Instructor Led Programs

Penn State Talent Management, in partnership with internal and external learning partners, offers a wide variety of live, online Instructor-led programs covering a range of business, soft skill, and Penn State-centric topics to meet your professional development goals. These programs are offered at no cost to University employees.

Looking for training related to Penn State systems (SIMBA, Canvas, etc.) or other technology and collaboration tools? IT Learning and Development offers instructor-led and asynchronous learning programs on a wide range of topics. Explore their events page to see upcoming opportunities. 

Upcoming Programs

Event Details

Subject Event Date Start Time Location

Grow with your Strengths: Intermediate CliftonStrengths

This intermediate course builds on the principles covered in the introductory course by going deeper into talents and strengths. We’ll discuss theme domains, theme dynamics, motivators and demotivators, partnerships, and ways that strengths can be used to address or prevent burnout. Emphasis is on utilizing talent themes to achieve workplace outcomes.

Personal Effectiveness Tuesday, March 19, 2024 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Online

The 3 Ps: Problem-Solving, Process Improvement, and Project Management

In this interactive session, you’ll use problem-solving and decision-making methods to determine a probable solution, then apply gap analysis techniques to ensure the best project outcome and learn how to manage the implementation by applying the Project Management life cycle to help make your next project more streamlined, efficient, and effective. 

Critical Thinking Tuesday, March 19, 2024 10:00 am - Noon Online

Overview of Penn State Policies

This is a proactive program highlighting the positive aspects of Penn State policies, guidelines, and practices. Discover the ways in which Penn State policies impact your work life. Taught by professionals from the Office of Human Resources, this seminar is your opportunity to review or clarify the following topics.

Working at Penn State Wednesday, March 20, 2024 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm Online

Leading a Hybrid Team at Penn State

Making the move to established hybrid teams challenges traditional management models. We’ve discovered the benefits and trials that come with Hybrid work and recognize that there’s still a lot to learn.  
In this facilitated session/discussion, we will seek active involvement through the chat function and breakout sessions, providing a safe environment to explore what is working, what could be better, and troubleshooting where needed. 

Leadership & Management Wednesday, March 20, 2024 9:00 am - 11:00 am Online

Career Conversations -- 2 Part Program

Please be advised this is a TWO PART Series. You will need to attend both dates to receive a completion certificate:

Part 1: Thursday, March 21, 2024

Part 2: Thursday, March 28, 2024

Penn State believes that supporting career development for our employees is critical to the success of our organization.  It is an exercise that focuses on future possibilities; an opportunity to think and plan—with the flexibility required to meet individual needs.  As an organization, we want to provide you with tools and resources that will help you examine your career aspirations and begin to craft a career development plan. 

Career Thursday, March 21, 2024 9:00 am - 10:30 am Online

SupportLinc EAP Overview for Benefits-eligible Employees

Life can be a juggling act. It takes time and energy to balance your work, family and personal wellbeing. Beginning January 1, 2024, the new SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available around-the-clock, 365 days a year, to help manage life’s challenges, at no cost to Penn State benefit-eligible employees and their families.  This seminar will provide an overview of SupportLinc services, expert guidance, and valuable resources – all 100% confidential – for a wide array of personal and work-related concerns, including stress, anxiety, grief, mindfulness, relationship issues, dependent care and much, much more.

Health & Well-being Wednesday, January 10, 2024, Tuesday, January 16, 2024, Wednesday, January 24, 2024, Wednesday, January 31, 2024, Thursday, February 8, 2024, Thursday, February 22, 2024, Wednesday, March 6, 2024, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, Tuesday, April 9, 2024, Tuesday, April 23, 2024 12:15 - 12:45 Online

SupportLinc EAP Overview for Managers and Supervisors

Approaching difficult situations and assisting employees in need can be a challenge. Beginning January 1, 2024, the new SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program (EAP)  is an important benefit offering confidential, professional assistance for problems of concern to you, your benefit-eligible employees, and their immediate family members. This seminar will provide Penn State Managers and Supervisors with an overview of SupportLinc services, expert guidance and valuable resources that can help you respond to employee mental health and work-life balance concerns, as well as take care of your own. 

