CBA UNDERGRADUATE
  STUDENT NEWSLETTER

Issue 14 - Fall 2008

The University of Akron

College of Business Administration
259 S. Broadway
Akron, OH 44325-4805
www.uakron.edu/cba

 

Raj Aggarwal, Dean

James Divoky, Asst. Dean/Director
Graduate Programs

Thomas Calderon, Chair
Daverio School of Accountancy

David Redle, Chair
Department of Finance

Ravindra Krovi, Chair
Department of Management

Doug Hausknecht, Interim Chair
Department of Marketing

Andrienne Calderon, Director
CBA Administrative Services

Mary Hardin 
Director of Technology

Message from Dean Aggarwal

In the last two years, we have added almost a dozen new faculty in the CBA. They bring fresh ideas, enthusiasm, and up-to-date training to their classes.  We have significantly upgraded our facilities with a unique new finance lab with six screens, a new distance learning classroom, and new market research labs on the fifth floor of the Polsky building.  We have also upgraded the equipment in our Fisher Sales Lab and installed new flat panel displays in the CBA lobby with current news and announcements.

We expect that these improvements will enhance your educational experience in our CBA and will prompt you to let people know that you are studying in a modern, up-to-date, and high quality environment.

The rest of this newsletter provides useful and interesting news that provide further evidence of the high quality of our CBA. 

Happy reading.

Dr. Raj Aggarwal, Dean

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The CBA won 2nd place in the campus-wide Student Appreciation Day booth competition for our Business Towne concept. Student Appreciation Day was held on September 10, 2008. Approximately 650 students visited Business Towne. Visitors were welcomed by Mayor Aggarwal and Deputy Mayor Divoky and then had the opportunity to visit various businesses within the town where they played games and won tickets for the Business Towne raffle. The “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” Investment Firm, sponsored by the Department of Finance, gave students the opportunity to determine how to become a millionaire. The School of Accountancy hosted the Bank of Opportunity where students answered questions about Accounting topics. Students enjoyed testing their knowledge and skills at the Management Department’s “Climb the Management Ladder” firm and the Marketing Department’s 4 P Emporium challenged students’ recognition of advertising slogans. Students also played a ladder golf game, corn hole, and shimmied with hula hoops at the Business Towne Recreation Center.

At the Business Towne Marketplace, students were given free Rock the Roo t-shirts, hot dogs, bottles of water, chips, and M&Ms. The chips were generously donated by Giant Eagle and Shearer’s. During the morning session, Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) served iced coffee.

The Towne published the Business Towne Gazette that contained travel stories from various CBA faculty, a feature on the history of Student Appreciation Day, as well as fun games and puzzles. Click here to read a full version: Business Towne Gazette.

Business Towne raffle prizes included: a $50 Dave’s Markets gift card, $50 Zipcard, a $50 Target gift card, and 1 GB flash drives.

Student Appreciation Day Photo Gallery

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Fresh kudos for the CBA!

Two members of the Department of Finance faculty were recently recognized as being among the best researchers in the world.

Dr. Raj Aggarwal, CBA Dean and Frank C. Sullivan Professor of International Business and Finance, and Dr. Aigbe Akhigbe, Professor of Finance, and Frederich Moyer Chair in Finance, were both included in a list of the top 1% of most prolific researchers in the finance discipline globally based on a study of all (about 18,000) finance professors and their scholarly productivity over the last half century. In Ohio, the only finance department to have more than two (three) such scholars on their faculty was The Ohio State University.

For details of the study, see Jalbert, T., S. Alangar, and N. Young, (2008), “Additional evidence on prolific authors in finance over the past half century,” Advances in Financial Education 6 (summer), pp. 21-66.

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The University of Akron's College of Business Administration (CBA) graduate program is “a best business school” and “one of the best MBA programs in the world,” according to the 2009 edition of The Princeton Review's Best 296 Business Schools.

The Princeton Review compiled rankings and profiles based on feedback from 19,000 students attending the 296 business schools, and on school-reported data. School profiles cover academics, admission, financial aid, campus life and career information, and include advice on funding degrees and applying to the programs.

