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| Roland E. Meidinger Center for Excellence in Business |
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| A Message from the Dean... |
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 Hello and welcome to the Roland E. Meidinger Center for Excellence in Business at Jamestown College. Exciting things are happening here at the Center, and more is in store for the future! Since its launch in the fall of 2000, the Center for Excellence in Business has positioned itself as a premier center for global management education with business programs that compare favorably with those of any liberal arts college in the country. Our respected, talented, and highly collaborative faculty are dedicated to doing everything they can to help prepare you, both academically and professionally, to become successful business leaders in the 21st century. Consequently, our motto here at the Center is "Your Success, Our Mission." Details regarding the Center and its current and future activities are found below. If you are seeking a high-quality business education in a small college setting, I invite you to become a part of our dynamic and stimulating community of teachers and learners here at the Roland E. Meidinger Center for Excellence in Business. |
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| Dennis Gash, Dean |
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| A New Model of Excellence in Business Education |
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| Academic quality in higher education has traditionally been measured in terms of the "inputs" into the educational process to which dollar values can be assigned, such as the number of faculty members, faculty salaries, percentage of Ph.D.'s, student/faculty ratios, and library collections. Although adequate levels of human, financial, and physical resources are necessary to make claims of academic quality, a new model of excellence is emerging that focuses on the value of those resources to students and parents in terms of their ability to generate measurable outcomes relating to actual learning and postgraduate achievement. In other words, this new model of excellence focuses on the "outputs" of, rather than the "inputs" into, the educational process. |
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| In order to achieve this vision of excellence in business education, Jamestown College established the Roland E. Meidinger Center for Excellence in Business in the fall of 2000. The Department of Business, Accounting, and Economics serves as the institutional home for the Center, which is composed of the Department and several ongoing programmatic, faculty, and co-curricular initiatives. The Center promotes excellence in business education by integrating both educational inputs and processes that are designed to generate high-quality student outcomes. |
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| As a result of this shift of focus, it becomes necessary to be able to determine the extent to which desired student outcomes are being achieved. Consequently, an integral element of the Center for Excellence in Business is an ongoing and comprehensive program of assessment of student outcomes in all of its programs as a method of measuring excellence in business education. Consequently, the Center for Excellence in Business is committed to the use of outcomes assessment results as a means to achieve its stated mission and broad-based goals, and to improve student academic and personal achievement. |
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| Our "Mission of Excellence" |
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| The Roland E. Meidinger Center for Excellence in Business fosters a comprehensive world-view in each of our students through an interdisciplinary integration of the liberal arts and business studies. Based on this foundation, it is our mission to pursue excellence in business education and to prepare students for successful professional careers, graduate studies, and a lifetime of learning, service, and personal growth. |
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| Vision Statement |
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| The Roland E. Meidinger Center for Excellence in Business has established a two-fold vision, which is to: |
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- meet the business and management education needs of North Dakota and the northern plains, and be the regional program of choice for freshmen and transfer students seeking baccalaureate degrees in business, accounting, and economics
- achieve and maintain recognition as a premier learning center and provider of responsive, innovative, cutting-edge management and leadership education in a technology-intensive, global economy
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| Broad-Based Goals |
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| In order to accomplish its mission and realize its vision, the Roland E. Meidinger Center for Excellence in Business pursues a set of broad-based strategic goals. They are to: |
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- promote a dynamic environment of academic excellence that emphasizes student learning in all programs of study
- enhance operational effectiveness and measure excellence in business education through comprehensive programs of outcomes assessment and continuous improvement that are fully integrated with strategic planning
- add significant value to student learning outcomes and postgraduate achievement by engaging in continuing curricular review and development
- develop ethical leaders who excel in a variety of organizational environments by contributing to the personal and professional development of students
- improve program content and delivery by promoting and engaging in a variety of faculty development activities
- enhance student learning through the provision of significant opportunities for international study, experiential education, and co-curricular activities
- foster a stimulating and effective learning and teaching environment for all students and faculty
- create program synergies by establishing and sustaining internal and external collaborative educational relationships and partnerships
- enhance visibility, reputation, and service presence by developing and sustaining community, regional, state, national, and international outreach initiatives
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| Center Initiatives |
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| In order to achieve its broad-based strategic goals, the Roland E. Meidinger Center for Excellence in Business is implementing the following major initiatives |
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- Accreditation and Certification of Programs
- Partnership with the Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER) at the University of Colorado at Denver
- Expanded Opportunities for International Experience
- Annual Invited Lecture Series
- Continuing Program of Faculty Development in International Business
- Membership in Nationally Recognized Student Organizations
- Expanded Internship and Experiential Education Opportunities
- New Program Development
- Distinguished Board of Advisors
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| Learn More About the Center's Initiatives |
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| Meet Roland E. Meidinger |
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 The Center for Excellence in Business was named in honor of Mr. Roland E. Meidinger, President of R.E. Meidinger Co. and longtime benefactor of Jamestown College. Mr. Meidinger earned his degree from the University of the Pacific, Stockton, California and received the honorary degree, Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa, from Jamestown College in 1976.
Mr. Meidinger has been involved with academic affairs throughout his life. He served as a member of Jamestown College's Board of Trustees from 1956 to 1980 and is a lifetime Trustee Emeritus. He was appointed to the North Dakota Board of Higher Education in February, 1981 and served one year as President. In addition, he was appointed Committee Chairman on Education, Natural Resources, and Public Lands for the North Dakota Constitutional Convention after being elected to the Convention in 1970. He was Chairman of the North Dakota Senate Education Committee from 1957 to 1963 and was a member of the North Dakota Education Facilities Commission from 1964 to 1968. |
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| Mr. Meidinger has had a wide-ranging career in business and in service to his state as a government official. He was a member of the North Dakota Senate for 12 years and was President Pro Tem. He has been President of the Greater North Dakota Association, has served as Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army, and has been a member of the Republican National Committee. |
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| Mr. Meidinger has also served the Jamestown community in various capacities. He is a former Director of the Jamestown Chamber of Commerce and was selected "Man of the Year" by the Chamber in 1968. He served on the Stutsman County Red Cross Board for 12 years, on the board of Central Dakota Nursing Home, and is a member of many fraternal, service, and professional organizations. |
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