This session will review the Gallup online assessment StrengthsFinder. Coupled with the facilitation of Dr. Charlie Kerns of Pepperdine University, the assessment will provide you with tools for investing in your talents to help you do what you do best.

All session participants should purchase the book StrengthsFinder 2.0 authored by Tom Rath and published in 2007.  This book is available online from Amazon and Barnes and Noble.  Access codes in the book allow the reader to take StrengthsFinder 2.0 online.  Participants should come to the session with the results of this online assessment in hand.

There is a 25 USD registration fee for this meeting. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

1 p.m.–2 p.m. SMALL SCHOOLS BY THE NUMBERS
Presented by:  Dan LeClair, Vice President and Chief Knowledge Officer, AACSB International

Back by popular demand, the session will provide latest AACSB data on small schools. The session will be beneficial for benchmarking with similar business schools and can be invaluable in tight economic times.

2 p.m.–3 p.m. FUND RAISING ESSENTIALS IN A SMALL SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT
Presented by:  McRae C. Banks, Head, Department of Management, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
                       Geralyn McClure Franklin, Dean, College of Business, University of South Florida St. Petersburg (chair)

Fund raising has become an essential part of academic life for most business deans.  The purpose of this session is to provide practical tips for deans of small schools to be successful in organizing for and raising external funds to promote their missions and goals.

3 p.m.–4 p.m. BUILD AN EFFECTIVE ADVISORY BOARD…..OR BUST!
Presented by:  Danny Arnold, Dean, College of Business, Frostburg State University (chair)
                       Randy Boxx, Dean and George Edward Durell Chair of Management, Harry F. Byrd, Jr. School of Business,
                         Shenandoah University
                       William A. Dempsey, Dean, College of Business, Kutztown University
                       Linda Garceau, Dean, College of Business and Technology, East Tennessee State University
                       Hal Langford, Dean, College of Business and Technology, Texas A&M University-Commerce

Most business schools have a business advisory board.  While some of these boards make a solid, value-added contribution, others appear to be rather lifeless.  The purpose of this panel discussion is to pose and address a number of questions to experienced deans regarding advisory boards. 

There is a 25 USD registration fee for this meeting. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

International Offerings of U.S. MBA Programs—Benefits & Risks
This panel session will focus on the benefits, risks and other issues involved in offering domestic MBA programs in International locations. Panel members will represent colleges with three different models, partnering with foreign universities, partnering with commercial businesses, and open stand-alone campuses. Panel members will provide insights into selecting locations and partners as well as pitfalls that may be avoided.

Pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

This meeting is an opportunity for business school deans from universities in the Southeastern Conference to discuss insights, trends, and key developments. The Southeastern Conference consists of 12 large universities located in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Breakfast will be served.

Members of the New Deans Learning Community are serving their initial 3 years as dean at an AACSB member institution. This meeting is an opportunity to meet other new deans, share experiences, and build a network of colleagues. Breakfast will be served.

The Marketing and Communications Council Affinity Group is administrators in AACSB International member educational organizations, responsible for public relations, media liaison, marketing communications, internal communications and allied activities. There is a 25 USD registration fee for this meeting. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

The Development Professionals Affinity Group (DAG) will hold its annual meeting the morning of Friday, March 6th. This meeting will review the 2008 year and plan for the 2009 year, including monthly conference call topics, and exploration of opportunities to grow the group, etc. Elections will be held for the President’s position and any respective chair positions. The results of the 2008 Development Office metrics survey will be shared and discussed.

Breakfast will be served. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged.