THE DIVISION OF BUSINESS

Graduates of Concord University's business programs are successful business leaders whose careers span the globe and whose influence extends Concord's reputation wherever they lead.  Concord's well-respected business programs have been designed by highly credentialed faculty who believe teaching comes first.  

Mission


The MISSION of the Division of Business at Concord University, built on a traditional liberal arts foundation, is to provide quality, broad-based undergraduate business instruction.  The Division of Business prepares students for professional competence, graduate education, and careers in an increasingly multicultural and global society.  The areas of emphases offered are Accounting, Finance, Management, Marketing, and Administrative Systems.

The Division of Business resides within Concord University, a small state-supported institution that serves primarily West Virginia residents.  It is located in a 90-acre park-like campus, a rural setting in the southern West Virginia town of Athens.  A large percentage of the University's students are first-generation college attendees; most students are from smaller high schools, many originating from rural West Virginia.  The student population also includes international and out-of-state students who bring more global perspectives to the classroom.

The Division of Business' goals include the pursuit of excellence in teaching and learning.  We nurture learning and intellectual development for both students and faculty.  All business students are required to obtain competencies in several disciplines. 

The faculty's primary responsibilities are instruction, advising, and professional development activities that enhance learning.  Faculty goals also include providing students with group and individual attention, along with contributions to instructional scholarship.  Service activities of our students and faculty include but are not limited to contributions to the Division of Business, the University, and the regional community.


Core Values


Ten guiding principles inform our goals to achieve the mission and vision.

  1. Excellence in teaching and involvement in research and publication.
  2. Continuous revision of the program to maintain currency with the changing business environment.
  3. Inclusion of the teaching of ethical values in the curriculum.
  4. Inclusion of diverse viewpoints and cultural values essential to success in the global economy.
  5. Provide a work environment conducive to teaching, research and service.
  6. Attract, maintain, and support high quality staff.
  7. Apply leading edge technology to the curriculum and research.
  8. Community interaction with the goal of improved programs.
  9. Provide a broader University experience that includes international travel, business practica, internships. regular symposia and leadership development in student organizations, as well as joint research with faculty.
  10. Develop support within the community about the importance of a School of Business format to achieve the aforementioned goals, and cooperate with University Administration towards achieving the objective.
Students seeking careers in business may seek the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree with areas of emphasis in accounting, administrative systems, finance, management, and marketing; and the Associate of Arts in Office Supervision degree, a minor in Business Administration, or the Bachelor of Science in Education.

Vision

The Division of Business strives to:

  1. be the preferred business program in Southern West Virginia and Western Virginia for business students characterized by excellent teaching and high levels of student achievement as defined by the faculty, the business community, and national standards.
  2. be a leading provider to employers seeking graduates.
  3. engage in academic and pedagogic research.
  4. develop curriculum that includes the values of teamwork, ethics, and diversity in the workforce.
  5. create processes that will emphasize continuous improvement. We will continually provide professional development opportunities for faculty to enhance their instructional abilities and offer appropriate intellectual contributions.
  6. provide service to the University and the region.
  7. be engaged in grant and proposal writing.
  8. work with the business community to develop networks for student entrepreneurs.
  9. be in a supportive role to enhance student entrepreneurial learning in the University.
  10. all of the above will be achieved under the auspices of a future School of Business.