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Incoming Freshmen Prepare for New Opportunities

August 31, 2009
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Undergraduate orientation

   Upper classman assist incoming freshmen.
The new school year has brought 525 freshmen to the School of Business for the start of what promises to be a life changing undergraduate experience. Almost a quarter of the incoming freshmen business students are international students from 30 countries including Bahrain, Brazil, China, Cyprus, Finland, India, Jordan, South Korea, Kuwait, Lithuania, Morocco,  Singapore, Turkey and Venezuela.

The freshmen participated in orientation Aug. 20 – 25, with events scheduled throughout the week for both the students and their parents. Students had the opportunity to hear from Dean Barbara Kahn and Vice Dean Neider at the academic deans’ meeting for new students on Sunday, Aug. 23.

“This is a very exciting time to be at UM,” said Kahn. “A lot is happening; we are in an extraordinary growth period and we are doing wonderful new things.”  Vice Dean Neider echoed her words and stressed to students that “the university community will provide you with many opportunities.  Break out of your safety zone – embrace diversity, seek new challenges, and make a difference while you are here.”

Students were given a tour of the School by peer counselors, engaged in team building exercises, and given advising guidance by key staff members from from the Undergraduate Business Programs office.  

Undergraduate orientation

   Students gather in Storer Auditorium during
   orientation activities.
Freshmen start their first semester with the innovative Management 100 course, called FIRST (“Freshmen Integrity, Responsibility and Success through Teamwork”) Step, which is designed to build esprit de corps throughout the business school and importantly, provide freshmen with opportunities to learn the interpersonal skills necessary to be successful in team environments.  The course utilizes interactive cases, exercises, and reading material focused on business ethics, social responsibility, and social entrepreneurialism.  Upper class students as teaching assistants work with the teams in conducting engagement projects within the broader university and Miami communities.  This year the course will be taught by Assistant Dean Ellen Marie McPhillip, Sheryl Alonso, management lecturer, Steve Ullmann, director of Programs in Health Sector Management and Policy and former IBM executive, Mary Young.

Other notable freshmen orientation events included an ice cream social, new student convocation with Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist George Will at the BankUnited Center, and a picnic at the home of University President Donna E. Shalala.

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    School of Business Administration
    P.O. Box 248027, Coral Gables, Florida 33124-6520
 
 
TEL: 305-284-4643
FAX: 305-284-6526