Montana State University's College of Business wants to partner with local and regional businesses willing to offer MSU management students practical business experience in return for research, issue analysis or operational advice during the upcoming fall semester.

Participating students will be enrolled in "Management 475 - Management Practicum," a senior-level class taught by assistant professor of management Myleen Leary. This course has been a successful part of the College of Business curriculum for more than 15 years.

During the four-month course, students help manage special consulting projects requested by area businesses. Past projects include developing business, marketing and financial plans, identifying ways to improve business processes, suggesting solutions to problems, conducting market and competition analysis, and helping with human resources and customer service issues.

The MSU College of Business is accepting applications from businesses that want to participate in the class during the fall semester, which begins Aug. 27 and ends Dec. 14. All types of businesses are encouraged to apply. Participating businesses will need to send a representative to one of four hour-long information sessions prior to the start of the semester on 8/19, 8/20, 8/26 and 8/27 from 8:30-9:30 am in the Dean's Conference Room, Reid 415. Contact professor Leary at 994-6203 or email her at myleen.leary@montana.edu for more information.