ARKANSAS GOVERNMENT BASICS*
Arkansas Government Basics covers how Arkansas state government is arranged, the legislative process, the rulemaking process, the Freedom of Information Act, workers compensation, government accounting, procurement, and travel and vehicle policies.
Duration: 1 Day

HRKANSAS*
HRkansas covers information related to human resources-related topics such as the appropriation process, job specifications, cross grading and downgrading, pool positions, extra help, state compensation, overtime and compensatory time, payroll processing, holidays and paid leave, employment law, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission process.
Duration: 1 Day

INTERVIEWING AND HIRING*
Interviewing and Hiring teaches students everything they need to know about the hiring process: hiring freeze, using ARCareers, the state’s recruiting system, selecting candidates for interview, veterans preference, and how to prepare and conduct interviews.
Duration: 1 Day

* Denotes required supervisory course

ADDRESSING EMPLOYEE CONDUCT
Managing conduct or performance issues effectively is a critical challenge for leaders in any workplace. This course explores how to identify and address the causes of problematic behavior, how to coach or counsel an employee, and how to administer employee discipline when the need arises.
Duration: ½ Day

BRIDGING THE GENERATIONAL GAPS
From typewriters to TikTok, faxes to FaceTime — today’s workplace is a five-generation mashup of values, styles, and emoji fluency. Whether you’re mentoring a Gen Z new hire or collaborating with a seasoned Traditionalist, this course equips you with tools to bridge the gaps — not just put up with them.
Duration: Full Day

BUSINESS WRITING 
If you want to become a better writer, this course is for you. This course features resources and tips to help you practice your writing skills and take them to the next level.
Duration: 1 Day

COACHING & MENTORING
Whether you’re leading a team, guiding a new hire, or just the person everyone comes to for advice, this course will help you sharpen the tools that matter: listening with purpose, asking the right questions, building trust, and having the real conversations that move people forward.

We’ll break down the difference between coaching and mentoring (yep, there is one), explore how to build strong connections across generations, and talk honestly about what gets in the way—like resistance, tough feedback, or just plain burnout. Don’t just clock in – help your colleagues grow!
Duration: Full Day

CONDUCTING EFFECTIVE MEETINGS
Conducting Effective Meetings is designed to give you the basic tools you need to plan and manage productive meetings. You will learn planning and leadership techniques that will give you the confidence to run an engaging meeting that will leave a positive and lasting impression. 
Duration: ½ Day

CUSTOMER SERVICE 
Government is a service industry. No matter how great our programs are or how talented our people may be, customers mainly remember the direct interaction they have with us. Those interactions shape customer’s opinions not just of our departments but of government in general. Learn the fundamentals of great customer service.
Duration: ½ Day

Emotional Intelligence
This course will help you understand what emotional intelligence is and how you can improve both your professional and personal life. Learn techniques to self-motivate, control emotions, and challenge negative thought patterns. You will understand the importance of self-awareness and developing your emotional skills. 
Duration: ½ Day

EXCEL BASICS
Learn how to turn Excel into your most powerful productivity tool. Starting with the basics and moving to more advanced features, our training in Excel basics gives a comprehensive overview of Microsoft Office’s spreadsheet application. This course builds a skill set that helps define you and your work skills. Excel training is just what you need to increase your productivity and take your skills to the next level.
Duration: 1 Day

FIVE LEVELS OF LEADERSHIP 
What makes a good leader? Some say you’ll know one when you see one; others confuse being a leader with simply having a title. In The Five Levels of Leadership, John C. Maxwell gives a shape and form to something seemingly indefinable and provides a roadmap to help you reach your full leadership potential. In this session, you’ll learn how to go from being a boss to a natural leader, get people to follow you without using your rank, and use your leadership to build a legacy that stands the test of time.
Duration: ½ Day

FROM PRESS TO POST: LEVELING UP GOVERNMENT COMMS
Effective public service communication goes beyond just getting the facts right—it’s about making information clear, accessible, and engaging across all platforms. This course equips you with basic skills in visual design, press/media relations, writing compelling press releases, and crafting impactful social media content. From understanding design basics using tools, to preparing for media interviews and creating on-brand public messaging, this course blends practical tools with communication strategy. Whether you’re in a full-time comms role or wear multiple hats, you’ll be better prepared to represent your agency with clarity and professionalism.
Duration: Full Day

