A program at Washington State University Vancouver where business students act as pro bono consultants for local companies was recently lauded for its innovation.
The Business Growth MAP program at the Carson College of Business was named one of 35 programs named to a list of “Innovations That Inspire” by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
Mistie Josephson, WSU Vancouver’s MAP program manager, said the people in the program were “really honored and excited” by the designation.
“In the past, MAP has been recognized locally by a couple of organizations, but this kind of gives us a little bit of visibility to the global audience,” she said. “We’re excited to be showcased.”
The Business Growth MAP program, created in 2011, has put nearly 1,000 business school students into consulting roles for local companies. Josephson said more than 170 companies have participated.
According to the school’s website, the student-led consulting has directly led to $5.4 million in new revenue and 24 full-time jobs for participating companies. Josephson said she follows up with the companies personally to see how things are going.
The program’s latest annual report for academic year 2015-16 said students gave free consultations to 39 companies. In 2014, it started hosting monthly forums. Columbia Sportswear CEO Tim Boyle has been a featured speaker.
Josephson credited the program’s success to a team of volunteers and the community at large.
“We have a lot of folks here locally who support us,” she said.
Max Ault, vice president and director of business development for the Columbia River Economic Development Council, sits on the program’s board of advisers. The WSU Vancouver alumnus called the designation “fantastic news.”
“(Business Growth) MAP is continues to be a huge asset for local students and our local businesses,” he said.
The program recently received a grant from JP Morgan Chase to establish a new certificate program into which small businesses can enroll. That program, which launches in April, will offer management classes and mentorship to help businesses develop plans to grow into the future.
AACSB International, the awarding organization, plucked its winners from a pool of 315 applications spanning 33 countries. The organization has locations in Florida, Singapore and The Netherlands.
This is the second year it has conducted its “Innovations That Inspire” initiative.
