Microsoft Word 5yrMaintenance17aug2009jj doc

---

D. Comparison Groups:  Peer, Aspirant, and Competitor Schools 

 

Comparison schools were chosen by the LSBE Accreditation Team, with input from the LSBE 

Administrative Committee. Information used in making these determinations included extensive 

use of the AACSB Knowledge Services Business School Profiles, personal knowledge about 

programs and schools, phone calls and emails to administrators and faculty at potential schools, 

and information about the schools from their own web pages. 

1. Peer Schools 

 

Peer schools were identified as those who are similar to LSBE in the following ways: number of 

undergraduate business students; number of masters business students; number of full-time 

business faculty; number of FTE business faculty; percent of business faculty with a PhD; 

number of students on campus; and type of programs offered, so as not to choose those with PhD 

programs. The following are our peer schools: 

 

University of Alabama: Huntsville 

University of Northern Iowa 

Western Kentucky University: Bowling Green 

University of Massachusetts: Dartmouth, North Dartmouth 

Youngstown State University (Ohio) 

Eastern Washington University: Cheney, Spokane 

University of Wisconsin: Eau Claire, Whitewater 

2. Aspirant Schools 

 

Aspirant schools were identified as schools that have demonstrated excellence in one or more 

areas in which LSBE is considering making improvements or developing programs of study. The 

following are our aspirant schools: 

 



 

University of Colorado: Denver 



 

University of Missouri: Kansas City 

 

Our new strategic plan calls us to explore opportunities for introducing the concept of 

sustainability in LSBE activities and programs. With that in mind, the University of Colorado, 

Denver was chosen because it has a strong dedication to sustainability. Sustainability is 

incorporated into their curriculum and their Web page indicates that all colleges, schools, and 

programs have sustainability infused in them. In March of 2009, one of our faculty members 

flew to Denver for a full-day visit with faculty, staff, and administrators in the School of 

Business, with the express purpose of learning from their sustainability experiences. An 

extensive document was created from that visit that defines terms, outlines best practices, and 

makes suggestions for LSBE, as well as reports on many of the University of Colorado 

initiatives. The report was distributed to the LSBE Dean, Associate Dean, and to the 

Undergraduate and Graduate Committees. One charge for the committees for 2009–10 is to find 

ways to incorporate sustainability into our BBA, BAcc and MBA curriculums. 

 

---

Our new Strategic Plan also calls for us to establish a major in entrepreneurship in the BBA 

program as well as programs aimed at sustainable entrepreneurship in the community. With that 

goal in mind, University of Missouri at Kansas City was chosen because it has a strong 

entrepreneurship program. Dean Knudsen has gathered a great deal of information about the 

Kansas City program from the former dean of that school.  

3. Competitor Schools 

 

Competitor schools were chosen because LSBE competes with them in some significant way, 

either for students, or for faculty, or both. All are located within 200 miles of UMD. Competitor 

schools include the following: 

 

M

INNESOTA

 

College of St. Scholastica, Duluth 

Minnesota State University at Mankato 

Minnesota State University at Moorhead 

St. Cloud State University  

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities 

University of Saint Thomas, St. Paul 

 

N

ORTH 

D

AKOTA

 

North Dakota State University, Fargo 

University of North Dakota, Grand Forks 

 

W

ISCONSIN

 

University of Wisconsin: 

Eau Claire 

Madison 

Milwaukee 

River Falls 

Superior 

---