JMU - News Archive 2009
News Archive 2009
Dec. 1, 2009
JMU Holds Valley’s First Virtual Fashion Show
James Madison University’s virtual campus will host the first virtual fashion show in the Valley. Members of JMU’s virtual community will take to the runway with avatars to model the latest virtual clothing fashions.
The premier event will take place Dec. 3 at 4 p.m. on JMU’s Second Life campus. Second Life (SL) is a 3D computer-based simulated environment where users interact using avatars, or 3D graphical representatives of the users’ online personalities. JMU’s SL campus allows students and faculty to interact with one another and members of the global community without the constraints of physical location. Many universities throughout the world, including Harvard and Princeton, are using SL for educational purposes.
In an effort to introduce local and global community members to JMU’s virtual campus, its members are holding an Open House, with a virtual fashion show as its premier event. Avatars of JMU faculty, staff and students will model clothing in the traditional catwalk fashion, using a runway created by JMU staff member Jeremy Hawkins, assistant director of Festival in University Unions. Attendees can then “buy” the clothes the models are wearing for $0, although clothing in SL often brings real currency.
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“We are using a business model and employing a marketing event to publicize our virtual campus, which has some real life applications. This event is a perfect example of how JMU members are collaborating and using technology to educate our students, empower our faculty and staff, and connect with our global community,” said Toni Mehling, communications director for JMU’s College of Business and one of the organizers of the virtual Open House.
“This sci-fi-like online world allows us to tackle projects and provide experiences to our campus community and beyond that would not be possible in the physical reality. For example, the runway alone would have cost us a hefty sum of dollars, but Jeremy built a beautiful setting in Second Life at no cost. Our business students could easily learn and practice business principles in this type of setting, and the reality is that some companies—such as Adidas and IBM—are doing just that,” said Mehling.
During the Open House visitors can tour the JMU Psychology Museum under construction and visit the JMU Student Union and Wilson Hall, among other campus buildings. Those interested can download and join Second Life for free at www.secondlife.com.
More photos available at http://www.facebook.com/JMUcollegeofbusiness
Nov. 11, 2009
The Institute of Certified Professional Managers Assists the Military
The Institute of Certified Professional Managers (ICPM), a leading management development and leadership educator, announced today the Certified Manager (CM™) certification is being utilized by the U.S. Armed Forces to train and certify military leaders. The CM certification develops management and leadership core competencies that can advance a military career or facilitate the transition to civilian employment.
Having certified over 10,000 Certified Managers in more than 31 countries, ICPM has awarded the CM credential to more than 90 leaders in the U.S. Navy, Army and Air Force. Military interest in the CM certification has been increasing rapidly with the development of online certification portals, such as the Navy COOL Program, which identifies credentialing programs that correlate closely with military rank and experience and that can be taken to validate workplace skills.
“Extending the CM program into the U.S. Armed Forces allows for military personnel to hone their management and leadership skills which are critical to security and defense efforts,” said Dr. Robert Reid, Executive Director, ICPM, and Dean of the College of Business at James Madison University. “The CM program prepares military leaders for employment in both the public and private sectors – a win- win for everyone.”
Certified Managers represent a diverse group of industries including manufacturing, aerospace, healthcare, education, telecommunications, government, research, pharmaceuticals and others. The CM certification is a rigorous 15-month program that comprises learning, application, and reinforcement of management and leadership principles that can be put to use immediately. Three certification exams validate a level of management competency has been obtained. Certificants that meet the CM eligibility requirements and pass the three CM exams are recognized worldwide by the “CM” professional credential.
About ICPM. Founded in 1974 by the National Management Association (NMA) and the International Management Council (IMC), the Institute of Certified Professional Managers (ICPM) has a 35-year history of educating managers, supervisors and leaders through the CM certification program. The CM program certifies a level of management competency which supports enhanced on-the-job performance. CM certificants are recognized worldwide by the “CM” professional credential. ICPM is a business center of the College of Business at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. It is governed by a Board of Regents comprised of business executives, industry representatives, academicians, and the NMA president. For more information visit HYPERLINK "http://www.icpm.biz"www.icpm.biz or call (800) 568-4120.
Nov. 9, 2009
JMU College of Business Faculty Influence World Change
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Faculty from JMU’s College of Business spent the last four weeks teaching leadership and management principles in Amman, Jordan, to a group of leaders from organizations and countries where land mine recovery and victim services are needed.
Their goal was to help these leaders find solutions to the challenge of providing meaningful services to landmine victims. Faculty worked with 30 participants from 20 countries.
The course is called the Explosive Remnants of War International Senior Managers Training Course and was offered through a partnership between Jordan and JMU. In its sixth year, previously offered at JMU, the course moved to Amman this year and was organized by the National Committee for Demining and Rehabilitation (NCDR) in partnership with the Mine Action Information Center (MAIC) at JMU and sponsored by a grant from the US Department of State’s Office of Weapons, Removal and Abatement (WRA).
For the entire photo album, check our our CoB Facebook page.
Nov. 9 2009
15 New Members Inducted into the Business Honor Society at JMU
Beta Gamma Sigma, the honor society for AACSB accredited business programs, encourages and honors academic achievement in the study of business and personal and professional excellence in the practice of business, according to Dr. Michael Busing, Faculty Advisor.
Potential members are invited based on their high scholastic achievement in business subjects. To be eligible for membership in Beta Gamma Sigma, the academic ranking of those being considered must place them in the upper 10 percent of the junior or senior class, or upper 20 percent of the graduating master’s class, according to Busing.
Beta Gamma Sigma was founded as a national organization in 1913. Today the Society has nearly 500 chapters at some of the best business schools across the country. While almost 350,000 students receive baccalaureate or master’s degrees in business from AACSB accredited institutions each year, only about 21,000 students are elected to membership in Beta Gamma Sigma.
Below, are the new inductees listed alphabetically:
Jared Seth Antin, son of Jeff Antin (Briarcliff Manor) and Sandra Antin (Mount Kisco), he will graduate in May of 2011 from JMU with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and a minor in Economics.
Taylor Donnelly Callsen, son of Gary Callsen (Middleburg) and Elizabeth Callsen (Vienna), he will graduate in May of 2010 from JMU with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Computer Information Systems.
Leigh Ann Copperthite, daughter of Guy and Paula Copperthite of Laurel, she will graduate in May of 2010 from JMU with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management.
Monika LaTese Dever, daughter of Tom and Becky Dever of Monterey, she will graduate in May of 2011 from JMU with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting.
Allison Diane Everly, daughter of Cindy Everly (Williamsport) and Brad Everly (Chambersburg, PA), she will graduate in December of 2011 from JMU with Bachelor of Business Administration Degrees in Finance and Accounting.
Kristin Marie Fier, daughter of George and Andrea Elliott of Virginia Beach, she will graduate in December of 2009 from JMU with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting.
Benjamin Paul Holley, son of Ken and Debbie Holley of Salem, he will graduate in December of 2010 from JMU with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting.
Samuel Hedlund Kerr, son of Frank and Carol Kerr of Roanoke, he will graduate in May of 2011 from JMU with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management.
Andrew Scott Marshall, son of Gordon and Nancy Marshall of Portsmouth, he will graduate in May of 2010 from JMU with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance.
David Michael Meyer, son of Robert and Brenda Meyer of Herndon, he will graduate in May of 2011 from JMU with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing.
Cathryn Brooke Ritter, daughter of Steven and Jodi Ritter and Richard and Carol Machovec, all of Stephens City, she will graduate in December of 2009 from JMU with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting.
Callie Exton Tomczak, daughter of Jeff and Kay Tomczak of Dumfries, she will graduate in May of 2010 from JMU with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance.
