Our Stories

Governance and Social Responsibility : Undergraduate Teams Compete in Social Responsibility Challenge

Students presenting at Social Responsibility Communications Challenge
Eller undergraduate students talk with a judge in the 2011 Social Responsibility Communications Challenge.
Photo by Alex Smith.

Learn more about:

June 2011

By Liz Warren-Pederson

During the spring semester, 100 Eller undergraduates volunteered to participate in special, social responsibility-focused sections of BNAD 314, a required course in business communication designed to build “soft skills” in teamwork, client management, and presentation.

Instead of preparing for the traditional case competition that culminates the class, these students took on 25 projects designed to improve the quality of life for refugees living in the Tucson community — in partnership with Arizona Refugee Connection (ARC).

ARC is a UA student-run organization that aims to help the more than 8,000 refugees — people targeted for oppression because of ethnicity or religion — resettle in Tucson by providing opportunities to develop employability, business and financial skills, and social acculturation. Cindi Gilliland, senior lecturer in management and organizations, is ARC’s faculty advisor and founded the organization.

Business communication senior lecturer Diza Sauers worked with Gilliland to create the opportunity for the students, who completed projects such as directing and creating marketing plans, organizing supply/donation drives, and coordinating community events.

Read the full story in eller buzz.

Return to Our Stories, or for additional information, please contact us.

| More