February 19, 2004

The mission of the Simmons School of Management is to educate women for power and leadership. Our management degree programs are designed to enhance the competence and confidence of women as they begin, further, or change their careers. Simmons students receive high quality management education in the functional, strategic, and behavioral aspects of business. Integral to our programs is the recognition of the role of gender in organizations.     

General Information

Schedule Changes & Course Information

Financial Aid Information

Meetings & Events

Student Clubs

Career Services Office

Library

Technology

SOM in the News
SOM Home   ||  Career Services    ||   mba@simmons.edu

Titles in blue indicate a new listing. Titles in maroon indicate a previous listing.

New this week:
SUMMER REGISTRATION
MBA GRADUATION SITE ANNOUNCED FOR 2004
Saturday Hours Reminder
Excellent Executive Education opportunity
CAMP CEO MENTORING OPPORTUNITY FOR MBA STUDENTS
BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION
5th Annual Social Enterprise Conference
Ethics Club
New Coffee Machine!
SCHEDULE UPDATES FOR WEEK 8
REMINDER: NEW JANUARY STUDENTS

General Information

SUMMER REGISTRATION
Materials will be distributed in student mailboxes on Friday, February 20. Summer Registration will open on March 1 through the SOAR system. SOAR is the online registration system for the College and is the only way to register. The documents will provide instructions for new January students on how to get their passwords to register, tracks of study for the summer term for all students in progress, registration information, the summer course synopsis and other important information. Elective descriptions and videos for most courses will be online. Elective classes may be capped, so if there is a course you are interested in, register early!

MBA GRADUATION SITE ANNOUNCED FOR 2004
Mary D is thrilled to announce that the Dean has approved the John Hancock Conference Center as the site of the SOM 2004 MBA graduation. We have traditionally held our graduation at Regis College, but the good news is that we have outgrown our space!

We have selected this site for many reasons, but primarily because of its size. It is big enough for students to bring as many guests as they would like and we will no longer have a ticket limit of five guests per student. For many years we have heard about the difficulties students faced in distributing graduation tickets when so many people have been involved in supporting them through the MBA program. We also know that many students have extended families as well, and the ticket limit was forcing students to choose which family members could attend. It is approximately 30% bigger than Regis, so it will not feel huge or sterile. This is very important because it will allow us to keep much of the charm of our previous graduations.

The John Hancock Center is a downtown Boston location that is in the heart of the financial community. It is easy to reach from public transportation and has multiple parking garages around it. It also will provide many restaurant options for graduates and their families after the ceremony.

For those of you who have been to Regis for past graduations, you will find the set up similar with tiered theater seating and a stage. We are confident you will agree our new site is a terrific choice! Much more information will be coming as graduation nears, but we thought we would alert those of you that need to make plans well in advance.

Saturday Hours Reminder
The MBA Office will be open from 8:30am-2pm on Saturday's when there are classes in session. This is a great time to stop in to pick up returned papers, pay for and collect business cards and get new student stickers! Contact Chris at 617-521-3812 if you have any questions.

Excellent Executive Education opportunity
Executive Education is seeking someone to interview female executives who are attending the Verizon Professional Women's Workshop March 1-5, 2004. The interviews will then be used to write an article for the summer edition of Network (Alumnae) magazine. This is a great opportunity to hone your interviewing skills, to meet some interesting women leaders, and to gain exposure in the Alumnae magazine.

Please contact Andrea Cole (Sanni) at 617-521-3834 or sanni@simmons.edu by February 25th. Thank you!

