BusinessEDGE - The Division of Business Newsletter of Ohio Dominican University

Dr. Jay Young
Division of Business Chair

Welcome to the first edition of BusinessEDGE, the official newsletter of Ohio Dominican University’s Division of Business. BusinessEDGE will be published twice a year, to inform students, faculty and alumni of the latest news within the Division. Topics will range from student organizations to curriculum changes, and the newsletter will highlight the achievements of students and faculty, new programs, and programs planned for the near future.

2005-2006 was a landmark year for the Division of Business. Over the last 12 months, our faculty have completed a new divisional strategic plan; approved curriculum enhancements to five different undergraduate majors; received internal approval for a new MS in Management degree offering in our LEAD Program; strengthened our relationship with the Family Business Center of Central Ohio; and hired three new full-time faculty members to help with it all. Additionally, Delta Sigma Pi continues to gain new student members and we have reactivated our association with Tau Pi Phi National Business Honor Society.

We hope you will take some time to read about these developments and other news within ODU's Division of Business in this, our first issue, of BusinessEDGE.

Faculty of the Division of Business

The faculty and staff of the Division of Business have been working overtime in order to obtain university approval of some important changes in the course requirements for five of our majors: Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Economics, and International Business. The changes, to be effective in Fall 2007, will significantly strengthen our programs and expand our offerings. Among the changes:

4+1 MBA NOW OPEN TO ANY MAJOR

Beginning next fall, any student from any major is eligible to apply to the 4+1 MBA Program if he or she has completed the courses comprising a minor in Business Administration. Students from a wide variety of majors may find it advantageous to partner their undergraduate degree with an MBA. For students with Business majors, most, if not all, prerequisite course requirements will have been met by program requirements.

The 4+1 MBA Program is a unique opportunity to complete your undergraduate degree and an MBA in as few as five academic years.

For more information on the 4+1 MBA Program, contact Tony Emanuel, Director of Graduate Business Programs, at (614) 251-4559.

BUSINESS FACULTY & STAFF APPROVE NEW STRATEGIC PLAN

This past fall, the faculty and staff of the Division of Business completed a lengthy planning process, culminating with the development of a divisional strategic plan. Aligned with the university’s strategic plan -- the “Path to Preeminence” -- the divisional strategic plan is important because it provides focus to our efforts and a vision for our future. To receive a copy of the entire plan, send a request to the Division Chair, Jay Young. Among some goals cited within the plan:

Ohio Dominican University and the Ohio Business Week Foundation have formed a partnership to host Ohio Business Week 2007 on the Ohio Dominican campus, June 10 - 16, 2007. Funded and implemented by the Ohio Business Week Foundation, Ohio Business Week (OBW) is a weeklong summer program that brings a diverse group of high school students and established members of the business community together to translate textbook business principles into real world business practices.

“We are pleased to host Ohio Business Week,” said ODU President Jack Calareso. “At Ohio Dominican, we develop workforce ready graduates who are able to apply critical thinking skills in the workplace and contribute to Ohio’s economy. OBW complements the university’s core curriculum and our emphasis on business ethics.”

"The decision to move the program to Ohio Dominican was an easy one," said Nancy Whetstone, executive director and CEO of the Ohio Business Week Foundation. “The opportunities with ODU are endless and we look forward to a successful partnership.”

If you know a high school student who would benefit from this program, please encourage them to visit the Ohio Business Week website at http://www.ohiobusinessweek.org to learn more about this unique opportunity and to download an application.

Standing L to R: Michael Hoar, Steven McCurdy, Dick Emens, Obe Duru, Dustin Goins, Bea Wolper, Andrew Testaguzza, Megan Wallace, Megan Saylor, Zachary Jacobs. Seated L to R: Brian Kinison, Jennifer Roberts and Susan Hughes.

The Family Business Center (FBC) of Central Ohio is the area’s best educational and networking resource to help family businesses meet the types of challenges they commonly face. The FBC was formed in 1995 partners wiht the law firm of Chester, Willcox & Saxbe, LLP, Beatrice "Bea" Wolper and J. Richard "Dick" Emens, who specialize in the unique legal issues facing family business owners. Led by an advisory board consisting of family business owners and service providers, the FBC offers educational programs, networking opportunities, and annual recognition awards to the family business community in Central Ohio.

The FBC holds its monthly meetings on the Ohio Dominican University campus. The FBC sponsors a course entitled, “Entrepreneurship and Family Business,” which Wolper and Emens taught this past fall. In Fall 2007, the recently redesigned Business Administration major will, with the help of the Family Business Center, offer a three-course sequence designed for students who are interested in someday working in or owning a family business. Senior students either interested in, or aspiring to a career with a family business, are invited to attend FBC monthly meetings and speaker events. Learn more about the Family Business Center of Central Ohio by visiting its website at http://www.familybusinesscenter.com.

