Industrial Distribution
UNK Program of the Month
May 2009
The UNK Staff Senate is pleased to recognize the Industrial Distribution program as the May 2009 UNK Department of the Month due to its recent success the program has experienced and the long term dedication the ID faculty and staff commit towards the program.
Including those graduating this month, the Industrial Distribution program in the Industrial Technology Department has well over 600 graduates since being established in 1987 and currently has over 200 majors. Students achieve employment all over the country and the program is now formally recognized as one of the top leading technical sales programs in the nation by the University Sales Education Foundation (USEF). In an announcement made on April 15th, 2009, in the April supplement of the Selling Power magazine, Jeanne Frawley, USEF Director, writes, “As the only school in Nebraska that makes our list of Top University Sales Programs, UNK is leading the way for the State in sales education. A true national differentiator for the UNK program is the focus on technical sales.”
At this time, the ID program is the third largest in the nation with a major in Industrial Distribution and is the only program with a focus on technical sales. The announcement by the USEF allows UNK ID students to take the Chally Group Assessment which matches key skills with company needs. Only 12 programs in the nation are offered this assessment.
Additionally, the Industrial Distribution Program has recently begun developing a sales simulation laboratory. The new lab will model that of a branch office for a distributor. It is currently under construction and will be operational by the Fall 2009 semester. The new lab will allow students to participate in sales simulation exercises to become more familiar with the technical sales process. This will increase a graduate’s ability to adapt more rapidly as they enter the workforce.
In order to assist with the new sales simulation laboratory, the ID program has developed a partnership program with a number of companies with each company contributing an annual fee to participate as a program partner. To date, eight companies are contributing a substantial sum which allows the program to create even better services for students and allows faculty critical funding for travel and special projects necessary to continue to build the program.
In recognition of all their hard work, the UNK Staff Senate is honored to recognize the faculty, staff, and students of the UNK Industrial Distribution Program as the May 2009 Program of the Month.
Thank you to the sponsors of the Department of the Month: UNK Athletics and Staff Senate.