Freshman Business Orientation Program Kicks Off Next Year

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Business Administration will offer a pilot freshman leadership, orientation and development class for first-time freshman students designed to help them make the transition to university life.

Funded by a $50,000 grant from the State Farm Companies Foundation, the course will build on the college's optional orientation course that introduces students to the college's nine undergraduate majors. The grant will enable the college to enhance the course by adding a leadership development series, a diversity component to be incorporated throughout the course, components to help students appreciate the culture of a comprehensive research university, and components to help increase students' understanding of business culture through guest lectures, in-class activities, business tours, and campus and community activities.

"One of the recommendations of the Transition to University Task Force recently appointed by the university's Office of Undergraduate Studies calls for departments to develop well-organized freshman courses to help students better understand and appreciate the life of UNL," said Cynthia Milligan, dean of the college. "Chancellor Harvey Perlman has specifically encouraged the College of Business Administration to take the lead and develop a pilot program that could serve as a prototype for the development of other courses across the university.

The course will be managed by Dr. D'vee Buss, Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Programs.