Classes & Workshops

Note: All listings on this page reflect Pacific Time. Unless noted otherwise, classes are held virtually via Zoom.

Class Spotlight: Upcoming classes

Success in the Workplace for Newer Professionals, Nov 5th, 1 – 2pm
Excel Power BI (3 session course), Nov 5th, Nov 12th, & Nov 18th – 9am – 12pm
Communication in the Workplace, Nov 13th, 8:30am – 12:30pm

UCOP Winter 2027 Cohorts Applications Open

2027 UCOP Mentorship Program. Apply as a mentee or complete the mentor interest form by December 4.Register for an information session
UCOP Leadership for Individual Contributors. Complete the 2027 Program Application by Friday, Nov. 20. Register for an information session.

Other Campus Offerings:

These programs are open to UCOP employees. They may have fees that must be covered by departments (not covered by the learning and development department).
Berkeley People Management (BPM) series & certificate programs | People & Culture – Free
UCLA University Women’s Leadership Academy – Registration fee
Unlock the Power of Microsoft 365 Copilot – Free

STEP Deadlines & Resources for the 2026/2027 Performance year

STEP learning resources | Watch the short STEP overview video | Contact your STEP team | FAQs for quick answers

Define Criteria: Complete by May 29th, 2026

Check-in one: Complete by August 28th, 2026

Upcoming Classes and Workshops

Featured

Effective Leadership in Turbulent Times: Psychological Tools for Navigating Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity (VUCA)

Online: Thursday, October 22, 1 - 2pm

In today’s fast-changing world, leaders are constantly faced with unpredictability, high-stakes decisions, and pressure to maintain stability. How do you stay steady when the ground beneath you keeps shifting?

Join Dr. Ana Dolatabadi from the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) for this one-hour training designed specifically for leaders navigating uncertainty. You’ll gain practical, psychology-based strategies to:

Focus on what you can control and let go of what you can’t
Cultivate stability for yourself and your team during times of change
Reduce stress when facing unknowns
Avoid common leadership pitfalls in volatile environments

Register for Effective Leadership in Turbulent Times: Psychological Tools for Navigating Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity (VUCA)

UCOP Leadership for Individual Contributors Cohort - Information Session

Online: Wednesday, October 28, 10:30 - 11am

Join us to learn about our newest leadership development offering: the UCOP Leadership for Individual Contributors Cohort. Running January – May 2027, this cohort is ideal for experienced ICs who want to flex their leadership skills in their current role or who are interested in moving into people management. This info session will cover the program format, content, time commitment, and requirements for successful completion.

A second information session will also be hosted on Tuesday, November 10, 1 – 1:30pm.

Impactful Storytelling for Business Professionals

Online: Thursday, October 29, 9:30am - 12pm

This workshop is designed for all business professionals seeking to master storytelling as a strategic communication tool. It aims to enhance their ability to convey compelling narratives that resonate with diverse audiences, including colleagues, stakeholders, and clients. Through interactive exercises, practical application, and expert guidance, participants will discover how to effectively use storytelling to clarify their vision, motivate teams, and drive organizational objectives.

UCOP Mentorship Program - Information Session

Online: Friday, October 30, 11 - 11:30am

Come learn about the UCOP Mentorship Program. The Mentorship Program is an exciting opportunity to share and learn career skills and leadership practices, guide and navigate the UCOP culture, and establish long term professional relationships. The goal of the Mentorship Program is to create mentor–mentee pairings that provide a supportive structure for UCOP employees to cultivate contacts, explore challenges and enhance their effectiveness as they grow both personally and professionally.

Two other sessions will be held on Nov 12 or 18 from 1:30-2pm

People Leader Forum - Coaching

Online: Friday, October 30, 1 - 2pm

In this session Deepak Patil, Organization Development Consultant from UCOP Organizational Development, explores how people leaders can effectively use coaching as a practical, everyday leadership tool not as a replacement for formal executive coaching, but as a complementary skill. Participants will examine key differentiators of manager-led coaching vis-à-vis an external professional coaching. Through simple models and interactive exercises, leaders will learn how to appropriately anchor their conversations with employees on the coaching spectrum.

Mental Health in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: What Helps, What Hurts, and What to Watch For

Online: Friday, October 30, 12-1 PM

Artificial intelligence is becoming an increasingly present part of our everyday lives. From helping us organize information and brainstorm ideas to offering advice, companionship, or even support during difficult moments, AI tools are changing not only how we work, but also how we seek information, make decisions, and relate to technology. As these tools become more sophisticated and more human-like in their interactions, it is increasingly important to consider what their use may mean for our mental health and wellbeing.

What does it look like to engage with AI in a way that supports rather than undermines our wellbeing? When might AI be helpful, and when should we be cautious? How can we recognize when our own (or someone else’s) relationship with AI may be becoming concerning?

Join us for a 1-hour informational webinar exploring AI use through a mental health lens. Drawing from current research and psychological perspectives, we will discuss both the potential benefits and risks of engaging with AI and consider practical ways to use these rapidly evolving tools safely and intentionally.

