Professors Cynthia Ozeki and Haejin Kim (standing,
far left) launched HRMA (an HR student group) in
the fall and the response has been astounding. The students’ interest and
involvement has allowed the
professors to tackle other improvements to CBAPP’s HR program as well.
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HR Program Gets Major Makeover Assistant Professor of Management Haejin Kim was CBAPP’s only professor specializing in human resource management until Cynthia Ozeki, assistant professor of management, came on in September. Ozeki’s appointment allowed both to expand their work and goals for the program, and the duo has responded by revamping the way CSUDH looks at HR in a single academic year. The most telling sign of the program’s resurgence is the success of the Human Resource Management Association (HRMA), a student group started in the fall and now boasting more than 50 members. As Kim explains, she struggled to stay afloat on her own, but the hiring of Ozeki served as a watershed moment for the program. “As the only professor, I had to cover the major requirement courses and I didn’t have the resources or time to really expand on anything,” says Kim, who came to campus in 2001 with a specialty in human resource management and industry relations. “So I was very excited to have another professor come to campus like Cynthia. We have similar perspectives on lots of things and we work really well together. That has allowed us to develop new courses, new programs, and launch HRMA.” Ozeki’s first priority upon reaching campus, outside of her teaching requirements, was to launch a student organization within the major. She viewed it as essential for students to not only share ideas and experiences with each other on campus, but also to fold them into the field in which they plan to enter after graduation. It became obvious very quickly that students in the major viewed the organization in a similar light. “I admit I didn’t know what to expect. I thought I’d have to put in a lot of time and effort to get HRMA off the ground. But these students are so incredible – I’m the one who’s struggling to keep up with them! The students and especially the HRMA officers have been amazing,” says Ozeki. Founded in the fall, the group registered 40 members within six weeks of its inception and had 55 members by the end of the fall semester. By joining HRMA, students automatically become members of the Los Angeles chapter of Professionals in Human Resource Management Association (PIHRA) and many also choose to join the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), an international HR networking group. The group meets every week of the school year, discussing industry topics and bringing in outside speakers from the HR profession every other week. They attend annual conferences, hold fundraisers to attend conferences and annual meetings, and possibly most significantly, network with those within the field. Some have already lined up full-time positions through the web of contacts they’ve built through HRMA. “That’s how I got an interview and the internship,” says senior Ana Reyes, management: human resource management, and HRMA officer, of the internship with the City of Los Angeles she began in March. She says matter-of-factly that job prospects are certainly not the only benefits of the group. “Most of my friends are now in HRMA. We already knew each other from taking the same classes, but then we started helping each other and going to events together. It kind of became a safety net, like a family.” While the stereotype of human resources persists – that of paper pushers who simply contribute to an organization’s bureaucracy – Ozeki and Kim explain that times have certainly changed. In today’s business world, attracting and retaining employees, adhering to strict employment and retention laws, and accommodating diverse employees are all critical components that HR professionals handle on a daily basis and which are essential for any organization’s long-term success. Kim explains there are reasons why she thinks the program and HRMA at CSUDH in particular have seen such growth: “Here in the Los Angeles area, we see a very diverse workforce and our student body reflects that. Our students are experienced dealing with people of different backgrounds, and so this gives them an advantage in communicating with employees and dealing with employee issues as HR professionals.” Because of the success of HRMA and the way in which the students have taken responsibility for the organization, the two professors have been able to devote their time to larger, more long-term goals as well. They’ve developed an HR concentration for the MBA program that is currently going through the curriculum pipeline. They also hope to develop a graduate certificate . Changes to the HR major requirements are also in the works (currently under review), with new classes in compensation system design and strategic human resource management as well as changes to existing classes, which will address more current topics. It may take some time, even years, for these developments to go from inspiration to fruition, but if this past year serves as any indicator for the program’s future, these additions will come sooner rather than later as HR becomes a strategic advantage for not only CBAPP, but the university as a whole. |
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