Author(s): Rebecca Rast, Aaron Gleiberman, Juliana White
With the increasing and now outnumbering growth of female and minority college and university students, it is imperative to create a curriculum that provides a unique benefit to underrepresented groups and establish the long-term value of a traditional setting. One potential avenue that would do well not only with the more “standard” groups of students but benefit underrepresented groups is franchising. Data demonstrate that in the small business ownership realm, minorities and women are represented at a disproportionately higher rate, thanks to the assistance the franchise business format affords. This paper thus proposes a franchise class curriculum relying on a project-based learning format to incorporate interdisciplinary subjects, designed to boost student self-confidence and self-efficacy, while meeting the AACSB Assurance of Learning Standards.