TRAil of A TERRoRisT - Point Park University

Getting Down toStudents Create Plans for NewBusinesses at Point ParkBy Camille DowningMost people would agree that learning is most effective when a studentbecomes intimately involved in the classroom experience. For studentsin the Introduction to Business courses last fall, learning was taking placeat a rapid pace, thanks to an innovative approach to fullyunderstanding business theories and practices.Students were involved in a school-wide business plancompetition in which they were given hands-on experiencewith creating, developing and starting a newbusiness—at least on paper. While thestudents were not actually footing thefinancing or building storefronts, they gainedfirst hand knowledge of the intricacies ofentrepreneurship as they planned all aspectsof the start up of their new business.It all began in Provost Charles Perkins’ classas he strove to teach his students about theins and outs of business management. In aneffort to bring the lessons to life, he approachedElaine Luther, associate professor in the Schoolof Business, about bringing their sections togetherto participate in a competition. Three classes hadstudents form groups that were charged with thetask of researching and developing a plan to opena new business on the University campus. It wasup to each group to determine the needs andinterests of the University community, thendevelop a plan to reach them through a newproduct or service.The results were impressive as the creativeminds of the students took flight. The ideasrevolved around what is most important tostudents: food, studying, entertainment andspecialized services that make life easier.“In their plans, the students showed someareas where campus needs were not beingmet,” explained Luther. “They saw a gapbetween supply and demand, and then reallythought out how they could meet these needsbased on a solid business model.”Madori Rouse, a freshman business major, and hergroup developed a Web site titled studentprice.com.8 www.pointpark.edu