Workplace Certificate Program

The Workplace Certificate Program was designed to allow voluntary participants to explore their beliefs, values, attitudes, expectations, identities, and behavior and connect those to the foundational concepts of inclusion, civility, and diversity.

The WCP will be offered as two different levels. Level I and Level II will offer different classes.

	Level I	Level II
Format	Virtual	In-person
Required Courses	5	7
Elective Courses	2	4

*Please see below for details regarding schedule and curriculum. 

To qualify for the certificate signed by the Chancellor (Level II), participants must achieve a 75% or higher score in core courses quizzes. These quizzes will be administered during the program via Qualtrics.

Upon acceptance into the program, more information about electives and enrollment will be provided.

Participants in the program can expect to:

• Explore their beliefs, values, attitudes, expectations, background, identities, and behavior. 
• Develop critical competencies relevant to a wide variety of disciplines.
• Deepen their understanding of historical and institutionalized policies that continue to impact inequities for diverse and marginalized populations.
• Learn strategies for recognizing cognitive bias and supporting a positive organizational culture.

Developing a more knowledgeable workforce by enhancing staff competencies and behavior in the workplace creates a positive organizational culture. 

 

Specific objectives:

• Understanding foundational how organizational culture is defined by inclusion, civility, and diversity. 
• Connect the impact of attitudes, expectations, and beliefs vital to organizational goals to identify critical gaps that impact overall effectiveness. 
• Help create a culture that values difference and celebrates a global outlook in understanding the mixture of differences and similarities and related tensions and complexities. 
• Considerations and tools for fostering positive human relations while meeting organizational objectives. 
• Professional development. 
• Contribute to the University community by addressing the value of a positive organizational culture.  

The curriculum explores foundational concepts essential to enhancing an organizational culture that supports an inclusive work environment through lectures, experiential activities, and independent learning activities.

The six-week certificate program’s curriculum builds knowledge, understanding, and application methodologies to address dynamics within a workplace like UTHSC, an academic health science center. Those who pursue this certificate will learn more about ways to assist and improve their ability to contribute to a positive work culture through inclusive behaviors.

To qualify for the Workplace Certificate Level I, participants must complete five (5) required courses. Additionally, participants must participate in two (2) elective courses to complete and participate in experiential learning activities. Overall, participants must attend seven (7) courses.

To qualify for a signed certificate by the VC for HR and AVC for OAC, participants must complete the five core course quizzes with a 75% or higher score. These quizzes will be administered during the program via Microsoft Teams.

 

	Course Name	Course Type	Units
1	The Inclusion, Civility, and Diversity Equation	Required	1.15
2	Communicating Effectively in the Workplace	Required	1.15
3	Harassment at Work	Required	1.15
4	Are You Self-Aware?	Required	1.5
5	Practicing Radical Self Care	Required	1.5
Total	5 Required Courses

Elective Courses (A minimum of two required.)

Course name	Course Type	Units
Observations, Assumptions, & Patterns	Elective	1.15
Serving on a Search Committee	Elective	1.15
Dealing with Conflict at Work	Elective	1.15
Engaging in the Interactive Process	Elective	1.15

The curriculum explores foundational concepts essential to enhancing an organizational culture that supports an inclusive work environment through lectures, experiential activities, and independent learning activities.

The eight-week certificate program’s curriculum builds knowledge, understanding, and application methodologies to address dynamics within a workplace like UT Health Science Center, an academic health science center. Those who pursue this certificate will learn more about ways to assist and improve their ability to contribute to a positive work culture through inclusive behaviors.

To qualify for the Workplace Certificate Level II, participants must complete seven (7) required courses. Additionally, they must participate in three (3) elective courses and one (1) simulation, seminar, or discussion learning activity. Overall, they must attend eleven (11) in-person courses.

To qualify for the certificate signed by the Chancellor, participants must complete the seven core course quizzes with a 75% or higher score. These quizzes will be administered during the program via Microsoft Teams.

	Course Name	Course Type	Units
1	Accommodations 101	Required	1.5
2	What's Law Got to Do with it?	Required	1.5
3	Conflict Resolution	Required	1.5
4	Workplace: Leading with Civility	Required	1.5
5	How Is Your Cultural Humility?	Required	1.5
6	Safe Zones: What Do We Know	Required	1.5
7	Are You an Inclusive Leader?	Required	1.5
Total	7 Required Courses

Elective Courses (A minimum of four are required, with one simulation, seminar, or discussion)

Course name	Course Type	Units
Complaints: Informal and Formal	Elective	1.15
Sexual Misconduct 360	Elective	1.15
Bystander Intervention	Elective	1.15
Inclusion & Belonging: A Workplace Experience	Elective	1.15
Cognitive Bias in the Search Process	Elective	1.15
Documenting Employee Performance/Conduct	Elective	1.15
STAR Power Workshop (simulation)	Elective	2.0
Emotional Intelligence (seminar)	Elective	2.0
Leadership Short Stories (discussion)	Elective	2.0

Workplace Certificate Program Leader

• Michael Alston, EdD, CCDP/AP
  Associate Vice Chancellor and Title IX Coordinator

Instructors

• Chandra Alston, EdD, MBA
• Nakeshi "Nikki" Dyer, EdD, NCC
• Tammie Washington
• Omar Malik, JD
• Vikki M. Massey, MS
• Erin McElyea, MS 

Program Coordinator

• Tammie Washington 
• Michael Alston, EdD, CCDP/AP

 

The Office of Access and Compliance offers the Workplace Certificate Program to only UT Health Science Center faculty, staff, trainees, and students at all locations. A complete application will include the following:

1. Application - Level II
2. A separate document with answers to open-ended questions (Level II only)
3. Supervisor’s endorsement (does not apply to student applications)

To apply, submit a complete application following the steps above. 

Applications for Level II are now closed.