Alyssa VanSickle, daughter of Ken and Linda VanSickle of Glen Gardner ,she will graduate in May of 2010 from JMU with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing.
Meghan Martin White, daughter of Rich and Sue White of Glen Mills, she will graduate in May of 2010 from JMU with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting.
Kevin A. Zeigler, son of Barry and Janice Zeigler of Mechanicsville, he will graduate in May of 2011 from JMU with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and a minor in Computer Information Systems.
Nov. 5, 2009
JMU Center Works with Jordanian Officials to Increase Services for Landmine Victims
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| Jordanian Prince Mired R. Z. Al-Hussein, John Noftsinger, JMU Vice Provost for Research and Public Service, Jordanian Prince Raad Ben Zaid, and Dennis Barlow, Director of MAIC. |
Amman, Jordan—Representatives from James Madison University met with Jordanian Prince Raad Ben Zaid, president of the Higher Council for the Affairs of Persons with Disabilities, and his son, Prince Mired R. Z. Al-Hussein, vice president of the same organization and Chairman of the National Committee for Demining & Rehabilitation Monday.
The process of clearing landmines and providing services is a long process that requires hard work, said Prince Mired. “Step by step, you reach the goal,” he said.
For the past four weeks JMU, in conjunction with National Committee for Demining and Rehabilitation (NCDR), has been conducting a course for leaders of such organizations. The course is funded by the US Department of State’s Office of Weapons, Removal and Abatement (WRA). JMU College of Business faculty have been leading strategic management and leadership principles workshops as well as application exercises. Participants have also heard from NCDR-sponsored speakers and have toured some of Jordan’s victim services locations.
Barlow continued meetings this week with Jordanian officials and the US State Department to discuss plans for 2010 programs in Jordan that will indeed increase services for landmine victims. Plans include more management and leadership training for leaders of organizations in countries that are mine affected and a therapy tour for victims. Noftsinger and Barlow toured some of the locations identified for next year’s planned therapy tour.
For more information, contact Toni Mehling, director of communications in the JMU College of Business, at (540) 568-5169 or mehlintd@jmu.edu, or Bill Wyatt in the JMU Office of Public Affairs at (540) 568-4908 or wyattwj@jmu.edu.
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Video: Barlow explains NCDR and MAIC course for landmine awareness and clearing organizations… (:51)
View photos on the CoB Facebook page.
Nov. 3, 2009
Tom Dillon Presented with Madison Scholar Award
Dillon, a professor of Computer Information Systems and Management Science, was presented with the 2009-2010 Madison Scholar award. Dillon has a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, in Information Systems with a focus on Human-Computer Interaction track.
He has served as a professor here at JMU for 9 years, also receiving the Distinguished Community Service Award in 2007 and 2008, along with the Provost's Award for Excellence in 2006.
Professors are nominated by their colleagues, and then selected to represent each of JMU's six colleges.
Recipients are judged on their demonstration of excellence and scholarly achievement in their discipline.
At the College of Business Madison Scholar lecture on Oct. 28, 2009, he spoke about "Office Computer and Email Privacy: Is Somebody Watching you?" His presentation gave an overview of his findings from his research on public attitudes and knowledge of accessibility. Afterwards he was recognized for the honor of being a Madison Scholar recipient by the Associate Dean, Philip DuBose.
Oct. 27, 2009
JMU Wins College Fed Challenge Preliminary
RICHMOND, Va. - James Madison University, of Harrisonburg, Va., won the preliminary round of the College Fed Challenge Competition held Oct. 26 at the
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. The team included students included students Daniel Plasters, Andrew Marshall, Lauren Crawley, Anna Pickeral, Bradley Reeser and Andrew Elgert and was coached by Professor Phil Heap. JMU will advance to the Fifth District championship in Richmond on Nov. 16, and compete against the winners from the Baltimore and Charlotte branches.
Liberty University and Virginia Commonwealth University were finalists in the competition.
The Richmond Fed's competition also included teams from the following Virginia schools: Bridgewater College, Christopher Newport University, Lynchburg College, Old Dominion University, Roanoke College, University of Richmond, University of Mary Washington and Virginia Union University, as well as Marshall University of Huntington, W.Va.
Students delivered 20-minute presentations on monetary policy and were scored on content, teamwork, responses to questions, presentation and style. Richmond Fed judges included economists Huberto Ennis, Andreas Hornstein, Thomas Lubik, Matt Martin, John Walter and Alex Wolman; Economic Education manager Melanie Rose; Kiran Krishnamurthy of Corporate Communications; and Joan Coogan and William Perkins of the Research Library.
The Richmond Fed sponsors College Fed Challenge, a regional academic competition, to encourage better understanding of the nation's central bank, the forces influencing economic conditions in the United States and abroad, and the ways the economy affects everyone.
JMU Ranks 13th in the Nation for CPA Exam Pass Rates
JMU is ranked among the top 25 school in the country for first time candidates passing the CPA exam. The list comes from the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) which examines the pass rates of candidates from over 2,000 colleges and universities. JMU is ranked 18th for candidates with advanced degrees and 23rd for candidates without advanced degrees. During the last testing cycle, 20 JMU students took all four sections of the exam, and 13 passed, for a pass rate of 65 percent.
CoB Team Wins Battle of the Builds
Students played with LEGOs and competed for prizes in today's 2009 Battle of the Builds LEGO building competition, sponsored by Freddie Mac.
Maribeth Herod, VP at Freddie Mac, says the competition puts to use skills in team work, creative problem solving, and interpersonal communication. Herod says the JMU CoB has a strong history of developing these skills in students. This year 20 of the Freddie Mac new hires came from JMU.
Fall 2009 Battle of the Builds Competition winners
1st place: Team Bridgeforth Taylor Callsen(CIS) Andrew Kelly (ECON & Finance) Daniel Lacasse (CIS) Zachary Schultz (CIS & Management) Ryan Brady (CIS & Finance)
2nd Place Team: Can't Break This! Tyler Martin Isha Arura Justin Carter Brandon Bundoc Carrie Mulford Brittany Hafner
View photos of the competition on our CoB FaceBook page.
CoB Instructor Elected to Certified Managers Governing Body
Christina Roeder, CoB Lecturer and Certified Manager, was elected on Sept 16th, as a regent to the governing body of the Institute of Certified Professional Managers(ICPM). ICPM, serves as a leading management development and leadership educator. Each ICPM Board of Regent member represents management professionals from business, industry, education, and the public.View all the board of regents members
Sept. 15, 2009
CoB Professors Nominated for Outstanding Faculty
Congratulations goes to Dr. Bob Kolodinsky and Dr. Barkley Rosser for their nominations by the Dean of the College of Business for the Outstanding Faculty Award.
This prestigious award is sponsored by the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia and recognizes faculty for their superior accomplishments in teaching, research, and public service. The Outstanding Faculty Award is considered one of the highest honors for faculty at Virginia’s public and private colleges and universities.
A 'Second Life' for JMU
Susan Kruck, professor of computer information systems, helped build JMU's virtual campus. Learn more in this story by Heather Bowser, originally published in the Daily News-Record:
Flying or teleporting across campus from Wilson Hall to the ISAT building just got a little bit easier. Oh, and possible.
A team of four James Madison University faculty members recently established a presence in "Second Life," a virtual online world where folks interact with others from around the globe.
The crew digitally reconstructed parts of campus, including two of JMU's most iconic buildings. They also built a virtual student union, a bookstore, art museum and Stonehenge. (Yes, this version of Harrisonburg's center is a bit different than reality.)
In Second Life, players use alter egos, or avatars, to navigate cyberspace. The preferred method of travel is flight or teleportation.
"Flying is fun," said Kate Stevens, a JMU assistant professor of art history, who is one of the four builders.
