Around the FCB
R.I.S.E. - Redefining Investment Strategy Education) Global Student Investment Forum
Six students (five undergraduate, one MBA) from The W. A. Franke College of Business attended the ninth annual R.I.S.E. (Redefining Investment Strategy Education) Global Student Investment Forum held at the University of Dayton from March 26-28, 2009, thanks to sponsors Thom Gyder ('84 ACC) and Jim Upchurch ('80 ACC). The students were selected based on applications submitted by members of the FIN 432 (Student Managed Investment Fund) class.
The first day of the conference consisted of four 90 minutes keynote sessions: 1) Economy, 2) Markets, 3) Corporate Governance & Responsibility, and 4) Global Investment Issues and Responsibilities. In each session, a moderator and four investment/economic professionals gave their view of the discussion topic, followed by a question-and-answer session with students. Participants included Dr. Andreas Hofert (Chief Global Economist, UBS Wealth Management Research), Patrick Drosey (Director of Equity Research, Morningstar), Richard Fisher (President and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas) and John Surma (Chairman and CEO, United States Steel).
The second day of the conference consisted of four hour-long breakout session in which students met with investment professionals in smaller groups to discuss a variety of topics. Sessions included “Equity Portfolio Management,” “Socially Responsible Portfolio Management,” and “Risk Management.” There were nearly 100 investment professionals involved in these sessions.
Students also created a poster board reporting our portfolio performance for the 2008 calendar year. It was displayed at a networking reception along with those of other attending universities.
Our team also entered in the annual portfolio competition. Teams are ranked based on a risk-adjusted return measure. Only the first place teams are announced at the conference. I have written the University of Dayton and am awaiting word on how our team placed.
AACSB International Reaffirmation of Accreditation
The FCB periodically applies for reaffirmation of accreditation through AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. That process includes a site visit by an accreditation team comprised of Deans from other colleges of business. Our team visit occurred in November of 2008, with the official notification of the outcome made at the AACSB National Business Meeting in April. I am proud to announce that the college’s AACSB accreditation has been reaffirmed.
The visit team made a few suggestions upon which to focus as we prepare for the next reaccreditation visit expected to occur in the fall of 2013 while complimenting the college for our achievements, particularly in the area of outcomes assessment and engagement between faculty and students. The faculty and staff worked toward this goal for the past several years and we are all proud to receive this endorsement from the premier international business accreditation organization.
To learn more about the value of our accreditation, visit the AACSB International web site.
Sustainable Energy Solutions in the News
Feed-in tariffs driving solar
By CYNDY COLE
Sun Staff Reporter
Friday, April 17, 2009
Full article
"Northern Arizona University researchers recently found that investing in solar under current conditions is financially sound and that a $22,393 residential solar system was cut to $6,239 in price after rebates from Arizona Public Service and state and federal tax credits.
They calculated a 10.6-year payoff for such a system. After that, the power is essentially free, except for occasional maintenance of the system.
The real long-term advantage, they say, is that traditional energy costs are expected to increase while the costs of owning renewables won't.
'Given what has been happening to my other investments recently, the solar system has turned out to be a very good one,' said Dean Howard Smith, solar array owner and director of business and policy programs for the Sustainable Energy Solutions Group at NAU.
