New Course in the Fall

Jeff Rummel will be teaching OPIM 4895, Spreadsheet Modeling for Business Decision Making. If there are a few students interested in honorizing the course, he would be willing to do a group conversion. You can find more information about the class at his blog, or you can contact him.

edgelab article

edgelab was profiled in the Stamford paper over the weekend, and this is a great opportunity for honors students to get some great experience. Projects run during the semester (so you would need to spend that semester in Stamford), but also in the summer. If you are interested, please contact Jim Marsden.

Study Abroad Fair on Monday, February 4

If you are considering study abroad for either the summer or fall of this year, make sure you remember that the study abroad fair is on Monday, February 4th in Rome Ballroom, starting at 4pm. You can also get information at the Study Abroad Office (in the CUE building) or from the Undergraduate Programs Office in the School of Business, but the fair is a great place to learn about many different programs. The School of Business will have a separate table for programs that are of special interest to business majors.

Some other news:

• The summer business program in Florence is again receiving plenty of applications. To try to accommodate as many people as possible, there will be the OPIM 293 class (manufacturing and operations in Italy) like last year, but there will also be a class taught by someone from Palazzo Rucellai on Italian Family Businesses. This way we will be able to take twice as many business students as last year.
  
  
• There is also a summer program in Maastricht, The Netherlands. It will be taught by Pete Peterson and will focus on relationship marketing in the European Union.
  
  
• There is also a program in Social Entrepreneurship in Guatemala that will deal with microfinance and microconsignment methods for developing businesses in Central America.
  
  
• There are other summer opportunities (not led by UConn faculty) in other places as well, including programs in Copenhagen and Dublin.
  
  
• Programs for the fall semester of 2008 will also be highlighted at the business table on Monday, and there are programs for sophomores, juniors and seniors. Stop by and ask questions and learn what is available.

A study abroad experience is a great way to prepare for your career in a global economy, so please consider coming to the Study Abroad Fair on February 4th.

Study Abroad Open House

The University Study Abroad Fair will be held in January, and you can learn more about summer and fall programs at that time. But if you are thinking about study abroad and have questions now, there will be an open house in the School prior to break (in case you want to talk to your parents during the break). Drop by anytime and pick up material and ask questions:

Wednesday, December 5th
11:30 to 1:30
School of Business Boardroom (3rd floor)

Everyone is welcome, even if you are not sure if or when you might sign up for a study abroad program. For freshmen, this is a good time to start thinking ahead.

If you have other questions feel free to contact Jeff Rummel or the Undergraduate Programs Office.

Summer programs, 2008

For the summer of 2008, School of Business students will have the opportunity to apply for the following programs:

Florence Business Program This program will be offered for the third year. Led by OPIM faculty member Jeff Rummel, students will spend six weeks in Italy visiting Italian companies and learning about designing production processes and operations strategy. The course will build on the topics covered in OPIM 204, as well as those in MGMT 201 and MKTG 201. Students will also learn about the history of Renaissance art in Florence in a class taught by faculty from Palazzo Rucellai.

Relationship Marketing in the European Union This is a new program that will be led by Pete Peterson. The program will be based at the University of Maastricht, in the southern tip of the Netherlands. In addition to the marketing course, students will take a general course about doing business in the EU.

Social Entrepreneurship in Guatemala This is also a new for-credit study abroad program, although UConn students participated in projects in the highlands of Guatemala last summer. The program is run in conjunction with the Social Entrepreneurship Corps, and group that helps to start local companies using the tools of microfinance and microconsignment. Students will take a course on culture and language, a course on business development, and will also participate in an internship with Guatemalan entrepreneurs. The internship course will be an honors course.

More detailed information is being developed for the UConn Study Abroad website. The links above will take you to the School of Business website for honors and study abroad pages (that are also being updated). If you are interested in these programs, applications will be due at the start of the spring semester.

Boren Scholarships for Study Abroad

The Institute of International Education (IIE) has announced the opening of the 2008-09 academic year competition for NSEP David L. Boren Scholarships for undergraduate students who are U.S. citizens at the time of application. Applications are available online at www.iie.org/nsep. This program awards scholarships to U.S. students for study of languages, cultures and world regions currently underrepresented in study abroad and critical to U.S. national security (including Africa, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America & the Caribbean, and the Middle East). The countries of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are excluded.

More information is here.

Application: All applications must be submitted online following an on-campus review. The deadline for submitting your application to the on-campus review committee is December 17, 2007. Please contact Elizabeth Mahan, Office of International Affairs, for information about the campus review process: elizabeth.mahan@uconn.edu.

Meet the IT Pros

The OPIM department will be hosting a session where students can meet 1-in-1 with IT professionals from GE, IBM, The Hartford, Aetna, Cigna, The Travelers, Accenture, Duck Creek Software, Ernst & Young, UTC and ING. It will be on October 18th from 5:30 to 7:30 in the School of Business Cafe. There will also be food, prizes and career information. This is a good opportunity to learn how MIS majors work with technologies to enable global enterprises.

Teach for America Lunch

Wednesday, October 10, 2007 at 12 noon in South A 124/125
Hear firsthand accounts of the corps member experience.

Today, more than 5,000 Teach For America corps members work extraordinarily hard in 26 urban and rural areas to ensure their students achieve academic success - despite the challenges they face growing up in low-income communities. Join the more than 12,000 outstanding individuals of all academic backgrounds and professional ambitions who have impacted the lives of nearly 3 million students across the country.

