The Pearl Louise Marlatt Walch/Alumni Endowed Chair was established through the combined efforts of the family of Pearl Louise Marlatt Walch,  the Alumni of Northwestern, and the Board of Regents of Oklahoma Colleges in 1994. The funds from this endowment are used to operate the Pearl Louise Marlatt Walch/Alumni Business Research Center. It is currently under the directorship of  Dr. Patti Wilber.

The Center's primary mission is:

• To foster economic growth and development in Northwest Oklahoma by providing quality resources and services to businesses, communities, and other relevant entities to enable the entire region of Northwest Oklahoma to grow and prosper.
• To integrate activities within the business curriculum of Northwestern Oklahoma State University by involving students and faculty in research activities.
• To complement the efforts of other entities involved in economic development in Northwest Oklahoma.
• To provide an important link between Northwest Oklahoma economic development, business practice, and higher education

These working relationships are developed with local rural and economic development authorities, local governments, and other entities actively involved in rural and economic development of the area.

The Center continues to broaden its scope, encourage economic growth, and promote the image of Northwestern Oklahoma State University and its market area. It also:

• Involves business students in the actual research process and case studies through integration into the business curriculum and SBI classes.
• Encourages faculty members to engage in business research, workshops and seminars, critical problem solving, scholarly activities, and faculty development.
• Recognizes the network of other resource contributors.
• Includes researching needed information for and communication with its various publics.

The purposes underlying the mission of the Center are complementary and through this mission will enable it to meet related goals. More specifically, the goals of the Pearl Louise Marlatt Walch/Alumni Business Research Center focus on the following entities served through this endeavor.

The Center focuses on the following goals in its relationship with the University.

• To enhance the scope of the institution's service mission
• To encourage economic growth in the service area
• To promote the image of the university

• To be involved in the actual research process of the Center
• To participate in specific business case studies integrated into the business curriculum and the Small Business Institute class.

The Center encourages faculty development as follows.

• To engage in business research, presenting their results in the classroom for enhancing student learning.
• To provide a linkage between faculty members and the business community through the research process and by providing workshops and seminars to disseminate information.
• To foster critical problem solving, scholarly activities, and professional development.

The Center's goals for northwest Oklahoma are as follows.

• To help facilitate rural and economic growth and development in Northwest Oklahoma.
• To offer complementary resources and services, recognizing the network of other resource contributors.
• Seeks to understand, anticipate, and serve constituents' needs of northwest Oklahoma communities.
• Views its constituents as valued partners for northwest Oklahoma development.
• Holds to ethical considerations in every aspect of research.
• Strives to be socially responsible by serving society as a responsible citizen.
• Commits itself to operate as a valued neighbor in the communities in which it serves.

The Small Business Institute Program was incorporated into the Center in 1995. The responsibilities for conducting this program and/or class is given to the director of the Center. This program is a very natural and complementary part of the Center. It offers the following advantages:

• Serves as a bridge between the Center, the classroom, business students, the business curriculum, and the business community.
• Allows business students an invaluable, real-life experience in working with a client as referred by the Oklahoma Small Business Development Center.
• Provides free consulting services to area businesses.

Housed within the OSBDC is the NWOSU Community Data Center, a cooperative project of the OSBDC and NWOSU.  The Data Center services area business clients and economic development agencies within its fifteen county region.  Community profiles compiled and published by the Data Center act as a one-stop storing house of information including specific data on the communities within its region. The Community Data Center also serves as a U.S. Census depository.

Thanks for visiting our web site. If you would like additional information, please contact the Center via telephone at (580) 327-8527, fax at (580) 327-8508, e-mail at plwilber@nwosu.edu or snail mail from the above address.

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Last updated: June 13, 2002 Webmistress: Patti L. Wilber, Ph.D.