PSHRA’s Public Sector HR Essentials Certificate 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.  

Course Material (All you need is on your dashboard)

• PSHRE Workbook (PDF and Word Versions)
• Public Sector HR Essentials 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: 6/30/2026
• Completion Date: 9/8/2026
• Cohort Session 1:  7/2/2026 - 2:30 - 4:00 pm ET
• Cohort Session 2:  7/17/2026 - 11:00 - 12:30 pm ET
• Cohort Session 3:  7/30/2026 - 2:30 - 4:00 pm ET
• Cohort Session 4:  8/13/2026 - 2:30 - 4:00 pm ET
• Cohort Session 5: 8/27/2026 - 2:30 - 4:00 pm ET
• Cohort Session 6: 9/2/2026 - 2:30 - 4:00 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®.

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.  

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: 6/30/2026
• Completion Date: 7/14/2026
• Meeting 1:  6/30/2026 - 3:00 - 4:00 pm ET
• Meeting 2:  7/7/2026 - 3:00 - 4:00 pm ET
• Meeting 3:  7/14/2026 - 3:00 - 4:00 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®.

Patrick Henley, DBA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP

Dr. Patrick Henley is the Director of Human Resources & Risk Management at Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority, where he has led transformative efforts in leadership development, risk strategy, and organizational planning. With over 22 years of HR leadership experience, Patrick is known for blending strategic insight with a people-first approach. He holds a Doctorate in Business Administration, an MBA, and a BS in Psychology, and is certified as both an SPHR and SHRM-SCP. Patrick is also an award-winning HR professional, recognized for excellence in Learning & Development, Total Rewards, and Diversity & Inclusion. A passionate educator, he teaches HR and Business courses at the college level and frequently speaks at industry conferences. His work focuses on aligning people strategy with business outcomes through continuous improvement and leadership excellence.

Hiring in government requires a delicate balance of efficiency, fairness, and job-related rigor.

Join us on Thursday, June 25th at 1 PM ET, this webinar will provide you with the essential knowledge and practical tools to design and execute structured interviews. You will learn how to use interviews to make better hiring decisions while reducing risk, bias, and bottlenecks.

Speaker: Kyana Beckles, M.P.S., CEO, Leverage Assessments, Inc.

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

Making public sector work better®.

PSHRA’s Public Sector HR Essentials Certificate 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.  

Course Material (All you need is on your dashboard)

• PSHRE Workbook (PDF and Word Versions)
• Public Sector HR Essentials 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: 6/16/2026
• Completion Date: 8/25/2026
• Cohort Session 1:  6/23/2026 - 3:30 - 4:30 pm ET
• Cohort Session 2:  7/10/2026 - 2:30 - 4:00 pm ET
• Cohort Session 3:  7/22/2026 - 2:30 - 4:00 pm ET
• Cohort Session 4:  7/28/2026 - 2:30 - 4:00 pm ET
• Cohort Session 5: 8/11/2026 - 2:30 - 4:00 pm ET
• Cohort Session 6: 8/20/2026 - 2:30 - 4:00 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®.

Course Syllabus

Course Overview

Learners will take a deep dive into effective communication. Participants will learn how to access your current communication reality, understand communication as a system, make improvements using data, and more. Upon completion, you will have the tools to implement effective communication strategies at both the team and agency level. 

Format: 2 Micro-Sessions (90 minutes each)

Learning Objectives

Participants will leave with usable frameworks and templates to help:

• clarify communication expectations and norms
• reduce channel confusion and missed information
• improve ownership and follow-through
• strengthen communication around recurring updates, projects, and incidents
• measure progress without creating unnecessary process overload

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

1. Identify common causes of communication breakdowns in teams, meetings, channels, and cross-department work.
2. Assess communication gaps and hidden assumptions that create confusion, inconsistency, or rework.
3. Use practical tools such as a channel matrix, responsibilities matrix, communication calendar, and incident review to improve communication systems.
4. Clarify expectations, ownership, and communication norms across teams and stakeholders.
5. Build a simple measurement approach using pulse questions, mini-surveys, and review cadences to track communication improvement over time.

