Logistics certificate from Robert Morris University

Every day, the world is becoming more connected. People need products to arrive on time more than ever before. Whether it is the product’s final destination or just a stop along the way, the planning methods used to transport these goods are incredibly important. These skills and techniques are known simply as Logistics. Logistics are concerned with how products are stored and transported to meet customer needs. Logistics includes skills such as supply chain principles including supply chain networks and facilities, transportation, inventory management and how new technology can make transportation and storage more efficient.

Robert Morris University now offers a certificate to undergraduate students for them to obtain these skills. There are only five required classes in order to receive this certificate, and it can provide major benefits to students regardless of major. These classes are MARK2000 Principles of Marketing, MARK3150 Principles of Channel Management/Logistics, MARK 3550 Strategic Asset Management/Supply Chain, MARK 3575 International Logistics, and MARK 4851 Logistics Planning and Measurement.  

Here’s what these Logistics courses cover:

MARK3150: Channel marketing concepts (conflict, power, financial, and product flows), basic logistics concepts (inventory, warehousing, transportation).

MARK3550: Primary focus on inventory management from producer to consumer. Topics associated with inventory management is the key from acquisition, storage, and distribution.

MARK3575: Studies logistics on an international scale. Focuses on transportation and regulations, INCOTERMS (International Commerce Terms), specialized channels, banking, and international freight movement, required documentation, regulatory controls.

MARK4851: Works on refining skills in supply chain, macro and micro level planning of a logistical plan for transporting goods, quantifying goals for logistic plans, and solving real life logistic issues.

This certificate is really useful for those who aspire to become managers or entrepreneurs. This allows you to gain insight into managing resources, storing them, efficiently distributing them to other locations around the world. If you plan to operate your own business these are critical skills to have when developing a business plan and ensuring long term success. Managers with poor logistics skills are more likely to struggle at maintaining a business than those who have acquired these skills.

The best part is the certificate is it is not just for a niche group of students. Regardless of your major, this could be an extremely useful certificate to have. When asked about if there would be a use for a logistics certificate, a psychology major explained, “This actually could be really helpful for me down the road. If I were to have my own practice these sorts of skills would be very useful”.

Ultimately, there is a lot of value in this Logistics certificate. With only being four courses (plus Principles of Marketing) to acquire, one could hypothetically finish the entire certificate in one semester. With a low time cost and high potential value this could make a huge difference in someone’s life beyond college. Talk with Dr. Clinton, Dr. Smith, or your academic advisor to see if you can plan your future in logistics.

Alexander Gagnon ‘21                        Jonathan Kleer ‘22

Sport Management Major                   Sport Management Major

Edited by Dr. Cathleen Jones

Get Involved with FLEAP!

Are you looking for an unforgettable experience to travel the world and learn about the history and culture of countries around us? Then you should sign up for the FLEAP trip this year! You might be asking yourself, what exactly is FLEAP and what does this trip entail? FLEAP stands for Faculty Lead Education Abroad Programs, and this is an overseas experience in which you will travel with Robert Morris University faculty and fellow students at your university. This is a great opportunity; we encourage you to sign up!

            If you are looking for further information regarding the FLEAP trip, you can make a visit to the Center for Global Engagement which is located in the Nicholson building on campus. A majority of the marketing for FLEAP operates down there and they are more than happy to provide you with the necessary information. There are also faculty members on campus such as Dr. Steven Clinton who can provide you with further details regarding the trip. Dr. Clinton is the head of the FLEAP trips and he coordinates the activities and locations of where the students will go. He feels it is extremely important for young students to travel abroad to strengthen their knowledge and become more culturally aware. There are many resources on campus you can contact to find out more.

            The overall expense for the trip is $3,500, but RMU has scholarships available for those who apply for them. For all other personal expenses, you can utilize your debit or credit card, and withdraw cash at the ATM machines. Many of the students enjoy buying souvenirs to bring home to friends and family members. Additionally, you are provided time on the trip to travel on your own so you can purchase anything of your liking.