Please RSVP to missy.korduner@uconn.edu if interested in attending - THIS IS AN HONORS EVENT!

Visit www.teachforamerica.org to apply or for more information.
No previous education experience or coursework is necessary. Seeking all majors.
Full first-year teacher salary and benefits, transitional grants and loans.


Next Week: ONS INFORMATION SESSION: UDALL SCHOLARSHIPS
CUE 134, October 15, 2007, 4:00pm

If you are a Sophomore or Junior and are dedicated to the environment, we would like to help you get a scholarship. We encourage applications from students with excellent academic records in environment-oriented majors. The award provides up to $5000 a year to cover tuition, fees, books, and room and board. For more information, please visit www.ons.uconn.edu or email Jill Deans at ons@uconn.edu.

Spring 2008 Thesis Project Opportunities

Applications are now being accepted for edgelab and the Innovation Accelerator (IA) for the Spring 2008 semester. Information on the application process follows. DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS October 30, 2007 – WE WILL BEGIN REVIEWING APPLICATIONS AND SCHEDULING INTERVIEWS (interviews slotted to be completed by November 9th) AS THEY ARE SUBMITTED SO "THE EARLIER, THE BETTER"! When applying, please provide a cover letter and resume. If you wish to apply to both of these opportunities, please indicate your preference ordering in your cover letter. This will assist us in matching you with the opportunity that will provide you with the best experiential learning for your career plans. The IA and edgelab coordinate with each other and only one offer will be made to any applicant.

edgelab

Anticipated Needs - 16 to 20 students - MBA, MS, Ph.D. and a few undergraduates

PLEASE NOTE:

Because of the proprietary nature of the projects at edgelab and the full-time demands of participation, applicants cannot have other employment affiliations.

Details

edgelab is a strategic alliance between GE and the University of Connecticut School of Business. edgelab is a unique laboratory that gives students the opportunity to integrate and build on their academic knowledge and develop innovative solutions to real-time, complex, business problems. The experience provides students with practical learning and career development opportunities to meet tomorrow’s business demands. Participants collaborate directly with GE executives and work hands-on with faculty to generate team-based solutions that provide educational value to students and business value to GE. Check out edgelab at http://www.edgelab.com/.

Team Profiles

edgelab is a collaborative environment that promotes teamwork in an intensive research environment. Teams are typically comprised of three to five students, two cross-disciplinary faculty members, a GE program manager, and GE subject-matter experts

Project Areas

We offer exciting projects that impact real-time needs of GE businesses. edgelab is a center of excellence for new product introductions, stochastic / financial modeling, emerging technologies research, process improvement, risk management, and business development.

Student Benefits

· Exceptional educational opportunities

· Valuable work experience

· Competitive financial compensation

Application Process - Apply today by e-mailing a cover letter detailing your academic program and concentrations together with information on your GPA and a copy of your current resume to: edgelab@ge.com . Students of all academic disciplines are encouraged to apply.

Applications will be reviewed as received -- application deadline is October 30, 2007. Please apply early so that we can begin scheduling interviews. Interviews will be conducted on-site at edgelab, (located at the Stamford campus of the University of Connecticut). If you are selected for an interview, you will be contacted by e-mail. If you have questions, please contact jmarsden@business.uconn.edu

Innovation Accelerator

Anticipated Needs - 14 to 16 students – MBA candidates along with other Masters, Ph.D. and a few undergraduate candidates (typically senior honors students)

The Innovation Accelerator provides exceptional educational opportunities in high-tech entrepreneurial ventures and significantly differentiates the learning process at the School of Business. Team members will get in-depth 360 degree exposure to the venture and its entrepreneurial founders with the expectation of making significant contributions to that venture’s success.

PLEASE NOTE:

Because of the proprietary nature of the projects at the Innovation Accelerator as well as the time demands of participation, applicants cannot have other employment affiliations.

The Innovation Accelerator (IA) is one of the primary outreach initiatives of the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CCEI) housed in the Management Department at the School of Business. The IA assists entrepreneurial ventures in addressing myriad challenges associated with the identification and capture of business opportunities through interdisciplinary project teams of students that innovatively solve complex business issues for technology-based entrepreneurial ventures under the guidance of UConn faculty, with the involvement of the senior management of the participating venture. The teams help move innovation forward and the client venture closer to market by engaging in consulting projects such as performing comprehensive market analyses and associated market-entry strategies, developing strategic roadmaps and sustainable business models, fleshing-out business plans, evaluating the market feasibility of emerging technologies, and constructing customer relationship strategies.

Team Profiles

Innovation Accelerator projects are tackled by student teams mentored by cross-functional UConn faculty - together with the entrepreneurial founders from the client venture.

Project Areas

We offer a broad array of projects which will require knowledge and skill sets across all of the functional disciplines. Projects will be conducted at the new CCEI / Innovation Accelerator facility that opens in November 2007 at 222 Pitkin St. in East Hartford.

Student Benefits

Exceptional educational opportunities

Challenging and differentiating work experience

Competitive financial compensation

In-depth hi-tech entrepreneurial venture exposure

Application Process - Apply today by e-mailing a cover letter detailing your academic program and concentrations together with information on your GPA and a copy of your current resume to: innovationacceleratorapps@business.uconn.edu

Applications will be reviewed as received but the Application deadline is October 30, 2007. If you are selected for an interview, you will be contacted by e-mail. If you have questions, please contact Luke.Weinstein@business.uconn.edu

Study Abroad Fair

Turnout was great for the fair last night. The spring application is October 3rd, and I will try to schedule one or two information sessions between now and then. Or feel free to contact me directly.

