University News
WIU-Quad Cities Announces New Human Resource Management Major
April 9, 2012
MOLINE, IL - Beginning this fall, a new major in human resource management (HRM) will be available to students at Western Illinois University's Quad Cities campus.
WIU College of Business and Technology Dean Tom Erekson said the addition demonstrates WIU's commitment to the future.
"WIU is educating business leaders for the Quad Cities by expanding the business majors offered to include the HRM program," he said. "We have highly qualified faculty and a first-rate program that meet AACSB international accreditation standards."
According to Susan Stewart, associate professor of human resource management at the WIU-QC campus, WIU students who major in HRM gain a robust skill set that will help them to effectively manage human capital within organizations.
"We're excited to offer this major at the WIU-Quad Cities campus," said Gordon Rands, interim chair of marketing and management at WIU. "In today's global economy, the HRM field is ever evolving. This field is diverse and spans a broad variety of pivotal functions from equal employment opportunity law to staffing to training and development and more."
While completing the degree, students take courses in several functional areas including staffing, compensation, legal compliance, performance management and training and development. These are in addition to courses in broader areas such as organization behavior and general management.
The national SHRM organization also provides a Professional in Human Resource (PHR) Certification Exam and an Assurance of Learning Exam for students. Recently, five students at the Quad Cities completed and passed the rigorous PHR exam and have achieved the certification.
"I'm proud that our students are taking this step in their careers as human resource professionals," said Stewart. "By taking these exams they are demonstrating their knowledge of the most current principles and core practices of HRM, and they will better compete for the top HR positions across the nation and internationally."
Stewart has planned "HRM Day" Friday April 27 for students to network with HR professionals from the Quad Cities, learn more about career tracks in HRM and understand the HRM major and minor programs at WIU-QC.
"HRM is our newest educational opportunity, joining recent announcements of new English and communication majors, that once again is based on requests and documented need for local and regional employers," said Joe Rives, vice president for the Quad Cities, planning and technology. "We are proud to offer strong in-demand programs that help recruit and retain a highly talented workforce in the community and the region."
For more information or to RSVP for HRM Day, contact Stewart at SM-Stewart2@wiu.edu.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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