Employee Relations & Organizational Development
UAlbany is committed to life-long learning, and our employees are no exception. Career skills, tuition reimbursement and certificate programs are just some of the options UAlbany provides to help you reach your career goals.
Employee Relations & Organizational Development works with all UAlbany employees to identify training and development needs, and then coordinates with partners to design and deliver training and development opportunities.
Questions or suggestions? Contact Employee Relations & Organizational Development at 518-437-4722, by email at [email protected] or share your suggestions for future opportunities using our Feedback Form.
Upcoming Training & Development Events
Intersession Development & Engagement Activities (IDEAs) — Winter 2026 registration now open!
Intersession Development & Engagement Activities (IDEAs) — Winter 2026 registration now open!
IDEAs sessions are designed to meet the needs of UAlbany's faculty and staff, with sessions are presented virtually by UAlbany employees and SUNY partners.
Participation is voluntary but registration is required. More sessions will be announced soon.
Wednesday, January 7, 2026
| Date & Time | Session Title & Presenter(s) | Session Description | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 7, 2026 | Facilitated Viewing: Microsoft Copilot: Boosting Productivity with AI Jill Haskell, Human Resources | Join Jill Haskell for a Facilitated Viewing of Renata Ruiz’s recorded webinar, Microsoft Copilot: Boosting Productivity with AI. In this session we will view the webinar, recorded by the SUNY Center for Professional Development on December 8, 2025, which introduces Microsoft Copilot including a tour of the tool and examples of how Copilot can be used in other apps such as Word, Excel, and Outlooks. After the viewing we will share questions, concerns, and gather projects you would like to do using Copilot to make your workday easier. Note: This is an overview of Copilot. Copilot is not actually used in this session. We strongly encourage everyone watch this webinar as a first step. | Register for Facilitated Viewing: Microsoft Copilot. |
| 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday, January 7, 2026 | CSEA Education and Career Advisement Services NYS & CSEA Partnership | Are you interested in getting your CDL? HVAC certificate? Nursing degree? Join the Academic and Career Advisors from the NYS & CSEA Partnership for an engaging informational session. Discover how a single phone call can connect you with Partnership advisors to explore your education and career goals. Learn about your CSEA tuition benefits and gain practical tips for navigating financial resources that can help reduce your education costs. Note: This session is for employees in CSEA-represented positions and their supervisors only. | Register for CSEA Education and Career Advisement Services. |
| 3 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 7, 2026 | Employee Assistance Program: EAP for Well-being Carly Galbraith, EAP Coordinator | Join Carly Galbraith, UAlbany's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Coordinator, to learn how EAP can help you. University and Research Foundation employees, their family members, and GSEU members can take advantage of an amazing array of opportunities designed to promote well-being in and out of the workplace. Take 30 minutes and learn about all this free resource has to share. | Register for EAP for Well-being. |
Thursday, January 8, 2026
| Date & Time | Session Title & Presenter(s) | Session Description | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday, January 8, 2026 | Preparing for Retirement Pamela Alexander, Human Resources | Thinking about retirement? Join the Benefits & Engagement team to learn about the steps to take as you approach retirement, what you can expect during the process, and important information to consider. This session is most appropriate for those who are considering retirement in the next five years to six months. | Register for Preparing for Retirement. |
| Noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, January 8, 2026 | Copilot for New Users Jill Haskell, Human Resources | Have you been avoiding Copilot or just waiting for the right time to try it out? Well, here is your chance! Join Jill Haskell for this low-pressure experiment using Microsoft Copilot. There are no wrong answers as we walk through basic features of Copilot, talk to our AI companions, and begin using AI to help us with simple tasks like writing emails. Note: Copilot is used in this session. No prior experience needed. | Register for Copilot for New Users (Thursday session). |
| 2 to 3 p.m. Thursday, January 8, 2026 | Human Resources Benefits Refresher Carly Galbraith & Ariana Wallace-Barrett, Human Resources | Join Carly and Ariana for this can't-miss, one-hour Benefits Refresher! Explore what benefits currently exist for employees, including: an overview of health insurance; retirement plans (including Voluntary Savings) and our new retirement sessions; tuition programs; Public Service Loan Forgiveness; and leave programs. | Register for Human Resources Benefits Refresher. |
Friday, January 9, 2026
| Date & Time | Session Title & Presenter(s) | Session Description | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noon to 1 p.m. Friday, January 9, 2026 | Copilot for New Users Jill Haskell, Human Resources | Have you been avoiding Copilot or just waiting for the right time to try it out? Well, here is your chance! Join Jill Haskell for this low-pressure experiment using Microsoft Copilot. There are no wrong answers as we walk through basic features of Copilot, talk to our AI companions, and begin using AI to help us with simple tasks like writing emails. Note: Copilot is used in this session. No prior experience needed. | Register for Copilot for New Users (Friday session). |
| 12:30 to 1 p.m. Friday, January 9, 2026 | UUP: Get your EKB, a Free Benefit to Help You Grow Jill Haskell, Human Resources | Have you been thinking about getting your certificate in Project Management? Want to learn more about AI? Thinking about next steps in your career? Wondering how to improve on areas where you don’t feel as strong? Today’s EKB has it all! From Skill Benchmark Assessments to built-in Role Advisors, AI Simulations and AI Assistants to help you build and meet your goals, an EKB license may be the best gift you give yourself this year. Together we will walk through a live EKB account, explore what EKB has to offer and see if EKB can help you reach your goals for 2026. | Register for Get Your EKB. |
| 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Friday, January 9, 2026 | Microsoft Forms: A Walkthrough to Start You Off Jill Haskell, Human Resources | Microsoft Forms can be a great resource for collaboration, organization and information gathering. Together we will walk through the basic features, create a test form and view the results. Note: This session is intended for those with limited to no experience using Forms. This session will provide participants with data that can be used next week in our Basic Data Analysis with AI session. | Register for Microsoft Forms Walkthrough. |
Supervisor Network for Success
Supervisor Network for Success
The Supervisor Network for Success series is designed for UAlbany employees serving in supervisory roles who are full-time state employees with contractual obligations related to the management of unionized personnel.