There was also quite a bit of interest in the Florence summer program, but there is a limit to the number of people who can participate. Between now and the spring semester, the School will try to arrange for one or two alternative summer programs. More information will be posted on the blog as the details are worked out. Remember that this will likely include the social entrepreneurship program in Guatemala.

Office of National Scholarships

The Office of National Scholarships (ONS) recruits and mentors high-achieving students to compete for prestigious national scholarships. The ONS currently targets eleven scholarships: the Goldwater (for math, science, and engineering students), Udall (for those interested in environmental studies), Madison (for students becoming social studies teachers), Truman (for students involved in public service), Carnegie Fellows (for those interested in international affairs), the Rhodes and Marshall (for future national leaders), Mitchell (for study in Ireland), Gates Cambridge (for study at Cambridge), Jack Kent Cooke, and the Javits (for arts, humanities, and social sciences). All of these competitions are for undergraduates or recent graduates with extremely strong academic records and depth of experience, as evidenced by consistent leadership experience, community engagement, or involvement in research throughout the undergraduate career. If you are interested, please contact Dr. Jill Deans, Director of the Office of National Scholarships at Jill.Deans@uconn.edu.

Social Entrepreneurship

The School and the Honors Program are working to establish a summer study abroad program in Guatemala in social entrepreneurship. The details are being worked out right now, but the program will likely be two months long and will include learning about the country and culture, as well as about micro-finance and micro-consignment. Students will also apply their learning to real projects in various locations in central Guatemala.

There will be more information on the blog, and also more information here.

Honors Thesis at the SS&C Financial Accelerator

Josh relates his experience finishing his honor's thesis at the Financial Accelerator:

I was accepted into the SS&C Financial Accelerator program for the summer of 2006 as an Undergraduate student pursuing degrees in Finance and Philosophy. I was a member of the UConn Honors Society and was affiliated with minor organization up until this point.

The initial project I was selected to work on was developing an ERM solution for a Pitney Bowes subsidiary software company in Maryland. After this project met with outstanding success, Pitney Bowes wanted the process expanded to the entire business – I stayed on as a member of the Financial Accelerator to accomplish this task, which culminated in a final tollgate presentation to Pitney Bowes CEO Michael Critelli.

During my final undergraduate semester, I was once again selected to work as a member of the Accelerator, working on a project for ING Asia Pacific Real Estate division. Again, our team met with great success as the stochastic real estate duration model we built for them is now being deployed and utilized for real estate investment in Europe.

These achievements were also recognized by the School of Business, as I was selected as an Outstanding Undergraduate in the Finance Department two years in a row, as well as inducted into the UConn School of Business Undergraduate Hall of Fame.

After three tours of duty and [finally] graduation, I was picked up by General Electric to work at GE Money as a member of the Quantitative Analytics Team. I build, customize, and analyze the results of a suite of stochastic risk assessment and decisioning models for use by the CEO of the business.

I consider my time working for the Financial Accelerator the most rewarding academic experience of my undergraduate career. The Accelerator provided a hands-on real life experience not found anywhere else at UConn – not even SMF offers the real world experience that the Accelerator does. No board regulates your actions – you work directly with corporate contacts to solve real problems in real time for real money. You are the consultant directing the actions of vice presidents of Fortune 500 companies.

If that wasn’t enough, as an undergraduate, you will be working with MBA and PhD students from different disciplines. No other class or experience can offer that interaction.

The Accelerator helped me to break my mind out of the hum-drum academic mindset that classroom learning creates. After all, members of the School of Business are not looking for academic jobs – we want to graduate, get jobs, and make money. If your experience is anything like mine, the Accelerator will prove to be your fast track to success.

Dr. Rich Dino definitely hits the nail on the head when he issues his trademark slogan: “Change the conversation at the recruiting table.” In my case, the knowledge I gained as a member of the SS&C Financial Accelerator gave me the leverage necessary to change that conversation in my favor.

Visit to Maastricht and Copenhagen

The School is looking to develop stronger partnerships with programs overseas, and as part of that development, Jeff Rummel will be visiting two programs this summer to see about increasing the number of UConn students studying there.

The first is the University of Maastricht, and the visit is scheduled for July 2nd.

The second is Denmark's International Study program at the University of Copenhagen, visiting there on July 5th and 6th.

For more information about these programs, see the links below.

After the trips, more information (and pictures) will be posted.

Question about regional campus students

There was a comment posted that asked whether regional campus students are eligible for study abroad. The answer is YES and you can go through the same process as everyone else. The best place to start is the Study Abroad Office website (see the link at the top of the blog) and the study abroad fair that they sponsor at the beginning of each semester (on the Storrs campus). There are quite a large number of programs represented at the fair, and you can ask lots of questions and learn about your options.

Spring semester in Ireland at University College Dublin

Jason is spending the spring semester at UCD in Dublin, taking classes there at the University with Irish students. Here's a report he sent while preparing for final exams:

"We arrived in Dublin on that fateful day of January 11th, a week earlier than orientation stipulated in order to secure rooms and comfort in our new accommodation, a quaint little townhouse right near city center. Living with all Americans has really made for a smooth transition to the emerald isle. We found quickly that Ireland and America share a lot more than a common language (McDonald's! for instance).

