This fall, the College of Business Administration has added the introductory course, "Business as a Profession," for freshman business students. Currently, 35 undergraduate students are enrolled in the course, which will focus on four themes:

• Teams and teamwork
• Team activities in a service learning experience— students will work with a Detroit agency, Stand Up for Kids, to raise funds for the charity
• Business functions, presented by College faculty and alumni in their respective fields
• Career services to help students plan their academic program in support of their career goals

"We plan to involve business alumni and upperclass business students as mentors to freshman students, especially in the teamwork and service learning aspects of the class," says Professor of Business Administration Mary Higby, who is co-teaching the course with Professor of Business Administration Mary Ann Hazen. "Currently the student teams are developing different ways to raise money, such as making T-shirts or holding a basketball game." 

Higby adds, "We hope this class better prepares these students for their business studies and increases student retention."