Business Passport

Passport is your opportunity to gain experiences outside the classroom. You will complete hands-on experiences that will broaden your business perspective, enhance your marketability and help to define your personal brand.

Learn About It!

UBUS 200: Passport Introduction is an online asynchronous introductory workshop that will show you how to get started on the right path toward completing your Business Passport. Your journey will focus on seven key business continents:

Professional Communications

These events focus on improving students’ oral or written communication, building their professional network and broadening perspectives of career opportunities. The goal is to improve students' professional communication through interaction with business professionals across industries and job functions.

Examples: Networking events, mock interviews, student presentations, public speaking/communications workshops

Ethics

Ethical dilemmas are encountered in every profession, and we strive to provide our students with practical tools to help them apply ethical values in business practices. Learning about ethics and how to lead with integrity is a core value of the College of Business.

Examples: Event with topic of ethical dilemma experienced in workplace

Experiential Learning

The purpose of this continent is to expose students to hands-on experience solving real-world business problems through projects, consultation, or experiencing an internship.

Examples: Internships, ELC Participant, Company tours, Case competitions

Global

These events immerse students in an international environment where they learn about cultural differences in the business world. Participating in a global experience exposes students to the international business environment and offers insight into the challenges faced by actual businesses in a rapidly changing global business environment.

Examples: Study Abroad, Guest speaker discussing global business interactions

Leadership

Having the opportunity to show leadership or learn about how to be an effective leader is an essential skill in the business world that we expose our students to in order to instill leadership qualities in all graduates.

Examples: Executive Board member position of student organization, Guest speakers discussing leadership techniques and their experience

Citizenship

Citizenship events help students understand the challenges that various populations face and its role in the business world. This experience cultivates gratitude, compassion, and valuable characteristics both in and out of the workplace. This continent provides a mechanism for students to discover interests and talents with respect to supporting the communities to which they belong and helps them develop a sense of civic responsibility.

Examples: NIU Cares Day, volunteering (Huskie Student Food Pantry, Communiversity Gardens, Feed My Starving Children, etc.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Diversity, equity and inclusion are critical to business performance. Organizations that are diverse in gender, ability, race/ethnicity, citizenship, wealth/material resources, religion, age or sexual orientation, that create environments in which all individuals are empowered, and that allow fair access to opportunity, resources, and power are more likely to succeed. These events will challenge stereotypes and biases, teach skills needed to understand and accept differences, raise awareness of the needs of the underserved and provide tools to affect social change.

Examples: Office of Academic Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programming, guest speakers discussing diversity, equity and inclusion in action, NIU Diversity and Cultural Resource Center programming.

Do It!

Your task is to participate in at least one approved Business Passport event or activity from each of the seven continents before graduation.

View Events and Activities

Passport Achievement Levels

Can you do more? Yes, you can do more and become a Scholar! This is a great way to create a specific brand for yourself in whichever continents you chose.

Continent Scholar
  • Complete five or more events or activities in one to three continents
  • Earn: Pin and certificate

Continent Scholar pin and certificate

Passport Scholar
  • Complete five or more events or activities in four to six continents
  • Earn: White cord and certificate

Passport Scholar white cord and certificate

Complete It!

Register for UBUS 400 in your last semester of graduation. Make sure you have completed at least one experience in each of the seven continents and check Blackboard for further specific course requirements.

Transcripts

In UBUS 400, you will receive a copy of your completed passport transcript, or you can print your own transcript. Bring your transcripts to interviews! This is your opportunity to present your achievements, talk about your experiences and really show employers all that you have to offer.

Events

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