Empower is a cross-departmental initiative designed to bring a thoughtful professional development and computer training program to the staff and managerial faculty members of the University of Hartford community.
The University of Hartford constantly strives to improve the efficiency of training opportunities available to our new and existing staff and collegiate chairs responsible for the oversight of staff. With this initiative, we aim to provide a single point of contact for all professional development training opportunities available to University employees, safeguard the standardization of class content, and ensure regularly scheduled Banner and other computer system training.
E-mail us for more information, to sign up for a class, or to suggest future classes. We would love to hear from you about what you would like to learn.
Upcoming Sessions
Legally-mandated Sexual Harassment Training
Changes to The State of Connecticut law on Sexual Harassment training has mandated that the University to provide all existing employees with sexual harassment training.
Here’s how to get started:
- Go to the online training.
- Provide your full name and University of Hartford email address, and click “register”.
- You will receive an email from CHRO enclosing the online training. Click “view training”.
- Click the “Materials” tab.
- Watch the videos, titled “Section 1” thru “Section 6”, complete all requires quizzes.
- Within 24 -72 hours you will receive a Certificate of Completion.
- In order to receive credit for the online training, you must forward the Certificate of Completion to EmPOWER at empower@hartford.edu.
Upcoming Training Opportunities
Space is limited, and seating is first come/first served.
|
Class Name |
Time and Place |
Description |
|
25 Live Schedulers Onboarding |
AUGUST 11 |
Please join Sara for an onboarding session for new schedulers in 25Live. This is for campus partners who oversee and book space and resources for their departments. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to bring them to this open format learning opportunity. |
|
ePAF Refresher Training |
AUGUST 12, 2025 10 am – 11:30 Am CC 114
|
If it’s been a while since you last created an EPAF, you’re not alone. To support you in confidently navigating the process, we’re offering a Refresher Training Session designed to revisit the key steps, answer any questions you may have, and provide an opportunity to connect with other EPAF originators. |
|
Getting Started with Blackboard Ultra |
AUGUST 13 11AM – 1PM (Virtual) |
New to Blackboard Ultra or looking for a refresher? This hands-on workshop is designed to help faculty get comfortable navigating and using the Ultra Course View. Participants will explore the intuitive interface, learn how to create and organize course content, set up assignments and discussions, communicate with students, and manage grades. Whether you’re transitioning from Original Course View or starting fresh, this session will give you the confidence to build a streamlined, student-friendly course in Blackboard Ultra. |
|
Blackboard Organizations for Staff |
AUGUST 13 2PM – 3PM (Virtual) |
Blackboard Organizations at UH are designed for communicating with students outside of traditional courses—ideal for sharing information with majors, supporting student clubs, managing campus programs, or building community sites for staff and students. This workshop introduces staff to the basics of using Organizations in the Ultra interface, including how to structure content, post announcements, manage membership, and share resources. Whether you're coordinating advising, supporting co-curricular initiatives, or creating a central hub for student engagement, this session will help you make the most of Blackboard Organizations. Please join us for an information session. |
|
Getting Started with Blackboard Ultra |
AUGUST 13 6:30PM – 8:30PM (Virtual) |
New to Blackboard Ultra or looking for a refresher? This hands-on workshop is designed to help faculty get comfortable navigating and using the Ultra Course View. Participants will explore the intuitive interface, learn how to create and organize course content, set up assignments and discussions, communicate with students, and manage grades. Whether you’re transitioning from Original Course View or starting fresh, this session will give you the confidence to build a streamlined, student-friendly course in Blackboard Ultra. |
|
Getting Started with Kaltura |
AUGUST 18 11AM – 12PM WOODS CLASSROOM |
Video and audio files should never be added directly to Blackboard; instead, instructors should be using Kaltura (the new replacement for Ensemble). Kaltura works like an in-house YouTube, allowing faculty to upload videos to a media library quickly and easily, then link to them from Blackboard and other websites. |
|
Getting Started with Blackboard Ultra |
AUGUST 18 1:30PM – 3:30PM WOODS CLASSROOM |
New to Blackboard Ultra or looking for a refresher? This hands-on workshop is designed to help faculty get comfortable navigating and using the Ultra Course View. Participants will explore the intuitive interface, learn how to create and organize course content, set up assignments and discussions, communicate with students, and manage grades. Whether you’re transitioning from Original Course View or starting fresh, this session will give you the confidence to build a streamlined, student-friendly course in Blackboard Ultra. |
|
Microsoft TEAMS |
AUGUST 18 10AM – 11AM WOODS CLASSROOM |
