Duke Launches Professional Development Certificate Program

Within the Duke University Talent Identification Program office, customer service representatives answered more than 60,000 calls about opportunities for gifted students and admissions staff processed more than 9,400 applications last year.Stephanie Girard, the office’s human resources director, thinks many of the Talent Identification Program’s 72 full-time staff members would get value from offerings in a new Duke professional development program. Employees can now register to take courses to obtain a Professional Development Excellence Certificate, a program created by Learning and Organization Development, Duke’s center for professional training. “Our staff has to be on the cutting edge, not only with what’s going on in our operation, but how to serve our clientele well,” Girard said. Beginning this week, Duke employees can register online for certificate tracks in five areas: Customer Service, Train the Trainer, Supervisory, Leadership and Technical. The certificates allow employees to take core courses as well as handpicked electives to strengthen specific career skillsets.The customer service track, for example, has employees take core classes in Customer Service Excellence, Communicating with Diplomacy and Tact, and Conflict Resolution. To complete the certificate, an employee will also need to choose three elective courses offered by Learning and Organization Development.Elective classes this spring include Fundamentals of Business Writing, Essential Presentation Skills, Managing Multiple Priorities, and full-day workshops for computer skills such as PowerPoint and Adobe Photoshop. “Our purpose in the creation of certificate programs is for intentional development in key areas that drive the way we function organizationally at Duke,” said Keisha Williams, director of Learning and Organization Development. “Our intention is to give people fundamentals or the core that will lead their ability to do good work.”There is no deadline to finishing a certificate once the employee begins taking courses. Chosen electives must comprise a full day or longer of training, according to Learning and Organization Development, and a participant’s supervisor should also be involved in the selection of the certificate and at least one of the electives.All who complete a certificate track will be invited to a Duke certificate award ceremony.Girard, the Talent Identification Program (TIP) human resources director, said her team also includes researchers to supervisors, so the certificate program supplies training opportunities for everyone in her office.Girard said she is planning to work with colleagues to help them determine what courses may further develop their job skills.“These certificate tracks would just provide us with a much stronger level of professional development for TIP managers and employees as a whole,” she said.