The results are published in a guide for prospective students that gives current students' opinions on factors such as academics, admissions, career and placement assistance, and student life and environment. The survey had 80 questions.

UA's College of Business Administration offers “a flexible and comprehensive MBA program” and boasts an “excellent reputation for business,” the Review said.

“We're pleased to have been selected for the fifth consecutive year for this prestigious guide to business schools,” says CBA Dean Raj Aggarwal. “This recognition reflects the fact that we consider business to be a clinical discipline and approach it accordingly in our teaching methodologies. The average GMAT score of students in our evening MBA program is now the highest in northern Ohio.”

Aggarwal, who became dean in 2006, was singled out as a plus for the college. One student said, “(The) new dean seems very dynamic and a person who would bring about far-reaching changes in a place that is already full of life and enthusiasm.”

Thanks to the school's sizable international population, the Review said group work at the college is a valuable opportunity to not only meet diverse people, but also to explore the perspective and knowledge that others can contribute. One student commented, “The class discussions require everyone's input and the respect for others' opinions is extremely professional.”

Another student said, “Professors promote a friendly atmosphere inside and outside the classroom and are outstanding to talk to outside of class.”

Working students said the program has flexibility in the timing and variety of courses. Due to the school's active evening program, a large number of students are part-time, work full-time and are married.

Aggarwal pointed out the school's accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business: “There are 1,400 business schools in North America; only 165 have the level of accreditation we have earned.”

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CBA’s Beta Gamma Sigma (BGS) chapter was named an Exemplary Chapter for the 3rd year in a row.  The Exemplary recognition was based on the high percentage of the eligible students who became members in 2007.  This award includes a $1,000 student scholarship for the 2008-2009 academic year. 

Beta Gamma Sigma is the honor society for business programs accredited by AACSB International – the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Membership in Beta Gamma Sigma is the highest recognition a business student anywhere in the world can receive.  Only AACSB International accredited schools are allowed to form a Beta Gamma Sigma chapter and only the top students at such schools are invited to become members.

Each spring semester, the CBA invites its top students to join Beta Gamma Sigma. To be eligible for membership, the academic ranking of those considered must place them in the upper 10 percent of the junior class, upper 10 percent of the senior class, or upper 20 percent of the graduating master’s class.

Membership in Beta Gamma Sigma provides lifetime recognition for outstanding academic achievement.  As the highest recognition a business student anywhere in the world can earn, membership is a very impressive statement on a resume.  Other benefits of membership in Beta Gamma Sigma include scholarship opportunities, access to an alumni network, a newsletter (BGS News), and homepage on the web (BetaNet). 

Students eligible for membership will be tapped by a faculty member in a class or will receive an invitation through  the mail early in the spring 2009 semester.  Their names will also be posted in the CBA atrium.  The initiation ceremony will be held on Friday, March 27, 2009.  

To learn more about membership in Beta Gamma Sigma, please contact Carrie Ahmed at 330.972.6702 or send email to: cla10@uakron.edu. For additional information visit the Beta Gamma Sigma website at http://www.betagammasigma.org/.

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Evening with the Accountants, hosted by The George W. Daverio School of Accountancy, was held on September 16, 2008 in the Student Union Ballroom. This event started the fall recruitment season for the accounting profession during which students interview for internships, co-ops, and full-time accounting positions. The Center for Career Management handled the registration for students and employers. Over 170 students were able to network with accounting professionals from forty-two organizations including the Big Four accounting firms: Deloitte Touche, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young, and KPMG.

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The First Annual CBA International Day was held on October 14, 2008 in the CBA Atrium.  International students from thirteen countries displayed their culture, food, music, and traditional clothing.  Students were invited to visit the tables and learn about each country including tasting delicious food samples.  This event epitomized the CBA’s mission of creating a global experience for all of our students.   

Thank you to the international students who showcased their countries and all who contributed to making this event a success!  

International Day Photo Gallery

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Each year, the CBA offers a variety of study abroad programs that enable students to earn credits toward a degree, travel with friends, and meet new people in new places. This year's programs include:

Summer in Korea and China

Henan Province, China (Henan University) and Pusan University of Foreign Studies in Korea will host a delegation from The University of Akron. Places that will be visited include: Beijing, Shanghai, Henan Province, Seoul, DMZ, and Pusan, Korea.

