Intensive training ahead

Education and improvement the mission of Tech’s Training Services

Robert Nesmith
Communications
& Marketing

	Graduates of the latest Master Series course are, from left, Stephanie Ray, Melody Foster, Valerie Mack, Fanchette Hillery, Charmion Richards, Gaynell Scott, Debbie Dorsey, Chris Lindsey, Yvette Upton, Gregory Simkiss, Kimberly White and Mark Keever.

As the Institute provides instruction and avenues for its students to excel in their chosen fields, Georgia Tech Training Services assists staff and faculty members in personal improvement.

Through Georgia Tech Training Services, a part of the Office of Organizational Development (OOD), the Institute offers professional development programs to the Tech community, from the department level to the individual. More than 350 core classes are offered in areas such as professional development, technical writing, customer service and financial services. Attendees can earn certificates by taking classes in larger courses—Emergency Preparedness, Professional Development and Departmental Financial Management—or they can attend classes à la carte.

“In order for Georgia Tech to be greater, it won’t happen with just research or faculty,” said Lanous Wright, director of Training and Leadership Development. “It requires everyone working here every day. Unless people are growing with the Institute, it won’t happen. You must develop the people—they are what make this place go.”

Part of a four-member staff, Wright manages the Supervisor Development and Management Development certificate programs, as well as the Institute’s Master Series Executive Development program, which provides enhanced leadership development.

Training classes run the gamut, from management and supervisory development to professional office classes and Defining Customer Service certificate courses. Computer training courses and free Brown Bag sessions—informal lunchtime seminars—also are offered. And in November 2007, Training Services partnered with the Office of Human Resources to deliver new faculty and staff orientation classes, combining the benefits seminar with a general “welcome to Georgia Tech” orientation. “Most are related specifically to the environment at Georgia Tech,” he said.

Financial management classes, for example, run from one to four hours, with a few other classes going from four to seven hours at a time. “We have very few classes that run more than one day.”

Customer service certificate courses, begun in March 2007, are well-attended. Training Services awarded 61 graduation certificates to course members out of the 223 attending at last fall’s graduation luncheon. “It’s very popular,” he says. “[The class] covers all departments, from supervisors, managers and office professionals.”

Another recent course addition, the Master’s Series program is unique in higher education in the United States. Attendees are high achievers from both faculty and academic units.

Masters Series class members meet for nine months, with the first half of the class consisting of round tables and class discussion. The second half is the project phase, which Wright calls “very intense.” Previous projects have included recycling projects, P-card imaging and on-boarding of new employees.

“This [latest class] was the fourth iteration of the program, and one of the few executive-development programs in higher education,” Wright said. “The administration saw what was coming [in terms of] Clough’s leaving. This helps build ‘bench strength,’ retention and gives high-performers an outlet for recognition.” While programming this year will focus on previous graduates, applications for the 2009-2010 class will be accepted in spring 2009.

Departments as a whole also can take advantage of private training courses. “We had 26 private program sessions last year,” Wright said, adding that department heads recognize that a group of people can be trained more efficiently. “It also helps promote morale and demonstrates a focused commitment by units to improve the staff’s skills both professionally and personally. It demonstrates the department is committed to the future.” The Student Center, Police Department and Health Services, as well as the Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and the College of Management, all have participated in full-department workshops.

For Fiscal Year 2008, Training Services held more than 250 instructor-led sessions, had more than 2,700 participants and added three new certificate programs. Nearly 1,200 staff members are currently enrolled in certificate programs. “We have had great support from Tech’s administration,” Wright said. “And the [University System of Georgia Board of Regents] chancellor is a strong proponent of staff development.”

Fiscal Year 2009’s full schedule will be completed by October. Using student assistants, the office schedules a majority of classes on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Although 25 to 30 percent of course offerings are free, the office is self-sustaining, generating its own revenue.

And though the training staff has more than enough to keep their slate full, Wright says the office has several plans in the works for improving its delivery of services.

“We’re trying to get at least 10 percent of our offerings in either a Web-based or online format.” Wright also would like to provide more distance learning opportunities within the Tech community, enabling Institute members outside of Atlanta to take advantage of training and professional development classes.

In fall 2008, the office will launch a pilot program to reach Tech’s satellite campuses. In addition, OOD will partner with Distance Learning and Professional Education to deliver a management development certificate program in spring 2009 to compete with similar offerings at places such as Emory University.

Other items offered in Fiscal Year 2009 include online refresher courses, which allow certificate holders to brush up on what they have learned; an increase in video and Web-based learning courses offered; and what Wright calls “Pop-Free” courses—which allow for a certain number of attendees to sign up for paid courses at no charge—starting in the spring. Also, the Departmental Financial Management Certificate will be split into two different courses, the Financial Fundamentals and the Financial Specialist, for spring 2009.

Wright also said he wants to add classes that will focus on supervisor and management development beyond the already offered certificate programs.

“We do have room to grow,” Wright said. “Even with all the classes offered, we have only touched 20 to 25 percent of Tech’s staff.”

Wright, a Tech alumnus from the College of Management, has 13 years of experience with AT&T, where he spearheaded their data network center’s technical and process training. He returned to the Institute four years ago and has been in his present position for more than two years. Other members of the Training Services team include Program Coordinator Barbara Gaston and training specialists Reginald Chambers and Shannon Scott. Outside trainers conduct most sessions, with Training Services instructors leading some classes.