The SBE will continue to hire new faculty with good research potential, while encouraging and facilitating current faculty to expand their research output. Intellectual contributions, as measured by refereed publications has been increasing from 0.7 per full-time tenure track faculty in 1994/5 to 1.2 in 1995/6 [6.4A, item 2.2, page 2]. Although intellectual contributions are increasing and many faculty are active in their professional organizations, there remains room for improvement.

In addition, a few research or programmatic grants have been received in the last five years. Since 1994, two faculty have participated in three successful REF grants: $62,000 for "Utilization of a Cable Television Transmission System to Provide Networked Computer Services," $52,000 for "Building a Networked Community," and $25,000 for "Computer-based communications in environmental groups: the greening of cyberspace." Additional grants of $35,000 from Dow Chemical Company (1993) and $35,000 from Bucyrus Erie (1994) supported the SBE’s computer laboratory. In 1996, two faculty members received small grants from local organizations, the Upper Peninsula Rural Health Project and Upper Peninsula Power Company to study the level of underinsurance for medical treatment in Houghton County and to support student projects. Another faculty member will participate in 1997/8 in a three-year study funded by a $299,695 NSF grant to develop "A Multimedia Introductory Course in Electric Energy."

The new faculty can aid in improving scholarship, and new and clearer guidelines concerning scholarship expectations should help better focus the entire faculty’s efforts. Faculty data and computer needs are also continually under review and improvements are continuous.

University Goal 5: Provide a Rewarding and Challenging Work Environment in which Staff Meet or Exceed Expectations.

The SBE operates with a small staff. In addition to the Dean and Associate Dean discussed earlier, there is an Administrative Associate, a secretary, and a Coordinator of Academic Services, which became a full-time position in 1996. These staff changes should help the SBE better serve its many constituents.

Staff have access to in-house software training, to continuing education at MTU, and to a number of professional-development workshops and seminars, including self development and TQM. Yearly performance reviews provide incentives for higher salary adjustments and opportunities to upgrade job levels through the University’s reclassification process. During the last two years the SBE’s Administrative Associate and the building’s custodian were named outstanding staff members at MTU, after being nominated by the SBE faculty.

University Goal 6: Provide Comprehensive Information Technology Services.

Faculty have good computer facilities, and both students and faculty have access to ProQuest and Lexis/Nexis/Naars [6.4A, page 25 and 29]. Although the computer laboratory in the SBE is good quality, there are an inadequate number of machines (36) for the students. As mentioned in Goal #4, in the past, the computer facilities have been partly supported by grants from industry. The University’s Century II campaign has also funded $7,000 worth of computer equipment for the SBE in the last few years.

The SBE’s laboratory has four servers; two are NT mirrored, non-stop servers, and two are UNIX servers. All computers (for faculty, students, and staff) are networked within the SBE and provide access to University software and capabilities as well as the World Wide Web. Software includes a suite of Microsoft packages, as well as SPSS and LIMDEP statistical packages.

Library funding is sparse. Additional funds will be needed either from the University or from external sources in order to support the needs and growth of the faculty and student body in the School of Business and Economics.

University Goal 7: Develop the MTU Campus and Continuously Maintain the Physical Plant.

As the number of faculty increases, The SBE will require additional office space and a larger conference room [6.4A, Activity 5, page 25]. In addition, in order to provide a better sense of community, more activities should take place within the School’s building (The Academic Offices Building). The computer laboratory provides one activity. Recently, an undergraduate study room was temporarily created. However, with the exception of some computer-related classes, currently no classes are held in the building. A classroom(s) which could operate as a learning/team center for students or as a case study room is needed [6.4A, Activity 6, page 25]. Such a room might also be used as a conference room. As a result, this need is being entered into the MTU facility plan.

University Goal 8: Provide a Stable Financial Environment and Enhance Resources Acquisition.

The administration at MTU has been strongly supporting the AACSB process. However, although there has been some successful fund raising, it is modest relative to identified needs. As a result, the SBE hired an advancement officer in 1997 who will participate in the University’s advancement effort.

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