Approximate cost will be $2,500 - $3,000 which includes: airfare, housing, medical insurance, and meals. Participants are responsible for the cost of their passport, visa and any souvenirs. Any student from The University of Akron may participate; preference will be given to the students taking course credit. A minimum of 15 participants is required for the trip to proceed.

Applications with $500 deposit must be received by February 2, 2009.

For more information send an email to: dayers@uakron.edu by phone at (330) 972-6493 or Dr. Il-Woon Kim at: ikim@uakron.edu.

Summer in Greece and Italy

Students from The University of Akron will be leaving for a 31-day trip to Italy and Greece on May 12, 2009.  Sights that will be visited include:  the Coliseum, Circus Maximus, Forum, Vatican, Pompeii, and Alberobello.

The price for the land portion of this trip (tours, guides, some museum entrances, hotels, some meals, busses, and the ferry) will be approximately $2,900, depending upon the strength of the dollar. Airfare will be an additional cost. 

Tuition will also be required; students may take either 3 or 6 credit hours at standard UA summer tuition rates. The total cost will probably range between $5,000 and $6,000 dollars.

For more information contact Dr. Steve Ash by e-mail at: ash@uakron.edu or visit the Greece Study Abroad Program web-site.

Summer in India

The Summer in India program is open to all majors.  Faculty, staff, and spouses are welcome.  Course credit is being offered through the following courses (and there no prerequisites):
Special Topics – Management in India (Undergraduate Course) (6500:460)
Special Topics – Indian Management Systems (Graduate Course) (6500:697)

Participants will visit important cultural sites such as: The Taj Mahal, Mysore Palace, Parliament (Vidhana Souda), and Banneraghatta (safari), and more.

The cost is to be determined. The approximate start date is 2nd week in August, 2009 and the trip is approximately 2 weeks long. An information session will be held in early Spring 2009 semester. 

For more information contact Dr. Vijay at bsv@uakron.edu.

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U of A students:  Veronica Meinhart is 3rd from left.  Kevin Bord is 1st on right, and Sara Jessup is 2nd on right.

In summer 2008, twenty three students from universities all over the world were given the opportunity to travel to South Korea and stay in a dorm with Korean students. The universities that these students came from included schools in Japan, China, Canada, Morocco, and the United States. There were three students from The University of Akron: Veronica Meinhart, Kevin Bord, and Sara Jessup.  We stayed in a dorm and were each given a roommate from Ulsan, South Korea.

Together we all took classes on the culture and history of South Korea. We also took many field trips all over the country. We stayed overnight at the Buddhist Temple of Tong-do-sa. We visited the ancient city of Kyeongju. We were able to see the manufacturing units of Hyundai Motors and Hyundai Heavy Industries.

We were given a chance to see how people our own age live, halfway around the world. I stayed for a weekend with a Korean family for a home stay. My favorite part was the trip to Seoul. We visited the observatory, which allowed us to view North Korea with just a river separating us from it! Seoul really reminded me of New York City, just with a South Korean spin!

This trip was one of the best decisions that I have ever made! I originally wanted to go on this trip because it counted for my International Business Practicum credits. Going on a trip sounded a lot better than sitting in a classroom here at the university. I had no idea how fun and interesting this trip would be! It is insane how many similarities that we have with Korean students, but you can’t even imagine some of the differences that you would just be shocked by!  Traveling abroad was amazing and if you ever get the opportunity to do it, GO! It was the perfect opportunity to get out of your comfort zone and see how the other half of the world lives! I developed life–long friendships with other students in the program and one from Morocco is actually helping me with my International Business Practices paper! Three of the Korean students that were in the program with us are currently taking classes with all of us here at The University of Akron.

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The following summaries are from the students who participated in the India Study Abroad Program in August 2008.  Here are their comments from the trip.