Dr. Roxanne Beard

Roxanne Beard, Ph.D. has joined Ohio Dominican as an associate professor of Management. Dr. Beard most recently served as an associate professor of business and chair of Health Care Administration at the University of Northwestern Ohio. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology from Bowling Green State University; an MBA from the University of Findlay; and a Ph.D. in Organization and Management from Capella University. Dr. Beard is a member of the Academy of Management, the Organizational Behavior Teaching Society, the American Association of University Women, the Society for Human Resource Management, the Ohio Distance Learning Association, and the Ohio Learning Network.

MBA STUDENT RECEIVES EDGAR INGRAM AWARD

In the Spring of 2006, the Kiwanis Club of Greater Columbus sponsored the first “New Business Builders MBA Competition” for MBA programs in the Greater Columbus area. For the competition, students from local universities were asked to submit business plans for consideration for the award of a new business start-up grant. Six MBA students from Ohio Dominican’s LEAD MBA program participated in a special section of the Capstone MBA course, and developed business plans for a variety of ventures including restaurants, software services, personal planning services, photo/DVD albums and a physician database and referral service.

MBA student Troy Miller’s plan for Physician Central LLC was selected by a panel of prominent business managers for the final round in the competition. Physician Central is a software application that accumulates and presents professional information on physicians and their practices. Although he did not win the Kiwanis' top award of $10,000, for his efforts, Troy earned the Edgar Ingram Award of $2,500 as the winner of the ODU competition. His plan was recognized as one of the best in the final competition. We are very proud of Troy’s plan and the tremendous effort put forth by all of our MBA students.

We are looking forward to a new group of budding entrepreneurs to capitalize on this opportunity in the Spring of 2007. Thanks to adjunct faculty member Gene Johnson, who will again be facilitating this unique class section.

Dr. Anna Parkman

Dr. Anna Parkman, associate professor of management and leadership, is spearheading efforts to reactivate the ODU Iota Chapter of the Tau Pi Phi National Business Honor Society for the Spring of 2007. The original charter was granted on April 15, 1972, but the chapter has remained dormant for a number of years. Many of the Tau Pi Phi member schools are small liberal arts schools located in Ohio, with additional members in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Montana. The society encourages and recognizes scholarship and accomplishment among students in Division of Business programs, while encouraging and promoting aspirations toward personal and professional improvement and a life distinguished by honorable service to mankind.

One benefit of Tau Pi Phi membership is the opportunity to collaborate with other Tau Pi Phi members on teams invited to participate in the annual national Tau Pi Phi case study competition. Students gather for two days, usually in Ohio in early April, for the opportunity to analyze and present their recommendations on two business cases. The weekend concludes on Saturday evening with a banquet honoring the case winners and celebrating the work of all teams.

If you are an alumni member of the Iota Chapter of Tau Pi Phi, please contact Dr. Anna Parkman at (614) 251-4569 to share any information you might have about the previous chapter. If you would like to participate in the chapter reactivation, your help will be welcomed and very much appreciated.

From L to R: Rory McFadden, Conner Brown, Briana Coddington, Rachel Lutz, Eddie Hertsenberg, Sarah Miller and Dwayne Henderson

As a result of the hard work of many committed students and advisor Dr. John Grant, Ohio Dominican University’s Delta Sigma Pi Omicron Tau chapter has been inducted by National Delta Sigma Pi as its newest full-status collegiate chapter. The nationally recognized professional business fraternity, open to all ODU business majors, assists students in developing skills essential to being successful leaders in business and making connections with community business leaders and alumni around the world. ODU joins more than 180 college chapters in the country. Delta Sigma Pi is an excellent example of a co-curricular organization that combines student leadership, academics, career development, networking, and social interaction.

On December 2, 2006, six new members were initiated into the Omicron Tau chapter of Delta Sigma Pi: Conner Brown, Briana Coddington, Dwayne Henderson, Eddie Hertsenberg, Rory McFadden, and Sarah Miller. The ceremony was held in Ohio Dominican University’s Matesich Theatre. Congratulations to these new associates.

ENTREPRENEURIAL FINANCE COURSE TO BE OFFERED

Finance will be offering a Special Topics course entitled “Entrepreneurial Finance FIN 385” this spring. The course will meet on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11:45 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. It is designed for those individuals who may like to own or run their own business someday. The course will become FIN 328 in the new course catalog and can be used as either a business elective course or substituted for a required finance course for Finance majors or minors. For questions, contact Dr. John Farlin at (614) 251-4738.

VITA PROJECT COMING THIS SPRING

The Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program will be offered again this spring to qualifying members of the community. Under the leadership of Bob Osborne, Assistant Professor of Accounting, and with the support of the Internal Revenue Service, 12 qualified Accounting students will be trained to provide tax preparation services to members of the community.

INTERNATIONAL ASSEMBLY FOR COLLEGIATE BUSINESS EDUCATION (IACBE)

Business Programs at Ohio Dominican University are accredited by The International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE), which is a specialized accrediting body for business and business-related degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels in colleges and universities. The purpose of the IACBE is to promote and recognize excellence in business education.