ACS Online Resources

American Chemical Society Online Courses

The CAS Leadership Development Committee (LDC) is pleased to offer two online courses in partnership with the American Chemical Society (ACS): Running Productive Meetings and Managing Projects Effectively. Representatives of the LDC evaluated both of these courses and found them relevant to CAS volunteer leadership roles as well as their work on the job

The CAS Leadership Development Committee (LDC) is pleased to offer two online courses in partnership with the American Chemical Society (ACS):

Running Productive Meetings

Who likes spending their time in meetings, especially when they are not well managed? There is a skill to running effective meetings. Do you know what it takes to conduct an effective meeting and involve team members in the decision-making and activities? Learn how to leverage this key leadership tool to make the most of their time, talents, and resources to effectively and efficiently accomplish team project.

Online Course – Self-Paced

ACS Member Price: $25 | Non-Member Price: $50

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How many times have you:

  • Been stuck in a meeting that seems to go nowhere?
  • Attended a meeting where the purpose and objectives were unclear and no one took charge?
  • Participated in a meeting where no one was prepared and team members were disengaged?

Most of us hate to get stuck in meetings, believing they are a waste of time and resources. This is often due to them not being run effectively. However, if you have participated in a well-run meeting you know the difference and appreciate the results that were achieved.

Running Productive Meetings helps you develop the understanding and skills to conduct successful meetings. You will learn how to leverage this key leadership tool to effectively and efficiently accomplish team projects.

In this self-paced, online course, you will learn the different types of meetings that are available to you and when to use each for achieving your objectives. As well, you will learn how to prepare agendas for the specific meeting types so you can keep the team focused and on-task. Finally, you will have a chance to understand what it takes to conduct an effective meeting and involve team members in the decision-making and activities.

Specifically, from the convenience of your home or office you can learn:

  • The 6 different types of meetings available to you and when to use each for the greatest results.
  • The 3 roles members play in a meeting – facilitation/leaders, recorder, and team member – and the responsibility of each role.
  • The best way to prepare for a meeting.
  • How to effectively conduct a meeting and gain input from key stakeholders.
  • How to involve all members – those who are participating as well as those who may be disengaged and disruptive.
  • When meetings are not appropriate or even required.

As a leader, you owe it to yourself and your team members to develop strong meeting skills that make the most of their time, talents, and resources.

Managing Projects Effectively

Missed deadlines, cost overruns, and unattained goals, all result from projects not being managed effectively. Whether in our jobs or on a volunteer project team, we do not have the luxury of unproductive projects. Learn a practical 5-step process that will improve your ability to lead projects to completion – on time, within budget, optimizing your resources, and achieving your goals.

Online Course – Self-Paced

ACS Member Price: $25 | Non-Member Price: $50

Enroll Now

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How many times have you been involved in a project where:

  • The goals were unclear and efforts weren’t focused
  • Critical timelines weren’t met
  • Budgets were over spent
  • The right people with key skills and knowledge weren’t on the project team
  • And in the end, the project result didn’t accomplish the need.

This can be frustrating and costly for those involved in the project as well as the organization. With the increasing complexity of business today and the increasing number of projects, the ability to manage projects effectively is a must.

Managing Projects Effectively, an online, self-paced course examines the “task side” of project management. Members will learn a practical 5-step process that will help them manage each project successfully.

Specifically, you will learn how to:

  • Define a realistic project scope
  • Establish goals that clearly communicate what needs to be accomplished
  • Identify the appropriate people and funding resources required
  • Develop a plan of action that involves all members of the project team
  • Track progress and adjust the project plan as needed

Successful projects don’t happen on their own, they require a skilled leader to set clear goals and ensure they are met. Managing Projects Effectively will help you improve your ability to lead projects to completion – on time, within budget, optimizing your resources, and achieving your goals. As a leader, you will gain practical skills that you can immediately apply to your work environment and your leadership role in the Society.