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 Founded in 1867, Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) is an independent, private, coeducational institution of higher learning. Located in Charlotte, NC, this historically African-American university has a residential campus with a familiar atmosphere in which students are stimulated and nurtured by dedicated and caring faculty and staff.
The mission of JCSU is to provide an outstanding education for a diverse group of talented and highly motivated students from various ethnic, socioeconomic, and geographical backgrounds. The university offers a liberal education in conjunction with concentrated study in specialized fields, in preparation for advanced study and specific careers. JCSU enrolls approximately 1,500 students and confers bachelor’s degrees to hundreds of students each year in 27 different majors.
College of Professional Studies: Business Administration
Among the many majors offered at JCSU is the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Within this major, students can choose from several concentrations, including Accounting, Banking and Finance, Management, Marketing, and Retail Management. JCSU has strong partnerships with businesses in the greater Charlotte area that serve as advisors to their business program. Adam Orvos, executive vice president of human resources at Belk, Inc. is a member of JCSU’s Business Advisory Board and Nicole Dean, vice president corporate HR & chief diversity officer at Belk, Inc. is a member of JCSU's Corporate Alliance Partnership Board.
JCSU’s Business Administration and Economics Department is planning curriculum changes to its current Retail Management concentration that will include new classes and online courses in summer 2011. The program is envisioned as a niche venture that will increase student awareness of opportunities in the retail industry, attract students to the Retail Management concentration, establish a robust curriculum in retail management, and facilitate student placement in responsible positions in the retail industry.
The Belk Foundation endowed a scholarship program for top students in the business major who show an interest in marketing or retail management (See Sidebar). JCSU President Dr. Ron Carter said he is excited about the Belk Scholars Program for a couple of reasons. “One, it will now help us develop a very vibrant and attractive retail management concentration. Already, faculty in the Business Administration area is thinking through curricular changes that will be very innovative in helping us to develop a first-class program. Second, we can help students who have a strong interest in retail management with this scholarship. They will be able to focus and have an opportunity to have on their resume a scholarship that indicates that they have achieved in their area of retail management."
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Grant: $500,000 to establish
The Belk Retail Management Scholarship
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The Belk Foundation awarded JCSU $500,000 to endow the Belk Retail Management Scholars Program.
Katie B. Morris, chair of The Belk Foundation board, said, “JCSU is an outstanding university and we’re excited to see Dr. Carter’s leadership take the institution to an even higher level.”
The program will provide annual scholarships for students in the business major who show an interest in retail management or marketing.
In addition to the scholarships, a partnership with Belk, Inc. will match Scholars with an employee mentor in Belk’s Black Employee Resource Group and include them in professional development opportunities. Nicole Dean, vice president of corporate HR & chief diversity officer at Belk, Inc., developed a comprehensive Scholar experience. Scholars will have the opportunity to see the business side of retailing as they shadow executives involved in such activities as supply chain investigation, store internal audit, and merchandise planning.
Adam Orvos, executive vice president of H.R. at Belk, Inc., said “This scholarship provides needed financial support to high-achieving students and is a wonderful opportunity for our employees to engage with students by providing real-world guidance and experience.”
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