From the Dean
We aim to provide exceptional, personal educational experiences. Maintaining that vision is key to our recent and future successes.
This issue of UPDATE brings much good news from the School of Business. Let’s get straight to the major developments:
- Our MBA program rose 13 places in the Financial Times ranking and 10 places in U.S. News and World Report, (the second highest increase among the top 50 schools).
- Our undergraduate program, which is ranked 11th among all undergraduate business programs by U.S. News and World Report, continues to receive high marks from students and employers.
- In Executive Education, we have created key programs in emerging areas and reached our highest ranking ever by the Financial Times, 17th in the U.S.
- Our faculty has been strengthened by four excellent junior faculty members who have been granted tenure in key departments.
- As if that were not enough, The Grainger Foundation has pledged $20 million to the construction of a new wing for our MBA program! The state of Wisconsin has committed another $10 million to the project.
These recent developments give us all reason to feel good about what we are doing. However, we recognize that they are only steps toward larger and more fundamental goals.
The School of Business’ vision is to be internationally renowned for knowledge creation and expertise concentrated around selected career specializations. We aim to provide exceptional, personal educational experiences. Maintaining that vision is key to our recent and future successes.
We did not improve our educational experiences to improve rankings. Rather, the rankings improved as a direct result of the commitment of our faculty, staff and students to enhancing our educational experiences. It is the success of our students that matters, not the rankings per se.
Our faculty members did not produce great research or excel at teaching in order to obtain tenure. Rather, their commitment to creation and dissemination of knowledge resulted in them being granted tenure.
The Grainger Foundation’s belief in our vision and our commitment to excellence in an MBA program defined by exceptional, personal education helped make a wonderful gift possible. By maintaining our focus on excellence, we hope that others will step forward and contribute to our future success.
Not every semester can bring as much good news as this past one. Each can, however, bring at least as much pride and satisfaction by a continuous focus on excellence. There is one constant throughout all these efforts: We remain committed to our vision.
Michael M. Knetter
Dean