Loyola Corps hopes to rebuild New Orleans businesses and agencies recovering from Katrina using the talents of students, professors, alumni and other groups.
The new program, a collaboration among the College of Business, the College of Arts & Sciences and other student groups, helps local businesses and is an opportunity for students to build their resumes. “We’re kind of like a dating service. We’re matchmakers in the sense of finding the business and matching them with students who can help,” said Teri Henley, chairwoman of the Communications Department,Loyola Corps is placing interested students of all majors in a variety of positions. Students can work with the program to find part or full-time employment, internships and volunteer opportunities.
According to the Loyola Corps’ executive summary, “There is a tremendous desire from the students to be a part of the rebuilding. We can create something akin to the Peace Corp.”
Loyola students seem to agree – 110 students have already signed up for the program.
Student support has not been limited to an individual basis. Students In Free Enterprise has made Loyola Corps its main service project for the semester. SIFE, which usually works with local schools, was forced to find another focus since many schools have not opened after Katrina. Delta Sigma Pi, a business fraternity, and Public Relations Student Society of America are also involved.
The program started as an idea proposed by the Visiting Committee for the College of Business, which is similar to a board of directors. The committee works to establish better connections with the community, according to Henley.
The committee told J. Patrick O’Brien, dean of the College of Business Administration, to advertise Loyola’s readiness to help. According to Henley, this advertisement was placed in The Times-Picayune and City Business last week.
The program is already generating interest with local businesses and agencies interested in assistance. According to Amie St. Germain, MBA student and project manager for the College of Business, and Henley, 50 businesses and three non-profit groups have contacted Loyola.
Opportunities are still available to students and businesses. “There are a number of businesses still looking for help, and it is the goal of Loyola Corps to match these businesses with the right department or the right student so the company can get back on its feet after hurricanes Katrina and Rita,” St. Germain said.
University support for Loyola Corps has been extensive.
“The more we started talking about this and the more people we brought to the table, the bigger it got. Within a week’s time, it became a university-wide initiative. It is just all these centers, and all these colleges, and all these students and all these alumni working together to help businesses rebuild. It’s very exciting,’ said Jan Moppert, coordinator of Graduate and External Programs.
“We had no idea how it would be received. But in the business community, they’re saying ‘isn’t this great that Loyola is mobilizing to do this?’ I don’t know of any university that’s done this. I think we’re breaking ground,” Henley said.
The College of Business Administration, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Shawn M. Donnelly Center for Nonprofit Communications, the Loyola Small Business Center and Counseling & Career Services are involved with the program.
Any students or organizations interested in joining Loyola Corps can do so by e-mailing Amie St. Germain at [email protected]. Anyone interested in an internship or job should e-mail the above address and also post a resume on PackTRAK at www.loyno.edu/counsel.career.
Tara Templeton can be reached at [email protected].
Additional reporting by Kelly Brown and Lisa Campo.
