Classes & Workshops
Note: All listings on this page reflect Pacific Time. Unless noted otherwise, classes are held virtually via Zoom.
Class Spotlight
Leadership Development Opportunities: Leadership Fundamentals for Emerging Leaders Program (LFP) or Leadership Development Program
Subtle Acts of Exclusion | July 16: Explore the SAE framework and participate in group dialogue on how to normalize interrupting these acts and engage colleagues in discussion.
Reflective Listening | July 18: Reflective Listening is one of the keys to better communication and ultimately, better performance in the workplace. This course will teach you some of the fundamentals of Reflective Listening so that you can start practicing today.
STEP Deadlines & Resources
STEP learning resources | Watch the short STEP overview video | Contact your STEP team
2024/2025 Performance Year (April 1, 2024, through March 31, 2025)
– Finalize Criteria: Complete by March 31, 2025
– Manager Review : Complete by April 15 2025
Need quick answers? – Review this FAQ
Upcoming Classes and Workshops
Featured
Information Session: Leadership Development Program
Online: Monday, July 7, 12:30 - 1:00pm
Online: Wednesday, July 23, 2:00 - 2:30pm
For current people managers (and managers-of-managers) with 5+ years of management experience: The UCOP Leadership Development Program
Join us for an information session to learn about the Leadership Development Program. This is a 10-month cohort-based learning journey to discover and hone your developmental objectives as a leader. Grounded in our Leadership Framework and the UC Core Competencies, participants will engage in a 360 assessment to determine their focus objectives for the program. Monthly meetings will switch between whole-group experiential learning (Crew Meetings) and small group support (Camp Meetings).
Register for July 7 for
Register for July 23 for
Box Fundamentals
Online: Tuesday, July 8, 11:00am - 12:00pm
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.
Register for Box FundamentalsInfluencing Without Authority: Leadership as an Individual Contributor
Online: Wednesday, July 9, 10:00 - 11:30am
Author and CEO coach Kim Scott says that there are two types of star employees: “superstars” and “rockstars.” While superstars are gunning for promotions, rockstars are grounding themselves as experts in their roles. According to recent research, most individual contributors (62%) plan to stay in IC roles over becoming a manager. How can ICs take ownership of their career growth, leverage their knowledge and skills, and make an impact without climbing the ladder?
In this workshop we’ll dive into the leadership skills all “rockstars” need to become influential contributors: building trusting workplace relationships, managing up, carving out a niche area of expertise, and connecting the dots from your role to the organizational mission.
Attendees will:
- Gain insight into their unique position of influence within the organization.
- Explore the leadership skills of relationship building, managing up, honing expertise, and aligning work to the organizational mission.
- Identify one skill they want to strategically focus on for the next month
UCOP Safety: Basic Awareness
Online: Wednesday, July 9, 2:00 - 3:00pm
Melissa Collins, Program Manager for Security, Risk and Resilience, will facilitate this 30-minute live virtual class that will provide basic safety tips to help employees feel informed, alert, and safe as they travel to and from the workplace. Extra time will be allotted for questions and feedback. Melissa recently joined UCOP after serving 20 years with the UC San Diego Police Department, retiring as a lieutenant, and is a safety expert.
Register for UCOP Safety: Basic AwarenessGROWing your Check In Conversations for Managers
Online: Thursday, July 10, 10:00am - 12:00pm
GROW is a popular coaching framework used around the world for problem solving, goal setting and performance improvement. This interactive session provides managers the opportunity to discuss and practice using GROW framework as a strategy and tool to support engaging STEP checkpoint conversations.
The framework breaks down the conversation into 4 parts: Goal, Reality, Options, & Will:
- Determine Goal
- Discuss Current Reality
- Discuss Options
- Determine the Will
Note: The ecourse “GROWing your Checkpoint Conversations must be taken prior to this class”
Register for GROWing your Check In Conversations for ManagersUCOP STEP: Successful Check Ins
Online: Tuesday, July 15, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Online: Tuesday, August 5, 10:00am - 12:00pm
In this new course for individual contributors, participants will explore how to get the most out of their STEP Check-ins. The course will review best practices for tracking progress on STEP goals, managing emotions when receiving feedback, and delivering upward feedback utilizing the CARE model. The framework breaks down the conversation into parts: Context, Action, Results, Explore, and Envision. The highly interactive two-hour virtual live workshop will provide employees the opportunity to practice the CARE model when delivering feedback to others and upward feedback to their managers. The goal of the course is for employees to be best prepared to engage their managers during their STEP Check-ins.
