Student Comments
As the President for our company, I learned what La Verne means by its value of
Lifelong Learning. Leading a group of people has truly taught me what it means to do
effective teamwork. I had the opportunity to work with a variety of personalities. With
different personalities, came different opinions and perspectives. Although our views
may have clashed, each person's opinion was valuable to moving the company forward.
I have always had an interest in starting a company but I always knew that I wanted to
formal education. Coming into college, little did I know that I would have such a valuable
opportunity to apply what I learned in the classroom to real life. I realized that all those
academic requirements we all seem to dread to complete, are absolutely essential to
succeed. I learned that what we read in a textbook, doesn't have to stay in a classroom,
in an assignment, and in a test. These are things we need to carry with us as young
entrepreneurs. Now that I see the value in learning these things, I strongly believe that I
will see my future courses at La Verne in a new light. I no longer will think, "what do I
need to memorize/study to get an A on this test", but rather "how can I use this
information in the world of business".
I think the integrated business program has been extremely beneficial as a business
major I believe it truly has made me see a business as a whole. Even though someone
just wants to get into finance, they still need communication within all the different parts
in a business is absolutely curial. I think this program did a very good job of teaching the
students that product development is so important (and time consuming). I would
strongly encourage the next group to begin over the summer. I think it would also be a
good idea to have a set presentation date with the bank at the very beginning that way,
the group has the presentation on its schedule already.
I really appreciate the professors input and support I like that it was a small group
because it made the whole experience more personable between peers and professors
alike. If there is a larger group of students, I do think it’s a good idea to spirt them into
different companies. Overall, I think the program is a true, hand on experience that you
really can’t get from other universities
Karina Balmaceda
May 15, 2012
The integrated business program at the university of La Verne has more value to offer
when compared to taking the same courses without coordinating teachers. The
professors support students on a personal and professional level while integrating
subject concepts with fellow professors.
Each professor has been able to switch weeks within his/her lesson plan in order
to align concepts, ideas and materials with the coursework of other professors. Some
examples include: marketing concepts that include the target market and determining
how much product is needed while determining the cost of financing and the
management structure required implementing production and effective sale strategies.
Having the course material change in order to align concepts and emphasizing certain
concepts first, helped to greatly increase motivation, progress, and management skills
throughout the certain and maintenance of the business that my partners and I
developed. A course by itself, without the coordination efforts of the professor, would
not have been enough support and would only cause more confusion since the core
concepts and materials would be introduced at different time periods. Students would
have had to refocus on a topic of discussion days or weeks after it was previously
introduced or discussed.
The overall structure and coordination efforts have created stronger and more positive
learning environments for students while reinforcing the course material through
practiced application, by experiencing and discussion of how concepts from marketing,
management and finance are connected. There is no single group of individual classes
that could have created as great of a positive impact as the business integrated
program at the University of La Verne.
Jonathan Ayee
May 15, 2012
I feel this course is very helpful in allowing me to gain knowledge and experience about
a business I liked that we were able to see how finance, management and marketing
wirk together to actually form parts of a business which allows the business to become
successful. But I did learn that mistakes in managing these areas are easily made and
can cause a business do fail. My experience in this integrates program made me realize
how difficult it can be in managing inventory and staying organized with numbers on a
daily basis. Also, I feel that for us to have a successful business, it requires a lot of effort
and team work. Our business would not have been successful if we all did not do our
part.
Another thing that I learned from this program is that starting a business requires
a lot of time on dilation when preparing a business plan to finding a manufacture, there
were these when we ran into issues but we were always able to find an answer to our
problems. Something that I learned about myself is that I am not a sell person. I think
having to actually go out and sell our product was the most difficult part it has helped
me with my communication skills.
Alicia Chen
5/15/2012
This integrated business program has been very beneficial to me. It has given me real
world experience that is not possible to gain in other classes. The other courses give
examples or theories about the real world, but rarely does a student actually grasp the
importance of topics discussed. In this program all od the textbook topics come to life
and the reality of the business world is deal with. As a participant in this program, I feel
more prepared for professional world once graduate. Now I can say that I did not just
memorize things from a textbook. Rather learned from the topics professors, and fellow
students. I was able to put the topics covered in class into action in real life.
Briana Martinelli
May 15, 2012
The integrated Business program gave me the opportunity to experience firsthand how
a business factions. It gave me a better understanding of how each department
(finance, marketing, management) have to work together to have a successful business.
Having all three classes (finance, marketing, management) integrated helped me
understand the material that was been covered better. Unlike regular classes, you don’t
get the chance to put the knowledge you obtained from the classes to the test. In the
integrated business program, all of the knowledge you get from the three classes is
used to run your own business. Also the integrated business program gave me the team
work skills that I needed. Before I didn’t like working with a team because it always
ended in someone doing all the work. In the program it was different. All of us worked
as a team to make LV tech designs the successful business I consider it to be.
Blanca Mireles
May 15, 2012
Overall, the program has helped me develop more of a team work with other
students. As well as, an idea how a company should be run. By having all the courses
integrated with each other helps speed the process of learning the colts and don’t of a
company.
Having to see everyone all day; crated a bond that everyone in our group can relate to.
New friends, colleagues, classmates, and much more. There are times where people
will but heads with each other, however it is something that we can solve in the
practicum.
The course materials are always related to each other. Even though it’s a lot to take in
at times, its something that is needed to speed things along. It also helps with the
business plan, which in my opinion the hardest, time- consuming, and major pain to do.
Yet overcoming this trail helps us progress towards a more well- developed character in
the future ahead.
Jonathan Truong
5-15-2012
Having practiced work and applying business situation is the best form at
education and undergraduate business student can receive. The integrate practicum
allowed me to take the information given in the text books make them into real life
experiences and learning. Having the integrative program also did not take away from
learning in the conventional manner. Quizzes and test were still given to help us retain
knowledge, unlike conventional courses the practicum fueled for successful learning
because each course time, whether finance, marketing, or management, new theories
or application were being introduced to us so we could grow in our company and see
the changes that needed to be make. Professor involvement was extremely cured
because alongside the text business understanding the gave to us their insight into
business was for greater. All the professors shared their experiences allowing us to
broaden the understanding of successful business skills. In conventional courses stress
weighted heavily on exams and projects. With the integrative practicum stress come
from many obstacles For example, all of us at LV tech design never preparation come
into to real bankers asking for a loan, extensive preparation come into play to make our
performance legitimist and understanding to wells Fargo. no text book or test can
educate pleased by this course because t has given me deep understanding how
corporations work and that it takes to stay running and successful.
Raul Rodriguez
May 15, 2012
Taking the integrated business course has been a great, learning experience.
Taking the three classes together really helped me get a better understanding of how
management, finance, and marketing plan an important rate in businesses. What makes
this a great program is that we all got the opportunity to implement what we learned into
our own business. So far as it was not just about going to class and later on forgetting
what you learned, we got the opportunity to use everything we learned in class to have
our business succeed. What I liked the most is that in our business I am in charge of the
financial statements so that gave me a better idea of what to expect since I am an
accounting major. Overall, it has been an amazing experience and I am glad that I had
the opportunity.
Brenda Perez
May 15, 2012