MSU's Residential Business Community isn't just the No. 1-ranked U.S. public learning community—it's also a powerhouse when it comes to preparing students for lifelong civic and social responsibility.

The Residential Business Community (RBC) is the living-learning community for the Eli Broad College of Business. It allows first- and second-year business-minded students to live together in McDonel Hall and supports them academically, socially, and professionally from their first day on campus all the way through graduation. “As a community of business-minded students, we strive to make sure that community engagement is a core value of our members, which we know they will carry with them as they graduate and become business leaders in the future," said Joe Courtade Moon, assistant director of the RBC.

Since 2006, the RBC has grown to 300 students and has developed a strong network of current student leaders, alumni, corporate partners, and other on-/off-campus community partners who collaborate to provide students with an “amazing college experience,” according to the RBC.

Community engagement is a crucial piece of this experience, Courtade Moon said. “All RBC students are required as part of their BUS 101 course to plan, carry out, and present on a group community service project in the local community during the fall semester, and they are extremely creative in the projects they pursue,” he said.

Past projects have included volunteering and direct service, advocacy and raising awareness about social issues, and even fundraising and philanthropy. Students are able to use their unique skills and interests to engage with community partners, which has had a tremendous impact on the Greater Lansing area and beyond. In just the fall 2023 semester, BUS 101 students logged over 500 community engagement hours with 30 different community partners.

RBC students are also encouraged to participate in community events outside of their classes. One example is “Corporate Craft Nights,” which began this year as a way for students to learn from business professionals while making a positive impact on the local community. Partnering first with Plante Moran, then with Deloitte, RBC students created activity bags to donate to the Sparrow Children's Center. Each event drew 75+ students, and over 120 activity bags were created between the two events.

“It's important to show them that community engagement and service doesn't come in just one format,” Courtade Moon said. “We encourage a range of opportunities, including not only on-site service at the organization headquarters, but also opportunities they can complete from McDonel Hall where the RBC is located.”

According to Courtade Moon, events like these benefit students and the community in key ways. “Our students learn the importance of giving back to the community and building partnerships with community organizations. In addition to the community impact, [the events] also support the students' personal and professional development, building core skills in teamwork, collaboration, and organization.”

Thanks to the RBC, business-minded students are able to explore various engagement strategies, build connections with community organizations, and graduate with a sense of how community engagement can fit into their professional lives. “It's important for students to see the positive impact they can have in their community, whether it's as individuals, small groups, or as the entire RBC,” Courtade Moon said.