Dean of SBPM

A Message from Professor Prabir K. Bagchi, PhD

Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs at

GW’s School of Business and Public Management

I am pleased to report that GW’s accredited undergraduate programs in business and accountancy have been named among the world’s best. In September 2003, U.S. News & World Report listed GW’s undergraduate business programs in the Top 50 for the fourth consecutive year. Among the fields of concentration, students can select, GW offers highly regarded programs in international business, finance, and entrepreneurship.

This is an exciting time for the School of Business and Public Management (SBPM). Construction of a new $50 million business school complex began in November 2003. Located at the corner of 22nd and G Streets in downtown Washington, D.C., Duques Hall will bring all of the school's academic and research units under one roof and will feature high-tech classrooms, team rooms, a career center, and computer labs. It also will include an executive conference center and a capital markets room, where students can access real-time quotes and use proprietary software for financial modeling, trading, and portfolio management. Duques Hall, named for Ric Duques (BBA ’65, MBA ’69) and wife, Dawn, also a GW alumnus, is scheduled to open in 2006. View real-time images of Duques Hall construction progress at: http://www.sbpm.gwu.edu/~sbpm/about/buildingcam.htm.

The School also has launched an effort to strengthen undergraduate research. GW business faculty members are encouraged to recruit and collaborate with undergraduate business students in actual research projects. The new program is designed to sow the seeds of research in the young minds of undergraduates. Currently four faculty members will receive a stipend, while the students receive course credit for research. It’s an opportunity for undergraduates to gain valuable experience and work closely with a professor and potential mentor. The hope is that some of these outstanding undergraduates will eventually develop into famous researchers. Other new initiatives underway at SBPM include the broadening of global opportunities for undergraduates, such as our program where students can study European business at our Paris campus.

Our undergraduate students also have the opportunity to develop their leadership skills through membership in student organizations such as Delta Sigma Pi and Beta Alpha Psi, as well as participating in the slate of co-curricular programs offered by SBPM.  These programs, including the Mintz Sophomore Getaway, Back to Business, Leadership Retreat, New York Trip, and Project SBPM: Students Believe People Matter, reflect student initiatives to serve their fellow students. Unique is the fact that students manage these programs in their entirety, the co-curricular programs offer both excellent developmental programming for all students and hands-on leadership experience for the student teams.

For additional information about GW’s undergraduate programs in business, or if you have ideas or suggestions for improving our programs, please contact us at sbpm@gwu.edu. Together we can further improve our programs and obtain better recognition in the marketplace.