Aurora University to offer SHRM learning system course; Class prepares students for national HR certification exams

AURORA, Ill, August 23, 2007—Aurora University’s Dunham School of Business will offer the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) Learning System Course on Saturday mornings Sept. 8-Nov. 17.

Registration is underway. The series will meet from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Saturdays at 347 S. Gladstone Ave. in Aurora.

AU’s Dunham School of Business offers the course in cooperation with SHRM. The course prepares HR personnel for two SHRM national certification exams--Professional in Human Resources (PHR) or Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). The Human Resources Certification Institute administers certification exams.

SHRM sponsors the only nationally recognized certification exams for human-resource professionals.

Course topics are:

• Strategic management: The role of HR in organizations, strategic planning, scanning the external environment, organizational structure and internal HR partners; measuring HR effectiveness, ethical issues affecting HR, and legislative environment.
• Workforce planning and employment: Employee-rights legislation, legislation affecting privacy and consumer protection, equal employment opportunity/Affirmative Action, gender discrimination/harassment, organizational staffing, job analysis and documentation; recruitment, records management
• Human resources development: Key legislation, HR development and the organization, adult learning/motivation, HR needs assessment, and HR department design.
• Total rewards: Key legislation, compensation and organization focus, pay administration, compensation systems, benefit programs, voluntary/government-mandated benefits programs, evaluating/communicating total compensation system.
• Employee and labor relations: Collective bargaining, positive employee relations, work rules in union/nonunion environments, strikes and secondary boycotts, discipline and complaint resolution.
• Risk management: Key legislation, safety, health, security.

Vince Pellettiere, AU assistant professor of management said, “Besides being a powerful tool to assist students in preparing for the PHR or SPHR certification exams, the SHRM Learning System course also provides professional development for HR professionals and HR departments.”

He said the class provides a solid foundation for managing the challenges that HR professionals face in today’s demanding work environment. The course supplies a current reference of HR practices, broadens the perspective of functional specialists, and strengthens individual competencies and productivity.

Studies show that participants in this course have a higher pass rate when taking the SHRM certification exam than those who took the exam without taking the SHRM Learning System Course, Pellettiere said.

Cost for instruction and course materials is $850 for SHRM members and $880 for nonmembers. Students who complete the course may apply for an optional three credit hours toward an AU MBA certificate or degree.

Call (630) 844-4894 or visit aurora.edu/business/hr.htm for information or to register.

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