Important Update from Dean Larry Benveniste

Dear Goizueta Community,

These are very difficult times that we all face. None of us are immune to the impact, from our portfolio losses to the uncertainty about our jobs. Emory University is not immune. (See President Wagner's letter, Opportunities and Challenges in the New Year) Goizueta Business School also is not immune. I want to take this opportunity to tell you how our School is affected and what we are doing in response.

I'll start with the obvious. A primary mission of our School is developing and supporting the career aspirations of leaders and no one does it better than we do. The current challenge is jobs. Last year we made significant new investments in career services and focused on better integrating the career services function into our programs and expanding outreach to bring more companies to campus. These efforts have paid dividends with a significant increase in on-campus corporate recruiting and better preparation of our students. In addition, we added career services to our Executive MBA Programs, and we continue to support alumni through Alumni Career Services.

Though these resources have helped cushion the impact on our School, we have seen a significant drop in career opportunities since January. Also, we have seen a significant increase in requests for career help from our alumni. With that in mind, we must redouble our efforts on the career front. I have asked for your help in the past and your response has been positive. I'm asking for your help again. Students and your fellow alumni need it now more than ever. This is a time for our strong community to come together and support each other.

If you have job opportunities suitable for our graduating students at any level from BBA to Executive MBA, call us. You may contact Wendy Tsung in MBA Career Management (404-727-1787 or wendy_tsung@bus.emory.edu) or Andy Rabitoy in BBA Career Management (404-727-4784 or andy_rabitoy@bus.emory.edu). Opportunities at a more senior level, for EMBA students and alumni, should be directed to Donna Stephenson in Alumni Career Services (404-727-9540 or donna_stephenson@bus.emory.edu).

Let me turn now to the broader status of our School. Goizueta Business School has always been a jewel. As part of Emory University, our business school has represented everything that is good about higher education. We are a small, intimate learning environment. Students and alumni are special to us. Commensurate with our size, we pride ourselves on offering small classes and also strive to offer services on par with the larger schools. Support in student activities, career services and other areas are second to none.

We also offer significant financial support to our students reflecting our commitment that the Goizueta experience should be available to the most qualified applicants independent of their financial position. As you consider your philanthropic endeavors, please remember Goizueta Business School. You may contact Maria Mazursky (404-727-6309 or maria_mazursky@bus.emory.edu) for ways you can make an immediate impact.

We are committed to sustaining the unique characteristics that have made us special. However, we are facing unique challenges. We are a very lean organization, and the annual fund and our endowment remain essential to sustaining our School as those resources support investments in students, faculty and operations. As of the end of the calendar year, our endowment is down approximately 25 percent. In addition, need-based financial aid is on the rise, and much of this aid is funded directly from operating revenue such as tuition. Thus far enrollments have held up fairly well, and we hope that will continue.

We are responding as you would expect. Our highest priorities are to preserve the character of our School and to continue to invest in our academic capabilities. We will remain strategic in faculty hires, take advantage of opportunities to add faculty strength, and maintain program size. We are adjusting our expenditures through a number of efforts, including no salary increases, cutting back on non-essential expenses such as food, travel and other items that will not adversely affect our core academic offerings. I am confident that these efforts will carry us through the academic year 2009/10.

It is difficult to predict what happens beyond 2010. Regardless, our plans and actions will reflect our clear priorities. We will first and foremost support and retain our academic assets. We also will do our best to continue to deliver high quality services to our students and alumni.

As always, I thank you for your continued support of Goizueta Business School.

Sincerely,

Larry

Lawrence Benveniste Dean of Goizueta Business School

About Emory University’s Goizueta Business School

Emory University’s Goizueta Business School is home to an Undergraduate degree program, a Two-Year Full-Time MBA, a One-Year MBA, an Evening MBA, the W. Cliff Oxford Executive MBA (Weekend and Modular formats), a Doctoral degree and a portfolio of non-degree Emory Executive Education courses.