Regardless of which major students decide to pursue when it comes to life in college, the increase in difficulty from high school is often tangible. After all, the following years are meant to serve as preparation for life in a career. It is only natural to feel the pressures of high expectations and substantial workloads as a university student, right?
However, this also begs the question of what life is really like through the eyes of one of these students in a demanding field. At the University of Northern Colorado, the Monfort College of Business is home to not only several accolades but also home to an extremely fleshed out and extensive business degree path. Life as a senior in this college can be incredibly demanding, but the ultimate outcome for students is real world experience and a foot in the door in an extremely competitive job market.
While senior business majors at the Monfort College of Business at UNC have high expectations placed upon them, they also have access to multiple resources which helps guide them as they step beyond college.
The MCB is an AACSB accredited institution. In summary, this means that the college is held to an extremely high standard to ensure the success of its graduates. Not only this, but the college has also received the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. The prestigious award is the highest form of recognition when it comes to quality and excellence for an institution.
For business majors at UNC the value of networking and communication is a skill that is exemplified from day one. For each year students are at the MCB, they are expected to take part in a career or professional development program. These programs range from basic career exploration events to internships that give students a feel for life following graduation. By making these elements required for students, the hope is to get them engaged with their career choices early on. To some this may seem intense, but for senior business administration student, Luke Hartge, this opportunity was incredibly important.
“I had an internship last summer as it is required for graduation from the college of business, but I was planning on getting one anyways,” Hartge said. “I had an amazing experience at my internship and have gotten a full time job offer after graduation with the company.”
Hartge plans on accepting that job offer once he graduates from the school.
Hartge is just one such case when it comes to the impact the college of business has on students. Following being transferred from out of state his junior year, Hartage found the biggest obstacle was forming connections and overcoming the fear of being new. However, the interconnected nature of his classes alongside the ample support from his professors, made the transition exponentially easier.
While Hartge estimates two to three hours of homework per class each week alongside weekly quizzes and presentations, these assignments are backed by heavy amounts of support and ultimately are very manageable.
On the surface this may not seem like a lot of time dedicated outside of class with the average college student expecting upwards of six to 10 hours of homework. The crucial element that divides the standard student and an MCB student is the sheer amount of resources. Kepner Hall, the primary building for business majors, houses state of the art technological resources as well as a wide range of softwares used by major companies. In short, education as a student at MCB goes much further than just in class.
This sentiment is nothing new to the college of business. Prior to the beginning of the fall semester, the MCB introduced a new hospitality and event management program. Adjunct professor Julie Kennedy commented in an interview earlier this semester concerning the ultimate goal of UNC and the resources it provides through its business programs.
“I think our job is to try and predict a little bit of where the markets are going and what students want,” Kennedy said. “I think the broader goal is…setting them up with a skill set that’s actually tangible to go into the workforce.”
Outside of working to adapt to a new college environment, Hartge has also navigated through several different mediums of classes. From the standard lecture and presentation style to more self-guided online options, Hartge has seen a wide range of learning styles during his time at UNC. This variety has helped him realize the ways he learns best and develop an appreciation for how hands-on business administration is. Even with a job that is typically a 35-hour work week, Hartge has never lost sight of the end goal for himself.
As the fall leaves begin to settle and the end of midterm season approaches, students at UNC find themselves in a unique position. With budgeting concerns, fall break and finals season on the horizon, there is comfort in knowing that the university continues to hold itself and students to such a high standard. Hartge’s experience is one such example that highlights that even with outside challenges, achieving the goal is never too far out of reach.
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