Basic Clerical Skills Program

The Basic Clerical Skills program is a career development program for employees who have minimal or no training in an office environment and would like to gain foundational skills to work in an entry level clerical position. The goal of the program is to equip participants with the knowledge, skills and abilities needed for an office support staff career within the University. While participating in the program, employees continue to work full-time in their current jobs. Graduates of the program will meet the one-year experience requirement for an Office/Processing Assistant III position at the University.

The curriculum for the program has been designed to include both interpersonal and office-related skills. Classroom learning will be 5-6 hours per week during normal business hours and is considered paid time for participants. The curriculum will be primarily taught through Durham Technical Community College's satellite office on Franklin Street.  Coursework includes:

• Grammar
• Basic Math
• Customer Service
• Building a Professional Image
• PC Fundamentals/Keyboarding
• Business Writing
• How to use a Telephone/Fax/Copier
• Computer Skills for the Office Professional
• Interviewing Techniques
• Job Shadowing

In addition to the classroom learning, participants will also have additional assignments and responsibilities:

• Team or Group assignments
• Grammar Tutoring (as needed)
• Skill Practice
• Computer Lab time to achieve a typing proficiency of at least 30 words per minute by graduation
• Additional resources or work to ensure completion of program requirements

Click here for complete program schedule.

The Basic Clerical Skills program includes the Clerical Assistant Boot Camp as a prerequisite. In order to apply for the program, this course must first be successfully completed. During the Clerical Assistant Boot Camp, participants will complete the registration form for entry into the Basic Clerical Skills Program.

Clerical Assistant Boot Camp Information:

• Purpose: To give potential Basic Clerical Skills participants the opportunity to begin learning the basic fundamentals and activities of an office environment. It will also help assess participants' interests to determine if a clerical position is their preferred career path.

Other Prerequisites:

• No active disciplinary actions
• Minimum 2 years of state service
• Current employment status of full-time, permanent
• Proof of High School Diploma or GED

Employees without a GED who are interested in the program are encouraged to contact Felecia Perry at 962-9681 in order to establish a development plan.  Contacts for GED assistance at the various community colleges are:

• Durham Technical Community College - (919) 969-3032 ext. 251
• Alamance Community College - (336) 506-4376,
• Central Carolina Community College - (919) 742-2715. 

Each community college provides free individual testing and tutoring sessions for any basic education needs. The University currently offers a GED program at the Cheek Clark building. In addition to that program, the Orange County Literacy Council has an office on Franklin Street that provides free individual tutoring sessions.

Because of the high volume of applicants competing to participate, as well as high program costs, the University requires that participants commit to attend all sessions. Emergency situations that arise while the program is running will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. All courses must be successfully completed with a minimum 80 percent attendance to graduate from the program.

Registration fees range from $55 to $70 per course. Courses that have tuition and fees are prepaid by the participants and are reimbursable through the University's Educational Assistance Program. Reimbursements are allowed upon successful completion of each course in the program. Transportation, textbooks and supplies are not reimbursable through the University's Educational Assistance Program.

Some courses may also be offered at no charge to employees who earn less than $30,000 per year.

Participants will be encouraged to use the Educational Assistance Program for reimbursement of their tuition fees. For information about the Educational Assistance Program, contact Ruthie Holt in the Benefit Program Administration Department at 962-3055.

Applications for the Basic Clerical Skills Program will be completed during the Clerical Assistant Boot Camp. Up to 20 enrollees will be selected to participate in the program based upon their application and completion of the Clerical Assistant Boot Camp.