After spending a week "exploring" the charm (and pints) that Dublin has to offer we finally were able to become acquainted with our new place of higher education, University College Dublin. UCD is home to about 22,000 undergraduates and is a intellectual hub in Ireland as well as Europe. This semester I took Investment and Portfolio Management, European Union and Business Enterprise, International Marketing, and Irish History. The courses in the Quinn school are structured much the same as American Universities minus the grading system (a 70 is considered an A) and the fact that 80% of your final grade is weighted on the final.

You soon find out living in Ireland why most people come to visit, the people. A traditional Irish welcome is no myth and everyone is a character as well as curious as to your story. Everyone from the teachers, students, landlords, and shopkeepers really go out of their way to make sure you have their attention and you feel comfortable and at home. They really have been some of the most interesting and entertaining people I have met in my life.

Most of the students in the school participate in extracurricular activities and that's where most of the socializing is done as well. So far I've played with a few soccer clubs and went on a weekend excursion to Limerick with the softball team. I've been fortunate to make good friends with some Irish but have also made connections all across America as well.

Abroad students, especially in the Quinn school of business, are treated especially well as we have a meeting with free food and coffee every week that outlines how we are doing and what trips and extracurricular activities are scheduled for the coming week. So far we've been taken to several plays, a trip to Belfast, hiking in the Wicklow mountains, a trip to Kilkenny, and a farewell banquet sadly coming up next week.

The structure of the semester is also different from America. Our spring break was a three week block in the middle of March and finals are a month long (I have three weeks off). The semester out here runs a little longer so you have more time to enjoy all that Ireland and Europe has to offer in your time off!"

News from the University of New South Wales

Ashley is currently spending the spring semester in Australia and sent a report about her experience so far:

G'day! I've just returned from the twelve day Spring Break of a lifetime.
The trip was named One Fish Two Fish and took me from Brisbane to the Great Barrier Reef with many memorable stops along the way. The trip was sponsored by extreme adventures so there were countless jokes about things being "EXTREME." Our two tour guides were awesome- one is a pro surfer named Matt and the other is Veronica, who is finishing her last year of uni.

We started the trip by going to Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo. I got to feed an elephant (pretty gross actually), play with kangaroos and watch crocs get fed. There was a huge shrine for Steve Irwin and it was very touching. Then we hit Fraser Island, the world's biggest sand island. We got to off road in a bus and it was so exciting. Next up we headed to the gorgeous Whitsundays and stayed on Daydream Island. It lived up to its name 100%. I got to jet ski and banana boat. My group had to be on our best behavior on the island because the group before us had already established a bad rep- the night before we got there, the LEADER of their group got a little too EXTREME and jumped into the resort's shark tank!
That gave everybody a good laugh, except for the families that were just trying to enjoy their Easter and asked for refunds. I definitely didn't want to leave the place. From there we spent a day sailing on a yacht and a day white water rafting.

Finally, we ended up in Cairns (pronounced Cans), the city by the Great Barrier Reef. I got the opportunity to scuba dive, cliff jump, sky dive and snorkel, which were all amazing. But of course, my favorite was bungee jumping. It takes a lot to throw yourself over the edge, whereas someone just gives you a shove out of a plane. I didn't hit water like other people did but it was one of the most thrilling things I've ever done. The people on the trip have been so much fun- 59 study abroad students from the states. Now I have connections all over Australia and the US. It's hard to part ways. And of course, there is one additional member of the trip that can't be forgotten - the inflatable kangaroo that served as our mascot and went everywhere, yes everywhere, that we went (sky diving! bungee jumping!). He had somebody responsible for him every day and got renamed by them. There was a lot of emotional attachment to the roo and there was an intense game of rock paper scissors on the last night to decide who got to keep him. I still haven't developed my underwater camera pics or put my bungee jumping video on youtube, so be on the lookout for those!

For now, it's back to the books. I just got back from a Pasta Trivia night with my Sports and Law class. It was great to be with my classmates and professors in such a low key setting.

Oh, and she does report about the classes she is taking:

I'm really enjoying classes here at the University of New South Wales- I'm taking two sociologies, one business ethics and law and one sports and law. Class participation is greatly encouraged. There also seems to be more emphasis on writing papers than taking exams. In fact, I have one exam the entire time that I'm here! The professors are all very laid-back and take a strong interest in knowing all their students, even at such a big uni. One even requested that everyone send postcards from their Easter Break trips!

Applying to be in the Honors Program

Some students are admitted to the University and the Honors Program as freshmen, and they can complete their sophomore certificate and graduate with Honors. Students who are interested in Honors but are not presently in the program can apply and be accepted into the program during a period at the end of each semester.

The Honors Program is now accepting applications for students who will be UConn sophomores or juniors in Fall 2007 semester. The deadline is June 15, 2007 and students will receive notification by August 1. Students admitted to the Program and who fulfill all departmental and University requirements are eligible to graduate as Honors Scholars.

Students who are applying as rising juniors must obtain approval of the Honors advisor and department head in their major. By requiring departmental approval, the Honors Program seeks to ensure that departments will provide the student access to 12 credits of honors coursework (via honors courses, conversions, graduate courses or independent studies) and a faculty mentor for the student’s honors thesis. Departments may also set specific criteria in addition to the minimum University-wide requirements.

In the School of Business, there is also a director for the entire program, and you can contact Jeff Rummel if you have questions about Honors. You will eventually need to be sponsored by the department, but Jeff is working to increase the number of honors graduates and would be glad to speak with you as a first step. He can also discuss some of the new thesis opportunities at the School.

