SHRM Student Chapters in Hawaii
The Society for Human Resource Management dates back to 1948, and has become the largest organization for human resources professionals during its nearly 70-year history. The organization’s primary concern is furthering the human resources profession and supporting those who work at all levels within the industry. As part of this mission, the group maintains active university chapters (including SHRM Student Chapters in Hawaii), Congressional lobbying groups, and regional networking organizations that help students make valuable contacts for future employment and career advancement.
In the state of Hawaii, the organization has established three chapters across both public and private universities. Students at these universities meet regularly throughout each semester, and consult the services and wisdom of a group advisor in addition to attending statewide, regional, and national functions designed to enhance and bolster human resources work as a whole.
Hawaii Pacific University
Hawaii Pacific University has been providing excellent undergraduate and graduate-level programs to students since its founding in 1964 as a smaller college focused exclusively on undergraduate studies. Over the past 50 years, the school has expanded its College of Business Administration and added several key graduate programs. For those in human resources, the university offers a top-ranked Master’s in Human Resource Management that will greatly enhance graduates’ chances of landing a rewarding position after graduation.
While Hawaii Pacific University does offer a graduate program in this area, the school notably does not currently offer an undergraduate degree in human resources. Students who wish to pursue both undergraduate and graduate studies at HPU might want to consider the schools undergraduate Management major instead.
The Society of Human Resource Management at HPU is comprised of a single advisor and a large percentage of the university’s HRM graduate students. The chapter is active within Hawaii’s statewide events, where students meet up with their counterparts from the University of Hawaii and Wayland Baptist University, and chapter members frequently attend both regional and nationwide gatherings throughout the year.
Contact
Hawaii Pacific University
College of Business Administration
1164 Bishop St.
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 544-0200
malarcon@hpu.edu
http://www.hpu.edu/CBA/Graduate/MAHRM.html
University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii is the leading public institution within the state of Hawaii and graduates the single largest number of college-educated students each year. With numerous campuses scattered throughout the islands and its major cities, and an extensive lineup of highly ranked undergraduate and graduate programs, the university is the center of everything from business to human resource management, law, and educational studies. The university’s Manoa campus is considered its “main” or “flagship” campus, and offers excellent opportunities for students interested in a human resources profession.
Like HPU, no undergraduate programs are offered for students interested in human resources management. Students are advised to pursue the school’s top-ranked BBA program instead. At the graduate level, the University of Hawaii at Mona offers a Master’s in Human Resource Management through its Executive Education Center. The EEC is also responsible for the school’s highly ranked executive MBA programs, and brings the same academic rigor to HRM classes.
The school operates the largest of Hawaii’s three active SHRM chapters. Students regularly attend statewide conferences and have represented Hawaii strongly in both national and regional conferences along the west coast and throughout the United States. Several advisors manage the school’s chapter, which regularly draws guest speakers from the upper echelon of Hawaii’s corporate human resources management industry.
Contact
University of Hawai’i at Manoa
Shidler College of Business
2404 Maile Way, Bus-Ad E402
Honolulu, HI 96822
(808) 956-8111
shrm@hawaii.edu
http://shidler.hawaii.edu/mhrm
Wayland Baptist University, Hawaii Campus
Wayland Baptist University’s campus in Hawaii is an offshoot of its presence in Texas, but it’s no less robust. In fact, Wayland’s human resources programs are scattered across a broader number of degree options than at either Hawaii Pacific or the University of Hawaii. Students interested in a two-year degree will be attracted to the school’s Associate of Science in Human Services, while those pursuing a four-year degree will be drawn to the school’s Bachelor’s of Business Administration with a concentration in human resources.
At the graduate level, the university offers a Master’s of Business Administration in Human Resource Management, which stands out as the only HR-focused MBA program among the three schools mentioned here. These three degrees combine to make Wayland Baptist a leading option for students who wish to learn more in-depth information at the undergraduate level before they pursue graduate studies in the field.
Appropriately, the school is dedicated to the strength and future of the human resources profession and manages a thriving chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management. Like other chapters in the state, students are active in statewide conferences and those that take place across the country. Networking events abound as well, making the society a great fit for students looking to maximize their chances of post-graduation employment.
Contact
Wayland Baptist University
95-1091 Ainamakua Dr.
Mililani, HI 96789
(808) 488-8570
webmaster@wbu.edu
http://www.wbu.edu/hawaii/academics_hawaii/
Three Ways to Get Involved in the Future of Human Resources
Students who are serious about their future career in human resources should seriously consider one of the three schools mentioned here, each of which offers at least one top-ranked program in the field along with a thriving chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management. With these key resources, students will stand their best chance at future success as they lead corporations to more efficient employee management, benefit selection, and more. For a promising career in HR, participation in one of these SHRM Student Chapters in Hawaii is a great place to start.
