New, future and current supervisors will benefit from noncredit classes offered in August by Walters State’s Division of Workforce Training.
“Supervisor 101” is two-day workshop covering supervisor skills. The class will be held Aug. 6 and 13 on Niswonger Campus; Aug. 14 and 21 at the Morristown Campus; and Aug. 28 and Sept. 4 at the Newport Center. All sessions are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The cost is $399.
The Certified Supervisor Course begins Aug. 27 and runs through Nov. 12, meeting from 2-5 p.m. on Tuesdays. This comprehensive course covers all aspects of supervision with special attention paid to those covered by the Certified Supervisor exam:
planning and setting objectives; problem solving and ethical decision making; managing groups and teams; staffing, training and assessing performance; customer service and communications. Students who complete this class will be prepared to take the Certified Supervisor test. The cost is $1,500. The class will meet at the Niswonger Campus, but students may also attend via TEAMS or ZOOM videoconferencing software.
“Making the move from worker to supervisor can be extremely rewarding or profoundly frustrating,” said Dr. Anita Ricker, assistant dean of workforce development. “The skills learned in these workshops will make this move a positive one. This can serve as a valuable and updated refresher for supervisors who have been in leadership positions for a while. I’ve had a plant manager tell me he needed to take the class.”
Ricker says a “promote from within” policy is great, but sometimes supervision is not a natural skill for many workers.
“A promotion recognizes an employee for a great employee,” Ricker said. “That employee is very good at doing their current job but may not have any supervision skills. Spending a few days in the classroom can prepare a supervisor for their new role.”
Having a good management team is vital to any company.
“Have trained supervisors improves productivity, retention and morale. This also save the company fines incurred because of illegal supervisory action,” Ricker said.
Other noncredit classes offered in August are:
• Parenting and Divorce Online (using the ZOOM videoconferencing software), $60, 5:30-9 p.m., Aug. 6 or Aug. 20.
• Welding, Level 1, Stick Welding, $379, 4-8 p.m. Tuesdays, Aug. 6-Sept. 3., Greeneville Workforce Building
• Microsoft Excel Level 1, $150, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Aug. 13, offered at Niswonger Campus, Morristown Campus and Newport Center.
To register for a class or learn more, contact Kellie Hendrix at [email protected] or 423-798-7988.
