Student and Faculty Opportunities
Career Mentoring
At Concordia, our goal is to connect you with industry leaders that will provide you with insights gained from their business experiences. This connection will allow you to begin building your network of business partners. Participate in this opportunity to meet and learn from successful business leaders in Portland.
Lunch with an Exec
The School of Management and Chi Beta Chi, the Business Club, have successfully launched a new program this year called “Lunch with an Exec.” Held on campus, these lunches provide a forum for 6-8 students to have a close, personal luncheon conversation with an executive whose interests match theirs. The luncheons are purposely small and congenial. The invited execs are asked to talk about themselves, their goals, values, and dreams. Topics have include personal histories which led to career choice, what the most and least enjoy about their work, greatest challenges, what they want in an employee, and advice for a balanced life of work, family, and faith.
To date, a number of influential people have participated: Louise McGarry, President of McGarry Machin, Kevin Kelly, CEO and owner of McCall Heating, Paul Spies, Energy and Environment Economics, John Harker, President of InFocus Systems, Michael Bershaw, Partner at Deloitte and Touche, Scott Thamason, President of the Thomason Auto Group, Laura Evans, Public and Event Relations, Steve Wynne, CEO of Addidas America, Vern Naito, VP of Norcrest China Company, Fred Buckman, past CEO of Pacificorp, and Bob Bellinghi, former General Manager at Ryerson, an Inland Steel Industries company.
Students are enjoying the opportunity to spend time with people of this stature and, in several cases, have followed up with visits to the companies represented by the executives. One of the executives who had been the speaker at a similar event at his alma mater, Stanford, commented that the Concordia students at the table were better prepared with good questions than the students at Stanford.
Faculty Mentoring
Bigger isn’t always better! Our unique size allows us to pair students with faculty mentors. Need assistance selecting classes or advice on selecting the right career? Your faculty mentor is available to aid you in selecting appropriate courses and activities, discuss career paths, and of course to help with the inevitable academic concerns and questions that all students encounter. Faculty members also work with an academic advisor who will register you for classes and assist you with your curriculum choices.
Additionally, at Concordia we understand that part of your motivation in seeking a degree is the desire to secure a professional position after graduation. Faculty will assist you in jump-starting your career by helping you develop a professional portfolio that is designed to showcase your skills to future employers.
Chapel
Chapel is a special event that occurs every day at Saint Michael’s Lutheran Church on the north end of campus. Worship is placed at the center of life and activity at Concordia. The worship program guides the spiritual tone and stimulates faith development in all aspects of the Concordia Experience. Although attendance is not required, faculty, staff and students alike are encouraged to attend services. All University offices are closed and no classes are held during chapel time so that all members of the Concordia community may be able to attend.
Individual faculty and staff of the School of Management conduct chapel services several times a year and invite School of Management students to help lead the services.
The ‘Freshman Experience’
Our Freshman Experience is like receiving the ultimate ‘academic care package’. But instead of giving you goodies, Concordia provides you with the following four programs:
SOM Social Activities
All work and no play? You know what they say about that . . . Here we like to make sure we take time out from the day-to-day grind and have fun! (Note to parents: good, clean fun, and of course academics comes first!) To that end, from time to time the School of Management will sponsor off campus activities such as trips to Blazer games (last year we were on the Jumbo-tron - we bring signs!) and local cultural events or maybe we’ll hold a barbecue on campus. If there’s a way to involve food in an activity, or a reason to gather for food, we’re sure to do it!
Chi Beta Chi
Chi Beta Chi (XBX) is an association of business students at Concordia University whose vision is to “integrate education with real world experience.” To this end, XBX members participate in a variety of activities, including hosting top Portland area executives for their “Lunch with an Exec” program, visiting work-sites and participating in and sponsoring various social activities such as a trip to see the Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose Garden. This association is quite dynamic, attracting some of the best and brightest of Concordia’s business students. These students are able to make professional connections, establish solid business ethics and practice leadership skills in a collegiate setting, enhancing the potential for future professional success. Membership is open to any School of Management student with a desire to be a leader in the world of business.
Sigma Beta Delta
Sigma Beta Delta is a national honor society which recognizes high performing
university students in business, management, and administration degree
programs. Membership in Sigma Beta Delta is the highest national recognition a
business student can receive at a college or university with a Sigma Beta Delta
chapter. To be eligible for membership, a baccalaureate or graduate business
student must rank in the upper 20 percent of the junior, senior or master's class
and be invited to membership by the faculty officers. The purposes of Sigma Beta
Delta are to encourage and recognize scholarship and achievement among
students of business, management and administration, and to encourage and
promote personal and professional improvement and a life distinguished by
honorable service to humankind. The benefits of joining this society include
lifetime membership for scholastic excellence, eligibility to compete for fellowship
awards, professional networking opportunities, and society newsletters. Invitation
and initiation of new members are conducted each spring term.
Study Abroad
In coordination with Concordia University's International Studies Program, the School of Management offers unique opportunities to study global business for a semester or a year in more than 15 countries around the world. We all now live in the global village. Knowledge of each other's cultures, languages, and a way of life is an essential prerequisite to success in the global business world. If you are self-motivated and wish to risk a little to gain a lot, we urge you to consider these pre-approved study abroad opportunities as part of your program of study.
International Internships
The International Internship Program in London and Germany provides the ideal opportunity to students to prepare for a global career and gain academic credit. In an increasingly competitive world, practical experience in the workplace is an invaluable addition to classroom learning. We offer exciting internship opportunities with overseas companies in almost every area of business interest.