FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 28, 2009

For more information:
Bob Edwards
Public Relations Department Assistant
Glenville State College
Glenville, West Virginia
(304) 462-7361ext. 6390

Glenville, WV—In an effort to meet the ever-increasing need for nonprofit professionals and volunteers and to encourage involvement in community service, the Glenville State College Business Department is now offering a minor in Nonprofit Leadership and Management. This twenty credit hour program includes: Principles of Accounting, Applied Business Communications, Dimensions in Professional Development, Business Law, Human Resource Management, Principles of Marketing, Introduction to Nonprofit Organizations, and Nonprofit Practices and Procedures.

In addition, Glenville State College is also offering the American Humanics Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership. American Humanics (AH) is a national alliance of colleges, universities, and nonprofits dedicated to educating, preparing, and certifying professionals to lead nonprofit organizations. AH was founded in 1948 by H. Roe Bartle, a thirty-year professional in the Boy Scouts of America, who was concerned about the lack of educational opportunities available to young people desiring careers in the service community. The American Humanics Program is now offered on over sixty campuses across the country. Glenville State College will be the only college or university in West Virginia to offer this program for at least the next five years.

“The addition of the Nonprofit Leadership and Management minor and the American Humanics Certification to our curriculum at Glenville State College will broaden our students’ options for employment in both the profit and nonprofit sectors,” said Dr. Sherry Jones, GSC Professor of Business Education and Department Chair.

Any student of Glenville State College, regardless of major, is eligible to take the new minor and/or earn the American Humanics Certification. Non-degree seeking students are also welcome to enroll in the American Humanics Certification Program which takes approximately one year to complete. All students who want to earn AH Certification must also complete a three-hundred hour internship in the nonprofit sector.

Meredith Gillett is the GSC American Humanics Coordinator. “Students who earn American Humanics Certification increase their marketability. The required internship will provide valuable real-life field experience. Many nonprofit organizations seek and recruit AH students. The link that AH has with over sixty institutions results in great networking opportunities,” she said. American Humanics trains professionals for many of the country’s most respected nonprofits including: the American Red Cross, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America, Boy Scouts of America, The Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Camp Fire USA, Feeding America, Girls Incorporated, Girl Scouts of the USA, The Humane Society of the United States, Junior Achievement, March of Dimes, National Urban League, United Way of America, Volunteers of America, and YMCA of the USA.

Gillett relocated to her native West Virginia from California to head the AH program. She has extensive experience in the nonprofit sector beginning in Girl Scouts as an active member then became Program Director at a summer camp in Kansas City, Missouri. She completed an internship with the national office of Camp Fire USA, and following her AH Certification and Bachelor’s degree, she became an Exploring Executive for the Boy Scouts of America in Little Rock, Arkansas. Gillett will be starting a Student Association for those involved in the AH program and those interested in community service.

The first nonprofit class, NPLM 101 – Introduction to Nonprofit Organizations will be taught at Glenville State College during the Spring 2010 semester. Among other topics, this class will focus on the following: mission and role of the nonprofit organization; board and committee development; and program planning, implementation, and evaluation. A second class, NPLM 201 – Nonprofit Practices and Procedures will likely be taught in the Fall 2010 semester and will focus on the following: fundraising and grant writing; public relations; and effective risk and crisis management.

The Glenville State Robert F. Kidd Library is building its collection of books and periodicals in the nonprofit area to support learning about nonprofit organizations.

In working with many nonprofit organization executives over the years, Glenville State College President, Dr. Peter Barr, realized the need for trained nonprofit professional in a vastly expanding industry. “Glenville State College will now be educating the nonprofit leaders of the future. The practical knowledge and experience that students will gain from these programs will better prepare them to meet the needs of the nonprofit sector,” he said.

Nonprofit organizations interested in taking advantage of the Glenville State College American Humanics intern program or seminars that will be available are invited to contact Gillett for more information.

Individuals interested in taking one or more nonprofit classes or for more information about the GSC Nonprofit Leadership and Management minor contact Gillett at (304) 462-6260 or meredith.gillett@glenville.edu.