By
Austin Morris
Staff Writer
The business school at ABAC has been on the decline for three years when Dill and Susan Driscoll became co-deans.
After peaking at 350 students, the business school lost on average 50 students per year. In only one year, the only business school co-deans in the United States not only stopped the decline, but actually made a great turn-around.
This year, the number of students in the business school increased from 256 students to 291. More than that, the level of excitement at the Stafford School of Business is feverish.
“As dean of business, I don’t plan on making it boring or not exciting because business is fun and it can be exciting,” Dill Driscoll told The Stallion.
He said he believed business degrees were some of the most important degrees anyone could ever receive. He said his goal is to make students more aware of what it takes to be a business leader — and not everyone is cut out to be one. "It takes dedication," he said. Even doing small things like just checking your email and responding back can make a huge difference.
He said he and his wife will do everything they can to make the business school grow here at ABAC.
Dill and Susan Driscoll have done that by increasing the number of incoming freshmen from 96 to 149 this semester. Dill Driscoll said they have worked closely with Donna Web to get the word out to the community and local business leaders that ABAC is no longer strictly an agriculture-based college; it has a broad degree program for people interested in business.
“The business school loses almost two thirds of its senior students, all because they are unaware of the possibilities and degrees we have to offer now at ABAC,” Susan Driscoll said.
Not only is there a broader selection of degrees, but there is now also a career center here on campus. The Driscolls pointed out two common misconceptions, however. One is that the career center is there to help students find a part time job; actually, it is designed to help students find a career for after graduation.
The second misconception is that students are entitled to a job because of a degree. In truth, students have to put in a great effort; the career center is there to help students, not do everything for them. This means students must fill out resumes, talk to people, and complete applications on their own, if they expect to successfully find employment.
The Stafford School of Business works side by side with the career center to help students get degrees but find work long after they leave ABAC. The Driscolls say they want to make sure every student who is interested in the business school finds a career they enjoy, and their aim is to teach the wide range of knowledge students need to be successful in all aspects of business.
Austin Morris
Staff Writer
The business school at ABAC has been on the decline for three years when Dill and Susan Driscoll became co-deans.
After peaking at 350 students, the business school lost on average 50 students per year. In only one year, the only business school co-deans in the United States not only stopped the decline, but actually made a great turn-around.
This year, the number of students in the business school increased from 256 students to 291. More than that, the level of excitement at the Stafford School of Business is feverish.
“As dean of business, I don’t plan on making it boring or not exciting because business is fun and it can be exciting,” Dill Driscoll told The Stallion.
He said he believed business degrees were some of the most important degrees anyone could ever receive. He said his goal is to make students more aware of what it takes to be a business leader — and not everyone is cut out to be one. "It takes dedication," he said. Even doing small things like just checking your email and responding back can make a huge difference.
He said he and his wife will do everything they can to make the business school grow here at ABAC.
Dill and Susan Driscoll have done that by increasing the number of incoming freshmen from 96 to 149 this semester. Dill Driscoll said they have worked closely with Donna Web to get the word out to the community and local business leaders that ABAC is no longer strictly an agriculture-based college; it has a broad degree program for people interested in business.
“The business school loses almost two thirds of its senior students, all because they are unaware of the possibilities and degrees we have to offer now at ABAC,” Susan Driscoll said.
Not only is there a broader selection of degrees, but there is now also a career center here on campus. The Driscolls pointed out two common misconceptions, however. One is that the career center is there to help students find a part time job; actually, it is designed to help students find a career for after graduation.
The second misconception is that students are entitled to a job because of a degree. In truth, students have to put in a great effort; the career center is there to help students, not do everything for them. This means students must fill out resumes, talk to people, and complete applications on their own, if they expect to successfully find employment.
The Stafford School of Business works side by side with the career center to help students get degrees but find work long after they leave ABAC. The Driscolls say they want to make sure every student who is interested in the business school finds a career they enjoy, and their aim is to teach the wide range of knowledge students need to be successful in all aspects of business.