Rising sophomores may also apply at this time, but will not need to complete the departmental forms. Sophomores are admitted on a space available basis.

Application materials can be found on-line at http://www.honors.uconn.edu/academics/forms.php.

Summer Business Program in Florence

Jeff Rummel will be leading the second set of students to Florence for a summer study abroad program. This year there will be twenty four students from UConn and Penn State visiting companies around Tuscany in addition to taking another class at Palazzo Rucellai and taking time between classes to visit the city, other parts of Italy (trains are very reasonable) and even other parts of Europe (thanks to the discount airlines that fly to many destinations).

If you are interested in this program for next summer, please contact Jeff Rummel. Also note that Palazzo Rucellai has programs for students who wish to study abroad during the regular semesters as well. Check out the information available on the Study Abroad website.

Experiential Learning Project Opportunities

Honors students are eligible to apply for these experiential learning projects. You will be working on teams with graduate students and work from these projects can be converted into thesis work (talk to Jeff Rummel about this). Here is the announcement from the directors of the different programs:

Applications are now being accepted for edgelab, the Innovation Accelerator, and the SS&C Technologies Financial Accelerator for fall, 2007. Information on the application process follows. DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS May 28, 2007 – WE WILL BEGIN REVIEWING APPLICATIONS AND SCHEDULING INTERVIEWS AS THEY ARE SUBMITTED SO "THE EARLIER, THE BETTER"! When applying, please provide a cover letter and resume. If you wish to apply to more than one of these opportunities, please indicate your preference ordering in your cover letter. This will assist us in matching you with the opportunity that will provide you with the best experiential learning for your career plans. We coordinate with each other and only one offer will be made to any one applicant.

edgelab

Anticipated Needs - 16 to 20 students - MBA, MS, Ph.D. and a few undergraduates

PLEASE NOTE:
Because of the proprietary nature of the projects at edgelab and the full-time demands of participation, applicants cannot have other employment affiliations.

Details
edgelab is a strategic alliance between GE and the University of Connecticut School of Business. edgelab is a unique laboratory that gives students the opportunity to integrate and build on their academic knowledge and develop innovative solutions to real-time, complex, business problems. The experience provides students with practical learning and career development opportunities to meet tomorrow’s business demands. Participants collaborate directly with GE executives and work hands-on with faculty to generate team-based solutions that provide educational value to students and business value to GE. Check out edgelab at http://www.edgelab.com/.

Team Profiles
edgelab is a collaborative environment that promotes teamwork in an intensive research environment. Teams are typically comprised of three to five students, two cross-disciplinary faculty members, a GE program manager, and GE subject-matter experts.

Project Areas
We offer exciting projects that impact real-time needs of GE businesses. edgelab is a center of excellence for new product introductions, stochastic / financial modeling, emerging technologies research, process improvement, risk management, and business development.

Student Benefits
• Exceptional educational opportunities
• Valuable work experience
• Competitive financial compensation

Application Process - Apply today by e-mailing a cover letter detailing your academic program and concentrations together with information on your GPA and a copy of your current resume to: edgelab@ge.com. Students of all academic disciplines are encouraged to apply.

Applications will be reviewed as received -- application deadline is May 28, 2007. Please apply early so that we can begin scheduling interviews (this is especially important if you are leaving the Connecticut area this summer). Interviews will be conducted on-site at edgelab, (located at the Stamford campus
of the University of Connecticut). If you are selected for an interview, you will be contacted by e-mail. If you have questions, please contact jmarsden@business.uconn.edu

School of Business Innovation Accelerator

Anticipated Needs - 14 to 16 students – MBA, MS, and Ph.D. (undergraduates will be considered.)

The Innovation Accelerator provides exceptional educational opportunities in high-tech entrepreneurial ventures and significantly differentiates the learning process at the School of Business.

PLEASE NOTE:
Because of the proprietary nature of the projects at the Innovation Accelerator as well as the time demands of participation, applicants cannot have other employment affiliations.

The Innovation Accelerator (IA) is one of the primary outreach initiatives of the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation housed in the Management Department at the School of Business. The IA assists entrepreneurial ventures in addressing myriad challenges associated with the identification and capture of business opportunities through interdisciplinary project teams of students that innovatively solve complex business issues for technology-based entrepreneurial ventures under the guidance of UConn faculty, with the involvement of the senior management of the participating venture. The teams help move innovation forward and the client venture closer to market by engaging in consulting projects such as performing comprehensive market analyses and associated market-entry strategies, developing strategic roadmaps and sustainable business models, fleshing-out business plans, evaluating the market feasibility of emerging technologies, and constructing customer relationship strategies.

Team Profiles
Innovation Accelerator projects are tackled by student teams mentored by UConn faculty and business executives from partnering companies.

Project Areas
We offer a broad array of projects which will require knowledge and skill sets across all of the functional disciplines. Projects will be conducted at the Graduate Business Learning Center in downtown Hartford.

Student Benefits
• Exceptional educational opportunities
• Challenging and differentiating work experience
• Competitive financial compensation

Application Process - Apply today by e-mailing a cover letter detailing your academic program and concentrations together with information on your GPA and a copy of your current resume to: innovationacceleratorapps@business.uconn.edu
Applications will be reviewed as received but the Application deadline is May 28, 2007. If you are selected for an interview, you will be contacted by e-mail. If you have questions, please contact Luke.Weinstein@business.uconn.edu


SS&C Technologies Financial Accelerator

Anticipated Needs - 4 to 6 students, potentially more - MBA and possibly one or two undergraduates.

