NEW PALTZ—For the seventh consecutive year, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) in Alexandria, VA has bestowed the 2008-2009 Superior Merit Award designation to the SHRM student chapter at the State University of New York (SUNY) at New Paltz, the Management Association (MA). This national recognition is awarded to promote outstanding activities and projects by SHRM student chapters, as well as to recognize an exceptional year of providing opportunities for development and growth to its student chapter members.
“I was very proud of the performance of the Management Association this year,” said chapter advisor and Associate Professor of Management, Dr. Kristin Backhaus. “The officers presented a balance of academic workshops, career-related programs and community service projects. They worked hard to earn this award.”
The MA was one of 96 SHRM student chapters throughout the nation to earn the Superior Merit Award designation. The award places SUNY New Paltz in the top 21% of all SHRM student chapters nationwide. The Management Association was also one of four SUNY collegiate chapters to receive this national honor. The 2008-2009 board members were Shaina Miller, Alexandra Curiale, Marisel Lewis, Kim Stahl, Nicole Miraglia, Stacey Smiel, Cassy Folken, and Joelle Hopf.
Each year, SHRM student-affiliated chapters have the opportunity to earn an award based on the number of activities they complete during the merit award cycle. Award levels are based on chapter size, with chapters required to complete a certain amount and array of activities to receive the Superior Merit Award status.
The SHRM Student Chapter Merit Award Program, which began in 1972, exists to develop more effective student chapters, and to promote outstanding activities and projects by student chapters in the four areas of basic student chapter requirements, chapter programming and professional development of members, support of the human resource profession, and partnership with SHRM.
Being recognized as a Superior Merit Award student chapter is an annual strategic objective for the MA. The Merit Award Program is used as a tool for planning activities throughout the year and a way to evaluate the association’s progress toward its goals. The Management Association receives a specialized plaque to display at the SUNY New Paltz School of Business, and is being recognized in SHRM’s publications and at its conferences.
“SHRM’s Student Chapter Merit Award program exists to recognize our top student chapters. These chapters represent the best of our more than 450 affiliated student chapters and demonstrate this through their ability to provide innovative networking and educational opportunities to their members. These opportunities are extremely valuable to students preparing to enter the field of human resources,” said Chuck Salvetti, SHRM’s Student Programs Manager. “All of our award-winning chapters should be proud of their accomplishments.”
The MA organizes several educational activities and programs for students each year including a variety of workshops and seminars on subjects directly related to the human resource management field. Every year, the MA competes at the Northeast Regional HR Games, an academic competition that tests students by using a Jeopardy style game format to answer human resource questions. The MA is also a student chapter of the Mid-Hudson Human Resources Association (MHHRA) and offers students the chance to attend on-campus SHRM Joint Chapter Meetings with business professionals, internship opportunities, company visits to businesses such as Rivendell Winery and Mohonk Mountain House, as well as community service activities.
For further information about the SUNY New Paltz Management Association please contact Kristin Backhaus by e-mail at backhauk@newpaltz.edu or by phone at 845-257-2972.