GETTING A HANDLE ON THE HUSTLE: MANAGING STRESS & TIME IN STATE GOVERNMENT
This course brings the best of time management and stress relief, tailored to the pace and pressures of Arkansas state government work. We’ll help you figure out how your brain naturally works, where your time really goes, and how to create routines that actually stick. You’ll walk away with practical tools to help you manage the chaos — not just survive it. If your to-do list is out of control and your coffee’s doing all the heavy lifting, this course is for you.
Duration: Full Day

INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
Many of the problems we encounter in the workplace are caused by miscommunication. Interpersonal Communication covers the different methods of communication, barriers to communication, the importance of perception, and techniques for clear and effective communication.
Duration: 1 Day

Manager Self-Care
Effective leaders are able to take of their teams but also take care of themselves. This course explores into managers and supervisors can do, both in the office and outside the office, to make sure they are the best version of themselves which will allow them to be better leaders. 
Duration: ½ Day

MICROSOFT TEAMS
Get to know Microsoft Teams and learn how this powerful tool can help you collaborate and get work done.  We’ll cover topics such as teams, channels, file management, collaboration, and how to attend and run Teams meetings.
Duration:  1 Day

PowerPoint BASICS
Learn how to create engaging and professional presentation slides using Microsoft PowerPoint. Our training in PowerPoint basics covers the essential tools and functions needed to craft custom slides.  
Duration: 1 Day

PROCUREMENT FUNDAMENTALS – THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS, SMALL ORDERS, & COMPETITIVE BIDDING
The first in a new series of procurement classes, Procurement Fundamentals covers topics such as ethics, types of procurements, roles in procurement, market research, and focuses on the small order and competitive bidding procurement processes. This is the first course in the legislatively-required in-person training for those involved in procurements.
Duration: ½ Day

Public Speaking
Not comfortable speaking in front of people? Whether you’re in an arena full of people or leading your office discussion, our Public Speaking course explores what you can do to make sure you nail your next presentation. 
Duration: 1 Day

SEVEN HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE 
Great performance requires a common set of values, behaviors, and skills that align individual capabilities to their organization’s strategy. In the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People Foundations, participants will learn how to make better choices about spending their time and energy and how to work more effectively with others to achieve far better results.
Duration: 1 Day

SIX CRITICAL PRACTICES FOR LEADING A TEAM
Leaders at every level significantly impact departments: employee productivity and engagement, customer satisfaction and loyalty, innovation, and financial performance. People skills typically account for 80 percent of success in this role. Yet many people are promoted into leadership because of their technical capabilities without mastering the skills of managing and motivating others. Without these basic skills, leaders at every level can struggle with leading teams in today’s workplace. The Six Critical Practices for Leading a Team is a special collection of relevant, practical resources that provide leaders with the mindsets, skillsets and toolsets needed to lead others effectively.
Duration: ½ Day

SURVIVING CONFLICT
Managing conduct or performance issues effectively is a critical challenge for leaders in any workplace. This course explores how to identify and address the causes of problematic behavior, coach or counsel an employee, and administer employee discipline when necessary.
Duration: ½ Day

THE PREPARED LEADER
In no other time in recent history have leaders in every industry and on every continent grappled with so many changes that have independently and simultaneously undermined their ability to lead. The Prepared Leader encapsulates more than two decades of research to convey how you can navigate through the distinct challenges of today and tomorrow. These insights have implications for every leader in every industry and every worker at every level. 
Duration: ½ Day

WORD BASICS
Understanding Microsoft Word is crucial in today’s business environment.  This course covers document creation, collaboration, and communication in Word​.  Learn how to create, format, and navigate documents, as well as editing text, creating lists, drawing tables, inserting graphics, including references, and more. 
Duration: 1 Day

ARKANSAS EMPLOYEE SAFE DRIVER PROGRAM
The Arkansas Employee Safe Driver Program enhances driver safety and confidence by using the most up-to-date research in a classroom setting. Personal involvement in class discussion is encouraged using video presentations and student workbooks. The Risk Management Division of Arkansas Insurance Department offers the free Arkansas Employee Safe Driver Program to current state agency drivers (and as required by the Arkansas State Vehicle Safety Program (VSP / November 2021). Both morning and afternoon class sessions must be attended to receive a completion certificate for the course. **These courses begin at 8:30AM**

Additional questions, including questions regarding on-site courses, should be directed to James Medlin at 501-534-3617/ Geneo Tucker at 501-553-7646, or email [email protected].
Duration: Full Day

More information about these courses can be found in the OPM Event Calendar.

Page updated 6/25/25