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BUSINESS @ TECH
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School of Business
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Business @ Tech
September 2007 |
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Dr. Gene Cole Retires |
Dr. Gene Cole |
Dr. Gene Cole, Professor of Economics, retired from the School of Business faculty at the end of the 2007 spring semester. On May 4, Dr. Cole was honored for his thirty-seven years of service to Arkansas Tech University with a dinner at the Lake Point Conference Center attended by a large number of current and former business faculty.
Dr. Cole joined the business faculty in 1970 after receiving an M.A. in Economics at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. He served as Department Head of the Business and Economics Department from 1976 to 1980 and in 1987 he became the first Dean of the newly created School of Business at Arkansas Tech University. He held this position until 1994 when he returned to full-time teaching which included teaching the honors class in Principles of Economics. |
As Dean, Dr. Cole positioned the School of Business to seek accreditation from AACSB International, the premier accrediting body of business schools. Upon returning to full-time teaching, he chaired the School’s Accreditation Steering Committee. In 2000, the School of Business was accredited by AACSB International. Less than one-third of U. S. business schools and only 15% of business schools worldwide meet the rigorous standards of AACSB International accreditation.
Dr. Cole graduated from Arkansas Tech University in with a B.S. in General Business in 1969. Prior to that, he worked for nine years as a sales representative for Arkansas Louisiana Gas Company. He earned the Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1976. |
New Faculty Join School of Business for 2007-08 |
| Three new faculty members were welcomed to the School of Business this year. Ms. Erin Callahan will serve as a Visiting Instructor of Accounting. Most recently, Ms. Callahan has worked as a staff accountant for Robert Redfern and Company. She is a 2004 accounting graduate of Arkansas Tech University and received the Outstanding Accounting Scholar Award at the end of her senior year with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average. She is also a Certified Public Accountant. Ms. Callahan will be teaching Principles of Accounting. |
Also joining the School of Business this year is Ms. Tracy Cole. Ms. Cole is Assistant Professor of Legal Studies and will be teaching courses in Legal Environment of Business and Business Law. In 2003, she earned the Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law where she ranked number one in a graduating class of ninety-nine. Prior to joining the School of Business, she worked as a Judicial Clerk in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas for the Honorable J. Leon Holmes, Chief Judge. Before that she was employed as an attorney with the Little Rock, Arkansas law firm of Williams & Anderson. She also served as a Judicial Clerk in the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit working for the Honorable Richard S. Arnold, Circuit Judge. |
Dr. Julie Trivitt is a new Assistant Professor of Economics. Dr. Trivitt comes to Arkansas Tech University from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville where she worked as a Research Assistant in the Department of Education Reform. She earned the Ph.D. in Economics at the University of Arkansas in 2006. Dr. Trivitt was recently honored by being selected to attend the 2007 summer Institute of Studies on Employment and Occupations in Italy. At the Institute she studied with Nobel Prize winners, Professors Robert Solow and Vernon Smith. She also spent part of the summer in Brescia, Italy working on a consulting project for foreign exchange programs. Dr. Trivitt will be teaching Principles of Economics, Health Economics, and Current Economic Problems in the fall term. |
Accounting Club Banquet
Honored Ms. Virginia Bachman |
Dates of Interest:
- 10/11: Mid-Term
- 10/20: HOMECOMING & OPEN HOUSE
- 10/31: Fall Career Fair 9—12 Young Ballroom
- 11/5 - 11/20: Spring Pre-registration
- 11/21—11/25: Thanksgiving Holidays
- 12/8: Small Bus. Plan Competition 9-12 in Corley
- 12/10 –14: Finals Week
- 12/15: Fall Graduation
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The Accounting Club members planned the 38th Annual Accounting Club Banquet which was held on April 20, 2007, at the Lake Point Conference Center in Russellville, Arkansas and was dedicated to the memory of Ms. Virginia Bachman.
The event was attended by accounting students, faculty, and alumni. Dinner was served and a video was shown covering the event of the past year and honoring Ms. Bachman. Accounting Foundation student scholarship winners, the 2007 Outstanding Senior |
Ms. Virginia Bachman
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award, and several more scholarship recipients were announced. Accounting alumni who have achieved their CPA in the past year were honored as well.
In addition the banquet, a trash pickup for the Accounting Club’s Adopt-a-Mile on Parkway in Russellville was held April 3, 2007.
If you are interested in becoming involved with the accounting club, as a member or as an alumni sponsor, please call Dr. Pam Carr, 968-0612. |
Business Plan Competition |
December 2006 saw the return of a periodic event: the ATU Business Plan Competition. Five teams of students competed for a prize package of $1500 with presentations of their business plans to three judges from the areas finance industry.
Students competed with projects such as a private women’s dormitory for ATU students, a local area table spice factory, a migrant worker housing facility, an educational software administration package |
and an eco-friendly refrigerated trailer system.
