The Human Resources Administration Certificate Program is a series of eight workshops designed for University of Pittsburgh supervisors to acquire the knowledge necessary to effectively administer the policies, procedures and guidelines relative to human resources within their department. This program addresses the supervisor’s role and responsibilities in key areas such as recruiting, compensation, employee relations and various aspects of compliance. All workshops required to earn a certificate in this program will be offered on a rotating basis each fall and spring through the Faculty and Staff Development Program (FSDP).  Participants may take these workshops in any order. Certificate requirements include completion of all courses and satisfactory completion of a Knowledge Mastery Test.

Participants are expected to track their own progress using the Completion and Tracking Form  and report completion of required courses to Organization Development.

The HR Administration Certificate Program consists of the following eight workshops:

• Talent Acquisition: Understanding the Staff Hiring Process at Pitt – for Supervisors
• Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for Supervisors
• Managing Staff Performance: Maximizing Your Staff’s Potential
• Managing Staff Performance: Addressing the Need for Improvement
• Fostering Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace – A Supervisor’s Role
• Compensation Administration for Supervisors
• Navigating PittSource for Supervisors
• Understanding Policies and Procedures for Staff Time Off – for Supervisors

Compensation Administration for Supervisors*

Presenters: Compensation Staff
Office of Human Resources
Date: Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Time: 9–11:00 a.m.
Location: 211 David Lawrence Hall
Who Should Attend: Individuals who directly manage or supervise the work of other staff
Note: This workshop is available via video conference to Pitt’s regional campuses. Specific room details sent via email prior to workshop date.

This workshop is designed to provide supervisors with an overview of their role in administering the compensation function for staff within their department. Participants will gain a basic understanding of the Staff Classification System and salary administration, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and what it means to be exempt versus non-exempt, and policies regarding work schedules and paid time off. Participants will meet representatives from the Compensation Department, learn of news and updates regarding compensation policies, and have the opportunity to ask questions.

Register for this Session

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for Supervisors

Presenter:  Keith Kapusta, Employee Relations Specialist
Employee and Labor Relations
Amelia Kephart, benefits analyst
Benefits, Office of Human Resources
Date: Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Time: 9–11:00 a.m.
Location: 211 David Lawrence Hall
Note: This workshop is available via video conference to Pitt’s regional campuses. Specific room details sent via email prior to workshop date.
Who Should Attend:  Individuals who directly manage or supervise the work of other staff

The federal government mandates unpaid leave for certain family and medical reasons for eligible employees. This workshop will educate supervisors on the provisions of the law and how it interfaces with the University’s leave programs. Participants will also learn about administrative procedures that are the responsibility of each department and those of the Office of Human Resources. A question-and-answer session will follow the presentation.

Register for this Session

Navigating PittSource for Supervisors*

Presenter: Jordan Miller, Recruiter
   Recruiting and Client Services, Office of Human Resources
Kaitlyn Konkle, Compensation Analyst
   Compensation Department, Office of Human Resources
Date: Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Time: 9–11:30 a.m.
Location: 342 Craig Hall
Who Should Attend: Individuals who directly manage or supervise the work of other staff

This workshop is designed for supervisors who are responsible for any part of the staff recruitment process within their department. Workshop facilitators will provide a review of how to navigate and best-utilize the University’s online applicant tracking system – PittSource. Participants will leave this session with a good understanding of how to create and approve a job description and selection requests, how to review applicant documents and change applicant status, how to customize your search screens and export these results, and…..much more!

Register for this Session

Talent Acquisition: Understanding the Staff Hiring Process at Pitt – for Supervisors

Presenter: Sarah Morgan, manager
Recruiting and Client Services
Office of Human Resources

Dates: Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Time: 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m
Location: 211 David Lawrence Hall
Note: This workshop is available via video conference to Pitt’s regional campuses. Specific room details sent via email prior to workshop date.

Who Should Attend: Individuals who directly manage or supervise the work of other staff

This workshop is designed for supervisors who are responsible for any part of the staff recruitment process within their department. The foundation of a successful workforce relies on selecting, hiring, and retaining the best candidates. This session will provide participants with an overview of the recruitment process and a supervisor’s role in partnering with their Recruiting & Client Services representative to reach their hiring objectives. Participants will leave this session with a good understanding of tasks such as posting open staff positions, interviewing candidates, selecting a finalist, and the onboarding process.

Register for this Session

(NEW) Understanding Policies and Procedures for Staff Time Off – for Supervisors*

Presenter: Jane Volk, Director
Employee and Labor Relations, Office of Human Resources
Date: Wednesday, November 9, 2016
Time: 9–11:00 a.m.
Location: 211 David Lawrence Hall
Note: This workshop is available via video conference to Pitt’s regional campuses. Specific room details sent via email prior to workshop date.
Who Should Attend: Individuals who directly manage or supervise the work of other staff

There is a wide variety of reasons for which staff request time off from work. It is not always easy for supervisors to discuss these requests with their staff. In addition to educating supervisors on University policies and procedures around staff accrual and usage of sick days, vacation days, and personal days, this workshop will help participants learn the dos and don’ts of engaging in time off discussions with employees. Facilitators will discuss how policies and procedures provide a framework for supervisors to manage these requests while also protecting the staff member’s employment. The basics of Family and Medical Leave Act leaves, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability leaves, and Leaves of Absence will also be covered.

