Student Clubs and Organizations

To make sure that students are optimally prepared to enter the workforce, the Center sponsors numerous leadership opportunities to students which focus on professional development, leadership enhancement, and professional networking.

One notable example is UA’s stand-out chapter of Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE). Members of this national organization teach principles of free enterprise to other students and the larger Tucson community. Working in teams, members might teach responsible credit card use or act as consultants to start-up businesses. UA’s SIFE chapter regularly was the national champion in 2008 and consistently places among the top three teams in the United States.

Another way students can develop professionally is by serving as ambassadors on the Center’s Student Advisory Board or by joining The TREND Group. Through networking and development opportunities, this organization exposes all interested UA students — being a retailing major is not a requirement — to the benefits of careers in the industry.

For a practical, hands-on learning experience, students may work at one of two A Stores, student-run satellite stores located in two regional shopping malls. Student employees earn academic credit while gaining experience in buying, merchandising, human resources and management.