Professional Development: SMC Students Get First-Hand Experience Consulting for Local Organizations

Jeremy Handel
Staff Writer

College graduates from all over the country leave school with an in-depth knowledge of the theory and concepts of their chosen field of study. They are ready to tackle the work of joining their profession and working on the concepts they have learned. One thing they may not be prepared for is just how to go about doing that in their new workplace.

Spartanburg Methodist College provides graduates with the education they need to pursue their chosen careers and the professional skills they need to enter the workforce. From professional communications to problem-solving to technical skills, SMC grads are the most workplace-ready students.

One skill that provides SMC graduates a decisive advantage is the teamwork and collaboration they learn during their Camak Core professional development program. The consulting project course teaches students the skills to collaborate and the reasons it’s essential to be able to do so.

“The consulting project is designed to teach students a number of skills. They learn how to research an issue, develop recommendations, present their findings to the client, and create a written report of their findings,” said Courtney Shelton, Vice President for Student and Professional Development. “We want them to experience conflict resolution and work together to solve a problem.”

The consulting project is part of the community discovery and engagement course in the Camak Core professional development program. Throughout the course, students work in groups with local businesses, non-profit organizations, and other entities to serve as a consultant to provide advice and direction to help their “clients” address a business problem they are having.

The students work together for a semester to research the business problem, develop recommendations to address it, and deliver the results to the partner. Students receive real-world experience working with local organizations on issues they face.

College Town, a division of OneSpartanburg, the Chamber of Commerce for Spartanburg County, participated as a partner in the consulting project course. College Town provides resources and events to help engage students at the county’s seven local colleges with the Spartanburg community. They offer networking opportunities, job and internship boards, and fun activities for local students.

College Town asked consulting project course students for help developing strategies to get more students engaged with their activities and resources.

“The students who worked on the College Town project brought to light some of the barriers and challenges that were preventing students from coming downtown,” said Naomi Sargent, COO of OneSpartanburg. “They talked through with us how our organization can address those issues and get students more engaged.”

The SMC group researched why students weren’t engaging with College Town’s events and resources. They found several barriers, including transportation issues and a lack of options for underage students at local venues at night. The students recommended strategies to address those issues and create new events that appeal to a broader audience.

College Town leaders were impressed by the students’ performance and feel the program provides invaluable experience graduates will use in any career they pursue.

“The SMC program really allows the students to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom and see what happens when you face some of the challenges you get in the real world,” Sargent said.

Working in a group setting to accomplish a task or develop a new idea is a critical skill that all professionals will have to employ at some point in their careers. Getting the opportunity to experience that and implement those skills in a real-world scenario provides SMC students with a step up as they enter the workforce.

“What we are trying to do with the consulting project and the Camak Core program is to truly prepare our graduates for what they’ll experience in the workplace,” Shelton said. “We want to enhance the amazing education they are getting in their field of study to make them more attractive to potential employers.”