Calendar of Classes

Recently the Office of Talent & Organizational Development has overseen the addition of new classes to our Class calendar. View our most up-to-date offerings below for all current and upcoming class information.

Strengthen Your Core courses can be found by visiting the Strengthen Your Core (SYC) webpage.


2022 Available Courses

Click each panel below for more information.


New Employee Orientation is now offered virtually on Microsoft Teams. For more NEO resources click here.

Per Administrative Policy 3-33, all newly hired employees, or those rehired and have not successfully completed an HR sponsored new employee orientation within the twelve months prior to the rehire date, are required to attend.

View the upcoming schedule of sessions below. If you are a new employee be sure to select the session closest to but after your start/Report to Work date. To register click a session and fill out the requested information. After submitting the information you will receive further instructions.

Month Date Registration Deadline  
Wednesday, October 19, 2022 10/12/2022  
November Wednesday, November 2, 2022 10/26/2022  
Wednesday, November 16, 2022 11/9/2022  
December Wednesday, December 7, 2022 11/30/2022  


Time
The Orientation will run from 8:30am – 3:15 pm. Your calendar invitation will show a start time of 8:00 am. This is so you can access the event and get signed in to ensure you receive credit.

Lunch Break
There will be a 30-minute lunch near the middle of the day.

Attendance
1. To receive credit for your attendance, you will be required to sign-in and sign out.
2. Sign in instructions will be located in the live event Q&A panel.
3. Any sign-in after 8:40 am will not be accepted.
4. Failure to sign-in and out will result in an “unsuccessful” completion and you will be required to attend the next orientation.

MS Teams
1. The city-wide New Employee Orientation will be on the MS Teams Live Event Platform. You can access the event from Chrome, the Teams app on your pc, or use your phone’s browser A calendar invitation with the access link will be sent to the email address provided no later than the Friday prior to the orientation. Please check your spam folder if you did not receive it.
2. Please join at a minimum of 15 minutes early to sign-in and ensure access to the orientation.

Resources
The following resources are available for download at NEO Resources:
1. Municipal Employee Guidebook
2. New Employee Orientation Helpful Information
3. Employee Benefits Handbook

Contact
If you have any difficulty gaining access, contact us immediately:
1. New Employee Orientation Inbox – neo@houstontx.gov
2. New Employee Orientation Phone – (832)395-4890.


New Supervisor Orientation is a program developed by the Human Resources Department to provide new supervisors with relevant information in accordance with City of Houston Administrative Policy 3-33.

Similar to New Employee Orientation, this program consists of a 1-day instructor-led virtual training on Microsoft Teams and multiple e-learning courses to be completed through the Talent Management System (TMS).

View the schedule of upcoming New Supervisor Orientations below.

November

Program Date: 11/7/2022 | Registration Deadline: 11/2/2022
Registration Link: Click here to register

December

Program Date: 12/5/2022 Registration Deadline: 11/30/2022
Registration Link: Click here to register

Month    




Adaptability

Date Class Time Location
October 11, 2022 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM 4501 Leeland
Description

Demonstrating adaptability helps us acknowledge and accept that change will always be a part of the work environment. This course prepares you to navigate through those changes by exploring the Phases of Transition model to learn how your unique response makes all the difference. This course inspires you to look at change from a whole new lens. At the end of this learning experience learners should be able to:

  • Recognize how the City of Houston defines Adaptability
  • Recognize benefits of change
  • Differentiate between change and transition
  • Recognize the stages of transition
  • Identify actions to help navigate changes in their work environment
  • Identify how they can demonstrate behaviors associate with Adaptability in their role Learner’s Experience: Lecture, Small Group Discussion, Video, Pair Learning, Group Documentation, Individual Participation, Individual Reflection, Table Group Learning, Small Group “Around the World” Kinesthetic Learning, Scenario-based learning
Click here to register

Diversity Commitment (Employees)

Date Class Time Location
October 13, 2022 8:30 AM - 12:30 AM 4501 Leeland
Description

As a City of Houston employee, demonstrating a commitment to diversity helps us realize that being a member of a diverse workforce is dynamic and exciting. This course exposes you to the Dimensions of Diversity and how we can benefit from actively seeking to understand the thoughts and ideas of those who may be different from us. At the end of this learning experience, learners should be able to:

  • Recognize how the City of Houston defines Diversity Commitment for employees.
  • Define diversity and inclusion.
  • Recognize how unconscious bias may influence thoughts or behaviors.
  • Recall the benefits of working in a diverse workforce.
  • Identify how they can demonstrate behaviors associated with Diversity Commitment in their role.
  • Learner’s Experience: Lecture, Small Group Discussion, Video, Table Group Learning, Pair Learning, Individual Reflection
Click here to register

Microsoft PowerPoint Level 3

Date Class Time Location
October 13, 2022 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM 4501 Leeland
Description

Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to add enhancements to charts, use advanced graphics features, and use advanced animation features. As well as be able to insert and work with movies and sounds from files, create hyperlinks, and use PowerPoint’s custom slide show feature. This course focuses on:

