While maintaining a keen eye on fundamentals, business schools must continually re-evaluate curriculum, course progression, certificate, and program options to maintain academic excellence.
It's why at the Lundquist College of Business, we are taking productive steps to enhance our undergraduate curricular offerings, activities, and housing.
We are currently in the information gathering phase as we evaluate our undergraduate experience by engaging student and employer insights, current best practices, and international standards.
Aiding in the massive but critical task of refining our courses for the best possible learning outcomes, the college has convened several task forces. One task force has interviewed more than 70 employers, with much more data collection ongoing. Another task force is developing and administering surveys of recent alumni. Our student-staffed Oregon Consulting Group, meanwhile, has taken on surveying current students.
In spring, all this information will be synthesized and evaluated, followed by recommendations to the university's Committee on Courses for possible changes and augmentations.
The multipart project, which spans the academic year, is being led by Chuck Kalnbach, senior instructor II of management
Of course, this is just one of the many initiatives we are launching to provide a complete and up-to-the-minute education experience to our students.
In an example of experiential learning and ingenuity in action, students are being tasked with “hacking" the residence hall experience as part of an introductory business course. Students are encouraged to use the innovation lab at Earl Hall (the residential community for business students) to develop prototypes with three 3D printers, two vinyl cutters, an industrial sewing machine, hand tools, video teleconferencing equipment, and computer terminals. The lab, which recently moved to the first floor of Earl Hall for better student access, was made possible by a gift from Kim Caldwell "69 and his wife Ginger.
Finally, the college has doubled funding to our student clubs and groups with an emphasis on supporting career path efforts. This could include guest speakers and other outreach to help get students in front of potential employers seeking their skills upon graduation.
At the Lundquist College of Business, we are embracing the opportunity to adjust real-time to the changing business landscape. We are energized by these projects and hope you are, too. I look forward to sharing more with you in the coming year.
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