The University of Northern Iowa holds a special place in the hearts’ of Rod and Heidi Foster. Rod started his long career in accounting because of his education at the College of Business. UNI is also where he met his wife, Heidi, a graduate of the chemistry program. They now have two grown sons—one of which is also a UNI graduate. Because of their UNI experience, Rod and Heidi both feel the need to give back to the university and repay it for giving them the tools and experiences to be successful in business and life.

Tim Lindquist began painting when he was just a teenager. A friend invited him over to learn how to create a dog on canvas, and Lindquist was hooked. He asked for paints that Christmas and considered majoring in art at college. But he chose accounting instead, becoming an educator and professor at the College of Business.

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.

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.

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 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?