Walker College faculty members from all disciplines seek to develop and relationships with companies that need support evaluating and/or improving operations. Faculty members can provide needs analysis to organizations, and teams of students working with faculty members for course credit can work on specific business challenges or opportunities, provide valuable research and data, and help identify solutions to support our industry partners. Projects are on-going in a variety of fields, and more courses are added as opportunities are presented. Please inquire, wcob@appstate.edu.
One example of how Appalachian business students are working on real business solutions is the Impact Clinic, which pairs student teams with businesses to measure and manage their environmental and societal impacts. Modeled on B-Corp Certification goals, the Appalachian Impact Clinic was developed by Tammy Kowalczyk, a professor of accounting in the Walker College, with an aim to further socially responsible business practices. The clinic evaluates how business operations impact owners/investors, consumers, employees, the local community, and the natural environment to improve their triple bottom line. The benefits to a company that aspires to become a “business for good” include increasing share of socially-conscious customer base, greater opportunity for attracting employees and investors aligned with values, and managing risks associated with more responsible sourcing in supply chains. Interested businesses should realize the benefit of assessing environmental and societal impacts to better balance purpose and profit. Contact Tammy Kowalczyk, kowalczykt@appstate.edu, (828) 262-6226.