Lecturer Jason Kaltenbacher Expands His Education and Shares His New Knowledge about Records Management Trends with His Students
When Jason Kaltenbacher, a lecturer at the San José State University (SJSU) School of Library and Information Science, decided to update his education and credentials, he looked beyond how it would help him achieve his personal career goals. He was also committed to gaining new knowledge he could share with his students. He recently completed a technology-focused Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, and he obtained the Certified Records Manager (CRM) certification.
Kaltenbacher’s efforts to update his own education are enabling him to better prepare graduate students at the SJSU information school who are studying emerging trends in records management and information assurance.
Kaltenbacher chose to focus his MBA on technology management. Records managers work regularly with IT personnel, and Kaltenbacher believes it is important to understand an organization’s technological capabilities and priorities. Through his studies he learned more about how to implement and manage emerging technologies in a business environment.
Kaltenbacher recognizes the practical skills and information students need as they enter the workforce. “In my classes, I often focus on business practices that are relevant to records management,” he explained. His MBA will help him better explain records management in business terminology, and help students understand the perspectives and priorities of different stakeholders. Ultimately, Kaltenbacher is preparing his students to be leaders in the records management field.
“I believe the MBA can enhance my ability to help students understand the business priorities of their organization and the technology issues that they may navigate,” Kaltenbacher said.
Kaltenbacher also recently became a certified records manager, a valuable credential that is earned by passing a six-part test after fulfilling certain educational and professional requirements. Records managers must work a certain number of years in the field before taking the CRM exam, which may explain why the CRM is pursued by a small portion of the records management professional community. Therefore, the CRM credential can potentially position those certificate holders as leaders and experts in their field.
Kaltenbacher joined the SJSU information school’s faculty in January 2012. He teaches a variety of courses focused on records management topics offered to graduate students enrolled in the school’s Master of Archives and Records Administration (MARA) and Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) programs. Electives Kaltenbacher teaches include Records Creation, Appraisal, and Retention, and Information Assurance.
According to Kaltenbacher, both the MARA program and the MLIS archival studies and records management career pathway give students a strong foundation to pursue careers as records managers. Although the CRM is not required for many job openings in records management, it can make students more competitive when seeking a new position or promotion.
In addition to his new MBA, Kaltenbacher holds a master’s degree in Archives and Records Management. His new CRM credential comes after eight years working in the industry and was “the next logical step in supporting my career path,” said Kaltenbacher.
“By having the CRM myself, I can offer my students better insight regarding the importance of the credential and the process to obtain the certification if they are interested,” said Kaltenbacher. He looks forward to helping students better understand their options, so they can make a more informed decision on their career paths and overall goals.
The CRM is administered by the Institute of Certified Records Managers (ICRM) which seeks to provide a standard of measurement by which records and information managers can be evaluated.