A gift to the College of Business & Technology Are of Greatest Need Fund provides critical support toward advancing the college's goals.
The College of Business and Technology at the University of Nebraska at Kearney has something unique for each of its students.
Whether it’s the value the college places on students getting involved in real-world work, or internship and marketing research projects that make an impact across the globe, there are incredible experiences for each student.
Tim Jares, Ph.D., dean of the College of Business and Technology, has seen how special this program is since taking his position in 2019, specifically citing the impact of the school’s internship program.
“It is valuable for the students and the employers,” he said. “Last year, in our college alone, we had 150 internships for credit … which is almost 15% of the entire campus.”
The opportunity for meaningful, resume-enhancing experiences doesn’t stop there. Thanks to the College of Business and Technology’s Greatest Needs Fund, students have been supported in attending the CBT Student Ambassador Success Conference and the Future Business Leaders of America National Leadership Conference, collaborating with schools worldwide on marketing opportunities abroad in addition to improving learning spaces on campus.
“What we try and do is use those funds to invest in things that might arise short term but align with our long-term strategic plan,” Jares said. “I like to use the term ‘margin of excellence funding.’”
For students in this college, without the available funding, it would be challenging to achieve the same level of learning and experience that comes from opportunities like these.
“Three of our last four freshman classes are our largest freshman classes in the previous 20 years,” Jares said. “That is showing that we are using our donors’ investments to make a difference.”
The college places great value on ensuring that each student’s potential is recognized, aligning with its mission to foster experiential learning. Jares touched on how impactful donor support is because of the many successful alumni who have graduated from CBT.
“I think that is important because those stories are inspirational to our students who sometimes don’t know what they can do and therefore don’t dream as big as they could,” Jares said. “So, support from our donors really does provide a margin of excellence that allows us to do truly amazing things.”
As Jares mentioned, the College of Business and Technology is full of potential. With the support of the fund, that potential can be further amplified.
“Our number one priority right now is to renovate portions of West Center,” Jares said. “This building is roughly 100 years old. We can do this well with a below-average building; imagine what we could do with a first-class home.”
To enhance the education and experiences within the College of Business and Technology, consider donating to the college’s Greatest Needs Fund and make a lasting impact.
