To Peter et al on the RIM Listserv,

I heartily agree that there should be an 'advanced degree' for a Records
Management position, however, the problem is that there is no one who has
probably heard of RIM at the undergraduate level to develop a course and most,
if not all, graduate-level Information Sciences/Library Sciences/Archival
programs don't have the student demand to teach RIM as a separate entity.  In
fact, most of the 'combined' Records Management/Archival Management
graduate-level programs 'actually' teach Archival Management with a 'veneer'
of RIM theory on top of Archival Management!  The reason that I know whereof I
speak is that I've looked at several of the graduate-level programs in
comparison to what I've taken here at UT-Knoxville over the past 2 years and
what was stated above is exactly what I've found.

In my case, I didn't want to tread the path of one of the 'Big Three' foci
here at UTK - Academic, Public, School librarianship and asked Dr. Mike
Pemberton, CRM, FAI (who has become my mentor/advisor/friend) what I could
focus on, given my business experience.  Thus a future Records Manager was
born!  My curriculum has consisted of the core curriculum coursework required
by the university and coursework recommended by Dr. Pemberton.  THAT
coursework has consisted of regular classwork, specialized readings,
independent study, and two practicums (BOTH of which were Archival in nature
because I could not find one in a Records Management environment)!  Several of
my courses were ideal because they built upon my previous business experience.
 To borrow from Peter's writing in this original email "...I'm still amazed at
what I've learned during my career, and what I still continue to learn. Not a
dull day ever. Where else can one do project management, contract management,
business process analysis, quality management, legal research, teach, source
products, and develop policy and procedures..."  This sounds like my entire
realm of experience!  Out of sixty students in the UTK-SIS program, both local
and DE, I am the ONLY one interested in Records Management, yet our program
can boast, and rightfully so, of having the 'Albert Einstein' of RIM as one of
its faculty members - Dr. Mike Pemberton, CRM, FAI.  My classmates jokingly
state that "Oh My God…BILL STEVENS IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT RECORDS MANAGEMENT
AGAIN" whenever I comment in class discussions.

This leads to my next comment...that of employment in the Records Management
arena.  I find it rather IRONIC that while some of you may bemoan the fact
that there are no 'advanced degrees' offered for RIM, you are unwilling to
consider hiring an individual who has the advanced degree with a focus on RIM,
but want VAST amounts of experience coupled with MINIMAL education!  Case in
point, while looking for RIM positions to apply for, I have continually seen
job advertisements posted which state "...want 3-16 years experience in RIM,
CRM credentials, and a GED or 1-3 years undergraduate education."  It is much
like a job interview that the young man has who is told by a prospective
employer that they don't have the required experience so they should go find a
job, work 2 years, and then call the company they're trying to get hired by
for a job!

In short, if those of you who would like to see a Records Management degree in
and of its own, YOU are going to have to take the risk of hiring those of us
who are focusing on Records Management as an advanced degree so we can promote
RIM to our alma maters as a viable program of study…and…provide them the
funding to make it happen!












>===== Original Message From Peter Kurilecz <[log in to unmask]> =====
>On Thu, 24 Mar 2005 13:42:34 -0800, White, Bruce
><[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> Now I am not discounting the programs identified; I am sure they are all
>> good.  But my belief is that for our profession to be taken seriously
>> (especially in the U.S.), we need a true degree in records management,
>> either at the undergraduate or graduate level.
>
>I would prefer to see such a degree at the MBA level. At the
>undergraduate level a student can take courses in business management,
>economics, IT, whatever. things that will provide them with a solid
>grounding.
>
>> I deal with accountants, lawyers, IT specialist, HR, project managers, etc.
>> on a daily basis.
>
>you too? amazing I meet the same group of folks all the time. Which is
>one reason why I love RM, it truly crosses all silos.
>
> > Most of them ask the same question - how does someone
>> learn records management.  When I tell them through on-the-job training,
>> most of them look at me with surprise.  Maybe some day I can tell them that
>> you can actually earn a degree in records management.
>
>I'm still amazed at what I've learned during my career, and what I
>still continue to learn. not a dull day ever. Where else can one do
>project management, contract management, business process analysis,
>quality management, legal research, teach, source products, develop
>policy and procedures -- all with no staff. ;-)
>
>seriously I find the profession exciting and the salaries are starting
>to climb. I just posted a position on the ICRM-L list that is in the
>$80-100K range
>
>> As PK would say, just my rambling thoughts...
>
>you betcha!
>--
>Peter Kurilecz
>Richmond, Va
>
>List archives at http://lists.ufl.edu/archives/recmgmt-l.html
>Contact [log in to unmask] for assistance

=====================================================================
Bill Stevens
Records Information Manager/Archivist in Training
Apt. #328, 800 Longview Road ~ Knoxville, TN 37919
C/p #865-607-9625 ~ E/m = [log in to unmask] ~ Efax #1-208-475-7514
=====================================================================

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