Teams is a platform that can be employed for remote instruction, office hours, or collaborative group work in your courses. In this session, we will show you how to set up a Teams Meeting in your Blackboard course, how to navigate the Teams interface, how to share files or documents with students, and how to share screens. |
|
AI Magic: The Ultimate Toolkit for Spellbinding Course Design w/Blackboard & Google NotebookLM |
AUGUST 19 9:30AM – 10:30AM WOODS CLASSROOM |
Wave your wand and let AI work its magic! This spellbinding session unveils Blackboard’s AI Design Assistant for effortless quizzes, assignments, rubrics, and visuals, plus the AI Roleplay tool for immersive, interactive learning. But that’s not all—discover how Google NotebookLM can act as your AI research assistant, organizing course materials, summarizing key concepts, and streamlining your workflow. Save time, spark creativity, and enchant your students with AI-powered tools that make course design feel like wizardry. Join us and add a little magic to your teaching! |
|
AI Magic: The Ultimate Toolkit for Spellbinding Course Design w/Blackboard & Google NotebookLM |
AUGUST 19 11AM – 12PM WOODS CLASSROOM |
Wave your wand and let AI work its magic! This spellbinding session unveils Blackboard’s AI Design Assistant for effortless quizzes, assignments, rubrics, and visuals, plus the AI Roleplay tool for immersive, interactive learning. But that’s not all—discover how Google NotebookLM can act as your AI research assistant, organizing course materials, summarizing key concepts, and streamlining your workflow. Save time, spark creativity, and enchant your students with AI-powered tools that make course design feel like wizardry. Join us and add a little magic to your teaching! |
|
Hiring Process Overview |
AUGUST 19 11AM – 12PM CC 114 |
This training will be an overview of the hiring process for regular full- and part-time staff, and temporary staff (both student and non-student). This will include a brief overview of the different employee classes, the hiring guidelines associated with each class, and payment schedules. We will also cover steps for successful onboarding. |
|
Microsoft TEAMS |
AUGUST 19 6:30PM – 8:30PM (Virtual) |
Teams is a platform that can be employed for remote instruction, office hours, or collaborative group work in your courses. In this session, we will show you how to set up a Teams Meeting in your Blackboard course, how to navigate the Teams interface, how to share files or documents with students, and how to share screens. |
|
What do All of these Microsoft Apps do Anyway? |
AUGUST 20 11AM – 12:00 PM (Virtual) |
Dive into the expansive suite of Microsoft applications in this informative workshop. Learn the key functions and practical uses of popular tools like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneNote, and more. Whether you're a beginner or looking to enhance your productivity, this session will demystify each app's purpose and show you how they can streamline your work and personal tasks. Join us to unlock the full potential of Microsoft's powerful software ecosystem! |
|
Electronic Personnel Action Form |
AUGUST 20 11AM – 12PM CC 114 |
The electronic Personnel Action Form (ePAF) is an online process completed when a new employee is hired, a change is needed for an existing employee, or a termination of a position/employee is needed. The originator inputs all the required information before sending it over to the approvers until it is ultimately applied electronically to the appropriate BANNER screen(s). |
|
Microsoft TEAMS |
AUGUST 20 1PM – 2PM (Virtual) |
Teams is a platform that can be employed for remote instruction, office hours, or collaborative group work in your courses. In this session, we will show you how to set up a Teams Meeting in your Blackboard course, how to navigate the Teams interface, how to share files or documents with students, and how to share screens. |
|
Getting Started with Kaltura |
AUGUST 20 2PM – 3PM |
Video and audio files should never be added directly to Blackboard; instead, instructors should be using Kaltura (the new replacement for Ensemble). Kaltura works like an in-house YouTube, allowing faculty to upload videos to a media library quickly and easily, then link to them from Blackboard and other websites. |
|
Getting Started with Blackboard Ultra |
AUGUST 20 6:30PM – 8:30PM (Virtual) |
New to Blackboard Ultra or looking for a refresher? This hands-on workshop is designed to help faculty get comfortable navigating and using the Ultra Course View. Participants will explore the intuitive interface, learn how to create and organize course content, set up assignments and discussions, communicate with students, and manage grades. Whether you’re transitioning from Original Course View or starting fresh, this session will give you the confidence to build a streamlined, student-friendly course in Blackboard Ultra. |
|
AI Magic: The Ultimate Toolkit for Spellbinding Course Design w/Blackboard & Google NotebookLM |
AUGUST 21 10AM – 11AM (Virtual) |
Wave your wand and let AI work its magic! This spellbinding session unveils Blackboard’s AI Design Assistant for effortless quizzes, assignments, rubrics, and visuals, plus the AI Roleplay tool for immersive, interactive learning. But that’s not all—discover how Google NotebookLM can act as your AI research assistant, organizing course materials, summarizing key concepts, and streamlining your workflow. Save time, spark creativity, and enchant your students with AI-powered tools that make course design feel like wizardry. Join us and add a little magic to your teaching! |
