COBIAA Celebrity Wait Night

Be there for the COBI Alumni Affiliate Celebrity Wait Night
Monday, March 11, 2013
Ciao Ristorante
Sylvania, Ohio

Cocktail hour 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Dinner from a limited menu to follow

Celebrity Waiters
Rob Bleile - Shopmetrics and COBIAA President
Mike Hanf - Davenport, Hanf & Company
Deirdre Jones - UT College of Business and Innovation
Scott Jones - Hollywood Casino
Dawn Humphrey - Huntington Bank
Jacqueline Humphrey - Silver Lining Concierge, LLC.
Doug Mallette - HCR Manor Care
Colin McHugh - Rehmann
Tom & Kerry Pigott - The Law Firm of Pigott Ltd.
Tommy Pipatjarasgit - Magic Wok
Carrie Serber - Arakyta
Dan Silvers - Hylant Group
Blaine Stout - TSSSolar

There will be a silent auction and raffles to win one-of-a-kind prizes.

Seating is limited.  To make reservations, call 419.530.2586 or register online at www.toledoalumni.org and click on alumni events.

COBI ranked among Best Online Graduate Business Programs

Online graduate offerings in The University of Toledo (UT) College of Business and Innovation (COBI) are among the best in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2013 Best Online Programs rankings, released on January 15.

UT COBI is the only Ohio program listed among the top 50 in the 2013 Best Online Graduate Business Programs.

“The UT College of Business and Innovation is pleased and honored to be listed among the best online graduate business schools by U.S. News and World Report,” noted Dr. Thomas Sharkey, interim dean.  “This recognition reflects the hard work of COBI’s faculty and staff as well as our commitment to be at the forefront of using the latest technology and techniques to deliver high quality programs. We’ve developed high-tech online programs that don’t sacrifice the personal interaction that will always remain a critical component of a top-tier MBA Program.

“COBI scored especially high  in the faculty credentials and training category, which measures how well a school prepares qualified instructors to teach remotely, with 87 points (out of a possible 100), a higher score in this area than notable universities such as the University of Michigan and Pennsylvania State University,” said Dr. Anand Kunnathur, COBI Executive Associate Dean. “COBI also obtained a score of 77.1 in the important student engagement category, which measures student satisfaction and instructor responsiveness.”

An online master’s degree in business can equip students with leadership skills and industry connections that are vital to advancing careers. The ranked programs are degree-granting programs offering classes that are 100 percent online - the federal government standard for qualifying as distance learning programs – not blended programs that combine classroom and online education.  Furthermore, by earning a business degree online, working students don’t have to put their jobs on hold.

This is the second year in a row in which UT COBI was recognized by US News and World Report for providing courses and services online.

University of Michigan Athletic Director speaks at KeyBank Global Leaders Forum

David Brandon, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at the University of Michigan and former CEO of Domino’s Pizza, was the featured speaker at The KeyBank Global Leaders Forum, presented by The University of Toledo College of Business and Innovation (COBI). The theme was “Leading Change in a Chaotic Environment.”

“The KeyBank Global Leaders Forum provides a wonderful opportunity for our local business owners and leaders to hear from someone like Mr. Brandon, who has been a strong leader in both business and educational arenas,” states Jim Hoffman, KeyBank President. “It’s part of our vision at KeyBank to help our community, and our businesses, thrive.”

“The University of Toledo College of Business and Innovation was extremely pleased to again partner with KeyBank to present another Global Leaders Forum,” notes Dr. Thomas Sharkey, COBI Interim Dean.  “Mr. Brandon’s  business acumen and management skills across several venues make him a superb choice to speak to the Toledo regional business community about leadership in these challenging times.”

Prior to joining the UM athletic department in March 2010, Brandon served as chairman and chief executive officer of Ann Arbor-based Domino’s Pizza, Inc. for 11 years, leading the company to the largest IPO of a restaurant company in history. He continues to serve as non-executive chairman at Domino’s. He also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Herman Miller, DTE Energy and Kaydon Corporation.

KeyBank and COBI presented the first Global Leaders Forum in 2008, which featured former secretary of the U.S. Treasury Department John Snow. The Global Leadership Forum was created to bring noteworthy speakers to address the Toledo community, and to provide an environment for regional business leaders to talk about contemporary issues, discuss current leadership topics and explore trends.

