April 1, 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:
Important information regarding logging in to WebCT!
Print Unofficial Transcripts from SOAR
NOTE FROM MARY D
SCHEDULE REMINDERS FOR WEEK 14
Simmons Entrepreneurs' Showcase
NEWS FROM THE SOCIAL CLUB!!!
SOM Latina Club

General Information

Important information regarding logging in to WebCT!
On Thursday, April 8th at 5:00 PM, Technology at Simmons College is changing how to login to WebCT so that you will only need to remember one password for both WebCT and e-mail.

This change will integrate your two userids so that you no longer have to remember separate passwords for these two systems.

After April 8th at 5:00 PM, please login to WebCT with your current e-mail password. If you wish to change your e-mail and WebCT passwords after this time, please do so as follows:
1. Go to http://my.simmons.edu/services/technology/login.shtml.
2. Click "Simmons Email and Login Preferences."
3. Type your username and password and click "log in."
4. Click "Change Simmons User pass
5. Type your current e-mail password and a new passwword." ord twice.
6. Click "commit changes."
7. Next time you login to e-mail or WebCT, remember to type your username and your new password.

If you are using a non-standard username on WebCT, such as a generic account set up for department administrators or a test "student," then your current WebCT password for that account will still work after this system-wide change.

In addition, we are enhancing security on WebCT so that your passwords will be encrypted and, therefore, not viewable in transit when you enter them on the login page. If you need assistance with logging in to WebCT or e-mail or changing your WebCT and e-mail password, please contact the Simmons College Helpdesk at 617-521-2222 or helpdesk@simmons.edu.

Print Unofficial Transcripts from SOAR
Current students can now print an unofficial transcript from their SOAR accounts! All you need to do is click on the "Transcript" link on the SOAR main menu, then choose either graduate or undergraduate, and an unofficial transcript will appear.
The document says "Unofficial Transcript" at the top, and includes only the student's name - neither SSN or Simmons ID number will appear on the document. Many students need this for tuition reimbursement so this will be a great feature for you!

A link to directions for obtaining official transcripts appear at the bottom of the document.

NOTE FROM MARY D
Two weeks to go!! All of you are counting the days until the end of the semester, many of you are counting the hours!! You all need one last push of adrenaline as you prepare for your finals and last set of deliverables. There is no question you are all working really hard and your efforts will pay off through how much you have learned. Hang in there and know that we are here in the MBA office if you need us!!

SPRING GRADES DUE DATE FOR FACULTY
Faculty will have through April 24 to submit their spring '04 grades on SOAR. SOAR will show any grade posted as it occurs. It does not wait for all grades to be submitted.

SUMMER REGISTRATION UPDATES
All students working on independent study proposals with faculty need to have the faculty member sign a project proposal form and bring a copy to the MBA office before we will register you for summer term. The IADM independent study elective with Deb Marlino is the only independent study that does not need this approval from the faculty.


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Schedule Changes & Course Information

SCHEDULE REMINDERS FOR WEEK 14

Identifying Bus. Opportunities has classes 8 and 9 on Saturday 4/10.

QA C was extended through 4/6 due to the snow day in March. This is also your last class.

Finance A rescheduled class from 3/16 cancellation is 4/5.

 

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Financial Aid Information

Financial Aid Updates

Summer financial aid awards will be available to students in the next few weeks. In order to receive your summer financial aid in a timely fashion, please be sure to have completed a FAFSA and a Graduate Supplemental Information Form for the 2004-05 Academic Year. You will be notified by mail if any other documentation is required.

Loan funds for the April term are expected to begin arriving on April 29th. Students who will graduate in August will have 2 loan disbursements during the summer term, one on or around April 29th, and one on or around June 17th. The refunding of any overpayments will begin within 14 calendar days of the credit occuring on the tuition bill. Please plan your finances accordingly.

For students who will not finance the bill using financial aid, the balance on the account will be April 23rd. All students can expect to receive their bill in the first week of April.

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

Student Account Representatives
Kevin Wolf x2011
Kevin Wright x2010
Nicole Torra x2009

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Meetings & Events

INTERNAL EVENTS:

Simmons Entrepreneurs' Showcase
Saturday, April 10, 2004, 9am-4pm
School of Management, 451 Marlborough Street, Boston
(behind our main entrance of 409 Commonwealth Ave.).

