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Written by Tyler Ellison
UNK Communications
KEARNEY – There are no tests or quizzes in Daniel Chaffin’s MGT 400 class.
He also does not require students to purchase textbooks.
Faculty at the University of Nebraska at Kearney believe there’s a better way to teach entrepreneurship.
“Honestly, everyone in the class is starting and running a business,” said Chaffin, an associate professor of business administration in the College of Business and Technology.
“Many students want to become entrepreneurs, but it’s hard to be sure until you experience it,” he added. “This class gives me the opportunity to figure out what I like or don’t like without having to quit my job to find out.”
A former business development analyst and strategic marketing manager for a major home construction company, Mr. Chaffin is known for connecting his classes with real-world experiences. He calls entrepreneurship an “embodied discipline” that you have to see and do to truly understand.
“I want my students to feel the ups and downs: the risk of failure, the joy of success, the need to move forward even in the midst of obstacles,” he said. “Successful entrepreneurs are not necessarily the ones who understand business the most; they are the ones who best embody the entrepreneurial spirit.”
In the MGT 400 class, students experience every step of the entrepreneurial process. They work together in teams to develop business ideas, create proposals, coordinate suppliers, identify marketing strategies, and execute plans.
Using start-up funding provided by the College of Business and Technology, each business will operate for approximately six weeks until inventory is liquidated and the initial investment is repaid.
Proceeds are donated to on-campus organizations and services of the student body’s choice. That’s another important aspect of this project.
“It helps create a sense of mission for them,” Chaffin said. “Yes, it’s a business, but there’s a cause attached to it that gives a lot of meaning in terms of what they’re doing and why they’re doing it.”
Permanent jewelry, trucker hats, golf cards
UNK senior Maddie Rose is one of 19 students who took the class this semester. She graduated Friday with a bachelor’s degree in general studies and is considering entrepreneurship as a potential career path.
“I’ve studied a lot of different fields,” the Sutton native said. “I wanted to start my own business one day, so it would have been nice to have that knowledge and experience.”
Rose and Klass’ partners founded Timeless Treasures, a permanent jewelry business.
“They’re kind of trendy right now,” she said of soldered bracelets, necklaces and anklets that are meant to be worn all the time.
The group started by creating a list of interested customers. UNK sorority membership was a key demographic. We then expanded our reach by hosting pop-up events on campus. They made more than $1,500 in sales, including about $1,000 in profits that were donated to UNK Student Health and Counseling.
“I definitely learned a lot this semester. I definitely learned a lot more than I could from a textbook,” Rose said. “It was difficult at first. It took a lot of planning and coordination, but we gained a lot of valuable information and experience from it.”
In addition to additional knowledge, students in entrepreneurship classes have the opportunity to expand their professional network. They will learn from local business owners who will share their experiences and provide mentorship throughout the semester, and will also receive feedback and advice from Chaffin and other experts at UNK.
“The classes, the business program, and making connections with people in the community really helped me,” Rose said. “When we started, all the members of my group were complete strangers, so it was a really fun experience getting to know them.”
In addition to Timeless Treasures, other student-run businesses sell custom flags for dorm rooms and fraternities, as well as Nebraska and Kearney-themed trucker hats, with proceeds benefiting the fraternity council and UNK Career Closet. I supported it.
Elizabeth Vandenberg’s group originally planned to sell the candy around the world, but couldn’t find a wholesaler that would offer low enough prices. So they decided to create the Swing and Save Card, a punch card that gives college students discounts at six area golf courses.
In the end, about $1,600 was sold, most of which came from local businesses who purchased the cards and donated them to UNK Counseling to distribute to students. Their profits also benefited on-campus counseling services.
Vandenberg, a senior at Gretna University, is studying business administration with an emphasis in business administration and a minor in entrepreneurship. She really enjoyed Chaffin’s classes because they were “specific and real.”
“Entrepreneurship can seem very creepy and scary, but this class teaches us that we have the skills to succeed,” she said.
These skills, such as communication, critical thinking, problem solving, budgeting, and planning, can be applied to almost any career.
“I hope my students leave this class with greater confidence and a sense of accomplishment,” Chaffin said. “I think it’s kind of great for them to be able to go to a job interview and say, ‘Yes, I’m part of a startup and I developed this product.'” A true product of their abilities. ”
