Professional Development

Catch the LiveStream recording of the CSU Got Talent session "The Accidental Project Manager"

​Have you ever been handed a project and thought, “Wait… how am I supposed to do this?” You’re not alone. Many of us end up managing projects—big and small—without formal training, and it can be overwhelming to juggle deadlines, people, and expectations. Dr. Jerome Hilscher of Fresno State and Bree Lewis from the Chancellor’s Office present a down-to-earth conversation about what it takes to succeed as The Accidental Project Manager. They share lessons learned and practical tools to help you tackle your next project.

Featuring Guest Panelists from within the CSU
Dr. Jerome Hilscher, Fresno State
Bree Lewis, CSU Office of the Chancellor​

On-Demand Project Management Courses

  • New to project management or looking to sharpen your skills? This one-course intro is a great starting point for understanding what makes projects run smoothly and successfully. In just under an hour, you’ll explore the basics of project management, key roles, life cycle phases, and popular methods—plus get a practical walkthrough of Trello in action.

    Introduction to Project Management (part of the CompTIA+ path)

 

  • Curious how to make your team’s work more efficient and less frustrating? This course introduces simple, proven strategies to help managers improve processes, reduce bottlenecks, and get better results with less effort. You’ll explore how organizations use Lean and Six Sigma to work smarter—not harder—and how you can apply the same ideas to your everyday operations.

    Lean and Six Sigma Fundamentals (Intro to the Six Sigma path)

Introduction to Excel

  • Looking for a practical and up-to-date Excel refresher? This single Excel 365 (2024) course is perfect for learners who want to sharpen their data handling skills without committing to a full series. From navigating and selecting special items to sorting, filtering, and eliminating duplicates, this course covers it all—plus, it includes hands-on practice files to help you apply what you learn right away

    Managing Data in Excel 365 (2024)

     

  • Want to get comfortable with PivotTables without spending hours on training? This quick, 32-minute course is broken into bite-sized videos that guide you through creating, formatting, and customizing PivotTables in Excel. You’ll learn how to sort, filter, group data, and use slicers—perfect for anyone looking to level up their Excel skills with clear, hands-on practice.

    Pivot Tables in Excel

 

Excel bundles

  • Looking to really master Excel? This bundle of 10 short courses (just 30–50 minutes each!) is perfect for learners who like to take things step-by-step.

    Basic Excel Starter courses (2023)

     

  • This hands-on bootcamp is perfect for learners who want to explore Excel from the ground up using their own licensed version. Across four in-depth courses (each 1.5–2 hours), you’ll go from mastering the basics to cleaning and wrangling data, building interactive visualizations, and even solving optimization problems—just like the pros do in the workplace

    Analyzing Data in Excel Bootcamp 2023

Collaborate and Automate more!

  • Looking for a better way to stay organized and get things done? This quick and practical Outlook 365 course shows you how to use built-in task and note tools to manage your to-do list, follow up on emails, and streamline your workflow. From creating and assigning tasks to organizing notes and folders, it’s a great way to make Outlook work harder for you—beyond just email and calendars.

    Getting things done with Tasks and Notes in Outlook 365

     

  • Want to make teamwork easier and more organized? This course introduces you to powerful collaboration tools in Microsoft 365—including Teams, SharePoint, Planner, and Project. You’ll learn how to chat, share files, assign tasks, and manage projects all in one place, helping your team stay connected and on track.

    Collaboration and Work Management in Microsoft 365

What other learning opportunities and resources are there?

Upcoming Learning Events (via Zoom)

The SF State Learning & Development Unit, in collaboration with The Chancellor's Office Learning and Development team, offers a variety of live, scheduled learning opportunities on diverse topics. This central page is your go-to hub for all SF State events, including campus forums and other valuable resources for staff and faculty. Don't miss out on these enriching live sessions! 📅✨

 

Upcoming AI Trainings

Learning On-Demand (Pre-Recorded)

Discover a world of knowledge! Simply search for your desired topic and choose "Skillsoft Course" under activity type. Instantly access direct links to CSU Learn courses. With over 70,000 courses available, your professional development journey awaits! 🚀📚

 

AI Trainings

Tuition Fee Waiver Program

Unlock the opportunity to take University Level classes at a discounted rate through the Employee Tuition Fee Waiver Program. Enhance your skills and knowledge while saving on tuition costs! 🎓💼

 

SFSU Graduate Certificate programs eligible for a wee waiver can be found HERE!