Syllabus:  Strategies for Public Sector Leadership Certificate Program

Start Date: November 17, 2026

End Date:  January 8, 2027

Welcome:

Meet Your Instructor - Priscilla Wilson

Welcome to PSHRA's Strategies for Public Sector Leadership. This course will equip you with the necessary tools to shift from a transactional to a strategic role in Public Sector HR by using a competency framework. Your role has evolved beyond merely transactional tasks. Today's HR department in the public sector is pivotal to the agency's success. It involves teaching team building, coaching, conflict resolution, consensus-building, fostering a risk-taking culture, enhancing communication, building trust, and more. 

Course Outcomes:

This comprehensive leadership course is designed for mid- to senior-level public sector HR leaders, providing a solid foundation for success.

To achieve this, the course focuses on the following outcomes:

• Assess the impact of HR and human capital management in the public sector and justify HR programs in the public sector.
• Design programs that align with specific competencies within the PSHRA Competency Model, covering three major modules: Leader, Business Partner, and Change Agent.
• Evaluate personal strengths and weaknesses regarding these competencies and create a plan for your individual professional development as an HR professional using the PSHRA Competency Model.
• Plan professional development in accordance with your personal competencies.

You will finish this course with:

• A solid strategic foundation for success.
• A professional development plan.

Certificate of Attendance:

You will earn a Certificate of Attendance upon completion of the course.

Course Design:

The course spans six weeks and follows a specific timeline with a sequence of lessons and cohort sessions. You will receive details about the dates, times, and locations of cohort sessions. 

Time Commitment:

Plan for 90 minutes for each online lesson to read, complete activities, and prepare for cohort sessions. Individuals have varying learning paces, so it might take more or less time for each person. We recommend completing lessons a day or two before the cohort sessions to allow time for reflection on what you've learned and the development of your plans.

Meetings and Discussions:

• Course Cohort Meetings take place in Zoom Events – You will access them through your course "Content Tab."
• Course Discussion Board take place in Your Course’s Engage Community – You will access the Engage Community through your course "Content Tab."

Online Cohort Schedule (subject to change):

• Cohort #1 – 11/20/2026 - 1:00  - 2:30 pm ET
• Cohort #2 – 12/2/2026 - 3:00 - 4:30 pm ET
• Cohort #3 - 12/8/2026 - 12:30 - 2:00 pm ET
• Cohort #4 - 12/15/2026 - 12:30 - 2:00 pm ET

Course Schedule:

Week 1:

Online Lesson (self-paced) - Lesson 1: Introduction

Week 2:

Cohort Session (virtual) - Session 1: Introduction

Online Lesson (self-paced) - Lesson 2: The Role of the HR Leader

Week 3:

No Cohort Session

Online Lesson (self-paced) - Lesson 3: The Role of an HR Business Partner

Week 4:

Cohort Session (virtual) - Session 2: The Role of the HR Leader

• Negotiation: the cohort participants will perform a mock negotiation of a contract or provisions of a rule and have sides. This activity will allow participants to see how people react in these situations and practice skills used to defuse tension
• Emotional Quotient/Intelligence: cohort participants will develop a proposed response modeling EQ based on a stressful leadership/communication scenario

Online Lesson (self-paced) - Lesson 4: The Role of the Change Agent

Week 5:

Cohort Session (virtual) - Session 3: The Role of an HR Business Partner

• Partnered practice scenario performs as a trusted coach or consultant on a challenging people issue such as performance, DEIA, risk management, or leadership coaching (developing) or advising (consulting)
• Partners work on conducting an HR needs analysis

Online Lesson (self-paced) - Lesson 5: Summary

Week 6:

Cohort Session (in-person or virtual) - Session 4: The Role of the Change Agent & Summary

Course Workbook:

The course includes a workbook.  You'll use the workbook throughout the course to reflect on what you're learning, record ideas, plan for future personal development, and plan activities for your agency. There are two versions:

• a PDF version - if you'd like to print it and write your answers and ideas and
• an MS Word version - if you'd prefer to work electronically.

The files have the same content - just differences in page layout. You will use the workbook while taking the online lessons and while attending the cohort sessions.

The workbook is available by selecting the Course Materials tab and then Strategies for Public Sector Leadership Workbook.

Making public sector work better™.

Course Syllabus

Please let us know if you run into any problems or have questions as soon as possible.  We want to make sure you are to have the best possible learning experience.  

