International Conference and Annual Meeting
Affinity Group Meetings

The following Affinity Groups plan to meet during this year's AACSB International Conference and Annual Meeting. Group meetings are arranged by date and time.

This page will be updated periodically to include downloadable meeting agendas.

March 6, 2008

Small Schools Network (SSNet)
April 13, 2008
8:45 a.m. - 12: 00 p.m.
Room: Sea Pearl 1 & 2

There will be two sessions:

1. Transfer Courses: A Benchmark Study

An increasing number of students are enrolling in courses away from their home institution and wishing to transfer the credits back to fulfill degree requirements. The current study identifies standards used by AACSB accredited schools for accepting transfer credits, practices regarding the type and level of course, policies, regarding grades, and characteristics of transfer institutions are discussed. There will be statistical and anecdotal evidence provided from 92 respondents.

Presented by:

• Dr. Marian Extejt, Associate Dean, Gabelli School of Business, Roger Williams University

2. Obstacles and Opportunities: Strategies for Improving Community Engagement

The presentation will focus on the development of relationships and the subsequent engagement of external stakeholders. There will be a review of both successful and non-successful methods and the strategic process of successfully engaging the community with regards to AACSB standards.

Presented by:

• Dr. Donna T. Mayo, Dean, Dalton State College
• Dr. James E. Coleman, Professor of Marketing, Dalton State College
• Dr. Marilyn M. Helms, Professor of Management, Dalton State College

Registration Fee: 25 USD

Women Administrators in Management Education (WAME)
April 13, 2008
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Room: Sea Pearl 3 & 4

Women as Leaders

Join the Women Administrators in Management Education (WAME) Affinity Group for a presentation by Dr. Virginia Hinshaw, Chancellor of the University of Hawai`i at Mānoa, formally provost  and executive vice chancellor at the University of California, Davis. Dr. Hinshaw will speak on women's leadership styles and the special challenges that women confront as academic administrators.

Registration Fee: 25 USD

Networking Dinner
You are cordially invited to join other women administrators for dinner on Monday, April 14 at the ICAM in Hawaii. These dinners are always a fun time, as well as a great opportunity to network. We will meet at 6:45 p.m., just after the evening reception ends. Gather at the front desk at the Hilton Hawaiian Village and then we will take a short walk together to a Japanese restaurant. If you are interested in joining us, please register via the link below. Hope to see you there!

Click here to sign up for the dinner

Entrepreneurship
April 13, 2008
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Room: South Pacific Ballroom # 3

Moderated by: Tim Mescon

There will be a panel discussion regarding Family Business Research, Programs and Activities. Panelists will include:

• Joe Astrachan, Cox Family Enterprise Center, Kennesaw State University
• Ginny Dybenko, Wilfred Laurier University
• Patti Greene, S.T.E.P. Program, Babson College
• Rickie Moore, EM LYON
• Chris Pavlides, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Institute, Temple University
• Scott Schroeder, Chaminade University
• George Vozikis, California State University - Fresno

Lunch will be served, sponsored by the Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University.

American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU)
April 13, 2008
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Room: Sea Pearl 1 & 2

Dr. Rose Tseng, Chancellor of the University of Hawaii, Hilo will discuss the Workforce Development Initiatives by AASCU. Other speakers will include: Dan LeClair, vice president and chief knowledge officer for AACSB, who will explore data relevant to AASCU business schools.

Technology Leaders
April 13, 2008
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Room: Sea Pearl 5 & 6

This meeting will provide an opportunity for technology leaders to interact with their peers and discover new avenues for professional networking on an ongoing basis. The 2007 (fourth annual) Technology in Business Schools (TBS) Roundtable Survey of Business School Computer Usage will be analyzed and a sneak preview of the 2008 results will be provided. There also will be time for interactive discussion on topics of common interest.

MBA for Working Professionals
April 13, 2008
1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Room: South Pacific Ballroom # 1& 2

The market for part-time MBA programs now is more fiercely competitive than ever before. Stiff competition exists for high-quality students, outstanding faculty, donor dollars, and a worldwide reputation. To be successful, schools must proactively pursue a distinctive brand positioning. Join this group for an interactive session that will explore how schools are developing their own authentic and distinctive brands, as well as the successful management of their brand.

Marketing and Communications Council Affinity Group *Formerly PRIME*
April 13, 2008
1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Room: Sea Pearl 3 & 4

The session will focus on how to hire and organize your marketing communications staff for maximum effectiveness. In the meeting, professionals will share tools for recruiting and hiring, sample job descriptions, and examples of organizational structures that work. You also will receive the results of a survey of b-schools on how Marketing and Communications functions are organized, including staff size, and responsibilities. The 2008 Marketing and Communications Council survey is the first study that we know of that attempts to understand how b-schools organize and handle this function which is growing in importance as the number of programs increase.

New Deans Learning Community
April 14, 2008
7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall

The New Deans Learning Community will be hosting an informal meeting during breakfast to provide networking opportunities. Please look for the signs labeled "New Deans Learning Community" in the exhibit hall.

Associate Deans
April 15, 2008
7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall

The newly formed Associate Deans Affinity Group will be hosting an informal meeting during breakfast to provide networking opportunities. Please look for the signs labeled "Associate Deans" in the exhibit hall.

To learn more about group objectives and membership criteria, visit the Affinity Groups.