Current Events (Measures Course Competency 5)

Each student will be responsible for identifying and discussing HR-related news reports of stories that you run across during the week. Note that these must be current news stories discussing something relevant to HR. In many cases this will be something actually happening in the news such as a layoff or a court case. In other cases, this may be a story about a trend such as unemployment or new benefit trends. In each case, they must be currently in the news (no more than two weeks old). Tell us about the story and give us the source in APA format. If the source is available online (such as CNN.com or other news outlets), give us the URL; do not cut and paste the article as this may be a copyright infringement. The current events assignment is one way that we will make the course very current and explores the many HR related issues that are constantly in the news. Demonstrate that you can find credible sources that will keep you proficient and knowledgeable in the field. This assignment directly relates to Course Competency # 5: “Demonstrate a familiarity with HR-related current events and identify sources of information on HR issues to stay proficient and knowledgeable in the field and to ensure business results.”

Your current event should identify the source, meet the criterion of current event, and be discussed as to its relevance. Discuss current event posts of your classmates. Each weekly current event should be at 250-500 and include the full reference for the current event and a discussion as to its details and relevance to your remaining proficient and knowledgeable in the field of HR. Be prepared to discuss in class. Here is the grade rubric, which will be used for each current event. Note the criterion highlighted in red, as students tend to forget this important point. Use a separate heading to discuss this point.

Grade Rubric for EACH Current Event – (1) points each) Course Competency #5

Criterion Does not meet basic criterion Meets basic criterion Proficient Outstanding
Demonstrates ability to find an HR current event from a credible news source Article chosen is not an HR current event and not from a credible news source.(0) Article is an HR current event but is not from a reliable source of information.(1) Article is an HR current event and from a credible source of information.(.15) Article is clearly a significant current event related to HR. and from a credible news source.(.2)
Demonstrates an understanding of key points of the story Does not discuss key points of the story (0) Provides broad overview only of the story. (.25) Gives some details of story; reader may still have questions (.275) Describes the essence of the story answering who, what, when, why, and where (.3)
Explains the relevancy of the story to staying proficient and knowledgeable in the HR field No explanation given of the relevancy of this story. (0) Relates story to HR in general terms (.25) Specifically relates story to being knowledgeable and proficient in the HR field. (.275) Fully explains importance of the story to being proficient and knowledgeable regarding HR theory and/or practice (.3)
Communicates in clear, logical, grammatically correct terms and provides source in APA style Poorly written, incoherent sentences, poor spelling, unacceptable grammar and/or total lack of references, no citation (0) Numerous writing errors but sufficient, appropriate and correct references or vice versa, citation present but may be incomplete (.1) Very few errors in writing and referencing (.15) Virtually no errors in writing and referencing. (.2)