KSBImpact
Description
KSBImpact is a student-centered consulting and project management team that directly connects students to the skills, experiences, and professional development that employers demand while providing essential support for regional economic initiatives. Multidisciplinary student teams work on live consulting projects with regional businesses, nonprofits, startups, government agencies, and community organizations while collaborating with peers, student mentors, and faculty. This allows students to develop highly transferable skills in communication, leadership, teamwork, client management, problem-solving, project coordination, presentation development, and professional accountability. These student-centered outcomes are matched by the immediate impact of their work on economic growth and development in Hoosier communities.
The team creates opportunities for long-term engagement as on-going, multi-semester projects are managed by students in VIP roles as they mentor newer students, deepen project experience, and build continuity with clients. In addition, the experiential and skill development structure of KSBImpact creates the foundation for both pedagogical and applied research in associated areas of team collaboration, communication, professional skills, and emerging leadership.
Goals and Learning Outcomes
- Apply research, analysis, and problem-solving strategies to develop practical recommendations for businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, and community organizations
- Collaborate effectively in multidisciplinary teams to manage projects, solve organizational problems, and achieve client-centered objectives within established timelines and deliverables
- Demonstrate professional communication skills through client interactions, presentations, reports, and project updates
- Demonstrate professional and ethical responsibility through accountability, leadership, client relationship management, and responsiveness to community and organizational needs.
Majors and Schools Sought
- Open to students from all majors who are interested in developing highly transferable career skills through real-world consulting and project work.
Desired Skills and Interests
Students should demonstrate professionalism, reliability, integrity, and the willingness to actively engage with clients and community partners. Students should be confident in their ability to manage tasks, meet deadlines, and engage in unstructured problem solving that integrates multiple perspectives. Students should possess strong communication skills and the ability to work independently and collaboratively; they should have an interest in professional consulting, organizational problem-solving, leadership, and community engagement.