Health & Well-being Thursday, January 25, 2024, Wednesday, February 21, 2024, Wednesday, March 27, 2024, Wednesday, April 24, 2024 Noon - 1:00 pm Online

University-Wide Employee Resource Groups at Penn State

This session will provide information on how to form new University-wide Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) at Penn State and how to join existing ones. ERGs are voluntary, employee-led groups open to all staff and faculty. They are created by employees around common identities, backgrounds, or interests, and they help to promote community and belonging while also supporting employee personal growth and career development. Two ERGs have been unveiled at Penn State –Rainbow Roar, the ERG for members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies, and Vet-aLIONce, the ERG for military service members, veterans, their families, and allies. Those attending will also understand the rationale behind forming ERGs, how they help the personal and professional development of employees, and the success of Penn State’s goals and mission, including student success and fulfilling our land-grant mission. - part of the BUILD curriculum

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging Wednesday, March 27, 2024 9:00 am - 10:15 am Online

Healthy Workplace Relationships: Developing Supportive Connections

For many people, work relationships are some of the most impactful in their life. Attendees will be given resources to help identify their existing strengths, both as individuals and as part of their various relationship systems, and ideas of how to continue to learn and grow.

Health & Well-being Thursday, March 28, 2024 11:00 am - Noon Online

ENROLL! Get a head start on your future -- A step-by-step overview of your plan

This presentation takes you through the ins and outs of the plans offered at your institution. You’ll learn the advantages of a retirement plan, how to create a retirement strategy and how to update your account with TIAA.      

Personal Effectiveness Tuesday, April 2, 2024 10:30 am - Noon Online

The Emotionally Intelligent Leader and Team

An emotionally intelligent leader and an emotionally intelligent team have been shown to greatly improve employee retention and engagement. The purpose of this module will be to solidify what is and how to be an emotionally intelligent leader and how to establish and maintain an emotionally intelligent team.  The presentation will be based on ‘Emotional Intelligence 2.0’ by Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves and ‘Team Emotional Intelligence 2.0’ by Jean Greaves.  An understanding of emotional intelligence would be desired; however, a basic review of emotional intelligence will be conducted.  Along with the presentation, there will be break-out rooms and a case study to solidify the learning.  

Leadership & Management Tuesday, April 2, 2024 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm Online

Accessibility101@PSU - An Introduction

This session introduces the main points of accessibility policy and guidelines and uses demos of assistive technologies, such as screen readers, and testing strategies and tools to show how following accessibility guidelines benefits everyone. The session ends with information on how to learn the skills and strategies to successfully implement accessibility guidelines based on your job duties and technological environment. - part of the BUILD curriculum

Working at Penn State Tuesday, February 6, 2024, Wednesday, April 3, 2024 10:00 am - Noon Online

Professional Writing Essentials: Factual Style (Expository) Writing

This advanced course focuses on expository writing that brings information and facts to the writer’s audience. In the course, we will discuss the different types of expository writings, including descriptive, procedural, problem/solution, and comparison. Through discussion and exercises, this course will present how to share the facts clearly and without bias to present a balanced, objective description of a topic. 

Communications Wednesday, April 3, 2024 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm Online

Styles of Leadership

This facilitation will present the six styles of leadership, visionary, pace setting, command directive, participative, affiliative and leader as coach.  The application of each style of leadership within leadership team and individual situations will be explored and practiced. 

Leadership & Management Thursday, April 4, 2024 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm Hybrid

Transgender & Gender Inclusion 101 Workshop

The Transgender and Gender Inclusion 101 Workshop explores basic terminology associated with the transgender and/or gender non-binary community, engages participants in a discussion around gender diversity, and highlights some of the challenges constructed by gender-restrictive practices. 

The workshop concludes with ways to be an ally to transgender and gender non-binary community members and challenges participants to recognize ways that they can foster culture change. - part of the BUILD curriculum

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging Thursday, April 4, 2024 9:00 am - 11:00 am Online

SupportLinc EAP Overview for Benefits-eligible Employees

Life can be a juggling act. It takes time and energy to balance your work, family and personal wellbeing. Beginning January 1, 2024, the new SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available around-the-clock, 365 days a year, to help manage life’s challenges, at no cost to Penn State benefit-eligible employees and their families.  This seminar will provide an overview of SupportLinc services, expert guidance, and valuable resources – all 100% confidential – for a wide array of personal and work-related concerns, including stress, anxiety, grief, mindfulness, relationship issues, dependent care and much, much more.

