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Sullivan University offering soft skills training as required elective

ba0055_enlargeLOUISVILLE, Ky. — Sullivan University, which has a 54-year history of providing graduates with the skills needed to compete and thrive in the workplace, has become the only school in the nation offering Dale Carnegie training as a required elective.

Long a provider of Dale Carnegie courses as an elective class for students and as a training opportunity for employers and individuals, Sullivan University is making Dale Carnegie training part of its curriculum beginning in the fall of 2016 to enhance the essential or so-called soft skills that many millennials in particular seem to lack.

“Research from throughout the United States shows us that many in the millennial generation present unique challenges in the development of the core values that employers want and that the Dale Carnegie course addresses,” said Sullivan University Vice President Jim Crick, who serves as director of the school’s Dale Carnegie Training Program. “The hot topic in the business world is finding a way to provide millennials with employable and essential human relations skills such as communicating with co-workers and others in a professional manner, self-confidence, dealing with pressure and stress, understanding and learning how to be an effective members of a team.

“Dale Carnegie is a 100-year-old company and its lessons have never been more relevant than today,” said Crick, a 20-year Dale Carnegie instructor.

Sullivan plans to begin offering classes later this year in Fort Mitchell at the Sullivan University Center for Learning-Northern Kentucky, which is located on Grandview Drive.

Sullivan University is the only school in Kentucky, Northern Kentucky and Southern Ohio that is authorized to offer Dale Carnegie courses and training. Other universities across the country also offer Dale Carnegie courses as an elective, which Sullivan has done in the past.

But by making Dale Carnegie courses a required elective, Sullivan University will continue its tradition of taking innovating and fresh approaches to educating students and preparing them for their careers and life after graduation.

“When you look at the core of what is taught in Dale Carnegie, it is really common sense, but not common practice,” Crick said.

For example, Crick pointed to Dale Carnegie’s “30 Human Relations Principles”, from his bestselling book How to Win Friends and Influence People, which help students become a leader, gain cooperation and enhance relationships.

“Our approach with Dale Carnegie training has been to serve the business community with high impact presentations on management, sales training and other courses and training that businesses want and need,” Crick said. “Now, more than ever, we will be preparing our graduates with the outstanding lessons of Dale Carnegie training so they will have a good foundation of the program on the day they start their new job or career.”

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