November 20, 2003

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

Computer Lab

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
REGISTRATION UPDATES
Spring 2004 Course Material
NOTE FROM MARY D
Save the Date: Richard Hackman to Speak at GSLIS
Ethics Club

General Information

REGISTRATION UPDATES
Thanks to all of you that have registered, however we are still looking for a lot of you to finalize registration plans for the spring. Registration is open until Friday at 8pm, please register before that date. Anyone that is getting the message about a business office hold should be calling the student financial services office ASAP to get the issue resolved.

Capacities have been raised in Career Strategies A
*Accounting B on Wednesday night has closed unless you have a track requirement that forces you to take the Wednesday section. *Students with that conflict should email Paula in the MBA office.
*No elective has closed as of today, but International Marketing, Sales Management and Surveys for Action have very low enrollments and may be cancelled.

We have heard from a number of students that they would like to take the elective GSM 509 B, Identifying and Exploiting New Business Opportunities but can’t because of the conflict with Communication Strategies. We have successfully eliminated the conflict, and appreciate Jill’s flexibility to move her course dates!

Spring 2004 Course Material
The course material list for the Spring 2004 semester is now available on the SOM website. Go to http://www.simmons.edu/som/student_info/texts1.html to see what you will need for next semester. Call Chris (617-521-3812) in the MBA Office if you have any questions.

NOTE FROM MARY D
You are almost through week 11 and have less than one month left in the semester! When you come back from the Thanksgiving break you will have three weeks left in the semester! Everyone I have talked to in the past couple of weeks can't believe how fast the time has gone but also can’t wait to have a few days off!! You have all worked really hard and need to take some time next week to recharge and gear up for the last push of the semester. This also tends to be the time of the year when students feel the most stress around balancing work, school and family. Please use the Thanksgiving break as an opportunity to relax, and get caught up with family and friends. Go for a walk or to a movie, do something you haven’t been able to do as often since you started this semester. If you need any help putting things in perspective or managing all the upcoming weeks, please utilize the faculty and the MBA office staff. We are happy to help if we can!! Have a great holiday!

THE ALUMNAE BOARD IS RECRUITING STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES
Application Deadline: Tomorrow, November 21st

The Simmons School of Management Alumnae Association (SOMAA) Board of Directors invites current students to apply for a position on the SOMAA Board of Directors. The SOMAA Board, as the leadership of the Alumnae Association, has a mission to serve alumnae and to support and advance the SOM. We focus on strategic issues important to furthering the interests of both groups including: fundraising, accreditation, career services, marketing, executive education, and more. In addition, in conjunction with the SOM, the Board assists in providing all alumnae with Network Magazine.

We are recruiting for two non-voting member positions to be filled by current students from the Class of 2004 - one student from the full time program and one student from the part time program. In this role, you will represent the interests of current students, our pre-alumnae constituents.

Your time commitment involves attending all board meetings, held quarterly at the school, as well as monthly conference calls in the off months. Additionally you will be asked to work on a special committee or work on a special project. The term is for one year, commencing in January of this year and ending January 2005.

This is an excellent opportunity to gain experience working on a board, become involved and connected with the alumnae network, and have some say in the direction of the Alumnae Association.

If you are interested, please contact Jeanne Fuller, Board COO, at jefuller@110.net by 11/21/03. Please include a resume or statement of qualifications and interest. A nominations committee will make the final selections and present a slate of candidates for students to ratify in December.

 

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Schedule Changes & Course Information

Comm Strat-will run as scheduled. No changes have been made to this course.

Identifying and Exploiting New Business Opportunities will still run on Wednesday nights, but will delay its start until February 25. It will run through April 14 with one Saturday addition on April 10.

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Financial Aid Information

FINANCIAL AID UPDATES
Students are reminded that for the purposes of your financial aid, that the academic year begins with the summer term. All students, including students in the one-year track, will need to reapply for aid during the upcoming spring semester for the Summer term (which is a new academic year. Dividing your courses over 2 different academic years for the one-year track is a benefit for you financially. By borrowing over two academic years, you have increased your federal loan eligibility and reduced your necessity to seek outside loan assistance. You will be able to finance your entire summer term costs through federal programs, eliminating your need borrow through alternative loan programs, which saves you money over the term of your loan repayment. Federal educational loans currently carry the lowest interest rate ever, 2.82% while in school and 3.42% in repayment. Federal loans also have interest rates that are capped at 8.25%.

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Meetings & Events

INTERNAL EVENTS:

MBA Preview Session
Wednesday, December 3, 2003 6:00 p.m.
451 Marlborough Street, Boston MA
RSVP at 617.521.3840 or somadm@simmons.edu

If you are considering a Simmons MBA and want to make sure that it is the right choice for you, we encourage you to experience a Simmons MBA classroom firsthand. Learn how Simmons will prepare you for success!

