The Princeton Review recently distinguished the University as being home to one of the most outstanding business schools in the nation.
For the ninth year in a row, the Leon Hess Business School was nationally recognized for its ability to provide students with a successful business education. The University is featured in The Princeton Review’s book “The Best 295 Business Schools.”
Schools such as Rutgers University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Rider University, Seton Hall University, and Rowan University, were also recognized in the Princeton Review’s book.
In a press release written by the Asbury Park Press, Robert Franek, The Princeton Review Senior Vice President and publisher, said, “We chose the schools we profile in this book based on our high regard for their academic programs and our reviews of institutional data we collect from the schools.”
Franek added, “We also solicit and greatly respect the opinions of students attending these schools who rate and report on their experiences at them on our 80-question student survey for the book.”
Gilda Agacer, Associate Dean of the Leon Hess Business School, said, as of Fall 2013, there are 1,002 undergraduate business students and 198 Master of Business Administration [MBA] graduates.
Agacer said the business school has been accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business [AACSB] since 1998; which is one of the reasons why the school was acknowledged.
Agacer explained that our strong faculty and scholarly reputation in terms of the business school’s publications and recognized journals is what sets the Leon Hess Business School apart from others. She added, “Our curriculum is very competitive with other schools; especially with those in New Jersey.”
Faculty and students agree that the business school is executing a beneficial program for those seeking the degree and it continues to improve throughout the years.
John Buzza, specialist professor, said, “The business school has improved considerably over the last five, 10 years. Currently, we are more in touch with the needs of Corporate America and are focusing our courses around that need.” Buzza said the school is making an attempt to position those who graduate with a business degree with knowledge that is relevant, current and transferable to the business world.
Andy Stern, graduate student with a degree in business marketing, took an entrepreneurship with Buzza. “The majority of the work was done outside of the class. The actual class time was spent discussing updates and brainstorming,” Stern explained. “He [Buzza] made himself readily available for any of our concerns or questions. We, as a class, thrived on his passion to see us not only start a successful business, but to learn exactly what it takes to do so.”
Stern is now his own boss for his fitness program, COREiculum.
Buzza believes the success of the business school is due, in part, to the commitment of the professors. “I think it begins and ends with our professors… The business school professors go above and beyond to make sure the students not only learn in the classroom, but transition that knowledge into the business world,” Buzza said.
Graziella Ruffa, sophomore business management major, said many of her business professors are enabling her to have a better, more well-rounded view of the business world. She said her professors are passionate, are unique in their approach, and they get their students actively involved in the classroom.
“They [the professors] want us to be successful and they’ll help us to get there,” Ruffa said. “They reach out to us.”
Ruffa attended the business Board of Trustees Convention Meeting as a student worker in the assistant to the dean’s office. She said she recognized the commitment they had to the business school and how they were always making an attempt to improve what was already efficient.
“You can see how close they [the Board of Trustee members] were,” Ruffa said. She added, “They were like a huge family; they really work well together.”
In the press release, Donald Moliver, Dean of the Lean Hess Business School, said, “We are proud to be named one of the best business schools in the nation for the ninth consecutive year.” He added, “Our MBA program meets the needs of our students at every phase of their careers and provides a truly personalized learning experience that prepares them to succeed and compete in the global marketplace.”
Charlie Pisciotta, junior business management major, agrees that the business school is doing well. “I think the business school is doing a good job of preparing me for the business world, many classes use real world examples that apply to today’s business.”
Pisciotta said the professors are diverse in their teaching techniques “which I think is beneficial because not all bosses or coworkers will act the same so I think it enhances the experience.”
Buzza believes the business school will only continue to improve in the upcoming years through the school’s teaching efforts. “There is a renewed commitment level among my colleagues to truly outperform the competition in the classroom and that can only mean higher success for our students upon graduation.”
