Showing posts with label #SHRMStudent. Show all posts

Alternative HR Activities in Las Vegas For Students Prior to #SHRM15?

by Matthew Stollak on Wednesday, January 14, 2015

I've been a SHRM student chapter advisor for nearly 20 years.  For most of that time, I have brought several dedicated students each year to  SHRM Annual, who want to advance their learning as they pursue a career in HR.

Dedicated students are giving up nearly a week of their summer break, sacrificing a few days of work where they earn tuition money, to attend SHRM Annual, often on their dime.  Students have raised money through the student chapter during the academic year to attend, or they are paying for hotel, airfare, food, discounted conference registration and other incidentals out of their pocket.

 However, we are not unique. There are many student advisors as well as hundreds of student members across the country who do the same.  Some colleges, including my own, even offer course credit to students who attend the conference

 One of the highlights of the conference for them (as well as me) was a stand alone student conference on Saturday and Sunday morning prior to the start of the SHRM Annual Conference.  Faculty members could meet and discuss the future of HR education.  Students get to share best practices and ideas with their peers across the country. SHRM also highlights quality student chapters as well as recognizes the advisor of the year award.

 But, of particular note, was the quality of the programming that was geared directly to students.  HR leaders such as Laurie Ruettimann, Jennifer McClure, John Hudson, Matt Charney, Meredith Soleau, Jon Petz, Simon Bailey, Joe Gerstandt, Clint Swindall, Libby Sartain, Tim Sackett, and Ryan Estis have provided quality content to those attending.  Several have offered content multiple years.

 Unfortunately, after 20+ years, SHRM will no longer be offering the student conference at this year's meeting in Las Vegas. Like everyone else, students would have to pay extra to attend the Saturday Pre-Conference One-Day Workshops.

 So, I reach out to my dedicated readers for suggestions for alternative HR activities to students arriving early to the SHRM Annual Conference.  Unfortunately, a Zappos tour is not available as the last tour is on Friday, June 27 at 1:00 pm.

 Are there other plant tours one might take?  Are their readers out there getting into Vegas early, who might be able to give 45 minutes to an hour of their time on Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning to sit with a few students and discuss a HR topic of their choosing?  Starbucks is on me.

 Let me know in the comments if you have any other suggestions to enhance the learning of the HR leaders of tomorrow.

September #SHRMChat on College Relations Recap

by Matthew Stollak on Wednesday, September 18, 2013

On Tuesday, September 10, a lively chat was held regarding the relationship between SHRM professional chapters and volunteers, and student programs.  Nearly 129,000 impressions were made, and nearly 36,000 accounts were reached according to Tweetreach.com.

Here are the questions and answers that took place:

Q1 - What are the benefits of working with a SHRM student chapter? 

The participants found a number of reasons to engage with student chapters:

  • Students were going to be their future peers; the professional chapter's future depended on them
  • Student chapters provide quality access to interns, as well as served as a source to fill future vacancies
  • To break down generational barriers
  • To fill a programming niche at the professional chapter, as students choose and present a topic of interest to professionals


Q2 - What are you, your professional chapter or State Council doing to support your SHRM student chapter?

  • Providing free professional chapter membership to students
  • Mentoring
  • Providing for discounted, or free, registration at chapter meetings, or the state conference
  • Providing speakers
  • Job shadowing opportunities
  • Offering the opportunity to tour a company's plant or workplace
  • Financial support - $500 if the chapter earns a Superior Merit Award, $250 if they earn a merit award
  • State Council offers $100 to each student chapter that submits a merit award

Q3 - What are the biggest challenges you face in working with a SHRM student chapter?

  • The schedule often made planning difficult with the academic calendar running from August-May, which the professional chapter goes from January to December.
  • Student turnover made building relationships difficult
  • Students often lacking the time to connect or showing interest in the professional chapter 
Q4 - What could SHRM be doing to help address those challenges?

  • Make working with student chapters a bigger part of SHAPE
  • Address current chapter bylaws to create a student member category
  • Examine new ways for chapters to communicate with students
  • Be clearer with professional chapters about the challenges inherent in working with student chapters

Q5 - Based on tonight’s discussion, what is one thing you will do to help your student chapter this year? 
  • Create a Student Core Leadership Area representative for the chapter
  • Create a membership category for students
  • Be more aggressive in connecting with the student chapter(s) in the area
  • Expand opportunities for students at the state level
  • Encourage greater volunteering among professionals with the student chapter
  • Utilize Tara Fournier, SHRM's Manager of Member Engagement, as a resource 
Per usual, SHRMChats will take place at 8PM EDT, 7 PM CDT, 6 PM MDT and 5 PM PDT on the second Tuesday of the month.  Look for the next SHRMChat to be held October 10, where the focus will be on SHRM Chapter Membership issues.

September #SHRMChat on College Relations

by Matthew Stollak on Friday, September 6, 2013

With September in full swing, it means a return to campus for students.  And, for some, it means getting ready for year with their SHRM student chapter.   Student leaders are perusing their 2013-2014 Student Chapter Merit Award planning guide in an effort to not only provide quality programming and services to interested students, but to earn recognition for their efforts as well. 

Some of the critical components for the success of a student SHRM chapter include a dedicated advisor, a supportive professional chapter (with a dedicated liaison), and State Council support.  From assisting student chapters with speakers sharing insights on the HR profession to providing mentors or financial support, SHRM volunteers play a crucial role in developing student leaders and future HR professionals.

With that in mind, here are the questions for the College Relations #SHRMChat

 Q1 - What are the benefits of working with a SHRM student chapter?

Q2 - What are you, your professional chapter or State Council doing to support your SHRM student chapter?
Q3 - What are the biggest challenges you face in working with a SHRM student chapter?

Q4 - What could SHRM be doing to help address those challenges?

 Q5 - Based on tonight’s discussion, what is one thing you will do to help your student chapter this year?

 Per usual, our chat will take place at 8PM EDT, 7 PM CDT, 6 PM MDT and 5 PM PDT on the second Tuesday of the month (in this case, September 10, 2013).