Grand Valley State University, in cooperation with a number of Michigan accounting firms and businesses, offers minority business internship program in accounting and business. This program encourages the development of minority stu dents in these fields through a program coordinated between the state's accounting and business community and Grand Valley State's Seidman School of Business and Minority Business Education Center.

The program provides selected students with renewable full-tuition scholarships and fees (excluding course fees) through the Bert Price Scholarship Program, and up to four years of paid, work-related experience in an accounting or busin ess firm. Summer internships will be provided, when possible, for all students who participate in the program. The Minority Business Education Center will make every effort to assist students in securing internships. Students may work up to 560 hours duri ng the summer at a rate beginning at $5.00 per hour and increasing to $8.00 per hour as their responsibilities increase. In some cases, students will also have the opportunity to work an additional ten hours each week during the full academic year, if the location of the internship is convenient, students maintain the required grade point average, and receive the coordinator's approval. Work during the academic year must not interfere with students' academic progress.

Each participant in the program is assigned a "mentor" from the employing company who assists the student in understanding his or her work requirements. The mentor will be advised of the student's courses and progress. As the student’s academic and professional skills develop responsibilities and professional training will evolve accordingly.

Students in the program gain valuable professional skills and develop a supportive relationship with their mentors. Students can receive up to six academic credits for successful participation in the program.

 Participants are chosen on the basis of their academic achievements and their potential for success both in their internship and in the Seidman School of Business. Specific criteria are as follows:

• Freshmen must have a 3.1 cumulative high school grade point average and a minimum enhanced ACT composite score of 20 or an SAT composite of 820.
• Transfer students must have graduated from a community or junior college by the time they enter the program, they must matriculate directly to Grand Valley State University, and must have a cumulative college grade point average in accordance with the renewal criteria (2.8).
• Currently enrolled students must have a cumulative grade point average in accordance with the renewal criteria (2.8).

Three letters of recommendation and a personal interview are required of all applicants.

In order to remain in the Minority Business Education Center Program, participants must enroll for and maintain a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester. In addition, participants must:

• Maintain a 2.8 minimum grade point average.
• Perform satisfactorily in the internship portion of the program.
• Follow the accounting/business curriculum as required by Grand Valley State University and the Seidman School of Business, and must continue to meet employment obligations an the same basis as other employees of the employing firm.

The Minority Business Education Center (MBEC), located in the Office of Minority Affairs/ Multicultural Center, was established in the Seidman School of Business to address the concerns Of minority students Pursuing business careers, and to dev elop and implement programs to encourage and support minority interest and participation in the field of business. After earning 55 semester hours with at least a 2.5 grade point average, students are admitted to the upper-division programs. In order to g raduate, students must achieve a 2.5 minimum cumulative grade point and 2.5 minimum grade point average in all Seidman business and economic courses. Students are obligated to fulfill the Seidman School of Business requirements outlined in the Grand Valle y State University catalog of their entering academic year. For more information, students should consult a Seidman counselor.

Students participating in the Minority Business Education Center Program must attend scheduled career educational opportunity seminars each week. Individual tutoring assistance is available through the tutoring office at Grand V alley's Academic Resource Center. The MBEC program also invites local business persons to make presentations and discuss issues with participants in the program.

 In addition to an internship mentor, each student is assigned a faculty advisor upon entering the Seidman School of Business at Grand Valley Seidman School also operates an undergraduate advising center, so that students may discu ss program requirements and opportunities at convenient times.

 Students must apply and be admitted to Grand Valley State University by March I and must meet the selection criteria as outlined on the Minority Business Education Center Scholarship Program application before materials wi ll be accepted. Review of applications will start at the beginning of April and applicants will be selected no later than June 30.