Smith’s information systems, supply chain/logistic and entrepreneurship programs also ranked among the nation’s best

The part-time MBA program at the Smith School is rated as the No. 10 program in the United States according to the latest U.S. News & World Report business school report. The magazine’s “America's Best Graduate Schools 2006 Edition” also places the Smith School among the nation’s best for its full-time MBA program and in several other business specialties, including information systems, supply chain/logistics and entrepreneurship.

The Smith School’s individual specialty rankings from the U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Graduate Schools 2006 Edition” are as follows:

• No. 5 Information Systems
• No. 12 Supply Chain/Logistics
• No. 18 Entrepreneurship
• No. 10 Part-Time MBA Program

“The Smith School continues to gain recognition for innovation and leadership in business education,” said Howard Frank, dean of the Robert H. Smith School of Business. “Our cutting-edge research and education is squarely focused on meeting the needs of a global economy, the demands presented by the intersection of business and technology, and an emphasis on building successful entrepreneurship. As a result, the Smith School continues to attract top-quality students and faculty, and rank among the best in the nation.”

The U.S. News & World Report rankings place Smith's MBA program No. 27 among all U.S. business schools. This follows the Financial Times MBA 2005 rankings, released in January 2005, which place Smith’s MBA program No. 20 among all U.S. MBA programs and No. 6 among all U.S. public business schools. The Wall Street Journal/Harris Interactive Guide to Business Schools, published in September 2004, names the Smith School as the No. 1 choice of management consulting industry recruiters.

The Smith School is featured as a successful example for its approach to experiential learning and putting business theory into practice in an article, “Is the MBA obsolete?” in the “America's Best Graduate Schools 2006 Edition.” The article mentions the school’s student-managed million-dollar investment fund and quotes Frank, “when students walk out, they’ve gotten the analytics, but they’ve also put it into practice in the real world.”

The U.S. News & World Report rankings are based on an evaluation of the nation's 377 accredited master's programs in business. The overall rankings are based on surveys of deans, academic directors, and MBA recruiters; school-reported MBA job placement statistics; and school-reported student data, including GMAT scores, undergraduate GPAs, and the proportion of applicants accepted by the school. The specialty rankings are based on ratings by educators at peer schools.

Dingman Center Helps Launch Upscale Shopping Guide, SHOPDC

Shoppers visiting Washington, D.C., now have a great, new resource for upscale shopping, dining and activities. SHOPDC, a magazine owned and managed by Rawlins Media. The publication’s launch this month follows a $7,000 investment from the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship to second-year MBA student and SHOPDC founder, Zoey Rawlins. The investment was part of the seed stage funding the center makes available to student-run, start-up companies.

The upscale magazine, to be published bi-annually and available in area luxury hotels at no cost to visitors, will include timely information on high-end retail shops, spas and galleries. Rawlins – an experienced shopper herself – founded the publication after recognizing a need for local information geared toward the high-end tourist market.

“It’s got the look and feel of Town & Country, but tailored to the Washington, D.C., market,” said Rawlins.

The Dingman Center was an instrumental resource in getting the magazine off the ground. Rawlins’ idea for the publication grew out of an exercise called the “Dingman Process” – a step-by-step approach to finding gaps in a market and developing products or services to meet consumers’ needs. The Dingman process provides a framework for the development of an idea into a viable business concept.

“This is a prime example of how the Dingman Center helps area and student entrepreneurs through every step of creating and growing a business – or what we call ideation, assessment, implementation and iteration – as part of the Dingman Process,” said Asher Epstein, managing director of the Dingman Center.

Visit the SHOPDC Web site for more information: http://www.shopdcmagazine.com/

Smith School in the News

The Smith School’s part-time MBA program is ranked No. 10 in the United States in U.S. News & World Report (4/11). The Smith School is also featured as a successful example for its approach to experiential learning and putting business theory into practice in an article, “Is the MBA obsolete?” that quotes Smith School Dean Howard Frank. Roland Rust, holder of the David Bruce Smith Chair in Marketing, offered insight into the late Frank Perdue’s unique approach to marketing poultry in The (Baltimore) Sun (4/2). The launch of a Smith School student’s new Washington, D.C., magazine was profiled in the Washington Business Journal (4/8) with mention of start-up funding from the Dingman Center and a link to the center’s Web site. Peter Morici, professor of international business, provides expert insight in a number of Associated Press articles that appeared in hundreds of news outlets on topics such as DaimlerChrysler (4/7) U.S. interest rates (4/6), and General Motors (4/5). Morici was also quoted in USA Today (3/28), Knight Ridder (4/6), The Wall Street Journal (4/6), The New York Times (4/5) and other leading business news outlets.

For more Smith School media highlights and links to articles, visit Smith School in the News.

