The University of Wisconsin- La Crosse’s College of Business Administration turns 50 years old in 2020. The school has launched a 50 Years Forward Fundraising Campaign, and the Menard family has already generously contributed $2.1 million to establish the Menard Family Midwest Initiative for Economic Engagement and Research. This will greatly benefit the students by funding scholarships, off-campus excursions, research projects, visiting scholars, and much more. CBA already provides financial support to many of its students. In 2018, 53 students were awarded $10,000 each. The $25 million renovations to Wittich Hall are scheduled to be completed in 2020 and will feature space dedicated to the Small Business Development Center. CBA is comprised of the following departments: Accountancy, Economics, Finance, Information Systems, International Business, Management, Marketing, and Healthcare Analytics Management. All programs are committed to excellence and accredited by the AACSB.
Education
Undergraduate students can major in Accountancy, Economics, Finance, Health Information Management and Technology, Information Systems, International Business, Management, or Marketing. Finance students can earn a concentration in Risk, Insurance, and Financial Planning. Most of the majors can also be applied as a minor to complement another degree. Additional minors include Health Information Systems Management, Healthcare Analytics Management, and Sustainable Business. The professors teaching these courses are among the best on the campus. Each year, students have the chance to nominate one professor to receive the Eagle Teaching Excellence Award. In 2019, two business professors were honored with this award out of the 600 nominations.
Student Life
CBA has approximately 1,900 undergraduate and 40 graduate students. The business organizations students can get involved in include the CBA Student Advisory Council, American Marketing Association, Beta Alpha Psi, Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization, Delta Sigma Pi, Financial Management Association, Healthcare Management, and Life Sciences, International Business Association, Information Systems Association, Investment Club, and the Society for Human Resource Management. Students are also invited to sit in on the lecture series, featuring prominent business leaders and panel sessions, such as the Q & A with Women and Minority Entrepreneurs.
The Job Center of Wisconsin partners with the university assist students in their job search. The Career Services department on campus also offers job fairs throughout the year, geared towards part-time or seasonal employment, internships, and specific degree fields. Students who complete an internship have the opportunity to share what they’ve learned during the Internship Showcase. The Public Speaking Center supports students on oral presentations via peer consultants. The peer consultant position is a part-time job perfect for students who enjoy interacting with their classmates. Juniors and seniors interesting in pursuing a graduate degree who are minorities and/or first-generation college students can apply for the McNair Scholars program. This program is fully funded through the United States Department of Education and UWL. The benefits of this program include research and career exposure, free tutoring, and field trips.
Online Programs
The online Master of Business Administration program is offered through the University of Wisconsin Consortium Online. The program features the same outstanding professors as the on-campus programs.