EMU Today

YPSILANTI – Eastern Michigan University’s student chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) has once again been named an Outstanding Student Chapter by the national organization for the past 2017-2018 academic year.

Only twelve schools nationally were chosen for the honor, which is the society’s highest award. EMU is the only SHRM student chapter in Michigan to win the national Outstanding Student Chapter award. SHRM has more than 450 affiliated student chapters with more than 15,000 student members. Over 200 schools applied for the award.

“As we move Together Forward, young professionals like these being honored at distinguished student chapters play a vital role in SHRM’s success,” said Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., president and chief executive officer of SHRM. “I’m especially honored to thank this year’s award winners because they offer excellent evidence that SHRM’s future is indeed in good hands.”

“I am extremely proud of the officers and members of the EMU student chapter of SHRM for winning the Outstanding Student Chapter Award,” said professor Fraya Wagner-Marsh, SHRM-SCP, GPHR, SPHR, head of EMU’s management department in the College of Business, and co-advisor for the student group. “Our chapter has won the Superior Merit award for the past 25 years and has won the top award 17 times since this award was created in 2000. This record is impressive and an indication of the hard work and dedication of the EMU students.”

To qualify for the top Outstanding Student Chapter Award, a student group must accumulate points in such categories as professional operation of the chapter, professional development for members, support for the human resources profession, and community service. Partnerships with local professional chapters such as the Greater Ann Arbor chapter of SHRM and Detroit SHRM also count.

 “A chapter of Eastern’s size has to complete 50 or more activities to receive the top award,” Wagner-Marsh said. “The Outstanding Student Chapter Award is given to Superior Merit Chapters that submit an outstanding student project. EMU’s project last year focused on fighting hunger and increasing awareness of hunger among students and Washtenaw community.’

For this project, students developed a campaign that included:

• Participated in a “Trunk or Treat” event that distributed apples to over 150 kindergarten students.
• Collected donations at Thanksgiving that fed more than 40 homeless veterans in Washtenaw County.
• Collected more than 50 items of food donations for Swoops Food Pantry for needy EMU students.
• Produced and distributed a brochure for students that included facts and resources on hunger and the resources available for college students.
• Created a website on hunger awareness with related links and resources
• Volunteered at Gleaner’s Food Bank and helped sort 10,556 pounds of goods.  

 Other activities included:

•  Hosted six guest speaker meetings with local HR professionals.
• Coordinated a job-shadowing event on Ground Hog Day where more than a dozen EMU students spent the day at various human resources offices.
• Organized a mentoring program where professionals from a local sponsoring SHRM chapter mentors EMU students for a year.
• Participated in several community projects, such as walking in the ‘Making Strides for Breast Cancer’ event.

 The Outstanding Student Chapter Awards were announced and winners were recognized at the national SHRM conference in Chicago this summer.

The EMU chapter was chartered in 1995 and currently has more than 60 student members. Faculty co-advisors include Wagner-Marsh, and fellow faculty members Anushri Rawat, and Lax Manroop, both professors of management in the College of Business.

 For information, visit the EMU student chapter of SHRM at EMUSHRM on Facebook.

About the Society for Human Resource Management

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) is the world’s largest HR professional society, representing 285,000 members in more than 165 countries. For nearly seven decades, the Society has been the leading provider of resources serving the needs of HR professionals and advancing the practice of human resource management. SHRM has more than 575 affiliated chapters within the United States and subsidiary offices in China, India and United Arab Emirates. Visit the society at the website, and follow it on Twitter and Instagram @SHRMPress. 

About Eastern Michigan University
Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves 20,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Health and Human Services; Technology, and its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan, visit the University’s website.