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TATE & LOCAL
5
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1989
iberal arts majors can earn MBAs
IBy Kelly S. Brown
;TAFF WRITER
Life is a little simpler these days
r liberal arts undergraduates who
ant to get Masters of Business Ad-
inistration degrees.
The reason is Program 5.
An opportunity was opened up to
notivated liberal arts students last
all who want to get their MBAs car
er than most students.
Dr. Dan Robertson, head of the
BA program, said Program 5 is
rgeted toward a fairly small num-
r of liberal arts undergraduates
ursuing bachelor of arts degrees
ho have at least 3.2 grade-point ra-
os.
Robertson said applicants also
ust have a clear vision for their fu-
ure and be prepared to accept two
articular goals.
"First, they must have an interest
oward graduate business school,”
,e said, “and secondly, they must
ave a predisposition toward busi-
esseven though their major would
e in a non-business area.”
The idea of a joint program was
rought to the drawing table almost
hree years ago by Liberal Arts Dean
aniel Fallon and President William
ess
H. Mobley, who was then dean of
the school of business.
The idea was forwarded to Rob
ertson and Dr. Paul Parrish, asso
ciate dean in liberal arts.
Robertson said, “The two of us
evolved the document, which is now
Program 5 — a joint program that
serves the interest of the student
who falls academically between the
two colleges.”
Dr. Claude Gibson, an English ad
viser who was the program coordi
nator last year, said the program of
fers a suitable option for top
students, but is not right for every
one.
“What we’re saying to the student
is that if this is what you want to do
and it’s your goal, here’s a way to
combine the two,” he said.
Robertson said, “We perceived
the need that we had students in lib
eral arts who knew they were going
into business and industry, and we
wanted give them another avenue to
look down.”
Creators of the program set out
with the idea that if they were able to
provide the double-degree opportu
nity for 10 students a year, it was a
worthwhile target market.
More than a dozen students are in
the program, Robertson said, but
most still technically are undergrad
uates in liberal arts until they follow
through and actually fill out their
graduate applications.
Qualified students take the steps
necessary to be admitted to the grad
uate program during their junior
year after they have earned a mini
mum of 60 credit hours.
Following that schedule, the Pro
gram 5 students are ahead of the
game by one to two years, Robertson
said.
“W<
e perceived the
need that we had students
in liberal arts who knew
they were going into
business and industry, and
we wanted to give them
another avenue to look
down.”
— Dr. Dan Robertson,
MBA program head
Early identification of program
participants makes it possible for a
studerit to take business electives
that were normally “free electives” in
liberal arts, thus reducing the length
of the MBA program. Introductory
level MBA classes are waived by vir
tue of their completed undergrad
uate classes.
“It’s not an easy program by any
stretch,” Robertson said, “but keep
in mind that it’s targeted toward the
academically superior undergrad
uate students.”
Gibson said that adding an MBA
to a liberal arts degree has great pos
sibilities.
“We think of liberal arts as offer
ing an opportunity to a student to
really capitalize on communication
skills while getting a broad based ed
ucation which enhances their inter
personal skills in any environment
— reading, writing or critical thin
king,” Gibson said. “We think those
could be applied in any area.
“When the student adds on the
MBA part of it, they’re saying T
want to develop these skills, but I
know I’m going into business as op-
possed to possibly teaching or what
ever.’ So it’s giving them a cultural
base that a strict business major
might not have.”
Robertson said so far the feedback
for Program 5 has been positive.
“Our first indications are that stu
dents who are pursuing this and are
indeed planning on the program are
handling the course load fine.”
Liberal arts college
offers more options
for declaring minors
Texas negotiates beef sales with Europe
WASHINGTON (AP) — Texas is butting into
a trans-Atlantic dispute over hormone-treated
t a movie It beef, but it is not clear whether federal officials
ie facts ait W *N steer state away from making a deal with
the European Economic Community.
While the F1EC and the United States spar over
Europe’s ban of U.S. exports of hormone-treated
beef, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Jim
Hightower has stepped in with an offer to pro
vide the EEC with hormone-free beef from the
Lone Star State.
Europe contends the hormones, used to fatten
growing cattle, are a health threat, which the
United Stales disputes.
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture has ap
parently adopted a wait-and-see attitude toward
Hightower’s offer to find a supply of hormone-
free beef in Texas and develop a certification
procedure that would satisf y the European Com
munity of the meat’s purity.
Ella Krucoff, spokeswoman for Sir Roy Den
man, head of EEC delegation in Washington,
said she knew of no federal law that would bar
the shipments.
“It’s not our problem,” she said. “Texas solic
ited us and we are responding. We’re trying to
respond favorably to maintain the trade. We
haven’t got a legal opinion — that’s up to the U.S.
authorities.”
The Council of Ministers representing the 12
governments in the EEC issued a statement Mon
day in Brussels saying it had noted the applica
tions “made by American producers to export to
the community beef and veal meeting the criteria
of community legislation, and encouraged the
commission to conclude its examination of these
applications rapidly.”
The commission is the European Commission,
joint executive for the 12 governments.
Federal officials are treating Texas’ offer cau
tiously. Lester Crawford, administrator of US-
DA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, which
has jurisdiction over meat inspected for export
said, “We have to be concerned about existing
U.S. law on international trade and we have to
represent all of the states in the United States.”