Paul Evans – Graduate Student:

Through my India experience, I learned a significant amount about culture. I increased my awareness of doing business in India and interacting with the people. The culture of a business and people was important for me to understand to aid in my personal development. I feel as though having a better understanding of the Indian culture and people will enhance my perspective as well as increase my ability to work with a diverse group. The difficulties I experienced throughout the trip gave me a different perspective of the challenges I face in my life in comparison to challenges the Indian people face. In addition, all of the sites we visited opened my eyes to the historical events that assisted in developing this diverse culture. The best sightseeing was the Taj Mahal and Ghandi’s home.

The most personal impact was on my perspective of how lucky I have it in the United States. Many of the challenges I face that seem difficult are possibly not as significant as I once thought. I think the lasting impact on me from this trip is understanding how people from India do business based on their cultural background. I learned that Indians are very hopeful and I believe knowing how they feel about issues will help me when interacting with them in teams for work and school.  India is an incredibly diverse and rich culture which any serious business student should seek to grasp. 

Amanda Curtis – graduate student:

This was the most eye opening experience of my life.  Great mix of business and cultural experiences.  Learned lessons about the Indian culture that I will use the rest of my life.  Interacting with MBA students in India was great.

Warfredo Rosser – UG student:

India is a unique, diverse, and incredible experience that will set your view and perspective of the world apart from all or mostly all of your colleagues.

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The Integrated Marketing Communications students from Dr. David Cockley’s class demonstrated that the CBA is providing an applied education. The class made a presentation to the VP of Marketing and Communications, Marketing Director, and Communications Director for the Ohio Region of the American Heart Association (AHA) in June 2008. Their proposals for marketing to the college student population were thorough, well organized, on target, and full of good ideas. The AHA representatives were very impressed and are talking about testing one of the marketing programs here in Akron.   JD Sidley, Communication Director, stated, “The presentations were totally professional - just like four ad agencies giving us their pitches. The ideas were creative and “out of the box.” But also practical – with each thinking through the bottom line budget and who might be the right fit as a sponsor.   There are a few ideas that we believe we could implement in the real world.”

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On November 1, 2008, SIFE students visited Buchtel High School to participate in their College Fair, sponsored by Project GRAD Akron.  SIFE students interacted with Buchtel students one-on-one, teaching them principles of saving money while attending school.  It was a great learning experience for all. The power of saving is extremely important in today's society, and it was very beneficial to interact with over 100 parents and children at the fair.

SIFE students (Left to Right): Jackie Wilson, Michael Modon, Andrea Hinton, Alex Modon, Michael Tokarz, Nate Perez, and Stan Vaughn

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At the invitation of the Deloitte Foundation, the following Accounting majors participated in the Seventh Annual Deloitte Tax Competition held on October 18, 2008:  Cristina Croitoru, Amanda DeFrank, Michelle Kendrick, and Juliette Lawless.  The students tackled real world tax issues while competing for scholarship awards.  The  Competition was held in Columbus, Ohio and was sponsored by The Deloitte Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that supports teaching, research, and curriculum innovation in accounting, business, and related fields within the U.S.

Students (Left to Right): Cristina Croitoru, Amanda DeFrank, Michelle Kendrick, and Juliette Lawless.  

Supply Chain Professional Night was held on November 20, 2008.  The event was well attended.  Guest speakers were:  Nathan Wright, Purchasing Supervisor, Babcock and Wilcox;  Mike McConnell, Vice President of Supply Chain, Sherwin-Williams; Michael Ryan,  Advantage Supply-Chain Project Leader, Goodyear; and Steve Papania, a recent graduate of the CBA’s Supply Chain program who is now an International Logistics Coordinator with InterChez Global Services.  Students welcomed the professionals in a meet and greet session prior to a Roundtable discussion.  Over fifty students were given the opportunity to network with Supply Chain professionals from the area.

Students and Professional participate in roundtable discussion

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Each semester management majors work with a local firm in the Management Project course.  Groups of five or six students become consultants and work independently on a single challenge given to them by the local firm.  They collect and analyze data, conduct reviews of research literature and then make formal recommendations to the firm.  In Spring 2008, the teams’ challenge was to improve Roadway’s employee recruiting through its website.  Drs. Steve Ash and Bill McHenry, who co-teach the course, reported that the teams applied a great deal of creativity to the projects.  One team even administered a short survey to truck drivers at a truck stop.   Roadway was very impressed with the students' ideas and quickly implemented many of the teams’ recommendations.  A company representative stated, “Our work with the Spring 2008 Management Project class had a lot of influence on our moving forward with changes to the website.”