CAMP CEO MENTORING OPPORTUNITY FOR MBA STUDENTS
At a young age did you wonder what it would be like to open your own music store? Did you wonder how to turn your passion or hobby into a career? Do you wish someone would have helped you to ground your career / entrepreneurship dreams? Now that you are a professional woman how would you like to help a girl to make her career dreams come true? Well, here is a great opportunity for you to inspire young girls that have similar dreams which you had at a younger age. The Patriots’ Trail Girl Scout Council is launching “From Badge to Business”; this is a program founded by the Committee 200 to inspire girls of all ages to learn more about money management, entrepreneurship and careers in business. How you can help: join us next March 27 or 28 at Patriots’ Trail Girl Scout, Waltham, MA and be a mentor for one morning or one afternoon. If you whish you can continue mentoring a girl for the rest of the year. For more information please contact Marcela Aldaz-Osorio at marcela.aldazosorio@simmons.edu. Or maldaz@ptgirlscouts.org

BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION
It’s time once again for the annual Jungle Business Plan Challenge. We invite all active and would-be entrepreneurs to participate in one of the premier events of the business school calendar. Many teams that participate in our annual challenge end up with great contacts and even funded, growing businesses as a result of participating.
An overview of this year’s event:
* $45,000+ in cash and start-up services for the winning teams.
* World-class VCs on the judging panel.
* Multi-day semi-final/final rounds in Silicon Valley, April 28-30.
* The multi-day event has been designed to maximize exposure and networking opportunities for all 32 teams that reach this stage.
* Fast track progression to second judging round for all finalists from school business plan competitions – including prior year finalists (many schools have requested this since timing may dictate that finalists have not yet been chosen for school competitions this year).
* Networking events in Silicon Valley will include invitations for several hundred entrepreneurs, start-up experts, VCs, bankers and lawyers focused on start-ups. Hence, attendance at these events could lead to ‘magic’ even for teams that don’t win.
* Major sponsorships from Intel Capital and leading Silicon Valley law firm Fenwick & West give this year’s event unique scale and profile.
* Many finalists go on to start businesses, attract funding and become successful entrepreneurs.
* Coverage of the event in Jungle magazine and in national press.
* Deadline for submission of executive summaries is Friday, March 5.

All entry information can be found at www.JungleOnline.com/businessplan

New Coffee Machine!
The Mockler Building now has the same coffee machine as the 409 Kitchen. Enjoy the new flavors and single servings...the caffeine should give everyone the burst of energy needed to finish up the semester!

NOTE FROM MARY D
Next week marks the halfway point of the semester!! With any luck, most evening students have the day off on Monday and I hope you all do something fun this weekend or during the week if you are in the day program.

ACADEMIC CALENDAR
Below you will find the academic calendar that has been approved by the Dean and the Registar for next year. This will be posted on the web next week.

MBA Academic Calendar 2004 – 2005
Notes: In the academic year 2004-2005, classes will run Columbus Day, Veterans Day, and Martin Luther King’s birthday in the evening program. Classes cancelled due to weather related events will be made up on Friday nights and/or Saturday days when possible.

First Term
August 28, August 31, September 2 Foundations Classes for New Evening Students August 30-September 2 Foundations Classes for New Day Students
September 8 Classes begin for returning students
November 24-26 Thanksgiving Holiday Break
December 17 Classes End

Second Term
January 3 Classes Begin
February 21-22 Spring Break for Evening Program
February 21-25 Spring Break for Day Program
April 15 Semester Ends
April 18-April 22 Semester Break

Third Term
April 25 Classes Start
May 30 Memorial Day
July 4-5 Independence Day Holiday
August 3 Classes end
August 5 Graduation

Join local MBA students in a 5k road race and Harpoon post party April 3rd!

The BC MBA 5K Challenge is a 5K road race around the scenic Boston College campus in Chestnut Hill, MA. The day is designed to bring students, faculty, and alumni of local MBA programs together in a social atmosphere of friendly team competition.

Proceeds will benefit The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism, Inc.. Because of the charitable nature of the event, we invite you to bring along family and friends to participate. These registrants will compete as non-affiliated runners and will be eligible for individual prizes only.

