Robert,

This is huge! Thanks for representing us so well before the deans.

Kurt S. Schulzke, JD, CPA, CFE 
Associate Professor of Accounting & Business Law 
Director - Law, Ethics & Regulation 
Corporate Governance Center 
Kennesaw State University 
+ 1-470-578-6379 (O) 
+ 1-404-861-5729 (C)
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/kurtschulzke/  

----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Bird" <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Monday, November 16, 2015 3:07:51 PM
Subject: dean's conference and update




Hello, 



Last week, the Dean at Virginia Tech invited Janine Hiller, who in turn invited me, to present at the Southern Business Administration Association (SBAA), a Dean’s conference held in New Orleans. We took advantage of the opportunity and delivered an hour talk titled “Business and Society, Uber and Tesla: What’s Law Got to do With It?” The presentation focused on the importance of legal studies to the new economy as well as how legal education can be a source of business strategy and competitive advantage. The presentation was surprisingly well-received, and both Janine and I received requests for further information about how to embody these ideas in their business programs. One Dean asked in front of an audience of sixty administrators, “Is there an association that legal faculty like yourselves attend and share research and pedagogy?” And that was our perfect cue to promote the ALSB. I share this with the membership because of the positive reaction Dean’s may have to what we do in terms of improving their accreditation position, and also that information about our discipline may be effective when it is received externally at such a conference. It’s possible that Deans may be more receptive to hearing about us when it does not come from their own faculty. There may be other ‘dean regionals’ that may encourage a dean-invites-faculty format, and I encourage anyone who has an opportunity to do so. 



Second, a significant theme at SBAA was current and future thinking by AACSB. The president, chief accrediting officer, and chief communications officer, were in attendance. The key themes that AACSB is seeking to promote are engagement, impact and innovation . Our work in both scholarship and teaching can speak very well to all three of these criteria. In addition, themes that the AACSB was considering for its new visioning process ( http://www.aacsb.edu/vision/ ) were, among a number of others, “Business as a Force for Good” and “Effective and Ethical Management ”. These fall squarely into our core skill set, and can be promoted in what we do to good effect. Susan Willey suggested to me that ALSB members should incorporate such language into course syllabi, as well as discuss the role of our courses in meeting these objectives with other faculty and administrators. It’s a great idea, and a low-cost way of promoting what we do to present and future AACSB review committees that visit our institutions. 



There is much we can do, and from a variety of perspectives, to promote the discipline. I hope this helps. 



Best, 

Robert 



Robert C. Bird 
Associate Professor of Business Law 

Eversource Energy Chair in Business Ethics 
University of Connecticut 
Department of Marketing 
School of Business, Unit 1041 
Storrs, CT 06269-1041 
My research: http://ssrn.com/author=56987