There are a variety of online trainings and webinars to help aid in Pacific University employees' professional development. 

Online Training 

Lynda.com from LinkedIn

Complete self-paced online courses from anywhere around a variety of topics such as Software Development, Design, Web Development, Business and Photography. Free month is provided to anyone who is interested. You can also obtain a free membership if you have a Washington County Library card. Instructions for logging in through Washington County Library can be found online. 

To view the thousands of courses available, go to Lynda.com.

Higher Ed Webcasts

Strategies for Providing Better Support to Undocumented/DACA Students

November 1, 2018

Undocumented or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students who are attending colleges and universities are likely to present different needs and face harsher barriers to obtaining resources to succeed in higher education. Join us for this online training to discover who undocumented/DACA students are, what unique experiences they may bring to campus, and how we can better identify and serve their specific needs.  

You will learn strategies for supporting these students, such as how to establish a better overall climate for them, unpack your own unconscious biases, and ensure their success in college. Participants who are ready to build a similar training program on this topic will also receive tips and tools for program development during this webcast. To attend this webcast, register online

Designing an Incentivized STEM Mentoring Program for Equitable Success

November 6, 2018

Without key support structures in place, many students are likely to get discouraged in their STEM work after receiving a poor grade. North Hennepin Community College has developed an incentivized STEM mentor program that has resulted in an unprecedented pass rate for students who did not pass their first exam.

Join us for this webcast and hear from our expert, Lisa Smith, who will share the structure, budget, and other important components for an effective incentivized STEM mentor program.  The success of this program resulted from the combination of a shared vision to never give up on students based on a low grade, a student incentive that complements their natural motivation, and faculty involvement. To attend this webcast, register online

Strategies to Confidently Communicate with Students Experiencing Mental Health Challenges

November 8, 2018

The mental wellbeing of college students is becoming a major source of concern for higher education administrators, faculty, and staff. One in four young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 have a diagnosable mental illness and frequently college staff are the first to notice the warning signs.

When front-line faculty and staff encounter such a student, they could feel:

• scared (“This is way too much for me to handle.”)
• disengaged (“That’s not my job.”)
• confused (“Why is the student acting this way?”)

Have you ever felt like you didn’t know what to say when faced with a student who is exhibiting signs of burnout or high levels of stress? Even if you’re not a counselor, you can make a difference in the lives of these students by adopting appropriate communication strategies.

Join us for this online training to learn and practice six ways you can interact with and support students who may be exhibiting signs of a mental health condition. To attend this webcast, register online

Overcoming Three Common Challenges in Online Advising

November 9, 2018

Providing access to online academic support presents a unique set of challenges. This webcast will help online advisors understand how to build relationships with students given the unique needs and challenges that exist in online environments. Join us for this online training and hear how one institution reduced overlapping processes, broadened their outreach to students in different time zones, and improved their relationship-building through online communication. To attend this webcast, register online

Title IX: Key Considerations for Working with Pregnant and Parenting Students

November 14, 2018

Join us online to begin the important work of auditing your campus policies and procedures for pregnant and parenting students.  We will share an easy-to-use checklist that will help you ensure that you’ve met your obligations in creating an accommodating and inclusive environment for pregnant and parenting students on campus.

During the webcast, we’ll pay special attention to the concept of “reasonable accommodations.”  Even if your faculty, staff, and administrators know that they need to accommodate pregnant and parenting students, the accommodations offered can vary widely across campus – leading to disparity in the academic integrity of coursework and inconsistencies across the student experience.  You’ll leave the program with recommendations for accommodations that can be applied more consistently. To attend this webcast, register online