College Maintains Business and Accounting Accreditation by AACSB International

In October 2011 our College underwent a rigorous review of our business and accounting programs by AACSB International, the longest serving global accrediting body for business schools that offer bachelors, masters, and doctorate degrees in business and accounting. We are proud to announce that we have maintained our business and accounting accreditation by AACSB—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

Only 643 schools of business, or less than 5% worldwide, have earned this distinguished hallmark of excellence in management education, of which only 176 have earned specialized accreditation for their accounting programs. To maintain accreditation a business program must undergo a rigorous internal review every five years, at which the program must demonstrate its continued commitment to the 21 quality standards relating to faculty qualification, strategic management of resources, interactions of faculty and students, as well as a commitment to continuous improvement and achievement of learning goals in degree programs. AACSB Accounting Accreditation requires the satisfaction of an additional set of 15 standards that are specific to the discipline and profession of accounting.

"We're all very proud of this achievement. It is due to the dedication of our faculty excellence, scholarship, and service to the community. I'm also very proud of the commitment by our staff to this important team effort," said Robert Scherer, Dean of the College.

Among the commendations cited by the AACSB Peer Review Team were our portfolio of global business and export trade programs—programs that twice earned the Ohio Governor's Export Award and more recently the President's E Award; our establishment of a Diversity Council to engage minority students; and our certificate program in Sustainable Business Practices offered to professionals and students.

The achievement will be recognized in April at the 2012 AACSB International Conference and Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA.

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CSU Team Advances to Semi-finals in Clean Energy Challenge

A team of CSU business and engineering students, led by Dr. Majid Rashidi and Dr. Oya Tukel, was selected as a semi-finalist in the Clean Energy Challenge 2012, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and Clean Energy Trust. This is a significant achievement since more than 100 applications were submitted to compete for $250,000 in cash prizes.

Clean Energy Challenge is a first-in-class business competition that seeks to find Midwest clean energy businesses with the potential to bring innovations to the marketplace. Applicants compete in either the Early Stage Business track or the Student Challenge.

The student team, comprised of MBA students Niki Zmij and Rahul Sukheja, and engineering student Patrick Mohney, along with Terry Thiele, director of sustainable product strategies at Lubrizol, developed a commercialization plan for an innovative modular Wind Speed Amplification system based on a design by Dr. Rashidi at CSU. The business plan introduces consumers to a new understanding that wind turbines do not have to be placed in high wind areas, costing millions of dollars in investment, in order to generate adequate electricity.

The Amplified Wind Solutions team will compete with 18 other semi-finalists on February 29 and March 1 in Chicago, IL. The winner of the Student Challenge will represent the Midwest at the U.S. Department of Energy's national competition in Washington for a chance to win the $100,000 grand prize.

For more information about the Clean Energy Challenge, visit: http://cleanenergychallenge2012.istart.org

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College of Business Receives Presidential “E” Award for Exports

May 16, 2011

The Nance College of Business today was awarded the Presidential “E” Award for Exports by U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Gary Locke at the Department’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.  The “E” Awards are the highest recognition any U.S. organization may receive for making a significant

“Our Nance College of Business and its Global Business Center fundamentally elevate Northeast Ohio global success through unparalleled service to the export community.  We are honored to accept the Presidential “E” Award for Export Service– and to join a select group of organizations that are responsible for moving the President’s National Export Initiative forward,” said Robert Scherer, Dean of the Nance College of Business.  “Since 2007, the Global Business Center has served over 2000 participants in its programs to support business practitioners as they overcome key exporting challenges.”

The Nance College of Business and its Global Business Center, both integral parts of the global emphasis at Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio, deliver export service through international business-focused academic programs, applied research, extensive collaboration with valued private and public partners such as the U.S. Commercial Service, and superior training programs like GlobalTarget – an innovative year-long mentorship program.

“Exports are a key driver of America's economic recovery,” said Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke.  “President Obama’s National Export Initiative (NEI), which aims to double U.S. exports by 2015 in support of several million American jobs, is a robust, forward-looking trade agenda with an emphasis on domestic job growth.  The Nance College of Business is being honored today for making significant contributions toward fulfilling that agenda.”

