Resource allocation decisions representing use of new funds or reallocation of existing funds are tied to the college's plan. Faculty hiring and promotion and tenure decisions reflect the college mission's emphasis on high quality in both teaching and research.

The college's current mission statement was initially developed by the RCB Planning Committee as defined in Section VII.D of the RCB Bylaws (Reference P-3); the draft mission was subsequently reviewed by the RCB faculty and staff, RCB Board of Advisors, GSU provost and president and other groups. Input from these reviews was incorporated in the mission statement ultimately approved by the RCB faculty at a regular faculty meeting. As stated in the RCB Bylaws, the RCB Planning Committee has responsibility for updating the college's plan and assessing progress toward attainment of the goals in the plan. Section XIV (Implementation) of the RCB Strategic Plan (Appendix M-1) describes the process for doing this.  

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES OF DEGREE PROGRAMS

The educational objectives of the college's degree programs were developed initially by various faculty groups: BBA program by the Undergraduate Program Council, MBA program by the MBA Faculty Group, specialized master's programs by the relevant academic units, and PhD program by the Doctoral Program Coordinators. As part of the college's standard program review process, the program curricula based on the objectives are reviewed by the curricular program councils and formally approved by the college's faculty. Program objectives are updated periodically by the academic units to meet current needs of the disciplines. Information from surveys of graduating students and employers and from the college's Board of Advisors contribute to developing and updating the program objectives. Mission statements for each program offered by the college follow. [Standard M-3]

BBA. The mission of the Bachelor of Business Administration degree program is to provide to students a broad general education and the necessary business knowledge and skills, to prepare both traditional and non-traditional students for entry-level positions in profit and non-profit organizations, and to stimulate in students a desire for life-long learning.

MBA. The Master of Business Administration degree program is designed for individuals with work experience who aspire to organizational or entrepreneurial leadership positions. The program enhances general management abilities and provides an opportunity to place emphasis on a functional area of expertise. The primary objectives of the program are for students to develop and integrate: (1) analytical skills for decision making that incorporate global, ethical, and culturally diverse dimensions, (2) skills in assessing organizational performance and developing approaches for improvement, (3) leadership skills, and (4) interpersonal skills that contribute to teamwork.

PhD. The doctoral program of the RCB will develop in graduates a high level of competence in conducting research and in teaching business disciplines, by requiring (1) education in theory; (2) education in general research techniques as well as research techniques specific to a discipline; (3) research experience with faculty members on contemporary research problems and issues; and (4) training on teaching methodology reinforced with active classroom teaching experience.

MBA/MHA. The purpose of the Master of Business Administration/Master of Health Administration joint programs is to prepare future executives to assume responsible managerial positions in health care organizations. To accomplish this purpose, the MBA/MHA curriculum is structured to provide 1) the basic theoretical knowledge needed to develop as a manager in a variety of health care organizations; 2) an understanding of the pragmatic applications of theoretical concepts applied to operational issues through health casework and involvement with health care facilities throughout the program; 3) the technical skills appropriate to successfully functioning as a health care manager; 4) an understanding of the values, traditions, ethics, and attitudes basic to excellence in health care leadership roles; and 5) an awareness of a need to continue life-long learning.

MS/CIS. The purpose of the Computer Information Systems major in the Master of Science program is to produce graduates who are able to combine their general business knowledge with the latest software engineering tools and techniques to create information systems which allow organizations to compete in the global marketplace. Graduates will be prepared for careers in a variety of areas such as programming, systems development, database administration, and consulting.

MS/DSC. The mission of the Master of Science with a major in Decision Sciences is to provide master's students in the RCB with knowledge of the discipline of Decision Sciences by providing them with an in depth understanding of (1) statistical analysis and management science, (2) information technology and decision support systems, and (3) problem solving.

