The John F. Welch College of Business at Sacred Heart University offers innovative programs that emphasize an active approach to learning. These programs provide students with the opportunity to utilize their business knowledge, analytical skills, and technological competencies in a business environment. The programs also assist students in assessing career goals and provide additional preparation for entry into the business environment. Finally, participation allows students the opportunity to build a resume, practice networking, and develop organizational, communication, and time management skills.
Students may earn up to a maximum of 9 credits through experiential learning. This may include up to three credits counted toward requirements in the student's major and up to an additional 6 credits of free electives.
The programs currently offered are:
Internships
Internships are available in all majors. The SHU WCOB internship is unique in its focus on development and enhancement of job search, interviewing and career assessment skills as well as experience in the field. The internship experience is recorded and assessed using a portfolio approach. At the conclusion of the internship, students re-evaluate skills, career goals and career development needs in light of the experience. Students have interned at a large number of firms including: General Electric, JP Morgan Chase, Prudential Securities, Merrill Lynch, First Investors, Octagon, Enterprise Car Rental, Pitney Bowes, KPMG, PWC, IBM and Unilever.
>> More information on internships
Investment Challenge
Each semester Professor John Gerlach runs an Investment Challenge where students invest $50,000 in virtual money. Awards are provided for highest return on investment and performance surpassing the Standard & Poor’s 500 index.
For more information or to join, contact: John Gerlach, MBA, Senior Business Executive in Residence at 203-396-8016 or GerlachJ@sacredheart.edu.
Service Learning
Service Learning offers students the opportunity to learn about an academic subject through active participation in service experiences that are integrated into the curriculum. Service learning is offered in a number of courses in the University and in at least one finance or economics class each term. Finance and Business Economics majors have participated in a number of service learning projects including: the development of a marketing plan to enhance the downtown area for the Bridgeport Regional Business Council (BRBC); feasibility studies for local organization; financial analysis for two local not for profit organizations; economic impact study of the proposed expansion of the Seaview Avenue Corridor; analysis of sources and uses of funds for the Bridgeport Public Education Fund; assisted the Bridgeport Port Authority by performing financial analysis of a proposed parking garage, property leases, and fare structures.
Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
The Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program provides training and the opportunity to become VITA certified by the Internal Revenue Service in income tax preparation. VITA certified students then assist members of the local community in preparing income tax returns. The program is available on a credit or non-credit basis. Each year SHU students volunteer approximately 600 hours for VITA.
For more information or to join, contact: Danny A. Pannese, CPA, Associate Professor at 203-371-7993 or PanneseD@sacredheart.edu.
Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE)
The SIFE Club (and optional one credit course) provides students with another opportunity to engage in experiential learning. Through SIFE, students design and implement business focused community service projects. During the spring, the group creates a presentation summarizing their activities and presents the results at regional and national competitions judged by business executives. Initiated in 1999, SHU SIFE has already won three regional awards and one national award. Our members range from business majors to political science majors on to Spanish majors. We are a very diverse group and this aids us in being creative and inventive. SIFE projects include a feasibility study for a local firm; a marketing campaign for a beverage corporation; working with middle school students on an advertising campaign for local not-for-profits; helping local high school students with job search, resume writing and interviewing skills; and business analysis and planning for local not-for-profits.
For more information or to join SIFE, contact: Richard Pate, Esq., Assistant Professor of Management at 203-416-3525 or pater@sacredheart.edu.
The Fed Challenge competition consists of a 20 minute presentation by college students to professionals at the NY Federal Reserve on current economic and financial conditions, a near term forecast of economic and financial conditions that affect monetary policy, identification of risks that threaten the economic well-being of the country and a recommendation as to the action the Federal Reserve should take with regard to short-term interest rates. Dr. Mamun serves as faculty advisor for the team.
Rotaract ClubRotaract is a Rotary-sponsored service club for young men and women ages 18 to 30. Rotaract clubs are either community or university based, and they are sponsored by a local Rotary club. This makes them true "partners in service" and key members of the Rotary family. The Sacred Heart Rotaract which is sponsored by the Welch College of Business aims to prepare young adults to become the next generation of business and community leaders. The club is guided by its core value of helping to prepare individuals who will not only seek to excel academically but will work to improve local communities and the greater society.
The Sacred Heart Rotaract Club which was established in the spring of 2010 is a service based club that centers its efforts within the local community. The club is open to all students of the university and exposes students to service learning and leadership training. Each semester, as part of the service learning and leadership curricular, students are required to identify and resolve at least one community based project. Students are required to clearly identify the problem, and then methodically develop a solution with subject matter experts. At the completion of this exercise students earn 1 credit toward their respective degree programs.
Rotaractors at Sacred Heart also have participate in:
- The read “a-loud” program at local elementary schools
- Walk Against Hunger
- Volunteering at the:
- Bridgeport Rescue Mission
- King’s Pantry
