CUBEs / en Granting Opportunities /stories/2024/granting-opportunities <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Granting Opportunities</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang about="/users/bbensonbridgewedu" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype>BBENSON@bridgew.edu</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2024-05-21T15:03:28-04:00" title="Tuesday, May 21, 2024 - 15:03" class="datetime">Tue, 05/21/2024 - 15:03</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-short-description-v2 field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <p>CUBEs program takes students into the working world</p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-article-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <time datetime="2024-05-23T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">May 23, 2024</time> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-article-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Brian Benson, G'23 </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <p><strong>Anna Dykhoff</strong>, ’26, enrolled in an <a href="/department/english" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="8b25e512-20f7-461b-8c05-be232288e725" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Department of English">English</a> class on grant writing hoping to learn a new skill. By the end of the semester, she was able to add even more to her resume.</p><p>The class challenged students to work with A&amp;A Metro Transportation to support its Bridgewater Cares on-demand public transit system for town residents and BSU students. And, thanks to connections she made, Anna is a summer intern for the organization.</p><p>“It blossomed from something I thought was just a class into a career opportunity,” she said.</p><p>That’s just one of the many benefits of BSU’s <a href="/academics/cubes" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="8e7ecde9-ba08-4015-9f73-7c1edfc38de6" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="CUBEs">Collaborative University Business Experiences (CUBEs) program</a>. In CUBEs classes such as this one taught by Dr. <strong>Lisa Litterio</strong>, students work with local organizations on semester-long projects that are embedded within the course.</p><p>Students visited A&amp;A Metro’s offices and the Senior Center and met with users of the service. They established a TikTok account, produced Instagram posts and wrote a federal grant proposal for Bridgewater Cares, which is currently funded by the state, town of Bridgewater and BSU. They even received feedback on the proposal from Congressman Bill Keating’s staff.</p><p>“It’s mirroring what the workplace is about and what the world is about,” said Litterio, who hopes the course helps students expand their writing and career horizons. “It’s seeing the classroom as a place to do grant writing.”</p><p>Students embraced the opportunity and responsibility that comes with a project whose impact stretched far beyond the classroom.</p><p>“It’s very rewarding,” said <strong>Cam Rodericks</strong>, a marketing major who expects to finish his degree in the fall. “I’m learning something I can apply to real life.”</p><p><strong>Dasia Peters</strong>, ’24, added: “I feel like I’m actually doing something that has a greater purpose. Just the thought of being able to actually get funding that can help the community is really motivating to me.”</p><p>Dasia, a communication studies major and member of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, hopes to use her new skills to help her tribe apply for federal grants.</p><p>Anna, who focused in class on enhancing Bridgewater Cares’ social media accounts, looks forward to growing A&amp;A Metro’s online presence during her internship.</p><p>“We’re being trusted as professionals,” Anna said of the course. “It’s not work just to get a grade.”</p><p><em>Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email </em><a href="mailto:stories@bridgew.edu"><em>stories@bridgew.edu</em></a><em>.</em></p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-hide-featured field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> No </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="ckeditor-media-class"> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="blazy blazy--field blazy--field-media-image-9 blazy--field-media-image-9--image-max-470x470 field field--name-field-media-image-9 field--type-image field--label-hidden field__items" data-blazy> <div class="field__item"> <div data-b-token="b-37e4c0cc3b3" class="media media--blazy media--image is-b-loading"><img alt="Four students work together on their laptops." decoding="async" class="media__element b-lazy" loading="lazy" data-src="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/max_470x470/public/media/article_featured_image/cubes1_0.jpg" src="/sites/bridgew/files/media/images/image-loading.gif"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-testimonial field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <section class="paragraph paragraph--type--testimonial paragraph---id--233356 scroll-reveal box1 paragraph--view-mode--default" aria-label="testimonial content id-233356"> <div class="media-wrapper"> <div class="media"> <div class="media-body"> <blockquote> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-body field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <p>It blossomed from something I thought was just a class into a career opportunity.