Residential Business Community

Building a legacy of leaders.

The Residential Business Community (RBC) is preparing tomorrow’s leaders to successfully oversee a diverse and multicultural world by promoting, enhancing and supporting academic, personal and professional growth of students prior to admission to the Broad College of Business.

Living. Learning. Leading.

The RBC experience prepares students to be business leaders and encourages their own professional development throughout their college experience. This community living experience assists students in acquiring the relational skills necessary to succeed and lead in today’s global society. And through a seamless environment of academic and experiential learning activities, students develop business leadership competencies in a collaborative, inclusive, multicultural environment.

Students who participate in the RBC experience four significant benefits:

Support as they transition to college life and the MSU campus
Resources for successful admission to the Broad College and careers in business
Growth in cultural intelligence and leadership competency skills
A network of corporate recruiters and MSU alumni built throughout one’s college career

220+

students in the RBC

$125K+

in scholarships awarded annually

64%

increase in students over 4 years

Core Values

Integrity

Students will strive to develop into leaders who are ethical, fair and committed to doing the right thing.

Effective Communication

Students will integrate compelling, well-rounded communication as the foundation to generate action, create understanding and build relationships.

Leadership Excellence

Students will be inspired to take action and create positive, sustainable, transformational changes.

Inclusiveness

Students will develop into business leaders who navigate global, cross-cultural and diverse teams.

Personal and Social Responsibility

Students will be encouraged to build individual strength, take responsibility for the integrity and quality of their work, and engage in impactful exercises that shape responsible global citizens.

Making a Difference

Students will be challenged to think about the legacy they will leave in their professional journeys.

The RBC Advantage

RBC students consistently perform better in the classroom than non-RBC business students. Students participating in the Residential Business Community will be enrolled in special reserved sections of high-demand freshman classes such as writing and math. They will also be enrolled each semester in a one-credit seminar designed specifically to meet the transition-to-MSU needs of first-year business students.

RBC Services

Free tutorial services occur in the River Trail Engagement Center (located in McDonel Hall) for math, writing, economics, accounting, statistics, etc. Tutoring is also available in multiple core business courses through the Broad College’s Multicultural Business Programs Tutorial Program.

Students will have access to an academic advisor for one-on-one sessions. Students can gain valuable advice on the courses they are taking and how to plan their college careers.

Students also have access to special sections of writing, math, CSE 102 and business communications (MKT 250) prerequisite courses.

The Leadership Legacy Series encourages participation in leadership workshops, Broad College events, student involvement experiences, corporate networking and community engagement sessions that focus on these learning goals:

Global/Multicultural Awareness
Career/Academic Success
Leadership/Professional Development
Community/Civic Engagement

Fun, organized networking events are planned throughout the year including the following:

Fall welcome event
Community meals with faculty and staff
Corporate networking
Dinner and movie nights
End-of-the-year banquet
Field trips
Company site visits
Peer-to-peer coaching/mentoring
Community service/civic engagement opportunities

“RBC has allowed me to grow so much professionally and as a student. It has brought me many of my best friends and makes Michigan State feel more like home. This program is necessary to any incoming business student.”

Marie Korkus (Marketing)

“RBC gave me the resources I needed to be successful and also established friendships that I know I will carry long past college.”

Mallory Williams (Supply Chain Management)

“RBC is a great program for business students that allowed me to successfully get into The School of Hospitality Business, and I met my best friends through this program. I would highly recommend any business student to become involved with RBC, as it is a great experience.”

Heidi Orr (Hospitality Business)

“One of my favorite parts of the Residential Business Community is that there are always so many resources available for you. Whether it may be tutoring, help rooms or advisors, there are so many ways for you to succeed.”

Nikita Patel (Accounting)

“RBC is the best opportunity to get involved in business during freshman year. From corporate trips that take you out of state to a case competition only available to members, RBC gives early opportunities that other students may never get.

Ally John (Marketing)

“RBC helped me academically, socially and professionally. It connected me with multiple people with similar interests as me and two years later, most of my friends are the ones I made in RBC.”

Jack Allen (Finance)

Living: The Residential Community

McDonel Hall is conveniently located just a short walk away from the Business College Complex. First-year RBC students live on the first, second, or third floors of East McDonel and are assigned a roommate in the RBC cohort. Upon request, there are spaces also available for RBC students who prefer a non-business roommate.

Upper-class (second year and beyond) Broad College students can live throughout McDonel Hall and may choose their roommate; third floor West has been designated an RBC returning student floor community. The fourth floor West is an Honors College floor option that is open to first-year or upper-class students.

McDonel Hall is a suite-style hall that houses the River Trail Neighborhood Engagement Center, which provides:

Writing Center services
Olin Health Center location
Sparty’s Refresh
Academic advising
Intercultural engagement
High-tech classrooms
Study lounges

Since I walked into McDonel Hall on the first day of my freshman year, the RBC has impacted my experience at MSU in an amazing way. The resources available, corporate site visits, other RBC students and employees are invaluable to a student who is trying to build their resume and start their career when they graduate.