During his visit, Brandon also participated in a private discussion with several UT business students.

 

COBI receives elevated international recognition as Excellent Business School

The University of Toledo College of Business and Innovation is again internationally ranked by Eduniversal in their recently released 5th edition of their annual worldwide business school ranking, The Best 1,000 Business Schools in 154 Countries, 2012

This year Eduniversal recognizes only 180 schools in North America in rankings of Good, Excellent, Top and Universal.  UT COBI, rated Excellent, is the only ranked business school in Northwest Ohio, and one of only four in Ohio.

Lyuba Ganguly, International Partnership Director at SMBG-EDUniversal,

presented the recognition award to COBI Executive Associate Dean Anand

Kunnathur at the October 2012  conference in Lima, Peru.

Headquartered in Paris, the international higher education ranking agency Eduniversal endeavors to provide information for students that enables them to make the right decision regarding the choice of their future studies anywhere in the world.

Eduniversal defines a business school’s international reputation “as its capacity to enhance the prestige of a student – and therefore improve his employment prospects – in his country of study and abroad.”

“By providing a serious and reliable reference that reflects the international dimension of the 1,000 Best Business Schools in the world, Eduniversal serves as an essential tool for students, human resource professionals and deans and directors from all corners of the world,” noted Martial Guiette, CEO and founder of Eduniversal.

Classification by Eduniversal as an Excellent school is based on two essential elements: the internationalization criteria - - which includes accreditations, such as by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB); rankings by publications such as Business Week and the Wall Street Journal; membership in international academic associations; and university studies - - and the vote by 1,000 business school deans around the world. Every dean’s vote was transformed into a recommendation rate that students and others in the academic field can use to evaluate and compare the academic institutions. 

“We are very excited by this prestigious ranking, which validates the high quality of our faculty and students, as well as the significance of our curriculum at all levels,” noted COBI Interim Dean Thomas Sharkey. “Not only has UT COBI again been recognized by this international organization, but we are honored to have advanced to the next level as an Excellent school.”  

“Furthermore we completely agree with Eduniversal’s emphasis on the importance of a business school improving a student’s employment prospects. This is a primary focus at COBI, and an area in which we perform extremely well, with an 85+% job placement rate for our graduating students, even during recent challenging economic conditions.”

“The fact that many well-known companies come to UT COBI to find the talent they need reflects very positively on our outstanding quality, and demonstrates the extremely dynamic and mutually beneficial relationship enjoyed by COBI and the business community,” Sharkey said.

The results were officially announced at the annual Eduniversal convention in Lima, Peru this fall.

           

COBI is also a member of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, a recognition earned by only 5% of all business schools in the world, and is consistently acknowledged as one of America’s Best Business Schools by The Princeton Review.

COBI’s Longenecker recognized as top ten business professor in global competition

Dr. Clint Longenecker, Stranahan Professor of Leadership and Business Excellence in the College of Business and Innovation at The University of Toledo, finished as one of the top ten vote getters in The Economist Intelligence Unit Business Professor of the Year. 

Longenecker was one of two professors from the United States among the top ten vote getters, besting nominees from other prestigious business schools including Harvard, Duke, Michigan, Ohio State, Cornell, Pennsylvania (Wharton), Virginia (Darden), Northwestern and Stanford, among others.

“It is wonderful recognition for the UT College of Business and Innovation to be represented in the top ten, especially given the global competition,” Longenecker said. “Our students and faculty know this is a great institution, and now other business schools and organizations around the world have an opportunity to learn more about what we do and how well we do it.”

“This was a very competitive process against some of the best business school professors in the world, and I am very appreciative that our university, students, and alumni base were actively engaged in the selection process. I want to thank all those who participated in the process and let people know that this has been a very humbling and rewarding experience. I feel very fortunate and honored to have been eligible for the teach-off in London on a world stage to spread the word about COBI and The University of Toledo,” he said.

The award, presented by The Economist and sponsored by Hult International Business School, was created to find and recognize the best business professor in the world. Longenecker was nominated by some of his former students. Go to http://businessprofessoraward.com/long_list   to read his nomination. 

