Moose Mascot Greets Students to Undergraduate Office

A life size plywood moose greets students as they come to the School of Business Undergraduate Office on the third floor of the School of Business building. It is the handiwork of Dr. Walter Griggs, Dean of Undergraduate Studies and associate professor of Business law, who cut the moose shape out of a left over sheet of plywood without even using a pattern. Dr. Griggs has become well known around campus for his admiration for the moose, his collection of stuffed moose toys, and using his woodworking talents to make Christmas moose ornaments. Last year he changed to fish, designing over three dozen fanciful fish that hung from the ceiling of the undergraduate studies office through December. The fish, however, were forced into storage when current renovations began on the third floor offices. As renovation ended, Dr. E. G. Miller, Senior Associate Dean, found a sheet of waste plywood, and challenged Dr. Griggs to come up with a creative sculpture. With a few swipes of his saw, Dr. Griggs did just that --- and a new moose mascot was born. .

“I enjoy bringing smiles and laughter to students who come through this office,” says Dr. Griggs. In addition to his woodworking, Dr. Griggs is putting the finishing touches to a book on moose facts and folklore to be published in the near future. (see photo on right)

Institutional Pride Growing

"VCU Making Large Strides Toward Institutional Pride" were the headlines on Sunday's Metro Business section, Richmond Times Dispatch. Read it for yourself.

http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=
MGArticle&cid=1031773957023&path=%21news&s=1045855934842

The Siegel Center was the site of the February 21 Fifth Annual Department of Accounting Alumni Reunion, followed by a Rams basketball game and a late night fling with the "Sleeping Booty Band." About 150 old friends and acquaintances as well as recent graduates joined Dr. Ruth Epps, Department Chair, in celebrating the evening.
Dr. Epps introduced John W. Inman, class of 1956 as the representative of the oldest graduating class. She also recognized _Samuel Treger, class of 1958_followed by representatives of the sixties:
Edward Coffman (1965)
Daniel Small (1965)
William Didlake (1966)
John Taliaferro (1966)
Frank Stahl (1967)
James O'Brien (1968)
Four of Virginia's outstanding Super CPAs were recognized: James R. O'Brien (1968),
Paul J. Murman, Jr. (1974), Linda A. Meyerhoffer (1981), and Richard P. Pontynen (1994).

(see photos on right)

Career Development Connects with Students

Business students participated February 10 -12 in the first three-day conference of this type sponsored by Career Connections. A business etiquette seminar, career networking reception and a career development clinic brought together students and experts to discuss developing job searches and strategies. The networking reception featured 25 area businesses that offered students the opportunity to sit down with human resources representatives and discuss potential career opportunities and present offerings. (see photos on right)

Dr. Robert Andrews Honored by SEDSI Dr. Robert Andrews, associate professor of Decision Sciences, has received the Distinguished Service Award at the annual meeting of the Southeast Decision Sciences Institute. "This is indeed an honor, as the Institute only periodically recognizes an individual for a long-term record of exceptional commitment and service," says Dr. Glenn Gilbreath, Chair, Department of Management. Dr. Andrews has served the Institute in numerous ways, including program chairman, president, and vice president in several areas, local arrangements chairman, council member and southeast regionally-elected vice president to the national organization.

An Update on Sarbanes-Oxley Act

What's been happening inside corporations since President George Bush signed the Sarbanes-Oxley Act on July 30, 2002? Stephen Theuer of Deloitte & Touche, Richmond, updated a group of Richmond accountants, CPAs, financial leaders. faculty and guests at the first Dean's Breakfast February 27. This Act has been the most comprehensive reform since the securities acts of the 1930s. The goal is restoring investor confidence through reform, following the numerous investigations and criminal charges brought against publically operated companies However, rules are still not established and it is "fascinating how much time it might take," said Theuer. The event was sponsored by the VCU Center for Corporate Education.

Now you can visit Dr. Charles Gallagher's CEO Class through the eyes of Richmond.com reporter Polly Roberts by clicking on the Richmond.com symbol . Larry Fentriss, president of Anderson & Strudwick Investment Corp. was talking to the class during Polly's visit. She also called two previous speakers Thomas G. Snead, Jr., president of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Southeast, and Stuart C. Siegel, chairman of S&K Famous Brands to learn how they had enjoyed speaking to the class which is made up of honor students. What makes 15 executives a semester take time out of their already busy schedules to talk with college students? "It's a way of giving back and giving people a perspective on how at least one person did what they did," said Fentriss.

Dr. Baranoff's Paper Accepted: "Managing Capital Structure"

The paper "Managing Capital Structure: The Case of Life Insurers - A Semiparametric Simultaneous Equations Approach" by Dr. Etti Baranoff and two colleagues Dr. Tom Sager and Dr. Tom Shivley, University of Texas at Austin, was accepted for presentation at the Risk Theory Seminar (RTS) in New York City to be held in April 2004. Attendance is limited only to researchers who were invited to present papers and have not missed more than one annual meeting. Dr. Baranoff has been a RTS member since 1998. She also has been nominated for the vice president's position in the American Risk and Insurance Association (ARIA). which is the organization of risk and insurance professors.

Engineering Students Learn How to Market

Engineering students are learning what it takes to run a business and sell a product in a specially designed class by School of Business faculty members. Originally created by Dr. Leslie Stratton, who is now teaching in Europe, the course is being continued by Dr. Shannon Mitchell. Dr. Frank Franzak contributes the marketing expertise to round out "The Economics of Product Development and Marketing." Dr. Mitchell describes the course as a hybrid business class that uses Capstone simulation software. They have also had to create a textbook by working with the publisher to come up with an electronic version that selected appropriate chapters from several texts. On May 10 six teams from the class will compete for investment dollars before a panel of faculty judges. "Generally this type of class is taken only by MBA students," says Dr. Ed Millner. (see photo on right)

Read more about this exciting collaboration reported by University News Services at

http://www.vcu.edu/uns/news/vcuview/archives/2004/feb/bus_eng.html