How It Works
Stevens, Suzie Baker, professor of psychology, Susan Kruck, professor of computer information systems, and Jeremy Hawkins, director of university unions, built the digital campus.
This virtual JMU attracts between 100 and 150 visitors a week who have no affiliation with the university, including several from the international community, Stevens said. The site recently was recognized in an article of Campus Technology magazine.
JMU mostly uses Second Life to create a community for distance-learning students.
"Second Life helps [distance-learning students] get more out of the academic experience and build relationships that they might not have otherwise," Stevens said. "It's a different way to get to know each other and it's fun." "It just makes sense to have common space," Hawkins added.
So far, members of the JMU group have held music events, office hours, meetings and lectures.
Stevens says she uses the virtual campus for her museum studies class so she can take her students to exhibits in Europe and Asia without leaving the Harrisonburg. Second Life also gives Stevens a place to "display" artwork from the school's collection.
JMU is far from alone in their digital creativity. According to Linden Lab, the creator of Second Life, more than 200 universities are using it, including such prestigious institutions as Harvard and Stanford.
Schools like it because instructors can communicate in text or by speaking over a microphone in Second Life while at home or in an office, eliminating the need to travel.
Plus, when students are finished listening to a lecture, they can just teleport home.
Priceless: How The Federal Reserve Bought The Economics Profession
The Federal Reserve, through its extensive network of consultants, visiting scholars, alumni and staff economists, so thoroughly dominates the field of economics that real criticism of the central bank has become a career liability for members of the profession, an investigation by the Huffington Post has found.
Ehsan Ahmed, JMU Economics Department Head, weighs in: "I think there is a pretty good number of professors of economics who want a very limited use of monetary policy and I don't think that that necessarily has a negative impact on their careers. It's quite possible that if they have some new ideas, that might be attractive to the Federal Reserve." More from the Huffington Post >>>
JMU Marketing Students Earn Top Spot in Americas in Google Challenge
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| Rachel Bruton, Brandon Sockwell and Meredith Rauh won first place in the Americas region. |
Three marketing students from James Madison University's College of Business won first place in the Americas in the 2009 Google Online Marketing Challenge, an international search-engine marketing competition.
Seniors Rachel Bruton, Meredith Rauh and Brandon Sockwell were named winners of the Americas region, which includes North, Central and South America. The team placed in the top four globally, competing against some 2,187 teams from 57 countries.
Real Client, Real Money, Real Advertising Campaign
Under the direction of CoB professor Theresa B. Flaherty, the team designed and executed a Google AdWords campaign for the Washington, D.C. business MobileTours.org. With a $200 voucher and a three-week campaign window, the students successfully increased Mobile Tours' sales by 20 percent. 
The students' strategy included two AdWords campaigns with 15 ad groups. They used other Google marketing and reporting tools—including Google Analytics, Keyword Generator and Dynamic Keyword Insertion, AdWords Editor, geo-targeting, and restricted scheduling of ads—to adjust the campaign each day.
Classroom Theories In Action
All three students volunteered for the competition, receiving no class credit or internship credit. Their motivation was "a competitive edge" in the workforce, according to Bruton, the team captain. "You become much more emotionally invested when you work with a real company," Bruton said. "You have the chance to see classroom theories put into action." The tangible skills are already paying off. Since graduating in May, all three students have earned positions leveraging their online marketing savvy.
Flaherty calls this competition one of the best experiences of her career. She congratulated the students for taking on an extra set of responsibilities and demonstrating a true love of learning.
JMU Dominates Competition
In addition to the first place win in the Americas, two other JMU teams were semi-finalists in the Americas region, ranking them in the top 50. In 2008, JMU placed five teams in the top 10 percent.
ICPM Surpasses 10,000 Certified Managers Worldwide
The Institute of Certified Professional Managers (ICPM), a business center of the College of Business at JMU, has awarded its 10,000th CM credential. "ICPM has partnered with a diverse array of universities, training organizations and corporations worldwide to provide management professionals and their employers a competitive edge in business," said Robert Reid, Executive Director of ICPM and Dean of the College of Business. "The CM certification program is a positive example for others to emulate by instilling quality management practices and increased workplace productivity. Now there are 10,000 certificants to validate the success of the CM certification - an accomplishment we are very proud of." Read more from Reuters >>>
JMU Begins New, Innovative Ph.D. Program in Strategic Leadership
James Madison University's newest doctoral program begins this August, offering students a Ph.D. in strategic leadership. The innovative program is "one of the rarest in the country," said Bob Kolodinsky, director of JMU's Gilliam Center for Ethical Business Leadership. Designed to bridge real life experience with interdisciplinary academic studies, students will focus in one of three distinct tracts: K-12, higher education, or community and non-profit management.Demand for "Real World" Skills
The program was developed by an inter-disciplinary group of JMU faculty, Kolodinsky said. "We were talking to people with Master's degrees, and they consistently indicated that they needed more skills to move up in their organizations. They needed to know how to write a budget, handle financial instruments, manage other people, and collect and analyze data. In order to run an organization, they needed business and statistics skills." The greatest demand seemed to be among K-12 school superintendants, principals, and non-profit directors, and subsequent research "showed that hardly anyone else in the nation offered a program like this," Kolodinsky said. Hear more about the core business skills students will gain at YouTube >>>
Mix of Business, Statistics, Education Courses
The curriculum is a distinctive mix of courses from JMU's College of Business, College of Education and College of Integrated Science and Technology with core courses in statistics and leadership. In addition to a research-based dissertation, Ph.D. candidates must complete an internship where they apply academic theories to a current workplace. "This Ph.D. has real teeth," Kolodinsky said. Most graduates will return to their existing profession, he believes. "They're seeking a Ph.D. to develop some more tools and skills so that they can be more effective in their workplaces."
Bob Kolodinsky, director of the Gilliam Center for Ethical Business Leadership, talks about the program.
School of Hospitality and Sport Recreation Management Created
James Madison University's new School of Hospitality and Sport Recreation Management will open in fall 2010, combining two popular programs: the department of hospitality and tourism management and the department of kinesiology's concentration in sport and recreation management.
The new school will offer both academic and experiential advantages, said Michael O'Fallon, director of hospitality and tourism management. Students will gain 27 credit hours in this curriculum, which may include courses in hospitality ethics and mega industries. Larger field trips can be accommodated, allowing increased experiences in hotels, restaurants, and resorts. O’Fallon shares tentative plans for the new curriculum at YouTube >>>
All students will have a minor in business including courses in marketing, finance, economics, and accounting, but these topics will now be woven into core classes as well. "Rather than taking a general accounting course only, students will learn accounting skills geared toward their day-to-day work: accounting with food and beverage, linens, or lodging," O'Fallon said. "You learn better if you're more interested in the topic."
Economic Stimulus Funds to Assist Displaced Workers Through ICPM
JMU's Institute of Certified Professional Managers, a leading management development and leadership educator, announced today its partnership with Ivy Tech Community College to offer the Certified Manager (CMTM) program through the use of State economic stimulus funds.
In an effort to assist and prepare displaced workers to return to the workplace, ITCC, Indiana's largest public post-secondary institution, will offer the ICPM CM certification program enabling participants to gain a competitive edge in the areas of leadership and management. Read more from Reuters.
Tech Camp Preps Under-represented Teens for College
Harrisonburg-Sparkle lip-gloss, skateboards, HTML, and secure wireless networks? Times have changed, and so has summer camp.James Madison University's nationally recognized CyberCity technology program will bring under-represented teenagers, and their high-school teachers, to campus June 24-27. The program has received numerous awards since its inception two years ago, including a 2008 ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) President's Award for Diversity and two awards from the Shenandoah Valley Technology Council for innovation in education.
