UC Irvine Extension Offers New Human Resources Course for Spa Managers

The University of California, Irvine Extension, the pioneer of the first 'Spa and Hospitality Management' certificate program on the West Coast, also the first and only fully-online certificate program of its kind in the United States — announced today a new online course, 'Human Resources Basics, Recruitment and Retention for the Spa Manager.' The course will be taught online, starting March 31 and running through June 13, as part of UC Irvine Extension's popular Spa and Hospitality Management Certificate Program.

'Identified as one of the most relevant issues faced by the burgeoning spa industry, recruitment and retention of quality personnel plays an important role that can lead to the ultimate success or failure of a spa operation,' said course instructor, Christoph Hilscher. 'This course features a comprehensive study of human resources management techniques and best practices with a perspective that is uniquely tailored for the diverse needs of the spa industry.'

'Human Resources Basics, Recruitment and Retention for the Spa Manager" will present an intensive study of human resources within the spa environment such as employee selection, progressive counseling and discipline, termination, employee motivation and employee training. Students will learn the skills necessary to recruit, hire and retain qualified individuals who can meet the growing and changing needs of spa operators.

Students will explore the hiring process including administrative preparation, direct hiring activities, retention practices and related employment laws. They will conclude the class with an understanding of the 'in's and out's' of applicant sourcing, effective interviewing, accurate assessment and evaluation and will gain a clear understanding of the role of a human resources professional in interfacing with management and other staffing decision makers.

Discussion topics will also include importance of staffing metrics, tips and tools for recruiting on the web, and a review of creative recruiting methods. Employee training and motivation, the importance of diversity, harassment and ethics training, as well as other issues within the hospitality industry, including tactics for turn-over reduction will be covered.

This class is designed for small business owners, supervisors in the spa industry and spa managers who are interested in a hands-on human resources course designed to cater to spa practitioners.

This unique curriculum is part of UC Irvine Extension's Spa and Hospitality Management Certificate Program which features in-depth studies taught by esteemed industry professionals from throughout the United States covering everything from business planning and processes to opening a spa, managing day-to-day operations and positioning for managed future growth.

For more information about UC Irvine's Spa and Hospitality Management Certificate Program or to enroll online, please visit www.extension.uci.edu/spa or email Angela Jeantet at [email protected].

About the Instructor, Christoph Hilscher: Course instructor, Christoph Hilscher, PHR, possesses a Hotel Management Degree from the Hotel Management School the director of human resources at the Ritz-Carlton in Phoenix, Ariz. His more than 10 years in the hospitality service industry, especially with Ritz-Carlton in the United States and Germany, lends him an insider's perspective of the needs of internal and external customers. Hilscher has gone on apply this knowledge to train other employees in these areas, and is actively involved in shaping his company's present and future by assuring that all HR guidelines are applied fairly and consistently.

About the University of California, Irvine Extension: As the continuing education arm of UCI, UC Irvine Extension is dedicated to providing a university-level learning experience for students, offering thousands of exciting courses and programs to local, regional, and global constituencies. UC Irvine Extension offers a rich array of academic and community programs to support a diverse audience, from a wide selection of academic programs to numerous campus activities. For more information, please visit www.extension.uci.edu.

About the University of California, Irvine: The University of California, Irvine is a top-ranked university dedicated to research, scholarship and community service. Founded in 1965, UCI is among the fastest-growing University of California campuses, with more than 27,000 undergraduate and graduate students and about 1,400 faculty members. The second-largest employer in dynamic Orange County, UCI contributes an annual economic impact of $3.3 billion. For more UCI news, visit www.today.uci.edu.