PLEASE NOTE:
Because of the proprietary nature of the projects at the SS&C Technologies Financial Accelerator as well as the time demands of participation, applicants cannot have other employment affiliations.
The SS&C Technologies Financial Accelerator is located in our downtown Hartford Graduate Business Learning Center. Students, faculty, and business partners in the insurance and financial services industry work together in teams to solve real-time, complex business problems.

While many projects will involve the interface between finance and IT, achieving successful deliverables will require team capabilities in a number of functional business areas including finance, IT, marketing, business processes, and accounting. Team skills and communication excellence are also valuable attributes. Given the mix of partners, we anticipate challenging and critically important projects designed to lower cost, increase revenue, or enhance competitive advantage.

Check out more info on the SS&C Technologies Financial Accelerator on the School of Business Website at Learning Initiatives.

Team Profiles
Following the edgelab model, Financial Accelerator projects are tackled by student teams mentored by UConn faculty and business executives from partnering companies.

Project Areas
Given the breadth of partners, we anticipate a broad array of projects which will require knowledge and skill sets across all of the functional disciplines.

Application Process - Apply today by e-mailing a cover letter detailing your academic program and concentrations together with information on your GPA and a copy of your current resume to: acceleratorapplications@business.uconn.edu
Applications will be reviewed as received. Application deadline is May 28, 2007. Interviews will be conducted on-site at the Financial Accelerator (located at the School of Business Graduate Business Learning Center in downtown Hartford). If you are selected for an interview, you will be contacted by e-mail. If you have questions, please contact rdino@business.uconn.edu or jmarsden@business.uconn.edu

More Honors Options

Professor Ramesh Sankaranarayanan is teaching two sections of OPIM 203 in the fall: section 006 is Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:30, and section 007 is Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11:00. He is willing to supervise a group four or five honors students in each section and convert the course to honors credit for those students. If you are interested, please contact him and he will reserve one of the spaces for you.

As always, if you have other questions, please email Jeff Rummel.

Core Business Courses for Honors Credit

There will be some new options for getting honors credit for the core business courses (junior year) at the school. The first one you should know about is a special section of FNCE 201 that will be taught for honors students. Professor Lin Klein will be the instructor of section 006, and the class will meet on Mondays and Wednesdays at 3:30.

Please contact Professor Klein or Jeff Rummel if you have any questions. There will be some other announcements of honors options for next fall shortly, so check back.

Video from IFSA-Butler trip to University of Queensland

Marisa graciously provided a link to a YouTube video that she created about her study abroad experience at the University of Queensland. She did a great job -- after watching you will think more about spending a semester down under. Thanks, Marisa!

Innovation Accelerator Summer Projects

INNOVATION ACCELERATOR CALL FOR APPLICATIONS -- SUMMER 2007

Applications are now being accepted for the Innovation Accelerator for Summer 2007. Information on the application process follows.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS is FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2007 -- WE WILL BEGIN REVIEWING APPLICATIONS AS THEY ARE SUBMITTED.

The Innovation Accelerator provides exceptional educational opportunities and significantly differentiates the learning process at the School of Business.

PLEASE NOTE:
Because of the proprietary nature of the projects at the Innovation Accelerator as well as the time demands of participation, applicants cannot have other employment affiliations.

The Innovation Accelerator

The Innovation Accelerator (IA) is one of the primary outreach initiatives of the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation housed in the Management Department at the School of Business. The IA assists entrepreneurial ventures in addressing myriad challenges associated with the identification and capture of business opportunities through interdisciplinary project teams of students that innovatively solve complex business issues for technology-based entrepreneurial ventures under the guidance of UConn faculty, with the involvement of the senior management of the participating venture. The teams help move innovation forward and the client venture closer to market by engaging in consulting projects such as performing comprehensive market analyses and associated market-entry strategies, developing strategic roadmaps and sustainable business models, fleshing-out business plans, evaluating the market feasibility of emerging technologies, and constructing customer relationship strategies.

Team Profiles
Innovation Accelerator projects are tackled by student teams mentored by UConn faculty and business executives from partnering companies.

Project Areas
We offer a broad array of projects which will require knowledge and skill sets across all of the functional disciplines. Projects during the Summer will be conducted at the Graduate Business Learning Center in downtown Hartford.

Student Benefits

Exceptional educational opportunities
Challenging and differentiating work experience
Competitive financial compensation

Application Process - Apply today by e-mailing a cover letter detailing your academic program and concentrations together with information on your GPA and a copy of your current resume to: innovationacceleratorapps@business.uconn.edu

Applications will be reviewed as received but the Application deadline is Friday, March 2, 2007. If you are selected for an interview, you will be contacted by e-mail. If you have questions, please contact Luke.Weinstein@business.uconn.edu

Study Abroad in Barcelona, Spain

Chelsea attended the program in the Fall of 2005, but was willing to share some of her thoughts about the program.

