Students enrolled in Catherine Chauvin’s human resource management courses tap into a wealth of practical industry knowledge, built from more than 25 years in U.S. and international human resource management.
As a human resource executive in Europe, Chauvin learned the importance of clear and efficient remote communication, which she shares with her online students in MGMT 365: Fundamentals of Human Resources Management.
“My boss sat in London,” Chauvin says. “My direct reports were in other countries and most of my work was with people whom I never physically met.”
Meeting Student and Industry Demands
Chauvin began teaching with the 鶹AV in 2017 and says extending her classroom virtually was a natural progression.
“If you track the needs of students, and how students want to earn their degrees, they want to learn online,” Chauvin says. “More and more universities are offering those kinds of opportunities.”
The B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration has amplified that opportunity by offering the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Management degree 100-percent online.
The online opportunity combines the same level of rigor that is a trademark of the college in a more flexible format. The blend is ideal for students balancing full-time work schedules and other responsibilities.
“I was really pleased to see the shift toward giving students that opportunity,” Chauvin says. “It offers something I think the community wants and it’s not limited to Lafayette. It’s online — it can be anyone, anywhere.
“Students today want it all and now. They are enrolled full-time in school, living on their own, and working, in many cases, the equivalent of a full-time job. The online program affords them the opportunity to continue building their careers while pursuing their four-year degree.”
Succeeding in Online Business Courses
Online students must be independent, self-driven, and self-directed, Chauvin says, holding themselves accountable for assignments and progress.
“Students have this assumption that online is easy, but my students have as much work during the week as if they were in class,” Chauvin says. “They do not sit idle.
“The course includes a wide variety of written assignments, ranging from business cases, research projects and reflections; I try to create a diversity of learning opportunities that engage students and encourage critical thinking.”
By the end of the course, students have a foundational understanding of human resource management and the impact it has within an organization.
“Most companies are too small and do not have their own human resource professionals,” Chauvin says. “So HR management is performed by the principle or managers. MGMT 365, in a way, prepares our students to have a better understanding of their roles, either in their own businesses or in businesses where they may become managers."
Keeping Online Students Connected
In addition to delivering practical human resource management skills, Chauvin ensures students connect with her as an instructor, as well as their peers.
“You need to have a different skill set to be an online instructor,” Chauvin says. “You have to create an environment where they know you're there.
“I want my students to get to know each other and to work in teams and to use virtual communication tools,” she says.
In doing so, students develop even more skills they can take directly into the workforce.
“It’s what employers want — students who make decisions, follow instructions, deliver in a timely manner, and can communicate electronically,” Chauvin says.
The business administration in management degree prepares students for the global business community with a foundation in accounting, business statistics, finance, management, marketing, economics, business law, and professional ethics.
Students can complete their degree in eight semesters or fewer, based on previous credit earned and number of credits taken each semester.
Request information today about earning your degree online, whether it’s a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Management degree, an MBA, or one of 鶹AV’s other accredited or online programs.