The team of Cortney Herbst, Melissa Owens, Chad Smith and Brooke Stuart took first place with their plan for a company marketing a software package to Arkansas schools to maintain and annually update student records to reduce the paperwork that parents have to fill out at the start of each academic year. This plan and another non-competing plan about an alternative eco-friendly energy source were this year’s Tech entries in the Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup Competition.
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First Place Team
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International Travel for Dr. Stephen Jones |
Dr. Stephen Jones and Dan Glaser
w/friend
Coca Cola advertising in Romania
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Dr. Stephen Jones, Assistant Professor of Management and research colleague, Dr. Dan Glaser of Our Lady of the Lake University, recently traveled to Romania and Mexico on research and fact finding trips.
His trip to Romania in May 2006, sponsored by ATU’s Faculty Research Grant Program, was intended to provide a base for gathering data on Romanian entrepreneurship and student attitudes toward entrepreneurial careers. Dr. Jones remarked, "We were very successful in getting more than 200 Romanian students to share their thoughts on small business with |
us, and almost 100 Romanian entrepreneurs weighted in on the same questions. We can now compare that data with data we already have from the American side to see where cultural differences lie and to determine what courses of action might be suggested to further stimulate entrepreneurship in developing Eastern European nations."
Dr. Jones and his research colleagues are currently gathering similar data in Argentina and Mexico and have plans to go to countries such as India and South Africa to further enlarge their database. |
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Auditing Class Trip to Beall Barclay & Company, PLC |
| Professor Connie McKnight’s auditing class toured a local accounting firm in November, 2006. Beall Barclay & Company, PLC graciously sponsored the event. The students spent the entire day at the company’s Fort Smith office learning about paperless audits, audit and tax research, the interview process, CPA exam requirements, and the everyday life of a public accountant. |
Dr. Connie McKnight with her Auditing Class
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The firm also provided a wonderful meal for the students. The accounting majors were highly impressed with the company and motivated to continue their studies in accounting. They were appreciative of the opportunity to spend time with the practitioners, including Tech graduates Randy Philpot, Deana Infield, Shelly Taylor, Josh Masters, William Kennedy, and Amber Brady. |
Brian Chappell Named River Valley Branch “Big Brother of the Year” |
Brian Chappell, a December 2006 graduate, was recently named "Big Brother of the Year" by the River Valley Branch of Big Brothers Big Sisters. His little brother is Grant McKnight, son of Assistant Professor of Accounting Connie McKnight. In the fall of 2005, Professor McKnight encouraged her students to join the Big Brother Big Sister organization. Brian quickly volunteered and requested Grant for his little brother. Grant was doubly blessed, as Jennifer Chappell, Brian’s wife also a December 2006 graduate, spent a lot of time playing with Grant.
"Grant could not have received a better big brother," stated Professor McKnight. "Brian and Jennifer became part of our family. Grant is always thrilled to spend time with them. The Chappells moved after graduation to take positions at accounting firms in Little Rock. However, Brian and Jennifer continue their contact with us through letter, email, and phone calls. We look forward to the end of accounting busy season so we can visit them." Professor McKnight encourages all students to consider joining the Big Brother Big Sister Program. "The program had a tremendous, positive impact on Grant. I believe it did the same for Brian." |
Brian and Jennifer Chappell with Grant
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Sam’s Club & First State Bank Donate to SIFE |
Barton Allen presents a check for $500 from First State Bank to Melissa Owens and Matt Kreimeier for the SIFE Team at Arkansas Tech University.
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Tim Southerland, General Manager, for Sam's Club
in Sherwood presents a check for $500 to
Zac Corbitt
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The Arkansas Tech University Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) team received a total of $9,250 in gifts this past year. These donations provided financial assistance for travel to the regional competition, the national exposition and special projects of the student organization. Among the donors was Sam’s Club of Sherwood with a gift of $500. Also contributing $500 was the First State Bank of Russellville. The bank also provided assistance to one of the team’s pro-jects, 4 Simple Rules to Banking. This project was a workshop provided to 37 international students to assist them in managing their checking accounts. The SIFE team also received a $5,000 gift from a private donor.
The team is grateful for the financial support of these friends and looks forward to working with Sam’s Club and First State Bank on future projects. Other Business Advisory Board members provided assistance to the team by giving their time and expertise on several projects. A retreat with the student members and the Business Advisory Board will be held this fall at Lake Point. |
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In Memory of Virginia Bachman |
Ms. Virginia Bachman |
Mrs. Virginia Bachman began her teaching career at Arkansas Tech University in 1981 and continued as a valued member of the Accounting Department faculty until her death, February 2007. She had both a love for teaching accounting and the students in her classes. Her students will remember her clear teaching with many in-class problems and examples; her long and rigorous tests; and her unlimited time and patience spent helping outside of class. Colleagues will remember her ready smile, her genuine heart, and her willingness to serve on committee after committee. Many graduates and faculty of the school of business will miss her.
