Message from the Dean

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Bahman Mirshab

The Current, Summer 2003

Prior to being appointed dean in 2002, Bahman Mirshab had been associate dean of Graduate Programs and Academic Affairs in the College of Business Administration since 1999. He has also served as the College’s faculty program director for the Master of Science in Product Development and a faculty member in various capacities since 1979. Dean Mirshab holds a Ph.D. in economics from Wayne State University, a M.A. in economics from University of Detroit, and a B.A. in economics from Tehran University in Iran. His research and publications focus on Systems Dynamics, income tax, simulation, management science and information systems.

As the College prepares for its temporary move to Lansing-Reilly Hall so that the Commerce & Finance Building can be renovated, faculty, staff, students and alumni have been busy with numerous exciting initiatives. Most of these activities are detailed in The Current, but I’d like to highlight a few others.

We have developed a 3+2 program with Fu Jen University in Tai Wan, the largest Catholic university in the world. During the two years they spend at UDM, the students will complete the requirements for their baccalaureate degree from Fu Jen as well as the requirements for a master’s degree from the College of Business Administration. The faculty also approved the structure for a joint MBA program between UDM and Fu Jen University for individuals in Tai Wan who are interested in an MBA degree. Under this arrangement, some courses will be taught exclusively by faculty from Fu Jen. Another group of courses will be taught by UDM faculty at Fu Jen, and the remaining courses will be conducted in the College of Business Administration.

To reward academically-superior applicants to the MBA program, the College is offering a half-tuition scholarship to applicants with GMAT scores of 700 or above. Also, students who have earned a law degree and have an interest in the emerging relationship between the law and computers may receive up to nine credits of advanced placement towards a Master of Science in Computer and Information Systems. I’m also pleased to report that the September 2003 freshman class will be significantly greater than last year’s entering class.

To recap some stories that you will find in the newsletter, Alumni Week 2003 was very successful with 40 alumni coming back to their alma mater to address the current students. Beta Gamma Sigma conducted its 51st annual induction ceremony on March 23; Advisory Board member George Barnes was the keynote speaker and became an honorary member of the Michigan chapter. On April 6, the College held its annual Honors Convocation with over 250 students and family members in attendance. The highlight of the event was the presentation of the Fitzgerald Award, named in honor of former Dean Lloyd Fitzgerald, by his three sons, Gerald, John and James. On April 30, the College celebrated a joint induction ceremony of Beta Alpha Psi (49th year) and Alpha Iota Delta, which held its initial induction. A special thanks should go to Gregory Ulferts for spearheading the establishment of the Delta Mu Chapter of Alpha Iota Delta.

As always, the faculty of the College of Business Administration remains committed to teaching excellence, scholarship and service.

Bahman Mirshab
Dean, College of Business Administration