See website for more detailed information: http://www.bc.edu/clubs/gma/mba5kchallenge/5khome.htm

Simmons SOM Spring Telethon
Tuesday, March 9, 2004, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Wednesday, March 10, 2004, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Simmons College, 300 the Fenway, East Wing, 1st Floor of the Advancement Hall

The Office of Development and Alumnae Relations (ODAR) is seeking volunteers for our Spring Telethon. Our telethons are an important component of achieving our Annual Fund goal, and also provide a great opportunity for students to meet and network with SOM alumnae who also volunteer for the telethon. Your participation is more important than ever during this challenging economy! Note that no experience is necessary – we will train! Please join us to help the SOM reach its goals for 2004. This year's priorities include: Entrepreneurship Initiative, Case Writing, Diversity, and the Center for Gender in Organizations. We provide delicious refreshments, good spirit, and great prizes to our volunteer callers. So check your calendars and contact Corinne Sirianos at 617.521.3825 or corinne.sirianos@simmons.edu to sign up. If you can’t be there in person, but you would still like to help, please drop us a line about the Phone from Home program, which allows you to make calls at your convenience.

 

top


Schedule Changes & Course Information

SCHEDULE UPDATES FOR WEEK 8
First class-Identifying Business Opportunity, Feb. 25, 6pm, 5th floor caseroom IADM will run its day section all week in an intensive format, M-F, 9-5pm. All other classes for the day program will resume March 1

REMINDER: NEW JANUARY STUDENTS
There will be a track meeting of the new January students who entered in January ’04 on Tuesday night at 5:15 in CR1.

BGGE Make Up Class
GSM 412 A will have a make up class on Wednesday, March 10th from 1pm-3pm in caseroom #2. This is the make up from the class that was canceled on Monday, Feb. 1st.

ROOM UPDATES
Identifying Business Opportunities, which starts 2/25, will be held in the 5th floor caseroom and not the Green room as originally scheduled.

Operations Updates
*New Refrigerated Machine
If you haven't noticed already, there is a new food machine in the Mockler building in the room down the hall on the right. Right now we have pineapples, tuna kit, microwave popcorn, slim fast, soup, etc. We are working on expanding the options for food....so keep checking it out!

*All refrigerators will be cleaned out next week, anything that is not labeled and dated will be thrown out.

Important IADM Information (GSM 426A Integrated Analysis & Decision Making)
 PREWORK REMINDER:
Prework for IADM needed to be completed by Feb. 6th. Details were emailed to all registered students and are also available on WebCT.

HANDBOOK ORDER REMINDER:
you must have your "Markstrat Online Student Handbook" in hand to participate in IADM. The handbook comes with a code that is needed to access the online simulation.

If you are ordering your handbook from the Simmons College Bookstore, you must call in your order by February 13th to ensure timely delivery. The bookstore is planning on ordering this handbook based on the number of student orders that are actually placed, so if you want to order from the bookstore, be sure that you call and place a formal order (this will require you to leave your name, phone number and credit card number). If you place your order after Feb. 13th please ask about anticipated delivery dates so you can plan accordingly. The number for the Simmons College Bookstore is 617-521-2054. Ask for Deb or Brook.

If you are ordering your handbook from the MarkStrat website or 800-number, please ask about anticipated delivery dates so you can plan accordingly. To order from the publisher go to the publisher's website: www.markstratonline.com/public/public_orders.shtml or call 1-877-stratx-1.

If you have any questions, please call Christina in the MBA Office at 617-521-3812.

top


Financial Aid Information

Financial Aid Updates

It's time to re-apply for financial aid! Students who wish to apply for financial aid for the term beginning in April should do so as soon as possible. You can complete your FAFSA online at fafsa.ed.gov. The Graduate Supplemental information form can be found on the website of the Office of Student Financial Services. Both of these forms are required. It is important to file your applications early so that your loan funds can arrive in a timely fashion for the beginning of the term. If you have not yet filed your 2003 federal tax return, it is OK to use estimated tax information on your FAFSA. The information can be corrected at a later date and will not affect the sum total of your loans.

If you have any questions about how to complete the application process, do not hesitate to call your assigned financial aid counselor. Counselors are assigned by the first letter of your last name.

