Improving Social Impact within the Kelley School of Business

Transcription

1 within the Kelley School of Business April 13 th, 2012 Kelley Student Government Professional Development Committee

2 Table of Contents Table of Contents... 2 Executive Summary... 4 Introduction... 5 The Kelley School of Business Current Social Impact... 5 Babson College... 4 Carnegie Mellon University... 4 Pennsylvania State University... 5 University of Pennsylvania... 5 California State University... 5 Northeastern University... 5 Northwestern University... 5 College of William and Mary... 6 Analysis of Peer Institutions... 5 Kelley Student Government s Recommendation... 7 Works Cited... 8 Within the Kelley School of Business 2

3 Executive Summary Purpose of the Report The purpose of this report is to (1) assess the current level of social responsibility in the Kelley School of Business and (2) recommend an innovative program to increase awareness and response to this issue. Social Impact in the Kelley School of Business Students in the Kelley School of Business are heavily involved in philanthropic clubs and sustainability organizations. Civic Leadership Development and the Student Sustainability Council, just to name a few, have pioneered developments in this field within the Kelley School. Students are active in volunteerism as well as environmental projects in the local community. However the school has a long way to go before it reaches the status of other top business schools. No school-wide initiative brings attention to the issue of social impact. Our Recommendation We recommend that the Kelley School of Business host a conference on social impact, inviting students and faculty from schools across the nation to come together and share ideas. The conference should be a day-long event including speeches, panel discussions and break-out sessions. Implementation Throughout the academic year, the Kelley School of Business should plan and host a conference on social impact. Moving forward, the administration should: (1) Adapt the undergraduate curriculum to reinforce the ideas of social responsibility and environmental sustainability (2) Host a conference on social impact and develop the event into an annual destination for leading-edge thinkers in the areas of social responsibility and environmental sustainability (3) Encourage undergraduate students to develop innovative ideas to increase social impact in the Kelley School of Business Within the Kelley School of Business 3

4 The Kelley School of Business Current Social Impact The Kelley School of Business prides itself on its positive social impact. The school gives back to its local and global communities through volunteerism, and is working hard to create more environmentally sustainable campus buildings. The Kelley School and its students have created a number of clubs and organizations focused around the goal of social responsibility. One prominent Kelley club that shares this focus is the Net Impact Club, which is an international, non-profit organization. The chapter s goal is to inspire, educate, and equip individuals to create a more socially and environmentally sustainable world. There are currently more than 20,000 members in the organization, located on six continents, and the organization continues to increase in both size and impact. Civic Leadership Development (CLD), an organization within the Kelley School, partners students with local non-profits in order better the Bloomington community. CLD is responsible for the Civic Speaker Series, which brings local leaders from the non-profit sector to campus. These guests share their knowledge and inspire students to become active member of the community. Some recent speakers include: David Murphy, Founder and CEO of Better World Books, Jesse Kharbanda, Founder of Hoosier Environmental Council, and JT Forbes, Director of the IU Alumni Association. In addition to its many social impact organizations, the Kelley School places emphasis on protecting the environment and conserving energy. The Student Sustainability Council hosts an annual SustainIU week to bring attention to the issue, and brings speakers such as Ben Brabson to lecture on the topic. Additionally, Indiana University s Sustainable Research Development Grant provides funding for faculty members and graduate students for sustainability projects. The program s grants amount to about $10,000 per year and support faculty members efforts to increase sustainability through service-learning. Analysis of Social Impact at Peer Institutions Babson College From Day One: Making a Difference In 2010, a social responsibility program called From Day One: Making a Difference began at Babson College. The program focuses on educating students on how leaders of Fortune 500 companies improve corporate responsibility within their day to day practices. Students have the opportunity to meet with these executives through webinars, work sessions and case studies. The purpose of the program is to show students that it is possible for companies to see profit with three positive bottom lines. Carnegie Mellon University Transparency Initiative Since 2005, Carnegie Mellon has worked to teach students social responsibility through its Transparency Initiative. The initiative encourages faculty research in the field, a transparency Within the Kelley School of Business 4

