MUNDT CAREER-READINESS PROGRAMS
Elizabeth Martin, Ph.D. Student Engagement Director School of Business and Economics
“The Senior Banquet was the most impactful moment of my time in the SBE program. I gained both insight and skills from an event put on to celebrate us.” – Jackson Clark
As part of C2C Center activities, we tap our networks of employers and experts to create special experiences within our classes which we call Mundt Career-Readiness Programs. Given their placement within classes, these high-impact learning experiences are thus provided to all students. Mundt Career-Readiness Programs provide ideas, tools, connections and—most importantly—real-world practice so that our students graduate ready to begin their professional journeys with confidence! 2019-20 ACTIVITIES The past year saw a growing array of programs delivered in conjunction with classes, although some plans were cancelled due to COVID-19. NEW INITIATIVES We are especially proud of the new programs offered to students in many different classes, from first year through fourth year: • Career-exploration activities for all first-year (Business 100 - Introduction to Business) students. We want students to begin thinking about their career goals early in their time as SBE students; they are more likely to take actions, such as searching for internships, if they see connections to longer- term goals. In fall, we hosted in-class discussions with local alumni and business representatives about possible career paths in management, marketing and accounting/finance. Spring discussions on careers were cancelled due to COVID-19. • Networking practice for all second-year (Business 325 - Organizational Behavior) students. This program is an important investment in building
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS We also offered these highly informative, continuing programs in classes:
• Guidance on making a strong professional impression for all third-year (Business 301 - Oral Communication) students. Every semester, we sponsor in-class presentations by our business- professionalism expert, Lyn Hulgan. Hulgan reviews how to dress for different business settings and how to handle common tricky inter-personal situations. Hulgan also takes a small group of students shopping at Goodwill, where she helps each of them select an interview-ready outfit for under $50. • Practice at professional networking and dining for all fourth-year (Business 480 - Management Capstone) students. All graduating seniors are invited, during class time, to attend a Senior Banquet. At each banquet, students have time to connect with leading professionals and receive advice on job search and interview preparation. • Feedback from recruiters on interview performance for third-year (Business 301 - Oral Communication) students. Each semester, students compete in teams to give the best answers to typical interview questions. A panel of judges gives instant coaching on how to answer questions directly and persuasively. • Professional-level presentation practice for all fourth-year (Business 480 - Management Capstone) students. All graduating seniors present the results of their semester-long, team-based research projects to panels of local business executives. Students experience the pressure of a high-stakes presentation while still within the relative safety of the classroom. In fall, 18 guest judges reviewed 13 team presentations during a two-week period. Spring presentations were cancelled due to COVID-19. • Special in-class guest speakers and field trips. Through C2C Center connections and sponsorships, students have in-class conversations and/or site visits with top experts in their fields. • E-Marketing students (Business 333) students learned how e-commerce company Eastbay, part of Footlocker.com, was competing in a crowded field from Eastbay President Sreeharsha Upadhyayula. • Auditing (Accounting 450) students heard about the limitations of rules from author/journalist Bethany McLean in March 2020. • Marketing Strategy (Business 438) students had a tour and presentation at Trek Bicycle in fall semester. When travel was not possible in spring semester, the Trek executives arranged a “virtual tour” for the students. 2020-21 PLANS We will be working at continuing and improving all of the above programs, particularly: • Adding a peer-mentoring component to the Business 100 - Introduction to Business course. • Adapting the Business 325 - Organizational Behavior networking events to an online format. • Finding new ways to connect Business 480 - Management Capstone students with alumni.
our students’ comfort with networking. First, students participate in interactive workshops on best practices for networking led by SBE alumna and local entrepreneur, Amy Plier. Then the students connect with local alumni and business representatives at professional-style networking receptions. Sixty students were especially well prepared for networking with UWSP business cards printed courtesy of the C2C Center.
• Personal-finance instruction for all first-year (Business 100 - Introduction to Business) and fourth- year (Business 480 - Management Capstone) students. In partnership with Indiana University, we are teaching our students how to become “Money Smart.” Students work their way through interactive online modules tailored to their specific stage of education, from moving away from home through budgeting for life after graduation.
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Anderson Classroom to Career Center
Annual Report 2019-2020
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