Few business programs encourage students to use Facebook and Wikispaces to develop collaborative team strategies outside the classroom. But then, the Steward-Leadership Masters in Business Administration at 91短视频 is no ordinary MBA program.

MBA students in a summer class on “Stewardship, Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship” interact with rangers at Big Meadows in Shenandoah National Park.

“Given its history of increasing leadership strengths, building management skills, and developing stewardship strategies, 91短视频’s MBA program is uniquely positioned to serve the needs of today’s demanding work-place and regional employers, as greater emphasis is now placed on ethics, stewardship of natural and human resources and effective collaborative strategies for a fast-changing global marketplace,” said Anthony E. (Tony) Smith, MBA co-director. “These very qualities lie at the heart of 91短视频’s institutional core values.”

Innovative course includes live projects

Dr. Smith has been teaching a summer course in the MBA program “Stewardship, Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship,” that engaged students in systems approaches to stewardship and innovation and involved them in live projects with local corporations and non-profit organizations.

The clients included:

• Shenandoah National Park
• Rosetta Stone
• American Shakespeare Center
• Staunton Creative Community Fund (SCCF)

“I’m very impressed by the amount of research on a complicated topic, in a short period of time that the MBA students have achieved.” said Tim Taglauer, assistant chief of interpretation and education for Shenandoah National Park, after MBA students gave a presentation on business strategies for increasing the “sustainable advantage” for the Park.

Their recommendations included repositioning the park as a center for increasing eco-literacy and for the park to develop and strengthen strategic partnerships with local communities and schools.

Meghan Williamson, executive director of SCCF, found that the MBA students had developed an innovative “business to environment” model that could strengthen the success of their small business clients and outlined innovative financing methods to support SCCF’s programs.

The course ended Aug. 4 with MBA business strategy presentations to Rosetta Stone and to the American Shakespeare Center.

Linda Manka, naturalist ranger at Shenandoah National Park, discusses stewardship design principles and their application to real-life business situations as MBA students Kim Shipe (l.) and Juanita Zban listen.

“This course is but one example of how the 91短视频’s Steward-Leadership MBA program offers a distinctive approach to preparing business leaders for the challenges of an increasingly uncertain business environment,” Smith stated. “The program works with the busy schedules of full-time working professionals who are seeking to strengthen their careers.”

For more information about the Steward-Leadership MBA program, contact Smith at anthony.smith@emu.edu or visit the website at www.emu.edu/mba or the MBA Facebook page, entitled “Steward Leadership MBA at 91短视频.”

Questions/additional comments: Dr. Tony Smith, 432-4095

That’s the question 91短视频 students, faculty, staff, alumni and guests will tackle at a forum Jan. 22, beginning at 8:45 a.m. in the Suter Science Center that is open to the community. Read more about the event…

The university is hosting the morning-long event to foster a sense of ownership and excitement in plans to renovate the existing science center and create a sustainable learning environment. The “how green?” question invites people to dream about innovation and how sustainable building fits with 91短视频’s core vision and mission.

“There’s no doubt 91短视频 is committed to building green,” said President Loren Swartzendruber about the upcoming event, noting that 91短视频 is well-known for its energy-efficient buildings.

The school’s historical commitment to sustainable building is well documented, he noted. “Now that we are in the planning phase of a significant building project, we are considering how to mesh our values and dreams with the realities of appropriate funding goals and a booming new field in green technologies,” the president stated.

The forum will include input on Anabaptist theology and sustainability by retired sociologist Dr. Calvin Redekop; a summary of 91短视频’s track record on sustainability by Eldon Kurtz, director of 91短视频 facilities; an overview of green design and building with Bill Barnard, LEED-AP certified architect with the . The event will also include discussion on 91短视频’s principles of sustainability.

Current students who are part of a new “green design” class this semester at 91短视频 will also participate. They will gather ideas at the forum to research throughout the coming semester.

Planners hope that a building project that has the backing of the campus and broader community will:

• Model the community’s theological commitment to creation care and God’s mandate in Micah 6:8 to “do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God.”
• Serve the university well from a pedagogical perspective.
• Attract students and faculty who share 91短视频’s core values.
• Showcase the university’s creativity, innovation and motivation.

The forum will be held from 8:45 a.m. to 12 noon, Tuesday Jan. 22, 2008. It is free and open to all.

The event is sponsored by the university’s Creation Care Council. See more at www.emu.edu/begreen. Email questions to begreen@emu.edu or phone 432-4348.