Register for July 15 for
Register for August 5 for
Subtle Acts of Exclusion
Online: Wednesday, July 16, 9:00am - 12:00pm
The term “microaggression” has become widely used, yet just as widely misunderstood. Join us as we reframe microaggressions as Subtle Acts of Exclusion (SAE). Explore the SAE framework and participate in group dialogue on how to normalize interrupting these acts and engage colleagues in discussion. In this session, participants will: Reflect on socialization and its impact on our outlook, attitudes, and behaviors Understand the shift in language from Microaggressions to Subtle Acts of Exclusion Explore the Subtle Acts of Exclusion Framework Participate in group dialogue on best practices to interrupt SAEs
Register for Subtle Acts of ExclusionPowerPointTechniques
Online: Thursday, July 17, 9:30 - 11:00am
In this session, you will learn powerful techniques that can help save significant time, better manipulate and format presentations, convey information in a compelling way, and collaborate with others more effectively. What will be covered?
- Formatting tips ranging from dozens of navigation and formatting tips and shortcuts, to introducing the powerful concept of Master slides
- Data presentation tips including creating tables, charts, and diagrams from within PowerPoint, as well as importing them from other applications such as Excel and Word
- Using SmartArt to add visual elements that make your presentation more memorable
- Presentation best practices to increase impact
Reflective Listening
Online: Friday, July 18, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Reflective Listening is one of the keys to better communication and ultimately, better performance in the workplace. People have a fundamental need to feel heard and understood. When they do feel heard and understood, problems are more easily solved or averted and both trust and psychological safety grow. Reflective Listening is a necessary skill for today’s workplace, both as a leader and a team member. It is a skill that you can learn. This course will teach you some of the fundamentals of Reflective Listening so that you can start practicing today.
Register for Reflective ListeningGROW Plus: Accountability Conversations for Managers
Online: Tuesday, July 22, 9:30am - 12:00pm
GROW Plus: Accountability Conversations for Managers is the second part in the required live training series on manager and employee performance conversations. This training answers the question: What do I do when my coaching is not improving performance? In this virtual, live, and highly interactive workshop, we will cover: providing productive critical feedback, managing emotions, creating efficient documentation, and holding effective accountability conversations. Managers will also practice having role Accountability Conversations using the UCOP GROW Plus framework.
Register for GROW Plus: Accountability Conversations for ManagersInformation Session: Leadership Fundamentals for Emerging Leaders
Online: Thursday, July 24, 2:00 - 2:30pm
Online: Thursday, August 7, 9:30 - 10:00am
For aspiring people managers: The Leadership Fundamentals for Emerging Leaders Program (LFP). Ideal for UCOP staff who are not currently holding a leadership title and are interested in pursuing a leadership role and want to learn about themselves and leadership, are motivated to learn and reflect, enjoy highly interactive learning. Additional criteria listed here.
If you have never been a manager or supervisor and are interested in learning key aspects of leadership, LFP might be just what you’re looking for! Joins us for an information session to learn more. Created and facilitated by longtime UCOP vendor Pierre Khawand, the LFP curriculum combines key leadership skills and strategies with lessons from Pierre’s highly rated courses such as Accomplishing More with Less (time management and prioritization) and 21 Practices for Happiness at Work (wellness).
Register for July 24 for
Register for August 7 for
UCOP Wellbeing: Locus of Control – Making Peace and Letting Go
Online: Friday, July 25, 12:10 - 12:55pm
Take a mindful pause in your day and join us for this virtual monthly series for individual and collective wellbeing. There will be space for reflection, discussion, and real-life application. Bring your lunch, curiosity and a willingness to connect. All are welcome!
Jul 25: Locus of Control – Making Peace and Letting Go:When things don’t go the way we expected, it’s easy to blame and look outward. Our perception of what we can or can not control influences are well being.
Additional Topics
- Aug 22: The Happy Secret to Better Work
- Sep 26: Vulnerability and Resilience – The Story We Tell
- Oct 24: Strategies and Practices to Managing Stress
- Nov 21: Thriving in a VUCA World – Embracing Positive Perspectives
- Dec 12: The Basics of Practicing Gratitude
Career Development Tools
Online: Tuesday, July 29, 11:00am - 12:00pm
UCOP offers free Career Development tools at your fingertips. Come learn how to use LinkedIn Learning, LinkedIn and My UC Career to develop your professional brand, share and document your accomplishments, and network with colleagues in UC.
