Letter from the Dean

The start of a new year is always an exciting time on a college campus; and this is certainly true for those of us in the Bluefield State College School of Business.  I would like to welcome both our new students and those returning to campus after a summer of rest and relaxation.  We are glad you have chosen the BSC School of Business; and I think you will find your experience here to be both challenging and rewarding.  I encourage you to take advantage of every opportunity available at BSC, both academic and social.  Within the School of Business, Phi Beta Lambda and Delta Mu Delta provide an opportunity for involvement in service projects that benefit the college and community.  Also, the School of Business has developed an alliance with the Walt Disney World College Program, enabling our students to spend an internship semester at WDW.  The internship is a paid internship; and the School of Business works with each student to develop an academic plan during the internship period that will keep the student on-track for graduation.

In addition to welcoming our students, I would also like to welcome three new faculty members to the School of Business: Dr. Albert Berkoh- Assistant Professor of Marketing, Dr. Allan MacQuarrie- Assistant Professor of Accounting, and Dr. Brian Trill- Assistant Professor of Accounting.  These professors combine extensive collegiate teaching experience with a wealth of business and industry experience, giving them the background to make immediate contributions to our programs.  With these additions, ninety-percent of the faculty in the School of Business now hold a terminal degree- the highest percentage in our history.

We are proud that our Business Administration program is entering its ninth year of national accreditation by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), which is the premier accrediting agency for business schools focused on maintaining excellence in teaching.  Being a nationally accredited program requires a commitment of time, resources, and energy on the part of all involved- students, faculty, and BSC administrators.  As we begin preparation for our 2011 reaffirmation visit, we are committed to the maintenance of a culture focused on continuous improvement.  I think students will see the product of that commitment as they progress through our curriculum.

We received notification recently that our Mahood Hall renovation project has been approved for inclusion by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC) in an upcoming bond issue.  This will provide $4,325,000 for our project, with a requirement that BSC raise matching funds of $675,000.  When combined with funds previously dedicated to this project, the renovation project will have a budget approaching $6,000,000.  We are now making plans to vacate Mahood Hall at the end of the Spring-2010 semester; and we will occupy space in other buildings on campus for the 2010 summer and fall sessions.  We will return in January, 2011, to a comfortable, state-of-the-art Mahood Hall.

The BSC School of Business has submitted a proposal to the HEPC for a new baccalaureate degree program in Business Information Systems.  This program will integrate business and computer science courses to provide students a skill set that is in great demand in today’s business environment.  The U.S. Department of Labor has projected the information systems field as one of the fastest growing occupational fields through the year 2016.  The proposed academic program will place BSC graduates in contention for these highly paid positions.  Given the continued digitization of both the private and public sectors, continued high demand for graduates in this field is expected.  We anticipate HEPC action on our request by November-2009.

The 2009-2010 academic year is shaping up to be a very good year for the BSC School of Business, with new faculty additions, building projects, and the introduction of a new program.  Check this site for updates on our activities throughout the year.  If you have any questions concerning the BSC School of Business, please feel free to contact me at sbourne@bluefieldstate.edu.