Fall 2012
Volume 3, Issue 2
DoB Newsletter
Division of Business
Xavier University of Louisiana
Code of Conduct/Blazer Ceremony
Xavier business students celebrated their first -ever
Blazer Ceremony
Inside this issue:
Business Week
2
Homecoming
2
LinkedIn
3
3M Presentation
3
Division Highlights
4
Students pledge to the Division’s inaugural Code of Conduct during the “Blazer Ceremony” where students received their Division of Business blazers.
In a formal ceremony held at the University Center ballroom on October 9, 2012, business students that a completed
the previous year in good academic standing received a Xavier University Division of Business blazer. As part of the ceremony,
the students that were given blazers collectively pledged to uphold a newly composed Division of Business Code of Conduct.
The code of conduct was mostly a student developed statement permeating around the principles of Integrity, Community, Academic Honesty, and Responsibility Engagement (or I C.A.R.E.). The students that served on a team to write the code
were Javon Mead (Junior, Management major), SiMon Franklin (Junior, Accounting major), Whitney White (Senior, Sales and
Marketing major), and Peter Baham (Senior, Finance major). Faculty that supervised the code of ethics team were Mr. Clifford
Wright, Professor of Accounting, Dr. Shael Wolfson, Assistant Professor of Finance, and Dr. Amanda Helm, Assistant Professor
of Sales and Marketing. According to Dr. Helm, “The language of the code came from the students,” which included phrases
such as “I will treat my coursework like a career. I will treat class time as a business meeting with colleagues.”
The code of conduct also included pledges to the professional codes of ethics of the different business disciplines.
Management, Accounting, Finance, and Sales and Marketing majors pledged to uphold codes of ethics of the National Management Association, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Chartered Financial Analysts Institute, and the American
Marketing Association, respectively. The idea of providing students with blazers also came from the students themselves as
they prepared for this year’s Business Week. Dr. Helm recalled, “I think they (the Business majors) were partly inspired by the
Pharmacy students with their white coasts.”
Also present at the October 9 ceremony were Dr. Norman C. Francis, University President, Mr. Calvin Tregre, Senior
Vice President for Finance and Administration (and Business Division alumnus), Dr. Anil Kukreja, Dean of the College of Arts and
Sciences (and immediate past Chairman of the Business Division), and Mr. Larry Calvin, Director of Xavier’s Human Resource
Office. In his brief remarks, Dr. Francis said he was proud to also receive a blazer and that business students should take very
seriously the code of conduct that they pledged to uphold.
http://www.xula.edu/business
Page 2
DoB Newsletter
Volume 3, Issue 2
Business Week
Students received information regarding
career and internship opportunities at an
employer expo during Business Week.
Mark Quinn introduces the panel to the
audience during the Crowdfunding symposium.
Business Week 2012 was a great success. To kick off the week The Division of
Business and the Office of Career Services sponsored a Career Expo where students
received information regarding career and internship opportunities with local and national employers. According to Rita Palermo, Human Resources Assistant, Audubon
Institute, “the Employer Expo is a wonderful opportunity to connect students with local
employers.” Traditionally, the Business Week Kick Off has been more of a social gathering. It was decided by the committee that we could still accomplish the social goal of
generating energy among the students while also creating more opportunities for students and faculty to engage with the business community. The Career Expo met both
goals. According to Marian Minnard, Associate Director Career Services, Xavier University of Louisiana, “The Employer Expo allowed students to network with employers and
learn more about internship opportunities. After attending the Employer Expo,
De’Angela Smith, a senior management major, applied, interviewed, and accepted a
summer internship with Target.”
The Division also hosted two symposia during which New Orleans residents
and Xavier students explored current business topics. The topics were “Crowdfunding:
The New Trend on Small Business Financing” and “Gas Prices 101: Policy, Industry, and
Financial Market Perspectives.” Both symposia were extremely informative and very
well attended. The week concluded with our student development seminars. These
seminars were designed to address issues students may face during their first few years
in the workforce. Panels formed by our Business Advisory Council members presented
information on various ways companies are using social media and on career planning
to achieve career goals.
The Division Engages with Alumni during
Homecoming
Current students, Alumni, faculty and staff
listen in as the Division chair gives an update on the progress of the Division during
Homecoming weekend.
The Division of Business held two events during the 2012 Homecoming celebration.
On Friday evening, the division held a networking cocktail reception at the Jones Walker
Law Firm on the 52nd floor of the Place St. Charles building downtown. The reception
was an opportunity for faculty, alumni, and Business Advisory Council (BAC) members to
get acquainted and discuss what’s going on in the Division of Business. Dr. Ricks, Chair of
the division and Geoffrey Marshall, alumnus and immediate past chair of the BAC made
presentations to introduce some to the exciting things taking place in the division and
how alumni could help.
On Saturday the division held an open house pig roast. Students presented some of
their projects and internship experiences during a tour of the business facilities including
the 3M Sales Behavioral Lab and the X-ncubator, the division’s student business incubator. Before and after the tour alumni enjoyed the pig roast tailgate and viewed the
Homecoming Parade as it passed Xavier South.