The tech-intensive week "sends a strong message to under-represented students interested in business or technology majors," said Daphyne Saunders Thomas, CyberCity co-creator and Adolph Coors business professor of finance and business law. "We want to let them know that they can be successful studying at a university like JMU." Attendees will sleep and eat on campus to get a taste of college life.
STUDENT ACTIVITIES:
* Programming in secure code
* Designing a Web site
* Installing a secure wireless network
* Examining ethical issues in I.T.
* Practicing business protocol and dining etiquette
TEACHER ACTIVITIES:
* Learning to teach all concepts presented to students
* Joining an on-line community of teachers to share ideas
* Creating videos and podcasts of camp activities
Nearly 40 participants in Virginia have been selected and received full scholarships. JMU's College of Business, the CoB Executive Advisory Council and individual donors fund the scholarships. JMU's Outreach Programs, the School of Education and Office of Admissions also partner in developing the program.
June 9, 2009
CIS Awards First-year Scholarships
JMU's Department of Computer Information Systems & Management Science (CIS & MS) awarded CIS & MS Executive Advisory Board Scholarships to two graduating high school seniors who will enroll at JMU in fall 2009.
Rachel Hatanaka of Acton, Ma., and Jessica Romanelli of Downingtown, Pa., were each awarded the CIS Executive Advisory Board Scholarship. The $1,500 award goes to incoming first year students who display academic achievement, leadership and a commitment towards pursuing a career related to business and computing. These scholarships are competitive and merit-based.
Members of the CIS & MS Executive Advisory Board are business and government IT leaders whom provide counsel to the CIS & MS faculty on a wide range of issues.
June 8, 2009
Never Show the Soles of Your Feet in China:
Students gain global employment advantages with Etiquette training
Looking for a job? Well, do you know how to shake hands, make proper introductions, and create a positive impression when you enter a room? How polished are your conversation skills? Do you know which fork to use at a formal dinner?
If you don't feel as if your current skill sets could propel you through these questions, then you may have left the door wide open to a competing job applicant.
That's the call some James Madison University (JMU) students answered when they enrolled in "Outclass the Competition," a business etiquette and international protocol boot camp conducted by The Prestigious School of Protocol in Harrisonburg, Va., and sponsored by JMU's College of Business (C0B). The five-week in-depth training course is designed to prepare students for today's competitive job market by helping them polish their interpersonal skills.
With competition for the most coveted employment positions soaring and graduation just weeks away, it's crunch time for JMU's young professionals who are about to enter the job market. "In the current economic climate, job seekers need something more than their competitors when pursuing the same positions," says Terrie Dean, principal of The Prestigious School of Protocol. "If you want to truly be noticed and even be considered for an interview, you'd better be armed with a complete set of tools that today's savvy human resource departments are craving. Today's businesses are not just looking for qualified candidates; they want employees who can catapult them and their corporate image past the boundaries of their competitors as well. Having that extra edge on your resume is just what is called for in today's employment market."
Practice Makes Perfect
At a final dinner, where students have the opportunity to practice their newly acquired etiquette skills, Dan Smullen, a senior marketing major from Orland, Pa., rests his fork and knife across his plate in the 10 and 4 o'clock position, signaling to his waiter that he is finished the main course. "I'm graduating this spring, and I thought this course would prepare me for the job market," he says.
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| Terrie Dean, a Certified Business Etiquette and International Protocol Consultant. |
This evening, Smullen is the "host" at this particular table, and he's practicing using small talk to make his "guests" feel comfortable. "I'm hoping the interviewing etiquette will pay off," he says, referring to the "rules of interviewing" that Dean imparted a few weeks ago in one of the Tuesday night sessions.
The course was open to all JMU students. Steph Symoracki, a junior corporate communications major, recognized that she would need global etiquette skills in her chosen field. At tonight's dinner, she is practicing holding her silver Continental style-knife in right hand, fork in left, tines down.
"I feel more confident," says Synoracki. "When I get out there, I hope that I will impress people, and when they think about all of the people they've met, I'll stand out to them." Earlier this evening she learned from Dean that her hands should always be visible, her wrists resting on the edge of the table when not holding her utensils. This custom, says Dean, dates back to the Europeans in a day when many a man was killed over a meal with a drawn weapon. It became courtesy, she says, to keep one's hands visible so that the host could always see his enemy's hands. But Symoracki believes following this age-old custom will give her poise.
"I have watched the confidence level of these participants soar," says Susan Floyd, professor of accounting in JMU's School of Accounting. "We live in a global world, and you need to know the rules in order to be successful." Floyd, coordinated the event through the College of Business Center for Professional Development.
"I've seen these students turn 180 degrees in fives weeks," says Dean, confirming a rise in confidence as students learn to put the social rules of the business world into practice.
Dean received Business Etiquette and International Protocol training from one of the world's foremost authorities on etiquette, Dorthea Johnson of the renowned Protocol School of Washington and former presidential protocol advisor. Dean is certified in all areas of business etiquette and international protocol.
June 8, 2009
Business Management Major Wins $5K Scholarship for Ethics Essay
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| Ryan Farrell |
Farrell's understanding of business ethics helped him earn a $5,000 scholarship from JMU's Gilliam Center for Ethical Business Leadership. Farrell took first place in the eighth annual Thomas J. Masterson Ethics Essay Contest. Of 35 entries, the top three essays were:
- $5,000 winner: Ryan Farrell, a junior from Annandale, Va majoring in business management
- $1,000 winner: Chelsea Sasala, a junior from Oak Hill, Va with a double major in business management and kinesiology
- $500 winner: Brett Abrams, a junior from Virginia Beach, Va majoring in business management
This competition was open to more than 2,000 JMU business students who are sophomores and juniors. Students were asked to write two essays, one depicting a personal ethical dilemma, and a second offering a solution to a case study.
Farrell said the case study featured an alleged kickback scheme. His personal essay depicted an issue he faced in high school when he learned to "never give in to peer pressure."
"I hope that it challenged [their] thinking," said Bob Kolodinsky, Ph.D, the center's director. "Hopefully, this process makes students a bit more aware of the challenges workers face in the business world and stimulates them to learn more about how to make good ethical decisions."
May 28, 2009
College of Business Awards Freshman Scholarships
James Madison University’s (JMU) College of Business (CoB) awarded scholarships to three graduating high school seniors who will enroll at JMU in fall 2009.
Lauren Martin of Biglerville, Pa., was awarded the Robert E. Holmes Scholarship. The $2,000 award was established in honor of Robert E. Holmes, who served as dean of the CoB from 1983 to 1995. The scholarship is awarded to an incoming freshman with a declared business major. The recipient, while in high school, must carry a minimum academic performance level of B, along with demonstrated service and leadership throughout his or her high school career.
Allison von Hausen of Burke, Va., and Andrea Pezzi of Sicklerville, N.J., were awarded the Madison Achievement Scholarship. The $2,000 merit-based scholarship is awarded to graduating high school seniors who exhibit a broad spectrum of accomplishments and potential. Recipients for the CoB Madison Achievement Scholarship must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA during high school and declare a business major upon entering JMU.
May 13, 2009
Reid to Chair AASCB Accreditation Committee
The premier accreditation organization for business schools has selected Robert D. Reid, dean of James Madison University’s College of Business, to chair a key accreditation committee that reviews accreditation of colleges and universities worldwide.
Reid will serve as Chair of the Maintenance of Accreditation Committee of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB, International) for 2009-10. He has also been re-appointed to a three-year term as a member of the committee.
“AACSB accreditation is an internationally recognized indicator of academic quality and excellence,” Reid said. “Today’s business students can look to these schools for engaging professors, opportunities to work with top-notch professionals and classmates. I’m honored to participate in reviewing other schools to ensure that AACSB accredited business schools are consistently offering students a high quality education.” JMU’s College of Business is an AACSB accredited school.
JMU Names Reid the University "Star"
Robert D. Reid, dean of James Madison University’s (JMU) College of Business (CoB), received the 2009 Madison Award for the University “Star”. The winner of the “Star” award recognizes a leader's contributions to the mission, objectives and values of JMU. |
| Robert D. Reid, dean, College of Business |
“Under Dean Reid's leadership of the last 13 years, CoB continues to be a vibrant contributor to JMU's growing successes. The college ranks in the top 5 percent of business schools according to national surveys. The largest professional college at the university, CoB provides bachelor and master degree programs for 4,200 students, representing an 85 percent successfully managed enrollment growth during Dean Reid's tenure,” Pharr said.
“While we are nominating Dean Reid for his successful and willing engagement in advancing JMU's philanthropic culture, his contributions exceed this one area as this nomination well demonstrates,” Pharr said.
The Madison Awards Committee selected award winners. Employees recognized by the University will be submitted for consideration for the Governors Awards as part of the 2009 Virginia Public Service Week.
May 5, 2009
JMU Students’ “Simulated Business” Ranks in Top Ten Worldwide
Take a typical business problem. Build a team. Ask that team to strategize using problem solving, leadership and teamwork skills. Add some accounting, marketing, finance, and management knowledge. Make it competitive by pitting the team against other teams in the nation. Will your team make it to the Top Ten?
Team Chester from the College of Business at James Madison University demonstrated their business acumen this spring using Capsim®, a nationally recognized business simulation software. Capsim® tracks team progress and placed JMU’s team in the top ten percentile with demonstrated performance better than 95 percent of the 1,473 other business college teams in the nation.
The student members were Stephany Barber, Matthew Byrne, Peter Carey, Mike DeSieno, Allen Green and Elizabeth Moyer. The team was formed in a Strategic Management course taught by Associate Professor William Ritchie III, Ph.D.
Other teams in the top ten came from Auburn University, Rutgers, The Citadel, University of Massachusetts, University of Virginia, Baylor, Queens University, and Central Michigan University. The performance among these teams is calculated using a balanced scorecard method which rewards companies that are able to demonstrate superior performance across the business functions of: Financial, internal business processes, industry analysis, employee productivity, and total quality management practices.
May 4, 2009
JMU Human Resources Club Earns National Award
The James Madison University chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) has earned a national Superior Merit Award.The award recognizes the chapter’s exceptional efforts in providing opportunities for growth and development to student members during the 2008-09 academic year. JMU SHRM is sponsored by the Shenandoah Valley SHRM and provides members with insight into the real world of human resources management through workshops, seminars and speakers. The JMU SHRM chapter will receive a plaque to display at the university and will be recognized in SHRM publications and at its conferences.
About SHRM
SHRM is the world’s largest association devoted to human resource management. Representing more than 250,000 members in over 140 countries, the Society serves the needs of HR professionals and advances the interests of the HR profession. Founded in 1948, SHRM has more than 575 affiliated chapters within the United States and subsidiary offices in China and India.
April 30, 2009
CoB Students Receive Certified Manager Certification
The Institute of Certified Professional Managers (ICPM), a leading management development and leadership educator, announced that five James Madison University students in the College of Business--Jessica Clatterbuck, Kevin Dubs, Andrew Gauldin, Jake Housman, and Jamie Lavin-- participated in ICPM’s Certified Manager (CM™) certification program.
The CM certification program is traditionally a 15-month course of study that develops and assesses management and leadership skills. Students must meet eligibility requirements for education and experience and pass three challenging certification exams in order to obtain the professional CM credential. The students completed the coursework in 9 months, in addition to their college course load.
In May 2009, the five students will receive college degrees and step into the real world with an advantage--a professional credential recognized worldwide that will distinguish them from their peers.
The students were selected to participate in the CM program based on their high academic achievements and their major emphasis in management.
“It seems to be quite a unique achievement that other students are not likely to have,” said Jessica Clatterbuck, JMU Management Student and CM participant. “It shows that we have expertise in the field of management, as per a certification rather than just the degree that others have.”
The CM certification, coupled with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, will help these students compete in a highly competitive market of entry-level positions and will also make them viable candidates for future management-level positions.
“They are excellent students in the classroom and take extra time and effort to seek out external opportunities that might increase their knowledge base and skill set,” said Christine Roeder, CM, JMU Management Professor and CM instructor. “Equipped with this type of work ethic and a strong academic toolkit, these students are prepared to make significant professional contributions.”
Roeder continued by stating, “Having a certification is valuable in any industry; however, it becomes even more valuable during times of economic hardship. In this tough economy, any edge a student can get with their job search is more important now than ever. The CM certification will provide these top notch students with another way to differentiate themselves from graduates of other universities.”
After the students graduate, ICPM and JMU will stay in touch with the students to track their progress and see how the program has benefited them as working professionals. Additionally, there are future plans to bring these students back to the university to assist with JMU’s mentoring program.
“We have conducted research in regard to firms that hire our highly-regarded JMU graduates,” said Dr. Robert Reid, Executive Director, ICPM, and Dean of JMU’s College of Business. “By continuing to enhance the business curriculum and provide opportunities, such as the Certified Manager Program, we feel we are giving JMU graduates a competitive advantage that employers want. And, by bringing back these students after a few years of professional experience, we feel it will also benefit future students that participate in the mentoring program.”
April 20, 2009
JMU Takes Home Two Technology Awards at Tech Nite 9.0
James Madison University (JMU) claimed two of seven awards at the 9th annual Shenandoah Valley Technology Council (SVTC) gala dubbed Tech Nite 9.0. The JMU award winners hailed from the College of Business (CoB) and College of Education (CoE). |
| Professors Daphyne Thomas, Harry Reif, Tom Dillon and George Font (not pictured) were recognized for Innovation in Higher Education. |
Professor Mike Mitri of CoB was awarded the Innovative Technology Application Award, sponsored by the Center for Innovative Technology. This award honors innovative use of technology in more traditional industries, such as agriculture or manufacturing. Legacy Forward, Inc. was founded by Mitri and Abie Tannir and provides business intelligence (BI) solutions for legacy IT systems. Their flagship product, LFSentinel, is a BI software tool for profiling, analyzing and test planning complex applications on IBM mainframe systems running z/OS and MVS operating systems. This technology has been successfully moved to the market place; it was deployed with great success at a large medical insurance company.
JMU’ College of Business and College of Integrated Science sponsored the High Tech Entrepreneur Award, given to a show successful organization, development or management of a technology concept into a commercial product or service. This year’s recipient was Gary K. Summers for Capture Energy, based in Staunton, Va.
Once a year, the SVTC recognizes and celebrates the achievements of technology firms, organizations and programs in the region and the entrepreneurs and innovators behind those successes. Tech Nite 9.0 was held April 16 at JMU with more than 200 local technology users and creators in attendance.
During the 2009 competition, SVTC accepted nominations for 23 individuals, companies, organizations and programs that best exemplified the local Shenandoah Valley spirit of technological entrepreneurialism and innovation.
The Shenandoah Valley Technology Council (SVTC) is a membership organization serving the greater Shenandoah Valley. Its members are creators and users of technology who gather together for education, networking and business development.
April 7, 2009
COB 300 first-place team talks “trash”
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| From left: Linda Cross (judge), Pete Tkachuk, Matthew Trosko, Brian Riddleberger, Terry Bandy (judge), Don Rainey (founder); front row: Holland Henn, Katherine Lukens, Gina Martellacci |
The first place team at the 2009 COB 300 Business Plan Competition offered up an alternative solution for trash disposal. The Pyrofuse, Inc. team presented a plan for turning municipal solid waste into electrical energy at Saturday’s competition. For their winning business plan, the team received more than $5,000 in scholarships. The team also won the Accenture Best Idea award for their proposal to turn trash into renewable energy.
