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“If it matters to the USA family, it matters to us.”
SEPT. 9, 2013
Marketing offers sales track
VOL. 53, NO. 7
Jags win 41-39 vs. Tulane Football program’s biggest victory- Page 8
ALYSSA NEWTON | LOC EDITOR STUART SOX | SENIOR REPORTER
A concentration in sales is now available to marketing majors within USA’s College of Business beginning this fall semester. By STUART SOX sgsox@att.net
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tarting this fall semester, the Mitchell College of Business is now offering the option of adding a concentration in sales to marketing majors. The university and the College of Business received approval for this addition from the Alabama Commission on Higher Education in June of this year. “This was a great opportunity to carve out a separate area of focus in the marketing program,” said Alvin Williams, a professor of marketing in the College of Business. According to Williams, the numbers in the sales class he teaches are the highest they have ever been. “I think it will certainly help us in our efforts as a university to attract new students,” added Williams, who stressed the demand for marketing majors in the job market. “There is such demand for professional sales talent. I think, when students realize the variety of job opportunities in the sales profession, they might be attracted to it,” Williams said. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wages in May 2008 were $80,220 for advertising and promotions managers, $108,580 for marketing managers and $97,260 for sales managers.
There is a need for marketing and sales specialists in nearly every industry, according to Williams. “Everything from ideas to concepts to products to services has to be sold. When we got Airbus and ThyssenKrupp, someone from economic development had to sell Mobile. Selling is an integral part of economic development,” Williams said. Williams also says that adding a marketing minor with a concentration in sales can make a recent college graduate much more valuable to businesses. “For example, if a biology major decided to minor in marketing, they could position themselves to sell pharmaceuticals,” Williams said. The sales concentration was added to enhance the current package that a student offers to employers, according to Williams. “We want to tailor the marketing minor to fit your career aspirations,” Williams said. “The sales concentration is an exciting addition to the business program at South,” said sophomore David Imber, an advertising major with a minor in marketing. “It opens up even more doors for marketing graduates and shows the college’s desire to see students succeed outside the classroom.” The sales concentration will offer focuses on retail sales and business to business sales. “I feel like the concentration is a
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good addition because eventually you have to sell whatever business you’re doing,” said Allie Dubose, a senior and marketing management major. “If you can’t sell your product, you’re not going to make any money… you have to be able to communicate with your consumer,” she added. Dubose is the president of the Professional Sales and Marketing Club, which was started at South Alabama in the previous spring semester. “Our club is an elite student organization with members that share a desire to understand sales and marketing,” Dubose said. The club plans to take trips to ThyssenKrupp Steel, Austal USA and other businesses for volunteer work and to obtain practice making marketing plans. “It is open to anyone at South Alabama and helps people build their skills and strategy for when they graduate,” Dubose added. The first meeting of the semester is this Thursday at 2 p.m. at the College of Business building in room 264. For more information on the Professional Sales and Marketing Club, contact Allie Dubose at add802@jagmail.southalabama.edu. For more information on becoming a marketing major or adding the sales concentration, visit the Mitchell College of Business on South Drive.
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Applications for USA orientation leaders due By NOAH LOGAN
ncl1101@jagmail.southalabama.edu
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riday, Sept. 13 marks the deadline for students to turn in applications to be a Southbound Orientation leader. This date makes the deadline for applications a full month earlier than last year. According to Interim Director for New Student Orientation Lauren Tholl, applications are due this early because the first major campus visit day, known as USA Day, falls in October. In addition to orientation, Southbound leaders will also work all the scheduled USA Days.
Tholl also explained the general duties for any student who is able to become a Southbound leader. “Southbound leaders are similar to ambassadors for South and provide essential support in preparing incoming students for their collegiate journey. The members of the Southbound Orientation team will serve as peer educators, peer advisors, group facilitators and role models to new freshmen, transfer students and their families.” See Southbound orientation Page 4
JAMES PALOMO | CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
New students at the 2013 southbound orientation sessions learn more about USA from their skilled orientation leaders. In this Issue:
Life, Page 5 Sports, Page 8 Opinion, Page 10 Left of Center, Page 11