High Tech Gifts Keep Colorado State’s College of Business Out Front in Developing Technologically Savvy Students

Thanks to recent major high tech gifts from OppenheimerFunds, Salomon Smith Barney and Kodak Colorado Division of Eastman Kodak, Colorado State University’s College of Business continues to hold the lead in preparing its undergraduate and graduate students for the business world of the 21st century. The college ranks in the top 10 percent of business schools in the nation for its use of technology, due in part to the availability of state-of-the art hardware and software. In the past five years the college has seen an increase of 93 percent in undergraduate enrollment and a 30 percent increase in MBA enrollment, according to Dean Dan Costello.

"It is vitally important that we keep our finger on the pulse of the global business environment and closely track technology developments," Costello said. "We are very diligent in staying current on the latest systems and practices and adjusting our curriculum appropriately to deliver the best programs to our students."

Thanks to both OppenheimerFunds and Salomon Smith Barney, Colorado State is the only school in Colorado with not one, but two Bloomberg System Global Database terminals. Bloomberg is the world’s fastest growing, real-time financial information network, combining news, data and analytics for more than 3.7 million securities worldwide. With this system, students can create fast, tailored analyses from across market sections. They are able to research markets, track competition, consider security alternatives and conduct "what if" scenarios. This gift has actually helped to alter the finance curriculum.

"This type of real-world experience gives our students an edge in the job market," said Glory Burns, instructor in the Department of Finance and Real Estate. "Employers are very impressed with our interns–they are just more prepared–thanks to our use of technology. This training means an incredibly shortened learning curve when a student becomes a new employee."

Art Zimmer, senior vice president and portfolio manager for OppenheimerFunds= Denver office, has been a longtime supporter of Colorado State students. "We’re very pleased that this gift has proven to be so valuable to students and faculty. We certainly think it’s a very important business tool."

According to Clayton Hartman, vice president for investments at Salomon Smith Barney in Fort Collins, the company has a corporate commitment to promote the learning process for students on all levels. "Our ideas of what skills are needed in today’s business world meshed perfectly with what Colorado State wanted to accomplish. We feel good about contributing to a smarter, better-trained work force."

Since 1998, the Kodak Colorado Division of the Eastman Kodak Company has funded new lab facilities providing the latest digital technologies. The new Kodak Faculty Multi-Media Lab is being designed to develop courses for online or classroom delivery. "Here, faculty will develop innovative approaches to how students learn so that learning is not necessarily confined by space and time," said Dean Costello.

Also, two Kodak Business Communications Labs are in place to provide designated student work space, advanced communications technology and technical expertise. Student labs support the business school’s goal of the "Communications Across the Curriculum" program, designed to enhance student business communications skills by melding traditional communications methods with advanced technologies. Students develop and test presentations by combining verbal and visual methods of message delivery. As part of the design, the labs and an adjacent multimedia classroom in Rockwell Hall are linked with cameras to allow faculty to observe students from remote sites.

"Colorado State University plays a vital role in our community and in education," said Lucille Mantelli, Director of Communications and Public Affairs for Kodak Colorado. " We are extremely pleased to be able to support the College of Business and their outstanding programs."

"Our mission is to prepare our students for constant change and increased competition in the dynamic marketplace of the 21st century," said Costello." We provide them with information and training that is current, relevant and innovative so that they will have sharp decision-making skills, confidence and vision. In other words, our students are prepared to become top-caliber managers."