Health & Well-being Wednesday, January 10, 2024, Tuesday, January 16, 2024, Wednesday, January 24, 2024, Wednesday, January 31, 2024, Thursday, February 8, 2024, Thursday, February 22, 2024, Wednesday, March 6, 2024, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, Tuesday, April 9, 2024, Tuesday, April 23, 2024 12:15 - 12:45 Online

Trust in the Workplace

Trust is key to the success of every organization.  Organizations with low trust pay a high price.  The costs take the form of low morale, low productivity, and low job satisfaction and often lead to a lack of creativity, innovation, and even more important, respect.  This seminar will explore how trust is lost and how it can be regained so that your organization or group can work together more effectively, creatively, and with greater satisfaction and respect for each other. 

Personal Effectiveness Wednesday, April 10, 2024 9:30 am - 11:30 am Online

From Unconscious Bias to Conscious Inclusion

We often have unconscious biases towards individuals with diverse traits and beliefs who are different from us or unfamiliar to us in multiple ways. Detecting and becoming aware of this bias and learning to manage it by acting on the awareness is crucial to creating an inclusive workplace. This session will introduce participants to conscious inclusion practices and focus on developing the empathy and awareness to combat biases, while diversifying their networks and experiences, and committing to inclusive behaviors. Practicing these new inclusive behaviors and tracking individual and collective progress is also essential. - part of the BUILD curriculum

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging Wednesday, April 10, 2024 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm Online

What is Change Management?

The term “change management” might seem to be a buzz word but, in fact, it is a defined process that organizations use to manage the people aspects of change. Change management professionals often work in collaboration with a project manager to help ensure the change being implemented is more likely to be successful. Becoming aware of this process can provide you with context on a change project you are involved in. 

Change Management Thursday, April 11, 2024 9:00 am - 11:00 am Online

Play to Your Strengths: Foundations of CliftonStrengths

You don't have to change who you are to be successful.  Instead, success comes from applying what you do best - your natural areas of talent - to your role.  This course will introduce participants to those natural areas of talent so they can grow their talents into strengths, use them to do their work, and offer maximum value to their teams, partnerships, and relationships.  We'll explore the concepts of talent, strength, and weakness and introduce a strengths-based approach to development that will help each participant identify and own their talents and apply them to their areas of responsibility.  Each participant will complete Gallup’s CliftonStrengths assessment ahead of time. 

Personal Effectiveness Thursday, April 11, 2024 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm Online

Survey Design Basics

This course will serve as an introduction to the foundational concepts of survey design, including an understanding of the psychology of survey sampling, best practices in writing questions, and tips for improving data quality. We will focus on surveys designed for measuring the opinions, experiences, preferences, feelings, and intent of a population of people – such as engagement surveys, feedback surveys, program evaluations, and polling.  Content will focus on theory and design considerations, rather than on technology or data analysis. This session will include a mix of lecture, hands-on activities, and discussions. 

Critical Thinking Tuesday, April 16, 2024 10:00 am - Noon Online

Managing Change: How to Think About It in a Different Way

Change is an essential element of the world and can be perceived as “good” or “bad”. Change affects everyone differently, so there is no “normal”. And, in many ways, how we adapt to change is impacted by our attitudes and perspective.

Therefore, our past experiences, attitudes and our energy influences our perception of change. Thinking about how to manage change differently can help us move forward even in difficult times.

Change Management Wednesday, April 17, 2024 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm Online

Leading By Developing People

Are you responsible for developing others?

Developing people is an important key to effective leadership.  In this facilitated discussion, we will review the concepts introduced in the Leading by Developing People Skillsoft video training that you will complete before the session and discuss opportunities and challenges for you to put them into practice.

Leadership & Management Wednesday, April 17, 2024 9:00 am - 11:00 am Online

Resume Crafting Strategies Workshop

In this session, you will learn about the vetting process that recruiters use when reviewing candidate resumes, along with the implications this has on what you decide to include on your resume and how you plan on formatting it.  The presenter, Dr. Bob Orndorff, will reinforce the importance of crafting your resume strategically versus slapping your content onto a piece of paper.  You’ll also learn how to customize and tailor your resume to the needs and values of the recruiter and their organization.

