Rushing to the fourth floor between classes to look at the schedule for the next forum or close-up is a thing of the past.
A student-run Web site has been created to make information about the School of Business and Industry more accessible to students.
The Web site http://sbinfonline.com is a “one-stop shop” for SBI information. Its purpose is to develop an effective transfer of information between business students and the school.
SBI information is posted on a board on the fourth floor of the south wing, which houses company offices and professional development offices, said Patrice Woods, CEO of Forum Inc. Students generally do not go on that floor, so they often miss valuable information, she said.
Forum and Close Up Inc. are two of SBI’s student-run companies. Each company has individual boards with times and dates as well as section leaders and company names.
These boards are on the same floor, but in different locations.
“It is a good idea and it would be helpful to have all the information you need in one central location,” said Darrell Smith, 19, a second-year business administration student from Atlanta.
Besides the use of the boards, “right now (some of the ways we) communicate (to students) is if we see them on campus, telephone calls, e-mails from perspective companies and the boards,” said Erin Cornett, 21, a fourth-year business administration student from Charlotte, N.C., and the CEO of Close Up.
“Having a Web site that can be updated continually will really help students,” Cornett said. “It’s still kind of new and it’s going to take a while for student to use it.”
The Web site offers an array of services.
It posts information that could only be accessed previously by making the trip to the fourth floor.
Internship information and professional development schedules can also be found at sbinfoonline.com.
The site also provides answers to frequently asked questions, lists names of section leaders and provides contact information for additional help.
As the Web site grows, it will offer more services to meet the needs of all students.
“In the future, I would like to see (professional development) text message reminders and free book listings on the Web site so students don’t have to post flyers around campus,” said sbinfoonlin.com creator Mitch Brooks, 21, a fourth-year business administration student from Washington, D.C.
Brooks’ business development plan and marketing strategy consists of four stages.
Buzz marketing is the focus for the first stage.
“By the end of fall 2006, all stages will be complete and every student in SBI, (including) undergraduates and MBAs, will definitely love the site,” said Brooks.
Some students like the site but feel more people need to know about it.
“I like it,” said Selena Meeks, 22, a fourth-year business administration student from Miami. “I just hope more students use it. It needs more publicity.”
For now, word of mouth is spreading about the site.
“I’ve noticed people have been excited,” said Woods, 21, a fourth-year business administration student from Rockford, Ill. “In class, a student asked a question about a social lab and someone referred him to the Web site.”
Students who are interested in joining the creative team for the site are currently being interviewed. Business students who would like to help this project can contact info@sbinfonline.com.
Contact Christy Bennett at famuanbusiness@hotmail.com