The University of Toledo College of Business and Innovation featured in The Princeton Review’s “Best 296 Business Schools: 2013 Edition”

The University of Toledo College of Business and Innovation (COBI) is an outstanding business school, according to the education services company The Princeton Review, which features the college in the new 2013 edition of its annual guidebook, "The Best 296 Business Schools"

 According to Robert Franek, Princeton Review Senior VP-Publisher, "We consider the UT College of Business and Innovation one of the best institutions a student could attend to earn an MBA. We selected the schools we profile in this book – 280 of which are in the U.S.A. and 16 are international -- based on our high regard for their academic programs and our reviews of institutional data we collect from the schools. We also solicit and greatly respect the opinions of students attending these schools who rate and report on their experiences at them on our 80-question survey for the book."

The Princeton Review stated their survey showed COBI provides a “solid preparation in general management and doing business in a global economy.”

“UT and the College of Business and Innovation are very excited at this continuing recognition by The Princeton Review of the quality and relevance of our MBA programs,” noted Dr. Thomas Sharkey, COBI’s Interim Dean. “This validates the quality of our faculty, the significance of our curriculum and the excellence of our students.”

Dr. Anand Kunnathur, Senior Executive Associate Dean, COBI, observed, “Our inclusion in this select group is a seal of quality for our degree programs. It elevates the value of degrees received, leads to increased enrollment of high quality students, and enhances the qualifications of alumni. Furthermore, it benefits businesses nationwide by providing them with highly qualified graduates who become superb employees.”

In the profile the Princeton Review editors describe the school as “Offering a good education at a very competitive price with convenient scheduling.  The College of Business and Innovation at The University of Toledo fits the needs of area businesspeople in search of a quality MBA.”

“UT distinguishes its MBA program with a number of cutting-edge concentrations,” the listing states. “Students here may specialize in CRM and marketing intelligence, human resource

management, information systems, operations and supply chain management, and professional

sales as well as in the more traditional areas of administration, finance, international

business, and marketing.”

One student in the listing commented, “Receiving individual attention is a norm, be it in the Advising Office or from a professor.”

Another student stated, “The program is very accommodating toward people who work full-time. The majority of classes are taught at night, so I have been able to continue to work full-time while taking one or two classes at night.”

The Princeton Review's survey asked 19,000 students at the 296 schools their opinions of their school's academics, student body and campus life as well as about themselves and their career plans. The Princeton Review does not rank the schools in the book on a single hierarchical list from 1 to 296, or name one business school best overall.

UT COBI faculty member could become global business professor of the year

Dr. Clint Longenecker, Stranahan Professor of Leadership and Business Excellence in the College of Business and Innovation at The University of Toledo, has been nominated to win the Economist Intelligence Unit Business Professor of the Year.

 The award, presented by The Economist and sponsored by Hult International Business School, was created to find and recognize the best business professor in the world. A group of Longenecker’s former students nominated him, and other current and previous students began voting on Tuesday, October 23.

Longenecker, a graduate of UT, has been a faculty member here for more than 30 years. During his career, he has received more than 40 awards for his outstanding leadership, teaching, research and service to the community.

“Not only is he a great teacher, but he really cares about his students,” said Laura Brady, a graduate student at UT and a former student of Longenecker. “He’s always available whenever students have problems in the classroom or in their personal life. He is always there to talk, give advice or help his students find jobs or internships.”

Longenecker has held seminars and lectures all over the world, teaching a variety of pupils. He has given lectures in Russia, Haiti, Zimbabwe, Barbados and Hungary, as well as delivered seminars to members of the United States military.

“What’s unique about Clint is his ability to connect with students,” said Trent Miller, a graduate student at UT and another former student of Longenecker. “In the first class session I had with him last Spring, the class was from 7:30 to 9:50 p.m. As people walked into the room, they introduced themselves, and by nine o’clock he had everyone’s names memorized.”

Current and former students as well as alums can vote for Dr. Longenecker by completing a form online. Once a vote is cast, it must be verified via email before the deadline at 1 p.m. on Friday, November 23.

The 10 professors who receive the most votes will make it on a long list, along with five other professors selected by the judges so professors at larger universities do not have an advantage. From these 15 professors, four will be chosen by the judges to compete in a live teach-off.

For the teach-off, the top four will be flown to London where they will present a short lecture to a live classroom audience and online. The presentation will be on a topic of their choice, and at the end viewers will vote and the winner, who will receive the title of EIU Business Professor of the Year as well as $100,000, will be announced live.

For more information on the award or to vote for Longenecker, visit www.businessprofessoraward.com