NEW PALTZ — The SUNY New Paltz student chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the Management Association, recently competed at the 2007 Northeast Regional Student Conference and HR Games held by SHRM at Rutgers University in Piscataway, New Jersey. After several months of studying, the team performed well and defeated colleges such as Manhattanville College, Seton Hill University, Rowan University, and Bloomsburg University during head-to-head competition.
The undergraduate student participants included Chris Kelly, Julie Lieberman, and Kristina Marsella. Kristin Backhaus, Associate Professor of Management at SUNY New Paltz and Advisor of the Management Association, coached the team. "Our HR Games team did a great job facing some very difficult questions. I was proud of their performance and sportsmanship," said Backhaus.
The HR Games is a game show tournament between students of various SHRM chapters throughout the Northeast region. The competition is a fun way to prepare students for Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification. This academic competition tests students by using a Jeopardy style format to answer human resource questions. The questions for matches are complied into categories similar to those used in the PHR certification exam. Categories include subjects such as management practices, selection and recruitment, compensation and benefits, training and development, and employee/labor relations. During each round of play, students from each team select point values and a question category. The question is read twice and students have 15 seconds to supply the correct answer in a Jeopardy style format.
"The benefits of participating in the HR Games include students learning key HR terms and concepts, becoming conversant in HR terminology, and the opportunity to compete against other skilled teams in a high-pressure setting. It shows future employers that they have initiative and that they are knowledgeable in the subject matter areas of HR," states Backhaus.
The student participants enjoyed their experience of representing SUNY New Paltz and demonstrating their HR knowledge to practitioners and other students from colleges throughout the Northeast Region. "Preparing for and attending the HR Games was a great experience that really showed me the value of teamwork, cooperation, and determination. It gave me the opportunity to meet new people, build relationships, and demonstrate what I learned to other students and HR professionals," said Julie Lieberman. "The HR Games and Conference was truly an invaluable experience that not only helped me as a student, but as an individual entering the workplace. I am proud to say that I represented SUNY New Paltz in this competition."
The Mid-Hudson Human Resource Association (MHHRA) sponsored the SUNY New Paltz team. The Management Association is a student association of the School of Business at SUNY New Paltz.