Meet Your Instructor: Robert Greene, Ph.D.

Target Audience:

• Mid-level HR professionals in the public sector
• Compensation and classification specialists
• HR leaders seeking to modernize rewards strategies
• Agency managers responsible for performance management
• An Intermediate Level Course

Course Design:

• Three Live Virtual Sessions over three weeks
• Pre-Session Readings & Assignments
• Instructor-Led Discussions
• Peer Sharing and Case-Based Application

Time Commitment:

Plan for 1 hours for each online lesson to read, complete activities, and prepare for course meetings. Individuals have varying learning paces, so it might take more or less time for each person. We recommend completing lessons a day or two before the cohort sessions to allow time for reflection on what you've learned and the development of your plans. All course materials are included on your course dashboard (no textbook is required).

Course Meeting Schedule (subject to change):

• Start Date: 11/16/2026
• Completion Date: 11/18/2026
• Course Meeting :  11/16/2026 - 12:00 - 1:00 PM ET
• Course Meeting 2: 11/17/2026 - 12:00 - 1:00 PM ET
• Course Meeting 3: 11/18/2026 - 12:00 - 1:00 PM ET

Course Recordings:  Coming Soon!

Course Content:

Before Session 1 -- Attendees to submit ([email protected]) their most critical issues related to compensation management and complete readings for Session 1.

SESSION 1 — Instructor will review attendee submissions of issues - Topic: Evaluating the agency's context and formulating its value proposition: Compensation Philosophy and Compensation Strategy

Before Session 2 -- Attendees to draft and submit ([email protected]) their compensation philosophy and complete readings for Session 2

SESSION 2 — Instructor will review submitted compensation philosophies - Topic: Compensation planning and Compensation program design

Before Session 3 -- Attendees submit ([email protected]) questions and more information on Module 2 material. Plus related insights or questions Readings for Sessions 3

SESSION 3 — Instructor will review submitted - Topic: Administrating compensation programs:  Evaluating compensation programs.

Recommended Readings:  The readings provide a more in-depth discussion of the topics

• Session 1 - Rewarding Performance in Public Sector Organizations and Compensation Philosophy
• Session 2 - Effectively Managing Pay Budgets, Pay Structure and Pay Rates and Public Eye Article: Pay Equity
• Sessions 3 - Recognition as Rewards, Base Pay Management, and Evaluating Rewards Management Systems

Certificate of Attendance:  You will earn a Certificate of Completion upon completion of the course.

Making public sector work better®.

Course Syllabus

Learners will explore the legal frameworks, policy development, and best practices for managing remote, hybrid, and flexible work in the public sector.

Meet Your Instructor:  Shelvia Ashford

Overview

As work environments continue to evolve, public sector HR professionals are at the forefront of navigating flexible work arrangements, balancing legal compliance, and fostering engagement and culture. This 2 session virtual course will provide a comprehensive overview of the legal frameworks, policy development, and best practices for managing remote, hybrid, and flexible work in the public sector.

Course Schedule

Evolving the Workplace & Legal Foundations 

Policy Development & Equity Considerations 

Engagement, Performance & Culture

Format: 

 - Virtual Instructor-Led Training (VILT) 

 - 1-hour and half live session per week (over two weeks)

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will be able to: 

 - Define remote, hybrid, and flexible work in the public sector context 

 - Identify key legal considerations (FLSA, ADA, FMLA) in flexible work arrangements 

 - Develop equitable and effective flexible work policies 

 - Support managers and supervisors in policy implementation 

 - Foster employee engagement and sustain organizational culture in hybrid environments

Breakdown

Evolving the Workplace & Legal Foundations 

 - Explore how the public sector workplace has changed since 2020 

 - Define remote, hybrid, and flexible work arrangements 

 - Review legal frameworks: FLSA, ADA, FMLA

 - Discuss challenges and opportunities in balancing flexibility with compliance 

 Policy Development & Equity Considerations 

 - Identify essential components of effective flexible work policies 

 - Learn a step-by-step process for policy development and pilot-testing 

 - Examine equity considerations in access and implementation 

 - Share best practices and practical examples from the field 

Engagement, Performance & Culture 

 - Strategies to engage and motivate employees across flexible work settings 

 - Tools and approaches for managing performance remotely 

 - Techniques for sustaining organizational culture in distributed teams 

 - Discuss real-world solutions and personal strategies

Course Materials

- Weekly slide decks (provided) 

 - Additional resources (articles, templates) shared during sessions (if applicable)

The course will be delivered over two-weeks with 2 one hour and half weekly online meetings.

