Academic Support (cont'd)
College of Business

Center for Business Enterprise

Located in the College of Business (406-657-2295), the Center for Business Enterprise serves the community in a variety of ways.  Management assistance to business and government is provided through workshops and short courses, management development seminars, applied research projects, and consulting activities.  A number of programs offered by the Center for Business Enterprise qualify for Continuing Professional Education Credits (CPE) for accountants, lawyers, real estate and other professionals.  Hands-on training for students in the business program is provided by assignments to small business cases and involvement with other Center for Business Enterprise projects as either a part of class or as an individual assignment.

Small Business Institute

The Small Business Institute (SBI) provides consulting services for small businesses in the Billings Montana area.  Upper division and graduate business students, working under the supervision of a faculty member, gain practical experience while using their business training to solve “real world” problems.  SBI cases provide assistance to clients in areas such as finance, marketing, human resource management, business operations and strategic planning.  The program’s value lies not only in the student’s hands-on experience of assisting business people identifying and solving actual business problems, but also in the experience of working with other team members in accomplishing these objectives.  Facing challenges provided in SBI casework provides insights into how businesses operate, opportunities to exercise skills learned in other parts of the program, and experience in developing creative solutions to new business problems.

MSU Billings Center for Applied Economic Research

The Center for Applied Economic Research (CAER), an interdisciplinary research center, is located in the College of Business (MCD 113, 406-657-2220).  The Center maintains a Regional Economic Database, used by researchers, business and community clients.  The Center provides economic and other interdisciplinary community related research services to the Billings and Eastern Montana region, and research for potential economic development.  Results of faculty research on topics of regional interest are published as occasional/working papers through this Center.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program provides free tax return assistance to individuals who cannot afford professional tax help.  The program allows students who have taken the income tax course to get first hand experience preparing income tax returns for low-income, elderly, and handicapped taxpayers.  The VITA program has assisted over 400 taxpayers each year for the last five years.

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