The BAC
Welcome to the Business Advisory Council ("the BAC")! The BAC is a voluntary resource group of the Martin V. Smith School of Business and Economics ("the School"). It is comprised of both private and public sector leaders from the region and undergraduate and graduate students of the School (Members). Its activities are geared to directly assist the faculty, staff, students and alumni of the School and to bring awareness and recognition of the various undergraduate and graduate programs available at the School. The BAC is not involved in any fund-raising, but contributes its time and expertise to better the School and its interests.
The Mission
As an independent resource to the School and its Director, the BAC makes available its collective and individual members' experiences and knowledge to the various constituents of the School and helps to further the School's relevance, prominence and brand throughout the region.
The Core Objectives
The BAC's various activities, both on and off campus, are geared to support the following objectives:
- To be a resource to the School’s students, alumni, staff and faculty.
- To build and promote the School’s brand, capabilities and reputation.
- To promote the School’s accomplishments and to support its initiatives and long-term development.
- To build relationships for the School with the regional business community.
- To generate networks and alliances for the School with various constituencies.
- To provide advice regarding curriculum, programs, recruitment, community relations, etc.
The Activities
The BAC meets quarterly on campus and is involved in a number of ongoing activities and initiatives, many of which are underwritten by its annual member dues. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Student bus tours to local businesses
- On-campus Speaker Series
- In class panel discussions
- External media promotions of School events
- Networking with on-campus business clubs
- Focus group discussions with alumni of the School
- Internship opportunities
- Faculty applicant interviews and evaluation
- School assessment interviews
- Student mentoring and vocational guidance
Speaker Events
The Speaker Series has included a variety of prominent local and national speakers who have made presentations or have been interviewed on stage. The primary purpose of the Speaker Series is to provide information and insights to our students and to the community. Therefore, the events are held on campus on Friday afternoons, are free to the audience, and include a lunch before each presentation.