How We Serve Connecticut and Beyond

The mission of the School of Business extends beyond educating students to serving many different facets of the community.

How we serve Connecticut and Beyond

Outsiders are often surprised by the breadth of the services we offer, including ground-breaking research across many disciplines, assisting our communities when they struggle with specialized training or analytical concerns, and helping our citizens with free tax preparation, to name a few.

“It is a priority for the School to play a vital role in the development of not only our students and faculty, but the world at large, sharing our resources and expertise wherever they can do the most good,’’ said Sulin Ba, professor and associate dean for academic and research support. “At UConn we are very mindful of serving our state, our workforce and our government.’’

Ed Satell ’57 delivers a lecture on corporate social responsibility in October 2014.
Ed Satell ’57 delivers a lecture on corporate social responsibility in October 2014.

Here are some recent examples of the ways we have contributed to our state’s well-being:

Serving Our Towns and Communities

Last fall, we worked with the Secretary of the State Denise Merrill to develop and deliver the first formal training program for the state’s Registrars of Voters. Not only was the School of Business able to provide an instructor and curriculum for this novel program, but our campuses offered advanced technology, so that registrars could participate remotely, from a convenient UConn campus, and not have to travel long distances to complete the program.

Associate Professor Sudip Bhattacharjee, of operations and information management, and his students recently studied ultra-high speed broadband and were able to analyze which communities in Connecticut would benefit most from adding that technology. The information will help elected officials and constituents decide if they want to invest in the technology.

Secretary of the State Denise Merrill addresses the media at a September 2015 press conference announcing the partnership with the School of Business to deliver mandated training to the State’s 338 Registrars of Voters.
Secretary of the State Denise Merrill addresses the media at a September 2015 press conference announcing the partnership with the School of Business to deliver mandated training to the State’s 338 Registrars of Voters.

Impacting the World with our Research

Management Professor John Mathieu, an expert in team dynamics, is studying ways to make astronauts more resilient for extended travel, such as an excursion to Mars. Resul Cesur, assistant professor, has studied the impact of a new healthcare system in his native land of Turkey and discovered it dramatically reduced infant mortality rates, a finding that could have vast implications elsewhere. Closer to home, Business Law Professors Robert Bird and Stephen Park are studying how firms can identify and address difficult regulatory compliance challenges and foster a value-added ethical culture of integrity. They have also helped establish a new graduate certificate program in corporate compliance to help Connecticut businesses meet regulatory demands.

Students from across the United States, from Italy and South Africa participated in an international team-building and case competition through the UConn CIBER International Case Challenge in Fall 2015. UConn is one of just 17 universities in the country designated as a CIBER–Center for International Business Education and Research institution–and was awarded a $1.1 million grant last year by the U.S. Department of Education to enhance the competitiveness of U.S. businesses in the global marketplace. In this photo, as part of an “ice breaker’’ exercise, students build towers out of uncooked spaghetti and marshmallows.
Students from across the United States, from Italy and South Africa participated in an international team-building and case competition through the UConn CIBER International Case Challenge in Fall 2015. UConn is one of just 17 universities in the country designated as a CIBER–Center for International Business Education and Research institution–and was awarded a $1.1 million grant last year by the U.S. Department of Education to enhance the competitiveness of U.S. businesses in the global marketplace. In this photo, as part of an “ice breaker’’ exercise, students build towers out of uncooked spaghetti and marshmallows.

Helping the Business Landscape At Home

Our Executive Education programs help educate and update business teams, grow careers and spur innovation. Courses are flexible and customizable and are offered in the workplace, on campus and online.

The UConn Center for Real Estate and Urban Economic Studies, headed by Professor John Glascock, conducts research related to real estate with a special emphasis on Connecticut, as well as twice-yearly seminars on legal issues relating to real estate and grant programs. “Real estate professionals look to UConn for guidance and interpretation of real estate law,” said Assistant Professor Lucy Michaud. With changes like the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the Center keeps up-to-date on legal changes and then reaches out to those in the industry, so they can remain in compliance, she said.

Keynote Speaker Joanna Coles, left, Cosmopolitan editor-in-chief, poses for a photo at the annual Women Entrepreneurs Empowerment Forum in September 2015.
Keynote Speaker Joanna Coles, left, Cosmopolitan editor-in-chief, poses for a photo at the annual Women Entrepreneurs Empowerment Forum in September 2015.

Leading the Way

Our popular business conferences draw participants from Connecticut and beyond. The Geno Auriemma UConn Leadership Conference is tailored to rising- and senior-level executives seeking an intellectual edge in business. Our Risk Conference and Women Entrepreneurs Empowerment Forum offer unique advantage for those seeking career advancement.

Meanwhile, the School’s accounting department runs a Volunteer Income Tax Assessment Program to help those struggling with their taxes. Students in the Business Connections Learning Community independently coordinate an annual three-day service trip to Macon, Georgia, helping low-income, elderly and disabled people restore and rebuild their homes and property.

Former U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Martin Dempsey addresses participants at the 2014 Geno Auriemma UConn Leadership Conference.
Former U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Martin Dempsey addresses participants at the 2014 Geno Auriemma UConn Leadership Conference.