The First Year Candidacy Report was submitted to the AACSB on March 14, 2000 and formally accepted by the Candidacy Committee on April 8, 2000. Consequently, FGCU's College of Business is successfully continued in Candidacy Status.

Note from the webmaster:

The document presented here contains the complete text of the report as submitted; however, some minor formatting changes have been made, and navigation capabilities added, for better presentation on the internet. A hard copy of the complete signed document is archived at the College of Business.

AACSB First Year Candidacy Report

March 2000

Candidacy School Profile Sheet

Full-time Faculty Profile

Field of Instruction	Number Academically Qualified	Number Professionally Qualified	Number Other Full-Time Faculty Resources
Accounting	4		3
Finance	4	1
Computer Info. Systems	3	2	2
Decision Sciences	2		1
Management	8
Marketing	3		2
Total	24	3	8

Degree Programs (Business Unit):

    Undergraduate:  Accounting, Computer Information Systems, Finance, Management, and Marketing

    Graduate:  MBA, M.S. in Accounting & Taxation, and M.S. in Computer Information Systems

Number of Degrees Conferred (Business Unit) 1998/1999

    Undergraduate:  76 .
    Graduate:    39 .

The Year in Review

Strategic Opportunities for 2001

Candidacy Committee Issues and Concerns

Appendix I: Vision, Mission, and Goals

Appendix II: "Second Circle" International Model

Appendix III: Academic and Business Partnerships

Appendix IV: Action Plan Status Report

Please Visit our Accreditation Web Site:

Over the last year the College of Business at Florida Gulf Coast University [FGCU] experienced a 16 percent growth rate, serving 784 and 796 students in the Fall 1999 and Spring 2000 semesters, respectively. Graduate students comprised one-third of the student mix as the College successfully recruited its third EMBA class and launched new MS programs in Accounting and Taxation and in Computer Information Systems. Business had the strongest growth rate of all the colleges, and now accounts for about 24% of the total enrollment at FGCU.

The College recently completed a one and one-half year initiative to revise its inaugural mission and goals statement. The revision process was all-inclusive, seeking input from faculty, staff, students and the College Business Advisory Council. Key issues addressed during these discussions included: 1) core competencies for graduates; 2) relative emphasis on teaching, scholarship, and service; 3) implementation of the unique "Second Circle" International Model initiative; and 4) the continuing role of the College in fostering regional economic development. [See Appendix I for the current Vision, Mission and Goals Statements.]

The College demonstrated its student focus by enhancing opportunities for student involvement and recognition. Student task groups were included in the mission revision process. Faculty assisted in the formation and/or development of a variety of graduate and undergraduate business organizations. Student groups currently meeting on a regular basis and providing professional networking opportunities include: AdVentures, Computer Information Society, Legal Eagles, Society for Human Resource Management, and the Graduate and Undergraduate Business Students Associations. The College is also in the process of chartering a chapter of Sigma Beta Delta - an International Honor Society in Business - to recognize outstanding student scholarship and accomplishment.

In response to a rapidly growing enrollment and in the interest of providing better service to business students the College added another full-time academic advisor. The College also moved the Student Services Offices to a larger space located near the entrance to the College. Finally the role of the Director of Student Affairs was redefined and the title upgraded to Assistant Dean.

Also in response to community input, the Chair of the Information Systems Department led the university initiative to create a partnership with the University of Central Florida (UCF) to deliver, via video conferencing, UCF Civil and Electrical Engineering courses and pre-engineering courses required for all engineering degrees at UCF.

All departments within the College undertook mission-focused curriculum initiatives in the last year. Management developed an interdisciplinary course in Business Ethics and Values, and delivered the College’s first Internet course to mark our participation in the prestigious National Technological University’s International MBA Consortium. Accounting focused on global issues with a new course in International Accounting for the MS program. Marketing responded to external input by implementing a concentration in Advertising, and developing new courses in E-Commerce. Finance continued to grow the Real Estate Concentration. Computer Information Systems set the standard for distance education and experienced the fastest growth of all business programs.

STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR 2001

Technology and Business Incubator.The College is poised to lead the formation of a Technology & Business Incubator for Southwest Florida. This effort would be enhanced by the University’s emphasis on technology, the College’s engineering partnership, the extensive external programming at the Center for Leadership and Innovation and our stature with the area business and economic development community. An incubator near the campus and the rapidly expanding international airport would have the potential to attract significant private support.

Accounting and Taxation MS. This new program can expect steady growth in the future. Under Florida Statutes, candidates for a CPA license must complete a fifth year of accounting and business education. The MS is already attracting a diverse mix of students, including graduates of our undergraduate accounting program, experienced accountants who have been anxiously awaiting an opportunity to take a fifth-year program and become licensed, and CPAs who have transferred to Florida from jurisdictions without a fifth-year requirement. Certain courses in the program are also starting to attract accounting and finance professionals, who want to upgrade skills in areas such as accounting information systems, international accounting and taxation, and the use of electronic resources in accounting and tax research.

Computer Information Systems MS. The general focus on technology in business is a significant opportunity in Southwest Florida. The area economic development leaders have identified technology, knowledge-based industry as a major emphasis in Southwest Florida. This translates into both immediate need and the ability to demonstrate that companies which bring professionals to the area will be able to further develop their skills with graduate degree programs. This would also have a powerful fit with the Technology & Business Incubator noted above.

International Business Programs. The initial success of the College's "Second Circle" Model presents tremendous opportunities for faculty development, student exchanges, American business certificate programs for foreign business people and students, distance MBA offerings to a world-wide market, and added value to the Southwest Florida economy. Further, most of this opportunity could be self-funding.

Hospitality & Tourism Programs. Hospitality and Tourism is a major sector of the Southwest Florida economy. The Marketing Department already offers courses targeted to this market, and is also linked to the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International industry group. The local chapter of Hospitality Financial and Technical Professionals regularly solicit Faculty presentations and provide scholarship for accounting and computer information systems students. Professional certificate programs targeted to this industry would further enhance the College’s responsiveness to the needs of its business stakeholders.

Other Certificate, Continuing Education and Life-long Learning. Building on the theme of partnerships with the businesses and industries located in Southwest, there will be several opportunities in the future to develop non-traditional offerings. The College and the Center already have significant linkages to the Health Services industry and programs addressing the business and technology issues of this industry should be much in demand. Other programs that could utilize existing faculty resources and meet community needs include: short courses targeted to agri-business and continuing education for professionals in accounting, finance and real estate.

Eight issues and concerns were specifically noted in the Candidacy Committee acceptance of Accreditation Plan for the College of Business at Florida Gulf Coast University, April 23, 1999. [A status report on these eight areas is provided in this section, and summarized in Appendix IV.]

"The College of Business will help set new standards of excellence with its academic programs, faculty accomplishments, and student success, while continuously reflecting the dynamic environment of modern business opportunities. The College’s model of partnership with its external business constituents will be a national benchmark that will constantly bring powerful knowledge into our undergraduate and graduate learning. The College will be an international leader in innovative ways of integrating technology and global awareness into the business education experience."

The Florida Gulf Coast University College of Business is dedicated to providing technologically progressive educational programs and services designed to enhance the skills and competencies of university students and working professionals in the five-county region in SW Florida. We achieve this through a variety of flexible partnerships, programs and scholarship within a 'second circle' model that bridges the university and the domestic and international community in a technologically advanced and rapidly changing global economy.

Goals
The following goals give direction to this Mission, and recognize that scholarship and service support the primary focus on teaching and learning:

Bachelor of Science Degrees: The undergraduate degree programs prepares students for careers in the fields of accounting, computer information systems, finance, management and marketing, as well as for entry to graduate programs. All undergraduate business students take a wide range of general studies courses, including required courses in economics, mathematics and statistics, writing and public speaking. The College of Business core courses then provide a foundation across all areas of business. Business faculty integrate the core competencies listed above throughout the curriculum.

