This fall, LER welcomed 21 new online MHRIR students in the fourth cohort of the program. Much like the previous cohorts, these students are highly experienced and diverse. Students in the online program bring an average of eight years of professional experience and represent a variety of employers, including Alcon, Land O' Lakes, PepsiCo, and The Walt Disney Company. Nearly 43% of online students self-identify as members of underrepresented minority groups. 9.5% of the students have or are currently serving in the armed forces. We are pleased to welcome these excellent professionals to LER.

Beginning this academic year, the online program is now offering three application deadlines with corresponding start dates. By increasing available start dates, we can welcome prospective students who are ready to apply at any time during the year. 

The first graduates of the program received their degrees in August 2017 and completed an outcomes survey in February 2018. Respondents had an average of 8.9 years of experience in human resources or a related business function. 74% of graduates were promoted internally or advanced their career with new companies during the program or within six months of graduation. Graduates earned an average of $20,000 more annually than with a bachelor’s degree alone. Employer tuition reimbursement and veterans’ or other military benefits were the most common sources of funding for their degree.

The survey additionally assessed the graduates’ perception of the professional impact of the program. Graduates indicated that the online MHRIR has helped them move forward in their careers (4.3/5 average agreement) and that they would recommend the program to a friend or colleague (4.7/5 average agreement). Watch for results from the second survey in Spring 2019!