Building a foundation for a rewarding career in the business world takes more than just a top-notch classroom curriculum.
Students need the opportunity to build professional and personal networks, work with inspiring mentors and be recognized and rewarded for their academic achievements. Equally important is the chance to apply what they have learned under practical and real-world situations before they graduate.
The University of Ottawa’s Telfer School of Management take this to heart with all of its students, particularly those who are pursuing their Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree. Thirteen on-campus clubs provide a variety of learning, mentoring and networking opportunities.
That means Telfer BCom students benefit from the best of all worlds. They can pursue their degree in the nation’s capital with competitive tuitions and take advantage of all that these clubs have to offer.
Isabelle Décarie joined Telfer as its first official manager of student experience a year ago. It is her job to ensure each Telfer student feels welcome and engaged. Clubs play a huge role in her work.
“We tell students, ‘we are with you on this journey until graduation and then we expect you will become engaged alumni,’” Décarie said. “It’s an honour to work with these students because they get so involved in our clubs and show such dedication. And then we have that big alumni community that wants to support students on-campus through our clubs and after they graduate.”
Students step up for CHEO
One notable student club at Telfer is CASCO, which operates as a registered Canadian charity with an annual budget in the six figures.
CASCO was founded in 1998 by two students who wanted to show support, raise money and honour a dear friend who had passed away from Leukemia. Each year, CASCO hosts a soirée comprised of song, dance, and fashion that raises funds for the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). To date $625,000 has been raised.
BCom students make CASCO work. They can apply to join one of six CASCO teams and tackle any area of responsibility, regardless of their major. This ranges from soliciting sponsor and donor support by making real pitches to actual companies, to marketing and event management, and ensuring the books are up to snuff for the annual audit.
“Students get to apply for what interests them and get real-world experience by applying aspects of their education to working for a non-profit,” said CASCO president Michaela McLoughlin. “This takes them beyond focusing on just getting good grades to building incredible relationships throughout the Telfer network and the community.”
Learn more about Telfer’s BCom
Telfer offers a rich variety of other experiences to open doors and ensure each BCom student’s education is well-rounded. These include the co-op program and the executive mentoring program, which is now in its ninth year.
Learn more at www.telfer.uottawa.ca
Get involved at Telfer
Telfer has 13 clubs that, in addition to CASCO, include:
Enactus:
A global non-profit with chapters in countries across the globe that aims to empower students to use entrepreneurial action to create a better world for us all.
The Entrepreneur’s Club:
A student-run organization that aims to bring like-minded students and professionals together to create an inspirational atmosphere for start-up ideas and pioneering opportunities. The Club organizes the annual ELLE (Excellence in Leadership, Legacy in Entrepreneurship) Gala, which recognizes the work of women entrepreneurs and leaders who are fighting to break the glass ceiling. This year’s gala in September featured a keynote from former governor general Michaëlle Jean.
Learn about all of Telfer’s student clubs and associations at www.telfer.uottawa.ca/students under “Get Involved.”
