Corporate support opens doors
Cindy Hales
By Cindy Hales
Director of corporate and foundation relations
Perhaps the most exciting thing about working in corporate and foundation relations is the vast landscape in which I am able to explore partnerships for CMU students and faculty. The opportunities for corporations of all shapes and sizes to engage with a university are endless, and often provide both partners with mutual and sometimes unexpected benefits. Here are just a few of the ways that corporate partnerships help make CMU among Michigan’s most dynamic and innovative universities.
Some of the most common partnerships are those that afford students first-hand experience within their fields of interest. Internships, job shadows, and other capstone projects enrich student learning and prepare them to be successful in their profession. Students gain a knowledge and perception unavailable in the classroom by working directly with industry professionals on real-world projects.
Companies that engage CMU students in these activities frequently report back on the value they, too, have gained from the experience. Students can bring a new way of looking at a problem or a renewed energy to a project. CMU interns frequently find permanent positions with their host companies after graduation, which speaks volumes to the caliber of our students and the quality of the internship experience provided by our corporate partners.
CMU, like many universities, is rich with knowledge on a wide variety of subjects. Companies seeking industry-specific research have engaged students and faculty to conduct studies related to their areas of expertise. These research projects provide valuable knowledge to a company or even to an entire field, while at the same time providing students with a tremendous learning experience. These experiences range from research in hard sciences to consulting projects in business, as well as other disciplines across campus.
We are so very fortunate at CMU to have corporate partners who support our commitment to academic excellence by offering their financial support. A remarkable 65 companies have created awards and scholarships at CMU, providing students with needed assistance to pursue their career goals.
Some of our corporate partners also furnish the university with donated products, such as lab equipment, software, and artwork that enrich the learning experience for our students. Gifts-in-kind often help prepare students to enter the marketplace trained in the most recent technology or with exposure to products typically only found in industry. These students are more successful in finding positions after college and bring a level of expertise that is highly valued by their employer.
The list goes on and on. CMU’s corporate partners generously provide our students with their time, expertise, and connections. They open their doors for tours, send executives to campus for programs, provide classroom speakers, serve as mentors, sponsor events, and so much more.
On the pages that follow, you will read about just a few of our many corporate partners. These stories represent some of the ways that companies have both found value in their relationship with CMU while at the same time have enriched the educational experiences for our students and faculty. I hope these stories inspire you to consider how your organization might become involved with CMU. If you would like to explore these possibilities together, please contact me. I look forward to sharing the amazing things happening at CMU and discovering the potential for a new collaboration.
Cindy Hales can be reached at (800) 358-6903 or hales2ce@cmich.edu. •