EXTERNAL EVENTS:

Save the Date: Richard Hackman to Speak at GSLIS

GSLIS is pleased to announce the upcoming 2003 ISI Samuel Lazerow Memorial Lecture Program.

On Wednesday, December 3, at 2:30pm, in the Simmons Main College Building, Room C-103, Dr. Richard Hackman will speak from his recent book titled Leading Teams: Setting the Stage for Great Performances. The title of his talk will be, "What Makes for a Great Team?"

Richard Hackman is the Cahners-Rabb Professor of Social and Organizational Psychology at Harvard University. He conducts research on a variety of topics in social and organizational psychology, including group behavior, social influences on individual behavior, and the design and leadership of self-managing units of organizations. His recently published book, Leading Teams: Setting the Stage for Great Performances, summarizes his findings from two decades of research, teaching, and consultation involving work teams in organizations. The book identifies five conditions that, when in place, increase the likelihood of team effectiveness. The chapters of the book lay out in detail what leaders can do to create those conditions and to help members take full advantage of them. For more information about Dr. Hackman and his recent research, please visit http://www.leadingteams.org/about/author.htm.

THE 8th EUROPEAN CAREER FAIR AT MIT
* For students looking for permanent employment outside the U.S.
* Date: Friday, January 30, 2004
(followed by interviews on January 31 and February 1)
You must register and upload your resume ahead of time: Resumes are due November 25th.
Go to http://euro-career.com for more details.

Check out the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce calendar of events:
http://www.gbcc.org/

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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. Once we put you in touch with each other, you are off and running! If you are interested in participating or learning more about any of the clubs described below, please send an email to the contact person listed.

Ethics Club
SAVE THE DATE - Wednesday, January 14, 2004, 11:30am – 12:45pm
Venture Capital and the Role of Ethics

Join us as we welcome Michael Cronin, founding partner of Weston Presidio. With a long-term view of investments, venture capital partnerships represent a critical opportunity to engage the role of ethics in business development. Michael will share his extensive venture capital knowledge with us and highlight how ethical criteria impact decisions. Weston Presidio, with over $2.3b under management, has worked with entrepreneurs for the past 20 years to help their portfolio partners become industry leaders. They have invested in several dynamic companies, including Coffee Connection/Starbucks, Apple & Eve, Tweeter, and Zoots.

Finance Club Meeting
There will be a Finance Club Meeting on Monday, Nov 24 at 3:30 with Indra Guertler, light refreshments will be served. All are welcome. Location TBD

Note: To reserve meeting space or rooms please contact Karen Morrissey at karen.morrissey@simmons.edu.

Ethics Club
The mission of the Ethics Club is to serve as a learning resource to Simmons MBA students for a wide range of business ethics issues. The club will examine how ethical decisions impact business successes or failures. Areas of interest include sustainability, economic, social and environmental concerns; corporate accountability; ethical decision making; socially responsible investing; and social enterprise. The assumption is that ethical issues are complex business dilemmas for which better decisions can be found through ongoing discussion. Club resources can be found on the Clubs WebCT. Contact person, Lora Nielsen.

Project Management Club
It has been said that you lead people and manage projects... while that's an ongoing OB debate, take a step toward understanding project management and share your experiences with others by participating in a student group dedicated to Project Management. If you are interested please contact Allison Snow at allison.snow@simmons.edu

Consulting Club
Join the SOM Consulting Club!
The focus of this group is to learn about the different functions of the consulting industry, build on the knowledge learned in the classroom and network with other students working in or pursuing a career in consulting. Contact Alisha Uhlenbrock-Furst or Anna Paiz


Finance/Investment Club
Join the Finance Club! The focus of this group is to learn more about the topics of finance and personal investing, build on the knowledge learned in the classroom and network with other students working in or pursuing a career in finance. Contact: Andrea Binder or Paula Huston

Entrepreneurship Club
Are you interested in starting and growing a new business or expanding a current business?