“I congratulate you on your significant export achievement. It is organizations like yours that will help us meet or exceed the President’s NEI goals. Your institution provides an example we hope more American companies will follow,” Locke added.

The Nance College of Business values its relationship with the Cleveland U.S. Export Assistance Center (USEAC,) and businesses, students, and faculty benefit from this highly effective collaboration.  Cleveland USEAC is a key partner on the GlobalTarget program, and Nance and Cleveland USEAC consistently partner on events for the global business practitioner.  This partnership results in high-quality programming and assistance to Northeast Ohio companies seeking to export and allows for programming that is both responsive and forward thinking to meet the business challenges of today and tomorrow.

U.S. companies are nominated for the “E” Awards through the U.S. Commercial Service office network in 108 U.S. cities and more than 75 countries which helps U.S. companies export. Criteria for the award are based on four years of successive export growth, usually accompanied by a rising percentage of export sales within total sales. An applicant’s demonstration of an innovative international marketing plan that led to the increase in exports is a significant factor in making the award.

All nominations are reviewed by the “E” Award Committee, which is chaired by the Department of Commerce, and includes representatives from ExIm Bank, and the Departments of Labor, State, and Transportation.

President Kennedy revived the World War II "E" symbol of excellence to honor and provide recognition to America's exporters. Thus, the "E" Award Program was established by Executive Order 10978 on December 5, 1961.

A total of 27 U.S. companies were presented with the “E” Award at the May 16, 2011 World Trade Week ceremonies in Washington, D.C.

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College Joins Prestigious Group of Organizations Approved by Project Management Institute to Provide Project Management Training

Dr. Oya Tukel, Chair of the Operations and Supply Chain Management Department has indicated that the Monte Ahuja College of Business has been approved by the Project Management Institute to become a PMI Registered Education Provider (R.E.P.) effective June 1, 2011.

PMI R.E.P.s are educational organizations that have demonstrated that they are capable of providing world-class effective project management training. Through PMI’s rigorous quality criteria for course content, instructor qualification, and instructional design, R.E.P.s provide the project management training necessary to earn and to maintain Project Management Professional (PMP)®, Program Management Professional (PgMP)® and other PMI professional credentials.

The Operations and Supply Chain Management Department is now authorized to award 45 PDUs to students who take OSM 422 Project Management or OSM 622 Project Management both of which are taught by Professor James Muller who is a PMI certified trainer. Dr. Tukel further indicated that MBA and undergraduate students can take these courses as electives to meet their degree requirements and at the same time earn PDUs. For further information please contact Dr. Tukel at 216.687.4741 or o.icmeli@csuohio.edu.

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College Partners with Shaker LaunchHouse

The Monte Ahuja College of Business will be supporting economic development and entrepreneurial efforts at the recently-opened Shaker LaunchHouse, located at 3558 Lee Road, near Chagrin Blvd in Shaker Heights. The center will aid early stage entrepreneurial efforts, LaunchHouse incubator companies and small businesses.

The agreement was adopted at a special meeting of the Shaker City Council on March 14 after recommendation by the Shaker Heights Economic Development Department.

CSU business students and staff will work with the LaunchHouse, the City of Shaker Heights, and its Community Improvement Corporation to attract and assist companies and promote economic development in Shaker Heights and Northeast Ohio.

"This is a unique opportunity for both Northeast Ohio and for our college," said dean Scherer. "We and the LaunchHouse team were already co-sponsoring a business plan competition, so this was a natural and welcome next step. We will also be joining the 2011 Innovation Fund application for Third Frontier funding. We look forward to a long-term relationship that will be very good for both parties – and for Northeast Ohio business generally."

The college will locate an office for CSU staff and graduate assistants at LaunchHouse, and will fund a Small Business Development Center (SBDC) counselor to support incubator companies and traditional small businesses. Graduate students and the SBDC counselor will assist companies by providing market research, assisting with business plans, providing technical support and counseling, as well as referring clients to a network of service providers.

"We look forward to taking this next exciting step in our relationship with CSU and the College of Business," said Todd Goldstein, LaunchHouse. "Their business students are forward thinking, innovative, and a vital ingredient in the growing Cleveland startup community."

The college will also provide marketing support to promote seminars, workshops, and services in general as funds are available, and assist the City in identifying funding support for LaunchHouse and its program activities.

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