that will help guide in the creation of self-management planning process
- To identify common time wasters & time savers
- To review techniques that promote effective time management via planning, prioritizing, delegating, and goal setting
Target Audience: This class is open to all UTD employees.
Class Length: 2 hours
(U-Z)
What Does Santa Know About Leadership?
Description: The answer is everything, according to the authors of "The Leadership Secrets of Santa Claus." In this brown bag seminar, we will take a light-hearted look at what Santa has to teach us about the role of leaders and what they must do to get things done in their workshops. You need not purchase the book or read it to attend.
Target Audience: Any employee who serves in a leadership role at UTD.
Class Length: 1 hour
Workplace Attitudes: Eliminate the Negative
Description: It’s been argued that no single force in the workplace is as dangerous as workplace negativity. Both at an individual and organizational level, workplace negativity is extremely costly. Left unchecked, it will destroy productivity; it will damage work and personal relationships; and, it will drive away customers. It’s crucial then that we take a hard look at our workplace and ourselves and learn what we can do to take control of this lethal force. To that end, this class will focus on the following objectives:
- To discuss the prevalence and impact of negativity in the workplace
- To recognize common symptoms of workplace negativity
- To identify steps one may take for controlling negativity
- To develop a personal action plan for managing workplace negativity
Target Audience: Open to any employee of UTD.
Class Length: 2 hours
Contact Us
Click on the above link to view a list of Training and Employee Development staff that can assist you.
Last Updated: April 17, 2008
