Purpose
Through SBI, college and university students throughout the United States participate in hands-on experiential learning by conducting faculty-guided field case studies providing consulting services to local small, entrepreneurial and family-owned businesses. The SBI program educates students (under faculty supervision) by providing business consulting and technical assistance to small and entrepreneurial ventures.

Wingate Business Students Learn From Small Business
Institute Speakers
Originally, the SBI program was funded by the Small Business Administration (SBA), but that is no longer the case. It is no longer a government program and has no obligation or connection with the government. In 1996, the SBA
discontinued financial support for the SBI program. The organization continues to serve the needs of businesses and students through the commitment of dedicated business professors approved by the Small Business Institute's Director's Association.

The purpose of the SBI Program is to provide high quality business consulting to small business clients requesting assistance while providing and extraordinary learning experience for college and university students through the experiential field case consulting model. High quality business consulting (the object of the SBI program) is comprised of direct contact between the student team and the client, detailed analysis of the client's business, through research and a useful case/project report. Each report (the ultimate product of the program) is tailored to the individual client's business and embodies sound business management principles. In evaluating the merit of each case/project report, SBI directors and case supervisors will be guided by the client's actual business needs. It is understood that sound analysis of a business may not always yield a positive outlook to the client; however, the goal of this program is to improve the economic health of client businesses whenever possible.

The Wingate Program
The Wingate University School of Business & Economics' SBA Director is Dr. Calvin Fields, associate professor of management. There is no charge for this service. Our business students benefit by getting course credit and small businesses benefit by gaining better business performance. The first student consulting teams were organized in January, 2004. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Fields at (704) 233-8141 or cfields@wingate.edu. He will contact you and discuss your needs. A student consulting team may then be assigned to you.

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CONTACT:
Mr. Joseph Graham
Professor of Accounting and Dean
graham@wingate.edu
704-233-8147