Administrative Professionals Training Program
Advancement administrative professionals provide crucial foundational support for the work of our frontline and leadership throughout the University. Through the APT (Administrative Professionals Training) certification program, staff acquire the skills needed to support the engagement and fundraising efforts and goals of University Advancement.
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The APT Program
Click here for an overview of the APT program.
The objective of the APT program is to provide all administrative staff with a series of courses focused on building a core set of technical skills and an understanding of current business processes and policies resulting in a consistent level of knowledge and expertise throughout University Advancement.
The APT certification process occurs annually, with administrative staff earning a certificate each year. Participation in this program is strongly encouraged.
- Administrative staff must complete 10 required courses and 2 elective courses during the fiscal year (July 1– June 30) to successfully complete the program and receive APT certification. The certification cycle begins anew each fiscal year.
- The 10 required courses are designed to support specific Advancement goals and are crucial for each administrative professional to maintain a consistent level of knowledge about our current technology and business practices/policies.
- The 2 elective courses must be earned from Week of Learning (WoL) offerings or UVA or external conferences.
- Most APT courses will be offered on Collaboration Days and during Week of Learning events.
- Select APT courses will be offered a second time during the fiscal year to ensure all administrative staff can access programming and earn certification.
Recognition and Incentives
- Certificate earners are celebrated during a special luncheon each August during the Week of Learning. Only APT certificate recipients and their managers/supervisors attend the luncheon.
- Managers receive notification of staff certification to include in participants' annual performance evaluations.
Curriculum
- To earn the APT annual certificate, administrative staff must complete each of the 10 required courses and 2 elective courses for 12 credits during the fiscal year.
- Select APT courses will be offered a second time during the fiscal year to ensure administrative staff have timely access to programming.
| Required Courses FY25 | Offered |
| 1. Advancement Technology Overview | August/January Week of Learning |
| 2. Excel: Go-To Formulas and Short Cuts for Advancement Work | Sept 18/Feb 19 |
| 3. Get Started Learning Salesforce | Oct 16/March 19 |
| 4. Preparing for CRM: Update for Administrative Professionals | Nov 20/May 21 |
| 5. Project Management | Dec 18/Apr 16 |
| 6. APT CRM Process Changes Overview and Team Readiness | Feb 19 |
| 7. Current Topics in Tech: Data Integrity & AI | March 19 |
| 8. APT CRM Reports Overview | April Collab Week, TBD |
| 9. Fiscal Year End & Gift Processing: Key Reminders and What's New | May 21 |
| 10. UA Travel/Finance/Procurement | June 18 |
Upcoming Sessions
Dec
18
APT: Project Management
Wednesday, December 18 |
10:00 am - 11:00 am
EST | Old Ivy Building (OIB) & Virtual
Please note: Time and virtual meeting details will be updated as we get closer to the event.
Jan
13
APT: Advancement Technology Overview
Monday, January 13 |
11:00 am
EST | TBD
Please note: Time will be updated as we get closer to the event.
Feb
19
APT: CRM Process Changes Overview and Team Readiness
Wednesday, February 19 |
10:00 am - 11:00 am
EST | Old Ivy Building (OIB)
Please note: Time will be updated as we get closer to the event.
Feb
19
APT: Excel: Go-To Formulas and Short Cuts for Advancement Work
Wednesday, February 19 |
10:00 am - 11:00 am
EST | Old Ivy Building (OIB)
Please note: Time will be updated as we get closer to the event.
Mar
19
APT: Current Topics in Tech: Data Integrity & AI
Wednesday, March 19 |
10:00 am - 11:00 am
EST | Old Ivy Building (OIB)
Current Topics in Tech: Data Integrity & AI
Mar
19
APT: Get Started Learning Salesforce
Wednesday, March 19 |
10:00 am - 11:00 pm
EST | Old Ivy Building (OIB)
Please note: Time will be updated as we get closer to the event.
Apr
16
APT: CRM Reports Overview
Wednesday, April 16 |
10:00 am - 11:00 am
EST | Old Ivy Building (OIB)
Please note: Time will be updated as we get closer to the event.
Apr
16
APT: Project Management
Wednesday, April 16 |
10:00 am - 11:00 am
EST | Old Ivy Building (OIB)
Please note: Time will be updated as we get closer to the event.
May
21
APT: Fiscal Year End & Gift Processing: Key Reminders and What’s New
Wednesday, May 21 |
10:00 am - 11:00 am
EST | Old Ivy Building (OIB)
Please note: Time will be updated as we get closer to the event.
May
21
APT: Preparing for CRM: Update for Administrative Professionals
Wednesday, May 21 |
10:00 am - 11:00 am
EST | Old Ivy Building (OIB)
Please note: Time will be updated as we get closer to the event.
Jun
18
APT: UA Travel/Finance/Procurement
Wednesday, June 18 |
10:00 am - 11:00 am
EST | Virtual
Please note: Time and virtual meeting details will be updated as we get closer to the event.
Presentations
FY25 Presentations
- Available Soon
Frequently Asked Questions
The APT Program has hit refresh and has become more focused. Requiring 8 sessions geared towards our core Advancement knowledge and skills ensures everyone has the latest knowledge and expertise. 2 electives can be earned from Week of Learning sessions or conferences (UVA or external).
Complete 10 required courses and 2 elective courses (12 total) by June 30:
- Attend the 10 required APT courses
- Attend 2 elective courses from Week of Learning offerings or UVA/External Conferences.
APT sessions are offered monthly on University Advancement Collab Days (third Wednesday of the month) and during Week of Learning.
Participation in the APT program is not mandatory but is strongly encouraged. Please consider adding certificate completion to your performance appraisal.
We hope you will continue your learning journey after earning the 12 required credits!
To honor that milestone, APT certificate earners are celebrated at the August Week of Learning APT Luncheon. The APT Luncheon is invitation only for certificate earners and their supervisors. You may also choose to add certificate completion to your performance appraisal.
Visit the APT page on the Advancement Hub! or reach out to Shelby Bowen at sld8q@virginia.edu.
Administrative support staff will receive individual transcripts once each quarter of our fiscal year and upon request.
We encourage you to take advantage of the 2 elective courses to broaden your skillset as well as enjoying the many professional development opportunities offered by Advancement, UVA, and external sources. In addition, when possible, we will offer tiered learning within a session for staff to stretch their skills.
APT session titles will begin with the acronym, APT or will be labeled as APT Credit on the Hub Events page. For example, APT: Excel Go-To Formulas and Short Cuts for Advancement Work.
If you have questions about the APT certification program, please contact Shelby Bowen.
