Brown is undoubtedly a world-class university, and there are very few things the school does not provide to its students. But as we read in The Herald last Friday, the University lacks a formal program for advising students and recent graduates who want to pursue a master's degree in business administration. And so we were excited to read that newly hired Assistant Dean of the College George Vassilev has said he plans to build such a program. We believe the new program will have a number of positive effects.
Vassilev faces a unique challenge in developing resources for business school applicants, since many of the applicants will have been out of college for a few years. Indeed, business schools tend to look for students with at least some work experience. Though this new advising program may not benefit students until they are somewhat removed from Brown, we still feel strongly that such a program will be a crucial element of Brown's pre-professional advising regimen.
The development of this program couldn't be better timed. Some MBA programs are placing added emphasis on skills traditionally associated with a liberal arts education, the New York Times reported in January. Emerging wisdom suggests that a student's ability to think creatively and appreciate historical and cultural contexts is just as important as his or her understanding of corporate finance and management. According to the Times, innovative course offerings that reflect this new emphasis are gradually making their way into business school curricula.
This paradigm shift means that Brown students are well prepared for success in business school and in management positions. The holistic approach to learning that Brown promotes fits perfectly with the idea that businesspeople need to be highly versatile thinkers.
Many students are already interested in pursuing careers in management — there are 86 concentrators in Commerce, Organization and Entrepreneurship in the class of 2011 alone, according to Christine Sprovieri, the program's administrative manager. A structured advising program will certainly help these students should they choose to seek MBAs. But it could also encourage a wider range of students to consider focusing on business in graduate school.
For instance, we hope the program will reach out to those students who may not necessarily be aiming for a traditional career in business. Indeed, social entrepreneurship — the application of entrepreneurial tactics to solve social problems — is gaining popularity at Brown.
The Swearer Center began its Social Innovation Initiative in 2005 as a support network for student and alumni social entrepreneurs. The initiative's director, Alan Harlam, told the editorial page board that it reaches hundreds of students every year either through courses or support for student projects.
Many of these students would excel in business school but may not consider it a top priority. And though social entrepreneurship tends to involve nonprofits, foundations and nongovernmental organizations, it also draws heavily on managerial and problem-solving skills that would be cultivated by a graduate program in business. An advising program that also acknowledged less traditional forms of entrepreneurship could be a valuable tool for the many talented, socially conscious students at Brown.
Vassilev told The Herald that the advising program will not start until the 2011–12 academic year at the earliest. Still, we're excited about this idea and eager to see how it plays out.
Editorials are written by The Herald's editorial page board. Send comments to editorials@browndailyherald.com.
