WebsiteFaculty/Staff/Departments

   

• COB Home
• About Us
  • Dean's Welcome
  • Dean's Newsletters
    • Archives
  • Dean's Marketing
  • Facts
  • Accreditation
  • Distinction
  • Business Building
  • Videos
  • Brochures
  • COB Magazine
• Undergraduate Programs
• MBA Program
• MPAcc Program
• Corporate & Executive Education
• Career Development
• Business Accelerator
• Faculty & Research
  • Research
  • Experts
  • Administration
  • Administrative Staff
  • Accelerator Team
  • Accounting
  • Business Law
  • Economics
  • Finance
  • International Business
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Management Information Systems
  • Executives In-Residence
• Advisory Boards
  • Board of Visitors
  • Accelerator Advisory Panel
  • Accounting Board
  • Investment Fund Advisory Board
  • Strategic Marketing Board
• College Profiles
• Corporate Connections
  • Corporate Partners
  • Get Involved
  • Gateway & Capstone
  • Board Fellows
  • Business Accelerator
  • Internships
  • Employer Resources
  • Executive Education
• Support the College
  • Become a Shareholder
  • Corporate Partners
  • Make a Gift
  • Get Involved
• News & Events
  • Upcoming Events
  • Press Releases
  • COB in the News
  • Perspectives Columns
  • Magazine
  • Monthly Newsletters
  • Blogs

       

Real Life. Real Business.

Nov. 7, 2008

Dear Alumni and Friends,

In my last two letters, I described the CBA's unique approach to education - Real Life, Real Business - and what it means to our students.

Students experience real business throughout their years at Butler - from the Freshman Business Experience and Real Business Experience, which require students to write two business plans and potentially run a business (all before the junior year), to two required, for-credit internships, working with an Executive-in-Residence as a career mentor for four years, and in-class projects with "live" cases from local companies. 
  
MBA student experiences range from the kick-off Gateway Experience consulting project in the first course through to the concluding Capstone Experience, in which the entire semester-long course is focused on solving key issues for a corporation with input and feedback from the company's management. Real Life, Real Business means that our students learn by doing, through connections with the business community in a variety of mutually-beneficial ways. 

However, Real Life, Real Business also means that the College of Business Administration is a resource for the business media and, therefore, the business community at large.

The State of Our Business - Annual CEO Survey

The CBA recently partnered with Inside Indiana Business and Ice Miller for our second annual CEO survey, "The State of Our Business - A Perspective from Indiana Executives." In addition to providing insight and understanding with respect to significant issues facing CEOs, the state's role in attracting and retaining business, and specific state initiatives, the survey also addressed several specific themes, including human resource and diversity issues, education and technology. Bob Mackoy, Professor of Marketing, conducted the research along with adjunct faculty member Tish Lashua. The CBA received significant media coverage for its participation in the survey. Furthermore, over 500 businesspeople, combined, attended the VIP launch reception at the Skyline Club or saw the CEO panel discussion at the Downtown Westin. Of course, thousands more saw similar discussions on TV on Inside Indiana Business with Gerry Dick. A full summary of the survey results can be found at here.

CBA in the News

You may have noticed that your 401k is smaller - yep, mine too. With 24/7 news coverage, how could you not have noticed? And if you now check the Dow Futures to see which way the market might be headed, you're definitely suffering from financial crisis news overload.

However, while flipping channels, listening to drive-time radio, or reading print or Internet news reports, you may have recognized some familiar faces and voices. That's because the CBA's faculty and staff have been in high demand as local and national reporters look to trusted sources to explain what's going on in the markets and the business world.  Steve Dolvin, Assistant Professor of Finance, has been interviewed frequently by local TV and radio stations, as well as by Newsday and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Bill Rieber, Professor of Economics, has appeared on local TV news over 15 times in the last few months, and has also been interviewed by WIBC and the IBJ. I was interviewed on Comcast Newsmakers last week about the local impact of the economic situation and by Channel 6, WRTV, about General Motors' cash shortage. Other CBA experts in the news include Jim McKneight, Bela Florenthal, Dick McGowan, Dan McQuiston, Peter Grossman and Bill O'Donnell. Likewise, Chris Stump, Project Manager for the Butler Business Accelerator, was interviewed by Gerry Dick on Inside Indiana Business on Oct. 31 and discussed how businesses should work with their banks during the current market situation. Keep up with all of the CBA media appearances by visiting our CBA in the News.

The CBA has long been a resource for the business community and we are now becoming recognized as a resource for the local media, due to our faculty expertise. 

Get Involved with Real Life, Real Business

As you can see, the CBA provides an unparalleled educational experience for our students. We are also a resource for businesses and the media. To make this work, we need the involvement of local companies and dedicated alumni. If you would like to get involved in Real Life, Real Business, please email me directly. Please send me your ideas on how we can further our involvement in the business community and how we can partner with you or your company. I'd be happy to send you a brochure that lists 20 ways your business or organization can partner with the College of Business.

Chuck Williams, Dean
College of Business