SPARK! Supervisor Academy

All front-line and mid-level supervisors who supervise staff, as well as faculty who supervise staff, are invited to attend UMB SPARK! Supervisor Academy.​

Staff who are “managers” but do not directly supervise staff are not the audience for UMB SPARK! (case managers, project managers, care managers, program managers, etc.).​

UMB SPARK! cohorts are held twice a year. Information about upcoming cohorts and dates for registration will be announced in The Elm and shared with supervisors via email.

UMB has identified 9 core competency areas for all supervisors.  These core competencies are the foundation of the content of UMB SPARK!.​

• Self-Mastery​
• Relationship Building and Management​
• Performance Management​
• Developing Talent​
• Decision-Making​
• Champion and Manage Change​
• Organizational Awareness​
• Inclusion and Belonging​
• Talent Recruitment and Management​

Attendance is required for all UMB SPARK! program components. Please communicate any conflicts prior to missing a session whenever possible.

Congratulations for completing the UMB SPARK! Supervisor Academy!  When all program components have been completed, you will receive a program certificate and digital badge.  In addition, we invite you to join us at an end of program celebration!​

All UMB supervisors are invited to continue learning and growing after completing the UMB SPARK! program in the Leading with Excellence Community of Practice. The Community of Practice includes quarterly networking events (Q Meetings), opportunities for further learning via additional workshops and training sessions, and collaboration and resource sharing with other UMB supervisors.​

The UMB Management Essentials program, covered self-awareness, performance feedback, productive conflict, cultural proficiency, and successful teams, has been integrated into the UMB SPARK! curriculum. These foundational themes, alongside the UMB supervisor core competencies and focused learning areas, make up the content of the UMB SPARK! Supervisor Academy. Supervisors who have completed the UMB Management Essentials program after January 2024 may receive credit for Excellence in Motion sessions one through six.

Both UMB Career Essentials and Emerging Leaders cohort programs include essential supervisory topics such as self-awareness, conflict management, and networking. While the Career Essentials and Emerging Leaders programs touch upon these areas in the SPARK! curriculum, the comprehensive content offered by UMB SPARK! extends beyond these programs. Therefore, supervisors are encouraged to undertake UMB SPARK! to gain a holistic understanding and skill set. Completion of Career Essentials and Emerging Leaders does not fulfill the requirements for UMB SPARK! completion.

If you have completed a different supervisor training program and are seeking credit for a portion of the SPARK! Supervisor Academy sessions, please reach send an email to hrtraining@umaryland.edu.

SPARK Q Meetings are held quarterly and are open to all UMB supervisors who lead people.  These meetings are one aspect of the Leading with Excellence Supervisor Community of Practice that provides ongoing learning and networking opportunities for all UMB supervisors, regardless of participation in the SPARK! Supervisor Academy.