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As the 2014-2015 school year came to a close, the Center for Education on Social Responsibility (CESR) was proud to graduate another group of outstanding Social Responsibility and Ethics (SRE) Certificate students. On May 1st the graduation ceremony was held on the UMC rooftop, and although it was rainy, there was a great turnout for the celebration where food was served and favorite SRE stories were shared.

Since being established in 2010, the SRE Certificate has grown tremendously. This year’s class included 24 graduates – the largest in the program’s history.

In addition to its increasing popularity, the program also introduced a new scholarship this year to those pursuing the certificate. The Marc Prisant and Heidi Heltzel Scholarship for Socially Responsible Enterprise and Business Ethics awards two $5,000 scholarships annually to SRE students. The scholarship provides a significant benefit to SRE students and further adds to the value of the SRE Certificate.

Impact of the Certificate

The distinguishes students interested in socially responsible business in fields such as environmental sustainability, social entrepreneurship, corporate ethics or values-driven leadership. These students develop the practical knowledge and marketable experiences that will distinguish them as business professionals and provide them with a valuable job market differentiator.

According to the graduates, the SRE Certificate had a major impact on their job searches. With a 96% job placement rate (one of the highest placement rates at the Leeds School of Business), the graduates look forward to their exciting future careers. Some employers of the 2015 SRE class include: Deloitte Consulting, EKS&H, Bank of America, Janus Capital Group, KPMG, AT&T, ConocoPhillips, and EY.

Student Reflections

As the students start their careers, the personal values they discovered through the program will continue to impact their everyday decision making. When reflecting on their college experience, the students had positive things to say about the SRE Certificate program:

“I needed CESR!  I now have a light that goes off in my head to stop and think. My best experiences at Leeds have been connected with CESR. People don’t realize the value of SRE and CESR.”

“As an Accounting Major, Integrated Reporting really gave me an advantage in interviews.  I could demonstrated a passion for and understanding of integrated reporting and interviewers were always impressed and interested in hearing more.”

“I now understand what it means to be true to yourself in your career.”

Interested in pursuing the SRE Certificate?

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Story by Andy Wegleitner, CESR Student Assistant