Career Thursday, April 18, 2024 10:00 am - Noon Online

SupportLinc EAP Overview for Benefits-eligible Employees

Life can be a juggling act. It takes time and energy to balance your work, family and personal wellbeing. Beginning January 1, 2024, the new SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available around-the-clock, 365 days a year, to help manage life’s challenges, at no cost to Penn State benefit-eligible employees and their families.  This seminar will provide an overview of SupportLinc services, expert guidance, and valuable resources – all 100% confidential – for a wide array of personal and work-related concerns, including stress, anxiety, grief, mindfulness, relationship issues, dependent care and much, much more.

Health & Well-being Wednesday, January 10, 2024, Tuesday, January 16, 2024, Wednesday, January 24, 2024, Wednesday, January 31, 2024, Thursday, February 8, 2024, Thursday, February 22, 2024, Wednesday, March 6, 2024, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, Tuesday, April 9, 2024, Tuesday, April 23, 2024 12:15 - 12:45 Online

Run Hide Fight: Active Attacker Response Program

Guidance on how to respond to an Active Attacker situation for Faculty, Students and Staff can be obtained through the Run Hide Fight: Surviving an Active Attacker Program, presented by the University Police. The Run Hide Fight: Surviving an Active Attacker Program provides information on the steps you can take to mitigate the actions of an Active Attacker.

Working at Penn State Tuesday, April 23, 2024 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm Online

Interviewing Skills – Best Practices for Employees

Interviewing is the final step in the job-search process that makes all the difference. In this seminar, Dr. Bob Orndorff will share strategies for creating the best responses to interview questions and for presenting your very best self.  It’s not only “what you say” that matters, but also “how you say it!” Bob will also provide tips on how to navigate challenging interview venues including group interviews and virtual interviews. 

Career Tuesday, April 23, 2024 11:00 am - Noon Online

SupportLinc EAP Overview for Managers and Supervisors

Approaching difficult situations and assisting employees in need can be a challenge. Beginning January 1, 2024, the new SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program (EAP)  is an important benefit offering confidential, professional assistance for problems of concern to you, your benefit-eligible employees, and their immediate family members. This seminar will provide Penn State Managers and Supervisors with an overview of SupportLinc services, expert guidance and valuable resources that can help you respond to employee mental health and work-life balance concerns, as well as take care of your own. 

Health & Well-being Thursday, January 25, 2024, Wednesday, February 21, 2024, Wednesday, March 27, 2024, Wednesday, April 24, 2024 Noon - 1:00 pm Online

PNC: Debt Management

Is debt compromising your financial health?. In this workshop, you’ll learn to build a budget that helps pay down your debt, explore different debt management strategies, and create a personal plan for reducing your debt and improving your credit score. We’ll also discuss the difference between good debt and bad debt and see how your credit score affects how much interest you pay.

Personal Effectiveness Wednesday, April 24, 2024 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm Online

Enhance Your Personal Brand: Lessons from the World's Most Successful Companies

Apple.   Google.  Target.  Twitter.  Coca-Cola.  Starbucks.  These are some of the most famous brands in the world.  But did you know that you have a brand as well?  Your personal brand is the essence or promise of what will be experienced by others when interacting with you.  Through self-reflective exercises and creative thought experiments, this program will show participants what factors comprise their personal brand, which ones may be increasing or decreasing their effectiveness, and how to develop a personal brand that enhances personal and professional success. 

Personal Effectiveness Wednesday, April 24, 2024 9:00 am - 11:00 am Online

Life Blend (previously known as Work-Life Balance)

Balancing the demands of work and family can be a difficult job. Most of us juggle a number of important jobs that all require our time and energy. Your roles might include being a spouse, parent, child, sibling, employee, organization member and neighbor. All of these roles carry responsibilities and rewards. But, if we aren’t careful, the stresses and demands of all of these roles can engulf and drain us. In this presentation, attendees will learn how to balance their work life with their personal life, in an effort to avoid burnout.

Health & Well-being Thursday, April 25, 2024 11:00 am - Noon Online

Coaching Conversations for Supervisors

Coaching conversations will provide supervisors the basic skills necessary to have effective coaching conversations.

