Students at the University of Alabama in Huntsville will step beyond the classroom this fall to tackle real challenges facing Drake State Community and Technical College, including how to grow enrollment and strengthen student engagement.
The two Huntsville institutions are partnering on a Fall 2026 initiative that will give UAH business students experience working much like a consulting firm, using research and data analysis to develop recommendations for local organizations.
The partnership is led by Drake State President Dr. Patricia Sims and UAH College of Business Dean Dr. Jason Greene.
Students enrolled in the UAH College of Business MGT/MKT 495 Practicum, taught by Dr. Valentina Iscaro, will work in teams with institutions and industry professionals to study specific organizational challenges and ultimately present their recommendations.
For Drake State, that means taking a closer look at opportunities surrounding enrollment and student engagement.
“We are pleased to partner with UAH on this initiative,” Sims said. “The work completed by students may help us identify new opportunities to support enrollment and strengthen student outcomes. At the same time, students gain practical experience that will serve them in their future careers.”
The arrangement gives Drake State a fresh set of eyes on issues important to the college while giving UAH students something difficult to replicate in a traditional classroom: a real client with real-world challenges.
“This partnership demonstrates how universities and community colleges can work together to create value for students and our community,” Greene said. “Students will apply what they have learned in the classroom to a real organizational challenge, and Drake State will gain insights that can help inform future decisions.”
From classroom to client
Iscaro said the practicum is designed to put business and marketing concepts to work in a professional environment.
“This experience allows students to work on a project that has relevance beyond the classroom,” Iscaro said. “They will engage with institutional leaders, analyze information, and present recommendations that could contribute to organizational goals.”
The partnership also taps two distinctly different pieces of Huntsville’s higher-education landscape.
Drake State offers technical and university-transfer degrees, industry certifications and workforce training, while UAH’s College of Business combines business education and research with partnerships across Huntsville’s technology- and industry-heavy economy.
Leaders at both schools hope the fall project can become a model for additional collaborations, using the resources and expertise that already exist in Huntsville to address local challenges while preparing students for the workforce.
For the students involved, the assignment will come with something more consequential than a grade: the possibility that their work could help shape real decisions at another Huntsville institution.
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