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Step-by-step\u00a0up the dirt trail,\u00a0climbing\u00a0over\u00a0rocky slabs and\u00a0through\u00a0green\u00a0forest,\u00a0staff from\u00a0the\u00a0Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship watched the new students get to know each other. That was the goal of the day, and\u00a0of\u00a0the program\u00a0that brought them there.<\/p>\n
Started\u00a0in\u00a02020, the\u00a0Community of First-Year Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs\u00a0(CABLE)\u00a0program\u00a0helps\u00a0students\u00a0develop\u00a0leadership skills\u00a0and\u00a0a\u00a0supportive\u00a0peer\u00a0network\u00a0through intentional points of connection and programming.<\/p>\n
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This year, 48 first-year students\u00a0are\u00a0participating\u00a0in CABLE. In addition to\u00a0a group meal and the M hike\u00a0at the start of the semester,\u00a0dedicated sections of\u00a0the\u00a0introductory\u00a0business\u00a0fundamentals course\u00a0and\u00a0college\u00a0writing\u00a0are offered\u00a0for CABLE students. That creates a built-in\u00a0group of familiar faces\u00a0for students transitioning into college that extends through the entire first year. CABLE students\u00a0also\u00a0receive\u00a0support\u00a0from\u00a0peer and\u00a0faculty\u00a0mentors\u00a0and a $1,000 scholarship.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery student deserves the opportunity to start college on the strongest footing possible,\u201d said Brenda Truman,\u00a0CABLE program\u00a0lead\u00a0and assistant dean of the business college. \u201cCABLE\u00a0provides\u00a0that opportunity by helping students\u00a0develop their leadership\u00a0potential, connect with\u00a0resources\u00a0and build community\u00a0right\u00a0from the first day of college. CABLE helps instill in\u00a0students\u00a0\u00a0the\u00a0confidence and momentum that lead to long-term success and on-time graduation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Having the built-in CABLE network\u00a0\u201cmakes it easier to make friends and form study groups,\u201d Truman added.<\/p>\n
The college invites all\u00a0first-year\u00a0business\u00a0students\u00a0to apply for CABLE\u00a0and then\u00a0builds the\u00a0group, though because it is donor-funded,\u00a0the number of spots\u00a0is\u00a0limited.\u00a0This year CABLE saw a record number of applicants, and its capacity could expand with additional philanthropic support.<\/p>\n
Since its\u00a0inception, 253 students have successfully completed the program.\u00a0After\u00a0freshman\u00a0year, many join\u00a0the next generation of Jabs\u00a0college leaders\u00a0with the\u00a0skills\u00a0they developed\u00a0during CABLE.<\/p>\n
Two such students are\u00a0new\u00a0CABLE peer mentors this year.<\/p>\n
Chris Druffel, a sophomore from Pullman,\u00a0Washington, said\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0excited to serve as\u00a0a mentor this school year.\u00a0He is majoring in business management and joined CABLE last year because he thought it would be\u00a0a good way\u00a0to meet\u00a0other students.\u00a0Throughout the year, he found it beneficial to be able to garner support from the same group of familiar people.<\/p>\n
Druffel wanted to be a mentor this year because he admired how last year\u2019s mentors encouraged him to get involved in the business college.\u00a0His main goal is to meaningfully connect with other students and share advice that is more uniquely tailored to business students\u00a0than\u00a0the\u00a0more general\u00a0advice new college students hear\u00a0repeatedly.<\/p>\n
Chloe Johnson, a junior from Billings,\u00a0will\u00a0serve\u00a0as a CABLE mentor\u00a0for the second time\u00a0this year. She\u00a0is studying business management and accounting\u00a0and wanted to stay involved with CABLE to be a resource for other students.<\/p>\n
\u201cFreshman year is so fun but also so hard navigating all the things,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cI want to serve as a friendly face that makes students feel comfortable. Qualities I see as crucial to being a mentor\u00a0are\u00a0authenticity,\u00a0kindness\u00a0and a love for people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mariah Stopplecamp, a\u00a0business\u00a0instructor who teaches CABLE sections of the introductory business classes, said the intention\u00a0is to set students up for success early\u00a0in their college experience.\u00a0For example, she gives a presentation on\u00a0the importance of habit creation at the beginning of college, sharing tips on how students can manage their time to\u00a0make friends, join clubs,\u00a0and also\u00a0study and go to class.<\/p>\n
Stopplecamp said she also\u00a0provides\u00a0practical advice for students on\u00a0unfamiliar\u00a0elements of college.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor example, professional communication with instructors. Some students are nervous about it and\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0know how to do it,\u201d\u00a0Stopplecamp\u00a0said.\u00a0\u201cSo\u00a0the hope with CABLE is that we\u00a0remove that blockage and set them up for success a little more.\u201d<\/p>\n
For\u00a0Stopplecamp, the most meaningful part of being involved in CABLE is\u00a0watching her\u00a0students develop from\u00a0excited\u00a0freshmen\u00a0into leaders who build the confidence\u00a0to pursue their\u00a0goals. Even after they complete the CABLE program, students stay in touch with\u00a0Stopplecamp\u00a0and know her as a resource\u00a0who can provide support and life advice.<\/p>\n
People who are interested\u00a0in\u00a0learning\u00a0more about CABLE can visit\u00a0www.montana.edu\/business\/cable\/FAQ.html<\/a>\u00a0or reach out to Truman with questions.<\/p>\n \u201cCABLE helps students believe they belong here from day one,\u201d Truman said. \u201cAnd that sense of belonging can make all the difference in their long-term success.\u201d<\/p>\n By: