Moody College shares "best in class" vision

This weekend marked homecoming for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and the B.I. Moody III College of Business invited alumni to an Open House in Moody Hall. We asked Joby John, dean of the business college, about the message the college was giving to alumni.

Question: What overriding message — one message — about the B.I. Moody III College of Business did you try to impart to alumni who visited this weekend?

Answer: We wanted the alumni to meet our faculty, visit our facilities and share our vision: to become recognized as “best in class” among peer institutions throughout the Gulf region through innovative, engaging and impactful relationships among faculty, students and other stakeholders. We want to hear the business alumni success stories, see where their career paths have led them since graduation, and understand how their time here played a role. They helped develop the college into what it is today, and we recognize that sharing their accomplishments and experiences is a celebration of our collective successes.

Q: Some alumni may not have seen the facilities or met the faculty in the past 10 years. What might have impressed them most about the Moody College?

A: Alumni who have not been to the campus recently will be impressed with the College’s updated facilities and technology. Moody Hall is now a hub of activity on campus. There is true potential for further development given all the construction with the Quad and the Student Union, and we will continue to improve as the needs of our students evolve. Besides the physical changes including our new sales lab, we are pleased to present our graduate programs including the MBA, Executive MBA and MS in accounting, our internship and study abroad programs, and our new business incubator and entrepreneur-in-residence program.

Q: Alumni often reconnect with their schools during the weekend and try to see how they can plug in and help. What one or two things can alums do to boost and serve the business college?

A: Engagement is a priority for the College of Business, and we hope our alumni will share our desire to connect more and provide resources outside of the classroom for our current students. We would love to have them speak about various topics on panels, mentor students, offer internships and career programs at their businesses, and be guest speakers in classes. We recently had an entrepreneur panel featuring three alumni, and the room was packed with students wanting to learn more. We look forward to seeing more involvement from the alumni and enriching the collegiate experience for our current students.

Q: Alumni also have children who will someday choose a college. What’s your 30-second sales pitch to recruit freshmen for the business college?

A: Quality, affordability and dedication to student success are at the core of the College of Business. Parents from Acadiana or around the world should know that we are a full-fledged business school with eight undergraduate majors as well as valued graduate programs, and our student/faculty ratio is ideal for connecting with students personally. Outstanding students eager to enter the workforce can fast track their undergraduate and graduate degrees. High school students statewide can earn UL Lafayette scholarships through our Louisiana Business Challenge, and we also award tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships annually across all majors. We look forward to continuing the legacy of the College that our alumni have helped build.

From The Daily Advertiser - Sunday, November 2, 2014