Please let us know if you run into any problems or have questions as soon as possible.  We want to make sure you are to have the best possible learning experience.  

All your course materials will be found on your course dashboard.

Meetings:

• Course Meetings take place in Zoom Events – You will receive your Individual Zoom Link before the course starts.

Course Design:

The course will be delivered over two sessions with 2 one hour and half sessions per week.  You will receive details about the dates, times, and the URL for your course meetings

Time Commitment:

Plan for 1 hour for each online lesson to read, complete activities, and prepare for course meetings. Individuals have varying learning paces, so it might take more or less time for each person. We recommend completing lessons a day or two before the course meeting to allow time for reflection on what you've learned and the development of your plans. All course materials are included on your course dashboard (no textbook is required).

Course Meeting Session Schedule (subject to change):

• Start Date: 11/12/2026
• Completion Date: 11/13/2026
• Meeting 1: 11/12/2026 - 2:00 - 3:30 pm ET
• Meeting 2: 11/13/2026 - 2:00 - 3:30 pm ET

Certificate of Attendance:  You will earn a Certificate of Completion upon completion of the course.

Cancellation Policy:  Professional Development Cancelation Policy

Recertification Points:  PSHRA-5 and HRCI-5

Making public sector work better®.

Course Syllabus

Meet Your Instructor:  Dr. Beatriz Conningham

Learners will 

Overview

This comprehensive learning program is designed for Human Resource (HR) professionals to learn how to resolve everyday employee relations matters more effectively by borrowing techniques from the mediator's toolkit. This is not training to conduct formal mediation sessions.

Using motivational interviewing to get past generalities; how to shape commitments that are concrete, mutual, and durable; building in follow-up so agreements hold.

Learning Objectives - You will learn:

• how to discover surfacing underlying interests.
• how to apply active and reflective listening.
• how to generate alternative solutions.
• how to move from problem to solution.
• conduct behavioral interviewing.
• develop sustainable comments.

Program Components

Session 1

• How to recognize when an employee relations issue is a fit.
• The difference between positions ("what they say they want") and interests ("what they actually need").
• How to use active and reflective listening.

Session 2

• How to shift a discussion from being backward-looking grievance to forward looking options.
• Techniques for generating alternatives without imposing your own answer.
• How to test whether an option meets both parties' interests.

Session 3

• Using motivational interviewing to get past generalities.
• How to shape commitments that are concrete, mutual, and durable.
• Building in follow-up so agreements hold.

Please let us know if you run into any problems or have questions as soon as possible.  We want to make sure you are to have the best possible learning experience.  

All your course materials will be found on your course dashboard.

Course Design:

The course will be delivered over three one-hour sessions.  You will receive details about the dates, times, and the URL for your course meetings

Time Commitment:

Plan for 1 hour for each online lesson to read, complete activities, and prepare for course meetings. Individuals have varying learning paces, so it might take more or less time for each person. We recommend completing lessons a day or two before the course meeting to allow time for reflection on what you've learned and the development of your plans. All course materials are included on your course dashboard (no textbook is required).

Meetings and Discussions:

• Course Cohort Meetings take place in Zoom Events – You will access them through your course "Content Tab."
• Course Discussion Board take place in Your Course’s Engage Community – You will access the Engage Community through your course "Content Tab."

Course Meeting Session Schedule (subject to change):

• Start Date: 11/9/2026
• End Date:   11/13/2026
• Meeting 1:  11/9/2026 - 2:00 - 3:00 pm ET
• Meeting 2:  11/11/2026 - 2:00 - 3:00 pm ET
• Meeting 3:  11/13/2026 - 2:00 - 3:00 pm ET

Certificate of Attendance:  You will earn a Certificate of Completion upon completion of the course.

Cancellation Policy:  Professional Development Cancelation Policy

Recertification Points:  PSHRA-5 and HRCI-5

Making public sector work better®.

Course Syllabus

Meet Your Instructor:  Dr. Patrick Henley

Please let us know if you run into any problems or have questions as soon as possible.  We want to make sure you are to have the best possible learning experience.  

