Welcome to the School of Business and Economics (SBE) at Michigan Tech!

The SBE continues to build on a long history of excellence in undergraduate business education, which was recognized with AACSB accreditation in 2001. Over the past decade, undergraduate enrollment has continued to grow, but we retain a 14:1 student-teacher ratio that ensures personal attention. Our new fast-track MBA provides an intensive business education for science and engineering majors that will launch them into careers that integrate business and technology. We also broadened our economics graduate program to an MS in Applied Natural Resource Economics, which supports Michigan Tech’s emphasis on sustainability research and education.

The SBE is moving aggressively to take competitive advantage of being an integral part of a nationally ranked university with strong programs in science, technology, and engineering and a commitment to innovation and sustainability. As we align ourselves with these strengths of Michigan Tech, we are also developing our own core areas of expertise in finance, business processes and supply chain management, and technological entrepreneurship. Our faculty are studying the innovation process at home and abroad, and teaming with faculty in engineering and science on research projects that bridge the gap between business and technology. We hold annual joint meetings of the advisory boards of the SBE and the College of Engineering to brainstorm how we can work together to produce technologically-savvy students who understand the global business context as well as business processes from design to manufacture of new products.

Recognizing the importance of entrepreneurship to Michigan's economy, the SBE is moving rapidly to enhance entrepreneurship education. We encourage hands-on projects across the curriculum, with students working on projects with Caterpillar, Kimberly Clark, Ford, Northern Star Industries (manufacturer of BOSS Snowplow) and others. SBE students and faculty continue to lead in Enterprise, a signature Michigan Tech program: SBE faculty lead ITOxygen (funded with $1.2 million from the Dow Foundation), International Business Ventures, and Entrepreneurial Enterprise; SBE students lead PriSM, Formula Car, Husky Gaming and STC Arts. SBE faculty members have received funding from the National Science Foundation, National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance, and the DOW Foundation to advance entrepreneurship education.

CenTILE (Center for Technological Innovation, Leadership, and Entrepreneurship) continues to be an active participant in the SBE. We are teamed with Michigan Tech's Technology and Economic Development Office, its SmartZone incubator, the Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance , and the Small Business Association of Michigan to enhance education and opportunities for student, faculty, and community entrepreneurs and to explore ways to commercialize Michigan Tech's intellectual property.

These are just a few highlights of life in the SBE today, and we invite you to learn more about us by exploring our website.

Sincerely,
Darrell Radson
Dean