Grant helps College of Business expand student well‑being, experiential learning

The Central Washington University College of Business is advancing student success in powerful and practical ways with the help of a $10,000 grant from BECU.

The funding will directly support student well-being initiatives, strengthen alumni mentorship opportunities, and expand hands-on learning that prepares students for life after graduation.

The College of Business (CB) emphasizes a holistic approach to student success, nurturing intellectual, professional, and personal development. The college also focuses on sustainability and experiential learning opportunities that connect classroom learning to real-world impact.

“This year, we launched our strategic plan built around three key initiatives, and one of those is educating the whole person,” said Ozden Bayazit, deputy dean of CB. “That means we focus not only on academic excellence, but also on supporting students’ overall well-being.”

With this funding, CB is launching two student workshops this spring, focused on healthy relationships with the digital world and stress management. Three student clubs — the Business Analytics and AI Club, the Economics Club, and ALPFA (Association of Latino Professionals for America) — are partnering with the Office of Health Promotion to host a digital wellness workshop on Tuesday, April 28, at 4 p.m.

Bayazit explained that the session is intended to help students navigate the pressures of social media and professional networking platforms.

“Students are constantly exposed to curated lifestyles on Instagram and overly polished LinkedIn profiles, which creates social comparison and pressure,” she said. “These workshops are designed to help students build a healthy relationship with the digital world, so they feel supported, connected, and prepared to thrive.”

In late May, just before finals, several other student clubs — the Accounting Club, Supply Chain Management Association, Personal Financial Planning Club, Sports Management Club, and SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) — will host a stress management workshop focused on stress, resilience, and social connection. Both workshops are open to all CWU students and will include food, fun activities, and content expertise from Katie Parks of the CWU Office of Health Promotion.

To further implement a focus on student professional growth, the college will also launch a new Alumni and Mentorship Excellence Award to be presented during the College of Business’s Industry Day on May 14.

The award is part of an alumni engagement program that pairs students with graduates for a four‑week experience combining virtual meetings with an in‑person workplace visit. The program aims to provide transformative, real‑world experiences that support students’ transition from college to career.

Beyond wellness and mentorship, this work supports sustainability-focused experiential learning, giving students direct experience with projects that have a tangible impact on campus operations and beyond.

“Sustainability has been part of the College of Business’s strategic planning from the beginning,” said Professor Tim Hargrave, who also serves as chair of the Strategic Planning Committee and as a college sustainability officer. “But everything ultimately comes back to student success. We want to give students experiences that make learning real and help them compete in today’s job market.”

One planned project will employ supply chain students to help develop a supplier code of conduct for campus food services, working in partnership with the university’s Office of Sustainability. The project will provide hands-on experience while helping the university advance its sustainability goals. This kind of work makes students “very competitive in the job market,” Hargrave noted.

This funding and the programs it will support reflects an important partnership with BECU, a not‑for‑profit, member‑owned credit union committed to strengthening financial well‑being for its members and communities.

For more than 90 years, BECU has supported organizations working to create positive, long-term impact through a combination of financial products, services, educational outreach, and philanthropic funding. The CB faculty believes partnerships like the one with BECU are essential.

“These types of support help ensure a successful transition from college to career and empower students to have a positive impact on the world around them,” Bayazit said.

Added Hargrave: “This is exactly the kind of support that helps us connect students to real-world learning — and that makes all the difference.”