            Over the years, the FLEAP trip has been held at various locations across the globe. The FLEAP trip locations are determined usually by specific and relevant courses students are taking and also by personal preference from faculty. In the 2019 Spring semester, students such as Anthony Puglisi and Regis Nairn traveled with Dr. Clinton to Brussels and Antwerp in Belgium, and then they migrated down to Southern France and even made a stop in Paris, France. Another RMU student named Marcia Schimizzi had the opportunity to travel specifically to Paris, France where she learned about the fashion industry market. Students prior to these trips have even had the chance to visit Ireland! The next few paragraphs will speak about current RMU student’s experiences on the various FLEAP trips.

            Marcia Schimizzi is a Senior Communication major with a concentration in Public Relations and was a part of a FLEAP trip that went to Paris, France this past Summer 2019.  We got to ask her about her time there and about some parts of the trip where she learned something new and parts that she really enjoyed.  The trip that Marcia was a part of was designed to suit those interested in public relations, so the focus was on the public relations of the fashion industry in Paris.  She broadened her knowledge on a business run somewhere else in the world, and got to see the differences in how designs are marketed to the public, compared to how those things are done here in the US. Marcia said “The experience was amazing and the faculty (on the trip) were very lenient in letting us live our own lives once we would get through the educational part of the day, but even the educational stuff I found interesting.”  Marcia’s most memorable part of the trip?  Well she was of course thrilled to be able to personally see the Eiffel Tower.

            Regis Nairn is a Senior Sport Management major with a minor concentration in Marketing.  Regis was on a FLEAP trip the Summer of 2019, where he traveled with fellow students to Antwerp, Belgium.  Regis learned that Antwerp is the diamond capital of the world, so it made sense that he was learning a lot about the diamond industry.  He got to see a port located in Antwerp as well where he learned all about logistics and the supply chain of a foreign country.  “It was truly an awesome experience; I would recommend trying to be a part of a trip if you haven’t already.”  Regis also got to visit the Southern portion of Paris where he and his group went through a perfume workshop.  He said learning about the diamond industry was his favorite part, but actually being able to create a sample of your own perfume was a close second for him. 

Anthony Puglisi is a Senior Marketing major at Robert Morris University and he also had the same experience as Regis Nairn. They both got to travel to parts of Belgium and other locations in France. Anthony spoke very highly of the trip saying it was a positive learning experience because he got to learn about different cultures, as well as gain experience traveling in a foreign country. I asked Anthony what his favorite part of the trip was and he said, “just being with friends that I have known for years, and also making new friends on the trip”. When asked what his favorite part of the trip was, Anthony exclaimed that attending the diamond workshop was a great experience and he also enjoyed the lecture on how luxury goods are marketed. Some people might feel nervous about traveling overseas, but Anthony stated that he felt completely safe traveling with friends and with Dr. Clinton. He also liked that Dr. Clinton encourages students to go off on their own and use the public transportation.

Evidently, the trip was an overall amazing experience for those who went. If you’re interested in attending, be sure to register for the FLEAP course in week 8 of the 2020 Spring semester. On the next upcoming trip, students will get the opportunity to travel to Shanghai, China. If interested, feel free to reach out to Dr. Clinton or stop down at the Center for Global Engagement in the Nicholson building.

 By: Megan Blackwell & Dalton Link

Congratulation to the 2019 Joint US Switzerland Global Consulting Project

Three students who participated in the 2019 Joint US Switzerland Global Consulting Project celebrated their 2nd Place finish for the Young Leader Award in Switzerland with President and Mrs. Howard, SBUS Dean Michelle Patrick and Department Head of Marketing and Advisor for the JUSP Project, Dr. Jill Kurp. The Howard’s invited the award winners, Austin Hampe, Julie Powell, and Katie Shipton to their home for a celebratory dinner.