5 conference that occurs at the university every five years, and pushes for the development of courses on the subject of social responsibility. The goal of this initiative is to highlight the importance of transparency within corporations and educational institutions, so that the public can be educated on their social impact. Penn State Courses on Social Responsibility The Smeal College of Business offers courses designed to teach students about social responsibility. Some of the most popular classes include Sustainability for Consumers, Firms, and Societies, Contemporary Issues in International Business, and Socially Responsible, Sustainable and Ethical Business Practice. These courses are offered to undergraduate students and educate them on sustainable business practices. University of Pennsylvania - Wharton Program for Social Impact The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania is one of the most respected undergraduate institutions in the nation. They educate their students on social responsibility through the Wharton Program for Social Impact. This program is a speaker series featuring entrepreneurial leaders in the business sector, highlighting successful social impact initiatives. Celebrity speakers such as Chris Ludacris Bridges have come to share their success stories. California State University Social Science Research and Instructional Center The Social Science Research and Instructional Center (SSRIC) is a conference hosted by California State University. Based on professional conferences, the SSRIC invites undergraduate and graduate students to come together and present their social responsibility projects. The day-long event occurs annually and includes a busy schedule of receptions, keynote speakers and break-out sessions. Students with particularly impactful initiatives are allotted 15 minutes to orally present their initiatives and highlight the key aspects of the 20 page written report required to attend the conference. Last year, 33 students presented their projects at SSRIC and that number is expected to continue to increase. Northeastern University - NS4G Social Impact Conference Northeastern University also hosts a conference on social impact. The NS4G Social impact conference is an invitation-only event that hosts nonprofit practitioners, funders, policymakers, business people, faculty, and undergraduate philanthropy students. The day-long conference focuses on the impact of the economy on social responsibility, microfinance initiatives, and the role of philanthropy in the present and future. Attendees interact in break-out sessions led by featured foundations, and compete for prize money in a video contest. Northwestern University - Innovative Social Change Conference The Kellogg Social Change Conference hosted by Northwestern University is similar to the NS4G Social Impact Conference and the SSRIC. The mission of the event is to bring together students who are reshaping the way the world views social impact. The conference focuses on Within the Kelley School of Business 5

6 the role of the corporate world in bringing about social change. The day-long event features speakers, round-table discussions, break-out sessions and a networking reception. College of William and Mary - Corporate & College Collaborative for Sustainability The College of William and Mary also hosts a sustainability conference, called the Corporate and College Collaborative for Sustainability. Over 100 students from 12 universities are invited to attend each year, to interact with leaders from the both business and non-profit sectors. Last year s corporate attendees included IBM and the Environmental Defense Fund. The event lasts for two days and provides attendees the opportunity to learn through round-table discussions, break-out sessions, and opening receptions. Kelley Student Government s Recommendation We recommend that the Kelley School of Business host a conference on social responsibility similar to those at California State University, Northeastern University, Northwestern University and the College of William and Mary. For its pilot year, the conference should be a one-day event. The schedule should allow students and faculty to engage with one another through break-out sessions and networking receptions, while also listening to featured speakers. Experts from both the business and nonprofit sectors should be invited to share their insight through panel discussions and speeches to the large audience. To improve the reputation of the Kelley School of Business in this area, attendees should be invited from universities across the nation. For the first year, we hope to invite leaders from other Big Ten colleges and then expand as awareness of the conference grows. The eventual goal of the event is to form relationships with other colleges, to share ideas about social responsibility. Within the Kelley School of Business 6

7 Works Cited "37th Annual CSU, SSRIC Student Research Conference SSRIC - Social Science Research and Instructional Council." SSRIC. Web. 10 Apr < "Corporate & College Collaborative for Sustainability." William & Mary School of Business -Â. Web. 10 Apr < ve/101001sustainsymp.php>. "Education." Penn State Smeal College of Business. Web. 10 Apr < "Index." CMU Contributed Webserver. Web. 10 Apr < "Student Conferences Kellogg School of Management Northwestern University." MBA, PhD and Executive Education Programs at Northwestern's Top-Ranked Business School, Kellogg School of Management. Web. 10 Apr < Events/Events/Annual_Conferences.aspx>. "Sustainability." Document Moved. Web. 10 Apr < "Wharton Social Impact The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania." The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Web. 10 Apr < "What Can I Do With This Major/Degree?" Web. 10 Apr < default.html>. Within the Kelley School of Business 7