Corporate and Professional Programs
Spring 2008 Course Offerings
What Managers Do (AMA 310)
What Managers Do is a practical, skills-building course that focuses on techniques to develop and improve your performance in key areas such as planning, staffing, directing, organizing, and leading using a contemporary management style. In addition, you’ll develop skills to enable you to delegate effectively, motivate successfully, use time efficiently, and increase productivity.
You’ll learn how to:
- Organize a department for maximum productivity
- Staff in a way that matches jobs with talent
- Develop performance appraisal techniques that increase employment development
- Motivate employees to perform to their maximum potential
- Use planning techniques that ensure smooth operation of your department
Instructor: Stephen G. Peek, M.S., Associate Professor of Management, Utica College, Utica, NY. $370 (includes AMA textbook and all materials.)
Personal Strategies for Managing Stress (AMA 375)
Personal Strategies for Managing Stress shows you how to deal with the stress that is inevitable at work, at home, in all environments, and turn it to your advantage. The course will help you respond productively to problems and challenges, without getting “stressed out.”
You’ll learn how to:
- Recognize symptoms and identify different types of stress
- Measure your own personal and professional stress levels
- Apply proven stress-reduction techniques that work best for you
- Implement a long-term personal stress management plan
January 29 – March 4 (6 Tuesdays); 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.;
Instructor: Rich Pratt, M.S., Regional Human Resources Manager, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield of Utica-Watertown, Utica, NY. $370 (includes AMA textbook and all materials.)
How to Manage Conflict in the Organization (AMA 330)
How to Manage Conflict in the Organization will equip you with the skills to transform conflict into a positive, productive force. You’ll learn a variety of proven strategies, tactics, and insights to help you gain control of tough conflict situations. In addition, you’ll gain the practical skills you need to defuse on-the-job conflict quickly and effectively before they flare up.
You’ll learn how to:
- Respond to conflicts quickly and effectively
- Understand the difference between organizational and interpersonal conflict
- Separate people from issues and focus on interests, not positions
- Get beyond immediate tensions and disagreements to the root causes of any interpersonal conflict
- Apply five proven conflict-resolution approaches: avoiding, accommodating, compromising, forcing, and collaborating
- Handle conflict situations in all types of environments, including electronic communication
- Consult with Human Resources about a conflict-resolution situation
January 30 – March 5 (6 Wednesdays); 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.; Instructor: Sallie Backius, M.S., Vice President for Human Resources, Lutheran Care Ministries, Clinton, NY. $370 (includes AMA textbook and all materials).
How to Sharpen Your Business Writing Skills (AMA 500)
How to Sharpen Your Business Writing Skills shows you how to become a more polished and confident writer. You’ll develop the skills to write memos, letters, e-mails, reports, and proposals that get results in the workplace. The course also includes punctuation and grammar review.
You’ll learn how to:
- Project a professional image in your writing
- Choose words, sentences, and punctuation that best conveys your tone and message
- Identify your audience and organize your writing
- Write with clarity and conciseness
- Master the steps of editing and rewriting
- Compose e-mail that communicates your message efficiently
- Avoid the common pitfalls of electronic communications
- Improve your overall writing style
March 25 – May 6 (6 Tuesdays; no class April 22); 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.;
Instructor: Rich Pratt, M.S., Regional Human Resources Manager, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield of Utica-Watertown, Utica, NY. $370 (includes AMA textbook and all materials.)
Fair, Square, and Legal: A Manager’s Guide to Safe Hiring, Managing, and Firing Practices (AMA 367)
Fair Square, and Legal: A Manager’s Guide to Safe Hiring, Managing, and Firing Practices translates complex legal concepts and precedents into easy-to-understand guidelines for managing people. The course provides clear, step-by-step methods of documentation, compliance, and prevention for common workplace actions that can raise legal liability. Focus is placed on equal opportunity, employee rights, and employment law.
You’ll learn how to:
- Identify potential employment law violations before they happen
- Investigate a harassment complaint; develop an effective sexual harassment policy
- Write safe job advertisements and job descriptions
- Conduct safe hiring interviews and performance appraisals
- Determine what constitutes “reasonable accommodation” for an employee with a disability
- Recognize a “hostile work environment” and develop an effective sexual harassment policy
- Take progressive disciplinary action prior to dismissing an employee
March 26 – April 30 (6 Wednesdays); 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.;
Instructor: Sallie Backius, M.S., Vice President for Human Resources, Lutheran Care Ministries, Clinton, NY. $370 (includes AMA textbook and all materials).
Getting Assertive (AMA 215)
Getting Assertive gives you the skills you need to start acting more assertive—both on the job and in your personal life. This course is specifically designed for those who desire to build self-confidence and handle difficult on-the-job situations with ease. You’ll learn tactics and techniques that will help you improve your ability to deal with confrontation decisively, yet diplomatically, cope more effectively with stress and tension, and say “no” to unfair demands. Key topics include: Assertive behavior, self-image, self-awareness, verbal and nonverbal messages, assertiveness on the job, and assertiveness in work relationships.
You’ll learn how to:
- Gain more respect and recognition on the job
- Develop the ability to sell your ideas to other people
- Present a confident, professional image at meetings and in one-on-one situations
- Increase your self-esteem
March 27 – May 1 (6 Wednesdays); 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.;
Instructor: Mona Rice, M.S., Director of Human Resources, Utica College, Utica, NY. $370 (includes AMA textbook and all materials).