Course Material (All you need is on your dashboard)

• Detailed Course Syllabus
• Ethics and Policy Participant Handbook
• Ethical Decision-Making
• Framework-Cheat Sheet

Course Design:

The course will be delivered over three-weeks with three one-hour sessions per week.  You will receive details about the dates, times, and the URL for your course meetings

Time Commitment:

Plan for 1 hour for each online lesson to read, complete activities, and prepare for course meetings. Individuals have varying learning paces, so it might take more or less time for each person. We recommend completing lessons a day or two before the course meeting to allow time for reflection on what you've learned and the development of your plans. 

Course Meeting Session Schedule (subject to change):

• Start Date: 11/4/2026
• Completion Date: 11/18/2026
• Meeting 1:  11/4/2026 - 3:30 - 4:30 pm ET
• Meeting 2:  11/10/2026 - 3:30 - 4:30 pm ET
• Meeting 3:  11/18/2026 - 3:30 - 4:30 pm ET

Course Content:

Module 1 — Foundations of Ethics in Public Sector HR

Topics Covered

• Why ethics matter in government HR
• Major ethical theories and practical applications
• Public-service values and professional responsibility
• HR as steward, strategist, and guardian of trust

Module 2 — Professional Standards & Codes of Conduct

Topics Covered

• Purpose and structure of HR codes of ethics
• Core principles: fairness, impartiality, confidentiality, transparency
• Ethical leadership behaviors and modeling expectations
• Documentation and rationale in ethical decision-making

Module 3 — Ethical Risks & Integrity Challenges in HR

Topics Covered

• Risks in hiring, promotion, and classification decisions
• Favoritism, undue influence, and political pressure
• Conflicts of interest and divided loyalties
• Misuse of authority and breaches of trust
• Systems weaknesses that enable misconduct
• Subtle or “quiet” forms of unethical behavior

Module 4 — Building Ethical Culture & Governance Structures

Topics Covered

• HR’s role in shaping organizational culture
• Governance mechanisms and internal controls
• Transparency practices and reporting pathways
• Whistleblowing, psychological safety, and anti-retaliation norms
• Leadership impact on ethical climates

Module 5 — Ethical Decision-Making Frameworks (Applied Practice)

Topics Covered

• Structured reasoning processes
• Assessing stakeholders, principles, and consequences
• Applying policies and values to real situations
• Navigating ambiguity and competing obligations
• Hands-on scenario walkthroughs
• Developing confidence in ethical judgment

Module 6 — Policy, Accountability & Public Trust

Topics Covered

• Designing clear, enforceable HR policy
• Aligning policy with ethical expectations
• Accountability structures and compliance practices
• Managing gray areas and policy gaps
• The relationship between ethical HR and public confidence

Certificate of Attendance:  You will earn a Certificate of Completion upon completion of the course.

Making public sector work better®.

Please join us on October 29^th at 1 PM ET as our speaker, Pete Blank, helps HR Professionals elevate their careers with intentional strategy and professional presence. Drawing from 13 years of leadership experience at Walt Disney World and insights from his book 55 Ways to Add Disney Magic, Pete shares practical, actionable lessons on professional presence, business savvy, strategic networking, and career expansion.

Participants will learn how to show up “onstage” every day with credibility, read the room with emotional intelligence, build powerful professional networks, and grow through a career lattice rather than simply climbing a ladder.

This fast-paced and inspiring session blends storytelling, real-world examples, and practical tools to help employees strengthen their impact, influence, and long-term success.

Key Takeaways:

1. Demonstrate professional presence by understanding how body language, approachability, and everyday interactions shape credibility, influence, and client trust.
2. Apply business savvy and emotional intelligence to read the room, navigate firm culture, and make sound professional judgments in high-stakes environments.
3. Build strategic networks by leveraging LinkedIn, professional organizations, and internal relationships to increase visibility and career opportunity.
4. Design a career lattice strategy by expanding skills, experiences, and cross-functional involvement to accelerate long-term career development beyond traditional upward promotion paths. 

Speaker: Pete Blank, Training and Organizational Development Manager, Personnel Board of Jefferson County, AL

PSHRA^® Webinars are a member benefit. Available to non-members for a nominal fee.

Making public sector work better^®.