James Madison University’s College of Business (CoB) presented $26,000 in scholarships to five teams, including five individual MVP awards. The April 4 competition recognized the best business plans produced in CoB’s 12-credit course that integrates business disciplines: management, operations, finance and marketing. Judges weeded through 140 plans prior to the weekend competition. The plans were produced as class projects by teams. The five finalist teams presented their plans to judges Saturday.
Second place went to a team that proposed Greencastle Geothermal; Luau Lagoon won third place; Connected Software won fourth; and Dirty Paws Mobile grooming won fifth place. MVP awards were presented to Pete Tkachuk, Gina Martellacci, Andrea Bustamante, Alana Dagher and Erik Magnusson.
“There are no losers in today’s competition,” Don Rainey, founder and organizer of the competition, told the group. Rainey is a General Partner at Grotech Capital Group, a venture company that focuses on early stage information technology companies. Rainey said all of the plans presented at Saturday’s competition were of the highest quality and worthy of first place. He also stated that the presentations all equaled or exceeded what he sees in the marketplace on a daily basis.
Rainey was formerly an entrepreneur who started several successful businesses and is a strong supporter of CoB’s efforts to teach students the dynamics of business in an integrated setting. The formation of the plans helps students learn to work in teams and build strong interpersonal skills.
Rainey is a member of the CoB’s Executive Advisory Council (EAC), a group of highly successful business executives. The EAC is a co-sponsor of the CoB competition. This year's finalists were:
Pyrefuse Inc.: Holland Henn, Katherine Lukens, Gina Martellacci, Brian Riddleberger, Pete Tkachuk and Matthew Trosko.
Green Castle Geothermal: Kate Asai, Billy Dale, Chris Gressett, Chad Kiernan, Bianca Trevino and Meghan White.
Luau Lagoon Inc.: Alana Dagher, Michael Rawson, Stephanie Sanders, Michael Santiago, Timothy Shirah, Stephanie Washington and Matthew Wolf.
Connected Software LLC: Allison Asta, Rex Bradford, Andrea Bustamante, Murong Cai, John Cewe and Caitlin Clark.
Dirty Paws Mobile Grooming Service: Angela Amoako, Damon Gowen, Jordan Hockstein, Blythe Klippstein, Krista Lusk and Erik Magnusson.
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| From left: Pete Tkachuk, Gina Martellacci, Andrea Bustamante, Alana Dagher, Erik Magnusson |
April 7, 2009
CoB Ranks 3rd in Nation for Return on Investment
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While layoffs, salary freezes and unemployment statistics dominate today's business headlines, James Madison University's College of Business is being recognized by one publication for continuing to prepare its graduates for success in the workplace.
"Few measures of a b-school's performance hit home quite like return on investment, or ROI," BusinessWeek's Lindsey Gerdes writes. "While the top-ranked private schools…get all the attention, it's the big state schools (and their lower tuition costs) that fare the best on this measure."
JMU is third on the public schools list and fourth out of all business schools in the publication's rankings, which are calculated by comparing annual tuition and required fees and median starting salaries for 2008 graduates. Read the BusinessWeek article
"Number one, you want a place that's going to help you be prepared to enter the business world. At the same time, you're concerned with what kind of costs you're going to incur," said Dr. Robert Reid, dean of the JMU College of Business. "Versus what you spend at JMU, the return is very high."
For every dollar spent on tuition, JMU graduates average $7.18 in pay. With tuition costs under $7,000 per year, JMU graduates are earning comparable salaries to their counterparts paying four to six times as much at top-tier private schools.
But affordable tuition alone doesn't translate into a high ROI, Reid said. Schools must provide a quality education that gives graduates the skills needed to contribute to successful companies.
"We do undergraduate education very well. We devote a lot of time, a lot of attention and a lot of resources to it, and I think it shows," Reid said. "Recruiters time and time again tell us, 'We really like the quality of your graduates.' Their technical skills are as good or better than you get other places, their interpersonal skills are far superior, their leadership skills are superior, and that's why companies hire our graduates."
Recruiters and COB faculty now recognize that coveted set of soft skills as the Madison Quotient. According to a recent Leadership IQ study of more than 300 U.S. companies and organizations, almost half of newly hired employees fail within 18 months, due mostly to poor interpersonal skills, inability to accept feedback and lack of motivation.
"We learn so much about working in groups," BusinessWeek quotes one JMU graduate as saying. "I used to think it was normal for group projects and presentations to be so prevalent, but after speaking with students from other schools, I realize how unique our experience is in the College of Business at JMU."
In a survey of the top recruiters and employers of JMU students, 43 percent of recruiters said turnover rates for JMU grads are lower than those from other schools. Fifty-six percent also noted JMU graduates had better overall job performance, 61 percent noted JMU grads' better team skills, 59 percent said JMU grads had better interpersonal skills, and 75 percent listed JMU as one of the top three universities from which they hire their best talent.
"Overall, the Madison Quotient means employers are going to get a better return on their investment in hiring a JMU graduate," Reid said. "Lower turnover rates mean companies spend less on recruiting, hiring and training, and the soft skills our students have help them assimilate into an organization and become productive employees more quickly."
BusinessWeek ranked JMU in the top 50 Best Undergraduate Business Schools earlier this year, citing small class sizes, dedicated faculty and a superior curriculum, including the innovative COB 300 course.
March 31, 2009
Beta Gamma Sigma Inducts Members
Beta Gamma Sigma held an inducted ceremony at JMU March 27. Beta Gamma Sigma, the honor society for AACSB accredited business programs, encourages and honors academic achievement in the study of business and personal and professional excellence in the practice of business, according to Dr. Michael Busing, Faculty Advisor.
Potential members are invited based on their high scholastic achievement in business subjects. To be eligible for membership in Beta Gamma Sigma, the academic ranking of those being considered must place them in the upper 7 percent of the junior class, upper 10 percent of the senior class, or upper 20 percent of the graduating master’s class, according to Busing.
Beta Gamma Sigma was founded as a national organization in 1913. Today the Society has more than 325 chapters at some of the best business schools internationally. While almost 300,000 students receive baccalaureate or master’s degrees in business each year, only about 16,000 students are elected to membership in Beta Gamma Sigma.
| Laura Stuart Barkley Ryan Cole Carrigan Laura Marie Cascio Daniel Curry Matt Del Riego Natalie Elder Kelly J. Ferenz Kristin Ford Matthew Freix Steven Galer Nicole Grayson Lauren Harris Holland Henn Alexandra G. Hoge Melissa Katski Matthew E. Lawless Tyler Martin Leigh McVay Lauren Moon Gregory Donald Riesett Bryan Sakamoto Danielle Weaver Chad Williamson |
| Kat Billington Nora Lacko Lauren K. Carlson Darren LaFollette Meredith Fleming Bryan Bonghyun Lee Heather M. Ford Jaclyn McArdle Danna Frink Emily Meholic John Hamlett Carolyn Rehman Kristin Holloway Mark Solis Scot Spencer Katona Katherine Zetts |
| Kara E. Barnard Lindsay Miller Thomas Fannon |
March 30, 2009
CoB Supports Entrepreneurs in Recession
The economic events of the last several months are unprecedented in our working lifetimes. We’ve witnessed the contraction of major industries and sectors. What began as a housing-related recession has expanded into a global economic crisis, which has resulted in extraordinary actions being taken by companies and governments. In addition, we’ve witnessed the collapse of major firms. Many of us thought that we’d never see anything like this, but we have.