Expectations and Date for May 2005 Graduation

Commencement Dates, Times & Places

University of Maryland Main Commencement Ceremony
Saturday, May 21 at 7 PM
Comcast Center
https://commencement.umd.edu/

Robert H. Smith School of Business Commencement Ceremony
Sunday, May 22 at 1 PM
Comcast Center
Reception at Van Munching Hall to follow. See details below.
Please bring friends and family. No tickets required, but please RSVP for the reception.

Graduation Speaker for the Smith School

We are happy to announce this year's commencement speaker, '97 grad Kevin Plank, owner and founder of Under Armour Performance Apparel. Kevin was the captain of the University of Maryland football team in 1995 when he developed his idea for an upper body, moisture-wicking compression garment for athletes. After graduating from the Robert H. Smith School of Business, he successfully created Under Armour and now is the official supplier to Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League, 30 NFL teams and all but nine of the 117 Division 1A college football programs. He has also won several business awards for his leadership including Business Week's Small Business Under 30 Award and Baltimore Smart CEO Magazine's CEO of the Year 2002. UM's Alumni site http://www.terptv.com has a great web video on Kevin.

Caps & Gowns

There is still time left to order caps & gowns! To order your cap, gown, hood and announcements, use the below link:

http://www.ubc.umd.edu/graduation/graduation.htm

Reception After Graduation

There will be a Reception held for all Spring 2005 Masters and PhD Graduates and their guests on Sunday, May 22. The Reception will take place in Van Munching Hall in the first floor atrium, immediately following the Commencement Ceremony.

If you would like to attend the Reception please RSVP to Gabrielle Graves (ggraves@rhsmith.umd.edu) by Monday, May 16 with the number of people that will be in your party.

Parking Information

To view a map of campus and to see where the Comcast Center is located, go to: http://www.parking.umd.edu/themap/.

Please note: Most parking lots on Sunday, May 22nd will be open, but please check signs at the entrance to each lot for restrictions. For additional information for Handicapped parking for the Graduation Reception in Van Munching Hall, please contact Gabrielle Graves (ggraves@rhsmith.umd.edu).

The closest parking lots to Comcast Center are: 9b and 4b and those closest to Van Munching Hall are: Lots U4, U5, Lot 1 and the parking garage outside of Van Munching Hall. These lots do not have a fee on graduation day.

Help Beta Test New Smith Wireless Web Site

The Smith Media Group has developed a new Web site optimized for wireless users, and targeted to Smith students. Please test out the site on your BlackBerry and send your feedback to info@rhsmith.umd.edu. With your suggestions we will fine tune and expand offerings for a broader audience. On the new site students will be able to access important school phone numbers, events, College Park weather, and university sports scores wherever they are! There is also a list of PDA-friendly links, including Yahoo and Hotmail.

Find it at: http://www.smith.umd.edu/text

Fifth Annual Netcentricity Conference
Imagining Tomorrow's Internet: The Convergence of Social and Digital Networks

Today, information technology (IT) in the form of a ubiquitous digital infrastructure allows economic systems, firms, and individuals to create seamless and rapid connections with each other. IT is the platform for the free flow of information, knowledge, capital, and other factors of production, and has resulted in the global marketplace we are witnessing today. Examples of digital communities and connections abound – they can be seen in the rapid growth of global sourcing, in the emergence of self-organizing open-source networks, in virtual communities in health care, and in the global penetration of firms such as Amazon.com and E-bay.com. However, although technology plays a crucial role in these networks, an equally important aspect is the social relationships that bind the players in the network together. Thus, value creation occurs at the intersection of the digital and social network. Join us for a one-day conference featuring thought leaders and cutting-edge research at the intersection of digital and social networks. Speakers include executives from Amazon.com and Washington Technology Partners. The program features panels on virtual communities in health care, open source networks, and global coordination of digital and social networks.

►Read More

Statistics Day to Feature Nobel Prize Winner Robert F. Engle III

Robert F. Engle III, co-recipient of the 2003 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences with Clive W. Granger, will speak at the Smith School on Friday, April 15. Engle is the Michael Armellino Professor of Management of Financial Services at the Stern School of Business, New York University. He was honored for his work in developing methods for statistical modeling of time-varying volatility. Engle’s models accurately capture the properties of many time series and are indispensable tools for researchers and for financial analysts, who use them in asset pricing and in evaluating portfolio risk.

Engle will be discussing models of dynamic uncertainty in univariate and multivariate systems in the Howard Frank Auditorium at 4:30 p.m. The lecture will be followed by a reception from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Engle’s lecture and the reception are open to the public without registration; please inform Rupa Jethwa Eapen (rjeapen@survey.umd.edu) if you plan to attend.

