- Jeff Hartung
MS in Management, Human Resources Specialization
MBA, Dual Degree
Graduate School of Management and Technology
MyUMUC Story:
Jeff Hartung Balances Family Life With Educational Pursuits
By Stephanie Edwards
By looking at his achievements and educational goals, it may seem like Jeff Hartung has all the time in the world to pursue his education. On the contrary, Hartung has taken UMUC courses during his Army deployment to the Middle East, and even still after being medically evacuated to Germany. To top it off, he has driven across the country and welcomed a new baby girl into his life—all while taking courses at UMUC.
Today he is proud to say he holds a 3.5 cumulative GPA in his graduate studies. The key he says was personal perseverance, as well as the flexibility and accessibility that UMUC provides.
Hartung, who has been taking classes at UMUC since 2004, has already earned an undergraduate degree in criminal justice, with a minor in history. He is currently working on his Master of Science in Management (MSM), with a human resources focus, and an MBA dual degree. He also plans to earn two graduate certificates—one in human resources management and one in leadership and management.
He says he first learned of UMUC during his second deployment in the Middle East. A fellow soldier was taking courses online and recommended the university to him. “From the very beginning,” says Hartung, “UMUC has been very helpful with me in every challenge I’ve faced.”
In the criminal justice degree program, he says a wide variety of issues were covered, from security management to diversity. Now, in the MSM program, he also enjoys the diversity of topics, including external consulting and designing a training program.
Hartung explained that he’s gaining knowledge about important issues, such as training new employees, that he can use in his current career in human resources. He believes that his education will help him move up the chain of command and move forward in his career.
“My ultimate career goal is to become a human resources director for a great nonprofit organization that helps out people and their communities.” Hartung adds, “The human resources program at UMUC has proven to be very informational and has influenced my outlook as to how human resources departments really work.”
Staying focused on his career and educational goals has been important to Hartung, who like many UMUC students, has encountered numerous challenges and demands. But Hartung stays determined.
In 2005, after Hartung was discharged from the Army, he decided to take a trip across the U.S., driving from Georgia to his home state of Oregon. He says he was confident that he could stay up to date on his courses, due to the convenience of online courses. Staying in touch proved to be no problem. But he was still up for his biggest challenge yet—becoming a parent.
“Having a baby has been my biggest non-stop challenge thus far,” says Hartung. “I’ve always found time for my work, my daughter, and to finish my assignments for school.”
Hartung credited online access through WebTycho as one of his favorite aspects of UMUC accessibility. “Accessing school from any computer with the Internet really eases my mind when I’m traveling to different places, on vacation, and spending tine with my daughter,” he says.
Despite his busy schedule and the demands of his career, family, and military experiences, Hartung remains dedicated to his education as well as his family. “Being able to work, play, and focus really hard on maintaining a certain GPA have all been personal standards of mine,” he says. “I don’t allow myself to slack at all while attending this great school.”