Be a part of an international team! Apply for JUSP by November 1st

In today’s booming society marketers are coming up with new cunning concepts to target their customers, and now global marketization is a recent venture marketers are looking to excel in. Reaching an audience on a global level can benefit a company in a monumental way. As marketing students having experience in global marketing can give you a competitive edge against other marketing students. But, where would you get that type of experience from? Jill A. Kurp Maher, Ph.D. Department Head of Marketing, informed me about the Joint US Switzerland Project also known as JUSP.

JUSP offers “a collaborative arrangement between FHS St. Gallen and RMU that provides students from both institutions the opportunity to work in a cross-cultural team on a global consulting project that benefits a real company (generally from Europe or the US). RMU is the FHS partner for all projects with a US-oriented objective.” In other words you the student will work on a team with other FHS St. Gallen students to develop sales concepts that match those objectives in the United States for a particular corporation.

FHS and RMU’s relationship came to be after FHS St. Gallen contacted RMU to be their strategic partner for consulting projects in 2016. Anxious to accept the invitation to partner, in 2017 RMU had its first project. In 2018, RMU and FHS St. Gallen conducted another project and in 2019, there were two projects. According to Dr. Maher “the relationship is stronger than ever and, anticipates continuing this partnership and hope to grow it in future years with multiple projects each year.” Dr. Maher acts as a US adviser for RMU students as part of the project, and the students from FHS St. Gallen have their own Swiss adviser. Being an adviser allows Dr. Maher “the opportunity to watch students grow as future marketing professionals, Witnessing their navigation of working in a cross-cultural team. Watching friendships flourish. Seeing their sense of accomplishment when the projects culminates.”

Now that you know a portion about JUSP I’m sure you’re wondering, what’s in it for you? This 14 week program provides hands on experience in projects such as market research, market feasibility, or competitor analysis just to name a few. Students also use long distance technology (e.g., skype), have the opportunity to get travel abroad experience, and experience the role of being a consultant for a real company.

To be considered for this opportunity is an exceptionally competitive process that occurs each fall. Selection for candidates take place every fall for students to begin their project on January 2^nd. Year in school, GPA, maturity, and research skills are evaluated as part of the application process. Don’t let this window pass you by, who knows you could be the next student selected for this astounding opportunity! If there are any further questions about JUSP feel free to reach out to Dr. Maher via email at kurp@rmu.edu.

Written by Natasha Simpson. Edited by Dr. Cathleen Jones

Robert Morris University Ethics WorkShop

Join us at the Ethics WorkShop: October 29^th, 5:30 – 8 p.m. @ UPMC Events Center

Robert Morris University offers an Ethics Workshop which was created to bring awareness to ethical dilemmas. This event is interactive and sparks discussion on a new case every year. Along with rich discussion, food will also be provided. Everybody who attends can voice their own personal viewpoints and have debates. By working through an ethical dilemma, Robert Morris University students will be better prepared for life after college.

The Ethical Workshop also has a scholarship opportunity for students who apply. The first scholarship was awarded in 2008. All Robert Morris students are eligible to apply under the conditions of a having a 2.5 GPA and having completed at least 30 credits. A total of 50 recipients have been awarded this scholarship. This year there were five, $5,000 scholarships awarded to students who applied.

Attending the Ethics Workshop will put those who apply for the scholarship at an advantage. The Workshop cases are similar to the case competition that all applicants will be required to answer. This year’s case is called, “Are Tariffs Good for Businesses and Is Their Use Ethical to Level the Playing Field?” The scholarship opportunity case competition will involve the Trade War involving the United States.

Written by Camryn Ruby & Devyn Charles; edited by Dr. Cathleen Jones

Free Pizza for Marketing Majors

October 17, 2019, 5 to 6 p.m., SBUS 119

Come learn about changes to the Marketing majors, requirements for graduation, the new marketing FLEAP, the Joint US Switzerland Program, and Sales and Logistics certificates.

Dr. Kurp, Department Head will give you the scoop. Q & A Session will follow.

RMU FLEAP Fair- October 9, 2019