It's a symbiotic relationship.
The Ball State University Business Fellows, a partner program with the broader Building Better Communities initiative, provides students with practical working relationships with Indiana businesses before graduating. And, at the same time, Indiana businesses receive the help they need and new ideas from learning students.
To recruit students and garner interest in Business Fellows teams will showcase their work from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on April 23 in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center, Cardinal Hall.-á
It's not often students can say they are working consultants during college, but Business Fellows students can, and seven of them are helping one Indiana business begin the process of-áfilling a gaping hole in employment.
Indiana, like the rest of the country faces a major nursing shortage. In one hospital's case, the problem has become so severe the hospital administrators decided they needed a new perspective. Paul Wood, Indiana Veteran's Hospital administrator, said students at Ball State University were just the consultants to give it.
The Veteran's Administration Hospital in West Lafeyette is a state-run agency that suffers from the nationwide nursing shortage. Although the VA offers an attractive benefit package, it does not interest potential nursing candidates. To find out what strategies might work in recruiting nurses, Wood said he decided to tap into the resources at Ball State.
Ball State has been offering the opportunity to work with student teams, supervised by a faculty mentor, through the Business Fellows program since Spring 2004. The goal of the program has been to provide opportunities for junior, senior and graduate students to turn academic knowledge into business solutions. Business Fellows offers experience in working directly in a business setting, according to the initial proposal for the program. And while the students gain the experience and connections they need to put their knowledge to work, businesses such as IVH are benefitting.
If IVH did not receive the help and support from the Ball State Business Fellows in creating a workable plan to recruit and keep nurses, it would have to turn to an outside public relations and graphics firm, which IVH has neither the time nor the money for, Wood said.
Jennifer Bott, assistant professor of marketing and management, said for the Veterans' Hospital, Business Fellows was a necessary chance to take.
"Especially for nonprofits, it's the only way they can get the help that they need," Bott said. "It's important for us as a community and a university to reach out to the community."
At the same time, Bott said, being involved in Business Fellows is an important step students should consider taking to prepare for having a job after college. It makes what she talks about in class seem more real to the students, she said.
One senior, Nick Van Horn, said he had not even heard of the Business Fellows program or the benefits of the program until he was approached about participating last year. Since that time, he has learned his participation in Business Fellows has given him a necessary tool he can use when looking for a job. It is a great transition to moving on after graduation, he said.
"It's given me an edge that sets me apart from other candidates," he added.
Van Horn, like Wood, said he believed the true benefit of Business Fellows comes from the mutual benefit both the students and businesses receive by their involvement.
"It really shows students how to operate appropriately and effectively for an organization," Van Horn said, "but I think the greater benefit is the organization gaining the students' expertise and knowledge."
The benefits of participating in the Business Fellows programs are something all students should consider, Bott said. The program is open to all majors and provides essential real world experiences to add on to what students have already learned in class, she added.
ShowcaseBall State University Business Fellows
TIME4 p.m. to 6 p.m
VENUEL.A. Pittenger Student Center Cardinal Hall
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