“We began Statistics Day to recognize the accomplishments of individuals who have made contributions to the theory and study of statistics,” says Francis Alt, associate professor of decision and information technologies. “We’re very pleased to have Dr. Engle joining us this year. His work is very relevant to portfolio managers, mutual fund managers, and others in the field of finance.”

►Read More

Smith to Hold First Entrepreneurship Research Conference

On April 22-23 the top entrepreneurship research faculty in the nation will join 30 Smith faculty in Van Munching Hall as invited participants in the First Smith Entrepreneurship Research Conference. “This conference is expected to be one of the premier research conferences in the country,” says Anil Gupta, Ralph J. Tyser Professor of Strategy and Organization, chair of the M&O department, and director of research for the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship. “Our goal with this conference is to strengthen the community of scholars seeking to address interesting questions and to create a forum for sharing research efforts that chip away at the areas of ignorance with regard to this highly important domain,” Gupta said.

Participate in Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Great Strides Walk

Help fellow MBAs make a community contribution! Participate or help lead a team in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Great Strides Walk!

Who is CFF?
CFF is a foundation established to ensure the development of the means to cure and control CF and to improve the quality of life for those with the disease. It funds medical research and care programs which are improving the length and quality of life for people with CFF. To learn more about what CF is, please visit this link: http://www.cff.org/about_cf/what_is_cf/.

What is the Great Strides Walk?
GREAT STRIDES is the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's largest, most successful and most important national fund-raising event. So many young lives depend on the vital, ongoing advances in CF research - to keep that momentum going, we need your help now, more than ever! Walking in GREAT STRIDES is such an effective way to add tomorrows to the lives of those with CF.

CFF is looking for people to act as "Team Leaders", who will organize their own teams which can be made up of friends, family, or coworkers. It's very easy to start a team and the walk is great fun for all involved. Participants contribute to a great cause and it is a wonderful way to get out, enjoy the spring weather, build team spirit and spend time with those you care about. There are walk sites all over the region so your team can participate in any walk that is the most convenient. The current MBA students, however, are focusing on the Washington DC Walk on May 4th.

To learn more about CFF and the Great Strides walk and to create a team, please visit the following website: http://www.cff.org/great_strides/

If you decide to participate, please email cgriswol2006@rhsmith.umd.edu to let her know your team name and where you will be walking!

If you have any questions or need any assistance forming a team, please do not hesitate to contact Caroline Griswold.

Rebuilding Together with Christmas in April

Saturday, April 23, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Join Smith MBA students in rebuilding a home for a family in need on Saturday, April 23, 2005. Smith students are partnering with the Fannie Mae Foundation for this one day event. The family lives in SE, Washington, DC and the homeowner is an elderly man. Volunteers of all skill levels are needed. Tasks to be done include: painting, trash removal, electrical, and carpentry

The event will begin at 9:00am. Food and beverages will be provided. Also, there will be a door prize drawing and a winner will be selected at the end of the day. So sign up for this fun event and join the Maryland community in helping a family in need.
Complete a Volunteer Information Sheet to express you interest. For additional information visit http://smithmba.dyndns.org or contact Keishana Myrie or Maieka Hansard at SmithMBACIA@Hotmail.com

The organizers are also collecting donations for this event. The level of funding provided by Fannie Mae is not enough to cover the cost of all supplies. Donations of any amount would be helpful toward this cause. Donations are tax-deductible and receipts will be provided. To make a donation visit http://smithmba.dyndns.org or contact the project team leaders at SmithMBACIA@Hotmail.com.

Minority Awards Banquet, Sponsored by BMBAA & HMBAA

Thursday, April 28th, 2005
6 p.m. -10 p.m. (Reception starts at 6pm and program begins at 7pm)

Please join the Black MBAA and the Hispanic MBAA for their signature event at which they highlight the accomplishments of their organizations and honor companies and people that have made noteworthy impacts in minority communities and beyond. This event continues the tradition set by William D. Bradford, former Chair of Finance and Associate Dean and Acting Dean of the Maryland Business School, of celebrating excellence in the African American and Hispanic communities!

Guest Speakers:

James DeGraffenreidt
Chairman of the Board and CEO of WGL Holdings Inc.
CEO of Washington Gas

Jose Antonio Tijerino
President and CEO of the Hispanic Heritage Awards Foundation

Location:
UMUC Inn and Conference Center by Marriot
3501 University Blvd., East, Adelphi, Maryland 20783
(For directions to the hotel and parking information, please see attached document.)

