We at the University of Houston-Downtown College of Business are honored that you are considering becoming an active business leader in our prestigious Dean’s Executive Development Council.

The priority mission of the College of Business has two parts: graduating students who are prepared to assume the full responsibilities and duties of an entry-level professional position in the Houston Economic Region, and providing our graduates with the life long learning skills to grow and change as their chosen field changes. These goals have been established to empower our graduates to continue to have successful careers and contribute to solving society’s challenges.

We cannot systematically accomplish this mission in isolation -- we need assistance from various stakeholder groups. Specifically, we need to learn more about the skill set and knowledge base that our clients -- the employers who hire our graduates -- are seeking. We need to know how these needs are expected to evolve and we need an assessment of how effectively we are meeting those needs. Each College of Business academic department has an advisory board that provides specific input concerning the structure and content of the College’s curriculum.

The College of Business has the overall responsibility to move to the next level of excellence in an ever-changing global environment. This requires planning for the future in appropriate and innovative ways.

This goal is the foundation of a mutually beneficial relationship between the College and the corporate/business community. We need to have a two-way flow of information. We also need a commitment of support from the corporate/business community. Financial support is critical to maintain and enhance the quality of our academic programs. There are many additional ways to support this goal, such as student and faculty internships, guest speakers, executive in residence, etc.

Helping the College with your time, energy, expertise, and financial support is an investment that will yield great dividends in the future for the Houston Economic Region. Leaders do not respond to the environment, they shape the environment. With your help, the College of Business will continue to shape the leaders of today who will shape Houston’s future.