When Rutgers first approached the College with an affiliation program proposal, Provost Chris Zappe said it was a no-brainer.
“It’s a ‘win-win’ situation,” Zappe explained. “It would allow our students to be halfway through their first year of a masters program before they ever step foot on a graduate school campus.”
The program, titled the Masters of Human Resource Management (MHRM) program, is designed to set students up for success in a robust career field by connecting them with cutting-edge research taught by leading faculty, a dedicated team of career services professionals, and a vast network of employer partners.
“Most people don’t realize that human resources is such a dynamic, growing field,” said Rutgers University’s Adjunct Professor of Human Resources Charles Brown. “Partnering with selective schools like Gettysburg allows us to elevate a pathway for undergraduates to further their education, find a great career, and get their start with top companies across the country.”
Brown was one of several people—including Jim Heston ’70, retired Executive Vice-President and Chief Human Resources Officer for MetLife and member of the Board of Trustees—who worked on forging the affiliation program and determining course waivers.
The program is open to all students who graduate with a degree in Organization and Management Studies, or successfully complete the required course waivers. After being admitted to Rutgers University’s Masters of Human Resource Management (MHRM) Program, students will be able to earn a MHRM degree after three semesters of full-time study.
In addition to career planning available at the College through the Center for Career Engagement, students who participate in this program would also have access to Rutger’s career services team and a bevy of employers who look to Rutgers to fulfill critical human resources roles within their companies.
“For us, it’s all about the outcomes—helping students find that first job and setting them up for career success,” explained Rutgers University’s Director of Master of Human Resource Management David Ferio. “Through this program, Gettysburg students will be on a fast track to the outcomes we take so much pride in.”
Gettysburg College also offers other affiliation and dual degree programs with institutions like the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Columbia University in New York City, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
