Human Resource Management program earns 3rd consecutive SHRM endorsement

Friends University has been granted an endorsement from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) for the third consecutive three-year term since 2008.

Friends University is the only private university in the state to earn such an honor and in 2008 it was the first university in the state to receive the endorsement from SHRM.

“The endorsement instills confidence in students and community stakeholders that students who graduate from the program will have been exposed to curriculum developed by human resource professionals for human resource professionals,” said Dr. Kathy Slemp, program director and professor of Human Resource Management at Friends University.

Dr. Slemp said the certification not only speaks well of the program’s curriculum, but also the instructors who teach it.

“The University and students of the program can have complete confidence that the College of Professional Studies (CAPS) is committed to programs that are taught by professionals who have been chosen for their rigorous understanding of the theoretical foundation of their disciplines and their appreciation for real-world application,” she said.

Most of the instructors in the Human Resource Management program are certified through the Human Resource Management Certification Institute, which requires a rigorous competency test and 20 hours each year of continuing education in human resources subjects. Dr. Slemp is certified as a senior professional in Human Resources.

Dr. Slemp said the endorsement gives students confidence that what they are learning is pertinent and applicable.

“It gives the students an assurance that what they’re learning in class tonight can be used tomorrow because of the relevancy of our curriculum,” she said.

Friends University offers high-quality undergraduate and graduate academic programs for traditional students and working adults. Rooted both in the liberal arts tradition and the Christian tradition, students learn inside and outside the classroom. Friends University is a regional university with national programs and an international presence.