FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas will host the 2002 New Deans’ Seminar on May 15-18. The seminar is sponsored by the AACSB International — the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

AACSB International is the professional association for college and university management education and the premier accrediting agency for bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs in business administration and accounting. Its membership includes educational institutions in and outside the United States as well as corporate, government and nonprofit institutions.

The Walton College has been accredited by AACSB International since 1931 and is the only such accredited business school in Northwest Arkansas. The six other AACSB accredited business schools in Arkansas include the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Arkansas State University, Arkansas Tech University, University of Central Arkansas, Henderson State University and Ouachita Baptist University. The Walton College has the only accounting program in the state accredited by AACSB International.

Walton College Dean Doyle Z. Williams said, "Becoming a dean of a business school can be a daunting task. The AACSB holds this conference each year to help address issues and problems that regularly confront a recently appointed dean. We are delighted to be able to host this seminar and think that many of the new deans will be pleasantly surprised at what they find at the University of Arkansas and in the Fayetteville area."

John J. Fernandes, president and chief executive officer, AACSB International will open the seminar, which will be lead by Allan D. Spritzer, Allen and Ruth Harris Chair of Excellence in Business, professor of management and former dean, College of Business, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tenn. In addition, Ridley J. Gros, Jr., dean, College of Business Administration, Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, La., and Otis W. Baskin, professor of management and former dean, The George W. Graziadio School of Business and Management, Pepperdine University, Malibu, Calif., also will lead the seminar.

The group will visit Wal-Mart corporate headquarters in Bentonville and attend the Saturday morning weekly meeting of top Wal-Mart executives. The new deans will observe the workings of the world’s largest corporation, participate in a Q&A session with top executives, and gain insights into corporate-university partnerships.

The May/June 2002 issue of AACSB International’s bi-monthly magazine, BizEd, featured the Walton College on its spotlight page. The magazine is distributed to deans, faculty and staff of the approximately 900 members of the organization.

AACSB International institutions annually award over 85 percent of all U.S. degrees awarded in business and management education. The AACSB International U.S. accredited schools annually award over 55 percent of all U.S. degrees awarded in business and management education.

Williams, who has been active in the organization since 1994, added, "It is interesting to note that the first dean of the Walton College in 1926, Charles Fichtner, served as secretary-treasurer of the American Association of Collegiate Schools of Business (the forerunner of the AACSB International) from 1935-1940, vice-president the next year, and president, 1941-42. He also edited the Proceedings of AACSB for five years."

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