IRMA offers student membership
By John Yagecic
Business, management, and
humanities students at Penn State
Harrisburg will have a unique
opportunity in the near future.
The Information Resource
Management Association will soon
announce the availability of student
memberships at a reduced rate of $l5 per
person.
IRMA, formed by Penn State
Harrisburg faculty member Dr. Mehdi
Khosrowpour in April of 1988, was
developed mainly to examine a common
problem within the business
co)
Dr. Mehdi Khosrowpour, assistant
professor of business administration
"In the 80s many organizations and
researchers have expressed concern that
we have invested in, focused on, and
overemphasized computer systems,"
Khosrowpour said.
"We have forgotten or ignored the
fact that computers are tools to be used
to manage information," he said.
Khosrowpour's theory that an
organization should be developed to shift
the focus of business from technology to
management was proved correct by an
overwhelming flood of inquiries.
"The response we have received from
both the academic and corporate worlds
has been incredible," Khosrowpour said.
In the past decade, more than ever,
corporations have realized that
Information is a viable and valuable
resource.
Businesses can no more afford to
scatter and lose information than they
can afford to scatter and lose money,
equipment, or employees.
Thus, part of IRMA's mission is to
"assist our fellow colleagues, both in
academia and in business, in
at reduced rate
It is composed of articles, essays and
book reviews written by scholars and
business leaders on the subject of
_ managing information. The journal is
free to all members of IRMA.
IRMA is 4/ota planning to open up
two new internships to students, one for
a management major and one for a
marketing major; and possibly a third
internship for a journalism major.
"I put a great deal of trust in our
students," Khosrowpour said.
"If a person is determined, if a person
is dedicated to what he or she is doing,
then the sky is the limit regardless of
age."
understanding information resource
management and in exchanging ideas and
theories about it."
The association will accomplish this
primarily through the Information
Resources Management Journal which
was first published in September of
1988.
Other benefits of being an IRMA
member include occasional workshops,
symposiums, nationwide meetings, and
a positions available/sought column
which is to appear in future issues of the
journal.
Students should consider joining
IRMA because "the kind of educational
services and opportunities provided by
professional organizations is totally
different from what you get out of your
classwork," Khosrowpour said.
Khosrowpour feels that "for students,
it is essential to be members of as many
professional groups as possible."
"Doing so allows you to make
connections," Khosrowpour said.
"You get to know professionals in
that field and you learn about the trends
in that field."
This is evidenced by Jan Travers,
former Capital Times editor who, after
serving an internship last year, went on
to become IRMJ's managing editor and
the secretary of IRMA's Board of
Directors.
Another example of IRMA's
utilization of student resources is the
cover of the journal which was designed
by Penn State Harrisburg student Joe
Kupec.
"I look for dedicated and determined
students. That is a powerful resource
that I have available to me,"
Khosrowpour stated.
The IRMA office is located in the
Center for Research and Graduate Studies
(CRAGS) building. Interested students
can contact Travers there or -
Khosrowpour in his office, E-355
Olmsted.
Internship turns into job for former
By Lisa Ridley
Academic divisions at Penn State
Harrisburg rarely work together.
But individuals from humanities and
business administration have blended
their talents to create, the Information
Resources Management Journal (TRW).
Dr. Medhi Khosrowpour, assistant
professor in the business administration
department, proposed the journal. He
had the practical knowledge but he
wanted help from someone with writing
experience.
Dr. William Mahar, head of the
humanities division, mentioned the
proposal for the journal to Jan Travers,
then a student.
The ambitious communications
major started working on the journal as
Photo by Karen Peiffer
Jan Travers, managing editor of IRMJ, holds a copy of the recently published
first-edition.
Campus Alcohol Task Force Scheduled
There will be a meeting of the Campus Alcohol Task
Force on Thursday, Nov. 17 from 3:30 - 5 p.m. in W-138
Olmsted. Students, faculty and staff members who wish to
serve and help out should attend this meeting.
A Tentative agenda Includes:
Report on "Alcohol: A Special Report" teleconference
Formation of an ACOA or similar group
Special events
Funding
The next meeting of the Capital Times staff will be held
Fri., Nov. 18 at 2 p.m. in W-337 Olmsted. All members
should attend.
Capital Times editor
To Meet
an intern in the fall of 1987.
"Once the two divisions put aside their
competitive nature, we see what can be
accomplished," said Travers.
The journal's publication led to the
formation of the Information Resources
Management Association.
The group is concerned with
technology and techniques for managing
computer systems, said Travers.
She graduated in May of 1988 and
started a job as the managing editor of
the journal.
Travers' job is only part-time now.
She hopes that it will turn into a full
time job as IRMA grows.
The journal is partially funded by the
University but most funds come from
IRMA.