The Executive MBA Council recently extended its deadline for membership renewal to July 30. Members who renew by updating their Program Survey will be listed in the online Executive MBA Council Program directory, and that listing can bolster your student recruitment efforts.

Best of all, it’s easy to complete the program survey and renew your council membership:

• STEP 1
Visit your research portal, available online at the council web site, www.embac.org

• STEP 2
Download a printed copy of your directory listing before completing your survey so you have a copy of all information; the survey’s first page allows you to download a copy of your listing in MS Word

• STEP 3
Review the information that you submitted for the 2003 Program Survey

• STEP 4
Update the information and answer new questions on faculty, classroom technology, student services, and international trips; you will be able to review and update all program listings for your school

By participating, you will receive a free copy of the 2004 Program Survey Report and one free listing in the Executive MBA Council Program Directory, available online, for your flagship program. You will also have the option of listing your other programs at a cost of $250 for each additional program.

Questions? Need the passcode to your research portal? Contact:

Brian Mahoney
Percept Research
919.765.0673
brian.mahoney@perceptresearch.com

Monday morning’s conference agenda will feature a poster session of academic papers on issues relating to Executive MBA education. The council is currently seeking contributions.

Papers may cover topics such as:

• Empirical research on Executive MBA students and programs
• Innovative teaching approaches for the executive classroom
• Commentary and debate on the role and future of Executive MBA Programs

After an expedited refereeing process, the Journal of Executive Education will publish selected papers from the conference its December issue.

Look for information about the journal and paper submission style guidelines at www.journalofexecutiveeducation.com or on the EMBA Council web page at www.emba.org. Submit papers by Sept. 1, 2004 to electronically to dgropper@business.auburn.edu, or mail to:

Dr. Daniel Gropper, JEE co-editor
EMBA Council Faculty Committee Chair
415 West Magnolia Ave
503 Lowder Business Building
Auburn University
Auburn, AL 36849

The Silent Auction takes place during the Executive MBA Council Conference. But you can help now and make a difference in the lives of young students by donating items.

The Silent Auction gives you a chance to support young students as they pursue their educational goals. Proceeds from the Silent Auction will benefit the local San Francisco chapter of I Have A Dream Foundation (http://www.ihad.org).

“I Have a Dream” – San Francisco (IHAD-SF) provides long-term academic support and extracurricular opportunities to a diverse, socio-economically disadvantaged group of 60 middle school students from the heart of San Francisco’s Mission District. These services include academic support and programming both during and after each school day; a mentor program; field trip enrichment opportunities; case management and referrals; and parental involvement and outreach. IHAD-SF will support this same group of “dreamers” through every year of their education until high school graduation and then provide tuition assistance for college or vocational training.

Start by donating an item; check with your students, corporate sponsors, and local vendors for possibilities.

Wondering what to donate? Last year, several outstanding items resulted in bidding wars including:

• Vacation packages to Prague, San Francisco, and Orlando
• Mountain bike
• Philadelphia 76ers Club box tickets
• Gift certificates to Campus Text
• Golf packages
• Signed copies of popular books
• Tiffany jewelry

Send items in advance of the conference to:

2004 Executive MBA Council Silent Auction
C/o John Lyon
Wharton – West Coast
101 Howard Street, Suite 500
San Francisco, CA 94105

You also may bring your contributions to the conference and drop them off at the conference registration desk before 5 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 31. Either way, please also complete and submit the auction form, available on the web site at www.embac.org/annualconference.htm. Prizes will be awarded for the donations that yield the highest bids.

And on auction night, enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres and come with your checkbook or your VISA or MasterCard to bid on vacation packages, gift certificates, books, and sports and university memorabilia, among other items.

The Northeast Regional Meeting and the Midwest Regional Meeting featured outstanding presentations and generated ideas and intriguing discussions.

One June 21 and 22, the Northeast Regional Meeting attracted 15 participants from 13 universities and organizations in six states and Canada. Kathryn Grabowski from the Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh organized and hosted the meeting. Speakers included:

• Bryan Gibb, executive director of Washington Campus and a corporate member of the council, addressed the issues of critical importance to managers from the Washington perspective.
• Grabowski facilitated a discussion on Corporate Relations: Lessons Learned from a Survey of Regional Corporations.
• Robert Nachtmann, professor and executive associate dean at Katz, explained the school’s experiences and future plans in expanding its involvement in the global environment and also talked about managing corporate expectations.