Given the current scarcity of funding options for new ventures in the current economic climate, we are committed to proceeding with the competition, feeling it is more important than ever to support entrepreneurial activity. Like you, we remain optimistic, flexible, and persistent. While, we have shifted the scope of the SBPC, we intend to proceed with the 2009 SBPC on a more limited scale. We have secured $50,000 in funding and more than $7,000 of in-kind services for the 2009 SBPC to support the launch of a new venture. Prizes will be awarded to a grand prize winner and runner-up who meet the investment criteria. The award package will be customized to fit the needs of the venture. Judges can choose not to award prizes if the venture does not demonstrate viability. We appreciate the support of our sponsors and service providers in this new endeavor.
Arguably, one of the best values in this forum is the opportunity to network and receive feedback. Although, we will not have the level of venture capitalist participation that was originally planned we will provide feedback from a panel of business and industry experts to those teams that participate in the SBPC. We will support participating finalists in two ways: providing reviewer feedback to executive summaries and offering a forum for participants to connect with other entrepreneurs, service providers, and investors.
Join us Monday, April 20 in the JMU Festival Ballroom A for the SBPC event. The opening reception will be at 6:30 p.m. and the competition will begin at 7 p.m.
March 29, 2009
BB&T Chairman to Speak on Leadership at JMU
BB&T Chairman John Allison IV will speak at JMU April 14 at 5 p.m. in HHS 2301. The title of his presentation will be “Principled Leadership.”
Allison retired at CEO of BB&T Corporation in December 2008, but remains on the company’s board of directors as Chairman of the Board. He was nominated by MorningStar as one of the best CEOs of 2008.
Allison had been CEO at BB&T since 1989 and has been with the company for nearly 40 years. He helped the company grow to one of the largest and highest performing financial services in the U.S. He joined BB&T in 1971 and served as the manager of the Leadership Development Program for two years. He was named regional loan administrator in 1973, joined the company’s management team in 1980, and was promoted to Business Loan Administration manager the same year. The next year he became manager of the BB&T Banking Group, and in 1987 became president, a position he held until 1989.
Allison earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and master's in business administration degree from Duke University. He also holds honorary doctorates from East Carolina University, Mount Olive College, Clemson University and Marymount University. He is a graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University.
He is a board member of the Wake Forest University Medical Center, the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University, the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Clemson Institute for the Study of Capitalism. He also is a member of the American Bankers Association and the Financial Services Roundtable. He is a resident of North Carolina.
| From left to right. Rashed Annoon, Louai Ali AbdullaAl Habshi, Dr. Robert Reid, Nigel Fann, Saeed Sultan Al Dhaheri, Robert Botes, Ahmad Shams, Yaqdhan Omar Atiq, ShayaAli Al Shaya, Farrah Koudsi, Saif Mohamed Al Muhairbi, Mohamed Taleb Al Menhali |
March 2, 2009
Reid Travels to Abu Dhabi to Award Certified Managers™ at GASCO On Behalf Of Sun Learning Systems
Senior managers of Abu Dhabi Gas Industries Ltd (GASCO) in the UAE were awarded the Certified Manager™ (CM™) certification. The CM™ credential was earned following a programme conducted by Sun Learning Systems (SLS), the local GCC partner for the Institute of Certified Professional Managers (ICPM). The event was held at the GASCO offices based at the Khalifa Energy Centre Abu Dhabi Cornish. The 15 managers are the first group to pass the CM™ programme at GASCO.
The Institute of Certified Professional Managers (ICPM), an educational institute and business centre of the James Madison University, College of Business located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA, has a 35 year history of educating managers and leaders to enhance performance and set standards for quality management in today’s workplace through their CM™ certification programme. The CM™ programme certifies a level of management competency which is recognized worldwide by the CM™ professional credential. The certification is appropriate for managers at all levels and working in all industries. The CM certification is valued for the credibility and recognition it brings to managers and the organizations for which they work.
“The CM programme is important for managers in today’s business world, especially with the global slow down during which many companies find it difficult to motivate all levels of staff. This programme covers the core competencies required by a manager and we are happy to partner with GASCO in the development of their employees. The CM programme will enable these managers with great leadership skills and good work ethics,” said Nigel Fann, CEO of Sun Learning Systems, speaking at the event.
“We feel that the CM programme is an integral part of GASCO’s overall leadership programme. It gives us great pleasure to partner with both Sun Learning Systems and ICPM for the CM certification programme,” said Mr. Rashed Annoon, Organization Capability Division Manager, GASCO, about the CM programme conducted by Sun Learning Systems.
Dr. Robert Reid, Executive Director of the Institute of Certified Professional Managers (ICPM) and Dean of the College of Business at James Madison University, presented the CM™ certificates to GASCO managers and delivered a speech on Developing Leadership Capacity and Building Collaborative Relationships. Commenting on ICPM’s partnership with Sun Learning Systems, he said, “We are pleased to partner with Sun Learning Systems to provide the CM™ programme to clients in the GCC. The CM™ programme adds value to corporate training programs and enhances the client’s management structure by building stronger managerial leaders.”
Approved as an ICPM International Training Partner in February 2007, Sun Learning Systems works diligently to brand the CM certification programme in the Middle East, as well as develop a market for CM certification in North Carolina, USA. The CM is a general management certification and the CM body of knowledge covers over 60 core competencies that are essential to effective management. The CM programme is appropriate for supervisors, managers and leaders at all levels and in all industries, and consists of three Management Skills courses: Foundations of Management, Planning and Organizing, and Leading and Controlling. In 2008, Sun Learning Systems was recognized as CM Training Partner of the Year; an award presented annually to an ICPM training partner that excels in recruiting new certificants and delivering high-quality training.
March 1, 2009
Rothenberger Named Smart 100 CEO
John Rothenberger (BBA '88), the CoB Entrepreneur in Residence, was recognized in Washington SmartCEO magazine, January 2009, as one of the Smart100 CEOs in the greater Washington area. He was chosen for his leadership, strategic vision and character.
SE Solutions, Rothenberger's company, was listed in Washington Technology Fast 50 as #28 in October 2008.
Read Rothenberger's Tips on Small Business Partnering on executivebiz.com
Feb. 23, 2009
Two Firms Sign on as JMU Sustainable Business Plan Competition Sponsors
The pot has just gotten a little sweeter for James Madison University's Sustainable Business Plan Competition.
Aerospace and technology giant Lockheed Martin and top law firm Kelley Drye have signed on as major sponsors of the competition, which in April will award up to $100,000 in cash and in-kind services to a new venture whose business model includes a strong sustainability component.
Lockheed Martin has pledged $25,000 to support the contest, and Kelley Drye will provide free legal corporate representation for the winning plan.
"The additional support from these two prestigious firms helps position the winning plan for incredible success in the future," said Dennis Tracz, Director of the JMU Center for Entrepreneurship. "This is an unprecedented opportunity for entrepreneurs from the greater JMU community looking to make a difference in both business and sustainability."
The deadline to register an entry, including a brief business concept, team members and executive summary, is March 2. Semifinalists will be announced March 9. Finalists will be announced April 10. Final presentations will be made at the competition April 20.
Announced in October 2008, the JMU Sustainable Business Plan Competition offers up to $100,000 in capital and in-kind services to a new, independent business venture in seed, start-up or early-growth stages whose business plan demonstrates a strong sustainability component. A judging panel comprised of business leaders from several different sectors of the economy will select a winner and runner-up based on the viability of the venture and the strength of the sustainability component.
Each venture team must include at least one person associated with JMU as an enrolled student, an alumnus/alumna or a current employee. A JMU team member must play a major role and must own or be eligible to own equity in the venture.
