Dean's Message: May 2024

Dear Schmidthorst College of Business Insiders,

As we approach the close of another academic year, it is with great pride that I reach out to you to celebrate the remarkable achievements of the Schmidthorst College of Business at Bowling Green State University. Your unwavering support has been instrumental in our successes, and I am thrilled to share these updates that highlight our collective impact.

BGSU OneDay

We recently celebrated a milestone with BGSU OneDay, achieving unprecedented support for student-related initiatives. Throughout the year, you shared numerous hours, sharing your inspiring careers and life journeys with our students. Your enthusiastic participation underscores your pivotal role in fostering our students' success, and we are deeply grateful.

AACSB Accreditation

This year, we proudly maintained our AACSB accreditation—a testament to our commitment to maintaining rigorous standards in business education. The feedback received during the review process was invaluable and will be instrumental in crafting our strategic plan for 2025 – 2030. This plan aims to elevate our educational offerings further and enhance our infrastructure to serve our students better. We look forward to sharing the finalized plan with you in the fall.

Spring Commencement

Our spring commencement was a joyous occasion, marking the graduation of 99 master’s and 294 undergraduate students. Among these graduates, we celebrated nine undergraduates who achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA, exemplifying academic excellence. Looking ahead to Fall 2024, we are delighted to report a re-enrollment rate of 88% (an all-time high) and an encouraging increase in first-time freshmen commitments, up over 23% from last year. These numbers signify robust growth and reinforce the trust in the value of education we provide.

Curriculum Enhancements

Significant revisions have been made to our core curriculum in response to valuable industry and student input. This includes a new Introduction to Business course that connects with Life Design, improvements to our math-based courses with a focus on data analytics, and the option to take specialized economics classes as part of the core curriculum. These initiatives are designed to align our students' education with the evolving demands of the business world and prepare them for future challenges and opportunities.

Student and Faculty Achievements

Moreover, our students and faculty have excelled beyond the classroom, securing notable accolades such as a 6th-place finish in the RNMKRS Sales Competition and impressive performances in national marketing and supply chain management competitions. Additionally, our commitment to practical skills was underscored by over 300 students completing Excel Certification exams this year.

These achievements are just a snapshot of the dynamic progress and success stories at the Schmidthorst College of Business. Your generosity and belief in our mission make each milestone reached and initiative undertaken possible. As we continue to advance, your continued support is essential in shaping the leaders of tomorrow.

Thank you for being an integral part of our community. We look forward to achieving even greater heights together. Please reach out if you would like more information or would like to get involved in any of our initiatives.

Jennifer Percival
Dean, Schmidthorst College of Business