Professional Development Programs

Broaden your skill set, understanding, and application of nonprofit management and best practices. Enroll in any of the upcoming courses, complete all eight to receive the CNP National Certification. Offered both onsite and online, all eight courses will be available on an annual basis.

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Retirement Planning Now is designed to deliver comprehensive, objective information to help you achieve your most important financial goals.  The course covers many key aspects of planning for retirement such as income tax planning, retirement income and expenses, risk management, investment management, and estate planning
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This five-day leadership certificate program will help you develop personal insights, a better understanding of different working styles, effective communications skills, an understanding of employee relations and business law, and how to maintain a high level of professionalism in a variety of situations including crisis situations.

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Create an online marketing communications strategy and powerhouse digital toolbox by completing six, full-day workshops taught by expert marketing and public relations professionals. Gain new insights into PR & marketing strategy, branding, budgeting, online content creation, video creation and use, social media

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Held on campus in Cullowhee, North Carolina, these workshops are offered in cooperation with the Forensic Osteology Research Station and the Emergency Disaster Management Program at WCU. These land-based workshops allow participants to work search areas including grassy fields, mountainous terrain, urban environments, buildings, and vehicles.

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One-day and half-day workshops offered in Asheville and Cullowhee for professionals in for-profit and nonprofit organizations. WCU offers continuing education units (CEUs) and is an approved provider for SHRM-PDC and NASBA CPE credits.

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Managers and leaders realize the importance of continuous improvement and understand effective communication is integral to success. Whether speaking to employees, clients, B2B partners, community groups, or the media, an effective manager or leader learns to adapt the message and their approach to the audience. 

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Courses range from customer service to social media strategies, contract negotiations risk factors and garnering return from tradeshows, expos, and fairs. Earning a certificate in Event Planning will expose you to the many different facets of being an event planner from managing people and projects to increasing exposure and dollars for your organization.

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WCU offers customized training for organizations at our Biltmore Park Instructional Site and on campus in Cullowhee. Our expert instructors can also come to your location. WCU customizes our professional development training to meet the needs of employees in industries including nonprofit, education, manufacturing, technology, hospitality and tourism.

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Grant writing techniques and processes are in a transitional stage. As a grant writer, you 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. This certificate program will help increase your chances of winning competitive grants and identify your strengths.

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The certificates in Event Planning, Digital Marketing and Public Relations, and the Customer Service Train-the-Trainer Program help prepare professionals to be more productive and successful in their jobs. The training programs are also a great way to develop more experience for people who have new job responsibilities or are transitioning to a new career.

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Offer process improvement ideas and tools for immediate use at your workplace. Improve your customer’s experience and employees work climate regardless of your industry.

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These online courses for continuing education credit and teacher training are offered in partnership with Ed2Go as well as Western Carolina University's Faculty. Professional Development, Short Courses and Graduate Programs are all available.

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These in-depth, self-paced online courses will get your career headed in the right direction. They are offered in partnership with highly respected national providers.

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In cooperation with Ed2Go, a national provider of online instruction, these online courses are offered on a monthly basis and cover a wide variety of skills and board interests. 

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