BusX: Linking classroom lessons to business professionals

By Adam Duncan

At Christopher Newport University’s (CNU) Luter School of Business, we speak often with business leaders in our community and in our market. Every seasoned business professional will tell you: spending four years in a classroom does not inherently turn someone into a professional, no matter what degree he or she may receive. 

So how do you best prepare a student to enter the workforce and add value on a team, in a company and in the community? Just as importantly, what are companies learning from these students? How does this help them interface with the next generation of talent?

Most commonly, an internship and mentorship experience bridges a gap between student and professional. The need for a robust internship and mentorship program is important for a business, too, as companies need an opportunity to demonstrate to the best and brightest future candidates that their careers are prosperous.

The Luter School of Business strives to create more opportunities—beyond internships—where students can connect with CNU’s business partners outside of the classroom. Linking classroom lessons to a business professional, one who is putting theory into practice, is beneficial for all involved.

Luter’s Business Exchange Conference (BusX) delivers just such an opportunity. 

Over two days, successful business leaders come to campus to impart wisdom and share experiences with current and potential Luter School students at CNU—a critically valuable opportunity for our young aspirants as they consider their future. The program features keynote speakers and more than two dozen seminars, workshops and discussion sessions on a wide variety of career-oriented topics. Each interactive session is presented by Luter alumni and professional leaders. Business classes are suspended for the duration of the conference so that all 400 upperclassmen business students, plus freshmen and sophomore aspirants, can participate. 

What makes BusX special are the relationships that form from the experience. Students connect to the perspectives they need to lead a life of professional significance. Professionals and alumni return to CNU and share accomplishments, struggles and experiences.

Luter’s Business Exchange Conference (BusX) makes this exchange possible. 

Adam Duncan is director of outreach for the Luter School of Business at Christopher Newport University. He connects the business community to the CNU student community through experiential learning. Duncan can be reached at 757-594-8181 or by email at adam.duncan@cnu.edu.