PSHRA’s Foundations Public Sector HR Certificate Program Syllabus

(formerly Public Sector HR Essentials Certificate Program)

Meet Your Instructor:   Dr. Bernadette Costello

Please let us know if you run into any problems or have questions as soon as possible.  We want to make sure you are to have the best possible learning experience.  

Course Material (All you need is on your dashboard)

• Foundations of Public Sector HR Certificate Program Workbook
• Foundations of Public Sector HR Certificate Program Lessons Summary
• HR20/20 Report

Course Design:

The course spans ten weeks and follows a specific timeline with a sequence of lessons and cohort sessions. 

Time Commitment:

Plan for 2 hours for each online lesson to read, complete activities, and prepare for cohort sessions. Individuals have varying learning paces, so it might take more or less time for each person. We recommend completing lessons a day or two before the cohort sessions to allow time for reflection on what you've learned and the development of your plans. All course materials are included on your course dashboard (no textbook is required).

Course Cohort Session Schedule (subject to change):

• Start Date: 10/27/2026
• Completion Date: 1/5/2026
• Cohort Session 1:  10/28/2026 - 1:00 - 2:30 pm ET
• Cohort Session 2:  11/18/2026 - 1:00 - 2:30 pm ET
• Cohort Session 2:  12/2/2026 - 1:00 - 2;30 pm ET
• Cohort Session 4:  12/16/2026 - 1:00 - 2:30 pm ET
• Cohort Session 5:  12/30/2026 - 1:00 - 2:30 pm ET
• Cohort Session 6:  1/5/2027 - 1:00 - 2:30 pm ET

Course Content:

Week 1 - Introduction

Cohort Session 1:  Introduction

Week 2 - Lesson 1:  Public Sector Basics

Week 3 - Lesson 2:  Recruitment

Cohort Session 2:  Public Sector HR Basics & Recruitment

Week 4 - Lesson 3:  Selection

Week 5 - Lesson 4:  Classification and Compensation

Cohort Session 3:  Selection, Classification & Compensation

Week 6 - Lesson 5:  Benefits

Week 7 - Lesson 6:  Labor and Employee Relations

Cohort Session 4:  Benefits and Labor Management Relations

Week 8 - Lesson 7:  Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity

Week 9 - Lesson 8:  Organizational Development

Cohort Session 5:  Equal Employment Opportunity & Diversity, Organization

Week 10 - Lesson 9:  Course Summary

Cohort Session 6:  Course Summary and Wrap-up

Certificate of Attendance earned upon course completion.

Making public sector work better®.

Public Sector HR Executive Leadership Certificate Program Syllabus

Meet Your Instructor:  Dr. Bernadette Costello

Please let us know if you run into any problems or have questions as soon as possible.  We want to make sure you have the best possible learning experience.

Course Materials (All you need is your dashboard):

• Executive Leadership Certificate Program Workbook (PDF and Word Versions)
• HR20/20 Report

Meetings and Discussions:

• Course Cohort Meetings take place in Zoom Events – You will access them through your course "Content Tab."
• Course Discussion Board take place in Your Course’s Engage Community – You will access the Engage Community through your course "Content Tab."

Course Design:

The course spans six weeks with 4 cohort meetings and follows a specific timeline with a sequence of lessons and cohort sessions. 

Time Commitment:

Plan for 2 hours for each online lesson to read, complete activities, and prepare for cohort sessions. Individuals have varying learning paces, so it might take more or less time for each person. We recommend completing lessons a day or two before the cohort sessions to allow time for reflection on what you've learned and the development of your plans. All course materials are included on your course dashboard (no textbook is required).

Course Cohort Session Schedule (Subject to Change): 

Course Start: 10/20/2026

Course End: 12/4/2026

Cohort #1 – 10/21/2026 - 2:30 - 4:00 pm ET

Cohort #2 – 10/27/2026 - 1:00 - 2:30 pm ET

Cohort #3 - 11/17/2026 - 1:00 - 2:30 pm ET

Cohort #4 - 12/1/2026 - 1:00 - 2:30 pm ET

Course Schedule: 

Week 1:

Online Lesson (self-paced)

Lesson 1: Introduction

Course Introduction.

Week 2:

Online Lesson (self-paced)

Lesson 2: Assess Your Skills Through the Critical Lenses

Learn more about business acumen; innovation; strategic orientation; and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.

Cohort Session (virtual)

Session 1: Introduction and Assess Your Skill Set

Reviewing and discussing the content from the first two lessons.

