Indiana State University: involvement. Leadership. Participation. Growth.

Involvement. Leadership. Participation. Growth. Some of the most rewarding experiences Indiana State University students have don't always occur in the classroom. They also occur through involvement in clubs, athletics, student government and other activities. Indiana State University firmly believes that real learning takes place inside and outside the classroom.

Indiana State Investment Club students recently combined practical experience and experiential learning to outperform 17 other university teams and earn top honors in the annual Oak Associates investment Contest. These students posted more than a 32 percent return on their investment and saw their portfolio grow to nearly $90,000.

"We use much of our own personal experience in the classroom" says Tarek Zaher, finance professor and club sponsor. "I let students bring in everyday bits of information about the real markets and investment issues and have them work on real portfolios," explains Zaher. "So much is gained through practical experience and experiential learning."

This is only one of many examples of students being challenged by more than 100 well-rounded academic programs while reaping the benefits of working side-by-side with a dedicated faculty. Through this hands-on approach to learning, students gain confidence, experience and a resume of accomplishments that extend far beyond the classroom.

The value of faculty/student collaboration is illustrated in an informative and entertaining DVD produced by Indiana State University business education students. "Cash Rules" is designed to bring the realities of credit card ownership and financial responsibility to life for an impressionable audience.

What began as a skit for incoming freshmen during orientation has ballooned into a full-fledged DVD production and national conference exposure.

The innovative approach was spearheaded by senior business education/ business administration major Chris Street, who wrote the script, developed the interactive tools, organized the student actors and oversaw final production.

"Indiana State University is responsible for this. We have a lot of motivated students in our department, and we've had a lot of professors along the way who have allowed us to use our skills to put this project together,"...