President Battle's blog on BUSINESS SCHOOL ADVANCES

November 3, 2011

Source: http://president.southernct.edu/

If you walk across campus near the Lyman Center, it's encouraging to see the progress of the renovations to the former student center for our new School of Business. But a new building is not all that is happening in this part of our academic world.

Under the leadership of Dean Ellen Durnin, the school is reaching out as never before. On Tuesday afternoon, I attended the inaugural Business Advisory Council (BAC) meeting with representatives drawn from small and large businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and a regional governmental consortium.

Dean Durnin provided an overview of the School of Business' initiatives including:  increasing the School's outreach to the business community; the development of a Business Student Resource Center, a renovation update for the School building; pursuing AACSB accreditation, fundraising and curriculum revision.  These initiatives were decided after interviews, town hall meetings and surveys of students, alumni, faculty members and employers.

Council members provided a lively discussion and important feedback to the dean on how the School should prepare its graduates to succeed upon graduation.  The BAC will meet two to three times per year and will engage with the School's activities in the ways that are most relevant for them.