MS/BUE. The Economics Department at Georgia State University commits itself to offering a premier Master of Science program with a major in Business Economics which will earn deserved recognition by students, the academic community, and business. Accordingly, the department seeks to continuously improve its teaching effectiveness, engage in relevant research in the area of business economics, and serve as a resource for the business community. For its students, the faculty will prepare them to function successfully as professional economists in the corporate and business environment. More specifically, we endeavor to:

• build a solid background in micro- and macroeconomic theory
• equip students with an extensive knowledge of analytical and statistical techniques
• provide expertise and practice in applying theory and quantitative tools to actual business problems
• insure that students are able to communicate this information both in a technical way to peers and in a more general way for decision making by upper management.

MS/FI. The Finance Department's Master of Science with a major in Finance is designed to provide graduates with an advanced knowledge of master's-level finance, including particular expertise in their chosen area of specialization (one of corporation finance, investments, or financial institutions and markets). The primary emphasis of the program is to provide students with the theoretical, analytical and technical skills necessary to examine particular financial scenarios and develop policy initiatives. The program prepares graduates to understand the context for issues encountered in the rapidly evolving financial environment. This goal requires a combination of theoretical, policy, and application perspectives in the pedagogy of the program.

MS/MGT. The Master of Science with a major in Management is designed to allow graduate students in business administration to study in depth a particular facet of management while still demonstrating basic competencies in all functional business areas. Two areas of specialization are available:

Production/Operations Management specialization is designed to provide students with the knowledge necessary to assess the operations function of both goods-producing and service- rendering organizations, to diagnose current operating systems, and to prescribe and implement improvements.

Organizational Behavior specialization is designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to assess organizations and their environments, to diagnose human systems, and to prescribe improvements and participate in their implementation. Students will do this by learning social science theories and practicing their application to organizational contexts.

MS/MK. The Master of Science program with a major in Marketing is primarily designed for persons with an undergraduate business degree who want to distinguish themselves as marketing specialists. The MS program is designed to provide the in-depth theoretical and applied training needed to excel in a leadership position in marketing. The MS in Marketing program extends the students' previously acquired basic business and marketing skills by developing advanced technical and analytical competency in a selected area. The MS in Marketing program, therefore, allows graduates to make more informed decisions in an increasingly complex marketing environment.

MS/PER. The mission of the Master of Science program with a major in Personnel and Employment Relations in the Beebe Institute is to prepare students primarily in the functional areas of human resources to take professional positions in human resources management, by helping them to gain knowledge in employment law, and knowledge and skills in collective bargaining, recruitment and selection, and compensation. This mission is achieved by providing a variety of educational experiences in both the classroom and the business community.

MS/PFP. The Master of Science degree program in with a major in Personal Financial Planning strives to offer an educational environment of excellence wherein students can learn to provide professional quality comprehensive personal financial planning and services designed to meet clients' psychological and financial goals. The program content stresses the development and integration of knowledge in all facets of comprehensive financial plans. Emphasis is placed on integrity and the fiduciary nature of the process while the student gains the analytical, technical, research and communication skills necessary and appropriate for a professional financial planning practice.

MS/RMI. The mission of the Master of Science degree program with a major in Risk Management and Insurance is to educate students in the theory and practice of risk management and insurance at an advanced level through a specialized program of study. The program is designed to prepare students for analytical and technical staff, consulting and applied research positions in risk management, employee benefits and insurance. The program is suited especially to the needs of students who have earned an undergraduate business degree or the MBA degree and who desire further specialization in order to enhance their professional careers.

MAS. The mission of the Master of Actuarial Science degree program is to educate students in the theory and practice of actuarial science at an advanced level through a specialized program of study. The program is designed to provide learning experiences that stress superiority of thought over memory and superiority of flexibility over technique in analyzing actuarial issues.

MIB. The Master of International Business program in is designed to provide graduates with specialized skills needed to function as a manager in global business. The emphases of the program are (1) to extend functional skills to deal with managerial issues in the global marketplace and (2) to enhance students' intercultural awareness and sensitivity. Functional skills to deal with global issues are developed through program course requirements in international business. The development of these skills is further enhanced through their application in a supervised international work program (internship). Intercultural awareness is developed through foreign area study (culture, history, and politics of a foreign country), mastery of a business language other than English, and the international internship.

