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SPU business students, individually or as part of a team, can serve as a vital part of the success strategy for a small business, church, nonprofit organization or government agency through service learning projects. SBE's faculty endeavor to include service learning opportunities in their classes whenever possible and particularly when a community partner requests a specific project.

Students serve in a wide variety of ways. They may provide planning, analysis, evaluation and even implementation based on the business skills they are learning in the classroom. These service learners are strong resource that can increase an organization's productivity and efficiency.

Meanwhile, the student is able to observe or experience potential career opportunities, receive an increased awareness of a community's needs, directly apply classroom learning, hone leadership and management skills, and develop an ethic of giving and "servant leadership." Recent examples include students creating a marketing plan for Catholic Social Services, developing a web-site for Four Paws Veterinary Service and providing an analysis of inventory and scheduling practices for the Essential Baking Company.

Students may also work on projects in the community with name-brand corporations and traditional for-profit businesses.  Recent examples include a market feasibility analysis for Holland America Lines, a floor layout study to improve inventory flow at an REI store and a team observation at Microsoft. 

If you have a potential project for an SBE service learning team or would like more information about SBE's Service Learning program, please contact Mark Oppenlander in the Center for Applied Learning (CAL) at (206) 281-2942 or marko@spu.edu.