B&E class creates ‘lasting impact’ in local community

West Virginia University College of Business & Economics students have the opportunity to gain real world experience, while creating a lasting impact on the local community.

Students in the corporate social responsibility course, which aims to provide real-world experience in corporate philanthropy, have received $20,000 to grant to nine local nonprofit organizations.

"It gives students a prospect of what a big corporation goes through when they set their strategy in being socially responsible," said Joyce Heames, Associate Professor of Management and industrial relations.

"The course was originally designed by an alum of the College who realized he had a heart for philanthropy and thought that students should learn about this too."

Heams said students were responsible for developing a mission statement and criteria for the grants, advertising to nearly 180 nonprofit organizations in Monongalia County, reviewing more than 40 application packets and determining which organizations would receive a grant – providing them with real world corporate philanthropic experience.

"We wanted to provide an environment for the students to be exposed to the real world," she said. "We try to make it as business-like and as professional as possible."

Throughout the course, students read on corporate philanthropy and attend a seminar on the subject. To put what they learned in the classroom to the test, each student completes 30 hours of community service with a local nonprofit.

"With this, students are rolling up their sleeves and getting directly involved – all while learning to give their time,

money and talents," Heams said.

As students prepare to enter the corporate world, Heams said she believes the course will benefit them after graduation.

"It’s a tremendous learning experience, but it’s also a tremendous growth experience for the students," she said. "They get to go out into a part of the community and gain experience they might not otherwise have the opportunity to."

Students will present the grants to the receiving organizations Friday on the fourth floor atrium of the College of Business & Economics at 10 a.m.