Wright State’s Raj Soin College of Business ranked in world’s top 100

Wright State’s Raj Soin College of Business is ranked 56 on a list of the top 100 business schools, according to the prestigious Aspen Institute.

The institute’s 2009–2010 edition of Beyond Grey Pinstripes, a biennial survey and alternative ranking of business schools, spotlights innovative full-time MBA programs that are integrating issues of social and environmental stewardship into curricula and research. Other business schools on the list with Wright State include those at Yale, Stanford, Berkeley, Notre Dame, and Duke.

“This recognition underscores the quality of our faculty, curriculum, students, and alumni,” said Berkwood Farmer, dean of the Raj Soin College of Business. “For the past six years, under the direction of Joseph Petrick, Ph.D., the Institute for Business Integrity has provided innovative programs, expertise, and resources to continually improve moral competency in business education and in the business community. Our faculty integrates ethical decision making throughout the entire MBA curriculum, plus our program places a strong emphasis on social issues and leadership. We are proud to be included in the ‘Global 100’ list of business schools as a result of our mission and ongoing commitment to develop successful and ethical business leaders.”

While many MBA rankings exist, only one looks beyond reputation and test scores to measure something much more important: how well schools are preparing their students for the environmental, social, and ethical complexities of modern-day business.

“Among the factors that contributed to our Global 100 ranking were the required MBA course in Ethical and Legal Decision-making in Global Business and the cutting-edge research, teaching, and service activities of the Institute for Business Integrity. These distinguished our MBA program from many others,” said Petrick, professor of management.

This year, business schools from 24 countries participated in an 18-month effort to map the landscape of teaching and research on issues pertaining to business and society. Relevant data collected in the survey, as well as the entire “Global 100” list of business schools, is available at: www.BeyondGreyPinstripes.org.

“The best business students move quickly into the front ranks of business—and the attitudes and values they bring to the table are deeply influenced by their time in business education,” said Judith Samuelson, executive director of the Aspen Institute’s Business and Society Program. “Will they accept the status quo or act on their passion about the positive role business can play at the intersection of corporate profit and social impact? The schools that are competitive in the Beyond Grey Pinstripes ranking are the real trailblazers—they assure that students have the right skill as well as the will to make things happen.”

“In these challenging economic times, the general public, not just scholars, are questioning whether the established models of business are broken,” said Rich Leimsider, director of the Aspen Institute’s Center for Business Education. “Beyond Grey Pinstripes schools are thoughtfully pursuing new approaches. They are preparing students who take a more holistic view of business success, one that measures financial results as well as social and environmental impacts.”

Office of Disability Services receives Advocacy Award from the Governor’s Council on People with Disabilities

The Governor’s Council on People with Disabilities has awarded Wright State’s Office of Disability Services its Health and Welfare Advocacy Award for 2009.

The award is among five the council gives annually to individuals and organizations who have shown outstanding leadership and determination on behalf of people with disabilities.

The Advocacy Award honors an individual or organization that has developed a new initiative or has made a significant improvement to an existing program that materially improves the quality of life for one or more individuals with disabilities.

“Receiving this award speaks to the diligence of our disability services staff who work tirelessly every day to advocate for individuals with disabilities,” said Jeffrey Vernooy, director of the Office of Disability Services. “Our mission is help a group of people—who would otherwise live on the edge of poverty—get the education and future employment they need to use their abilities to bring Ohio into economic prosperity.”

Wright State leads the nation in helping individuals with disabilities overcome barriers to finish college degrees. The Office of Disability Services serves approximately 500 students with disabilities. Wright State is also home to numerous faculty and staff members with disabilities.

Since 1970, Wright State has maintained a commitment to foster a culture of acceptance and inclusion of students with disabilities, providing:

• Educational assistive and adaptive technology training


• Regional college and university transition services for students and parents


• Support services, such as personal assistants for daily tasks


• Information to individuals, organizations, and employers on disability-related
  issues


• Advocacy for persons with disabilities


• Employer assistance in determining methods to hire and accommodate people with disabilities


• Community outreach programs

Financial Services program receives Innovation in Business Education Award

Wright State University’s Raj Soin College of Business has been awarded the 2010 Innovation in Business Education Award from the AACSB Mid-Continent East Association of Deans. AACSB, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, honored the college for innovation in its Department of Finance and Financial Services.

Accepting the award for Wright State was Bill Wood, a lecturer in the department, whose innovative course, Practicum in Financial Planning, gives undergraduate students the opportunity to develop a financial plan for clients who volunteer from the university community.

“Mr. Wood has not only found an innovative way to challenge his students, he has also provided a valuable service to the community,” said WSU President David R. Hopkins. “It’s this kind of educational experience that Wright State is becoming known for.”

Wood’s program is one of three award winners recognized among 29 applicants for its creative approach in teaching and preparing business professionals.

“Mr. Wood’s enthusiastic and innovative teaching style is well deserving of this honor. We feel strongly that it is this attention to the professional competencies of our students that has allowed our financial services students to be finalists in the Ameriprise Financial Planning Case Competitions five years running and take top prize three times,” said Marlena Akhbari, chair of the Department of Finance and Financial Services. “We have also noticed high rates of placement and increased employer satisfaction with our students’ ability to ‘hit the ground running’ upon graduation.”

The Financial Planning Practicum delivers real-life experience for the students and real-life benefit to the clients. “Students do the same work that financial planners across the country do for their clients daily,” said Wood. “This, along with numerous internship experiences and the leading-edge technology in our Soin Trading Room, definitely give our graduates a competitive edge when they graduate.”