School of Labor and Employment Relations

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Mission Statement

The mission of the School of Labor and Employment Relations is to make organizations, workplaces, and communities better by promoting excellence in teaching, research and outreach in the fields of human resource management, labor and employment relations and organizational leadership. The School is committed to achieving this mission by enhancing our understanding of these topics from a strategic perspective both domestically and globally. We are also committed to a multi-stakeholder perspective that includes workers, employees, employers, unions and government.

History of LER

The timeline traces the evolution of the School of Labor and Employment Relations (LER) at Penn State, which has its roots in the university’s land grant mission. In the early 1940s, the program began conducting labor education programs in response to requests from labor organizations in Pennsylvania. Over the years, the program expanded its offerings, including credit classes and undergraduate degrees in Labor-Management Resources.

1862
1940s
1942
1946
1950s
1952
1958
60s-70s
1967
1970s
1973
70s-80s
1980s
1982
1990s
2000s
2002
2007
2010s
2011
2012
2020s
2020
2021

1862

The School of Labor and Employment Relations (LER) is an outgrowth of Penn State’s land grant mission. In 1862, Congress designated one university in each state as a land grant institution and charged that institution with serving the educational needs of all segments of society. Penn State was designated as the land grant university for Pennsylvania.

1940s

In the early 1940s, the program began conducting labor education programs in response to requests from labor organizations in Pennsylvania. Over the years, the program expanded its offerings, including credit classes and undergraduate degrees in Labor-Management Resources.

1942

In 1942, Penn State conducted its first labor education program for the Shipbuilders Union in Philadelphia. Pennsylvania union officials, citing the University's land grant mission, approached Penn State about conduction programs for union leaders and their activists to help them be more effective in their roles under the new national labor-management system created by the National Labor Relations Act of 1935.

1946

United Steelworkers of America: In 1946, the United Steelworkers conducted their first Institute on campus. In August 2018, they returned to campus for the first time since 1998.

1950s

In 1950, the program began offering credit classes at University Park and an undergraduate degree in Labor-Management Resources.

1952

In 1952, the program graduated its first majors.

1958

In 1958, the program achieved departmental status.

1960s

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the program underwent further changes, including a shift to academic unit status and a name change to Labor Studies.

1967

LER Hall of Famer: Arlene Smith Department Office Manager and Academic Adviser Student Confidant. Arlene worked for the Department for 39 years. 1967-2006.

1970s

Major is renamed Labor Studies (LS) In the early 1970s, the name of the major was changed from LMR to Labor Studies (LS) and the department added research to its existing endeavors of offering degree programs and outreach services.

1973

LER Hall of Famer, Doug Allen '73 Nittany Lion Academic All-American Penn State Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, President of the LER Alumni Program Group, and Professor of Practice.

70s-80s

Labor Education Union Leadership Academic Sites
The union Leadership Academy had been established years earlier but probably reached its most active level in the 70s and 80s with centers across the world.

1980s

The 1980s saw significant growth in the program, with the establishment of the Union Leadership Academy and a rise in the number of majors.

1982

In 1982, the program celebrated its 40th anniversary.

1990s

In the 1990s, the department added an honors program and its first graduate degree program. It also changed its name to Labor Studies and Industrial Relations (LSIR) and established connections with alumni through an Affiliated Program Group.

LER Hall of Famer, Jackie Brova '73 Jackie was the Executive Vice President of Human Resources at Church and Dwight Co., Inc. She won the 2012 Service to Penn State Alumni Award and is a apart of the LER Alumni Group.

2000s

The 2000s brought further changes, including the elimination of funding for the labor education program and the addition of online courses and degree programs.

2002

In 2002, the department changed its name to Labor and Employment Relations (LER) to reflect shifts in the American economy.

2007

In 2007, LER offered its first online course. In subsequent years, it began offering its B.A. and B.S. degrees in LER, MPS in HRER, and a new B.A. and B.S. degree in Organizational Leadership (OLEAD) completely online via Penn State’s World Campus.

2010s

By the 2010s, the department had grown substantially, offering online degree programs and earning recognition as a school.

2011

LER Hall of Famer, Joseph Costello '78 Joseph Costello is a long-time member of APG, was awarded the LER Outstanding Alum Award in 2011, is an Attorney and Partner at Morgan Lewis and the Lead Gifter on the LER Endowed Professorship.

2012

School reinstates Labor Education Program after 10 years of inactivity. School also establishes Center for Workplace Performance (formerly the Academy of Human Capital Development) to provide outreach services to the HR community.

2020s

In 2020, the major's name changed to Labor and Human Resources (LHR) to align with student interests, and the school welcomed its first endowed professor of leadership and human resources.

2020

We welcomed our first Brova Family Endowed Professor of Leadership and Human Resources, Craig Pearce, in 2020.

2021

In 2021, Paul Clark stepped down as director after twenty years, and Elaine Farndale assumed the role. Despite challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the School of Labor and Employment Relations continued to provide quality education to its students.