MSHA. The Master of Science in Health Administration program is designed to meet the needs of students who want a background in health administration and the opportunity to acquire skills in a specific area of business. Students in the MSHA program choose one of these six concentrations:

Finance. This concentration is intended to prepare students for careers in financial management and in financial analysis in the health care field.

Information System. This concentration is designed for students who have a career interest in the development and operation of data and information systems in health care organizations.

Management. This concentration is intended for students who desire a professional career in the management of operations. The emphasis of this concentration is on the internal operations of health care organizations.

Marketing. Marketing has historically been almost nonexistent in the health care industry. Today, however, most large providers of health care have a marketing department. This concentration is designed for students who plan careers in this area.

Personnel and Employment Relations. This concentration is intended to meet the needs of students desiring careers in personnel administration, labor relations, executive placement, or career counseling in the health care field.

Risk Management and Insurance. This concentration is designed to prepare students to assume positions in a wide range of third-party organizations in which there is a need for knowledge of health insurance and risk management.

MSRE. The Master of Science in Real Estate degree is designed for students who are principally interested in careers in the real estate industry and those who will use real property in business decision making. It provides the student with both general and specialized real estate knowledge and analytical skills. The degree prepares students for professional areas such as financial counseling, market analysis and valuation, as well as industry activities such as real property development, acquisition, disposition, and management. The MSRE program is based on a synthesis of legal, physical, market and financial considerations that affect the real property decision process. The student's educational experience is enhanced because the program attracts many experienced real estate professionals into the classroom, and the program has a practical orientation in which students participate in industry problem solving and research under the direction of the program's faculty.

MPA. The objective of the Master of Professional Accountancy program is to develop skills needed to excel in a professional path toward a leadership position in the practice of accountancy. The MPA program uses the student's previously acquired undergraduate skills to focus on developing advanced technical and analytical skills in accounting. Typically, graduates of this program will find professional accounting positions in public accounting firms and in business and governmental organizations that have a need for graduates with greater depth and breadth in the discipline of accounting than is generally available in graduates with a BBA or MBA in accounting. Three specializations are offered in the MPA program:

Accounting Systems--mission is to provide a master's-level education for accountants as users, managers, designers, and evaluators of information systems by providing meaningful opportunities for students to learn;

Financial Accounting and Reporting--mission is to provide master's-level education for accountants as preparers, designers, users, and auditors of financial accounting and reporting information by providing training and opportunities for students to learn while in the program and by providing the students skills in the preparation, design, use, and attestation of financial information;

Management Accounting--mission is to provide students with an understanding of the accounting manager's role in developing information for strategy, planning, costing, measuring results, and working with other managers to define the organization's direction and future. The program will meet this challenge by providing instruction that focuses on the knowledge, skills, and attributes that are necessary to be successful.

MTX. The Master of Taxation program offers a variety of courses that provide students with a meaningful opportunity to learn. The program is designed to develop the technical, analytical, and research skills that a tax professional needs in public accounting, industry, or government.

From a college-level perspective, the MBA program is given the greatest emphasis in that it is a large program that is nationally ranked, and there is a general consensus that the reputation of the college in the community and beyond depends more on the MBA than any other program. The college's specialized master's programs that have received national recognition (e.g., Actuarial Science, CIS) are also given considerable emphasis, as are any specialized master's programs that exhibit the potential for national recognition. From the perspective of the academic units, there is the normal faculty inclination to give considerable attention to the doctoral program and specialized master's programs under the aegis of a given academic unit. [Standard M.3]

BBA program. Being predominantly a non-residential campus, the BBA students tend to be from the Atlanta metropolitan area with the college being the largest provider of undergraduate business education in the Atlanta area (Kennesaw State University being the second largest provider). However, the consistently strong in-migration of population to the Atlanta area means that many of the college's undergraduate students have done previous undergraduate work at institutions of higher education all over the U.S. and in other countries. Most GSU undergraduate students are employed, at least part-time, and tend to be older than the traditional undergraduate (average age of 26).

