NOTE: This release was sent from the University of Tennessee communications department.
East Tennessee high school students will have a chance to explore the world of business and possible business careers during a new summer enrichment program sponsored by the College of Business Administration at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Called "Business Education for Talented Students" (BETS), this weeklong, residential program will run June 21-28. The program targets students from communities that have been historically underrepresented in business. There is no cost to participate.
BETS is designed to introduce 25 rising seniors from diverse backgrounds to the various business majors offered at UT -- accounting, finance, marketing, economics, human resource management, public administration, enterprise management, logistics and statistics.
Students must have a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average. Complete eligibility requirements and application are available at http://bus.utk.edu/diversity . Applications are being accepted through May 16.
Program funding is provided by UT College of Business Administration alumnus Andy Taylor, a partner in the Memphis financial investment firm Gerber/Taylor Associates.
"One of Andy's goals is to ensure that the college's future students are prepared to enter the exciting world of business," said Sarah Gardial, associate dean of academic programs. "The BETS program will introduce students to the opportunities available in our college and give them the opportunity to become familiar with UT and life on campus."
Taylor said he wants high school students "to realize that they can achieve their dreams as long as they stay focused, work hard and get an education.
"My hurdles to success were many. I'd like to make it easier for our future leaders to achieve their goals."
Students will participate in professional development, real-world simulations, challenging team-building activities and business instruction led by the college's faculty. In addition to attending classes, students will interact with professionals from business and government during organizational visits, plant tours and guest lectures.
Roane State Community College is holding its 2008 Job Fair for their AAS graduates at the Double Tree Hotel in Oak Ridge on Friday, April 18 from 1-5:00 p.m.
Local employers are invited to register to meet with the students from various education fields who may fill open positions.
These fields include business administration, accounting, business management, computer science, contemporary management, criminal justice, early childhood education, environmental health technology, general technology, geographic information systems, paralegal studies, and technical communications.
U.S. Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue had a column this week about the lack of financial education in American public schools. He said that this leads to poor financial decisions for adults who do not know better.
Donohue writes, "For too long, America's education system has failed to equip students with the knowledge they need to make good financial decisions. An alarming number of adults are unable to balance a checkbook, understand the terms of a basic mortgage, realize the benefits of compound interest, and properly manage credit card debt. Today we are suffering the consequences."
Tennessee's State Board of Education this year added personal finance to the curriculum for high school students, along with additional courses in math, science and foreign languages.
Note: This release was sent from the University of Tennessee.
The Professional MBA Program -- the University of Tennessee's 16-month weekend MBA program for working professionals -- is holding an informational session for students interested in starting classes in August 2008.
The session will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 19, on the seventh floor of Stokely Management Center on the UT Knoxville campus.
The priority deadline for applications is April 10.
Classes are held primarily on Saturdays on the Knoxville campus and Tuesday nights online.
UT has been recognized as a pioneer in management education by Business Week and a leader among the "new breed of MBA's" from Industry Week.
For more information, see their web site or contact Ruth Topley at 865-974-1660 or rtopley@utk.edu.
The USA Today had an interesting article this week detailing the results of a poll which analyzed business leaders' thoughts on today's college graduates.
"Too many policymakers and educational leaders are focused on the tests rather than on what is really important: whether students are learning what they need to know," Roberts Jones, president of Education & Workforce Policy, a consulting firm based in Alexandria, Va. told the USA Today.
Of of the poll's findings: 57 percent said half or fewer of today's college graduates have the knowledge necessary to advance in today's workplace. However. 65 percent say that most college graduates have the skill set to succeed in entry-level positions.
According to the business leaders polled, the skills most lacking in this group are global knowledge, self-direction, and writing.
Add comment