UC Davis Graduate School of Management Ranked Among Top 35 Business Schools by U.S. News & World Report

Business Wire, April 4, 2003

Business Editors/Education Writers

DAVIS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 4, 2003

For the eighth consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report has ranked the Graduate School of Management at the University of California, Davis, among the top business schools in the nation.

The closely watched U.S. News & World Report survey released today ranks the UC Davis MBA program 15th among business schools at public universities and 35th overall, up from 39th in last year's ranking.

With this recognition, the UC Davis MBA program continues to be the youngest MBA program within a public institution ever to be ranked in the top 50 by the three most prominent business school surveys -- U.S. News & World Report, Business Week and The Wall Street Journal.

Dean of the Graduate School of Management, Robert H. Smiley, said this past year has been a challenge for all business schools in terms of the weakened economy and the difficult career placement environment.

"Under these conditions, we're delighted that the Graduate School of Management has moved up in the U.S. News & World Report ranking and that our recruiter assessment has improved, giving our graduates an edge," Smiley said.

"This is further reinforcement of the quality of our faculty, students and alumni. The Graduate School of Management stands shoulder to shoulder with the top MBA programs in the country," added Smiley, who is stepping down and will return to full-time research and teaching after 14 years at the business school's helm.

Professor Nicole Woolsey Biggart, a founding faculty member of the Graduate School of Management and holder of the Jerome J. and Elsie Suran Chair in Technology Management, will succeed Robert Smiley as dean on July 1.

"Dean Smiley has brought the Graduate School of Management to national recognition," Biggart said. "We have a great MBA program, and it's heading in the right direction. I'm looking forward to building on that reputation and promoting our benefits to the business community, particularly the contributions of the world-class faculty and students we have at UC Davis."

The school's reputation for challenging students to think creatively and strategically in a collaborative learning environment is enhanced by a 10-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio -- one of the best in the nation. Employers continue to appreciate the rigorous preparation UC Davis MBAs receive. Recruiters asked by U.S. News & World Report to rate MBA programs as part of the survey gave the Graduate School of Management 12 percent higher marks this year than last year.

"The UC Davis MBA program offers an unparalleled academic experience and culture which is known and respected throughout the country," said Roger Valine, president and CEO of Vision Service Plan, the nation's largest eye care wellness provider, which employs UC Davis MBAs. "The Graduate School of Management plays a significant role in the community by training great leaders for our region as well as nationally and internationally."

The U.S. News & World Report ranking confirms The Wall Street Journal poll of more than 2,200 corporate recruiters last April, which placed the UC Davis Graduate School of Management among the top 20 public business schools in the world and 47th among public and private business schools.

The U.S. News & World Report graduate school rankings will be published in the April 14 issue, which will be available on newsstands Monday.

The magazine bases its rankings of business schools on four independently weighted criteria: student selectivity (GMAT test scores, grade point averages of entering students and the proportion of applicants accepted); placement success (starting salary and bonus and employment rates); recognition by corporate recruiters; and academic reputation rated by business school deans and admissions directors of accredited MBA programs.

For details on the U.S. News & World Report rankings, visit http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/grad/rankings/mba/mbaindex_brief.php