STUDENT ASSOCIATES PROGRAM

The Martindale Student Associates Program has enabled a select group of Lehigh juniors and seniors to actively explore global business and economic issues each year since 1980. The Student Associate experience extends the scope of learning beyond the pages of textbooks and journals through travel to organizations around the world, and interviews and meetings with decision makers, distinguished executives, and scholars. In recent years, the Student Associates Program has broadened its perspective as our nation has grappled with the demands of an increasingly competitive global economy.

Each year a new group of junior-year student associates begins to explore a particular topic. To gain both broad and close perspectives, the students take part in an extensive educational field trip organized by their faculty advisors in conjunction with faculty from other disciplines. Over the years they have traveled to Mexico, Canada, Argentina, France, Germany, England, and the Czech Republic. The senior year includes a two-semester course dedicated to researching and writing a paper about the business or economics issues under study. The students' papers are published annually in Perspectives on Business and Economics, the undergraduate journal of the Center, distributed to over 1,500 people and libraries in the U.S. and Canada.

Though most associates have come from the College of Business and Economics, nomination for appointment as a student associate is open to any qualified Lehigh junior. Applicants are chosen based upon their academic records and the quality of their essays about business and economics problems.

Preparing agendas, hosting meetings, planning trips, researching issues, and writing articles for publication provide associates with well-honed skills that distinguish them from their peers as they seek employment and postgraduate educational opportunities.

This unique, experiential program consistently serves as a model for advancing the strategic educational goals of the College and the University.