Jan. 20, 2009
JMU CoB Grads Rank 11 on National CPA Exam
(James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA) – JMU graduates had the 11th highest pass rate among students without advanced degrees taking the Uniform Certified Public Accountants Examination for the first time.
The 2008 edition of the Candidate Performance on the CPA Exam reports on success and failures of candidates who took the exam in 2007. Of 47 JMU graduates who took all four parts of the exam, 61.7 percent passed on the first attempt. Virginia Tech was also recognized among the top 25 schools for candidates with advanced degrees with a pass rate of 60 percent. No other schools from Virginia appear in either list.
Passing the exam is the first step toward earning the CPA license, says Paul Copley, director of JMU’s School of Accounting. The School of Accounting developed the CPA Boot Camp, a six-week, post-graduation intensive course designed to prepare accounting graduates for the exam. Copley and accounting professor, Brad Roof designed the course using Becker CPA Review materials.
“Our Boot Camp has revolutionized the way Becker markets the CPA Review,” says Copley. Becker, the Illinois-based company that has been preparing students for the CPA exam for 50 years, now uses JMU’s CPA Boot Camp model to market and administer the course.
Copley says the course gives students the advantage of reviewing for the exam with the same JMU professors who taught them the material in the first place. They study with college friends and usually enter their first job having already taken and passed the exam.
“ I encourage the class to set rewards for keeping up with the course. Last year eight students set aside a golf day each week. They used peer pressure. If anyone didn’t keep up with their homework, they couldn’t play golf on their day off from the Boot Camp.” They nailed it, says Copley of the golf buddies, who all passed the exam in 2007.
Jan. 15, 2009
College of Business Professor Helps Found Chinese School for Adoptees
Children, adults get a chance to learn Chinese language, culture at city school
By Sara Prince sara@rocktownmail.com
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Harrisonburg’s Chinese Language School recently started its spring semester with weekly Saturday classes. Though the school began in 2005 to give two adopted Chinese girls in the Valley a sense of their heritage, the school is now catering to a growing segment of the Harrisonburg population.
Andi Arndt is co-founder of the school along with her husband Chris and his colleague from James Madison University Ping Wang. The Arndts’ daughters were adopted from China. At the time, there was no local school focused on Chinese culture. That changed in 2005 and now both girls attend classes led by Qiang Sun with other local adoptees from China. The past couple of years has seen a fairly steady enrollment of about eight or nine Chinese-American students. But there are likely more coming, said Wang, who has seen a growing trend of Americans adopting Chinese girls.
“An enrollment increase is expected because there are many newly adopted Chinese girls who are nearly school age,” he said. “There are 50 to 60 in the area now.”
While students learn the basics of speaking the Chinese language, they also learn about Asian culture. Emily Jiang, a dance major at JMU, gives the girls lessons in traditional dance from Mongolia and South China, says Arndt. And a week ago, the girls learned how to make dumplings.
The Saturday classes are broken into three sections. The first begins at 10 a.m. and on this Saturday morning, the youngest girls are excited. Teacher Qiang Sun gathers the girls in a small group and begins reading them a story. The book is called “Little Bear Learns Skills.” The book is part of a curriculum series which teaches life lessons and Chinese language to young English-speaking students. At 11 a.m., two older girls, in middle and high school, enter the class and begin reading and writing a more advanced Chinese curriculum. At noon, area lawyer John Cale arrives. He spent eight months studying abroad in China and has a personal interest in the country’s language and culture.
He’s trying to pass the Chinese Proficiency Test, China’s national standardized test which assesses language proficiency of non-native speakers. He’s reading a Chinese science fiction novel called “Cat Country.” Each Saturday, Sun checks Cale’s understanding and pronunciation as he reads aloud.
Cale is an example of the U.S. population’s growing interest in learning Chinese.
But it’s also becoming a necessity.
“Forty percent of the world speaks Chinese,” said Arndt. “It’s a language that’s useful to know in the schools because there are more Chinese students. And schools are looking for Chinese teachers.”
It’s not a language that is learned quickly. Arndt says it takes about one month for every year of your age in order to grasp the language. It’s a reason she wants her children to begin learning early. Part of the problem, says Wang, is that the most basic communication includes memorizing roughly 5,000 different characters. The English alphabet, in contrast, has a mere 26. Making it even more complicated is the fact that there are five different tones for each character in Mandarin Chinese. The first involves a high pitch; the second begins mid-range and rises higher; the third starts low and rises high; the fourth is high and falls to low; and the fifth, a “particle,” is a neutral tone.
Sandy McClure’s adopted daughter Miyah Mei-Chan, 7, attends the school. She says Chinese language classes are especially helpful because you have someone to converse with.
“There is computer software that will let you know when you are mispronouncing the words, but sometimes it’s hard to know how to say the words differently. It helps to have someone correct your pronunciation,” she said.
Each Chinese character (and its five corresponding tones) represents a different word, or sometimes, a concept.
“It’s very poetic,” said Arndt.
She recalled taking a class at JMU and being taught the Chinese word for “tolerance.”
“The character represents a knife next to your heart,” she said. “It means that the knife is very close to your heart, but you can stand it.”
Another character meaning forgiveness translates as “woman-heart.”
“That’s all about letting the feminine side of your heart take over,” said Arndt.
Both McClure and Arndt feel strongly that there is a value in learning the Chinese language and they say the school welcomes anyone who is interested in learning.
For Arndt, it was a family choice.
“We’ll go back to China again,” she said. “We want our girls to be there and hear things that are not foreign to them.”
Spring semester classes continue every Saturday through May at Muhlenberg Lutheran Church’s J Crew Activities Room. Classes are $10 an hour. For more information, call Dr. Wang at 568-3055 or Dr. Arndt at 568-3993.
Story Courtesy Rocktown Weekly http://www.rocktownweekly.com/rocktown/focus.php
Jan. 9, 2009
James Madison University Approves New MBA Program
James Madison University kicks off the New Year with the approval of a new Master of Business program. The College of Business at JMU announced today that JMU approved the Innovation MBA (iMBA) with classes beginning in fall 2009. The new curriculum will feature many exciting new courses designed around the program’s theme, “Leading through Innovation with Technology and People.”
“Innovation is the primary source of competitive advantage for many firms, especially those that operate in business environments that are becoming more complex and dynamic,” says Paul E. Bierly III, JMU’s new MBA director. “Managers must have a thorough understanding of the innovation process so that they can become leaders of change and creativity within their organizations and effectively manage the organization’s technology information and resources.”
The program was designed for working professionals with at least two years of workplace experience. It will include a Leadership Development Program, where each student will be assigned his or her own mentor and will develop an individualized leadership enrichment plan. Guest instructors will present workshops on contemporary business issues periodically. The program will conclude with a two-week international trip.
The two-year program will use a “blended” teaching format in which students meet in class in Harrisonburg, Va., once every three weeks and meet online during the interim weeks. Instructors will incorporate the latest technology in-class and online, including synchronous online instruction, simulations and presentation of multimedia cases. This type of program maximizes teaching efficiency and effectiveness, while maintaining student flexibility, says Bierly.
The Zane Showker Professor of Entrepreneurship, Bierly will lead the new program. He is a distinguished scholar in the area of innovation and management of technology and was recently recognized as one of the top 50 authors in this area over the last five years, which places him within the top 1 percent of all researchers in the field, according to The International Association for Management of Technology (IAMOT).
JMU will continue to offer the Information Security MBA program, also offered in a blended format. Students meet face-to-face in Reston, Va., on Saturdays once every eight weeks and meet online during interim weeks. Both programs are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The nationally ranked Infosec MBA is also a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education, certified by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
For more information about JMU’s MBA program, visit http://www.jmu.edu/mba
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