Target Audience:  This course is designed for public-sector HR professionals, people managers, and agency leaders who want practical tools to reduce communication breakdowns, clarify expectations, improve coordination across teams, and build stronger communication systems in their agencies.

Course Materials:  A course workbook will be provided.

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 access your Zoom Meetings from the Contents Tab.

Course Design:

The course will be delivered over two-weeks with two 90 minute 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: 6/22/2026
• Completion Date:  6/29/2026
• Course Meeting 1:  6/22/2026 - 2:30 - 4:00 pm ET
• Course Meeting 2:  6/29/2026 - 2:30 - 4:00 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

Learners will explore the full investigation process from intake to reporting, with a focus on balancing legal, ethical, and organizational considerations. Participants will gain tools to plan, conduct, and document investigations with fairness, consistency, and clarity. The content will be delivered through a realistic and engaging case study.

Overview

This comprehensive learning program is designed for Human Resource (HR) professionals in the United States public sector. It prepares learners for the complexities and challenges of conducting fair and effective workplace investigations.

Learning Objectives

1. Ensure Legal Compliance: Understand the legal frameworks and compliance requirements necessary for conducting workplace investigations.
2. Support the Complainant and Prevent Retaliation: Master communication techniques that prioritize confidentiality and complainant protections.
3. Enhance Investigative Skills: Learn advanced investigative techniques to conduct thorough and effective investigations.
4. Apply Skills Practically: Engage in scenario-based activities that simulate real-life challenges, enhancing practical application skills. 

Program Components

Workshop 1

• Introduction to Workplace Investigations: Overview of legal and ethical considerations specific to public sector contexts.
• Supporting the Complainant, Preventing Retaliation: Processes and techniques.

Workshop 2

• Planning an Investigation: Steps for a thorough, timely and impartial investigation.
• Conducting Interviews: Developing effective interview questions and documentation.

Workshop 3

• Gathering and Analyzing Evidence: Managing your own bias, selecting and collecting evidence from various sources.
• Reporting and Concluding an Investigation: Deciding on the outcomes and recommendations, and communicating the results. 

The course will be delivered over three-weeks with 3 one-hour 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.

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. 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: 6/17/2026
• Completion Date: 7/1/2026
• Meeting 1:  6/17/2026 - 11:30 - 12:30 pm ET
• Meeting 2:  6/24/2026 - 11:30 - 12:30 pm ET
• Meeting 3:  7/1/2026 - 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®.

Beatriz Coningham, Ed.D.

Dr. Coningham is a global consultant in organizational leadership, learning, change, and human resource management. She is also part of the adjunct faculty of the George Washington University, in Washington DC, where she lives. Her experience includes public sector, non-profit and for profit organizations in the United States and abroad. As part of her career in leadership roles in human resources she has personally conducted multiple workplace investigations and trained human resources teams on the investigation process. 

Course Syllabus

Succession Planning for Local Government explores the critical process for ensuring continuity of leadership and maintaining high-quality public services in local government. This course equips department heads, managers, and HR professionals with practical tools and strategies to identify, develop, and retain future leaders within municipal organizations. Participants will learn how to align workforce planning with organizational needs, build a talent pipeline, and reduce risks associated with turnover or retirements. The program emphasizes both strategic planning and actionable steps that can be immediately applied in a local government setting.  The course will be delivered over three-weeks with one-hour weekly online sessions.

Overview

Through a mix of instruction, applied frameworks, case studies, and guided analysis, participants will strengthen their ability to interpret policy, assess ethical risks, navigate conflicting pressures, and promote cultures rooted in trust and public service values.

