Survey: minority business school professors positively impacting students' career decisions

Black Issues in Higher Education, March 10, 2005

MONTVALE, N.J.

A survey of undergraduate and graduate students and business school deans at U.S. colleges and universities reveals that minority professors are having an overwhelming impact on the career decisions of both minority and non-minority students. When asked, 85 percent of minority student respondents said minority professors are positively impacting their career decisions. When university business school deans were asked the same question, 77 percent said minority professors are positively impacting their students' career decisions.

The survey was conducted by the Bernard Hodes Group on behalf of The PhD Project, a multi-million dollar corporate and academic-led effort to increase minority representation among business professors. Since The PhD Project was founded in 1994, the number of minority professors at U.S. business schools has more than doubled, from 294 to 746 minority business professors. In addition, 417 minorities are currently enrolled in doctoral programs, and will take a place at the front of the classroom in the next five years.

"The PhD Project's goal is to diversify the front of the classroom as a means to better prepare students for a diverse work environment," says Bernard J. Milano, president of the KPMG Foundation, founder, lead sponsor and administrator of The PhD Project. "It is reassuring to know students feel minority professors and doctoral students are impacting positively on their career decisions and education. Now we know we are succeeding in our mission."

For a copy of the full survey reports, or to learn more about The PhD Project, visit <www.phdproject.com>.