Register for this Session

The Human Resources Administration Certificate Program is a series of eight workshops designed for University of Pittsburgh supervisors to acquire the knowledge necessary to effectively administer the policies, procedures and guidelines relative to human resources within their department. This program addresses the supervisor’s role and responsibilities in key areas such as recruiting, compensation, employee relations and various aspects of compliance. All workshops required to earn a certificate in this program will be offered on a rotating basis each fall and spring through the Faculty and Staff Development Program (FSDP).  Participants may take these workshops in any order. Certificate requirements include completion of all courses and satisfactory completion of a Knowledge Mastery Test.

View the courses offered this semester.

Participants are expected to track their own progress using the Completion and Tracking Form  and report completion of required courses to Organization Development. Please see for Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the Human Resources Administration Certificate Program.

The HR Administration Certificate Program consists of the following eight workshops:

• Compensation Administration for Supervisors
• Navigating PittSource for Supervisors
• Talent Acquisition: Understanding the Staff Hiring Process at Pitt – for Supervisors
• Managing Staff Performance: Maximizing Your Staff’s Potential
• Managing Staff Performance: Addressing the Need for Improvement
• Understanding Policies and Procedures for Staff Time-Off – for Supervisors
• Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for Supervisors
• Fostering Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace – A Supervisor’s Role

Compensation Administration for Supervisors

This workshop is designed to provide supervisors with an overview of their role in administering the compensation function for staff within their department. Participants will gain a basic understanding of the Staff Classification System and salary administration, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and what it means to be exempt versus non-exempt, and policies regarding work schedules and paid time off. Participants will meet representatives from the Compensation Department, learn of news and updates regarding compensation policies, and have the opportunity to ask questions.

Navigating PittSource for Supervisors

This workshop is designed for supervisors who are responsible for any part of the staff recruitment process within their department. Workshop facilitators will provide a review of how to navigate and best-utilize the University’s online applicant tracking system – PittSource.  Participants will leave this session with a good understanding of how to create and approve a job description and selection requests, how to review applicant documents and change applicant status, how to customize your search screens and export these results, and…..much more!

Talent Acquisition: Understanding the Staff Hiring Process at Pitt – for Supervisors

This workshop is designed for supervisors who are responsible for any part of the staff recruitment process within their department. The foundation of a successful workforce relies on selecting, hiring, and retaining the best candidates. This session will provide participants with an overview of the recruitment process and a supervisor’s role in partnering with their Recruiting & Client Services representative to reach their hiring objectives. Participants will leave this session with a good understanding of tasks such as posting open staff positions, interviewing candidates, selecting a finalist, and the onboarding process.

Managing Staff Performance: Maximizing Your Staff’s Potential

One of the supervisor’s most important responsibilities is to provide a framework that enables staff to develop their performance and achieve goals. This workshop provides supervisors with an overview of best practices and procedures for managing employee performance throughout the year. Topics include establishing performance expectations and goals, providing ongoing feedback, and conducting performance reviews. Participants will also learn about the performance management cycle, and become familiar with tips and techniques for maximizing staff performance potential.

Managing Staff Performance: Addressing the Need for Improvement

You’ve learned how to develop your staff’s potential, but even after employing the best management practices, staff performance can fall short of expectations.  This workshop, designed as a follow-up to Maximizing Your Staff’s Potential, will introduce supervisors to tools available to address staff performance that does not meet the requirements of a job.  Workshop facilitators will discuss how supervisors can partner with Pitt’s Employee Relations department to administer tools such as Performance Improvement Plans and performance and conduct memos, among others. Participants will also learn how the effective use of performance appraisals, including “special appraisals,” provides a productive way to address the need for improvement in staff performance. 

Understanding Policies and Procedures for Staff Time-Off – for Supervisors

There is a wide variety of reasons for which staff request time off from work.  It is not always easy for supervisors to discuss these requests with their staff. In addition to educating supervisors on University policies and procedures around staff accrual and usage of sick days, vacation days, and personal days, this workshop will help participants learn the dos and don’ts of engaging in time off discussions with employees. Facilitators will discuss how policies and procedures provide a framework for supervisors to manage these requests while also protecting the staff member’s employment.  The basics of Family and Medical Leave Act leaves, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability leaves, and Leaves of Absence will also be covered.

Family and Medical Leave Act(FMLA) – for Supervisors

The federal government mandates unpaid leave for certain family and medical reasons for eligible employees. This workshop will educate supervisors on the provisions of the law and how it interfaces with the University’s leave programs. Participants will also learn about administrative procedures that are the responsibility of each department and those of the Office of Human Resources. A question-and-answer session will follow the presentation.

Fostering Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace – A Supervisor’s Role

The workshop is designed to help supervisors gain insight and learn the foundational concepts of diversity and how to foster an environment that makes employees feel valued and included.  Participants will define and discuss terms such as diversity, micro-aggression, implicit bias and other relevant terms and through dialogue, videos and exercises, will examine the ways they impact the workplace.  The participants will discuss the benefits of diversity and inclusion in the workplace and review the additional resources and training opportunities available at the University.