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Mihaela Ciuptiu, an International Business major, received 4th place in the 2008-2009 International Understanding Award sponsored by the Office of International Programs.

Cristina Croitoru received a book scholarship from The Zonta Club of Akron, Barberton, and Cuyahoga Falls.

As part of the Greater Akron Chamber’s strategy to attract and retain talent in the region, the “30 for the Future” award honors young professionals (ages 25-39) whose stellar contributions impact their industries and the Greater Akron Region. Each year, the Greater Akron Chamber asks its members and the community to nominate outstanding young professionals in the region. An independent Advisory Council then selects the award recipients based on the finalists’ Leadership Documents, which showcase professional and community accomplishments, team-building, leadership, and creativity in overcoming obstacles. Four of the professionals selected were School of Accountancy graduates:  Mike Moldvay, Ray Lampner, Barry Thoman, and Brett Kimmell.  Recipients are honored at a gala celebration and profiled in a special section in Northern Ohio Live magazine.

Andrew Lau competed in the Pi Sigma Epsilon North Central Regional conference held at Purdue University in November 2008.  He received second place in the Pro-Am Sell-a-Thon competition. The prize is a paid registration to the national convention to be held in March 2009.

Daniel Paul, an Accounting Major, is one of a select 160 students in the nation to receive a full scholarship from the CPAexcel Review.

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Joe Rich, a second-year Law student pursuing the JD/MBA joint degree, was appointed to The University of Akron’s Board of Trustees as a student trustee. He was sworn in at the Oct. 8, 2008 Board of Trustees meeting.

During his two-year term, Rich will attend Board meetings, where he will speak on behalf of the student body in all Board matters. He sits on three committees within the Board — the Educational Policy/Student Affairs, External Affairs, and Facilities Planning and Oversight committees.  Rich is active in The University of Akron’s Student Bar Association as well as the Akron Bar Association.  He works as a graduate assistant for Dean Aggarwal. Rich holds bachelor’s degrees in biology and philosophy from John Carroll University. He anticipates earning his JD in May 2010 and his MBA in December 2010. 

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The School of Accountancy won the Bea Sanders/AICPA Innovation in Teaching Award for its ethics exercise in 6200:250 Micro Applications for Business.  Mr. Mark Welfley, Dr. Akhilesh Chandra, Dr. Thomas Calderon, and Mr. Kevin Brennan developed the exercise.  All CBA students are required to take this class as part of the core curriculum.  The exercise requires students to complete a due diligence task and prepare various working papers which simulates the type of work that an entry level professional might do in the business world. Faculty monitor students’ performance and use the results to motivate discussions about ethics and professional responsibility in the classroom and beyond.  The exercise was presented at the 2007 and 2008 Amercian Accounting Association Annual meetings. The award is based on the 2008 poster presentation of the exercise at the 2008 AAA National meeting in Anaheim, California.

Dr. Todd Finkle, Associate Professor of Management, has been selected as a finalist for the Most Innovative Pedagogy in Entrepreneurship Education Teaching Award at the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship International Conference. This is the largest entrepreneurship education conference in the world. Finalists will make a presentation before a panel of judges at the national conference in January 2009.

Dr. Debmalya Mukherjee’s dissertation won the Morton Dissertation Award in April 2008 at The University of Memphis.  Two winners were selected from 100 doctoral degrees awarded by faculty from across the university. Dr. Mukherjee joined the CBA this fall as an Assistant Professor of Management. 

Dr. Thomas Calderon, Chair, School of Accountancy, has been invited by The Association to Advance Collegiate of Schools of Business International (AACSB) to present a session on Assurance of Learning in Dallas, Texas on December 6, 2008.

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The Program Enrichment Lecture Series welcomed Dr. Manual Serapio on October 23, 2008.  Dr. Serapio is an Associate Professor of International Business at the University of Colorado, Denver, and serves as the Faculty Director of the Center for International Business Education and Research in the Institute for International Business.

