Human Resources certificate designed for administrators
The University’s certificate in organizational leadership and ethics (COLE) is part of Human Resources’ faculty and staff development program. Cosponsored by the David Berg Center for Ethics and Leadership, COLE is a series of six workshops (presented by business school faculty members Audrey Murrell and Ray Jones and director of administration Ron Magnuson) designed for supervisors and administrators in leadership or management positions.
Certificates of completion are awarded to individuals who attend all six sessions — in any sequence — over the course of five years. Topics are: Mentoring and Leading Others; The Ethical Use of Power; Solving Problems and Ethical Dilemmas; Principles and Practices of Servant Leadership; Leadership and Effective Talent Development, and Managing Incivility and the Bystander Effect in the Workplace.
Since the program’s inception in 2011, 1,023 Pitt employees have attended COLE sessions and 101 have earned certificates, said Kelly Hardon of Human Resources’ organization development.
Participation is voluntary. Attendees typically are new leaders who want to understand the principles of effective leadership, or are experienced leaders who want to cultivate a productive work environment by examining their own leadership strengths and weaknesses in light of the current theories and best practices that are presented in the class, she said.
COLE drew 152 participants in 2011, and has grown each year since, with 265 participants in 2012, 278 participants in 2013, and 328 participants in 2014.
Workshops are limited to 55 people, with sessions this year at or near capacity and often with a waiting list, Hardon said.
Details on COLE are on the HR site at www.hr.pitt.edu/training-development/faculty-st/organizati.
—Kimberly K. Barlow