UA Little Rock’s Division of Corporate & Community Education, in collaboration with Rock Region Consulting Inc. of Little Rock, is launching a new human resources career pathway pilot aiming to meet growing workforce needs across Arkansas.
The pilot course, dubbed “HR Essentials: What You’re Expected to Know,” will run April 1–22 at the Reynolds Business Building. The program aims to prepare entry-level HR professionals, career changers, business owners and organizational leaders with practical training in compliance, documentation, employee relations and workplace risk management.
The university partnered with Gina Smith, the CEO of Rock Region Consulting and a board member of the Central Arkansas Human Resources Association to integrate industry insight into the course design. Rock Region Consulting provides human resource consulting, compliance guidance and workforce development training to organizations across Arkansas.
“Organizations need HR professionals who are prepared before they’re faced with high-stakes decisions,” Smith said in a press release from UA Little Rock. “This program blends core knowledge with applied learning so participants leave with practical skills they can immediately use.”
As part of the Corporate & Community Education Division’s expanded professional development strategy, the pilot will inform the launch of additional HR continuing education and certification preparation opportunities for working professionals, alumni, and current students in the School of Business.
Registration is now open for the April cohort. The class, held in person for two hours weekly across four weeks, costs $300 per person.
“This is exactly the kind of program our new Workforce Development Center was created to deliver,” Nick Stevens, director of corporate and community education, said in the release. “We work closely with industry leaders to identify real workforce gaps and respond with relevant, high-impact training. By piloting programs like this, we’re building scalable pathways for professional advancement and strengthening Arkansas’ workforce.”
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