"I'm upbeat about SBUS. It's growing, it's moving and it's dynamic."

With Alan Oppenheim in the driver's seat, the School of Business (SBUS) has only one gear--drive. Oppenheim has not downshifted in his six years as dean, and since SBUS received accreditation from the AACSB, the international association for management education, he's been souping up the school in a move to gain a global reputation through its annual international business conferences. "We never stand still at this school," said Oppenheim. "Standing still for a business school is moving backwards."

According to the dean, the AACSB's mission-driven standards made accreditation possible because it permitted the school to redefine itself.

"We created a strategic charter that outlines our mission, our vision and our stakeholders, and defines our educational philosophy," said Oppenheim. "So we've got a well thought out business program at the undergraduate level that produces graduates who are ready to assume entry- and mid-level positions at cutting-edge firms."

Oppenheim recently revealed how the school has moved forward since it received accreditation. He talked about curriculum changes in the MBA program and a major revision in the Accounting Department, the school's position in the global business community, new initiatives and a business faculty he says is second to none.

Q. Why did you revise the semester requirement hours in the MBA Program and the Accounting Department?
A. When the University lowered the student semester requirement hours to 120, SBUS was relatively early in reducing our curriculum requirements in all our programs. We reduced the number of MBA credits from 63 to 54, and we're contemplating further reductions, however, the program itself is growing. We added a Saturdays only MBA program at Brookdale Community College where students can complete the MBA program going Saturdays only. Our first graduating class from that program will be in May.

The biggest challenge was in the accounting area, because accountants in the state are required to complete 150 hours to sit through the CPA exam, so we created a special MBA track for students who are qualified. We like to see work experience for people entering the MBA program, but we're making an exception for students who know they’re going into public accounting. The current average passing rate for the CPA exam in New Jersey is 18 percent. We’re above that but not far enough to satisfy me. There was a time when we led the state in first-time pass rate, but we've slipped. I want to be number one again.

Q. Tell us about the SBUS faculty.
A. I'm proud of the entire SBUS faculty. We look for teaching excellence in our faculty, so we want people who have an interest in teaching, who create a learning environment for their students and contribute to the life of the campus. But it's also important that our faculty keep intellectually active. That's how a university makes a name for itself in academic--and industry--circles. Our faculty publishes in well-respected journals and good research is a top priority.

New faculty coming from elsewhere in the United States to this region blanche when they look at the prices of housing. They say they can't afford to live in this area, but they can't afford not to in the business world, because this metropolitan area is where the action is.

Q. How is SBUS making a name for itself on a global scale?
A. We just completed our eighth annual international conference in Guadalajara, Mexico. UNIVA (Universidad del Valle de Atemajac), the host university, did a great job. The venue is important because we bring together 300-400 business academics. Each conference is more spectacular than the last. The 2003 conference was in Bangkok. Each of our host universities has done a great job, and that's something we look for in selecting a host university. We need a university that is committed to doing a good job on the ground locally with the arrangements because we can't be there. These conferences are important because they created a name for us internationally. Around the world people now know of Montclair State's School of Business.

Q. What are some initiatives you're working on?
A. All students majoring in management information systems must have a laptop, and we hope to include all SBUS students next year. Students purchase laptops from IBM at a reduced cost. We've also renovated two classrooms in Partridge Hall and installed new equipment in several others, but we've outgrown this building in terms of office space. When the new academic building is complete we'll be able to decommission a couple classrooms for offices and use classrooms next door. I'm upbeat about SBUS. It's growing, it's moving and it's dynamic. It's fun to be in the company of the other deans at Montclair State because they are all on the move.

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