2026 HR ‘Back to School’ Symposium

Registration Open

 

Welcome 

The Department of Management and Human Resource Management in the College of Business at CSULB is pleased to invite you to the 2026 HR ‘Back to School’ Symposium! This one-day symposium blends academic expertise with real-world application—designed to energize your practice and expand your perspective. You’ll discover the latest research shaping HR and build connections with HR professionals, faculty, alumni, and students at CSULB. Please join us for a day of learning, insight, and connection!

The symposium is presented by the HR Management Faculty and its HR Advisory Board of dedicated HR professionals. It supports our aim to enrich the HR community in our region, and bridge the world between academia and the workplace for our students.

Who should attend and why?

HR professionals of all types are encouraged to attend! Participants will engage with emerging research into pressing workplace issues, meet the HR professionals of tomorrow (some of our wonderful students!), learn about CSULB, and connect with fellow professionals in our Southern California community. 

Registration Open  Register Now

 $100 for HR professionals, and includes:

  • A day of insightful sessions and conversations with professionals, faculty, and students
  • 2.5 SHRM and HRCI  qualifying  recertification credits (approval pending)
  • Professional networking
  • Lunch, plus coffee and snacks throughout the day
  • Access to Email Lounge (quiet space for work check-in)
  • One-day campus parking permit
  • A chance to join or reconnect with the CSULB community

What’s on the agenda?

Check-in opens at 8:00 A.M, in the College of Business (COB) @CSULB. See our agenda overview below! 

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HR Symposium 2026 details on page updated
Event Program

Time

Event

Location in the College of Business

8:00 – 9:00amRegistration and CoffeeCourtyard
9:00 – 9:50amOpening SessionHall 140A
9:50 – 10:00am Transition Break 
10:00 – 11:45amConcurrent Faculty Sessions (Round 1)Classrooms
  Best Practices in Collecting and Analyzing HR DataRoom 122
  Managing Microaggressors, Narcissists, and BulliesRoom 111
  Making a Place for Life in the Modern CareerRoom 217
  Modernizing Harassment PreventionRoom 218
10:30 – 11:00am 

Emergency Networking Drill

(Mandatory campus evacuation drill)

Yard
11:45am – 12:30pmLunch and NetworkingCourtyard
12:30 – 2:00pmAfternoon Sessions 

12:30 – 1:15pm

 Recent HRM Program Alumni PanelRoom 111

12:30 – 1:15pm

 “Office Hours” Q&A with StudentsRoom 122

12:30 – 1:15pm

 Japanese Garden WalkMeet in Courtyard

12:30 – 2:00pm

 Information Tables and Poster GalleryCourtyard

1:15 – 2:00pm

 

California Labor Law Update

(Sponsored by Fisher-Phillips LLP)

Hall 139
2:00 – 2:15pmRefreshment BreakCourtyard
2:00 – 3:30pmConcurrent Faculty Sessions (Round 2)Classrooms
  Best Practices in Collecting and Analyzing HR DataRoom 122
  Managing Microaggressors, Narcissists, and BulliesRoom 111
  Making a Place for Life in the Modern CareerRoom 217
  Modernizing Harassment PreventionRoom 218
3:30 – 4:00pmClosing RemarksHall 140A

Faculty sessions will run twice in the day, so participants are able to attend two different 75-minute sessions. In these sessions, Faculty will present compelling research in their topic area to stimulate meaningful discussion.  Cover a diverse set of topics, take a look!

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Human Resource Management Department Faculty headshot pictures, including Jeff Bentley, Mona Zanhour, Jonathan Phan, Michael Ekema, Elisa Fattoracci, and Amber Olson. Faculty
Human Resource Management Department Faculty including Jeff Bentley, Mona Zanhour, Jonathan Phan, Michael Ekema, Elisa Fattoracci, and Amber Olson.

Session topics are as follows: 

  • Session 1 is Best practices in collecting and analyzing HR data.
  • Session 2 is Managing microaggressors, narcissists, and bullies.
  • Session 3 is Making a place for life in the modern career.
  • Session 4 is Modernizing harassment prevention

How do I get there?

The 2026 HR ‘Back to School’ Symposium is located in the College of Business 

  • Location is CSULB, 1250 Bellflower Boulevard, Long Beach, California, 90815.
  • Event is located in the College of Business building.

    PARKING

  • Park in the Pyramid Parking Structure at 1423 Merriam Way, Long Beach, CA 90815 (address should be accessible in most map apps). Exit the parking structure on the south side and walk to the College of Business building for the event. 
  • Your Parking Code will be emailed to you before the event. If you would like us to resend it, please contact Jeff.Bentley@csulb.edu or Averie.Anderson@csulb.edu 

     

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HR Symposium 2026 PARKING details on page

CAMPUS MAPS