MU’s Robert J. Trulaske Sr. College of Business is now ranked 75 in 2012 best undergraduate business schools, which is a jump from 86 in 2011, according to Bloomberg Businessweek’s ranking. The college was also ranked 86 in 2010.
Other than the undergraduate business schools’ ranking, the Crosby MBA program is ranked 27th among public institutions, according to 2013 U.S. News & World Report.
In order to meet the needs of today’s business students, the College of Business has created various new business programs, said the Dean’s office.
“We have created and implemented the 3D Learning Model at the Trulaske College of Business — a combination of relevant courses, out-of-classroom learning and applied experiences with a solid core curriculum,” executive staff assistant Christy Flood said in an email on behalf of the Dean’s office.
Flood said the major development of 3D Learning Model is the Professional Development Program, which engages students in out-of-the-classroom workshops to give them “real world” skills.
“We then put them through a class that assesses their readiness and then we network with the business community to generate internships for the literally hundreds of students eligible each year,” Flood said.
Flood said the school has hired faculty and staff members to accommodate the new model, which was an investment that has yielded dividends on every level.
“Our students are reporting favorable job placement at graduation and the State of Missouri sees results as we continue to develop well-prepared new talent, future entrepreneurs and executives,” Flood said.
Following with the school’s effort to improve overall business school’s quality, the school has witnessed the results of its efforts with increase in students’ enrollment.
“Student interest in the college and enrollment has steadily increased over the years,” Flood said.
In response to MU business school’s higher ranking, senior business student Jacob Westhoff said he was happy to see the College of Business continue to improve.
“I am extremely proud of our school, and I expect the school to continue rising higher and higher in the rankings and keep putting more work and effort into making it better,” Westhoff said.
He said the school has been supporting students with more job opportunities and internships through career fairs and with more of scholarships.
“I personally have earned (a) Robert J. Trulaske scholarship,” he said.
Sophomore Jae Hwan Song, another business student, said he has seen the business college grow in his time at MU.
He said between his freshman year in 2008 to 2009 and his sophomore year in 2011 to 2012, there has been a increase in opportunities provided by business school.
“The program called Business Suit Drive offers students business suits in cheap prices, which was not here when I was a freshman,” he said.
Westhoff said further changes could be made to improve the school.
“Now, the internships are mandatory for students but I think they (the school) need to be more tailored to each student’s situation, such as if they already have a job lined up, an internship shouldn’t be mandatory,” he said.