This all-day mini-conference will give students and alumnae the opportunity to hear from entrepreneurs across a broad spectrum of industries and businesses and learn how they have leveraged their own resources, talents, and capital to start a new venture. Join us for a day of networking, education, and inspiration.

Schedule

9-10:00am
Welcome and Introductions
Pathways "Elevator" Presentation-Morning Round of Four (5 minutes each, followed by 5 minutes feedback)
10:00 - 10:10am Break
10:10 - 11:20am
Rhonda Kallman, Founder and CEO of New Century Brewing Company
* Recent Inc. Profile: Twenty-five Entrepreneurs We Love for: Courage, Flair, Brains, Influence, Perseverance, Resilience, Tenacity, Drive, Optimism, Brilliance, and Vision)
11:20 - 11:30am Break
11:30-12:30pm
Panel Session: Creating and Starting the New Venture
* Identifying, Seizing, and Planning for the Opportunity
* Financing the New Venture
Keynote Panelists:
*Elana Fine, Revolution Partners
*Liz Levin, President, Liz Levin & Company
* Addie Swartz, Founder, B*tween Productions, Beacon Street Girls
12:30-1:30pm Lunch and Networking
1:30-2:30pm
Pathways "Elevator" Presentation-Afternoon round (5 minutes each, followed by 5 minutes feedback) 2:30pm-2:45pm Break
2:45pm-4:00pm
Panel Session: Managing Growth
* Strategies for Growth and Managing the Implications of Growth
* Building Social Capital Resources
* Accessing Resources for Growth from External Sources Keynote Panelists:
*Jenny Laden, Founder, Duende Communications
* Joyce Amaral, Founder, Yomega Corporation
*Nancy Bellantone, Founder, Movidea, Inc.
4:00pm Closing Remarks

Rescheduled for THURSDAY, APRIL 29TH, 3:30 - 5:15PM IN CR2
DON'T MISS IT!
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
Associate Professor Blake-Beard will present an introduction to Networking which will include: *Definition & Myths
*Why networks are important for women.
Part 2: BEST PRACTICES FOR EFFECTIVE NETWORKING
CSO Director, Wendy D'Ambrose will discuss
*Setting Networking Goals
*Making Connections
*Secrets of Success.

Attention International Students: If you plan to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) please save the following dates:
PART I: Overview and update on the process - presented by Sheila Murphy, Dean, Student Life Tuesday, April 27th from 11:30-12:45pm in the Career Services Office
Bring your lunch!

PART II: One on One Appointments with Sheila Murphy
Thursday, May 6th starting at 3:15pm in the Career Services Office

Engaging with Problematic Moments to More Effectively Work Across Differences
April 15, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.,
SOM, 409 Commonwealth Ave.

In your group interactions, can you recall a moment where the group felt collective discomfort and did not know how to move on? When all conversation stopped, or everyone suddenly began talking at once? This is called a problematic moment, and it occurs in groups when an uncomfortable theme that members are collectively avoiding is raised. In this one-day workshop we will explore the idea of a problematic moment in order to identify the difficult questions that need to be asked when building coalitions between affinity groups and managing differences in work teams. For details or to register, contact CGO at cgo@simmons.edu or visit http://www.simmons.edu/som/email/cgo/problem.html.

Alumnae Association Champagne Reception and Networking Event
The Simmons SOM Alumnae Association Board of Directors invites you to join them at this year's Champagne Reception and Annual Meeting. This is the best attended SOM alumnae event of the year, and alums from all over the US (and even overseas) will be there. Join alumnae, students, faculty, and friends at this terrific event which takes place annually on the eve of the SOM Leadership Conference. Delicious food, live music, and wonderful company await!
This is a fantastic networking opportunity for current students.

Friday, April 30, 2004 6:00pm - 9:00 pm
Seaport Hotel, Boston
Mezzanine Ballroom
Cost: Simmons SOM students discounted rate: $30
Simmons SOM alumnae and friends: $35

You can register online at: http://www.alumnet.simmons.edu/olc/pub/SNS/events/event_order.cgi?tmpl=events&event=1566686.0

Or, send check payable to Simmons SOMAA to Simmons SOMAA, 409 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215. Visa, Mastercard and American Express accepted. You can also sign up over the phone at 617.521.3825. Email any questions to somaaa@simmons.edu

Validated parking available. Directions: http://www.seaporthotel.com/seaport/Rightpage.asp?pid=7154366&PageID=9259892

EXTERNAL EVENTS:

From the Career Services Office
Forum USA - French Job Fair
The Office for Science and Technology of the French Embassy to the United States will conduct the yearly "Forum USA", in Boston on April 3, 4 & 5, 2004. (Hotel Hyatt, Cambridge)

Begin an international career by being recruited by a French company or its foreign affiliate. Heads of human resources, research and development division, and recruiters of some small businesses will set up interview slots with you. In 2003, about 80% of the job and intern positions offered were located in France, and 15% were located in the USA. The forum is open to candidates of all nationalities!
Please go to www.forumusa.org by March 12th to register!

