NEWS BRIEFS – JANUARY 2007

A GREAT YEAR COMING UP!

GREAT FUN PLANNED FOR ALUMNI
Saturday, January 20 -  Great Networking  - Great Basketball!

Did you know that the VCU School of Business has more than 21,000 alumni?  On January 20, alumni and their families will have the chance to network and socialize with fellow graduates, faculty and trustees at a reception in the Siegel Center’s Auxiliary Gym.  Then head next door to cheer on the Rams as they take on the Old Dominion University Monarchs in men’s basketball under the leadership of first-year head coach Anthony Grant. 

Reception is from 3:30-5:00 p.m.  Game is at 5:30 p.m.   Attendees will get a t-shirt (to show your School of Business pride at the game), food & game tickets – all for free!  Cash bar. 

Reservations required to bus-rsvp@vcu.edu or (804) 828-7787.  Two game tickets will be provided for each alumnus who registers (unless you tell us that you already have game tickets or need only one ticket).  However, if available, additional tickets may be provided on a first come, first serve basis.

 We gratefully acknowledge our lead sponsor Dominion and our additional sponsors: the VCU School of Business Alumni Board, Fast Track Executive MBA Program, Real Estate Program, Department of Accounting, and the VCU Young Alumni Council. 

Invited Panelist Douglas Wilder, Mayor of  Richmond, VA.

Van Wood, Forum Moderator

13th Annual International Business Forum:
"VCU, Central Virginia and the Global Business Environment:
Sustaining Our Competitiveness in a Flat World"
February 27, 3:00-5:30 p.m. with reception to follow
VCU Student Commons, Commonwealth Ballroom, 907 Floyd Ave, Richmond
Attendance is free.  No RSVP necessary

In his seminal 2005 book, “The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century,” author Thomas L. Friedman hammered home the point that India, China, Brazil, Vietnam, the Czech Republic, Romania and others are now able to compete for global knowledge work as never before. “This signaled a new, never-before-seen challenge for the United States and other developed countries.  Friedman and others call for thoughtful national and community discussions to address the changes that are upon us,” says Dr. Van Wood, professor of International Marketing and Philip Morris Chair in International Business and the Forum’s moderator.  

“The Forum will explore how the 21st Century is being defined.   It will focus on how the forces of globalization are affecting and will continue to affect life in Richmond and Central Virginia.  Our topic will be the role of 'community' (academic, business and government) in meeting the challenges of the interconnected world in which we live,” says Wood.

This year's Forum will address a number of issues including:  What global forces are currently shaping the social, political, technological and business environments and what does this mean for our future?  How should our community position itself to stay competitive now and in the future, and what new careers and new jobs will be apparent in this evolving environment?   

Community leaders who have been invited to participate as panelists include:
Dr. John W. Snow,  U.S. Secretary of the Treasury (2003-06), Retired Chairman and CEO, CSX Corporation
The Honorable L. Douglas Wilder, Mayor of Richmond, Virginia
Mr. Allen B. King,  Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Universal Corporation
Dr. Eugene P. Trani, President,  Virginia Commonwealth University
Mr. Mark S. Cross, Senior Vice President for Strategic Marketing and International Business Development,  MeadWestvaco Corporation.

The forum is made possible each year through the generosity of Universal Corporation. 

For More Information contact  Dr. Wood at (804) 828-1476 or vrwood@vcu.edu.

A GREAT YEAR FOR HITS!

When a professor is quoted in the media, we call that a “hit.”  The year 2006 was one of our best for placements in national media, with about 385 quotes from professors in a variety of publications and on television and radio.  One highlight included the fact that USA Today quoted four of our faculty, just between mid-August and early December:  Dr. Jon Ackley, twice about the class “The Business of NASCAR,” Dr. Gurpreet Dhillon on electronic security, Dr. Peter Aiken on trends in electronic devices and games, and Dr. Etti Baranoff on insurance.

SPOTLIGHT ON INSURANCE

Insurance writer Ed Curry with Insurance & Financial Advisor noted in one of his columns last year that he feels “VCU’s Insurance program has been flying under the radar for far too long.”

VCU is one of two colleges in the state, the other being Old Dominion, that offer a risk and insurance program. “Students cannot get this type program at  University of Virginia or Virginia Tech,” points out Curry.  Some of the top 10 universities offering this program include: Temple, Georgia State, Wharton, University of Georgia and Florida State.  

