School Vision Statement

The School of Business will achieve national recognition for providing outstanding service to its external stakeholders through the integration of teaching, research, and outreach activities.

Evidence of national recognition will be demonstrated by internships and employment opportunities for the School's students and by research opportunities for the School's faculty with nationally known companies.

The stakeholders include all individuals whose support is required for the success of the School of Business. External stakeholders include alumni, students, parents, employers, members of the School's Board of Visitor's, and state legislators and administrators. Internal stakeholders include faculty and staff in the School of Business, as well as staff in support functions such as: admissions, career development and placement, DUS, computing, development and university relations, learning resources, library, media and instructional communication.

 
School Mission Statement

There are three components of the school's mission.

1. Provide students with high-quality undergraduate- and graduate-level opportunities for learning with an applied orientation.

High-quality instruction involves the active participation of students in the learning process and provides them with opportunities to apply conceptual frameworks to the solution of live and simulated business problems. The educational process should achieve the curricular goals of the School of Business as well as the specific goals of the students' major program

The curricular goals of the School of Business call for educating students so that they can perform effectively in a global business environment and respond to the challenges posed by a demographically diverse work force. They must be proficient in the use of information technology, able to recognize ethical issues, and make ethical business decisions. They must be able to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, be able to work effectively in teams, and successfully lead others. Graduates of the School of Business should be able to analyze business problems from a multi-disciplinary perspective and be able to apply the appropriate quantitative and non-quantitative conceptual frameworks necessary to solve them. Finally, graduates should have the skills to continue learning throughout their careers.

2. Conduct high-quality research emphasizing issues relevant to business practices.

High-quality research is that which is published in peer-reviewed journals or in books published by respected academic or commercial presses. It supports teaching when students are involved in the research process and when the knowledge produced or synthesized serves to enhance faculty knowledge of business practice and is shared with students as a part of instruction. Research supports the School's outreach mission if members of the business community can utilize the knowledge produced.

3. Provide business expertise to Northwestern Pennsylvania and the tri-state region through a variety of outreach programs.

Outreach activities include the delivery of credit and non-credit instruction through the College's Division of Corporate and Adult Learning or Penn State's World Campus, consulting, student internships, faculty-supervised class projects that utilize teams of student as consultants with businesses, and applied research conducted with business and community organizations. Internships, class projects, and studies conducted by the School's applied research centers provide important opportunities for the School to achieve its vision of integrating its teaching, research, and outreach missions.