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 Establishing enduring relationships with graduates

Article taken from College of Business Reports, Summer 2007

by Mohammed Khayum

Alumni insights benefit new generations of students
preparing for business careers

At USI Commencement in May, 309 degrees--277 undergraduate degrees, 26 M.B.A. degrees, and six post-baccalaureate certificates--were awarded to College of Business students.  This accounted for almost 24 percent of the total number of USI graduates in spring 2007. Based on past patterns, more than 70 percent of these graduates are likely to be employed within a 60-mile radius of the University. As we celebrate the accomplishments of our graduates and wish them success in their future endeavors, we look forward to establishing enduring relationships based on mutual interconnectedness.

This issue of the College of Business Reports highlights:

• ongoing progress with the implementation of our strategic plan and the active involvement of our Board of Advisors in the process (page 8).

• accomplishments and activities of our students and faculty that reflect our mission to offer a value-driven business education with an emphasis on being student centered, fostering creativity, innovation, and ethical decision-making. The enterprising attitude of our students, their successes, and our commitment to key aspects of our mission are reflected in student engagement in local, state, regional, and national competitions (pages 6-8), the recognition and awards they have received (pages 1,6, 7, 9, 11, and 12), and the transformational impact of their varied learning experiences (page 10).

• the value we place on the creation, advancement, and application of knowledge through reasoned, disciplined inquiry by our faculty. Examples include the development of an entrepreneur- Dean's letter Establishing enduring relationships with graduates By Mohammed Khayum Alumni insights benefit new generations of students preparing for business careers ship minor (pages 1 and 5) and the research projects that faculty will conduct this summer (page 3).

• the tremendous support from our community for our direction and the steps we are taking to attain our goals. This is evident in the generosity of donors whose contributions will have a significant impact on the integration and use of technology in the new College of Business and General Classroom Building (page 1).

Amid our focus and enthusiasm about future developments we also are mindful of the enduring role the College of Business plays as a bridge between generations of business students. We encourage our alumni to consider possibilities for engagement such as participation in the USI Alumni Association, advisory groups, focus groups, our business idea competition, and other activities such as our alumni-in- residence program.

A recent mid-management focus group involving the following alumni--Stephanie Buchanan '97, Stephanie Polen '98 M.B.A. '05, Alvin Basham '00, and Jeff Bone '97, provided perspectives on the "Ideal Business Graduate" based on their work experiences after graduation. Their insights about taking initiative, being an effective communicator, and being able to relate knowledge across disciplines illustrate how alumni support and interaction can serve as a bridge between generations of students.