Certificate and Professional Development Programs

FALL 2024 UPDATE: Due to the devastation in the Asheville, NC and the surrounding areas, all Professional Development Workshops and Certificate Series offered by Educational Outreach are postponed until at least November 2024.  Staff will communicate with registrants in the coming weeks as more details are made available. If you have questions please contact us at learn@wcu.edu.  Staff will return your message when they are available. 

 

Listed below are Certificate and Professional Development Programs that are beneficial to Businesses, Nonprofit Professionals, and those looking to Upskill.

Certificates

MANAGERIAL LEADERSHIP CERTIFICATE
Every Thursday from 9 am - 4 pm between September 19th - October 17th in Asheville, NC at Biltmore Park (WCU's Asheville Instructional Site)
Through a carefully crafted curriculum, we will host 5 expert-led sessions, which will teach on topics of Communication Differences and Conflict Resolution, Human Resource Issues, Accountability, Your Value Proposition, and leading Powerful Presentations and Meetings. Elevate your career prospects and become a transformative leader by enrolling in our Managerial Leadership Certificate Course today.

Outdoor Industry Certificate
Postponed to Spring of 2025.  To receive infomration for spring courses please join our email list HERE
If you are looking for a flexible and affordable way to break into the outdoor industry, enhance your skill-set, stand out to potential employers, grow your outdoor business, or sharpen your leadership skills, WCU's Professional Outdoor Certificate program is for you!

Full Grant Life-Cycle and writing CERTIFICATE PROGRAM
September 26^th -27^th , October 3^rd-4^th, October 10^th-11^th (9am - 1pm each day) in Asheville, NC at Biltmore Park (WCU's Asheville Instructional Site)
Grant writing techniques and processes are in a transitional stage. Grant writers need to stay on top of the latest trends that include more online grant applications, requirements for better designed evaluations, and new social policies that determine grant opportunities.

Professional Development One-Day and Two-Day Sessions

Lean 101 Workplace Essentials
October 14th - 15th from 9 am - 4 pm in Asheville, NC at Biltmore Park (WCU's Asheville Instructional Site)
Discover the fundamentals of Lean principles with our Lean 101 Workplace Essentials course, a 2-day program designed for business and office processes that teaches participants to eliminate waste, streamline operations, and drive organizational success through the application of basic lean tools. Participants will learn lean thinking basics, distinguish between value and waste, understand visual management and standardization, and experience hands-on simulations, covering topics such as Lean Thinking Principles, Value-Add vs. Non-Value-Add, Waste, Visual Management, Standard Work, Value Stream Mapping, Kaizen and Pull Systems.

Engaging Veterans in Civilian Employment: Be Veteran Ready
October 11th from 9 am-4 pm in Asheville, NC at Biltmore Park (WCU's Asheville Instructional Site)
In this workshop, you'll develop key competencies to make your organization veteran-ready. You'll learn to articulate the business case for hiring veterans, enhance cultural competency with a focus on veteran-specific issues, and implement strategic recruiting and hiring practices. Additionally, you'll be equipped to effectively onboard, develop, and retain veterans, while identifying the most productive sources and strategies for recruitment.

Crisis Communication
October 18th from 9 am-4 pm in Asheville, NC at Biltmore Park (WCU's Asheville Instructional Site)
In this intensive course, participants will delve into the art and science of crisis communication, mastering essential strategies to navigate through turbulent waters with confidence and poise. Through a combination of theoretical insights, real-world case studies, and hands-on exercises, you'll learn how to anticipate, prepare for, and effectively manage crises while safeguarding organizational reputation and stakeholder trust.  You'll also learn how to develop appropriate messaging, be an effective spokesperson, work with your media partners through timely interviews and press conferences and engage social media to help communicate during a crisis. Whether you're a seasoned communication professional or new to the field, this course will equip you with the tools and skills needed to thrive in high-pressure situations and emerge stronger from adversity.
Class Description and Learning Outcomes

Strategic Decision Making: Moving from Strategic Planning to Getting Things Done 
Fall 2024 Dates coming soon for Asheville, NC at Biltmore Park (WCU's Asheville Instructional Site)
This course is set to will help you Bridge the Gap Between Planning, Strategy and Project Execution as a company leader, aspiring organizational leader, or entrepreneur. This course bridges the gap between strategy and implementation. You will learn to both develop solid strategic planning priorities and how to deliver on your strategic objectives. Learn how external and internal factors impact an organizations’ capacity to execute strategic priorities. In this seminar, you will gain an understanding of how you can bridge this divide between strategy and implementation. You will analyze a fictional case and then apply your learning to create a strategic action plan aligned with industry best practices. 
Class Description and Learning Outcomes

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Supports, Modifications, and/or Accommodations for Participants

All participants are welcome. For questions regarding access and accommodations, please contact WCU Educational Outreach at learn@wcu.edu or by phone at 828.227.7397.