Robinson Named to Top 100 in Aspen Institute Ranking
Praised for integrating social, environmental and cultural issues into MBA programs

October 22, 2009 - (NEW YORK) - Georgia State University's J. Mack Robinson College of Business is ranked among the top 100 business schools worldwide for leadership in integrating social, environmental and ethical issues into its MBA programs, according to the Aspen Institute's 2009-2010 edition of Beyond Grey Pinstripes, a biennial survey and alternative ranking of business schools. Robinson ranked 85^th in its inaugural appearance on the list. It is the only business school in Georgia to gain the distinction.
 
According to Steve Olson, director of Robinson's Center for Ethics and Corporate Responsibility, "For a business school to be truly effective in preparing future leaders, it must incorporate issues of ethics, sustainability and social responsibility into its curriculum. We are honored that the Aspen Institute has recognized the Robinson College and its MBA programs for doing just that."
 
While many MBA rankings exist, Beyond Grey Pinstripes is the only one that looks beyond reputation and test scores to measure how well schools are preparing their students for the environmental, social and ethical complexities of modern-day business.

This year, 149 business schools from 24 countries participated in an 18-month effort to map the landscape of teaching and research issues pertaining to business and society. Relevant data collected in the survey, as well as the entire "Global 100" list of business schools, is available at BeyondGreyPinstripes.org.

 "The best business students move quickly into the front ranks of business—and the attitudes and values they bring to the table are deeply influenced by their time in business education," said Judith Samuelson, executive director of the Aspen Institute's Business and Society Program. "Will they accept the status quo or act on their passion about the positive role business can play at the intersection of corporate profit and social impact? The schools that are competitive in the Beyond Grey Pinstripes rankings are the real trailblazers--they assure that students have the right skill as well as the will to make things happen."

"In these challenging economic times, the general public, not just scholars, are questioning whether the established models of business are broken," said Rich Leimsider, director of the Aspen Institute's Center for Business Education. "Beyond Grey Pinstripes schools are thoughtfully pursuing new approaches. They are preparing students who take a more holistic view of business success, one that measures financial results as well as social and environmental impacts."

Sample Findings

• The percentage of schools surveyed that require students to take a course dedicated to business and society issues has increased dramatically over time, but at a slowing rate: 34% in 2001; 45% in 2003; 54% in 2005; 63% in 2007; 69% in 2009.
  
• Since 2007, the number of elective courses offered per school that contain some degree of social, environmental or ethical content has increased by 12%, from approximately 16.6 to 18.6 electives.
  
• The proportion of schools offering general social, environmental or ethical content in required core courses has increased in many business disciplines--accounting, economics, finance, management, marketing, operations management--since the last survey in 2007.
  
• However, the percentage of schools requiring content in a core course on how mainstream business can act as an engine for social or environmental change remains low, at 30%.
  
• Approximately 7% of faculty at the surveyed business schools published scholarly articles in peer-reviewed, business journals that address social, environmental or ethical issues.  Several Robinson College faculty members who have published such articles include Pam Scholder Ellen, Patricia Ketsche, Karen Loch, and George Moschis. Others whose articles have been accepted for publication include Detmar Straub, Ed Miles and Wes Johnston.