About OLL

Our Mission

We foster leadership, learning, and performance to provide relevant solutions for a changing world. We accomplish this through conducting and applying world-class research, utilizing innovative learning systems, and promoting collaborative relationships.

Our Vision

To lead the field in building positive human experiences of work, enhancing performance possibilities, and facilitating organization culture by integrating theory, research, and practice.

Our Past

Our program reflects many of the larger changes the university has seen in the last 40 years. Our roots are in the original School of Education, which was founded in 1968. We were known as the Department of Vocational Education and primarily educated teachers who provided work-related education to students in secondary and postsecondary contexts. In the 1990s, the department was renamed Occupational Training and Development to reflect our expanding role in preparing professionals for work-based training and development, organization development, and human resource development. To provide convenience for students, we began the innovative practice of offering our program at off-site locations such as workplaces, community centers, and Ft. Knox. This practice continues today.

In 2000, three departments merged into the Department of Leadership, Foundations, and Human Resource Education. In the early 2000s, our program was an innovator in online education, with the bachelor's and master's programs being offered fully online. During this period, we had extensive international offerings, with the program being offered in Cairo, Egypt; Panama City, Panama; Prague, Czech Republic; and San Salvador, El Salvador. In the late 2000s, our undergraduate program was designated as UofL's degree completion program for adult learners who desire to return to school to complete their bachelor's degree. This change has resulted in substantial growth in our undergraduate program. During this period, the program became known as Workforce and Human Resource Education.

Reflecting the university's increasing emphasis on meaningful, breakthrough research, the U.S. Department of Education awarded UofL with the National Research Center for Career and Technical Education (NRCCTE) in 2007. This was a five-year, $20.5 million grant, which was the second-largest federal grant the university had received. This grant added additional visibility, resources, and opportunities for our program.

The Program Today

In 2009, our faculty and staff began implementing a strategic plan to make us one of the top programs in the country. In particular, we strive to fill a niche in truly integrating theory, research, and practice in a deep and meaningful way. Our strategic plan emphasizes us being Relevant, Rigorous, and Research-based in all we do to attain:

  • Excellence in Academic Programming
  • Excellence in Engaged Research
  • Excellence in Community Engagement
  • Excellence in Alumni Relations
  • Excellence in International/National Engagement

In 2012, the faculty renamed the program as Organizational Leadership and Learning, to encompass the full breadth of our offerings. We are a hub for leadership-related programs at UofL. Today, we offer programs at the bachelor's, master’s, and doctoral levels:

Organizational Leadership & Learning

B.S. in Organizational Leadership and Learning

Concentrations In:

  • Leadership and Organizational Development
  • Training and Development
  • Career and Technical Education
  • BS OLL Online

M.S. in Human Resources and Organization Development

Concentrations In:

Ph.D. Track in Human Resources and Organization Development

Areas of Emphasis In:

  • Leadership and Organization Development
  • Workplace Learning and Human Resources
  • Workforce Development

We offer our bachelor's and master's degree fully online and face-to-face. Beginning in 2012, we launched an executive-format M.S. program in the Republic of Panama. This program is the first master's degree in human resources in Panama, one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

The Future

With over 500 current students, hundreds of alumni, and numerous community partners, the future of the program has never been brighter. Our faculty and staff are seen as leaders through their innovative teaching, cutting-edge research, and meaningful engagement in the community.