Frequently Asked Questions

• General Questions
• Logistics
• Registration Questions

General Questions

Who should participate in an HDO Professional Training program?

The majority of participants in our professional training courses and certificate programs are mid- and upper-level professionals working in the business, nonprofit, government, or military sectors; however, professionals at all levels of experience are welcome to participate. There are no prerequisites for enrolling in an HDO course or certificate program.

If you have questions about group participation in HDO professional training, please see the “I have a group of people interested in HDO professional training. How can we participate?” section below.

Our customized training programs are developed in coordination with your organization and tailored to your specific needs, including selected participants’ experience level(s).

Teams and individuals from over 750 companies, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies have participated in HDO Professional Training programs, including:

In addition, many training participants are small business owners, freelancers, and/or work as independent consultants.

Can I earn more than one HDO professional certificate?

Certainly! Choose from one of three certificate program tracks (Communication & Leadership, Change Management, or Strategic Leadership) or design a personalized program. Complete four courses within 18 months to earn your certificate.

Can I earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for participating in HDO Professional Training?

Yes: You will earn 0.6 CEUs for each one-day course (six hours of instruction) that you complete. You will earn 2.4 CEUs for each four-day certificate program (24 hours of instruction) that you complete.

How often does each course run?

Each course runs at least once per year, with many courses running twice.

HDO can also organize a custom run of any course(s) for your team or organization. Please visit our Programs for Groups page for more information regarding this option.

Do HDO professional training courses or certificate programs require any pre- or post-course work?

Faculty leaders may provide participants with pre- and post-course work to prepare participants for the course and to reinforce the content presented in the course, respectively. Given that most HDO training participants are busy professionals, any pre-course work will be kept to a minimum. All pre- and post-course work is optional but highly recommended.

Custom Training Programs include pre-program surveys and light readings to prepare participants for their upcoming training. Post-program exercises and readings will be provided to reinforce lessons learned in the training program.

What is the Nonprofit Accelerators Program?

Each semester, several individuals working in the nonprofit sector will be selected to enroll in an HDO Certificate Program free of charge.

These “Nonprofit Accelerators” are full participants in their selected program and will receive a certificate upon completion of their final course. You can learn more and apply here.

How many people participate in each course?

HDO’s courses and certificate programs typically have between 12-25 participants in the classroom. Faculty leaders may limit or expand the number of participants in their course in accordance with their teaching methodology; however, we rarely go above 25 participants so as to encourage small group work and individualized attention.

Once the maximum number of participants for a course has been reached, prospective participants will be placed on a waitlist. In the case of registration cancellation(s), waitlisted participants will be offered a chance to register for the course.

Programs for groups can be tailored to any group size.

Can I get a replacement copy of my HDO Certificate?

If you would like a replacement or additional copy of your certificate or a transcript of professional education coursework, please complete the HDO – Replacement Certificate / Professional Transcript Request Form (PDF). Processing and delivery is typically within seven to 14 days of your request and standard fees apply. Please make checks or money orders payable to The University of Texas at Austin.

I’m having trouble deciding which training option is right for me. Can I speak with someone at HDO about my options?

Yes, our team is happy to help you determine which program(s) will best help you reach your goals. You can reach out to an Enrollment and Success Coordinator at hdo-pro@austin.utexas.edu to discuss your options.

Logistics

When and where are HDO professional training programs held?

Most professional training courses and programs are conducted in person on the UT Austin campus at UT’s IC² Institute (2815 San Gabriel St., Austin, TX). Courses may also be held at other locations on campus. Courses run from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. On-site parking, lunch, refreshments, and WiFi access are provided for professional training participants.

Programs for Groups can be held on campus, online, at your organization, or at the off-site location of your choice. The length of your program is flexible depending upon your needs.

What is the recommended attire for HDO professional training programs?

There is no dress code for our training programs; however, most participants opt for business casual attire. We recommend that you bring a light sweater or jacket to the course, as classroom temperatures vary.

How long will it take to develop a customized training program for my group?

Development time for customized training programs varies based upon course length and the number of faculty leaders involved. After your initial inquiry, our faculty and staff will begin by examining your overall training objectives and matching them with our faculty members’ areas of expertise.

After this review, we will follow up with you to discuss additional details regarding course content, desired program length, budget, etc. The turnaround time for this initial process is typically one week or less.

Registration Questions

I’m experiencing issues with the shopping cart. Help!

If you’re experiencing an error while attempting to check out, please take the following steps:

First, clear your browser cache and cookies, close your browser, and try registering again.

If this does not correct the problem, please try switching to another browser. We recommend Google Chrome or Firefox.

We apologize for the inconvenience. If issues persist, please contact hdo-pro@austin.utexas.edu. 

What is the cost of HDO professional training programs?

The standard fee for one-day courses is $1,000, with discounted registration available for UT staff/alumni and persons who work in the education, nonprofit, government, and military sectors.

The standard fee for our four-course certificate programs is $3,000, which represents a 25% discount compared to registering for four courses independently.

A 10% discount per learner is available for organizations wishing to enroll three or more individuals in HDO professional training. Email hdo-pro@austin.utexas.edu to request this type of discount.

The cost of customized group training programs is variable, based on program length, number of faculty leaders involved, and course location. Every customized group training program includes pre-program meetings and content discussions with HDO faculty and staff, materials for your participants, a custom website for your program, and post-training materials and information for continued learning.

I have a group of people interested in HDO Professional Training. How can we participate?

There are three options for group participation in HDO Professional Training: Discounted Registration Packages, our Partners Program, and Custom Training Programs.

You can learn about each option at the Programs for Groups page.

What payment options are valid for HDO Professional Training programs?

Payment for One-Day Courses and Certificate Programs can be made by credit/debit card (MasterCard, VISA, American Express, and Discover), check, and purchase order via our online registration system. HDO accepts Interdepartmental Transfer (IDT) payments for UT Austin faculty and staff (group or individual programs) with department signature approval.

Payment for Group Programs is typically handled via invoice.

Payment plans can be set up for Group Training clients. Please contact the Extended Campus Custom Training team at ecct@austin.utexas.edu if you wish to discuss this option.

I registered for a course and now I need to cancel or transfer my registration. What do I do?

Refund and Transfer Policies

One-Day Courses

Refunds will not be given once enrolled, but you may substitute another attendee in your place if you are unable to attend, at no additional cost. Please email cpe@austin.utexas.edu with the student’s name and email address at least one full business day before the start of the course.
Alternatively, if at least three days or more before your course or program start date, you may request to transfer your registration to another course of equal or lesser value scheduled within 12 months of your original purchase date or request a credit on file that is valid for 12 months from your original purchase date. There is a $75 administrative fee for such requests, and requests should be submitted using the online Course Transfer Form. If transferring to a course of lesser value, the difference will result in a credit on file and cannot be refunded.
Four-Day Certificate Programs

Refunds will not be given once enrolled.
After submitting payment for the certificate program you will need to contact the CPE Registrar at cpe@austin.utexas.edu to be added into the individual course(s) you wish to take.
If you need to withdraw or transfer after you have already been enrolled in a course, you may do so, but you must make the withdrawal or transfer request at least three full business days before the start of the course. If this request is made, for any reason, a $75 administrative fee will be assessed. Transfer requests should be made using the online Course Transfer or Withdrawal Form. Failure to attend a course that you enrolled in and for which you did not request a withdraw or transfer will result in the loss of that course from your bundle. To complete the program, you will need to re-purchase the missed course at full cost in addition to meeting all other program requirements.
Course offerings, content, prices, and instructors are subject to change. Refunds will not be provided.

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