Temps are up. Get your gardening tools ready.

I just checked Weather.com for the weekend forecast in Knoxville.

71, 77, and 72.

Gardeners, on your mark, get set … dig!

Those temperatures will surely draw everyone outside to their lawns and gardens.

If you want to pick up a few new gardening and landscaping tips, try one of our non-credit courses in March:

Landscape Plant Selection for East Tennessee (March 12; $79); Soil Analysis and Conditioning (March 14; $39); Rose Gardening for Beginners (March 28; $39); and Home Hardscapes: Construction Tips and Techniques (March 28; $39).

You may register online or call (865) 974-0150.

Darrin Devault, UT Professional & Personal Development

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More consumers taking a “cautious pause”

This month’s issue of Entrepreneur magazine included a small article on new lingo that’s being used in the business world.

One of the terms, “cautious pause,” caught my attention.

Entrepreneur defines cautious pause as “the new frugality trait of stopping to consider every purchase instead of simply buying on impulse.”

I wonder … are more consumers indeed taking a cautious pause before buying goods and services these days?

I know I am.

I also wonder whether these cautious pauses are affecting prospective students’ decision to take non-credit courses from UT Professional & Personal Development.

If they are, let me simply say that I understand.

Everywhere we turn, there’s more economic doom and gloom. (I don’t need to repeat any details here.)

But looking on the bright side, 2009 may be an opportune time to push yourself in other professional and personal directions.

We offer courses (many at the recession-busting price of less than $75) that can help you move into a new direction, and we’re moving quickly to offer new courses in the next few months to help you overcome these tough times.

Bottom line: We’re here to help you, no matter how long your “cautious pause” lasts. 

Darrin Devault, UT Professional & Personal Development

 

Upcoming event to help workers in transition

The Knoxville News-Sentinel reported today about a free Career Transition Assistance Fair scheduled for March 10 at Chilhowee Park (Jacob Building).

Fair organizers are reaching out to unemployed East Tennesseans, particularly those who were affected by a spate of recent business closings and layoffs.

The fair will feature a Resource Showcase, Transition Seminars, and a Resume Assistance Center.

UT Professional & Personal Development will have a representative available to review resumes at the Resume Assistance Center from noon to 3 p.m.

The fair will be open from noon to 7 p.m.

Also available for persons in career transition: UT Professional & Personal Development’s career enhancement courses.

Darrin Devault, UT Professional & Personal Development

 

Welcome to the PPD blog!

Welcome to the new blog hosted by the University of Tennessee’s Department of Professional & Personal Development.

We host non-credit courses, certificate programs, and professional seminars for individuals and businesses in Knoxville and throughout Tennessee.

We invite you to bookmark our blog and visit it often for the latest news about our programs.

Darrin Devault, UT Professional & Personal Development