Over the last six years, Oakland University’s business school has focused on strengthening its reputation in the region by enhancing the strong business foundation undergraduate and graduate students receive in the classroom through more and more opportunities to learn about business careers, test theories, build skills and develop leadership through real-world, hands-on experiences.
That’s not all. Through strategic partnerships, the school has extended the benefits of a business education across campus, across disciplines, helping students in other fields build their credentials by working with academic partners to incorporate key business courses into their programs. From engineering to health sciences and entrepreneurship, students across the university are benefitting from the expertise available in OU’s School of Business.
Throughout a time of economic uncertainty, OU’s business school stayed focus on its goals to ensure its students are well-prepared for success – ready to make a difference on their chosen path immediately following graduation. This comes at a time when, according to recent Career Builder reports, employers are increasingly seeking business knowledge and savvy in their new hires, regardless of industry or level.
This is no coincidence.
When Mohan Tanniru returned to OU’s business school in 2007 as Dean, he set out to harness the wealth of expertise available in the school’s faculty, staff and powerful alumni base to transform its business education and the experience of its students.
As he prepares to return to a faculty position and hand over leadership of the school to a new dean at the end of this academic year, he leaves the school poised to sustain its current trajectory and gain greater distinction within and beyond the region.
“The business school has become very student-centric. That focus has enhanced the experiential learning for the students in the last few years,” says Craig Stinson, SBA ‘84, chairman, Norma Group GmBH, and chairman, Board of Visitors, for the School of Business. “We want our graduates to hit the ground running and make a difference – the programs introduced over the last six years do just that. They have also created a real momentum, positioning the school to move to the next level – from a distinctive regional school to one that is recognized nationally.
“The sky is the limit for Oakland University and the School of Business. There are so many good things going on here, so many pieces coming together, we will be recognized as one of the great schools before long,” he adds. “Mohan’s service to the school has made a difference; his legacy is one people will look back on and remember.”
“Collectively, the faculty, staff, alumni, friends and partners have made Oakland University’s School of Business what it is today – a school recognized for delivering a well-rounded business education,” says Tanniru. “By aligning our strategic initiatives with Oakland University’s student-centered goals, we at the business school focused on creating a real community to support our students and help them succeed in a competitive marketplace.”
From increasing hands-on learning opportunities and introducing new programs to improving its physical environment and expanding its reach in the business community, Oakland University’s School of Business is moving forward quickly. Check out these highlights of the last six years.
Resume-quality experience
The Center for Integrated Business Research and Education (CIBRE), launched by the business school in 2009, offers a collection of unique experiential learning programs and activities that create opportunities for business students to develop and sharpen work skills in the real world, on real projects for real organizations – skills and experiences that differentiate them as they enter a competitive job market.
The school’s Applied Technology in Business program, which Tanniru served as the founding director in 1997, became a model for creating several new hands-on learning opportunities for all business students.
The School of Business has increased the ways in which students can practice leadership, connect theory and practice, gain competitive differentiating skills and build career-enriching foundation beginning with their freshmen year – in the classroom, and through co- and extra-curricular activities.
New programs include: ACHIEVE for career development; Scholars for leadership development; Experiential Learning and Innovation where graduate students are matched with businesses for project assistance; and consultancy projects where students address the needs of small businesses, and governmental and nonprofit organizations.
An increased focus on global understanding has resulted in more international trips for undergraduate and graduate students as well as virtual global team projects where students. The Ideas 2 Business lab, combined with the school’s new Entrepreneurship minor, links business students with entrepreneurially minded faculty and students to help them commercialize their ideas. SAIFE, a new student club, encourages hands-on financial education by providing students with donor funds to invest in security markets to learn investment strategies.
Programs for emerging markets, specialized skills
The School of Business continued to offer graduate programs that merge the teaching talents of dedicated professionals and experienced business leaders with the latest technologies through its long- standing programs – Executive MBA in health care management, MBA, Master of Accounting, and Master of Science in Information Technology Management (MSITM). A greater emphasis on a flexible schedule over the last several years recognized the needs of busy professionals. The business school also introduced new programs that focus on emerging markets and partnered across Oakland University to develop programs that integrate business understanding with specialized fields, including:
Transforming spaces
In December 2010, the opening of the Stinson Student Advancement Center represented a tangible example of how the School of Business transformed its physical space to create a student community. Thanks to the vision, generosity and leadership of Craig Stinson and Hugh Elliott – through a matching challenge grant -- SBA alumni, friends, faculty and staff came together to fund this center, which provides an impressive one-stop area offering student services, meeting and lounging areas, and first-rate technology, including a virtual conferencing facility.
The Tim and Marsha Healy Café, which officially opened in February 2011, serves Elliott Hall visitors a selection of fresh food items and Starbucks products.
Advancing business issues
From coordinating major conferences with broad appeal, hosting forums and discussions, and encouraging out-of-the-box thinking, OU’s School of Business has increased its profile in the business community by creating opportunities for researchers, practitioners and students to come together to take part in constructive dialog, and develop solutions to immediate business issues and identifying future trends. Activities included:
Earned Excellence: AACSB-International Accreditation
In 2009, Oakland University’s School of Business successfully completed an intensive review process that culminated in the reaccreditation for both its business and accounting programs from the world’s most widely-recognized and most sought-after organization, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International. Less than five percent of the world’s business programs hold this elite accreditation. Today there are 672 business schools in nearly 50 countries and territories that hold AACSB accreditation. OU’s business school is one of only 176 with AACSB accreditation in both areas.
To achieve the business accreditation and separate accounting program accreditation, the SBA’s programs must meet AACSB standards requiring a high-quality teaching environment, a commitment to continuous improvement and curricula responsive to the needs of business. The accounting accreditation requires the satisfaction of additional standards specific to the discipline and profession.
Over the last six years, Oakland University’s business school has focused on strengthening its reputation in the region by enhancing the strong business foundation undergraduate and graduate students receive in the classroom through more and more opportunities to learn about business careers, test theories, build skills and develop leadership through real-world, hands-on experiences.
That’s not all. Through strategic partnerships, the school has extended the benefits of a business education across campus, across disciplines, helping students in other fields build their credentials by working with academic partners to incorporate key business courses into their programs. From engineering to health sciences and entrepreneurship, students across the university are benefitting from the expertise available in OU’s School of Business.
Throughout a time of economic uncertainty, OU’s business school stayed focus on its goals to ensure its students are well-prepared for success – ready to make a difference on their chosen path immediately following graduation. This comes at a time when, according to recent Career Builder reports, employers are increasingly seeking business knowledge and savvy in their new hires, regardless of industry or level.