Module 9 - Growing Professionally at WCU
Professional development is an ongoing part of your career at West Chester University. As you begin your first year, take opportunities to learn, build relationships, strengthen your skills, and explore where you want to grow. Talk with your supervisor about your development goals and explore WCU training and LinkedIn Learning. Depending on your employee group, you also may be eligible for a tuition waiver or tuition reimbursement. Be curious, seek feedback, and look for opportunities to apply what you learn as you build your career at WCU.
Partner with Your Supervisor
Your supervisor is an important partner in your professional development at WCU. As you become familiar with your role and responsibilities, take time to discuss your strengths, areas where you would like to grow, and skills you would like to develop. Your supervisor can help you identify learning opportunities, provide feedback, connect you with colleagues and resources, and identify projects or experiences that can help you build new skills. As you become more established in your role, continue these conversations with your supervisor to identify development goals and explore ways to apply what you learn.
Explore WCU Learning Opportunities
WCU provides a variety of opportunities to help employees develop the knowledge and skills needed to be successful in their current roles and prepare for future opportunities.
WCU Training Directory
The directory serves as a central “storefront” for discovering instructor-led programs, workshops, videos, learning resources, and other professional development opportunities available to employees. Use the directory to explore offerings that support your professional growth, and follow the links provided to access additional information or register through the department responsible for each program.
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LinkedIn Learning
LinkedIn Learning is West Chester University’s online video training library offering thousands of expert-created video tutorials covering a wide range of technical, business, software, and creative topics. LinkedIn Learning is designed for all levels of learners. Every employee and student has a free LinkedIn Learning account. Use your WCU credentials to access LinkedIn Learning anytime, anywhere.
What’s the difference between LinkedIn and LinkedIn Learning?
LinkedIn is a professional networking platform where individuals create profiles, connect with colleagues, recruiters, and industry peers, join groups, follow companies, post updates, and share content. It’s used for career development, job searching, building a personal brand, and staying informed about industry and business news. It offers:
- A profile listing your work history, education, skills, and endorsements
- A network of connections and a feed of content relevant to your profession
- Employer pages, job listings, and ways to highlight your accomplishments and presence in your field
LinkedIn Learning is an online learning platform offering video-based courses across business, technology, creative, and professional skill areas. It provides subscriptions (individual or enterprise), giving access to a large library of courses you can take on demand. It offers:
- Course content authored by industry experts, often broken into “learning paths” (beginner → intermediate → expert) for structured growth.
- Personalized recommendations when linked with your LinkedIn profile - job title, industry, skills influence what courses are suggested.
- Certificates you can share or display (for instance, on your LinkedIn profile) after completion of courses.
Optimize Your Learning
Connect your LinkedIn profile to your LinkedIn Learning account to enjoy a personalized learning experience powered by data and insights from the world’s largest professional network. Personalize your learning and receive recommendations based on your profile information, like your title, skills, industry, and past experiences. By linking your accounts, you’ll also be able to showcase your learning by sharing earned certifications and achievements. Access LinkedIn Learning and link your profile by following the steps in the image below. Go to your settings and select Connect your LinkedIn account to your LinkedIn Learning provided by your organization.
Additionally, LinkedIn Learning offers more than just online courses—it provides tools to help you personalize and take ownership of your professional development. AI Coaching and Role Play allow you to practice real-world conversations and scenarios, receive guidance, and build confidence in a safe environment. The Career Plan and Next Role features can help you explore potential career paths, identify skills to develop, and connect your learning to future opportunities. Explore these features to make LinkedIn Learning a valuable part of your ongoing development at WCU.
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Tuition Waiver and Reimbursement
West Chester University promotes lifelong learning by offering tuition waivers and reimbursement for eligible employees and their eligible dependents. Our degree and certificate programs provide opportunities for employees and their dependents to enhance their knowledge and skills for advancement. The tuition benefit covers tuition and certain applicable fees.
The Tuition Waiver benefit is available to the select employee groups. Employee and dependent eligibility vary by group. Eligible Non-Represented employees may also pursue advanced degrees through our Manager Graduate Degree Reimbursement Program. With specific questions, please contact benefits@wcupa.edu.
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