I arrived in Barcelona by train accompanied by two French girls I met on the way after having studied in France for 3 months during the summer. The other two girls did not speak any Spanish so when we stepped off the train in what we discovered was the wrong station it was my job to find out where we were and how to get to the right station. Although I was definitely not fluent in Spanish, I knew I was at least semi-comfortable communicating in the language which I had begun to learn years before I started French. I walked up to a man standing nearby and opened my mouth to ask for information when I froze. I couldn’t speak Spanish. I had forgotten how to ask a simple question. I could only think in English or French and it was as though the Spanish part of my brain was locked away. I stuttered a few words in an incoherent manner and then turned bewildered to the two French girls and told them that I didn’t know what had happened. After three months communicating in French, my mind was in some sort of shock and Spanish just was not working for me. In spite of this communication barrier we found the right station and each caught a taxi to go our separate ways. As the taxi driver headed towards the hotel for orientation, he chatted away and although I understand most of what he was saying I was having quite a hard time responding and I caught myself several times saying “oui.”

In just a few days my mind adjusted as I was swept up into my new life in the exciting and vibrant city of Barcelona and thanks to my new Spanish family and the CIEE staff, my Spanish came back to me very quickly. I looked back at my arrival and the language shock that I had experienced and I laughed, grateful that it had been only temporary. Over the next four and a half months I continued to build on the language skills I had acquired over the years as more and more came back to me. I quickly surpassed the level I arrived with (post-shock stage) and I am quite confident that I won’t ever forget how to ask for directions in Spanish! But this process was not always an easy one and I had a lot of help both in the classroom and in everyday life, many of which were made available through the program. The three week intensive Spanish class was a definite asset and I know that it made the transition into the regular semester courses much smoother and the coursework much easier. Also, throughout the excellent orientation which helped immensely in our introduction and adjustment to the city and the culture we were encouraged to speak in Spanish at all times which contributed to our progress with the language. And I would always encourage a student to choose to live in a homestay as I can honestly say that it is the best way to live the culture and really learn the way of life in addition to acquiring the language. Although I had my days where I wished I had a little more privacy or freedom like my friends that lived in the dorms I know that my experience was a million times better having lived with a family. While many of the material discussed in the classroom related to the Spanish and Catalan culture highlighted and explained many aspects of the society in which I was living, my daily life in the homestay is what allowed me to truly understand and fully experience the culture. Also, I would definitely recommend taking the CIEE core course Cultural Encounters: Catalunya as a Case Study as it really enhanced my understanding of the duality of the culture and society that exists in Barcelona.


When deciding on a study abroad program I was initially concerned with the structure of the CIEE Barcelona program since the number of semesters of Spanish I had taken would put me over the limit for the Business and Society program. Although I was a business student, I was advised to simply apply for the Liberal Arts program and I would still be able to take a few business classes in Spanish at the university’s international business school. This ended up working out well and although I only took one business class at ESCI (Escola Superior de Comerç Internacional), this one class changed my mind about pursuing a business-related career, but in a positive way. I had begun to think that I was not compatible with the money hungry, power driven business world I had thus far been exposed to and that perhaps I would simply go on to a different career after finishing my undergraduate studies. I enrolled in a class in Barcelona called Deontología Empresarial and I had no idea what the title meant and really wasn´t too sure of the content either since the syllabus was quite vague and general and included unfamiliar acronyms and terms. It turned out to be an excellent class discussing ethical issues in the international business world and the concept of corporate social responsibility. The class was taught by a great professor who truly believed in what he was teaching in addition to being very encouraging, concerned for his students and open about his own profession. He even invited the entire class to come visit his office in the corporate social responsibility department of the headquarters of the Barcelona based Mango clothing company. Taking this class opened my eyes to the opportunities that exist in this more ethical realm of business and was a truly invaluable part of my study abroad experience in Barcelona.

Study Abroad in Florence (semester programs)

The semester program in Florence does not offer business courses that can be used towards your major, but it is a wonderful place to have a study abroad experience, and the program at Palazzo Rucellai is a UConn program and is very well run. Every semester, there are a large number of UConn students in the program, from majors in a variety of schools and colleges.

Here are some reflections from Lauren, one of our business majors who studied in Florence:

As I walked around the city of Florence I found myself surrounded by little pizzerias, small boutiques, and “mom and pop” style restaurants. The quaint streets and shops of Florence had managed to retain their antique character; their culture has not yet given way to the vastly commercialized modern landscape of contemporary society. Large corporations and skyscrapers do not yet adulterate the city’s time-honored streets. Within the boarders of the entire city, I discovered the presence of solely two large billboards. Such a sum seemed astonishing when juxtaposed with innumerable advertisements which adorn the facades of New York architecture.

The absence of large industries and “big businesses” in Florence perplexed me. In the absence of large corporations, what constituted a “good” job? I wondered if there was a place for the corporate employee within Florence, and if there was, did they make more money than the old man who owned the small pizzeria down the street? As a marketing major, I wondered if my specialized sector of business even existed within the context of such a city.

I sought to uncover the answers to such inquires, asking several of my Italian friends what a “good” job was in Florence. They each responded with a disparaged expression, advising me that I must distinguish the differences between the Italian and American cultures. Perhaps my friend Christian answered my question most eloquently when he said, “You must understand that there is no definition of a “good” job in Italy. In our culture, a job is not what is important. In America, upon meeting a new acquaintance, the first thing a person typically divulges is their name, followed quickly by their professional title. Here, in Italy, we disclose details of our family, our friends, our hobbies, or passions, and only thereafter would we mention our job. Here, it is the person, not their job which constitutes their worth and status within society. Our professions constitute only a portion of our beings. A man who owns a small pizzeria has a “good” job, not because of his daily salary, but rather, because he owns a shop where his friends and family can come to visit and chat; a special piece a family’s heritage which can be passed down from generation to generation.”

