220+
students in the RBC
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
$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 101 and business communications (BUS 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
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 CatalogBUS 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 CatalogBUS 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 CatalogStudent Coordinators & Course Assistants
Jack Allen
- BUS 101
Scott Deal
- BUS 101
Allyson John
- BUS 101
Marie Korkus
- BUS 101
Jenna Matz
- Student Coordinator
Nikita Patel
- BUS 101
Peyton Pawlusiak
- Student Coordinator
Kathryn Resseguie
- BUS 101
Michael Rotondo
- BUS 101
Mallory Williams
- BUS 101
Victoria Wiseman
- BUS 201
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
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.
Upcoming RBC Events
There are no upcoming events at this time.
Freshman year, RBC provided me with a community of people who were taking the same classes and going through similar experiences as me, which helped me make some of my closest friends. RBC gave me the tools I needed in order to be successful in my first year at Michigan State by providing me with opportunities to grow academically and professionally.
Sydney Rosen
Junior, Marketing
Admissions
Who Can Apply?
- High school seniors who have been admitted to Michigan State University…
- Who have declared business-preference or hospitality business majors…
- And have an interest in accounting, finance, hospitality business, human resources management, management, marketing or supply chain management majors
Approximately 230 freshmen are admitted to the RBC each fall, representing a little more than 10 percent of those coming to MSU and expressing interest in a business major.
Current MSU business students who have participated in the program previously may continue being involved and live in McDonel Hall.
Application Process
The application consists of a resume, short answer essays and a short application form. Your resume should include your leadership, community service, scholarship and other extracurricular activities, as well as any work experience that you may have.
Students may apply to the Residential Business Community through the online application. If you prefer a paper application, please call 517-884-4087.
Broad Academic Success Experience
The Broad Academic Success Experience (BASE) is a pilot initiative that seeks to increase the participation of first-year students in the Residential Business Community (RBC) from diverse geographic areas, specifically under-served school districts. Students admitted to BASE will experience all the benefits of being part of the RBC. Broad College admission will be maintained if students meet specific criteria.
Eligible students will be reviewed based on their MSU and RBC admissions applications (including ACT/SAT scores and high school GPA). Acceptance to the BASE Program is competitive.
Join our community.
Apply today to become a part of the Residential Business Community at MSU.
Our Leadership Team
Sherri Henry
- Director, RBC
Marcell King
- Assistant Director, RBC
Anne Crain
- Program Coordinator, RBC
Charlie Bosner
- Director (Senior)
Madeline Seidell
- Director (Senior)
Learn about the RBC Experience
Residential Business Community information sessions give an overview of the program, as well as a tour of McDonel Hall and the River Trail Neighborhood Engagement Center.
Contact the RBC
If you have more questions about the RBC experience and how it can help you succeed at MSU and as a future business professional, please contact us.
- Residential Business Community
- McDonel Hall
- 817 E Shaw Ln Rm C101
- East Lansing, MI 48825
- rbc@broad.msu.edu
- Phone: (517) 884-4080
Get Connected with Broad:
- Business College Complex
- 632 Bogue St
- East Lansing, MI 48824