Melissa's article

Jon M. Huntsman School of Business
Final Paper

As a member of the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business, a typical conversation among students may include a recent University-paid trip taken to an exotic country or perhaps where in the world they will be traveling to gain internship experience, or how the Dean will possibly spend the $26 million donation granted to the department. For those studying business at Utah State University, they have got it figured out.
The Huntsman School of Business prides itself as being a school of opportunity that strives to be a highly sought first-rate business school. Their goal is to see their students excel confidently and ethically in a global market.
Erik Kaltschmidt is a 23-year-old double majoring in International Business and Economics. The junior from Whitefish, MT, chose to pursue a bachelor’s degree at USU because of the growing international programs available to its business students. In the past year alone, he has gained international experience by visiting Brazil, Peru, and Chile in a summer study abroad program and also by traveling to France, Belgium, and Great Britain in the past fall semester. According to Kaltschmidt, the in-country experience has enhanced his understanding of business practice from a global perspective and the implications of dealing with business leaders of different cultures. He is currently preparing himself for a paid internship in Xian, China where he will spend the following fall semester.
Before being named after Jon M. Huntsman, the College of Business at USU was just another business program in Utah. However, with a new Dean and a whole lot of money to invest in its students, the program is developing into something special. The School currently offers two study abroad summer programs in both South America and Asia in which groups of business students will leave the comforts of Logan, Utah and travel overseas to both learn of new cultures and get a perspective of working internationally in a business setting. Eric Nielsen, a 21-year-old majoring in both Finance and Economics is excited for his summer experience in Asia where he will travel to China, Vietnam, and South Korea for a five week period. “I’m looking forward to meeting with government and business leaders while traveling throughout Asia,” he said. Nielsen added that while the School of Business does have many opportunities, students have to search them out on their own.
Whitney Larsen, a senior graduating in Accounting and Economics, sees the changes in the School of Business and wishes that she could have taken part in all of the new opportunities that are available to its students. “I’m not getting any of the benefits of the Huntsman name they are trying to build up,” she said. “It’ll benefit everyone coming into the school after me.” One of the downfalls of being in the School of Business, for both sexes, is that there are fewer females in the program. Larsen has noticed that her female professors are more willing to help her to succeed than her male professors.
Tyler Raymond, 21, chose Finance and Economics as a dual major because he saw it as the best possibility for future success. Raymond will spend this summer working as an intern in California. He did not get this internship through the School, but did learn of all its available opportunities.
Although these programs are currently offered to all Huntsman Business Students, the interest is highly favored towards those studying International Business. The critics of the new development of the program say that the costs are high and many students use the summer months to work and/or plan their future marriages but those who invest their time into the available programs are putting themselves ahead of the competition. Kaltschmidt says that despite the great benefits associated with the travel, the most important aspect of the new programs are the great networking opportunities available in visiting the varying businesses and especially the friendships formed with his peers and the professors that travel alongside with the students.