MBA Board Fellows
The
College of Business (COB) prepares students to be outstanding
citizens within their communities, as well as great business
leaders. In keeping with this promise, the COB has developed the
MBA Board Fellows program which provides graduate students the
opportunity to monitor the activities of a board of directors
within an exemplary community organization. The mission of the MBA
Board Fellows program is to:
- Enrich Butler's real life, real business curriculum by
providing MBA Fellows with the unique, hands-on,
community-leadership experience of serving on a nonprofit board in
the area of advocacy/economic development, arts/culture,
sports/recreation, and human services.
- Foster a lifelong interest in community service by educating
and exposing MBA Fellows to the world of nonprofits.
- Be a highly sought-after resource for Indianapolis nonprofits
tackling strategic, organizational, and operational issues.
Fellows serve on the boards of local nonprofits for a 12-month
period. They receive training on a nonprofit board's role and
best practices, participate in a non-voting capacity in their
assigned nonprofit board's meetings and committees, and complete a
project for the organization. Fellows receive course credit
for participating in this program.
Benefits ~ More Information
Benefits
Board service provides Fellows the opportunity to impact the
nonprofit sector while still pursuing their full-time careers.
Specific benefits include:
- Insight into the differing roles of board members and nonprofit
managers and the challenges and rewards of board service
- Enthusiasm and passion for continued community leadership
throughout their careers
- Practical experience to help them better understand strategic
and tactical issues facing nonprofit boards
- Opportunity to integrate tools learned in the classroom with
real-world application
- Experience in managing and completing a consulting project
- Development of mentor relationships with members of successful
boards
- Development of personal leadership skills
The Board Fellows program provides a way for
resource-constrained organizations to tap into the valuable
business skills and fresh insights of Butler MBA Fellows. Specific
benefits to these organizations include:
- Use of Fellows' professional experiences and academic
backgrounds to solve strategic, organizational, and operational
issues that enhance the work of the board
- Access to future business leaders and board members with fresh
perspectives
- Affiliation with a respected business school
- Perspective to be gained from someone who is likely to be a
younger age than most of the organization's regular board
members.
Organization Expectations ~ More Information
Organization Expectations
- Select a member of the board to serve as the Fellow's Board
Liaison
- Select a senior staff member to guide the student's project
work.
- Help Fellow develop an understanding of the nonprofit's goals
and challenges
- Invite Fellow to full and advisory board meetings and introduce
to other board members
- Choose one committee on which Fellow will participate
- Work with Fellow to identify a project relevant to the work of
the board that can be meaningfully completed within 8-10 months and
that utilizes the Fellow's business skills
- Provide the data or other information needed for the Fellow to
complete the project
- Raise any potential issues or questions to the Board Fellows
program contact immediately
Student Expectations ~ More Information
Student Expectations
- Attend all board meetings
- Participate in board meetings and on a board committee
- Be proactive in ensuring a positive experience with the
organization
- Work with Board Liaison to identify and deliver a suitable
project to be completed by December.
- Attend all Board Fellow orientation and training sessions
- Enroll in MBA 594 in both spring and fall semesters, for a
total of 4 credits
- Communicate with Board Liaison, Board Chair, or organizational
contact regarding inability to attend meetings or other
difficulties
- Deliver final presentation to board or Board Fellows program in
December
Time Commitment ~ More Information
Time Commitment
Each participating nonprofit organization must designate a board
member who will serve as the Board Liaison for the Fellow. The
Board Liaison orients the Fellow to the organization and helps the
Fellow understand its mission, strategy, and challenges. The Board
Liaison and senior staff member also work closely with the
Fellow to identify a meaningful project for the organization.
Generally, board members and staff members should expect to spend a
total of 5-10 hours per month working with the Fellow from January
to November. In addition to enrolling in a 2-credit elective in
both spring and fall semesters, Fellows should expect to spend a
total of 10 hours per month from May to August.