Business Program, Union Adventist University

The “Graduates of the Year” board.

This is what third floor looks like now. Is your name listed as one of the graduates of the year?

Exploring Creativity and Innovation in Business introduces fundamental business operations and essential soft skills crucial for achieving professional success. As a culminating activity, students presented imaginative and innovative concepts in a simulated Shark Tank-style competition. Acting as the 'sharks,' senior business majors and International Finance students evaluated the pitches. This hands-on exercise allowed participants to bridge theoretical knowledge with practical application, enriching their learning experience.

Business Strategy Workforce Presentations: Business Administration students give their year-end team presentation in Business Strategy taught by Business Program faculty, Matthew Graves.

Auditing 455 class conducting a system 'walkthrough", part of a business audit. They studied the business's processes for sales and collections, as well as purchases and payments. Students documented how the processes worked, including internal controls present or absent within the process.

On October 19, 2023 the Strategic Leadership and Management class visited a long-time College View business, Wayne's Body Shop. The owner, Craig Johnson, shared his vision and mission for the business as well as his entrepreneurial path applying Lean Six Sigma to the business's core services of collision repair. As Professor Jodie Trana sees it, the experience was a critical step for students to see business theories applied in a practical sense. Johnson was engaging and open to all of the students' questions. We appreciate Johnson's willingness to take the time to bring ideas to life!

Students in Macroeconomics presented on international trade agreements. The purpose was to help the students understand the impact of trade, on an international level, on GDP, consumer and producer surplus, and supply and demand, all critical macroeconomics concepts

One of the favorite real-life learning activities is the annual Monopoly contest at the end of the first semester of Principles of Accounting. After learning the basics of writing journal entries, posting transactions, and building financial statements, these practices come alive in a three-class, end-of-semester Monopoly contest. Students record game transactions such as collecting rent (revenue) and paying taxes (expenses) for a simulated month of game play. Then students create an Income Statement and Balance Sheet based on their general ledger accounts. In order to qualify to win the contest, students must have a balanced Balance Sheet and a reconciled cash account. The qualifying student with the highest profit wins the contest!

Students in Personal Finance, taught by professor Matthew Graves, play the Rich Dad Poor Dad Cashflow game to learn the value of investments and making your money work for you. They make financial decisions to acquire passive income in amounts that exceed their expenses to get out of the "rat race" in life and into the fast track. The Cashflow game provides some practical application of the concepts covered in the course.

Students in Financial Institutions and Markets put their knowledge of banking and financial markets into practice as they met with Brad Crain, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Union Bank and Trust. During their visit they discussed current interest rate trends, Federal Reserve requirements, banking regulations, and bank profitability. Students were able to ask questions about moral hazard, available internships, and the recent loan forgiveness legislation. They also toured the bank branch’s safe deposit vault, loan department, and newly renovated cafeteria where associates are treated to free catered lunches and snacks. The Business Program appreciates every opportunity to make learning practical for our students.