Join the SOM Entrepreneurship Group which will:
*Provide an environment to exchange ideas and gather support for new ventures. *Sponsor outreach and community-based programs to further develop and formulate new businesses.
*Create opportunities to access area women business entrepreneurs and leaders.
Entrepreneurship is more than a set of tools and techniques for starting and growing a business. It's a mindset, a way of looking at things that is opportunity focused and creative. It's about passion -- doing what you love. It's about creating wealth in all its forms: money, independence, power and innovation. It's about challenge and persistence. And it's about creativity and writing new execution strategies for the way things are done. Contact: Jill Kickul

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Career Services Office

CSO Raffle:
Could You Use An Extra 50 Bucks? Don't forget to "Enter" by Tuesday (9/25)!
All of those who have a complete profile* in Career Connect by Tuesday, November 25th will automatically be entered in a raffle. The winners receive an American Express $50 Gift Check! There will be two drawings: one for the day-time students and another for the part-time students. The drawings will take place on December 1st. (during the track meeting for full time students. We will announce the winner in class for part time students). Please refer to your CSO Guide if you have yet to login. Any questions can be directed to Diana at diana.cook@simmons.edu or (617) 521-3857

*A complete profile consists of the following:
* Upload a resume to Career Connect (does not have to be a final draft).
* Under Personal Information: Please have your correct contact information including your phone number, email and local address
* Under Demographic Information, please indicate your expected year of graduation.
* Under Job Search Criteria: Please select whether or not you authorize the CSO to send your resume to employers. Also, select your target industries and functions.
* Under additional Information, choose your preferred geographic location(s).
* Under Mischellenious Information: Indicate your years of work experience, and previous industry and function.

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.

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Library

Library Hours during Thanksgiving Week: Wednesday, Nov. 26, 8:00 a.m. - 12 noon, Thursday, Nov. 27 - Closed, Friday, Nov. 28 - Unstaffed, Saturday, Nov. 29, Unstaffed and Sunday, Nov. 30, 12 noon - 6:00 p.m.

Morningstar Mutual Funds - We have converted our Morningstar Mutual Funds subscription from CD to online. The online version can be accessed from the Business E-Resources Quicklist on the SOM Library web page.

AskNow - Simmons College Libraries' version of live reference assistance from your own computer is available once again, Sundays - Thursdays, 1:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m., Fridays, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. and Saturdays, 12:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Visit this portion of the library web site to learn more.
http://www.simmons.edu/resources/libraries/asknow/

Suggestions/Need help? We want your suggestions. Please share them with any member of the Library team. And if you need help just ask!

Have you seen?

Business Week - November 24, Lead article "Heiress in Handcuffs", profiles the rise and fall of Lea Fastow in her role as Enron's former assistant treasurer, and the wife of former CFO Andy Fastow. An incredible story! (Hard copy available in the library)

Also, in the same issue, The Web Smart 50, profiles top companies that are using the Web and innovative technology to shake up their industries. (Hard copy available in the library)

Business 2.0 - December 2003, Cover story: How to Succeed in 2004 - 18 Leaders Reveal What Works Now (Hard copy available in the library)

Consulting Magazine - November / December 2003, Cover story: The 10 Best Consulting Firms to Work For, 2003 (Hard copy available in the library)

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

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Computer Lab

LATEST NEWS
Bill Porter will be in until 10am weekdays until Nov. 22nd. Traci Keen will be in the office to cover media and computer lab responsibilities when Bill is at the main campus. She can be found in the computer lab at x3856.

CLASS TAPES
All of the class tapes are stored in the Computer Lab. We now 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 @ porterw@simmons.edu

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 & Traci Keen (Lab Managers) are 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

Patricia Clarke, assistant professor of finance, co-authored "Lucent Technologies: Growth Projections, Analyst Recommendations, and Financial Distress," a case study published in Advances in Financial Education, Fall 2003.

Joyce K. Fletcher, CGO Faculty Affiliate and SOM Visiting Professor, was quoted in the article "Standing against bias" in the October 27, 2003 edition of the Christian Science Monitor.

SOM Professor Dr. Deborah Kolb and the Simmons School of Management Executive Education Program were prominently featured in the November 4 Wall Street Journal article, “Women Fall Behind When They Don’t Hone Negotiation Skills.” The article’s author, Joann S. Lublin, participated in “Negotiation Edge,” a popular three-day workshop led by Kolb for women executives, and reports on the strategy and goals of the program and its participants. According to Lublin, just one key piece of advice from Kolb is positioning yourself well: “figure out the other side’s hidden agenda, devise an alternative if you can’t reach agreement, and plan to deflect moves that put you on the defensive.” The article was reprinted in the American Society for Training and Development’s The Buzz e-newsletter.

EVENTS

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.

From Talk to Walk: Gender Equity & Gender Mainstreaming
February 10, 2004, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Struggling with how to move gender equity from idea to reality? Presenters will discuss gender equity in organizations by exploring efforts to effectively incorporate women into defense policymaking, and the United Nations institutional commitment to “mainstream gender” into peace and security policy.
Carol Cohn, Joint Senior Fellow, CGO and Wellesley College
Laura Roskos, Former CGO Postdoctoral Fellow

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

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