Ticket Price:
$15 for students
$30 for nonstudents

* Ticket Price includes dinner and 2 drinks during the reception.
A portion of all ticket sales will be placed in a scholarship fund for incoming Smith MBA students

Buy your tickets now! Seating is limited!!
To register and purchase a ticket, please go to the following site:

http://ee.rhsmith.umd.edu/ApplicationFiles/web/WebFrame.cfm?web_id=775

If you have any questions, or if your organization is interested in becoming a sponsor for this event, please contact

Torrey Lee
Black MBA Association
(202) 309-1139
tlee1@rhsmith.umd.edu

Upcoming Dingman Center Events

Smith faculty and staff are invited to two great Dingman Center events this month on April 21 and April 22. RSVP for both of these events to Carol Cron, ccron@rhsmith.umd.edu. 

A Back-2-Basics Panel Discussion on How To Spot A Winning Business Plan will be presented on Thursday, April 21 from 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. in the Executive Dining Room, 2517 Van Munching Hall. Panelists will include: our own Professors David Kirsch and Brent Goldfarb, Pete Howton, CEO, Gray Hawk Systems, and Robin Hacke, Portview Communications Partners.

Our last Dingman Day Lunch for this academic year will be on Friday, April 22 from 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. in the 3rd Floor Atrium. Our speakers will be Jeffrey Cohen, Quor Venture Advisors; Adam Lehman, Rock Ridge Ventures; and Ken Kratovil, a Dingman Scholar.

Jeffrey Cohen is a financier, operator and serial entrepreneur with a history of consistently identifying business opportunities and transforming those opportunities into market and financial successes. Adam Lehman has more than twelve years of experience developing new business opportunities as a strategist, dealmaker and entrepreneur. They will talk about their entrepreneurial experiences and answer questions from students. Ken Kratovil is a second year MBA student and a current Dingman Scholar. He will talk about some of the projects on which he has worked during this academic year.

Calendar Highlights:

4/15 & 5/6/05 Next Faculty & Staff School Assemblies 1:30 p.m., Rouse Room, 1412 Van Munching Hall.

4/15/05 Statistics Day: Robert F. Engle III, co-recipient of the 2003 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences ►http://www.statconsortium.umd.edu

4/19/05  New York City Alumni Reception, Hosted by Robert Kern ’75 and
PricewaterhouseCoopers ►http://www.rhsmith.umd.edu/alumni/

4/21/05  Back-2-Basics Panel Discussion on How To Spot A Winning Business Plan ►http://www.rhsmith.umd.edu/dingman

4/22/05 Dingman Day Lunch ►http://www.rhsmith.umd.edu/dingman

4/22-23/05 First Entrepreneurship Research Conference at Smith, Sponsored by the Office of Executive Education and the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship.

4/28/05 William D. Bradford Minority Awards Banquet ►Register Online

4/29/05 Netcentricity Conference ►http://www.rhsmith.umd.edu/netconference/

4/29/05 Joseph M. Wikler Finance Case Competition ►Find Out More

4/30/05 Maryland Day ►http://www.marylandday.umd.edu/

►Smith Calendar of Events

Campus Explores Voice-over IP Possibilities
Over the last few weeks, the campus hosted Voice-over IP RFP Focus Groups to gain a better understanding of the campus users' needs and expectations for campus telephony.

The goal of the RFP is to provide the campus with a vehicle for purchasing Voice-over IP technology as we refresh our telecommunications infrastructure, and as we renovate existing facilities, and build new ones. Currently, there are two VoIP test beds beginning this spring; one is taking place in Engineering, and the other in the Smith School.

Participants had an opportunity to see examples of products that are being considered, and then participated in discussions about their present communication needs and what they hope to see in the future. Several Smith School members had an opportunity to contribute to these discussions. We will keep you updated as we learn more about the possibilities of VoIP for the campus.

Blackberry Frequently Asked Questions
My Blackberry won’t sync wirelessly
Make sure wireless is turned on. If your battery was completely drained and your Blackberry is turned off, make sure after recharging the Blackberry that you turn wireless back on.

Messages I’ve deleted on my client are not gone from my Blackberry
The Blackberry deletes messages when it finds them in the trash folder of your Notes client software on your computer. Make sure your Blackberry is on and you have a wireless connection when you delete mail from your Notes mailbox, and it will be removed from your Blackberry at the same time. If a message is gone from your trash folder, or if you do not have a wireless connection during the time it is in your trash folder, it will not be deleted from the device. Messages older than 48 hours are deleted automatically from your trash folder and can be removed manually anytime you choose.

Also, make sure that “mailbox and handheld” options are turned on:
1. Go to Messages, click the track wheel, and click Options
2. In the Desktop section, highlight Delete On, click the track wheel and select Change Option
3. Click Mailbox and Handheld
4. Click the track wheel and click Save

What happens when my handheld memory is full?
When the Blackberry memory is full, the oldest messages are deleted from the handheld to create free space. The deleted messages will not be deleted from your Notes client.