Those of you who know me would say that I am adamant about globalization being a key ingredient in our School of Business. My mantra, “We can’t be a business school unless we’re a global business school” is something I truly believe to appropriately prepare our students for the real world of business.

A few days ago I served on a visitation team of academicians that evaluated specific programs for SKEMA’s licensure application in North Carolina. (This is part of my service responsibilities to my profession.)  SKEMA is the School of Knowledge Economy and Management, based in Nice, France. It was established in 2009 by the merger of two French institutions: Lille School of Management (established in 1892) and CERAM Business School (established in 1963). It is a private, not-for-profit entity.  Its mission is “To train and educate students to be ‘Global Knowledge Economy Talents’ prepared to face the challenges of the Knowledge Economy”.  Its vision is “to be the global business school developing future leaders able to manage in the knowledge economy”.

I am extremely impressed by SKEMA.  It has six campuses (3 in France, 1 in the US–NC State University as a partner on the Centennial Campus in Raleigh, 1 in China and 1 in Morocco) where they educate students in each market and share students at each campus.  SKEMA is already accredited by highly-respected EQUIS (based in Europe), and is working on accreditation by AACSB (based in US) and AMBA (based in the UK).  They intend to be one of a few business schools that obtain the “triple crown” of accreditation within three years.  An amazing accomplishment if they can pull it off.

Why am I telling you all this?  Because SKEMA’s global market plan is exactly what we–the College of Charleston–need to do.  We should aggressively expand to markets abroad and open the windows of our campus wider to foreign students and faculty.   It is common to hear how important it is to educate South Carolinians first and foremost.  I wholeheartedly agree.  But the only way to appropriately educate SC students is to expose them to the real world.  In business that means major markets and their people throughout the world.

So how do we do this?  First, use the name “University of Charleston, SC” as our name in foreign markets since the term “College” connotes a third-tier institution in most locations abroad.  (I am not advocating that we abandon the College of Charleston name in the U.S.)  Second, allow qualified foreign students to study at CofC at a reasonable cost.  (Many universities offer scholarships or tuition abatements to exceptional students–regardless of where they come from.  We should do the same.)  Realize that foreign students will enhance–not impede–the classroom experience for all students since new cultures will be introduced in open discussions.  Third, make foreign students feel welcomed on our campus.  Since we have no dedicated dormitories for them, no foreign languages on our institutional website, and few scholarships available to them, they can hardly feel like they are embraced on our campus.

Fourth, our institution should reward faculty who integrate global topics into their curriculum. They should also reward faculty who take CofC students abroad, host cohorts of foreign students on our campus, and conduct international research.  By globalizing our campus, foreign students will feel more welcomed.  Fifth, every student on our campus should be required to learn about foreign cultures.  It seems to me that we are not sensitive enough to other walks of life.  It’s about time we talk about the benefits of people who are different rather than make them feel like there’s not a place for them on our campus.  Lastly, our campus needs to dramatically update all technology to allow foreign students, professors and practitioners to virtually enter our classrooms without hardship.

Since our campus strategic plan (aptly titled “Gateways to Greatness”) calls for globalization throughout our campus, we are certainly heading in the right direction.  However, we need to aggressively make the world our stage and show everyone that we welcome non-South Carolinians to our campus.

It’s not easy being a student in higher education. There’s a lot of stress associated with maintaining good grades to remain in good academic standing. But grades are simply an end rather than a mean. That is, what is really important is learning course content. Theoretically the more a student learns, the higher his/her grade will be. So the student’s focus should be on what he/she learns rather than what grade he/she gets out of a course.

However, there are other ways to learn, and sometimes more important than what is learned in a classroom. A “mentor” is an experienced individual who provides advice and guidance to another individual. In my world, mentors are typically experienced businesspeople who “take a student under his/her wing” and share his/her wisdom with the student.  This role is extremely important to young students who are trying to figure out what they professionally want to do for the next 30-40 years.

The School of Business presently has 1,500 students.  There is a huge need for student mentors.  If you feel that you have something to give to students, especially guidance through a caring relationship, then send Holland Williams (williamsha2@cofc.edu), director of professional development, a message.  Most mentors enjoy the experience while making a life changing impact on a young mind.

Recently the University of Alabama defeated LSU to win the College football Bowl Championship Series.  As an alum of the Crimson Tide, I was happy with the final score (21-0).  So what makes a championship football team?  To me, it’s the same thing that makes an excellent business school.  First and foremost, you must have an excellent team to lead the way in their areas of expertise.  A portion of my first three years as the dean of the School of Business was spent putting together a great team of leaders to achieve a common goal (i.e., student excellence).  If we fast forward to today, our organizational chart is 80% different from what it was in March 2009.  We now have a cast of all-stars in positions that create excellence in each program.  Here’s a few of the integral pieces of our new leadership team:

• Rhonda Mack- Associate Dean of Graduate and Professional Programs; Director of MBA Program
• Jocelyn Evans- Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs
• Marcia Snyder- Assistant Dean of Student Learning
• Sandy Funk- Director of External Relations
• Colby Rankin- Director of Development
• Roger Daniels- Director of the MS in Accountancy Program
• All new department chairs
• Many new directors of Centers and Programs

Beyond our core faculty and staff, we also have the business community to draw from to add to our drive toward excellence.  I am particularly thankful for my advisory board, known on and off campus as our Board of Governors.  Led by Buddy Darby, CEO of Kiawah Development Partners, we have 47 incredible minds assisting us in student development, faculty development, fundraising, community relations, and public relations.  They are truly among Charleston’s best and brightest.

I have always believed that when you surround yourself with great people, great things will happen.  Our dream team consisting of faculty and staff, our board of governors and a supportive campus administration will impact many more generations of lives than any football national championship.  Our students are our future. We must make sure that we’re giving them our best…which we are doing.

The beginning of each year always gets me thinking about my past challenges and what’s in store for the future. It’s a similar feeling I get when my birthday approaches each October. Although I was born quite a bit earlier, the School of Business was birthed in 1986–which was 25 years ago. So here we are in the midst of our silver anniversary. It’s a time for both reflection and celebration.  Our initial celebration occurred during the fall 2011, when we unveiled the School of Business Wall of Honor and inducted Tommy & Victoria Baker, Guy & Betty Beatty and George & Dorie Spaulding in our inaugural class.  It was an event that thanked three great couples for their long-term impact on the business school.

Another festive event is coming up on January 14th when the College of Charleston Cougars host the Elon Phoenix in basketball.  The School of Business will hold a Birthday Bash celebration that night at TD Arena.  Tip off is at 7pm and all business alumni, students, parents and friends of the School of Business are invited to attend the celebration and watch the basketball game.  There will also be a pre-game tailgate party at 4:30 pm in the Beatty Center atrium (5 Liberty Street).  Please visit our 25th Anniversary Birthday Bash website for details and to purchase discount tickets.  I hope to see you there.  Let’s cheer the Cougars on to victory and share in the celebration of the School of Business.  We have a lot to cheer for….  We’ve graduated over 9,000 students, we have outstanding faculty, and we have amazing friends in the business community who are investing their time and resources in the business school.  I assure you that 2012 will be an exciting year for us all.

Happy New Year!