Mrs. Bachman not only served as a faithful faculty member at Arkansas Tech University, she also served the accounting profession. Included in her numerous activities are: Treasurer of the ASCPA Student Education Fund from 2003 until her death; active member of both the ASCPA Continuing Professional Education committee and the Industry Commerce and Banking committee; member, past president, and educational liaison of the ASCPA Valley Chapter. The profession honored Virginia with the Distinguished Achievement in Accounting Education Award in 2005.
Virginia was a special friend to me. I enjoyed discussing ideas and improvements we both implemented in classes and changes in the profession. A special memory is of an accounting seminar we attended together in San Antonio. We shopped together, ate and laughed together and even took an early morning jog through the streets of San Antonio. Virginia and I shared many of the same joys of teaching and being accountants.
Written by Dr. Pamela Carr |
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Virginia A. Bachman Selected as Recipient of 2005 ASCPA Distinguished Achievement in Accounting Education Award
Ms. Bachman was recognized by the Arkansas Society of CPA’s in September of 2005 with this award to recognize full-time college accounting educators distinguished for excellence in teaching and for involvement in the accounting profession. Criteria for receiving this award was based on full-time accounting educator at post-secondary educational institution, be distinguished for excel-lence in classroom teaching and motivating students, and contributing to the accounting profession through active involvement in account-ing activities, national professional accounting organizations.
For many years she served as the Faculty Advi-sor to the Accounting Club. Hundreds of students over the past 20 years can attest to her ability and interest in teaching. Mrs. Bachman demonstrated the CPA Vision through representation of the interest of accounting education throughout her teachings. She encouraged “thinking outside of the box” and instilled the importance of re-search and independent thought into her students. Her work has positively affected the lives of many students who are now involved in various avenues of the accounting profession. |
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Virginia, We Will Miss You!
She often said that she needed 36 hours in everyday to get everything done that she wanted to do. But she only had 24 hours and yet she always had time for you. That’s the kind of person Virginia was. We feel very fortunate to have had you in our lives. Thanks for all that you gave of yourself. You will always be in our thoughts and prayers.
School of Business
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Spring Trip to China in 2008 |
In March 2008, the School of Business will again be offering Tech students an extraordinary interna-tional business experience with it’s fifth annual ATU China Experience. This wonderful international travel experience brings the global economy and international business into perspective for ATU students. Plans are now being finalized for the ATU China Experience 2008 that will include visits to Beijing and Shanghai, tours of state-of-the-art business endeavors such as a computer aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) Nokia cell phone factory, a modern Coca-Cola bottling plant, and one of the largest automated steel mills in the world at Shanghai’s Baosteel, along with traditional Chinese tour-ist sites such as The Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace and more. The trip is from March 21st until March 31st and the cost for students is only $1,995 for students who register by November 1st. The cost is inclusive of inter-national airfare, domestic transportation, accommoda-tions, meals, attraction entrance fees, trip insurance, and Chinese visa. Only your passport and personal expenses are not included. For business majors there is also an elective business course associated with the trip. For more information call or email Dr. Jim Walton at 479-356-2093 or jwalton@atu.edu. For more details online go to: http://business.atu.edu and click on link to China trip.
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NOTE: Due to recent regulation changes participants who do not already have a current passport should apply imme-diately. Forms are available at http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html. |
Temple of Heaven in Beijing |
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Arkansas Tech University
Corley Building
1811 N Boulder
Russellville, AR 72801
Phone: 479-968-0490
Fax: 479-968-0677
E-mail: tom.tyler@atu.edu
TECH MEANS BUSINESS! |
Mission Statement
Arkansas Tech University School of Business
The primary mission of Arkansas Tech University’s School of Business
is to provide intellectual foundations to support a life-long learning process.
An emphasis is placed on serving full-time undergraduate students
from western Arkansas. Education in the fundamental skills and methodologies
of business management are combined with a broad exposure to
the liberal arts.
We believe that teaching quality and the currency of the subject matter
can best be maintained through ongoing professional interaction with
peers and the business community. Faculty are expected to engage in
scholarly activities and encouraged to participate in service that supports
the primary mission. The intellectual contributions orientation is directed
toward applied scholarship and instructional development.
School of Business faculty and students use current technology to
develop communication, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Students
are encouraged to participate actively in the learning process. A
high degree of faculty-student interaction is sought through management
of class sizes and individualized advising. The School aspires to prepare
its graduates for personal and professional success in an evolving global
business environment. |
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Copyright © Arkansas Tech University, Russellville, Arkansas.
All RIGHTS RESERVED.
All trademarks herein belong to their respective owners.
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