Business Buzz

Keeping spaces modern, functional and welcoming is an ongoing effort for the college. One of the newest renovations is the café in Schneider Hall, which is the epicenter for group projects, solo studying, student organizations—and of course grabbing food and beverage! A generous gift from Haworth Inc. allowed for a complete transformation of the café, including new furniture, storage for student organizations and better space allocation for seating and service.

Entrepreneurship students will run their own businesses with proceeds benefiting the Montgomery Essential Needs program, which assists WMU students with unmet basic needs. Working with the University’s trademarks and licensing area, students led by Tamara Davis, instructor of management, will develop WMU-branded products, and a subsequent course will operationalize a business plan to sell the products. Exclusive WMU items will be available to you soon—stay tuned!

Robert (Bob) S. Kaiser, B.B.A.’78, owner and CEO of Kaiser Enterprise, has made an additional investment in the sales lab that bears his name. The gift allows the lab to remain a state-of-the-art space, supporting experiences that prepare students for success in sales and business marketing. The gift funds scholarships, competition travel, technology, high school outreach, and professorships and executive-in-residence positions for sales faculty.

The inaugural Digital Marketing and Advertising Career Fair, one of WMU’s 2024 Experience-Driven Learning Venture Grant projects, brought employers to campus and introduced students to Great Lakes businesses and agencies seeking talent for jobs and internships. More than 150 students and 19 companies attended, with the event serving as a starting point for many professional collaborations.

Students in Western Michigan University’s Business Ethics and Sustainability course, taught by Dr. Tim Palmer, professor of management, in collaboration with WMU’s Office for Sustainability, got to go green by using the GetGreen app to implement behaviors into their everyday lives that address climate change challenges. Tailor made for WMU, the app engaged students in action-oriented sustainability through dynamic technology, refining its approach for Gen Z in the process. The Sustainable Business Broncos Challenge resulted in 30 tons of avoided greenhouse gas emissions.

The 2023-24 Career Outcomes Report has been issued by WMU’s Office of Career Services, and the college of business has continued its tradition of strong outcomes. Notably, 30 of the success indicators for the undergraduate programs in the college measured at 100%. Standing out at the graduate level were the M.S.A. and cybersecurity programs, both with multiple success indicators at 100%.*