The University of Connecticut’s BUILD Hartford course is giving students the opportunity to apply their knowledge to real-world challenges by exploring Hartford’s business, food and entrepreneurial communities.
Offered through UConn’s School of Business, the course allows undergraduate and graduate students to collaborate with local organizations and entrepreneurs to develop innovative projects aimed at supporting Hartford’s continued growth.
According to Michaela Hartl, Engagement & Outreach Coordinator for the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, the course is designed to give students “a real-world opportunity to hone their business storytelling skills through the contextual lens of Hartford’s business, food and entrepreneurial ecosystems.”
“The curriculum that I’ve ‘BUILT’ for the course has been heavily inspired by my experiences in and outside of the classroom over the last 20 years,” said Rory McGloin, the professor who designed and teaches the course, in an interview with The Daily Campus. “I wanted to create a course that provides the most hands-on and applied opportunities possible, and combine that with the opportunity for me to share my passion for business communication in a way that was a win-win-win for my students, the business partners and the Hartford community at large.”
The course focuses on the art and science of business communication — or, as McGloin describes it, “storytelling for the modern world.” Students learn to curate, craft and complete multimedia projects that capture the essence of Hartford businesses, highlighting their people, patrons and contributions to the city’s economy.
The course was established through a gift from UConn alumni Shari and Michael Cantor, whose support helped expand opportunities for students to connect directly with Hartford’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
“We are incredibly grateful for the opportunities this gift has given not only the students, but also our Hartford community,” Hartl said.
According to the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation website, students have worked with a variety of local establishments, from multi-generation family restaurants to entertainment venues that survived the pandemic, as well as new businesses helping to reshape how people live, work and gather in downtown Hartford.
According to McGloin, the program’s model offers both immediate and lasting benefits for students and the community.
Currently, the students are supporting the Hartford for the Holidays campaign by partnering with the Hartford Chamber of Commerce and their marketing and communications team, as seen in McGloin’s most recent LinkedIn post.
“The course has so many success stories — students landing jobs, internships, building confidence — and at the same time, we’ve captured and told stories that matter to Hartford,” he said.
Participants are also encouraged to document their experiences and professional growth on platforms such as LinkedIn, a component designed to strengthen their communication and networking skills.
“It is my belief that this model we’ve implemented for the BUILD course is the future of coursework in higher education,” McGloin said. “I am passionate about providing students the chance to not just learn theory, but apply it; not just talk about case studies, but bring them to life with their own solutions.”
McGloin stated that students from across nearly every UConn school and college have enrolled in the course, representing diverse academic backgrounds ranging from digital media and communication to economics, finance and public service.
“The beauty is that these students come from all over the world and from all over the University,” McGloin said. “When we come together to learn about the culture, and to engage with the businesses that feed our people and entertain our families — it is a truly wholesome learning environment: real students, real projects, real outcomes.”