  • Designing an attractive PowerPoint presentation
  • Working with other Microsoft Office applications
  • Enhancing charts
  • Creating a custom slide show
  • Inserting movies and sounds from files
  • Using advanced animation features
  • Creating hyperlinks to other slides and other files
  • Setting up a show to browse at a kiosk
  • Setting up a show to loop continuously
  • Naming objects
Click here to register

Dealing with Difficult Work Situations

Date Class Time Location
October 6, 2022 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM 4501 Leeland
Description

Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to understand their roles in keeping the workplace efficient and pleasant and be able to find the root causes of conflict. This course focuses on:

  • Defining civility in the workplace
  • Applying workplace etiquette
  • Diagnosing the causes of difficult behavior
  • Communicating effectively
Click here to register

Diversity Commitment (Supervisors)

Date Class Time Location
October 20, 2022 8:30 AM - 12:30 AM 4501 Leeland
Description

As a City of Houston supervisor or manager, demonstrating a commitment to diversity means that you create an environment where diverse individuals are encouraged to contribute their unique perspectives and talents. Using the Dimensions of Diversity framework, you will walk through a variety of scenarios that help you reflect on the value of building diverse and inclusive teams. At the end of this learning experience, learners should be able to:

  • Recognize how the City of Houston defines Diversity Commitment for Supervisors/Managers.
  • Recall the benefits of selecting a diverse workforce.
  • Recognize how their actions and behaviors contribute to creating and engaging diverse workforce.
  • Identify methods for creating a diverse and inclusive work environment.
  • Identify how they can demonstrate behaviors associated with Diversity Commitment in their role.
  • Learner’s Experience: Lecture, Small Group Discussion, Video, Table Group Learning, Individual Reflection, Pair Learning
Click here to register

Effective Communication

Date Class Time Location
October 27, 2022 8:30 AM - 12:30 AM 4501 Leeland
Description

Participants will learn definitions and key purposes of leadership communication, the importance of self awareness and of understanding your audience, how to use storytelling to communicate your messages, the use of repetition to reinforce messages and increase retention, fundamental leadership communication principles, and how to choose the most effective communication mechanism for your messages.

Click here to register


Microsoft Word Level 2

Date Class Time Location
November 3, 2022 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM 4501 Leeland
Description

Upon completion of this class, participants should be able to use section breaks in a document, work with headers and footers, and create and format tables. Participants should also be able to use Word’s track changes feature to track changes they or others have made in a document. This class focuses on:

  • Creating and using multiple sections
  • Creating and formatting headers and footers
  • Creating and formatting tables
  • Working with multiple columns
  • Using Word’s track changes feature
  • Inserting a preformatted cover page
  • Using the navigation pane
Click here to register

Adaptability

Date Class Time Location
November 8, 2022 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM 4501 Leeland
Description

Demonstrating adaptability helps us acknowledge and accept that change will always be a part of the work environment. This course prepares you to navigate through those changes by exploring the Phases of Transition model to learn how your unique response makes all the difference. This course inspires you to look at change from a whole new lens. At the end of this learning experience learners should be able to:

  • Recognize how the City of Houston defines Adaptability
  • Recognize benefits of change
  • Differentiate between change and transition
  • Recognize the stages of transition
  • Identify actions to help navigate changes in their work environment
  • Identify how they can demonstrate behaviors associate with Adaptability in their role Learner’s Experience: Lecture, Small Group Discussion, Video, Pair Learning, Group Documentation, Individual Participation, Individual Reflection, Table Group Learning, Small Group “Around the World” Kinesthetic Learning, Scenario-based learning
Click here to register

Microsoft PowerPoint Level 1

Date Class Time Location
November 9, 2022 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM 4501 Leeland
Description

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to organize a presentation, work with text, and use graphics. Participants will also be able to create speaker notes, work with transitions and animations, apply a design, and create a background. This course focuses on:

  • Creating a new presentation
  • Editing text and working with placeholders
  • Inserting and modifying AutoShapes
  • Inserting and modifying a picture
  • Creating a table
  • Adding speaker notes to a presentation
  • Setting transitions and animations
  • Adding and modifying a design
  • Creating a background
  • Uploading a file to OneDrive
Click here to register

Microsoft PowerPoint Level 2

Date Class Time Location
November 17, 2022 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM 4501 Leeland
Description

Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to link and embed files from other MS Office applications, insert a picture from a file, and align and distribute shapes. Participants should also be able to insert a picture from a file, work with sounds and movies, and navigate easily during a PowerPoint show. This course focuses on:

  • Linking and embedding objects from Word and Excel
  • Aligning and distributing shapes
  • Inserting a picture from a file
  • Inserting sounds and movies
  • Adding timings to your presentation
Click here to register





Updated: 10/5/2022

Office of Talent & Organizational Development | 4501 Leeland Street | Houston, TX 77023 | Phone: 832-395-4900 | Fax: 832-395-4892 | Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri: 6:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.