UEDA Annual Summit 2016: Washington State University - Vancouver: Business Growth Mentor & Analysis Program

The challenge

In 2010 SW Washington experienced• Changing Economic Landscape

• Fewer Farm and Forest jobs• Highest unemployment in State• Scant capacity to support

small business growth• Need for “job-ready” graduates

The solution

+ + + =

S T U D E N T C O N S U L T A N C Y M O N T H LY A L L I A N C E F O R U M

Client: Seely Family Farm

Challenge: synthetic mint changing the market

Business shift: creation of their own mint candy

Student consultancy: created a growth plan and marketing strategy so they could scale up

Small business benefits

• About 500 hours of free consulting

• Actionable plan for growth• Ongoing monthly forum

of clients rated students’analysis and recommendations

as good or excellent.

91%

“From the first meeting to the last I remained surprised and impressed with the caliber of the students, their commitment to the project, and the depth and quality of their research and recommendations.”

C L I E N T Q U O T E

Student benefits92%of students felt the MAP

experience prepared themfor the business world.

• Teamwork and professionalism• Confidence by solving real

business challenges • References and

recommendations• Job opportunities

“When grades are more than just a number, but an actual product to a customer, motivation is on another level.”

S T U D E N T Q U O T E

Mentor benefits• Rewarding opportunity to help

students and small business• Exposure to cutting-edge

classroom knowledge • Get to know the future

workforce

of mentors rated their experience working with

studentsas good or excellent.

94%

“I love seeing the students coalesce as a team and begin to think of themselves as consultants—a team with a client who is depending on them—rather than students seeking a good grade.”

M E N T O R Q U O T E

Impact

86Businesses took part inmonthly Alliance forums

In 2015/16,

Driving engagement and collaboration

Advisory board14 members3 committees

Partners30+ organizations

Mentors50+ volunteer

network

Sponsors10 in 2015/16

MAP sustainability

COMMUNITY CAMPUS

The model is replicable and scalable

Syllabus, tools and best practices shared with other:• Courses• Units• Campuses in the WSU system• Universities

Use our framework to create a program

Start small andunder promise.

Grow as thecommunity gets

involved.

S TA R T W I T H• Advisory board: Learn what your community needs• Faculty: Identify a champion within the faculty• Mentors: Recruit alumni and community leaders

to volunteer

TO B U I L D• A strong community and university partnership• An unparalleled student experience and learning outcomes• An enriching avenue for alumni engagement• A unique opportunity to advance regional economic

development

The Seelys’ transformed business

Thank You.

J A N E C O T E , P h . D .WSU VancouverAcademic Director, Carson College of Business [email protected] | 360.546.9756

M I S T I E J O S E P H S O NWSU VancouverMAP Manager, Carson College of Business [email protected] | 360.546.9533