The topic of his lecture was, “Perspectives in the Global Economy:  Debunking, Decoupling and Demand Destruction.”  He described the global economy as the “perfect storm” because of declining home prices, sub-prime problems, a weakening dollar, inflation pressures, and weakening financial markets.  Dr. Serapio discussed the decoupling theory and how it will play out on the global marketplace.  China and India and other emerging markets are experiencing rapid growth but may feel the impacts of an American recession.  The world is flattening but also has spiky areas of economic activity.  Dr. Serapio is optimistic that international trading is strong and a decrease in oil prices may lead to an increase in consumption.  He advised students to stay the course and invest in their education.  He also recommends learning a second language in order to be competitive in the job market.          

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Dr. Carl Camden, president and chief executive officer of Kelly Services, Inc., a global provider of staffing services, was the featured speaker for The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Executive Leadership Forum on October 27, 2008. Speaking to a ‘standing room’ only audience, Dr. Camden discussed the challenges of finding talent in a flattening world.  "The basics of leadership are changing", he stated.  Today’s corporate executives must be prepared for 24-7 workplace management because of the global marketplace.  Dr. Camden also shared the characteristics he looks for in job candidates:  intensive intellectual curiosity, passion in life, and diversity in education.  He suggested students find a job that kindles their passion. 

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and the CBA established the Executive Leadership Forum to enable students, faculty, and the community to interact with individuals of national and international stature. 

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Umesh Ramakrishanan, Vice Chairman of CTPartners, an executive search firm, shared excerpts from his book, “There’s No Elevator to the Top,” at the Executive Business Forum on November 10, 2008 sponsored by the Center for IT & e-Business.  He shared leadership advice from exclusive interviews with top CEOs and personal insights gleaned from his long recruiting career. Ramakrishanan advised that today’s changing world and global corporate perspectives herald the departure of the traditional corporate headquarters. Understanding the culture in which the company operates becomes a critical key to success.

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W. Riley Lochridge presented “A CEO’s Perspective on the Social Responsibilities of Business in a Post Bailout World” to students on November 13, 2008, sharing insights gleaned from his personal experience leading ComDoc, Inc. Lochridge was the fourth speaker in the Social Responsibility Lecture Series. He gave advice on how to increase corporate responsibility down, and up, the corporate ladder.  He spoke with a quiet passion and enthusiasm, inspiring students to manifest strength and motivation in every business situation, and maintain the highest ethical character throughout their careers. 

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The flags on display in the CBA Atrium should be noticed by everyone that passes through the lobby.  This semester, there are international students from 38 different countries enrolled in the CBA. We have displayed the flags of some of these countries throughout the semester.  Currently on display are flags from:  Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, India, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, and Vietnam.  The CBA is truly an international experience!

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Date: Friday, December 12, 2008
Time: 5:30 p.m.- 7 p.m.
Place: CBA 121

Featuring the:

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Master of Science in Management (MSM)

Master of Science in Accountancy (MSA)

Master of Taxation

Joint Business and Law Programs

Graduate Business Certificate Programs

UA Business Undergraduates with a recent degree may be able to complete a graduate degree in one year on a full-time basis.

Advisors and faculty will be on hand to answer your questions and provide guidance.

Reservations are requested, but not required. Register online at http://www.uakron.edu/colleges/cba/graduate/signup.html or R.S.V.P to: gradcba@uakron.edu, (330)972-7043.

Join us and learn how you can join the ranks of our successful graduates!

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How much do you know about the CBA?

Click here for the CBA Crossword.

Good luck!

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February 2009

The Spring Career Fair will be held on February 12, 2009 from 10:30am - 3:30pm in the Student Union Ballroom.

The University of Akron College of Business Administration will host the HR Games on February 27 - 28, 2009. We are very excited to welcome teams from across the state to this competition. More details wil be forthcoming. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Steve Ash at ash@uakron.edu.

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If you have information that you would like to appear in this newsletter, contact Carrie Ahmed, Administrative Assistant, CBA Dean's Office at cla10@uakron.edu.

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