By: Jordan Scott, Student Business Leader & Chair of THE Meeting
On Thursday, September 21, approximately 290 students attended THE Meeting in Perdue Hall. THE Meeting – which stands for Transition to the professional program; Hear from major faculty, and Engage with other departments and students – is a required assignment for our pre-professional course, BUAD 200 (Personal & Professional Development). Modeled after a business conference, this event is a key source of information for students and provides exposure to the ample opportunities offered by the Perdue School of Business. THE Meeting consisted of 3 sessions: opening, breakout, and resource.After checking in by their major, students headed to our auditorium for the opening session presented by Jordan Scott, Senior Student Business Leader (SBL) and event chair. The session included an explanation of the event, including instructions for students to complete the required Exit Ticket. Associate Dean, Dr. Jamie Emerson, also provided important policy reminders as well as emphasized the importance of professionalism and getting involved. Our guest speaker was Molly Hilligoss, Director of Habitat for Humanity of Wicomico County. Molly provided her feedback on what professional development looked like throughout her career. She encouraged students to “Feel the fear and do it anyway!” Her tips to students included being mindful of their image, the importance of getting involved with community and service organizations, and taking advantage of any leadership opportunities and training.
Following the opening session, students split into two groups and were released into either a breakout session by major or the resource session to meet Perdue School clubs and organizations. In the breakout session, students heard from their major faculty about what to expect from professional program coursework. Students then had a chance to network with the faculty and ask questions. Each major session was also staffed with a Student Business Leader, whose role was to help students better understand academic processes and requirements. The SBLs provided their personal experience and tips to students in their respective majors. Darby Trout, a Junior Economics major stated, “It was nice to hear what the Student Business Leaders had to say in the major breakout sessions. They provided information on how they got their foot in the door, ABLE internship tips, and recommended who to reach out to for specific questions and advice.” Business leaders are an excellent resource for students to ask questions and receive firsthand feedback on professional program expectations. The resource session encouraged networking among students, various club representatives, and faculty from available resources on campus and within the Perdue School. Featured were a variety of over 20 clubs and non-clubs including the Study Abroad Program, Career Services, Financial Management Association, MASMI, and the brand-new Women in Business club. Students were able to personalize their experience and speak with organizations that piqued their interest. “THE Meeting helps create a sense of unity among business students and fosters new relationships between Perdue School organizations, faculty, and students,” said Senior Student Business Leader Victoria Mullins.
THE Meeting effectively promoted student involvement within the Perdue School, campus community; and helped students better understand what it takes to be successful in their professional program and the school overall. Feedback from those who attended has been extremely positive. Students strongly agree the sessions were informative and helpful. As well, club and department representatives are already looking forward to the next one.