</p> </div> </div> </blockquote> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Anna Dykhoff, ’26 </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline field__items"> <div class="field__label">Tags</div> <div class="field__item"> <a href="/tags/cubes" aria-label="Related stories tagged CUBEs" hreflang="en">CUBEs</a> </div> <div class="field__item"> <a href="/taxonomy/term/2765" aria-label="Related stories tagged Internships" hreflang="en">Internships</a> </div> <div class="field__item"> <a href="/tags/bsu-works" aria-label="Related stories tagged BSU Works" hreflang="en">BSU Works</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> Tue, 21 May 2024 19:03:28 +0000 BBENSON@bridgew.edu 252401 at Hands-On Business /stories/2021/hands-business <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Hands-On Business</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang about="/users/bbensonbridgewedu" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype>BBENSON@bridgew.edu</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2021-07-12T12:48:26-04:00" title="Monday, July 12, 2021 - 12:48" class="datetime">Mon, 07/12/2021 - 12:48</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-short-description-v2 field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> CUBEs give students valuable experience </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-article-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <time datetime="2021-07-13T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">July 13, 2021</time> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-article-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Brian Benson </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <p>When business leaders need advice on overcoming fundamental challenges, they are finding valuable input from a new source: 51Թ students.</p><p>Several companies are part of BSU’s new <a href="/academics/cubes">Collaborative University Business Experiences</a>, or CUBEs. CUBEs bring real-world problems into the classroom, allowing students to&nbsp;complete projects for clients. The work&nbsp;complements course curriculum.</p><p>“It was nice knowing that the work we were doing was going to benefit a real company,” said <strong>Andrea Weng</strong>, ’22, who participated in CUBEs in two classes and interned for the initiative. “I was really grateful I was able to do it.”</p><p>The initiative, supported by a BSU academic innovation grant, began last year as business faculty sought new ways to prepare students for careers.</p><p>One of the <a href="/academics/cubes/for-employers">participating businesses</a>, Meditech, completed two CUBEs, which allowed students to study what prospective employers sought in a job and analyze&nbsp;current workers’ sense of inclusion and belonging.</p><p>“It was a really good opportunity for us to gain some fresh perspectives and insight,” said Shannon Laingen, senior manager of recruiting and staff development at the medical records software company that employs more than 200 BSU alumni. “I personally enjoyed hearing from the students and their enthusiasm and willingness to help us solve a problem.”</p><p>Because CUBEs are infused in classes, they offer experiential learning without added time commitment. This is particularly important for students working multiple jobs who may struggle to fit in internships, said Dr. <a href="/department/management-marketing/dr-xiangrong-liu"><strong>Xiangrong Liu</strong></a>, an associate professor in the <a href="/department/management-marketing">Department of Management and Marketing</a>.</p><p>“This will give them more opportunities,” said Liu. “Students are improving their communication and problem-solving skills. It’s really helpful for them to launch their careers.”</p><p>Business professors hope to see CUBEs expand to other colleges. While courses must be adapted to include the project, the results are impressive, they said.</p><p>"The outcome is more than a grade,” said Dr. <a href="/department/management-marketing/dr-stephanie-jacobsen"><strong>Stephanie Jacobsen</strong></a>, an assistant professor of management and marketing. “It increases the stakes a little bit, but that increases student buy-in. Students are far more engaged.”</p><p>Andrea, who helped devise a virtual Mad Libs-like game for event producer Interactive Entertainment Group, appreciated having this opportunity as a student.</p><p>“It wasn’t like you were going to get fired,” said the marketing major from Quincy. “You got to practice things and have the experience.”</p><p><em>Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email </em><a href="mailto:stories@bridgew.edu"><em>stories@bridgew.edu</em></a><em>.</em></p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-hide-featured field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> No </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="ckeditor-media-class"> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="blazy blazy--field blazy--field-media-image-9 blazy--field-media-image-9--image-max-470x470 field field--name-field-media-image-9 field--type-image field--label-hidden field__items" data-blazy> <div class="field__item"> <div data-b-token="b-fed3b48b7c8" class="media media--blazy media--image is-b-loading"><img alt="People collaborate at computers showing financial markets." decoding="async" class="media__element b-lazy" loading="lazy" data-src="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/max_470x470/public/media/article_featured_image/cubes.jpg" src="/sites/bridgew/files/media/images/image-loading.gif"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-testimonial field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <section class="paragraph paragraph--type--testimonial paragraph---id--115726 scroll-reveal box1 paragraph--view-mode--default" aria-label="testimonial content id-115726"> <div class="media-wrapper"> <div class="media"> <div class="media-body"> <blockquote> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-body field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> The outcome is more than a grade. It increases the stakes a little bit, but that increases student buy-in. Students are far more engaged. </div> </div> </blockquote> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Dr. Stephanie Jacobsen </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline field__items"> <div class="field__label">Tags</div> <div class="field__item"> <a href="/tags/cubes" aria-label="Related stories tagged CUBEs" hreflang="en">CUBEs</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> Mon, 12 Jul 2021 16:48:26 +0000 BBENSON@bridgew.edu 239761 at