Charlie Bonser

Senior Director & Supply Chain Management Major

Learning: Inside the Classroom

Students participating in the RBC will be enrolled in special reserved sections of high-demand freshman classes such as writing and mathematics. They are also required to register for one-credit seminar courses designed to enhance students’ academic, career and professional development experiences as future business leaders.

Seminar Courses

BUS 101 Freshman Seminar for College of Business Students

1st year fall semester

Reserved sections of BUS 101 in the fall semester are required for students participating in the RBC community. This 14-week seminar will assist in students’ academic development and allow them to develop relationships with the Eli Broad College of Business faculty, staff and upperclassmen early in their academic career and become aware of resources that will help them succeed at MSU. The course also empowers students to set academic, career and leadership goals.

View in Course Catalog

BUS 102 Career Seminar for Business

1st year spring semester

This 10-week seminar is required for RBC students. It’s designed to assist students in the exploration of professional fields in business, as well as to introduce students to the career management center and other available career services. It provides opportunities to meet professionals in the field, practice communication and presentation skills, and interact with peers in small group teams.

View in Course Catalog

BUS 201: Sophomore Seminar for Business

2nd year fall or spring semester

This course is an advanced version of the BUS 101 and 102 introductory courses. Topics that will be addressed include: multicultural competence, professional decision making and identity development, career strategies, working in a diverse team and developing professional mentor relationships.

View in Course Catalog

Student Coordinators & RBC Course Assistants

Allyson John

Student Coordinator

Scott Deal

Student Coordinator

Kaylee Kern

Student Coordinator

Victoria Wiseman

Student Coordinator

Chloe Ambas

Student Coordinator

Mwaba Musonda

Student Coordinator

Annika Cronander

Student Coordinator

Kelsey Grost

Student Coordinator

Sydney Rosen

Student Coordinator

Maddie Seidell

Student Coordinator

The RBC gave us a platform ... If it wasn't for the RBC serving as a catalyst for my growth, I'm not sure where I would be, or what I would be doing ... The RBC just pushes you to grow.

Elexis Grimes

B.A. Accounting ’18

Leadership: Outside the Classroom

The RBC experience builds a legacy of leaders by providing a variety of experiential learning opportunities and fostering professional competency skills desired by recruiters. Emerging leader retreats and spring corporate trips are held each year with activities such as:

Building a global mindset
Peer mentoring
Company site visits
Social impact
Alumni networking

“The RBC has allowed me to build incredible bonds with people since coming to Michigan State. I have learned incredible leadership skills and have had the chance to be involved in various positions and events throughout RBC.”

Victoria Wiseman (Management)

“The RBC has provided me great resources to succeed in school with both my classes and my career goals. It has also allowed me to gain some of my closest friends and truly has offered me a great college experience.”

Jenna Matz (Supply Chain Management)

“RBC allows you to live with others that have the same/similar major as you, which is great because you will have classes with them over your four years at MSU. It also provides great resources.”

Scott Deal (Finance)

“As an incoming freshman, the RBC truly helps set you apart from every other business student. It assists in the transition from high school to college and further prepares you for your professional future.”

Kathryn Resseguie (Marketing)

“The RBC is so much more than just an academic organization; I have met many of my best friends through the RBC and have gained lifelong memories through RBC events.”

Michael Rotondo (Accounting)

Corporate Partners

The RBC partners with leading companies for our comprehensive “Building Your Leadership Legacy” series. The program includes workshops, campus events, corporate networking, speaker series and community engagement. This partnership develops professional skills desired by corporate recruiters.

Below are just some of the companies that have partnered with the RBC.

Mentorship Network

The RBC Mentorship Network promotes the student experience through experiential learning, professional skills development, leadership exploration and connections with upperclassmen, alumni and corporate partners. The network promotes relationships that foster a culture of success and professional leadership development.

The program consists of two levels:

Peer2Peer Mentor, which pairs first-year students with upperclassmen who have been in RBC. Students can ask questions about anything from where the best cafeteria on campus is to advice on how to succeed in classes and obtain internships.

The RBC Alumni Network, the second level of the program, focuses more on preparation for post-graduation by matching junior and senior mentees with RBC alumni. Students can ask questions about career paths and how to enhance their classroom lessons in the professional world.

Student Engagement Team

Meet the freshman, new and returning members of the RBC Student Engagement Team SET).

Connor Blaufuss

SET Specialist
blaufuss@msu.edu
Freshman

Annika Cronander

SET Specialist
cronand4@msu.edu
Freshman

Mojadi Galebonwe

SET Specialist
galebonw@msu.edu
New

Shruti Gomer

SET Specialist
gomershr@msu.edu
Freshman

Kelsey Grost

SET Specialist
grostkel@msu.edu
New

Lance Johnson

SET Specialist
john7072@msu.edu
Freshman