A partnership between Rice University’s Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies and SLB, formerly known as Schlumberger, has been providing scholarship funding for military spouses, veterans and active duty military personnel to train for careers in human resources since 2020.
The scholarship students participate in Glasscock’s Human Resource Management Certificate program, which not only prepares them for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) certification exam but also equips them with the skills needed to thrive in the rapidly growing field of human resources. Applications for the program are now open.
“We’re incredibly grateful to SLB for identifying a need and choosing the Glasscock School as the partner to fulfill it,” said Robert Bruce, dean of the Glasscock School. “It is through collaborations like this that we can create access and opportunity, and no one deserves that more than our military families.”
Nick Tran, the health, safety and environmental director and former head of veteran and community affairs at SLB, said serving on the White House Military Spouse Committee inspired him to create a unique scholarship opportunity.
“This one-of-a-kind initiative, in partnership with the Glasscock School, is designed to support military spouses in their educational pursuits,” Tran said. “We felt it was important to figure out what we can do to help military spouses, which is one of the most underemployed groups within the veteran space. They tend to move to different bases every two years, and this makes it hard to land and maintain job consistency.”
“Breaking into HR is not easy,” added Tran, whose background is in human resources. “I went through the SHRM course at Glasscock, and I think it’s a great way to prepare for the certification.”
“This scholarship not only changed my life, but it also saved me from falling into sadness from job loss,” said Arnikko Walters, a former scholarship recipient who is now the talent acquisition and staffing manager at Diamond Offshore in Houston. “This opportunity built me up in ways I never imagined. Professionally, I have more understanding and tools within my portfolio, and personally I have gained a new network of friends that not only share my interest but will push me to stay the best person I can be.”
Applications are being accepted through July. Military and veteran spouses can apply at https://glasscock.rice.edu/offering/human-resources-management-certificate-program .
To learn more about the Glasscock School, visit https://glasscock.rice.edu.