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The Lean into Learning! series is a new initiative to provide the talent community with a collection of learning sessions to broaden skills and performance. The sessions will cover a variety of topics such as communication, interpersonal skills, people management, teamwork, and productivity. These sessions will be held in person and virtually throughout the year.

Lean into Learning Employee Series

Select the title of each course below to learn more and register. If you are interested in signing up for a course, please be aware that registrations may close prior to the start date. Please plan accordingly to ensure you are able to attend! For course descriptions, view the Lean Into Learning Spring Calendar 2025. 

Title	Format	Register by	Course Date & Time
	Virtual	Time of Event	June 5, 2:00 - 3:00 pm June 13, 10:00 - 11:00 am
	In Person	48 hours in advance	August 20, 9:00 - 12:00 pm August 26, 1:00 - 4:00 pm

 

Lean into Learning Supervisor Series

The Lean into Learning! Supervisor Series provides individual open-enrollment sessions specifically for individuals who supervise staff. These sessions will be held in person and virtually throughout the year. Supervisors are invited to attend any sessions of interest.  

Title	Format	Register by	Course Date & Time
Additional sessions coming soon!

If you experience difficulties registering for a session, please contact elearning@umaryland.edu 

 

UMB SPARK! is a initiative designed to serve as a Supervisor’s Pathway to Advance and Re-ignite Knowledge for greater performance.

• Learn more about the program on the SPARK Academy webpage.

The SPARK! Supervisor Meetings are quarterly meetings designed for supervisors who lead people to gather and learn valuable strategies, share challenges, and engage in supportive dialogue to enhance leadership efforts.

Select the session title below to learn more and register for ONE meeting session. If you are interested in signing up, please be aware that registrations may close prior to the start date. Please plan accordingly to ensure you are able to attend! For more information about the SPARK program, please visit the SPARK Supervisor Academy page. 

Title	Format	Register by	Course Date & Time
Resources for the Supervisor Toolkit	In Person	TBA	September 30, 2025 10:00 am - 11:30 am 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Roundtable Discussion	Virtual	TBA	November, 2025 10:00 am - 11:30 am 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

If you experience difficulties registering for a session, please contact elearning@umaryland.edu 

These informational sessions are designed to provide employees with essential knowledge about key subjects, including benefits, workplace policies, and performance management.

Please note: some sessions will be open to a specific audience group to allow for more focused discussion. 

Select the title of each course below to learn more and register. If you are interested in signing up for a course, please be aware that registrations may close prior to the start date. Please plan accordingly to ensure you are able to attend!

Title	Audience	Format	Register by	Course Date & Time
Additional sessions coming soon!

If you experience difficulties registering for a session, please contact elearning@umaryland.edu

Empower your team members and equip them with essential skills for career growth. Look no further than the Career Essentials program! Designed specifically for individual contributors, this program provides a solid foundation for personal and professional development. Don’t miss this opportunity to invest in your team’s growth. Register your eligible staff for Career Essentials today and watch them thrive!

If interested, please visit the. Here’s why you should encourage your eligible staff to participate: 

Personal Assessment & Teamwork: 

• Participants kick off their journey by taking the True Colors Assessment, gaining insights into their unique strengths and communication style. 

• They’ll explore effective teamwork strategies, enhancing collaboration within your organization. 

Understanding Your Organization & Culture: 

• Dive deeper into what it means to be part of the University System of Maryland (USM). 

• Explore funding sources for the University and embrace the UMB Core Values demonstrated across campus. 

Communication and Interpersonal Skills: 

• Identify key principles of effective communication, including overcoming barriers. 

• Learn active listening techniques and practice providing constructive feedback. 

• Develop a personalized action plan to enhance communication skills. 

Customer Service Excellence: 

• Assess current customer service skills and recognize behaviors that exemplify excellence. 

• Acquire techniques for handling challenging customer interactions through active listening and problem-solving. 

• Create an actionable plan to apply new skills on the job. 

Diversity In the Workplace: 

• Beyond race and gender, explore the broader concept of diversity. 

• Foster an inclusive environment where everyone's unique perspectives contribute to success. 

Please contact Michele Hunt at mhunt@umaryland.edu with questions.

Empower your team members and equip them with essential skills for career growth. Look no further than the Career Essentials program! Designed specifically for individual contributors, this program provides a solid foundation for personal and professional development. Don’t miss this opportunity to invest in your team’s growth. Register your eligible staff for Career Essentials today and watch them thrive!

Looking to meet new people and engage in meaningful conversations on campus? Join us for the UMB Reads! Book Club.

This summer, we will be engaging with UMB’s core value set of Innovation and Discovery as we read "The Creativity Leap: Unleash Curiosity, Improvisation, and Intuition at Work" by Natalie Nixon.

• Read or listen to the book for free through Percipio (or your local library).
• Participate in themed challenges.
• Engage in book discussions to reflect and connect with other UMB staff.

Join us for our virtual kick off on June 26 from 12:15-1:15 p.m. There is no expectation to read the book prior to the kickoff. During the kickoff we will address the following:

• Club overview and how to get involved
• Helpful reading resources
• Topic-based discussions to meet and mingle

Interested? .

Have questions? Reach out to elearning@umaryland.edu

HR is committed to providing the talent community with practical skills to support their professional and personal development. Through HR's monthly professional development seminars, employees will engage in knowledge-building session to bring out their BEST! The virtual, 60-minute sessions led by ComPsych® GuidanceResources® trainers will provide participants with stronger confidence in work performance, sharper work-life harmony, and better strategies to reach their full potential.

Select the title of each course below to learn more and register.

June 24, 2025 - 12-1 p.m.

Sept. 17, 2025 - 12-1 p.m.

Oct. 8, 2025 - 12-1 p.m.

Nov. 18, 2025 - 12-1 p.m.

In partnership with Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Maryland and Delaware, employees have the opportunity to enhance their financial well-being. These virtual, one-hour, live seminars will teach employees essential strategies to achieve financial stability.

Use the links below to register for the session(s) of your choice. 

June 20, 2025 - 10 a.m.

The Building Bridges Across Maryland (BBAM) program includes a cohort of individuals from various higher education institutions in the state of Maryland who attend seven sessions - one held at each participating institution.

The BBAM program begins with a kickoff session that brings participants together to learn what is expected to complete the program and to get to know each other. After the final session, participants are invited to attend a formal graduation where they receive a certificate of completion and a digital badge. 

Support Staff Cohorts

Cohorts begin early during the month of August. Topic sessions begin in September and continue through March. Topics are updated and changed based on cohort feedback each year, but generally include:

• Managing Your Strengths
• Managing Up
• Radical Adaptability: 5 Keys to Personal Change
• Online Practices of Self-Care and Behavior Change for Resilience
• Presenting in a Virtual World
• Becoming a Champion of Inclusion at All Levels of the Institution
• Shifting Your Mindset When Serving Customers. 

Alumni Events

Program graduates may be invited back to continue their professional development, reconnect and meet members of other cohorts. Stay tuned for our next alumni event!

For more information, please contact Michele Hunt at mhunt@umaryland.edu.