Register for Career Development ToolsBrain Power: Increasing Productivity In and Out of the Office
Online : Wednesday, July 30, 11:00am - 12:00pm
This engaging session explores how to boost productivity by aligning your energy, focus, and purpose—both at work and in daily life. You’ll learn science-backed strategies to redefine productivity, support brain-body wellness, manage distractions, and set sustainable boundaries. Whether you’re looking to reduce stress, improve focus, or find more meaning in your tasks, you’ll walk away with practical tools you can start using right awa
Register for Brain Power: Increasing Productivity In and Out of the OfficeGartner Introduction
Online : Thursday, July 31, 11:30am - 12pm
You’ve activated your Gartner membership through UCOP, now what? Join us to learn how to tailor your Gartner experience and leverage the latest research available to you on generative AI, manager effectiveness, DEI, and much more. Together, we will:
- Explore different membership views and tailor your homepage with What I Follow
- Discover the Research Resource Centers, Tools & Benchmarks, and upcoming Webinars in areas of interest
- Learn how to cut to the chase and find what you’re looking for with Advanced Search
People Leader Forum - Difficult Conversations
Online: Friday, August 1, 1:00 - 2:00pm
The People Leader Forum is a monthly opportunity for people managers to connect with one another to develop leadership skills, build community, share best practices, swap strategies for navigating current challenges and learn to better support themselves and their teams.
- August 1: Difficult Conversations
- September 5: Steady Leadership in Turbulent Times: Psychological Tools for Navigating Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity l(VUCA)
- October 3: Building Effective Teams
Get to the Point
Online: Wednesday, August 6, 9:00am - 12:00pm
This two-part writing workshop is for professionals to learn how to get their point across clearly and concisely. You’ll learn practical tips and tools you can immediately use to make your written communications more effective. The result: increased clarity, response and action from your readers. Specifically, you’ll learn how to:
- Meet the needs of today’s busy readers
- Use language that is clear and professional
- Edit for brevity, clarity, and correctness
- Write powerful openings and closings
- Format material for easy reading
- Get to the point!
Note: Participants must attend both sessions from 9am-12pm on Wednesday, Aug 6 (Session 1) and Friday, Aug 8 (Session 2) to receive credit for the course.
Register for Get to the PointBox Advanced
Online: Tuesday, August 12, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Want to know how to securely store sensitive data in Box? Interested in how to get data into Box via email or URL? Sign up for this advanced Box class and we will cover a wide range of topics including setting up alerts to monitor folders and using Box groups to manage department collaborations.
Register for Box AdvancedPsychological Safety
Online: Wednesday, August 13, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Research shows that a culture of psychological safety is the #1 determinant of team success, beating out average team tenure and IQ. But what is psychological safety, and what power do we have to influence the working conditions of our teams? Join us in this workshop designed for managers as we:
- Define the benefits of building a culture of psychological safety on your team.
- Explore the 4 Stages of Psychological Safety and the behaviors associated with each.
- Assess your current team culture and behaviors that contribute to or reduce psychological safety.
- Engage with the BICEPS framework for keeping a pulse on psychological safety on an individual level.
Prior to the class, we encourage you to watch this TED talk by Amy Edmondson, godmother of Psychological Safety: Amy Edmondson: Building a Psychologically Safe Workplace
Register for Psychological SafetyMindfulness at UCOP
Online : Friday, August 15, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Less stress. Enhanced awareness and focus. Improved health.
These are some of the benefits shown in research studies on mindfulness. In this one-hour workshop, you will learn how to both reduce your stress and increase your effectiveness at work through simple mindfulness techniques. Some highlights:
- Research on mindfulness benefits
- Mindfulness vs meditation
- Simple mindfulness practices at work
Connections in a Hybrid World
Online : Tuesday, August 19, 10:00 - 11:30am
Today more than ever it is important to be strategic about connecting with others, building relationships, and expanding your network. Join us for this interactive workshop to explore the current realities of working in a hybrid environment and discuss tangible actions you can take to build authentic relationships in the workplace. The session will highlight the importance of emotional intelligence in building your social capital to leverage connections and accomplish more at work.
Register for Connections in a Hybrid WorldAdditional 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.