When Jack Dodd ’27, a transfer student majoring in television, radio and film at the S.I. Newhouse School of Communications, saw that non-business majors could earn a business minor through the Whitman Summer Business Academy, he jumped at the chance. “It looked like a good opportunity for me to catch up credit wise and also take some interesting classes outside my major,” he says. “And a business background is good to have.”
Dodd was among the students who completed five required summer classes from six options that included accounting, finance, the legal system, human resources, marketing, and entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises.
Zach Jones ’28 (left), a psychology and forensic science major, shares his thoughts during a discussion in the Whitman Summer Business Academy’s Strategic Human Resource Management course.
The program kicked off with Strategic Human Resource (HR) Management, an in-person Maymester course. Students then took four online, asynchronous classes over the two Summer Sessions, according to Lindsay Quilty, assistant dean of academic programs and student success at the Whitman School.
The academy—now in its second year—launched the asynchronous format this summer, creating flexibility for students with other obligations. “After a successful inaugural year, we knew we wanted to go further in year two,” says Quilty, noting the new format led to increased participation. “We’re reaching more students across the University who want business knowledge as part of their toolkit, and that’s exactly what this program is here to do.”
Learning Human Resources’ Strategic Role
Whitman management professor Jamie Lyn Perry discusses final projects with students in her Strategic Human Resource Management course.
In Strategic HR Management, Jamie Lyn Perry introduced the class to HR’s strategic role in an organization, from workplace culture to recruitment. Perry, an associate professor of management at Whitman, is an expert on leading effective organizational teams.
“Students often come in with the idea of this rigid, archaic administrative system, and I want them to come away knowing HR makes this holistic, meaningful contribution to organizations,” she says. “HR people make decisions on how to enact strategy, and the different ways they do that is through making work a place you want to be.”
We’re reaching more students across the University who want business knowledge as part of their toolkit, and that’s exactly what this program is here to do.
Lindsay Quilty, assistant dean, academic programs and student success, Whitman School of Management
Along with lectures, Perry introduced real-time topics—such as how technology company layoffs impact strategy and brand perspectives—for discussion and incorporated experiential learning. One morning, she invited Scott Catucci G’21, associate director of outdoor recreation at the Barnes Center at The Arch, to lead the students through team-building activities that were both fun and emphasized communicating effectively, understanding different roles and problem-solving.
Psychology and forensic science major Zach Jones ’28 has worked in the restaurant business for years and one day wants to open his own restaurant. “This course taught me a lot about teamwork, communication, managing people and making sure that everything is up to legal codes,” he says.
Zahra Jarrell ’29, a public relations major, adds water to a bucket during a team-building exercise in the Strategic Human Resource Management course. Looking on is Jack Dodd ’27, a television, radio and film major.
Providing Flexible Learning
Public relations major Zahra Jarrell ’29 most enjoyed Perry’s in-person class and appreciated the benefits of completing her business minor with flexible classes. “I like taking asynchronous classes, especially during the summer because it allows me to choose when and where to focus on my academics,” says Jarrell, who is also minoring in political science.
Jarrell found that the academy deepened her understanding of how to reach her career goals in constitutional law and nonprofit leadership. “Overall, I really enjoyed my time with the Whitman Summer Business Academy,” she says.