|
Understanding University Data Storage Options |
AUGUST 21 2PM – 3PM (Virtual) |
Learn about the different ways you can store and share your files at the university. We'll explain the uses and benefits of OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, Network Drives, and Local Drives in simple terms. Discover the best practices for each option to keep your data organized, secure, and easy to access. |
|
Getting Started with Kaltura |
AUGUST 21 6:30PM – 7:30PM |
Video and audio files should never be added directly to Blackboard; instead, instructors should be using Kaltura (the new replacement for Ensemble). Kaltura works like an in-house YouTube, allowing faculty to upload videos to a media library quickly and easily, then link to them from Blackboard and other websites. |
|
Understanding University Data Storage Options |
AUGUST 26 11AM – 12PM WOODS CLASSROOM |
Learn about the different ways you can store and share your files at the university. We'll explain the uses and benefits of OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, Network Drives, and Local Drives in simple terms. Discover the best practices for each option to keep your data organized, secure, and easy to access. |
|
Blackboard Organizations for Staff |
AUGUST 27 1PM – 2PM WOODS CLASSROOM |
Blackboard Organizations at UH are designed for communicating with students outside of traditional courses—ideal for sharing information with majors, supporting student clubs, managing campus programs, or building community sites for staff and students. This workshop introduces staff to the basics of using Organizations in the Ultra interface, including how to structure content, post announcements, manage membership, and share resources. Whether you're coordinating advising, supporting co-curricular initiatives, or creating a central hub for student engagement, this session will help you make the most of Blackboard Organizations. Please join us for an information session. |
|
25 Live Schedulers Onboarding |
SEPTEMBER 8 |
Please join Sara for an onboarding session for new schedulers in 25Live. This is for campus partners who oversee and book space and resources for their departments. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to bring them to this open format learning opportunity. |
|
The NEW Self Service for Faculty: Drop Rosters and Grades |
SEPTEMBER 10 CC114 |
Beginning in the fall, Self-Service users must use MyUHart to access cards with Self-Service options. Please note that some processes will change. Come learn what you will need to know about the new interface for Faculty Self-Service. The size of the class is capped at 12 participants to ensure individual attention. |
|
25 Live Schedulers Onboarding |
OCTOBER 13 |
Please join Sara for an onboarding session for new schedulers in 25Live. This is for campus partners who oversee and book space and resources for their departments. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to bring them to this open format learning opportunity. |
|
25 Live Schedulers Onboarding |
NOVEMBER 10 |
Please join Sara for an onboarding session for new schedulers in 25Live. This is for campus partners who oversee and book space and resources for their departments. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to bring them to this open format learning opportunity. |
|
Banner for Beginners
|
NOVEMBER 12 CC114 |
This class is designed specifically for people who are brand new to using Banner Administrative pages. To participate, you must already have an active account in Banner. We will cover basic navigation, data ownership, and keyboard shortcuts. The size of the class is capped at 12 participants to ensure individual attention. |
|
25 Live Schedulers Onboarding |
DECEMBER 8 |
Please join Sara for an onboarding session for new schedulers in 25Live. This is for campus partners who oversee and book space and resources for their departments. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to bring them to this open format learning opportunity. |
|
Basics of Argos
|
DECEMBER 10 CC114 |
Argos is the tool used to extract data and information out of Banner. The Argos Web Viewer is the new easy to use interface that allows you to run Argos dashboards and reports directly in a web browser from anywhere on campus. This class will cover some of the basics of using that web viewer including working with Dashboards, saving extracts, and the basic vocabulary of working with these queries. The size of the class is capped at 12 participants to ensure individual attention. |
|
25 Live Schedulers Onboarding |
JANUARY 12 |
Please join Sara for an onboarding session for new schedulers in 25Live. This is for campus partners who oversee and book space and resources for their departments. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to bring them to this open format learning opportunity. |
|
25 Live Schedulers Onboarding |
FEBRUARY 9 |
Please join Sara for an onboarding session for new schedulers in 25Live. This is for campus partners who oversee and book space and resources for their departments. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to bring them to this open format learning opportunity. |
|
25 Live Schedulers Onboarding |
MARCH 9 |
Please join Sara for an onboarding session for new schedulers in 25Live. This is for campus partners who oversee and book space and resources for their departments. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to bring them to this open format learning opportunity. |