Corporate Involvement Menu

As a McCombs alumn, you have several opportunities to stay connected. Representing your company or encouraging your organization to partner with McCombs is one of the best ways to improve both the value of the MBA program and your company's relationship with the school. Not sure how to get involved? Here is a menu of the many ways you can help your company build its corporate presence at McCombs.

Case Challenges

Each year, MBA students participate in several case challenges hosted by the McCombs School of Business. While students test their knowledge on practical business issues and compete for prizes and cash, corporate sponsors gain exposure to our talented students, act as judges for the competition, provide the case or sponsor lunches.  Sponsorship opportunities range from $1,000 to $10,000.  Se page 33 for a story about the National Energy Finance Challenge and the list of other challenges hosted by the McCombs School.

Conference and Events

Speakers and panelists from various companies join us to provide leadership development, communication, and professional growth tips at McCombs School speaker series, events and conferences. Annual highlights include the Women in Business Leadership Conference and the Energy Finance Conference.  Companies may also get involved with the Pitch Party organized by the MBA Plus Program (see page 4), as well as the What's Hot In Business! Plus workshops. In addition, corporate leaders have the opportunity to share personal experiences and advice with MBA students through the student-run MBA Executive Speaker Series.

Career Fairs

Recruiting at the McCombs career fairs is a great way for companies to visit with a large number of our students interested in internship and full-time opportunities.  Our annual fall career fair, MBA CareerConnection, includes traditional career fair booths as well as occasions for informal networking with students.  The Careers Now Fair, held during the spring, allows companies to meet and interview students for positions with more immediate openings.

Student Treks

Throughout the year, the McCombs School takes first-year students on industry=specific recruiting trips.  Hosting a student group an on-site visit during these treks gives organizations the opportunity to showcase their operations and gain exposure to our MBA candidates prior to the spring recruiting season. Generally, each company visit consists of panels of professionals representing all levels and functions within the organization. Some of our destinations include San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, New York and cities through Texas.

Student Organizations

Partnering with one of our MBA student organizations is a great way to reach a targeted group of MBA students.  The organizations are broken down by industry and career interest, allowing companies to interact directly with students by sponsoring and hosting career-related activities.  For example, your company may want to work with a club to sponsor an Up-Close Small Dinner Series with the Graduate Women in Business organization, sponsor the Energy Finance Case Challenge with the Energy Finance Group, or invite the Graduate Marketing Network to your company for an information session and tour.

Plus Projects and Course Practica

Companies can work with a team of MBA students on real world business problem facing the company through the Plus Program or a course practicum.  Students report research findings and recommendations on these micro-consulting programs to companies at the end of the term.  See page 7 for a profile on the Operations Practicum students who partnered with Chevron.

For more information, please contact Kay Nelson, director Corporate Relationship Management.  The Corporate Relations hip Management Team helps companies identify strategic involvement opportunities to meet their needs and objectives and enhance their relations hips with the McCombs School.