DATE SET FOR VCU RISK CONFERENCE

“State vs. Federal Insurance Licensing & Regulations” will be the topic of a conference hosted by the VCU School of Business' Risk and Insurance Studies Center in cooperation with the Independent Insurance Agents of Virginia (IIAV) and the State Corporation Commission on March 14 in the VCU Student Commons.  Dr. Eugene Trani, VCU President, will open the event at a 7:30 breakfast, followed by Congressman Eric Cantor as keynote speaker.  Insurance commissioner Al Gross will moderate a panel of insurance experts, and Bob Bradshaw will moderate a Town Hall Meeting with the State Corporation Commission at the Office of the Insurance Commission, following a luncheon there.  For a detailed schedule of events, related information, and costs, contact Debbi Little at (804) 828-1620 or dslittle@vcu.edu

VCU TO OFFER PHR AND SPHR EXAM REVIEWS 

PHR and SPHR Exam reviews are set for Thursday and Friday, January 11 and 12 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Room 1129, School of Business building. The reviews were formerly presented by Dr. Don Myers who has retired.  His materials will be presented by Steve Smith, who currently teaches the SHRM Learning System for Human Resource professionals.  For information or to register: www.bus.vcu.edu/cce or call (804) 828-3165.

NEW SIX SIGMA CHAMPIONS WORKSHOP

Lee Campe will host a two-day Six Sigma Champions workshop January 29 & 30, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the School of Business, Room 1129.  Learn more about how Six Sigma can improve your companies' processes.
For more information contact Jan Allen (804) 828-3165 or jaallen@vcu.edu

“As you well know, one of our key strengths is the very special relationship we have developed with our neighbors, and it is thanks to all of you that the relationship continues to grow and be mutually beneficial for all involved," said Dr. Eugene Trani, VCU president.

VCU RECEIVES NATIONAL RECOGNITION
FOR COMMUNITY INITIATIVES

The year 2006 ended on a high note with VCU receiving national recognition from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching for our initiatives within the community.

The selection for the newly created Community Engagement Classification recognizes VCU and 75 other U.S. colleges and universities that promote community engagement as a central focus of their missions. In addition, the Carnegie Foundation selected VCU as one of 62 institutions of higher learning nationwide that demonstrated a commitment to community engagement in the classroom and to partnerships and outreach beyond the boundaries of campus.

Dr. Randolph T. Barker

HONORS FOR DR. RANDY BARKER

Dr. Randolph T. Barker, professor of Management, was recognized by the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) for his outstanding service as the first Public Regent to the organization.  He also served two terms on the Board of Regents, representing the public and VCU.

Dr. Barker also has been honored with induction as a Fellow of the Association for Business Communication (ABC). This is the highest award of this international professional association.  Dr. Barker served as its president in 2005, making several presentations on its behalf during his term of office.

Dr. Benson Wier

HONORS IN ACCOUNTING FOR DR. BENSON WIER
  
At the August 7, 2006 annual meeting of the American Accounting Association (AAA) in Chicago,  Dr. Benson Wier,  professor of Accounting, accepted the inaugural “Best Paper in Accounting Horizons Award” for a paper he wrote with Dr. Dan N. Stone and Dr. James E. Hunton. Their winning paper was titled “Does Graduate Business Education Contribute to Professional Accounting Success?”  Tied for the award was “Accounting for Liabilities: Conceptual Issues, Standard Setting, and Evidence from Academic Research” by Christine A. Botosan, Lisa Koonce, Stephen G. Ryan, Mary S. Stone, and James M. Wahlen.

The award is sponsored by McGraw-Hill Irwin and AAA and is based on the votes of the members subscribing to Accounting Horizons.

VCU BECOMES LARGEST UNIVERSITY IN VIRGINIA

The fall 2006 semester enrollment made VCU the largest university in Virginia.

“We are beginning to see the results of the tremendous effort that went into our strategic planning process, as VCU 2020:  Vision for Excellence is being implemented.  Significant progress on each of our five themes has been made, and I have every confidence in the strength and flexibility of the plan to support us as we continue to grow, change and face new challenges,” said Dr. Eugene R. Trani, VCU President, in a New Year’s message to faculty, students and staff.

Increases in state funding over the past two years, combined with enrollment growth, have allowed VCU to to strengthen its financial position, and significantly improve the condition and appearance of our facilities. While the amount of state funds that VCU receives is still below what the state's funding guidelines would prescribe, “we look forward to telling our legislators about VCU's successes during the upcoming legislative session, and asking them to invest additional funds in us and our programs."  Likewise, private donations from alumni and friends are making an important contribution to the University's bright future.

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