Standout college resources supporting Broad students every step of the way

By Taylor Hindman, student writer

Monday, April 29, 2024

The Broad College of Business is recognized for its renowned reputation when it comes to the exceptional quality of its students, faculty and staff. In fact, the Full-Time MBA and undergraduate programs have both been ranked among the top 20 U.S. public business schools across all major ranking services.

Perhaps what empowers Broad Spartans to succeed is our strong sense of community and belonging. One way this comes to life is through the abundant resources that both inspire and prepare students to reach unprecedented heights. Let’s uncover the resources within Broad that help our students succeed while at Michigan State University and thrive in the corporate world.

Student Engagement Center

Located in the Eppley Center in Room E105, the Student Engagement Center serves as a dynamic hub where undergraduate students can foster learning, personal growth and a sense of belonging within the Broad community. It serves as an epicenter within the Broad College, hosting many events such as weekly Living Room Chats with Beth Hammond, managing director of the Center for Ethical and Socially Responsible Leadership. This series allows students to connect with their peers and Hammond, covering topics such as American culture, respect and finding stillness in the modern world. The center also hosts rejuvenating mid-semester destressing events, bringing in therapy dogs, offering smoothies and wellness exercises and serving as a hub for student organizations to host their activities.

A group of students pose and smile. One holds a Broad College of Business laptop sticker.

The Student Engagement Center serves as a dynamic hub where undergraduate students can foster learning, personal growth and a sense of belonging within the Broad community.

Someone holding a smartphone while using the Broad 360 app.

The Broad 360 app offers comprehensive features such as student organization event calendars, enticing reward systems and a centralized platform for the college.

Beth Hammond holds a microphone while speaking at a college event.

Broad staff like Beth Hammond connect with students through the Student Engagement Center throughout the semester.

Additionally, the center and its ambassadors serve as a pivotal resource for the promotion of the Broad 360 app. Through personalized guidance and support, they empower students and faculty to leverage the app’s comprehensive features, such as student organization event calendars, enticing reward systems and a centralized platform for the college. Broad 360 is available for download through the Suitable app on iOS and Android.

The ambassadors serve as a dedicated resource for students, offering consistent tabling throughout the week, engaging in passive activities and overseeing the Broad Registered Student Organization corner.

Multicultural Business Programs

The college prides itself on the rich diversity of its students, recognizing the unique perspectives and backgrounds everyone brings. Central to fostering this diverse environment is Multicultural Business Programs, which serves as a community for all Broad students with diverse cultural backgrounds. MBP guides self-identified minoritized students through advocacy, empowerment strategies and initiatives.

Students attending the 2022 Summer Business Institute pose for a picture in matching event T-shirts.

Multicultural Business Programs serves as a community for all Broad students with diverse cultural backgrounds.

Mural painted in the Multicultural Business Programs Level Up Academic Space

A look at the Level Up Academic Center, where students can study, connect and engage with their peers.

Ed Tillett takes notes at a college event.

MBP staff like director Ed Tillett are committed to fostering an inclusive, supportive and empowering environment where students can thrive and succeed.

Nestled on the second floor of the Eppley Center is the Level Up Academic Center, a welcoming space where students can study, connect and engage with their peers. In addition, MBP offers access to the Empowerment Closet, a private fitting room where students can explore and borrow professional business attire for interviews, presentations and various professional endeavors — at no cost. The Level Up Academic Center has an open-door policy in order to support the continued success of all students with additional free tutoring and motivational extracurriculars.

Student organizations within MBP offer an exceptional avenue of involvement, welcoming all students as members, regardless of their majors. Together, these resources within MBP showcase the college’s commitment to fostering an inclusive, supportive and empowering environment where students can thrive and succeed.

Russell Palmer Career Management Center

Within the Minskoff Pavilion lies the Russell Palmer Career Management Center, serving as a dynamic location to connect Michigan State business students with top employers. The Palmer Center team actively advises, coaches and educates students to actualize their career aspirations, closely collaborating with employers and alumni to propel Spartans across the globe.

The Rusell Palmer Career Management Center main entrance busy with staff and students.

The Russell Palmer Career Management Center is a a dynamic location to connect Michigan State business students with top employers.

Two students having a discussion in the Broad College's Minskoff Pavilion.

With access to one-on-one career advising, the Deloitte Foundation Interview Suite and abundant on-campus networking opportunities, the Palmer Center is the Broad College’s core for career placement.

A Spartan attends a career fair networking event.

With the Palmer Center, Broad Spartans can actualize their career aspirations, closely collaborating with employers and alumni to propel them across the globe.

The center focuses on both undergraduate and graduate career advising, providing progressive career search reports and targeted resources to students. With access to one-on-one career advising, the Deloitte Foundation Interview Suite and abundant on-campus networking opportunities, the center is the Broad College’s core for career placement.

At the Palmer Center, students have the opportunity to engage with educated peer career coaches. The Palmer Center Peer Career Coaches are current Broad seniors with strong backgrounds in career management and bring a wealth of first-hand experience and insight to support and guide fellow students on their career journeys. Meeting with a peer coach at the Palmer Center provides a range of support services including exploring business careers, creating resumes, refining cover letters, optimizing LinkedIn profiles, practicing mock interviewing, navigating career fairs and facilitating networking strategies.

Education Abroad Office

Completing the array of the college’s supportive resources is the Education Abroad Office, which enriches students with a global perspective to their education. Education abroad experiences provide Broad students with the opportunity to venture to a foreign country, experiencing internships, cultures, food and more, expanding their global mindset.

A student holds a Spartan flag while abroad in France.

Students who participate in education abroad often find that stepping outside of their culture and experiencing daily life in a foreign country influences their career and educational choices, increasing self-confidence, deepening cultural awareness and laying a foundation for a rewarding international learning experience.

A Spartan rides a camel while studying abroad.

Marketing student Nicole Alexander ventured to Lisbon, Portugal, and enjoyed weekend trips to other European and African countries.

Carlos Conrad poses for a picture while abroad in Spain.

Carlos Conrad (B.A. Supply Chain Management ’23) said he had a life-changing experience in Spain this summer while wrapping up his time at MSU.

Typically, Broad-specific programs work well for Broad students due to major-specific programs and global experiences offered. However, beyond the college, MSU offers more than 260 programs in more than 60 countries on all continents. So, whether students want a business-related program or not, they have a wide array of options to choose from for an international experience. Across each of the programs, education abroad empowers our students to build their self-confidence, foster cultural tolerance and understanding and forge lifelong friendships. Topping it off, they gain knowledge about industries and business practices in various settings, which they can take with them in their careers ahead.

In all, the Broad College is not just a place of academic excellence but a community where students can excel and be supported every step of the way. Together, these resources further the college’s commitment to nurturing well-rounded students ready to make meaningful contributions in today’s business world.