Stories such as Christian’s can truly come to highlight the worth of such an experience; an experience which reshaped my outlook on life and what truly constitutes happiness. I believe that it is all too often that we become “stuck” in our own lives. Stuck in the same routines and the same schedules; stuck in society’s narrow definitions of ‘good’ and ‘bad’, of what is prestigious, and of what truly constitutes worth in ones life. Studying abroad provides an opportunity to experience new outlooks, views, and perceptions of life. It provides one with the opportunity to step back and re-evaluate ones life, goals, and ambitions. It allows the individual to view the world through their own distinctive lens.

The rest of the reflections from this student can be found here.

Study Abroad in the Netherlands

We have not had students participate in a program at the University of Maastricht, Center for European Studies, The Netherlands in a number of semesters, but if students would be interested, the program is quite good and would be a great partner for the School of Business.

Please contact Jeff Rummel if this is something you might be interested in. Courses offered there would be both pre-business and business courses.

Honors thesis work at the Financial Accelerator

This spring, two students are working at the Financial Accelerator with groups of MBA students on projects for ING and for SS&C Technologies. As part of their work, they will end up writing their thesis from the experience, working with the faculty at the Accelerator and with Jeff Rummel.

This kind of experience will be available in coming semesters. In addition to the Financial Accelerator, it will be possible to arrange for thesis work to be done with the edgelab in Stamford or with the Student Managed Investment Fund. Please contact Jeff Rummel if you have questions or are interested in pursuing this.

Study Abroad in Brisbane, Australia

The University of Queensland is in Brisbane, Australia, and UConn students can take courses there through a program with the Institute for Study Abroad (IFSA - there are other alternatives). Marisa spent the fall semester of 2006 there and her are some of her thoughts on the experience:

For anyone that has always dreamed of going abroad Australia will easily surpass any expectations you may have. Upon arrival you quickly fall into the slower paced, "no worries" lifestyle and fall in love with the country. Although it can be a bit scary going as far away from home as possible, it is well worth the journey. There are a few different programs that students can study through, but IFSA-Butler rises above the rest in terms of the amount of help they offer you from the moment you are accepted until well after you arrive home. Starting with an unbelievable 4 day orientation and the chance to meet your new "mates" and university's program representative it only improves. Throughout the semester Butler provides students with events such as a welcome pizza party, a family home stay, sea kayaking with whales and a farewell dinner. This program is also one of the few if not the only program which transfers the grades you receive in the Australian schooling system into the United States' grading system. Also, with representatives right off campus any problems that may arise whether it be something back home or something abroad they are very willing to help as best they can.

The University of Queensland lies just outside the city of Brisbane and is in a great location when it comes to travelling. Being about half way down the east coast, in Southeast Queensland, it has plenty of beaches within 2 hrs. When it comes to longer journeys few flights are longer than 1.5 hours and can be found for very cheap through virginblue.com.au. For the weekends you want to stay around Brisbane, it is a little bit larger than Hartford and very easy to walk around. Every weekend there are plenty of open air markets and different events planned. Transportation in and out of the city is extremely easy with buses and ferries running ever 10-30 minutes between campus and downtown. With many past UCONN students having attended this university there are already many classes with UCONN equivalents, making it much less stressful. Lastly, although the campus is 30,000 students depending on how you get involved and where you choose to live it can often times make it feel very small.

When it comes to picking your housing there are a few different options. The program offers living in a residential college with Australians, a Butler apartment with other study abroad students or living with a family. Living in the residential college gives a student the chance to encounter what Australian college life is like, and it is definitely VERY different from in the US. These colleges consist of approx. 300 people with tradition being the most important uniting fact. Meals are eaten together, often times with a formal dinner 1-4 times a week where Harry Potter like robes are worn, there is a head Warden, and events which further encourage the small community at a 30,000 person campus to unite. The thing to be cautious about is that living in Emmanuel College costs approx. $1500 more than living in the other colleges!! Some students choose to live in off campus Butler apartments with other study abroad students. Although this provides for more independence it also makes it harder for these students to absorb the culture. Therefore, many of them decide to get heavily involved with a team or group on campus. Lastly, the program has just recently decided to let students organize their own housing if they desire, and therefore there are not many details known about this.

Study Abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark

A few students have spent a semester in Copenhagen, and here is a note from Sara, who spent the Spring of 2006 in that program:

The Denmark International Study program was by far my best and favorite college experience. The program is run through the Danish government, and as a result, is afforded so many great advantages, such as professional faculty that are experts in their fields, as well as field trips all over Europe and parts of Asia. The classes are taught in English and housing arrangements range from apartments in the heart of Copenhagen, to dorm style 'kollegiums', to home stays with Danish families.

There are roughly six programs that you can choose from (increasing every year) with over 50 subject areas- including learning Danish! The business program, known as International Business and Economics (IBE) has management, finance, and marketing classes, with the opportunity to visit Danish companies during a weekend fieldtrip, and other European cities during a week long fieldtrip (ex. Berlin, Germany and Warsaw, Poland while I was there).

DIS also gives its students a two week break in March for your own personal travels (I visited Russia during one of these weeks- or, as well as Amsterdam, Netherlands, and my sister in Florence, Italy).

Other things to note: DIS has two summer program options as well that are 5 and 7 weeks long. Secondly, learning Danish was a lot of fun, but not necessary because everyone in the city speaks adequate English (they start learning English in 4th grade).