The LER online MHRIR continues to grow and succeed, boasting over 100 students currently in the program.
Courses
Associate Director Eden Haycraft continues to work with faculty to expand the course offerings in the program. Originally slated to begin doubling course offerings by 2022, that goal was reached in Summer 2021. Early in the year, LER 590 SCM Successful Change Management, LER 590 LEE Leadership and Employee Engagement, and LER 590 WA Workforce Analytics were launched. They will be joined by LER 562 Planning and Staffing, LER 566 International HR Management, LER 545 Economics of HR, LER 542 Collective Bargaining, and LER 590 EW Employee Stress, Well-Being, and Safety—all of which will be complete by December.
Certificate
The certificate program launched in Fall 2020, geared towards professionals who want to freshen their HR knowledge, or build knowledge for those with little HR background. The program now has four tracks: Fundamentals of Human Resources, Human Resources Management, Compensation Best Practices, and HR Data Analytics. In August, five students completed a certificate, three of which decided to continue their education in the master’s program.
If you would like to brush up on some skills, or know colleagues who want to expand their knowledge, reach out to Eden Haycraft.
Careers
LER continues to be one of the very few online HR degrees that offers formalized career counseling. Online students have access to job postings in Handshake, and mock interviewing through Big Interview. In addition, they have access to services from our Online Career Consultant, Erin Mies, MHRIR '05.
To increase networking opportunities for students, Erin offers alumni panels that include: Don’t Overthink Your Career: Building your career in HR, even if you don’t have “traditional” experience; Exploring HR’s Role in International Business: From being an Expat to leading a global team; Exploring the Role of HR in Labor Relations; HR in the Medical/Healthcare Industry: Behind the Scenes; Comp/Ben: Aligning Comp and Ben with Business Strategy as Labor Market Trends Quickly Shift; and Employee Engagement/Keeping the Grass Greener in Your Lawn: What is Working/Not Working Today.
Degree Completion
Alumni of the then-Institute often left without completing their tutorial, and are now able to finish their degree by completing classes through the online program. Stephanie Reed, Limited Executive Compensation Manager at Schlumberger, completed her LER degree last year through this process. Here is her experience:
Returning to complete my degree gave me a huge sense of accomplishment. Over the years, it had troubled me that I never completed the program even if it did not impact my career advancement. I knew I left something incomplete. My CHRO, who is my boss, was impressed that I was willing to go back to school while working at a top management job. In today’s workforce, continuous learning is expected so you can generate more value for your company by bringing the latest HR competencies.
An added benefit was my children, who are approaching their college years, saw how much I enjoyed (and worked hard) to plan and complete my assignments while still working full-time. Also, during the time I finished the program, two of my subordinates applied and started their own master’s journey. I hope I was in some part an inspiration to their decision. Continuous learning is important, being exposed to the latest thought leadership in HR is important, being a good role-model is important, and always challenging yourself is important. If you can do all that while earning a Master’s degree, how fabulous is that?
Spotlight Profile
Delorey Parnell, MHRIR '20
Delorey Parnell is a 2020 MHRIR graduate based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. She is currently a Senior HR Leader with Cepheid (a Danaher Company). Delorey has held various HR roles with increasing responsibility across different industries. She previously worked for Novartis Pharmaceuticals and Alcon Labs, where she contributed to several organizational initiatives, including a variety of local and global projects, and transformational change efforts. Prior to this, Delorey lived in Jamaica where she worked in HR for Diageo (Red Stripe Beer) and Cable and Wireless, the largest telecommunications provider in the Caribbean.
Delorey earned her undergraduate degree in Communications from the University of Texas at Arlington, and holds both her PHR and SHRM-CP certifications. She is married to her college sweetheart Neville, and has two beautiful girls, Madison (9) and Harper (4). She also lived in Germany and Colorado while her dad served in the military, and she is a first generation college student.
"Completing the MHRIR program through LER was a priceless investment. I not only received a top notch masters-level education, but I also feel as though I have gained an extended family that continues to grow as my network expands. The support and engagement that I have felt from the faculty and staff is extraordinary."