Judy Sun, graduate research assistant and Dr. Russell Korte, visiting assistant professor of HRD, discuss the UT Tyler Business Academy. The academy, which is part of the UT Tyler Human Resource Development Research Center, is scheduled to begin fall 2008. The collaboration between the business community and the university focuses on the research, analysis, development and implementation of programs designed to improve organizations’ performances.

The University of Texas at Tyler Business Academy will provide graduate students and faculty the opportunity to solve real business-related problems in the local business community, Dr. Jim Tarter, UT Tyler College of Business and Technology dean, announced.

The academy, which is part of the UT Tyler Human Resource Development Research Center, is scheduled to begin fall 2008. The collaboration between the business community and the university focuses on the research, analysis, development and implementation of programs designed to improve organizations’ performances.

“This is about developing partnerships in the business community that will help forge links between the university and the real world of organizations,” said Dr. Russell Korte, UT Tyler visiting assistant professor of human resource development, who will lead UT Tyler’s Business Academy. “The academy is about developing and maximizing human resources in organizations.”

Each partner organization in the Business Academy will work with a dedicated team of UT Tyler faculty and graduate student researchers. The teams will design and implement projects aimed at improving organizational performance. The Business Academy also gives opportunities to contribute to the development of future leaders and organizations.

According to Korte, the College of Business and Technology views the HRD Research Center as an important addition to the university’s proposed doctoral program in human resource development, which is currently awaiting final approval by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

For more information, contact Tarter, 903.566.7360, Dr. Clayton Allen, UT Tyler professor and associate dean for the School of Human Resource Development and Technology, 903.566.7328 or Korte, 903.565.5911.