On July 6 and 7, the Midwest Regional Meeting attracted 33 members from 19 schools and organizations in nine states and Germany, including two corporate members. Jeannie Lehman from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University organized and hosted the meeting. Presentations included:

• Betty Vandenbosch, associate dean of executive education, explained the use of a structured process to design solutions to program problems.
• Ron Fry, associate professor and Executive MBA director, discussed the approach of “appreciative inquiry.”

To date, 2004 regional meetings have drawn 251 participants, a significant increase over 2003 attendance.

The 2004 Executive MBA Council Conference offers opportunity for networking, professional development, and camaraderie. It also offers schools opportunities to sponsor major conference events including breakfasts, coffee breaks, lunches, receptions, and dinners.

Schools can contribute in ways that they feel affordable and appropriate. Many events will have multiple sponsors. Contributors will be recognized at the sessions and may display a program banner and distribute giveaways. There are still available sponsorship opportunities. Contact Barry Van Dyck, University of Notre Dame, barry.vandyck.1@nd.edu or Tony Hansford, University of California at Irvine, hansford@gsm.uci.edu with questions, ideas, and requests.

The research firm began analyzing data from Student Exit Surveys after the June 30 submission deadline.

More than 70 programs participated in the 2004 Student Exit Survey. Full reports will be delivered to programs by Sept. 1, 2004.

And, it’s not too soon to sign up for the 2004-05 Student Exit Survey. The questionnaire and registration for the new 2005 academic year Student Exit Survey are now available. You may administer the survey via the web or by paper.

If you need assistance with the Student Exit Survey registration or administration, please contact:

Brian Mahoney
Percept Research
919.765.0673
brian.mahoney@perceptresearch.com

One of the council’s corporate members, The Accent Group, recently added a business meeting component to its services.

The Accent Group currently provides the travel logistics for many Executive MBA and MBA international business residencies, coordinating the travel details of the business agenda and providing flights, hotels, meeting rooms, coaches, translators, meals, and sightseeing.

Many schools ask for The Accent Group to handle business meeting arrangements as well. In the past, The Accent Group has provided limited as-needed service. Now, The Accent Group will offer this service on a more comprehensive basis.

The Accent Group works with its partners, which include government agencies, foreign companies, U.S. companies operating abroad, and U.S. foreign joint ventures, to organize a comprehensive service for programs that need in-country meeting expertise.

For additional information, visit The Accent Group at http://www.accentgrp.com

Looking for ways to enhance educational resources? Thomson, a leading provider of digital and print Executive MBA learning options and a corporate council member, offers learning solutions that enhance and expand your programs.

Thomson specializes in educational resources for graduate business students. Featured products for 2004 include:

The MBA Primer, Version 2.0
Self-guided and self-paced, this interactive series of pre-MBA courses helps prepare prospective students for MBA programs, equipping learners with the solid foundation in the quantitative areas of business. Version 2.0 offers new functionality, including progress tracking tools, broadcasting capabilities, and lecture customization options.

Management Education Tracks
Authored by top thought leaders, this resource provides a wealth of knowledge in key areas of management, delivering cutting-edge course content that equips users with the most current trends, thinking, and strategies.

Thomson Texere
The business publishing products of Thomson bring to the increasingly global business community the expertise and insights of leading thinkers. These books educate, enlighten, and entertain.

 For an introduction to the product line,please visit our online, interactive product brochure at www.swlearning.com/ibc/Executive_Ed. For a more detailed look at Thomson, visit execed.swlearning.com

In May, the Executive MBA Council received a Crystal Clarion Award from the Twin Cities chapter of the Association for Women in Communications for its 2003 magazine.

The Crystal Clarion competition recognizes excellence in all areas of communication. Categories include advertising, public relations, design, writing, and interactive communications. The Executive MBA Council magazine won the highest honor in the magazine category. The judges commented on the effectiveness of the magazine’s design and writing.

One the country’s largest chapters, the Association for Women in Communications (AWC), Twin Cities chapter, promotes excellence across all creative communications disciplines, including writing, editing, public relations, journalism, graphic design, photography, marketing, and advertising.