Leadership & Management Wednesday, May 1, 2024 10:00 am - Noon Online

Accessibility @ PSU 102 – Accessible Word Templates

In this session, we will walk through using a Word template to create accessible documents using Microsoft Word with templates as an example. We will reformat a report so that it includes headings, image ALT text, accessible tables, and an accessible bar chart with a description. We will also discuss how to share an accessible template for multiple documents and how to modify the styles of a template. - part of the BUILD curriculum

Working at Penn State Wednesday, March 6, 2024, Wednesday, May 1, 2024 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm Online

Thinking Critically

In this facilitated discussion, we will review the concepts introduced in the, “Developing Your Critical Thinking and Cognitive Flexibility Skillsoft video training that you will complete before the session.  

This session will help you improve your critical thinking skills. You'll learn about the intake, investigate, and act stages of critical thinking, as well as how to use analytical techniques to assess information. You’ll also learn the advantages of keeping an open mind through cognitive flexibility.

Critical Thinking Thursday, May 2, 2024 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm Online

Providing Exceptional Customer Service in a Hybrid Workplace

Life as we know it is very different; we are living and serving our internal and external customers in ways we could not have even imagined even one year ago. But are we achieving success or are we finding excuses to explain why customer service is falling behind? 

Customer Relations Tuesday, May 7, 2024 9:30 am - Noon Online

Supporting Neurodiversity in the Workplace

Maximizing employees’ strengths to create successful teams requires an objective awareness of those strengths. One way to do this is to examine biases of what is “normal”. In this presentation, attendees will be given an opportunity and tools to recognize the benefits of supporting and maximizing the resources that neurodiverse employees bring to the workplace.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging Wednesday, May 8, 2024 11:00 am - Noon Online

RETIRE! Live with confidence in retirement

If you’re thinking about making the transition to retirement, this presentation is essential for understanding how to create an income plan that helps you maximize your savings.  

Personal Effectiveness Thursday, May 9, 2024 10:30 am - Noon Online

Professional Writing Essentials: Punctuation

Words are only part of writing. Punctuation keeps your writing easy to understand and expressive! This course reviews the basics of punctuation and how to properly use it. Individuals will gain confidence as they learn the building  blocks to create properly punctuated, effective communication. Learners will participate in discussions and exercises to build their punctuation comprehension.  

Communications Thursday, May 9, 2024 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm Online

Personal Safety and Awareness

In-person: A 75 minute session that introduces key strategies for personal safety, including physical resistance strategies that includes self-defense technique demonstration.

Working at Penn State Wednesday, May 15, 2024 9:30 am - 11:00 am 331 Building (Innovation Park)

Talking About Mental Health in the Workplace

1 in 5 adults in the United States experiences a mental health concern every single year. While emotional distress is not always a sign of mental illness, it can still take a major toll on employee wellbeing – not to mention productivity. In the end, everyone suffers when emotional distress and mental illness are left unaddressed in the workplace. Fortunately, employees and organizations can take steps to create a supportive environment, or what is often referred to as a psychologically healthy workplace. Taking these basic steps not only helps employees in distress and connects them to care – it increases employee resilience and engagement, as well as productivity.

Health & Well-being Wednesday, June 5, 2024 11:00 am - Noon Online

Workplace Stress

There are many well-documented benefits of mindfulness, from stress reduction to relationship satisfaction to job performance. However, many employees find it difficult to make mindfulness a part of their everyday life. Fortunately, it isn't necessary to dedicate a lifetime to learning ancient meditational practices to begin to reap many of the rewards of greater mindfulness. In this presentation, attendees will learn simple yet powerful strategies to help them begin to cultivate the type of greater awareness and active, open attention to the present that experts agree can lead to better health and optimal performance.

Health & Well-being Tuesday, July 9, 2024 11:00 am - Noon Online

Navigating Return to School

Navigating Return to School This presentation is a resource to help you address concerns your child may have returning to school, support family systems in becoming more resilient, and help you to identify your children’s mental health needs and ways to effectively connect with and support them. This is not designed to provide specific educational options for attendees as each family’s needs and options are unique. 

Health & Well-being Thursday, August 1, 2024 11:00 am - Noon Online