Supervisors across all divisions, bargaining units, and experience levels are invited to register. Registration is required.
No sessions are scheduled at this time.
Professional Development Opportunities
Statewide Learning Management System (SLMS)
Statewide Learning Management System (SLMS)
The Statewide Learning Management System (SLMS) provides all New York State employees with access to free trainings and resources. Review guides for using the SMLS: SLMS video and SLMS desk aid.
SUNY Center for Professional Development
SUNY Center for Professional Development
The SUNY Center for Professional Development (CPD) offers an incredible array of learning opportunities.
As part of UAlbany’s commitment to provide all employees with access to high quality training and development, HR is pleased to share a streamlined UAlbany CPD General Points Procedure to financially support professional development opportunities through SUNY CPD. Using CPD General Points, UAlbany employees can access a wide range of learning experiences—such as webinars, workshops, and certificate programs—that support skill-building, knowledge enhancement, and career growth.
Who is Eligible?
All New York State employees at UAlbany—full-time and part-time—are eligible to apply, provided they meet employment criteria at the time of application, during the activity, and upon completion.
How to Apply?
Once you find a SUNY CPD General Points opportunity you are interested in, use this simple JotForm to apply. For full details, please see the attached guidance document. Note: for SUNY CPD Technical Point opportunities, please reach out to Sandy Cowin.
Want to Learn More about SUNY CPD?
Here are just a few quick links to get you started:
- CPD Program and Events Calendar
- SUNY Learning Commons: facilitates cross-campus collaboration and communication and brings together Communities of Practice across the SUNY System.
- Program Areas: available for faculty, instructional designers, librarians, student success and support professionals, business operations staff, information technology staff, campus leadership, and others in administrative roles in higher education.
- Lumen Circles Fellowships: Learning Communities for Effective Teaching: provides opportunities to connect with other faculty members as you explore effective instructional practices that support student success and apply them in your own teaching.
Additional UAlbany Opportunities
Additional UAlbany Opportunities
Opportunities for All Employees
Opportunities for Faculty & Staff
Opportunities for Faculty
Additional SUNY & Statewide Opportunities
Additional SUNY & Statewide Opportunities
Union & Bargaining Unit Opportunities
Union & Bargaining Unit Opportunities
Please review the following state Office of Employee Relations (OER) webpages for detailed information on programs offered by OER in partnership with unions and bargaining units:
- Civil Service Employee Association (CSEA)
- Graduate Student Employees Union (GSEU)
- Management/Confidential (M/C)
- New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA)
- United University Professions (UUP)
- Police Benevolent Association of New York State (PBA of NYS)
- Public Employees Federation (PEF)
For civil service test preparation, please visit CSEA’s Test Preparation/Career Services webpage.
Conference Opportunities
Conference Opportunities
Whether your goal is to attend a conference or present at one, explore some of these great options.
If you have a conference you would like to share, please email [email protected] or complete the Peer Sharing: Conference Opportunities Form with the details.
Additional Events
Additional Events
For additional events, please check out the following :
Annual Compliance Trainings
Compliance, Safety & Other State-Mandated Topics
Compliance, Safety & Other State-Mandated Topics
Upon hire, and annually thereafter, UAlbany’s professional and classified employees are required to complete several online training courses on compliance, safety and other state-mandated topics. Details and deadlines are sent to employees via email each year. To complete the trainings, please sign into Skillsoft Precipio.
Comprehensive Ethics Training Course (CETC) — Registration open now until December 2025!
Comprehensive Ethics Training Course (CETC) — Registration open now until December 2025!
All University State employees are required to participate in the mandated Comprehensive Ethics Training Course (CETC).
This training is required of all new hires within 90 days of starting employment and annually thereafter, with format alternating yearly between an online / on-demand refresher course and a live, instructor-led course.
- If you have been assigned the live, instructor-led course, please register for an upcoming session below.
- To access the online refresher course, please sign into Skillsoft Precipio.
If you have any questions or require assistance, including an accommodation to participate in the live training and/or online trainings, please contact [email protected].
Upcoming Live, Instructor-led Courses
Each session will last approximately 90 minutes and will be conducted via Zoom by a representative from HR. To register, please click a desired date and fill out the registration form using your UAlbany email account.
December