Aid Counselors
Amanda Cornwall A-G x2033
Leslie Czwakiel H-J, M-R x2885
Heather Patenaude K, L, S-Z x2142

Account Representatives
Kevin Wolf x2011
Kevin Wright x2010
Nicole Torra x2009

top


Meetings & Events

INTERNAL EVENTS:

The Negotiation Edge: Effective Strategies for Women, April 12 -14

If you've already taken Professor Kolb's negotiation class, we hope your negotiations are going well, and that you're thinking about your BATNA, getting out of your own way, and creating agreements that work for you!

Now is your chance to help your friends and colleagues enjoy negotiation success by telling them about an upcoming executive education opportunity. This intensive 2.5-day executive education workshop is being offered at the SOM. In this workshop, participants will learn to:
*Improve the way they approach everyday negotiations
*Enhance their influence and bargaining power
*Reach creative agreements with reluctant people
*Make their value visible and achieve measurable results

Please forward this to anyone you feel may be interested in this important program. Detailed information can be found at www.simmons.edu/som/negotiationedge. Or, please contact Lisa Toby, Assistant Director, Executive Education at lisa.toby@simmons.edu or 617-521-3843.

We look forward to seeing your friends and colleagues at the April workshop. Thank you!

SAVE the DATE: TUESDAY, MARCH 16TH
Strategic Networking & Best Practices for Effective Networking
Don't miss this workshop on Networking co-taught by Associate Professor Stacey Blake-Beard and CSO Director, Wendy D'Ambrose. The session will include:
Part 1: STRATEGIC NETWORKING Prof. Blake-Beard will present an introduction to Networking which will include: *Definition & Myths and *Why networks are important for women. She will provide a framework to analyze your network and identify opportunities. Part 2: BEST PRACTICES FOR EFFECTIVE NETWORKING Wendy D'Ambrose will discuss *Tips *Setting Goals for an Event *How to work a Room *Secrets of Success.
When: Tuesday, March 16th from 4:00 pm - 5:45 pm
Where: Mockler, CR2 * This workshop will only be offered once, don't miss it!

EXTERNAL EVENTS:

From the Ethics Club:
5th Annual Social Enterprise Conference
Saturday, 6 March 2004, HBS, 8:30a.m. – 6:30p.m.
The 5th annual Social Enterprise Conference is presented by the Harvard Business School Social Enterprise Club and the Kennedy School of Government. With great speakers and opportunities to network in small groups, this is a terrific chance to take advantage of resources in our community. The theme for this year's conference is "Take Action" and encourages participants to become agents of positive change in their lives and organizations. Several SOM students have attended this conference in past years and enjoyed an inspiring day. This year’s speakers include Nancy Barry, President of Women’s World Bank, and Bill Bradley, former U.S. Senator. The cost is only $29. Check out the agenda – it is easy to attend for just part of the day if that is all you can afford, and the parking is free! http://www.socialenterpriseclub.org/conference/

 

top

 

Student Clubs

Student Clubs at the SOM are run by and organized by SOM students. The MBA Office Staff assists with the transition from one year to the next by gathering names of interested students and by setting up each club in WebCT.

Ethics Club
SAVE THE DATE - Monday, March 22, 3:30 - 5:00pm, Case Room II
Faculty Panel on Global Outsourcing of White Collar Jobs

BPO - Business Process Outsourcing. What happens when organizations outsource American white collar jobs? Who does this effect, what are the advantages and disadvantages, what are the economic impacts of such decisions? Have you experienced job losses due to outsourcing? SOM's Sylvia Maxfield and Simmons College Assistant Professor of International Economics, Niloufer Sohrabji will present a stimulating panel discussion, moderated by our own Cynthia Ingols. Join us for a unique opportunity to engage and debate these complex issues.

top


Career Services Office

We hope you are having a relaxing break!!!
February is Resume Month! Make an appointment with Ellie (jeffers@simmons.edu or X3855) if you need any help!!

Reminder: All internal and external events are posted in the Events section.

