Hennes Communications and Ohio University Launch Partnership Allowing Seminar Participants to Earn Graduate Certificate Credit

University Teams with Crisis Communications Firm in New Offering

Did you attend a crisis communications seminar taught by Bruce Hennes, Thom Fladung or Stephanie York and Hennes Communications in the last few years?  If so, read below for information about how you can receive one free credit hour (valued at $525) towards a graduate certificate in crisis communication
from the prestigious Scripps College of Communication at Ohio University.

Ohio University’s Scripps College of Communication has partnered with Hennes Communications, a crisis communications firm based in Cleveland, Ohio, to offer professionals the opportunity to receive one credit hour at no cost (a $525 value) towards a 12-hour graduate certificate in crisis communication.  Through this partnership, participants who have attended selected seminars taught by Hennes Communications can apply to convert one hour of that seminar to one credit hour counted towards the online crisis communication certificate offered by Scripps College at Ohio University.

“Effective crisis communication is undoubtedly the most important element in managing a crisis. By establishing a strong academic foundation and acquiring real-life skills, professionals can better prepare and execute effective crisis communication strategies,” explained John Born, former director of Ohio’s Department of Public Safety, and current visiting assistant professor and executive-in-residence in the Scripps College of Communication and the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service.

Many of the seminars will be led by Bruce Hennes, CEO of Hennes Communications, one of the few firms in North America focused exclusively on crisis management and crisis communications. In recognition of his expertise, Bruce Hennes has been appointed as a research assistant professor within the Scripps College of Communication.

Hennes Communications has an impressive roster of past and present clients that includes Goodyear, NASA, Avery Dennison, United Way of Greater Cleveland, ThyssenKrupp, Interlake Steamship, the American Public Power Association and the Ohio School Boards Association.  With over 180 clients served annually from diverse market sectors, including numerous law firms, Hennes Communications excels at managing crises in today’s fast-paced media landscape.

“From accusations of fiscal or legal mismanagement, labor issues and board chair-executive director disputes to DEI controversies, mergers and acquisitions, cyberattacks and active shooter situations, we live in a world of immediate news, where everyone has a mobile phone and any incident can become a front-page story, a trending story on social media, or an all-hands management issue for the C-suite,” Hennes said. “Today, controversies are tried first in the ‘Court of Public Opinion’ before the ‘Court of Law’ and the skill set used by CEOs, directors and managers to earn their leadership roles isn’t the same skill set it takes to manage a crisis.”

Upon choosing to receive the credit hour, seminar participants will be contacted by a representative from Ohio University to guide them through the process and provide program information.  The crisis communication graduate certificate can be pursued as a standalone program or combined with other coursework to obtain a graduate degree in communication or organizational communication.

The online certificate program offers the flexibility of year-round enrollment, catering to the needs of working professionals.  It is particularly recommended for current and aspiring leaders in public-facing sectors such as education, healthcare, eldercare, law enforcement and government.

Hennes Communications seminars that count towards the Scripps College credit include “Crisis Communications for Senior Leaders,” “Crisis Management & Communications,” “Winning on Social Media: Crisis Management in an Echo Chamber” and “Crisis Communications in the Social Media Era.”

For more information about the partnership between the Scripps College of Communication at Ohio University and Hennes Communications:https://www.ohio.edu/scripps-college/crisis-credit

For more information about the 12-hour graduate certificate:https://www.ohio.edu/scripps-college/online/graduate-certificates/crisis-communication

For more information about Hennes Communications: https://www.crisiscommunications.com

For more information about Bruce Hennes:https://www.ohio.edu/scripps-college/about/deans-office/bh042522ohio-edu

To get further, in-depth information and/or start the process (including applying the free credit hour), contact Bruce Hennes:hennes@crisiscommunications.com