Wake Forest Schools of Business Recognized for Excellence on Social, Environmental Issues

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Wake Forest University Schools of Business graduate program has demonstrated significant leadership in integrating social and environmental issues into its MBA program, according to the Aspen Institute’s 2009-10 Beyond Grey Pinstripes, a biennial survey and alternative ranking of business schools. The Schools of Business rank 43rd among the Global Top 100 Schools. Wake Forest has remained ranked among the top 50 institutions in the world since 2005.

The Aspen Institute Center for Business Education compiled Beyond Grey Pinstripes by looking at how well social and environmental issues are incorporated into the training of future business leaders. The graduate program at the Schools of Business includes relevant content in 52 of its nearly 70 core and elective courses.

“Social and environmental issues are of critical importance today and are of great concern to our students. These issues affect business around the globe, so it is important that we integrate these issues throughout our curriculum. We are excited that Wake Forest has been recognized year after year as a leader in addressing these critical issues” says Sherry Moss, Director of the Full-time MBA Program and Associate Professor of Organizational Studies.

In the Beyond Grey Pinstripes survey, success is measured not by how much new MBA graduates earn or how many offers they get, said Judith Samuelson, executive director of the Aspen Institute Business and Society Program, “but by how well prepared they are to guide a company through the complex relationship of business and society, where issues relating to the environment or the well-being of a community can impact a company’s performance and reputation.”

Invitations to participate in the 2009 survey were sent out to 590 internationally accredited business schools with in-person, full-time MBA programs. More than 80,000 pages of data were collected from 149 schools this year — 94 institutions located in the U.S. and 55 international schools, representing 24 countries.