The opportunity to experience the real world of work has proven extremely rewarding for students of the UTC College of Business. The college’s history of successfully matching students in varied fields of study with companies that welcome their fresh perspective and input has proven beneficial for all involved.

“The College of Business is always looking for opportunities for students to gain real-world experience through internships or research projects such as this,” remarks Mike Owens, assistant dean of graduate programs, regarding a current cooperative effort with Volkswagen. “Volkswagen approached us last fall with a request to have M.B.A. students conduct a very interesting research program. The focus of the research was to brainstorm ‘out of the box’ ideas about what Volkswagen could do to position the new Chattanooga factory in a way to enhance the image of the company and, ultimately, support their marketing efforts.”

Along with Elizabeth Bell, director of graduate programs, and Dr. Mark Mendenhall, the J. Burton Frierson Chair of Excellence in Business Leadership, Owens has worked with M.B.A. and Executive M.B.A. students to brainstorm ideas. The team’s ideas and recommendations will be presented to Volkswagen executives both locally and at their U.S. corporate headquarters in Herndon, Va.

Through her course, BMGT 437 Training and Development, Dr. Lisa Burke, professor of management, works with students to apply concepts in training and human resources. Students apply the training process on the UTC campus to determine the training needs of UTC staff and then develop employee training interventions to enhance workplace performance. In groups of five, students conduct needs assessments, develop program materials, implement a training program on campus, and then conduct an evaluation to assess the trainees’ satisfaction with the program.

Burke says: “This semester, students will be delivering training programs, given UTC staff and supervisory inputs, on Dealing with Difficult People in the Workplace; Generational Diversity in the Workplace; Improving Customer Service Skills; and Shortcuts to Using Microsoft Word. Students will try to fill any knowledge and skill gaps in these areas for UTC staff to enhance their job performance and/or career development.”

UTC has long been associated with local companies through internships, and the benefits for both students and businesses are far-reaching. Students have the opportunity to gain valuable real-world business experience that also may qualify for classroom credit hours.

“What makes UTC’s College of Business internship program so successful is our close ties to our local community and the strong support of the internship program by both the faculty and administration of the college,” says Anne Wilkins, accounting instructor and director of internships for finance and accounting students. “Our students have opportunities available to them that students elsewhere may not enjoy. This takes the effort of the collective group: the student, the community, the faculty and the administration. As a result, UTC is able to produce business world-ready applicants for local positions – a great asset to the local business community.”

UTC students have completed internship experiences with a variety of companies, including the accounting firms of Joseph Decosimo and Co.; Henderson, Hutcherson and McCullough; and Lattimore Black Morgan & Cain. Other participants include Unum, the largest provider of disability insurance in the world, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, and the Tennessee Valley Authority.

“The benefits to the students include linking academic performance to practice; further development of business skills, such as teamwork, oral and written communication, and work ethics, which are critical to future success; and networking opportunities,” adds Wilkins. “The benefits to the employers are the energy and optimism of college undergraduates; employees with computer skill competencies; a ‘no commitment’ preview of a potential employee; and promotion of their company to the future business leaders of Chattanooga.”

As the Mary Harris Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship, Dr. Diane Halstead teaches, conducts research in, and provides service to the external business community in the areas of marketing and entrepreneurship. Developing market strategies for area companies has allowed her students to interact with clients, participate in actual planning, and enhance project management skills. Halstead has also developed the Practicum in Marketing and Entrepreneurship course.

“Basically, entrepreneurship and marketing majors work in groups all semester developing comprehensive marketing plans for small local businesses and entrepreneurs with start-up ventures,” Halstead says. “They are assigned real businesses with real business owners who are facing marketing challenges or want to accomplish certain marketing objectives. The whole course focuses on developing a marketing strategy and teaching students, through actual work, how to develop a marketing plan for a business. Students research the company, their customers, competition, industry trends and more, and then determine the appropriate target market(s) and develop a two-year marketing strategy for the business.”

In 2010, Practicum students are working with Cysco Cycles, a designer and builder of customized high-performance steel and titanium bicycles; Affordable Botox of Chattanooga, a medical provider of noninvasive cosmetic procedures; and a start-up “artisan” bakery that will provide high-quality baked goods and bread. Last year, clients included local enterprises such as the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority, Southern Hearth and Patio, and WJH Engineering.

Opportunities to experience real-world business environments and gain the breadth of knowledge that accompanies those experiences make the UTC College of Business the clear choice for prospective students.