Field Project Helps the Community

Books, cases and lectures are only part of the UAlbany MBA experience. Field projects are built into the fulltime curriculum, offering students a real-world opportunity to put their knowledge to work. The 2005-2006 HRIS (Human Resource Information Systems) field project sites are SAP, Albany International, IXIS, Trans World Entertainment, Capital District Physicians’ Health Plan and Living Resources.

For over a decade, HRIS students have taken on a pro bono field project for Living Resources, a private non-profit agency serving people with disabilities. According to CEO Fred Erlich (’94), the School of Business has provided his organization with key human resource knowledge and support, “The School of Business has been helping Living Resources by allowing students to do projects as an extension of their coursework. Human Service agencies tend to look at things too much in a service delivery sense and miss the business aspects.”

Fred Erlich, CEO Living Resources

“We have substantially helped this organization improve its management processes,” said Associate Professor Hal Gueutal, “they are a great project site due to the numerous issues they deal with.”

The annual projects bring a heightened awareness to the company. In the past students have worked on projects involving recruiting strategy, total compensation statements, employee satisfaction and retention, HR metrics, systems design, management training and compensation plans.

This year HRIS students Deb Randle and Athene Borrero are creating an internship program for Living Resources by determining need through interviews with department heads, conducting job analyses, and then forging links between the nonprofit and local colleges. Deb said, “They told us what they want and we have to figure out how to get it done.”

Athene is thrilled with her field project, “It’s good to actually meet with the client and be the person who speaks.” She has found that the Living Resources managers treat the students as equals, carefully listening to their suggestions.

CEO Erlich is no stranger to the School of Business. He earned his MBA from UAlbany in 1994 and subsequently taught a variety of classes at the school, “I’m a graduate of the School of Business and proud of it. I like working with the school and the help we’re getting on these projects.”

In previous years we have worked with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Mercedes, Tiffany & Co., GE, Peoplesoft, SEFCU, First New York FCU, Deloitte Consulting, Empower Solutions, SwissBank, Merck, Pfizer and many other local, national and global corporations.