Learning Objectives

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

1. Understand Succession Planning Fundamentals
   • Define succession planning and explain its importance in local government.
   • Differentiate between succession planning and replacement planning.
2. Assess Organizational Readiness
   • Identify critical roles and competencies necessary for organizational sustainability.
   • Analyze workforce demographics, retirement trends, and turnover risks.
3. Develop a Succession Planning Framework
   • Apply methods for identifying high-potential employees.
   • Create development plans and career pathways that prepare staff for advancement.
   • Integrate succession planning into existing HR and performance management processes.
4. Implement Tools and Practices
   • Utilize assessment tools, mentoring programs, and training opportunities to strengthen leadership pipelines.
   • Establish clear policies and communication strategies that foster buy-in across the organization.
5. Measure and Sustain Progress
• Design key performance indicators (KPIs) to track succession planning effectiveness.
• Adapt plans to meet evolving community needs, legal requirements, and workforce challenges.

Course Meeting Recordings:  https://events.zoom.us/ejl/Aha...

Expected Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, participants will be able to:

• Develop a written succession plan tailored to their department or local government unit.
• Build a pool of prepared and capable employees ready to assume leadership roles when vacancies arise.
• Reduce disruptions caused by retirements, promotions, or unexpected staff departures.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning, mentorship, and career growth within the organization.
• Strengthen organizational resilience by ensuring leadership continuity and institutional knowledge retention.

The course will be delivered over three-weeks with 3 one-hour 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.

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. 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: 6/15/2026
• Completion Date: 6/29/2026
• Meeting 1:  6/15/2026 - 2:30 - 3:30 pm ET
• Meeting 2:  6/24/2026 - 3:30 - 4:30 pm ET
• Meeting 3:  6/29/2026 - 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

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 your dashboard):  

• Detailed Syllabus
• Life Values Inventory - Assessment
• Participant Workbook

Course Design:

The course will be delivered over three-weeks with 3 one-hour weekly online 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: 6/15/2026
• Completion Date: 6/26/2026
• Meeting 1:  6/15/2026 - 12:00 - 1:00 pm ET
• Meeting 2:  6/22/2026 - 12:00 - 1:00 pm ET
• Meeting 3:  6/29/2026 - 12:00 - 1:00 pm ET

Course Content:

Workshop 1

• What are Values and Why They Matter: Define “values” and discuss how the consistent application of values to practice builds credibility and trust in leadership, and supports collective mental health.
• Your Own Values-Based Foundation: Develop learners’ ability to articulate values as a foundation to address complex challenges and dilemmas in their professional activities.
  • Debrief Life Values Inventory results. Note the importance of defining values and becoming aware of the hierarchy of values for different people and groups.
  • Identify own, team, and organizational long-lasting values.
• The HR Leader as a Values Guiding Light: How the HR leader can become the organization’s consistent, long-term ethical beacon through articulating, practicing, and promoting shared values.

Workshop 2

• A Congruent Decision-Making Process: Step-by-step values-based decision-making process.
• Walking the Talk: Practice values-based decision making in realistic scenarios.
• Learning from Experience: Learn from peers through a peer coaching activity based on real ethical dilemmas participants are facing.

Workshop 3

• Values and Culture: Anchoring values into the organization’s culture: steps to embed values into policies, processes, and internal communication.
• High Stakes Decisions: Practice making organizational-level values-based decisions.
  • Debrief: What happens when values are breached?

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

Making public sector work better®.

Course Syllabus

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: 6/12/2026
• Completion Date:  6/26/2026
• Course Meeting 1:  6/12/2026 - 2:00 -3:00 pm ET
• Course Meeting 2:  6/16/2026 - 2:00 - 3:00 pm ET 
• Course Meeting 3:  6/26/2026 - 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®.

As some public sector workplaces continue to operate in virtual or hybrid environments, HR professionals and supervisors face new challenges of connection and preserving culture.

Please join us on June 11th at 1 PM ET to explore these challenges and solid strategies that provide real life application. You will discuss and discover what actually works in a virtual HR environment. You will learn how to apply human centered communication strategies to address remote employee relations situations and strengthen trust and connection.

This webinar will be the second edition in the Dialogue and Perspectives Webinar Series for 2026—a powerful initiative designed to amplify voices in public sector HR. This series will feature expert discussions, real-world insights, and actionable strategies to foster openness and leadership in our field.

Speaker: Myila Young, Assistant Director of HR/Risk Management, Town of Lantana, FL

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

Making public sector work better®.