Celebrating Successes
Please join us in congratulating members of the class of 2003 who recently joined fellow employed classmates!
Here are the most recent New Jobs & Promotions:
Kerri Brophy, Marketing Manager Monster Worldwide

Jennifer Daley, Marketing Manager Cheskin--Consulting & Strategic Market Research, San Fran, CA

Sara McLean, Senior Financial Analyst (Marketing) Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., Las Vegas, NV

Tiffany Hogan, Planning & Allocation-Dresses, Suits, Coats The TJX Companies

Amy McBride, Director of Rehabilitation Healthpro Rehabilitation Management

Carol Sherako, Account Representative Rhodia Pharma Solutions

Amy Spurling, Marketing Manager Northstar Global Partners

Trends - Some of the latest Career-Related news!

Reebok signs footwear deal with Major League Baseball - Starting in 2005, the company will provide footwear for players, managers and coaches who are not contracted with other footwear suppliers.

Read on at: http://www.boston.com/business/articles/20
04/02/18/reebok_signs_footwear_deal_with_major_league_baseball/

Fighting Female Flight: A New Staffing Priority - As more working mothers seek lengthy leaves to care for their families -- or quit jobs entirely -- some companies are devising new ways to lure them back to work.

Read on at:
http://www.careerjournal.com/myc/workfamily/20040217-
chaker.html?home_whatsnew_minor

New Opportunities:
Don't forget to check Career Connect on a regular basis!

Just added this week:
Chief Financial Officer - Appalachian Mountain Club
Program Manager - Leapfrog Innovations
Financial Analyst - Harrah's Entertainment Inc.
Partner Business Development Manager - Be Free - a ValueClick Company

As a reminder, please keep your Career Connect profile up to date. If you forgot your username and password, please contact diana.cook@simmons.edu or (617) 521-3857 Please do not re-register yourself as past information about you will be lost. Any questions about Career Connect? Please do not hesitate to contact Diana.

top


Library

Reference Interviews - Reminder … stop by the library for help with in depth research projects and questions. Please sign up for a reference interview with Linda or Kathy. Times are available through out the day. As always, feel free to come by for any help you need using the databases and finding answers to homework questions and more…

Worth a Read…..

NAFE Magazine - First Quarter 2004 - Cover Story: "Top 30 Companies for Executive Women"

Gentle reminder: Reserve materials may be checked out for two hours.

Course packs - due to copyright regulations the library does not have copies of the course packs.

top

TECHNOLOGY

Media Services

CLASS TAPES
All of the class tapes are stored in the Computer Lab. We have a do-it-yourself method of getting copies of these tapes. Instructions are posted on how to make copies and lab assistants can help you with any questions you may have. You can bring your own tapes or copy to our used tapes free of charge. If you have further questions contact Bill Porter at porterw@simmons.edu

Computer Lab

NEW SOFTWARE:
We now have a multimedia production computer in the lab. Computer #12 in the lab (the one with the scanner) now has the following software installed on it: Macromedia Dreamweaver and the Adobe Creative Suite which includes the following programs: Photoshop, ImageReady, Illustrator, InDesign, GoLive and Acrobat Pro. Now you can scan and edit your images as well as build a website. If you have questions about this software please contact Bill Porter of the Technology staff.

Reminder: Food, drinks or cell phones are NOT allowed in the computer lab or study rooms, sorry. This rules will be enforced by lab staff.

Access to personal network folders in Windows XP
A Handout is available in the computer lab. It explains how to use a personal login to access your own network 100MB folder. It's a more secure alternative to saving files to the Student Data drive. Please be sure to restart lab computers after you use your personal login. Feel free to approach lab staff with questions about how this works.

Problems?
If you experience any problems with the computers please record it in the Problems Notation Log located in each study room or tell the lab staff.