From the Career Services Office

Women For Hire Spring 2004 Career Expo
Connect with top employers in all fields including accounting, aerospace, automotive, defense, education, engineering, finance, government, healthcare, insurance, law enforcement, marketing, merchandising, sales, restaurant management, retail, and much more.
April 6: Boston - Hyatt Regency Boston
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Free Admission.
Resumes and Business Attire Required.
Please visit www.womenforhire.com for details and registration information.

*Please note: in the past we have found this job fair does not necessarily yield MBA level opportunities but there are recruiter contacts that may be helpful if you are targeting a participating company.

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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.

NEWS FROM THE SOCIAL CLUB!!!

The MBA 5k is this Saturday, April 3rd! It is at Boston College, and Directions and race information is available at the following web site: http://www.bc.edu/clubs/gma/mba5kchallenge/mbaparticipants.htm
Registration is at 10:30, and the race starts at 12.

We will be meeting near the registration table...just follow all of the women!

Friday, at 11:30, a speaker will be coming in from Boston Sports Clubs to offer racing tips, and general suggestions on how to finish the race in one piece! All attendees will receive a free week membership to BSC!

Any questions, contact Nancy Bedrossian at nancy.bedrossian@simmons.edu

Also from the Social Club:

On April 8th, at 6pm, the Social Club will be sponsoring a Thai Dinner at Orapan's aunt's restaurant in Harvard Square. If you like Thai food (or are curious) please RSVP to bedrossi@simmons.edu so that we can estimate a head count. If you have any questions, please contact Nancy Bedrossian or Orapan Thanichopitan The address of the restaurant is: 16-18 Eliot Street Harvard square 617-497-8288 opposite Charles Hotel

SOM Latina Club
The first meeting will be held on Tuesday April 6th CR # 2 from 5 – 5:45 PM. The meeting will include the following topics:
1. Presentation
2. Club goals and objectives
3. Suggested activities including:

- Career: Career and Professional Development for Hispanic Professionals, Best companies for Hispanic, Our unique skills like bilingualism and biculturalism can be used to advance your career.

-Workshops: Networking essentials for Hispanic, Latino Styles, identities and work issues.

-Networking opportunities and memberships: Latino Professional Network, Boston (LPN), Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting (ALPFA), National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA).

If you would like to attend or have any questions please contact Marcela Aldaz Osorio at marcela.aldazosorio@simmons.edu.

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Career Services Office

Trends - Some of the latest Career-Related news!
Path from lab to boardroom open to women who take steps- What does it take for a woman to make the leap from the lab to the executive suite in biotech?
Read on at: http://bostonworks.boston.com/globe/articles/032804_biotech.html

Money Saving Tips for Job Seekers
Read at:
http://www.careerjournal.com/jobhunting/strategies/20040329-gunn2.html?home_whatsnew_major

New Opportunities: Don't forget to check Career Connect on a regular basis!
Just added this week:
Events Manager - PCi Corporation
General Manager - Housing Partnership Network
Marketing Intern/Extern - LoJack
Entrepreneurial Training Program Manager - American Street Financial Services Center Head of Corporate Training - Barry Callebaut (Zürich, Switzerland)

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.

For those interested in Marketing: Become a Volunteer for AMA Boston
Learn, Network and Maximize Your Investment in AMA Boston
If your goals are professional development and building networking contacts, the key to getting the most value out of joining the AMA Boston is to get involved with the group. Volunteer and seize the opportunity to add to your professional experience:
* Write press releases, email invitations or articles for the communications committee;
* Sell member directory advertising to increase revenue or negotiate in-kind trades for the sponsorship committee;
* Book speakers or manage event logistics and catering for the programming committee; * Develop recruitment and retention programs for the collegiate and membership committees;
* Join the board - the new board year starts in July and we are looking for new board members for several positions.
For more information on volunteering for AMA Boston, call (781) 647-7555; email us at volunteer@amaboston.org or visit our site at www.amaboston.org.

