On April 8, 2024, the Rutgers University-New Brunswick School of Communication and Information (SC&I) will be launching its new Crisis Communication and Reputation Management Certificate within SC&I’s Continuing and Professional Studies (CPS) unit.

The Rutgers Crisis Communication and Reputation Management Certificate program offers a transformative opportunity to navigate uncertainty and unforeseen business challenges with confidence. It will provide its professional students with many of the tools, strategies, and techniques to lead their organizations through critical crisis situations with confidence.

Businesses, organizations, municipalities, police departments, school districts, military, and more face risk and are vulnerable to crises. Leaders may have business continuity plans in place, however, do not have the skillsets, tools, or expertise in place to direct the complexities of crisis communication. This Rutgers certificate program fills that gap, and can help their organizations protect or enhance their reputations.

Through our comprehensive six-month online program, which includes six multi-week courses and two one-on-one media coaching sessions, students will gain invaluable expertise in strategic frameworks, planning, and hands-on crisis communication. This will enable them to effectively protect their organization’s reputation with swift response tactics, said Julie Johnson, Ed.D., the Director of CPS.

Crisis communication is one of the most high-stakes leadership elements that will affect your organization’s reputation and long-term ability to thrive. In today’s dynamic business landscape, crisis preparedness is no longer optional; it is an absolute necessity. The probability of facing a disaster or crisis is significant, and being caught unprepared is no longer acceptable. With increasing public and government scrutiny, readiness has become paramount.

This program is within the CPS unit, which facilitates the upskilling of professionals across their professional journey. The programs offered at CPS allow working professionals to continue their education and bring measurable value to any company they work for as the workplace and organization demands are constantly evolving.

Taking this course could be career-changing,” said Ken Hunter, APR, Co-Academic Director of Communication Certificates at CPS and instructor of Crisis Communication Planning within the Crisis Communication and Reputation Management Certificate program. Anyone who has weathered – or anticipates – a crisis situation knows the high stakes, and this certificate is packed with the tools that will give students the crisis guidance and confidence that will gain their organization’s trust.

When it comes to crisis communication, this program delves deeper than other programs," said Michael Cherenson, co-academic director of communication certificates. “Well beyond the theoretical and hypothetical, this program provides actionable, hands-on, skills and tools helping students thrive in today’s complex environment.”

Continuing and Professional Studies at Rutgers incorporates the emerging knowledge of a research institution with the practical skills of front-line, highly experienced, senior professionals.

For more information or to register for the Crisis Communication and Reputation Management program, visit the website. 

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