LEAD Awards 2018: Interview with Eric Patton, SJU - Developing Successful HR Leaders

Developing Successful HR Leaders

  Category: Degree Program with Emphasis on HR
  LEAD AWARD RANK: 2
 
  Organization: Saint Joseph's University
  Program: Managing Human Capital - Undergraduate Leadership Major
  Department Chair: Eric Patton, PhD
  Undergraduate Program Director: Lucy Ford, PhD
  Email: epatton@sju.edu; lford@sju.edu
  Visit: www.sju.edu 
   
Our editorial team interviewed Eric Patton from Saint Joseph's University at the LEAD2018 Awards this past February. Here are some excerpts from the exclusive interview.
 
What is the overall objective of your program?
In today's corporate environment, with constant changes in technology, global competition and increased government regulation, managing human capital has become vital to the success of an organization. The goal of our program is to develop Human Resource professionals and other managers who lead human capital-centric/high-involvement organizations. The program emphasizes and explores the connections (and tensions) between the strategic importance of people and the centrality that work plays in the lives of individuals.
 

Who do you impact with your program?
We have a dual focus in our program: First, we target students who are interested in pursuing a career in human resources.  On the other hand, something we constantly stress is that people management issues are not the sole responsibility of the human resource department, but is something that all managers need to care about. As such, the MHC program has emerged as a very popular double major or minor for students all across the university. Whether you are an accountant, a biologist, a teacher, a lawyer or a community organizer, we all work with other human beings and we all derive part of our identity, develop important relationships and experience a sense of accomplishment and purpose through work. As such, the MHC classes have become a fantastic meeting ground for students from all over the university.
 
What are the lessons you’ve learned this year from facilitating your program?
We learn a great deal from our students and our industry partners. The growing importance of analytics and the need to move beyond data collection to problem solving is something we constantly think of. The changing demographics and what this means for corporate America and the future of work is always an evolving concern.  Being attentive to the knowledge, skills and abilities that employers need to help our students launch successful careers is also an on-going process.  Finally, the need for our students to not only be great people experts but also great business people is something we always strive for.
 
How do you measure the return on investment and success of the program?
As an AACSB accredited Business School, we take assessment very seriously.  We want to ensure that every program at SJU is rigorous and valuable, and that our students leave the program transformed. Especially for business students at Saint Joseph's University, however, we feel a special obligation to ensure that our students have a strong grounding in Jesuit ideals of social justice and being “men and women for and with others.” We can certainly point to the terrific jobs that our graduates have landed at organizations such as Comcast, DKNY, Aramark, Accenture, Estee Lauder, and Saatchi & Saatchi as evidence of success, but we are equally or even more proud to have developed critical thinkers who have a respect for the dignity of work.
 
What lies ahead for the program and how will it continue to succeed?
We are always looking to grow our program in the Philadelphia/mid-Atlantic region.  We will continue to strengthen our ties to partner entities such as the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and our network of employers. We are also working diligently to facilitate external certification for our graduating students and adjusting our curriculum in line with this goal. And, as always, we will be attentive to our students and to industry leaders to ensure that we are providing the very best academic experience that serves the career needs or our students and provides valuable output to organizations in all sectors and society as a whole.