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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…..

Forbes - April 12, 2004 issue - "The World's 2000 Leading Companies"

Fortune - April 5, 2004 issue - "The 500 Largest U.S. Corporations"

New editions of the following books are in the library:

The Directory of Executive Recruiters 2003 - A comprehensive resource of executive search professionals.

AHA Guide to the Health Care Field 2002-2003 - A guide to United States hospitals, health care systems, networks, alliances, health organizations, agencies and providers.

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.

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TECHNOLOGY


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.

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SOM in the News

The Boston Globe has twice cited the recently released findings from the Simmons SOM/HP survey conducted at the SOM’s 2003 Women’s Leadership Conference. The March 16 article “Women often eye top jobs” focused on the results of the survey on women’s view on leadership and management. The March 21 Eileen McNamara op-ed piece “Recycled stereotyping” uses the survey’s findings to refute a recent Time magazine article on women opting out of top leadership positions.

The survey garnered more media attention when SOM Associate Dean Deborah Merrill-Sands was interviewed for both WBIX-AM and WBZ-AM Boston on March 16.

The March/April issue of BizEd magazine reviewed Reader in Gender, Work, and Organization edited by CGO faculty affiliates Robin J. Ely, Erica Gabrielle Foldy, and Maureen A. Scully, and published by Blackwell Publishing. The Reader is the definitive text on gender and work organizations and brings together historical contexts and current perspectives. BizEd reports “for anyone interested in the topic of women in business, the book is an illuminating read.”

SOM Professors Jill Kickul and Susan Sampson have had their paper “On the Forefront of Continual Growth: Women Entrepreneurs Leveraging their Capital Networks for Sustainable Businesses” accepted for presentation at the 2004 World Conference of the International Council for Small Business (ICSB). The research is based on recent findings on New Hampshire women entrepreneurs.

SOM Professor Stacy Blake-Beard was the moderator for a panel at the Conference Board’s Women’s Leadership Conference in New York City, March 17-18. The panel was titled Mentoring for Change in the Corporate World.
Blake-Beard also was a speaker in the Women’s History Month Series at Goldman Sachs in New York City on March 18. The talk was entitled Strategic Mentoring: Developing the Shareholders, Directors and Officers of Your Career. Xerox CEO Ann Mulcahy was the kickoff speaker for this series.

SOM Professor Mary Shapiro spoke to the Verizon WAVE group (Women’s Association of Verizon Employees) at its New York City headquarters on February 12. Shapiro’s talk, “Career Dilemmas Facing Women,” focused on two cases she has written about women facing difficult career choices that are impacted by gender dynamics.

In the March 26 Boston Globe article “Study: Most top venture executives male,” Jean George SOM ’87 and Sheryl Marshall SOM ’76 were shown as two examples of women who have become partners in Boston-area venture firms.

EVENTS
Simmons Entrepreneurs’ Showcase
9:00 a.m. – 4 p.m.
451 Marlborough Street, Boston


This all-day mini-conference will give SOM students and alumnae the opportunity to hear from entrepreneurs across a broad spectrum of industries and businesses, and learn how they have leveraged their own resources, talents, and capital to start a new venture. Join us for a day of networking, education, and inspiration. A sample of participating entrepreneurs includes Rhonda Kallman, Founder and CEO of New Century Brewing Company; Nancy Bellantone, Founder, Movidea, Inc.; Addie Swartz, Founder, B*tween Productions, Beacon Street Girls; and Joyce Amaral, Founder, Yomega Corporation.

Spread the word! If you know a woman who would benefit from a Simmons MBA, invite her to the following events:

MBA Information Session
Monday, April 12, 2004
6:00 p.m.
Fairmont Copley Hotel
138 St. James Ave
Boston, MA

RSVP at 617.521.3840 or somadm@simmons.edu

Join Dean Patricia O'Brien, alumnae, students, and faculty to hear their stories about the Simmons MBA experience. Learn what it takes to earn a Simmons MBA and how it will open up a world of possibilities and opportunities. Find out about our one-year accelerated program, part-time options, curriculum, career placement, financing your degree and the application process.

MBA Preview Session
Monday, April 26, 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.

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, 409 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02215
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paula.donaldson@simmons.edu