Two Appalachian College of Business Professors are providing their Employee Benefits students with hands-on, work-world experience during the Fall 2020 semester. Dr. Jamie Parson and Dr. Kevin Huff coordinated their class assignments so that students in both of their Employee Benefits classes may learn about, and eventually conduct an “Open Enrollment” presentation, thanks to the assistance of Brantley Risk & Insurance Center Board member Jon Trevisan along with Ben Milcarek of McGriff Insurance Services.
Professors Parson and Huff have also invited the Boone Chapter of Toastmasters International to work directly with their students to practice skills that will make them more confident speakers and leaders. “These real-world, highly in-demand communication skills are key to helping students as they interview with future employers, and interact with others throughout their careers,” said Dr. Kevin Huff.
“Courses with real-world, real-time applications are attractive and important to students. Today, it’s just an assignment in the gradebook. In six months, many of these students will be sitting through an onboarding process that will shape their personal financial wellness,” said Dr. Jamie Parson.
Appalachian began a minor in Employee Benefits during the Fall 2018 semester, to better serve the growing Employee Benefits sector of the Insurance and Banking/Investments/Financial Services industries. Read more about the AppState Employee Benefits minor here: https://insurance.appstate.edu/programs .