BCS Stories & News

Brazilian students at the Business & Community Services building

Nearly 100 Brazilian students find their fit at UNI

50 students from Brazil are at UNI to improve their English skills and learn more about agribusiness and entrepreneurship. 47 more will be here in the spring.
Group of students pose during Parma Calcio Soccer Club tour

Students discover lessons learned for family businesses during Italy study abroad trip

From family farms to Italian firms — UNI students discovered how family businesses thrive across generations and cultures.
Employees high-fiving

New Wilson College of Business research highlights ESOP benefits for young workers

New UNI research shows employee ownership boosts young workers’ stability and satisfaction — could ESOPs be the key to Iowa’s economic future?
President Nook talking to Sen. Joni Ernst

Sen. Joni Ernst highlights UNI’s role in workforce development during campus visit

U.S. Senator Joni Ernst visited the University of Northern Iowa on Wednesday, touring the Applied Engineering Building and the new nursing facilities in the Innovative Teaching and Technology Center.
Iowa Family Business Conference

Austad’s Golf to headline the 2025 Iowa Family Business Conference in Des Moines

The fifth annual Iowa Family Business Conference will tee off with a lineup of family business stories that are as candid as they are inspiring. Dave and Ryan Austad, father-and-son leaders of Austad’s Golf, will provide a lunchtime keynote with a powerful conversation on succession, resilience and legacy.
Drew Conrad

University of Northern Iowa appoints Drew Conrad as executive director of Business & Community Services

The University of Northern Iowa has appointed Drew Conrad as the new executive director of Business & Community Services (BCS), the economic development outreach arm of the Wilson College of Business, effective July 1.
Attendees at 2024 Family Business Conference

June 23 is proclaimed Family Business Day through the work of the UNI Family Business Center

A short summary displayed on listings of news on InsideUNI and on the InsideUNI homepage if promoted to top of the front page.
Randy Pilkington

Randy Pilkington to retire from UNI Business & Community Services after nearly 40 years

Pilkington will continue working part-time to support the leadership transition and focus on special projects, including federal relations, intellectual property and planning.
Jennifer Trent leads a compost training

Midwest rural communities recipient of compost training program

The Iowa Waste Reduction Center  (IWRC) at the University of Northern Iowa is launching the Rural Compost Operations and Compost Use Training Project funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service Solid Waste Management Grant Program.
Rediscover the Cedar Valley

Rediscover the Cedar Valley

Remember Cedar Falls the way it used to be? It might not look the same as when you last strolled through, but trust us — it’s even better. From trendy boutiques and buzzing breweries to outdoor adventures and live entertainment, the Cedar Valley has transformed into a vibrant hub of activity. Whether you’re back for a visit or discovering it for the first time, there’s plenty to explore!