Week 3:

Online Lesson (self-paced)

Lesson 3: Assess Your Skills Through the Areas of Focus

Learn more about leadership, culture, talent, technology, and communication.

Week 4:

Online Lesson (self-paced)

Lesson 4: Your Role as a Trusted Advisor

Learn about executive presence, leading with empathy, and how to build trust to drive collaboration.

Cohort Session (virtual)

Session 2: Area of Focus Skills and Being a Trusted Advisor

Reviewing and discussing the content from the third and fourth lesson.

Week 5:

Online Lesson (self-paced)

Lesson 5: Creating a Personal Development Plan

Take all that you've learned in the online lessons and cohort sessions and create a personal development plan.

Online Lesson (self-paced)

Lesson 6: Leveraging Your Skills

Create a plan to influence agency strategy and short-term projects based upon the skills learned in this course.

Cohort Session (virtual)

Session 3: Personal Development Plan and Leveraging Your Skills

Reviewing and discussing the content from the fifth and sixth lessons.

Week 6:

Cohort Session (virtual)

Session 4: Course Wrap-up

Review of course and opportunity to ask final questions.

Certificate of Attendance earned upon course completion.

Making public sector work better®.

Course Syllabus

Meet Your Instructor:  Dr. Jennifer Fairweather

Course Description

Change is inevitable — but successful change requires intention, understanding, and leadership. This interactive course equips HR professionals and public sector leaders with the tools and confidence to guide their organizations through change with empathy, strategy, and impact. This program explores the psychology, process, and practice of organizational change within government and public service contexts. Participants will engage in real-world case studies, group discussions, and hands-on exercises designed to strengthen HR’s role as a trusted advisor and champion of sustainable transformation

Learning Objectives

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Understand the fundamentals of organizational change and HR’s role in leading it.
• Identify common challenges and resistance to change and strategies to address them.
• Apply practical frameworks and tools to support successful change initiatives in public sector organizations.
• Strengthen HR’s role as a trusted advisor and change champion.
• Develop actionable steps to apply change management strategies in their own workplace.

Student Expectations:

• Live attendance and full engagement at all 3 Zoom sessions.
• Respond to each of the instructor’s discussion posts within 3 days.
• Complete weekly readings and assignments.
• Contact instructor if questions arise, [email protected].

Instructor Expectations:

• Provide weekly assignments and regular discussion posts for student engagement and learning.
• Prepare for and present course content for live Zoom sessions.
• Respond to any student email inquiries within 3 days.

Module 1: Foundations of Change Management

• Key Topics:
  • What do you consider a change
  • Why change initiatives fail or succeed
  • HR’s role in change
  • Introduction to different change models
  • Unique challenges in the public sector
• Breakout Groups
  • What role has HR played in changing efforts in your organization (or not)? What worked and what didn’t?

Module 2: Understanding Resistance & Engagement

• Key Topics:
  • Common sources of resistance
  • Psychological impacts of change
  • Tools for diagnosing resistance
• Breakout Groups  
  • Case study: TBD
  • Groups identify root causes of resistance and propose strategies HR could take
  • Share solutions 

Module 3: Communicating & Leading Through Change

• Key Topics:
  • The importance of clear, transparent communication
  • Storytelling and framing change
  • Coaching leaders and other stakeholders to be change advocates
• Mini-Activity:
  • Participants draft a short communication message announcing a change
  • Share with partners and revise
  • Share out with larger group

Module 4: Action Planning & HR as Change Champions

• Key Topics:
  • Embedding change into culture and practice
  • Supporting managers, employees, and leadership alignment
  • Building a toolkit for future change initiatives
• Breakout Groups      

Wrap-Up & Commitments

• Key Takeaways Recap
• Reflection Activity: One action I will take to better support change in my role.
• Resources & Next Steps

Please let us know if you run into any problems or have questions as soon as possible.  We want to make sure you are to have the best possible learning experience.  

All your course materials will be found on your course dashboard.

Meetings:

• Course Meetings take place in Zoom Events – You will be able to access your Zoom Meeting via the Content Tab.

Course Design:

The course will be delivered over three weeks with three one-hour sessions per week.  

Time Commitment:

Plan for 1 hour for each online lesson to read, complete activities, and prepare for course meetings. Individuals have varying learning paces, so it might take more or less time for each person. We recommend completing lessons a day or two before the course meeting to allow time for reflection on what you've learned and the development of your plans. All course materials are included on your course dashboard (no textbook is required).