Masters of Business Administration: The MBA (and Executive MBA) program prepares students for leadership in careers across all types of business, service and public organizations. The MBA program develops an understanding of the economic and social forces at work within local, national, and global economies and prepares students to succeed in dynamic work environments. The program emphasizes the application of analytical, technical, and behavioral tools to solve administrative, economic, production, market, and organizational problems. With the course work required for the degree, students will be exposed to core foundation concepts across all business disciplines. The appropriate use of technology, entrepreneurial approaches, understanding new organizational structures, and ethical and international awareness are integrated throughout the program. The College offers the MBA in a variety of delivery modes, including evening or weekend classes on campus and Internet or flex distance learning classes. The Executive MBA is a lock step weekend program open only to proven executives with at least seven years of managerial experience. EMBA classes meet at the Center for Leadership and Innovation. A cadre of "Executive Professors," many of who are retired Fortune 500 executives living in the area, enrich this, and other programs, by sharing their insights and experiences with students.

Master of Science in Accounting and Taxation: The MS-Accounting and Taxation program prepares students for professional careers in accounting and taxation. The program will focus on advanced technical competence in accounting and/or taxation, the effective use of technology in research and practice, effective communications with clients and other stakeholders, ethical responsibilities, global awareness and the development of life-long learning skills to maintain professional competence. The accounting track includes courses in accounting theory, international accounting and accounting information systems. The tax track includes coverage of entity taxation, international taxation, tax research and the taxation of estates and gifts.

Master of Science in Computer Information Systems: The MS-CIS prepares graduates for leadership positions in the information technology field. The program will emphasize the life-cycle management and development of computer information systems and networks. The program will provide a solid background in information systems management, systems analysis and design, database management and administration, information systems application, data communications and networking, project and change management, electronic commerce and contemporary business practices.

A second strategic factor was the need to show value in our academic efforts for our constituent business community, including the development of our international model. We wanted this to be done in a way which would make our College seen as an asset to global economic interests in Southwest Florida and, at the same time, enrich any international exchange for our faculty and students through connection to the international business community.

Plan. The concept we developed is titled the "Second Circle" Model. This title is to indicate that the heart of the approach involves using a College initiated international educational partnership to reach out and involve an interface with the business network in the partner country. The basic notion is to use College of Business international academic activity to connect to a circle of business and cultural environments beyond the university in both countries. The Second Circle approach involves several key ingredients.

First, it is essential to identify reasonable or appropriate international opportunities. For Florida Gulf Coast University, two logical areas were Mexico/Latin America and Germany. The first because of our location and the second because of the tremendous German tourist trade in our area. Second, we sought both university and business contacts that might help facilitate contact and initial discussion. We started with Mexico, using contacts developed at an U.S.- Mexico conference and our regional Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Building on careful planning and relationship development, we identified an opportunity with two universities in Campeche, Mexico. We evaluated both their interest in academic partnership and their willingness to include connecting us with the local business community as part of that partnership. The latter is not an insignificant matter in many public universities in Latin America, where the inclusion of "autonomous" in the university name suggests independence from outside influence.

Contact with several German universities was developed in a similar fashion. We sought help from our international airport officials and initiated contact through the business community to identify possible university partners. As word of our interest in Germany developed, we were also contacted by a university in Germany. These opportunities were then pursued with a visit to Germany, requesting to meet with both university officials and business representatives during the visit.

Results. The Second Circle program has been a tremendous success. Following our initial agreements with two Mexican universities, we have had a visit to Southwest Florida by one of their rectors (presidents) which included his vice president and three Campeche business leaders. Our president and one of our department chairs visited Campeche and met with both university and business representatives. Equally significant, we have had several respective business visits by Florida and Mexican executives, developed as a direct result of our FGCU College of Business initiative. We strengthened the business effort by co-hosting a Florida-Mexico Trade Conference. We put a Mexican airline executive on the program as a value point for our airport (Southwest Florida International Airport) and had 12 Mexican executives and the Governor of Campeche attend. The centerpiece of the conference was the signing of a "sister region" agreement between Campeche’s chamber of commerce equivalent and the Southwest Florida Economic Development Coalition, which is chaired by the FGCU Dean of Business. The event gave a significant lift to global thinking among our business community and showcased several of our new faculty. Florida and Mexican business discussions are exploring possible ventures. The College was included in a trade mission to Mexico City led by the Governor of Florida. Our airport has been engaged in discussions with several Mexican air carriers and cargo trade with other areas of Mexico, all through contacts we helped establish or strengthen.

