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Professional & Organizational Development

Supervisory Skills at the UW certificate

Last Updated: September 9, 2026

PODCertificateProgram

Overview

Thank you for your interest in the Supervisory Skills certificate and in advancing your professional growth and career at the UW!

Designed for UW employees in people management roles — or those preparing for them — this certificate focuses on the effective use of organizational authority to build strong teams through hiring, evaluating and/or developing employees while achieving institutional goals. The program emphasizes self‑awareness, relationship management, and practical leadership skills for navigating common workplace challenges. Completion of this certificate merits six months of credit when applying for related positions at the UW.

Participants will develop the following capabilities:

  1. Self‑Awareness & Use of Authority. Build awareness of personal leadership style and confidence in using authority and influence effectively.
  2. Strengths, Communication & Conflict Styles. Identify individual and team strengths, communication preferences and conflict styles, and apply strategies to manage relationships productively.
  3. Organizational Dynamics at the UW. Understand the UW system, including how structure, policy and institutional principles shape authority and decision-making.
  4. Performance Management & Motivation. Effectively manage performance, motivate teams and support a diverse workforce through clear expectations and accountability.
  5. Engagement & Collaborative Work. Set expectations, and apply tools and techniques, to plan and lead effective meetings that drive collaboration, clarity, engagement and results.
  6. Problem Solving in Complex Environments. Navigate and resolve complex people-centered challenges in dynamic organizational settings.
  7. Building Workplace Culture. Foster an inclusive workplace culture that supports morale, trust and organizational goals.

Curriculum

The curriculum includes foundational core courses, a selection of electives and a capstone project. The core courses and electives must be completed within two years, with an additional six months allowed for the capstone project. Learning will be delivered via a mix of live and self-paced classes developed by POD, cohort check-ins, curated LinkedIn Learning content and other resources.

Core courses

Participants must complete all of the following core courses (about 26-30 hours total):

  • Core Strengths: Results Through Relationships
  • Implementing Equitable Hiring Practices
  • Learning to Lead
  • Making Meetings Work
  • Managing Corrective Action
  • Managing Employee Performance
  • SLP Supervisor Orientation
  • Tactical Leadership

Electives

Enrollees must complete 18 credits of electives in the following topic areas, with a minimum of one class from each area (the number of classes will depend on chosen electives but could range from a total of four to ten elective classes). Multiple live and self-paced class options will be provided for each topic area.

  • Communication/Collaboration
  • Inclusion and Belonging
  • Organizational Acumen
  • Personal Effectiveness

Capstone

After completing the core and elective requirements, enrollees must complete a capstone project within six months. The capstone project should demonstrate your ability to apply concepts, tools and skills learned throughout the certificate program.

The project should represent at least six hours of effort and should:

  • Solve a problem or improve a process,
  • Create a useful resource or tool,
  • Gather information and generate recommendations,
  • Support a team, department, or organizational initiative, and/or
  • Demonstrate practical application of learning

Enrollment

Enrollment applications will be processed in the order received.

Enrollment will be limited to ensure reasonable capacity in POD classes. Enrollment will be contingent upon not having completed this POD certificate in the past, completion of the enrollment form, and successful payment of the enrollment fee ($510 if using a UW worktag; $590 if paying by check, due to a mandatory institutional overhead fee). This fee includes a required Strength Deployment Inventory assessment.

The enrollment fee will be processed upon acceptance. If you are waitlisted for the certificate program, you will not be charged unless accepted into the program.

We will update all applicants about their enrollment status via email by October 15.

Complete the enrollment application (MS Form).

Questions? Please see the certificate program FAQs. Once you are enrolled in a certificate, you will also have access to a certificate advisor to help you navigate this program.