Current students, Alumni, faculty and
staff feast at this year’s Homecoming pig
roast in Xavier South parking lot.
According to Dr. Ricks, “One of the strategic initiatives for the division is to engage
more of our business alumni to help us build our brand and access resources.” The 2012
Homecoming events were the kick off to further developing the relationship between the
Division and its alumni.
http://www.xula.edu/business
Page 3
DoB Newsletter
Volume 3, Issue 2
DOB Raising Our Profile: LinkedIn
The Division of Business has committed to LinkedIn as its primary professional
networking tool. LinkedIn is the largest professional networking internet site with 200
million members worldwide in over 200 countries. The Xavier University of Louisiana Division of Business group page is open to all stakeholders in the division and allows current
students to network with one another as well as alumni members. As membership grows,
students will be able to see their potential career paths in front of them and stay connected with the Xavier Business community. Current alumni members hold such titles as
CFO, Director of Finance, Senior Account Executive, Portfolio Manager and Senior Tax
Accountant to name a few. Division Chair Dr. Ricks explained, “Part of our Division’s focus
as stated in our Code of Conduct is Community, it is the ‘C’ in I.C.A.R.E. LinkedIn will help
us stay engaged with our alumni and create new opportunities for our students through
this networking channel.” The Division of Business LinkedIn page can be found in the
LinkedIn group directory.
The Division of Business student listen in
as Marian Minnard gives a presentation on
LinkedIn etiquette.
XAVIER UNIVERSITY STUDENTS PRESENT TO 3M CORPORATION
EXECUTIVES
A team of Xavier students presented a business plan to executives at the 3M Corporation in St. Paul, MN, on November 30th. Nnenia Clark, BS Business – Finance, Gina
Ricard, BS Business – Management, Anjanique Hill, BS Business – Sales & Marketing, Jacobe’ Hollins, BS Business – Management, Jacqré Stewart, BS Chemistry, and Timothy Jackson, BS Business – Management, all from the class of 2013, teamed to present a business
plan for Steps for Empowerment, an initiative to export used shoes to Liberia.
In addition to making the presentation, the students had the opportunity to meet
with 3M executives from a number of its operating units. 3M uses this event as a place to
identify talent and to stimulate students to address global issues using business principles.
“The Sales for Social Impact (SSI) class combines the characteristics of Xavier’s Sales &
Marketing Program with the Entrepreneurship Institute to give students the opportunity to
address real world issues,” said Prof. Mark Quinn, the Conrad N. Hilton Endowed Chair in
Entrepreneurship at Xavier. “We are preparing our students for viable careers with corporations while developing their entrepreneurial skills.”
Funded by the 3M Foundation, this years’ SSI project, Steps for Empowerment
developed a business plan and executed a drive to collect used shoes for export and sale
to microenterprises in Liberia, who would then resell them to the general public. The students studied many aspects of Liberian culture and business practices to develop the plan.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to dig deep into today’s global issues and challenges
of other lower developmental countries,” said Timothy Jackson. “The experience of presenting a plan and responding to questions in an authentic corporate setting helped me
greatly.”
A number of Xavier University graduates have joined 3M as interns and full time
employees in recent years. The Sales for Social Impact class is offered in the Fall semester
and all Xavier students regardless of their major are welcome to enroll. Additional information on these activities is available by contacting Prof. Quinn at mquinn@xula.edu or at
520.5046.
http://www.xula.edu/business
Six business students presented a plan
for exporting shoes to Liberia (Steps for
Empowerment) to executives at the 3M
Corporation in St. Paul, MN, as part of
their Sales for Social Impact Class. On
hand were: (seated, L-R) Gina Ricard,
Anjanique Hill, and Jacqré Stewart;
(standing, L-R) Division of Business Chair
Dr. Joe Ricks, Jr. and Conrad N. Hilton
Endowed Chair in Entrepreneurship Mark
Quinn, Nnenia Clark, Jacobe' Hollins,
Timothy Jackson, and 3M marketing
analyst Stacey Windon (alumna ’11).
Anjanique Hill and Gina Ricard prepare
Xavier's campus for the Steps for Empowerment kick-off.
Xavier University
Division of Business
1 Drexel Drive
New Orleans, LA 70125-1098
Current students, faculty, staff and alumni
pose for a group picture at this year’s
Homecoming reception
Students spend a relaxing afternoon on the
yard at the Entrepreneurship Institute picnic
Business Minors pledge to the Division’s
Code of Conduct
Gas Price 101: Guest panelists give students
an explanation of how gas prices rise and fall
Students show off their trophies
as the winning SIFE team
BAC members gives students valuable
information on job search and internship
opportunities
For more information on the programs offered by the Division of Business,
please email us at business@xula.edu or call us at 504-520-7505.
Or visit us in building 40 (Xavier South) room 325
http://www.xula.edu/business