Our second focus in Germany was developed through networking with both university and business contacts in two areas of Germany. German tourism in Southwest Florida has significant exposure for potential business partnerships. Our airport officials and local representatives of German owned companies have been valuable partners in this effort. Our initial trip to Germany has resulted in two "Second Circle" university agreements. This was then followed with visits by significant representatives from each of the German schools to Florida. Several months later, a business delegation from the state of one of the German universities came to Southwest Florida and a "sister region" economic agreement was signed between the Southwest Florida Economic Development Coalition and Saxony-Anhalt IHK. The delegation included the state minister of technology and industry from the Magdeburg region and the German Counsel from Miami. We expect to sign a similar agreement with the Pforzheim (Baden-Wurtemburg) region of Germany in 2000. A new partnership is in discussion with a university in central Germany. These German and Mexican business contact networks are new global relationships for Southwest Florida’s economic development, led by the FGCU College of Business. All of this activity has been accomplished in two years of our existence as a new business school.

Potential and Strengths. While we are a new College of Business, we have already been recognized for the contribution of our unique international model. The program was featured in the 1998 regional economic outlook issue of Florida Trends, the state business magazine, and acknowledged by the Florida Secretary of Education at a summer 1999 Mexico trade mission. In addition to its economic development role, our combined education/business approach will permit our faculty and students to interact with an established business network when they initiate research or academic activities in Germany or Mexico. A visiting German professor from one of our partner schools visited our campus for six weeks. One of our faculty will be visiting a German school this summer and teaching a distance learning class on their campus which will be available back in Florida. Three FGCU faculty taught in a management development course in Berlin as part of our partnership with a private German business school. We also now have a link to draw visiting international business leaders from Mexico and Germany into our classrooms in Florida. The area business community here sees us as an asset to their international economic development activity. A final, important measure of the Second Circle Model is the return on investment. Spending the same money any school might invest in developing a useful, but limited, academic partnership in another country, we have also added tremendous value for the area and Florida business stakeholders we serve.

March 14, 2000

We created the College of Business with a focus on partnership with the external business community of Southwest Florida. Within the mission of the University, the College sought to be a responsive and integral component in the economic development of the area. This focus was intended to serve several strategic roles for the College.

Strategy. First, the linkage of faculty resources to economic development trends in Southwest Florida would insure an image of value for the College within the external business environment. This would strengthen student placement and future efforts at external support. This was strategically important for a new business school with no alumni base or established, long-term placement relationship with area companies. Access to faculty expertise would also be a genuine influence on the economic demography of the area and be a point of emphasis for economic development leaders when recruiting new companies. The second aspect of a partnership approach for the College was currency and real-world exposure for faculty and students. As faculty became involved in the business environment, classroom activities and applied research would be strengthened and FGCU business faculty would be an integral part of helping move area firms to new levels of excellence. Such partnerships between the College and the business community would also have an influence on both partners achieving successful change in the dynamic climates of both global business and higher education.

Plan. The major elements in this partnership strategy were stakeholder input and the creation of the Center for Leadership & Innovation. The stakeholder effort involved interaction and participation in economic development and professional business organizations. This took the form of membership in economic development councils, the formation of College and departmental advisory boards, and extensive use of focus groups to help shape the curriculum and academic programs. The Center for Leadership & Innovation was conceived as an external facility and program umbrella that could serve to synergize various support activities with value to economic development. These included an Executive MBA Program, a Small Business Development Center (SBDC), a computer training facility, offices for State of Florida manufacturing expertise, and "applied faculty institutes" to enhance business access to faculty resources.

Results. The success measures of these strategic moves have exceeded expectations. The Executive MBA Program took value back to the business community from its inception and is now recruiting its fourth class. Several graduates are already in new leadership positions in top area firms. The SBDC is a major representative for the entire University in the business community. There are now eight faculty institutes developing grant support and a COB Director of Sponsored Projects who links faculty resources to area organization needs. The use of advisory boards and focus groups has generated a powerful sense of connection between the College and its stakeholders. More than 70-area business, health, and public organizations have been touched by COB faculty expertise. Most significant of all, over 60% of the College faculty have been connected to area businesses through these partnership activities in the less than three-year history of the new FGCU Business School. The College is clearly seen as a valued asset in the future economic growth of Southwest Florida.