‌

UNI’s College of Business Administration welcomed the first class of freshmen to the UNI Business Scholars Academy this Fall. Like direct admission at other business colleges, the UNI Business Scholars Academy recognizes high-achieving first-year college students with direct admission into the business college and financial scholarship offerings.

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.

Two UNI Business staff members were awarded with the Regents Staff Excellence Award, presented annually to those who have made outstanding professional contributions during their careers this fall.

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.

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.

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.