LAB HOURS
The lab is open:
Monday - Saturday 7am-11pm
Sunday 7am-7pm

SOM Lab (staffed) Hours:
Monday - Thursday 4pm-7:30pm
Friday 2 - 5pm
Sat. & Sun 12 - 4pm
Bill Porter is also available for assistance Monday - Friday 9am - 4:30pm If the lab is not staffed and you need assistance call the Main Campus Lab @ x2769

PRINTING
Please note that PDF files and other documents that contain graphics or are memory hungry take longer to print than your common Word document. We have also noticed that some PDF's cannot print successfully in WebCT. If you experience this issue, try emailing the PDF file to yourself and then try printing from your webmail account. Also, printing from the color ink-jet printer takes longer than the laser-jet. Please be patient and refrain from sending multiple print jobs of the same document to the printer.

top

SOM in the News

STUDENTS IN THE NEWS
Eleni Carr received the following award: Management Forum Employee of the Year for The Home for Little Wanderers. Seven "Employee of the Year" awards are given annually, one for each region where The Home has programs and one for the Management Forum which includes each Program Director and Management staff from our headquarters, about 50 people in this group and 850+ employees agency-wide.

SOM Professor Dr. Deborah Kolb and the Simmons School of Management Executive Education Program continue to receive media attention for the three-day Negotiation Edge workshop. Featured last November in the Wall Street Journal, they have recently appeared in the Chicago Sun-Times, Salt Lake Tribune, and Sun News (Myrtle Beach, SC). The article’s author, Joann S. Lublin, participated in the workshop led by Kolb, and reported on the strategy and goals of the program and its participants.

The Teen Girls on Business Study by the Simmons School of Management and The Committee of 200 (C200) continues to appear in the media nationwide. Recently, the Study was referenced in the Holbrook (AZ) Tribune-News, Intelligencer Journal (Lancaster, PA), and Magic 106.7 FM Boston. Released in October 2002, the ground-breaking Teen Girls on Business study examined the key factors affecting girls' attitudes to their careers and their perceptions of business, and how these attitudes and perceptions differ from those of boys as well as across girls of diverse racial/ethnic groups. Also identified were key sources of influence - media, family, and education - affecting teen girls in their career aspirations.

Stacy Blake-Beard, Ph.D., SOM Professor and Research Faculty at the Center for Gender in Organizations, continues to receive press coverage for her research on the growing importance of women mentors. Blake-Beard’s study was most recently referenced in the article “Mentors, employees team up for success in the workplace” appearing in the Lincoln (NE) Journal-Star. According to Blake-Beard’s study, the number of women receiving mentoring assistance from other women is rising, and this “may signal that more women are in positions where they may act as mentors.”

EVENTS

MBA Preview Session
Monday, February 23, 2004
6:00 p.m.
451 Marlborough Street, Boston MA
RSVP at 617.521.3840 or somadm@simmons.edu

We invite you to attend our MBA Preview and participate in an actual business case discussion led by Professor of Finance Indra Collins Guertler. The MBA Preview will provide you with a sneak peek into our program and demonstrate how a Simmons MBA relates to your success.

Gender at Work: A Bold New Perspective
As they mark their fifth anniversary, the Center for Gender in Organizations (CGO) at the Simmons School of Management continues to garner international recognition as a source of innovative ideas, research, and practice on cultural dynamics in organizations. We invite you to join us for an important series of events highlighting CGO’s unique contributions and featuring influential thinkers on gender, work, and organizations.

New Leadership Models: Are They Really Helping Women?
March 25, 2004, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Does the “female advantage” exist or is it a myth? Join us to explore new leadership models and why they aren’t delivering the expected results for women.
Stacy Blake-Beard, Associate Professor, Simmons School of Management and CGO Research Faculty
Joyce K. Fletcher, Professor, Simmons School of Management and CGO Faculty Affiliate Deborah Merrill-Sands, Associate Dean, Simmons School of Management and CGO Faculty Affiliate
Karen Proudford, Associate Professor, Morgan State University and CGO Faculty Affiliate

All CGO events will be held at Simmons SOM, 409 Commonwealth Avenue. Schedule subject to change. To reserve space or for more information please email cgo@simmons.edu or call 617-521-3824. www.simmons.edu/som/cgo

top

Back to MBA Update Page

Simmons School of Management, 409 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02215
Copyright © 2003 Simmons College and others. All rights reserved.
Page maintained by Paula Donaldson
paula.donaldson@simmons.edu