College students can help get projects done

So far, 2008 has been a challenging year for many businesses.

The debacle caused by the collapse of some housing financing programs impacted market sectors beyond mortgage lending and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke used the "R" word (recession) when testifying before congress.

Yes, Wisconsin businesses have been affected, but the impact felt in our state is less severe than in other states. Wisconsin's diverse economy tends to weather economic storms fairly well.

So, here you are in the month of June. Your business is still operating and we have the summer ahead. How will you use the summer to make your business stronger?

There are some creative resources you can take advantage of for completing projects and growing your business.

While the summer months are typically a vacation time for employees, summer is also a semester break for college and university students.

Mutual benefit

Hiring students for the summer can be mutually beneficial. Students can apply their training to real business challenges and you, as a business owner, will discover talent that is locally available and reasonably priced.

Not sure how to make the best use of summer student help? A marketing student could develop an advertising calendar for the upcoming year listing promotions, events, media options, trade shows and other resources that are required to make these efforts successful.

An IT student could:

• Update your Web site.
• Set up a wireless network.
• Strengthen firewalls.
• Establish data backup procedures.
• Install new network hardware.
• Clean up servers and computers for more efficient operations.

Students from other disciplines can bring energy, talent, training and expertise to your business. They are eager to apply the knowledge gained through their education to opportunities your business presents.

Check with schools

Getting connected to student resources is not difficult. Contact the Business Career Center at UW-Madison to learn more about how you can make your needs known, identify the skills you're looking for, find a talent pool to choose from and even post a position online.

UW-Whitewater has a similar matchmaking service through the campus Career Services office.

The technical college system is also positioned to provide you with student referrals. The Advising and Career Resources staff at Madison Area Technical College (MATC) would be eager to learn of your needs and begin connecting you with students who are ready to make a difference during the summer months. Blackhawk Technical College is positioned to do the same thing in Rock County.

Students also benefit from summer employment. They appreciate the opportunity to take classroom lessons to the business world and understand firsthand the dynamics of the real world.

Textbooks provide the basics of knowledge; the business world provides the refining process that is necessary to complete an education.

Students need work applications to fine tune their education. You can make that happen.

I encourage you to take an inventory of your business or organization. Look for those unfinished, delayed or procrastinated projects that have been on your to-do list for a long time but have lacked the resources to make them happen.

Look also through your wish list of items that you would like to have done; then consider using student summer help to complete these projects.

Student help is a more affordable option for businesses and organizations.

Think of it as an investment in your business, a student's education, and Wisconsin's economy.

What a great way to spend the summer.

Bud Gayhart is director of the Center for Innovation and Business Development at UW-Whitewater.