Course Meeting Session Schedule (subject to change):

• Start Date: 10/21/2026
• Completion Date: 11/4/2026
• Meeting 1:  10/21/2026 - 1:00 - 2:00 pm ET
• Meeting 2:  10/28/2026 - 1:00 - 2:00 pm ET
• Meeting 3:  11/4/2026 - 1:00 - 2:00 pm ET

Certificate of Attendance:  You will earn a Certificate of Completion upon completion of the course.

Cancellation Policy:  Professional Development Cancelation Policy

Recertification Points:  PSHRA-5 and HRCI-5

Making public sector work better®.

Course Syllabus

Meet Your Instructor:  Braxton Casey

Course Overview

This fast-paced, three-part course introduces foundational concepts in HR analytics and strategic data storytelling. Participants will learn how to identify actionable questions, test hypotheses using HR data, and communicate insights with impact—using visualizations and ROI-focused
storytelling techniques.

Format: 3 Micro-Sessions (60 minutes each)

Audience: Public sector HR professionals, analysts, supervisors, and decision-makers

Learning Objectives

Identify: Analytics concepts, data types, and common HR metrics 
Develop: Hypotheses based on real HR challenges
Analyze: Data using a structured, outcome-oriented approach
Visualize & Communicate: Data-driven stories with clear business value
Apply: Analytics and storytelling to HR decision-making

Session 1: HR (People) Analytics – Getting Started
Duration: 60 minutes
Learning Topics:
- What is HR analytics?
- Qualitative vs. quantitative data
- Key HR metrics (turnover, quality of hire, time-to-fill, etc.)
- Four levels of analytics: descriptive → prescriptive Activity:
“Right Question” Exercise – Identify a pressing HR issue and craft a question that analytics can help solve.
Outcomes:
- Define the purpose and value of people analytics
- Learn how to spot opportunities for data-informed HR decisions

Session 2: Formulating a Hypothesis and Building a Mini Project
Duration: 60 minutes
Learning Topics:
- What is a hypothesis? What makes it testable?
- Determining metrics, interventions, and data needs
- Understanding correlation vs. causation, reliability, and statistical significance
Activity:
Project Planning Exercise – Define a hypothesis, outline an intervention, and identify relevant data and metrics.
Outcomes:
- Draft a mini HR analytics project plan
- Understand how to evaluate data quality and test assumptions

Session 3: Storytelling, Visualization & Application
Duration: 60 minutes
Learning Topics:
- The structure of a compelling data narrative (Setting →Issue → Data → Solution → Success)
- Choosing the right visual (bar charts, scatter plots, heatmaps, etc.)
- Basics of dashboard design
- Communicating ROI and business impact
Activity:
Mini Project Presentations – Present your analytics project using the storytelling structure.
Outcomes:
- Gain confidence in communicating data insights
- Leave with a completed, actionable mini-project plan

Course Materials:  Slide deck with sample dashboards.

Please let us know if you run into any problems or have questions as soon as possible.  We want to make sure you are to have the best possible learning experience.  

All your course materials will be found on your course dashboard.

Meetings:

• Course Meetings take place in Zoom Events – You will receive your Individual Zoom Link before the course starts.

Course Design:

The course will be delivered over three-weeks with three one-hour sessions per week.  You will receive details about the dates, times, and your course URL.

Time Commitment:

Plan for 1 hours for each online lesson to read, complete activities, and prepare for course meetings. Individuals have varying learning paces, so it might take more or less time for each person. We recommend completing lessons a day or two before the course meetings to allow time for reflection on what you've learned and the development of your plans. All course materials are included on your course dashboard (no textbook is required).

Course Meeting Schedule (subject to change):

• Start Date: 10/16/2026
• Completion Date:  10/30/2026
• Course Meeting 1:  10/16/2026 - 11:30 -12:30 pm ET
• Course Meeting 2:  10/23/2026 - 3:00 - 4:00 pm ET
• Course Meeting 3:  10/30/2026 - 11:30 - 12:30 pm ET

Certificate of Attendance:

You will earn a Certificate of Completion upon completion of the course.

Cancellation Policy:

Professional Development Cancelation Policy

Recertification Points:  

PSHRA-5 and HRCI-5

Making public sector work better®.