New SU scholarship offers hands-on introduction to the intersection of business and liberal arts

New SU scholarship offers hands-on introduction to the intersection of business and liberal artsOctober 13, 2005Carol K. Masiclatclkim@syr.edu

The College of Arts and Sciences at Syracuse University and Winston Fisher ’96 are inviting juniors and seniors in Arts and Sciences to apply for Business and the Liberal Arts, a spring break seminar designed to show students how a liberal arts education can help them succeed in the world of business. Twelve SU juniors and seniors, regardless of their majors, will be selected for the five-day seminar in New York City. A full scholarship will cover recipients’ travel between Syracuse and New York, travel within New York City, lodging, meals, supplies and events. The seminar carries no academic credit.

Fisher is partner for acquisitions, development and finance at Fisher Brothers Management, a leading New York City real estate investment company. Fisher hopes to demonstrate to Arts and Sciences students that the broad, non-discipline-specific skills they are acquiring and honing in college are of great value in fields such as business and finance, real estate, telecommunications, law and health care. As a former philosophy major, Fisher believes that securing a job in a specific industry does not require an undergraduate degree in a corresponding academic major.

“I am very excited about the launch of this unique program. Not only will it help students gain a clearer, more expansive picture of their potential as future professionals, it will open up to them new career paths they may have thought were unavailable to them,” says Fisher. “It also benefits the companies seeking employees who possess knowledge and skills beyond industry-specific expertise. There is a place in every profession for people who are rich with creativity, analytical skills, integrity, discipline and objectivity. A liberal arts education fosters these qualities in its students, and they are qualities in high demand.”

The goals of Business and the Liberal Arts are to help students: understand that knowledge and skills developed in a liberal arts program are of value in a variety of career fields; gain networking experience; learn that careers in specific fields are accessible even to candidates who did not receive training in a professional program; gain a competitive edge in the job search process by understanding the demands of the current employment market; and demonstrate the value and relevance of their liberal arts education.

In this academically rigorous program, students will analyze case studies, write response papers on writings and lectures, create business plans, work in groups and conduct research. The student deemed to have most contributed to and benefited from the seminar will be awarded a $500 scholarship. Class sessions will be held in the Park Avenue corporate headquarters of Fisher Brothers, and will include field trips to relevant sites in the city, as well as a quintessential New York City cultural experience. Informal meetings with successful SU alumni with liberal arts backgrounds will be arranged, and events and activities will be chosen to exemplify the value of skills and personal qualities such as communication, teamwork, interpersonal skills, analysis, computer skills, organization, leadership, creativity and entrepreneurship. This spring’s seminar will be taught by Professor Harold G. Jones of the Spanish department and Teresa DiMagno, director of Career Exploration Services.

Criteria for selection include eligibility, academic record, letter of recommendation, resume and the quality of a personal statement. A general consideration will be how well a candidate embodies Chancellor Nancy Cantor’s vision for Syracuse University, which is characterized by scholarship in action and initiatives for enterprising students. In addition to considering personal qualifications, the selection committee will attempt to balance the overall group, in terms of: the number of juniors and seniors and the number and variety of majors represented, with attention to diversity.

Juniors and seniors interested in being considered for Business and the Liberal Arts should pick up an application packet at the front desk of the Career Exploration Services Office, 329 Hall of Languages. The deadline for receipt of applications is Friday, Oct. 28, by 5 p.m. For more information, contact Kelly Pickard atkekelly@syr.edu.