MBA program. This student population is predominantly local; however, given the amount of in-migration to the Atlanta area, the undergraduate institutions of these individuals is relatively diverse; for example, over half of all MBA students entering fall semester 1998 have an undergraduate degree from an institution outside of Georgia and 8% of these are from outside the U.S. The average full-time work experience of these students is five years, and most of these students are employed while in the MBA program. Part of the MBA program student body is comprised of Executive MBA students; the geographical orientation is local but less so than for other MBA students, in that students may commute for the once-per-week classes from smaller southeastern metro areas such as Chattanooga, TN and Augusta and Columbus, GA. As is typical of most executive MBA programs, the average age (38), years of work experience (15) and average salary level ($75,000-$80,000) are much higher than regular MBA students.

Specialized master's programs. The geographical orientation varies considerably by program. At one end of the spectrum is the actuarial science program which may be the best-known program of this nature anywhere in the world; as a result, students tend to come from all over the U.S. and other countries. Other programs are similar to the MBA program in geographical orientation. Overall, the percentage of international students (of new students entering fall 1998) is 22.5% in comparison to 8.2% in the MBA program. The average age of entering specialized master's students (29) is slightly higher than MBA students (28) which parallels the difference in average years of full-time work experience--5 years for MBA students versus 6 years for specialized master's students.

Doctoral program. The geographical orientation is international in that the program is designed for full-time students and the level of financial support (primarily in the form of graduate assistantships and tuition waivers) makes it feasible for students from throughout the U.S. and other countries to consider enrolling in the program. As indicated in Section S (Students) of this report, 46 percent of the doctoral student population are attending on non-immigrant (F-1) visas and come from 21 different countries. Unlike all other of the college's degree programs, the doctoral program is intended only for full-time students.

Program Assessment and Revision Processes. Each academic unit has established written policies and procedures that govern the curriculum planning, development, and unit-level faculty approval process (see Reference C-1). The Graduate and Undergraduate Program Councils and college assessment coordinator have worked with the academic units to develop assessment instruments for all of the college's degree programs (see Reference C-2). In general, these include standardized tests and surveys of graduating students, surveys of potential employers through the placement function, comprehensive exams, evaluations of student projects, and surveys of alumni. During the current year, these assessment instruments are, in many cases, being administered for the first time for purposes of assessing results. Section C (Curriculum Content and Evaluation) of this report contains more detailed information regarding development of the curriculum planning/assessment process.

During the past three decades, the college has been fortunate to be part of a state university system in a state that has exhibited a relatively high and stable rate of growth in state revenues that, in turn, has been reflected in the amount of state-funded resources going to higher education. However, GSU got a late start in private fund-raising compared to more established universities and is currently conducting its first comprehensive campaign.

Faculty. The following table compares AACSB Salary Survey data for 1998-99 by rank for all public accredited schools to the mean salaries by rank in the college for the same year. The salary levels and funding for salary increases in recent years have permitted the college to be relatively successful in recruiting and retaining new research-oriented faculty from leading graduate schools during the past several years in a highly competitive market. An important factor, beyond salary levels, is being located in the Atlanta metropolitan area which permits more professional employment opportunities for spouses of faculty candidates being recruited than is found in many university settings.

As indicated in Section FD (Faculty) of this report, the number of FTE faculty and full-time faculty is above the minimum accreditation standard as would be expected for a business school where research and service expectations are consistent with the mission of the college. Providing competitive salaries and teaching loads for tenure-track faculty while staying within resource constraints requires the use of non-tenure-track faculty to achieve the college's teaching mission--i.e., full-time faculty whose workload is primarily teaching with few reduced research expectations.

Facilities. Lack of quality classroom space has been a perennial problem on the GSU campus. The proposed construction of a new classroom building located two blocks from the RCB building at which most of the college's courses will be taught should significantly alleviate this problem on the main campus. Also, the current construction of a new north side satellite campus site in Alpharetta will provide an improvement in the quality of classrooms on the north side of the Atlanta metropolitan area compared to the current leased facilities at the North Metro Center in Dunwoody.

External funding. The college recently received a $10 million naming gift that will be used as endowment for some faculty positions (chairs or professorships), research centers and student scholarships. This naming gift will almost double the college's endowment from the current level of $13 million.