Box Advanced

Online: Tuesday, November 3, 11am - 12pm

This course will give you an overview of Box, the cloud-based service that provides secure file storage and file sharing.

How to use Box
How to collaborate with UCOP and non-UCOP people
Commenting directly on files, folder permissions, shared links, and many other tips that will help you when using Box.

Administrators from IT will be on hand to answer your questions and review the best features of Box. More info on Box can always be accessed on our webpage.

Excel Power BI (Session 1 of 3)

Online: Thursday, November 5, 9am - 12pm

Learn Dashboards and reporting using Excel and Power BI, and is ideal for Analysts and staff interested in dashboards and reporting.

What You’ll Learn

• Preparing Excel data for Power BI
• Building Power BI visuals
• Designing dashboards
• Publishing and sharing reports

Software Requirements

Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365 desktop version)
Power BI Desktop (free download; approval needed from UCOP IT)

Recommended Setup A dual‑monitor setup is recommended for the best learning experience. Participants with a single screen can still fully participate; simple adaptations will be provided.

Attendance for all three sessions is required: Nov 5, Nov 12, & Nov 18

Success in the Workplace for Newer Professionals

Online: Thursday, November 5, 1 - 2pm

This training equips both new and early-career employees and the managers who support them with the skills, awareness, and behaviors needed to thrive in today’s evolving workplace. As a new generation enters the workforce, natural shifts in communication styles, values, and expectations can create friction—but also opportunity. Through a mix of practical guidance and concrete examples, participants will learn the unwritten norms that shape workplace success, from communication and meeting etiquette to collaboration, professional presence, and work habits.

The session also highlights the unique strengths the newer professionals bring to organizations and offers strategies to bridge gaps, build mutual understanding, and foster a culture where employees at all levels can grow, contribute meaningfully, and succeed.

Manager and Employee Conversations Part 2: Feedback for Employee Accountability

Online: Friday, November 6, 9:30am - 12pm

Manager and Employee Conversations Part 2: Feedback for Employee Accountability
(Formerly “GROW Plus: Accountability Conversations”)

This is the second part in the required live training series, Manager and Employee Conversations. This training answers the question: What do I do when my coaching is not improving performance?

In this highly interactive live virtual workshop, we will cover providing productive critical feedback, managing emotions, creating efficient documentation, and holding effective accountability conversations. Managers will also practice having accountability conversations using the UCOP GROW Plus framework.

Mentorship Program Info Session

Online: Thursday, November 12, 1:00-1:30pm

Communication in the Workplace

Online: Friday, November 13, 8:30am - 12:30pm

This engaging workshop provides practical tools and techniques to strengthen communication skills in professional settings. Participants will explore strategies to enhance their professional presence, improve emotional intelligence, and apply both verbal and non-verbal communication techniques to foster effective engagement. The session focuses on helping individuals make a positive impact in the workplace by communicating with clarity, confidence, and purpose. Whether in team meetings, one-on-one conversations, or high-stakes presentations, participants will walk away with actionable strategies to communicate more effectively and build stronger professional relationships.

Creating Accessible Documents Part 2: PDF

Online: Tuesday, November 17, 10:30am - 12pm

Building off the Creating Accessible Documents 1: MS Office training, Accessible PDF Documents offers a deep dive into using Adobe Acrobat Pro to manipulate, tag, and test PDF documents for accessibility. We will cover tagging documents from scratch, what common accessibility errors are, tables, and building accessible PDF forms. In order to fully participate in this class, you will need to have Adobe Acrobat Pro installed (not just Acrobat Reader).

Mentorship Program Info Session

Online: Wednesday, November 18, 1:00-1:30pm

Eat for Calm: Food, Stress & Everyday Wellness

Online: Thursday, November 19, 1:10 - 1:55pm

We will share simple ways that everyday food choices can support energy, wellness, and a sense of calm during busy workdays. This session will explore easy “stress-snack makeovers,” how to build-your-own wellness bowls, and quick, nourishing recipes you can fit into a busy schedule.

People Leader Forum - Recruitment with AI

Online: Friday, November 20, 11am - 12pm

As AI tools become more common in the job search process, recruiters and hiring managers are adapting their recruitment and interviewing approaches. Join us for this month’s People Leader Series to discuss how AI is impacting recruitment at UCOP, including resumes, candidate screening, and interviewing. We’ll review effective interviewing techniques, behavioral-based questions, and follow-up strategies that help validate candidate experience and capabilities.

Additional Classes

Using the UC Learning Center

Registration: Log in to the UC Learning Center using your UCOP login and password. In the Search box on the left, enter the name of the class you want. Select the session you want, then select the Register box and Submit.

Cancellation: You can cancel your registration through the UC Learning Center. We ask that you cancel 48 hours before the scheduled class time so that others may sign up, or contact the Learning & Development Team.

If you require any assistance or accommodation with finding, registering or attending a class please email the Learning & Development Team.