CBB 254
- (319) 273-2310
- betsy.ratchford@uni.edu
Betsy Ratchford
Instructor of Management Information Systems
UNI Business Webmaster
Education
M.B.A. University of Northern Iowa; B.A. (Management Information Systems) University of Northern Iowa.
Teaching Interests
Introduction to Information Systems; Business Application Development II; Data Visualization
Responsibilities
In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Ratchford is the webmaster for UNIBusiness. She is involved with various development projects that improve the reporting efficiency of the College in its AACSB accreditation efforts, increasing the visibility of faculty research to the public, and expanding database use within the College’s website.
Professional Accomplishments
Before coming to UNI, Betsy Ratchford was employed by Waterloo Industries as a network analyst. There she gained experience developing systems, assisting, training and orienting users, and troubleshooting hardware and software issues. Instructor Ratchford has also provided consulting services for Manatts Construction and BioScience Communications, among others. Prior to these positions, Instructor Ratchford was a test analyst for Accenture.
Latest News & Views

UNI Business helps students earn more credentials before graduation
Having employer-ready graduates is a priority at UNI Business. Part of that focus means helping students obtain professional certifications and credentials — like Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Financial Planner, Six Sigma Green Belt, etc. — before graduation, boosting their marketability for companies and making them career ready.

UNI-SHRM student organization wins award for semester-long podcast project
In June, the U.S. Supreme Court made a landmark decision, ruling that the 1964 Civil Rights Act prohibits employers from discriminating against workers based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Not only was this a giant step forward for the LGBTQ+ community, but it also affected the human resources industry, changing the way they trained and promoted inclusivity in the workplace.

UNI Business partners with Waterloo to launch minority-owned business accelerator
The pandemic has damaged businesses across the country. Federal aid in the form of Paycheck Protection Program—which began April 3 and ended Aug. 8 and handed out 5.2 million loans worth $525 billion—provided an essential crutch. But some businesses, particularly Black-owned and minority-owned businesses, were largely locked out, according to a recent report from the Association Press and CBS.

UNI Business student helped analyze community’s health needs during internship
Taylor Baltes (Management ’20) combined her interest in data with working for a good cause. It started in the late summer when Baltes was searching for an internship for the fall semester. She stumbled upon an opening for data analytics at the Cedar Valley United Way, a nonprofit organization that distributes funds to various community needs.

UNI’s business college supports launch of flexible online bachelor’s degree option
The University of Northern Iowa provides a pathway for adults and students to obtain a bachelor’s degree in new and innovative ways. With support from UNI’s College of Business Administration, the Office of Online and Distance Education is recruiting students for a new Managing Business and Organizations Bachelor of Applied Science (MBO BAS) degree, tailored to working professionals to finish a four-year program.

The long-term effects from working from home
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted life in every sense, particularly for businesses. Offices may never be the same. A variety of data shows that even after the pandemic ends, many companies expect their employees will work from home at least a few days a week. These dramatic shifts could have lasting implications for corporate America. Will competition for office space in urban hubs be less fierce?