Crawford said there could be a catch for
Texas: The state can’t legally label meat for ex
port as hormone-free because a meat label must
be truthful and verifiable, yet he said he knows of
no test to verify whether a cattle was fed growth
hormones. That’s because hormones now in use
leave no residues in the meat.
All beef and poultry have to be federally in
spected to go overseas, he said.
Tom Kay, administrator of the USDA’s For
eign Agricultural Service, said he’s not sure
whether the federal government could stop the
European Community from making a deal with
Texas if the EC and Texas can settle on a price
and a certification system that meets federal ap
proval.
By Denise Thompson
STAFF WRITER
The College of Liberal Arts is
hoping to change the prevalent idea
that having to declare a minor is just
another attempt to make students
take undesirable courses.
Minors originally were designed
to provide additional support for a
student’s major field of study, Dr.
Paul Parrish, associate dean of lib
eral arts, said. They have proven to
be valuable when students take ad
vantage of them, he said.
“Minors can be supportive in
terms of career choices, which
means job opportunities or becom
ing a graduate student,” he said. “A
major by itself is fine. But a major
supported by a strong second field is
better.”
Most students are familiar with
the requirements for a straight de
partmental minor, which requires
taking 12 hours of a particular
course of study with at least six of
the hours in upper-level courses.
However, three other types of mi
nors are available to students: area
studies minors, career opportunities
minors and interdisciplinary minors.
Area studies are minors a student
can create individually. The student
works with the dean’s office and de
velops a proposal for a minor course
of study that can include courses
from several departments that focus
on one subject. Ethnic studies is a
good example of an area studies mi
nor, Parrish said.
“Do we have an ethnic studies de
partment at A&M?” he asked. “No.
Do we have an ethnic studies major?
No. Can you have an ethnic studies
minor? Yes, because you could take
a course from departments like so
ciology or English and create a pack
age to be ydur minor.”
Career opportunities minors are
designed in cooperation with the de
partments of business and agricul
ture. Students are able to minor in a
field that is geared toward a certain
career, Parrish said.
“This minor is a package of
courses that combines business or
agricultural courses with related lib
eral arts courses so students can
demonstrate to an employer that he
is strong in a second area,” he said.
“It’s also good for students contem
plating graduate school because
they’re supported by a strong major
and a strong minor area.”
More formally arranged by fac
ulty members, interdisciplinary mi
nors are the newest of the three op
portunities. Although the ideas for
these types of minors are formed
from student proposals, the depart
ment works to have them recognized
as official minors that are included
in the student courses handbook.
Women’s studies is the only inter
disciplinary minor formally ap
proved that will be offered as a regu
lar course study beginning next fall.
“Students have been able to create
an area studies minor in women’s
studies for a long time,” Parrish said.
“But some faculty got together and
decided to formally put it together.
So now the course book will ask if
you want to minor in women’s stud
ies. If you do, it’ll tell you how.”
Parrish said the group is working
on several other plans for interdisci
plinary minors.
“Minors in classical studies, reli
gious studies and comparative litera
ture are in the works,” he said.
“We’ve also had talk of an Asia stud
ies minor, which would be important
if we’re going to have a Japan camp
us.”
A departmental minor and an
area studies minor usually require
only 12 hours. Career opportunity
minors can contain as many as 24
hours, Parrish said, because a stu
dent builds a second career focus.
Interdisciplinary minors require
from 12 to 18 hours because they cut
across different departments.
Declaring a minor is as important
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1989 Business Career Fair
Where the Best of Both Worlds & Meet
January 29-February 2
Vol. 12 No. 3
Special Career Fair Edition
January 25, 1989
Business Edge: January 25, 1989 Vol. 12, No 3 Published by
the Business Student Council as a newsletter for students in the
CBA. BSC office is in Blocker 101, Phone (409) 845-1320.
Special Edition Editor: Krista M. Young. President: Daniel Wil
liams. Vice President, External Affairs: Mindy Schmidt. Vice
President, Internal Affairs: Becky Black. Treasurer: Randy
Johnson. Secretary: Mary Ann Gaas, Advisor: Mr. Lynn Zim-
mermann. Dean of the College: Dr A. Benton Cocanougher.
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Women in
Business
Symposium
On Monday. January 30th, Career Fair's "Wo
men in Business Symposium" will feature several
top women executives speaking on topics includ
ing “Secrets of Success—How to get Ahead,”
"Conflicts in the Workplace," and “Opportunities
in Business—Where does your major fit in.” These
topics will be addressed by a panel of members of
the Executive Women of Dallas. The speakers will
include Ka Cotter, Executive Vice-President of the
Staubach Company; Ann Margolin, President of
the Associated Professional Property Insurance
Services; Valerie Freeman, owner of Wordtemps,
Inc.; Suzanne Marshall, President of Computac-
tics Inc.; and Kay Hutchison, attorney with Hut
chison, Boyle, Brooks, and Dransfield. The dis
cussion will be held at various times throughout
the day in Blocker classrooms.
At 11:30am, there will be a luncheon at the Hil
ton in which Kay Hutchison will be speaking on
“Women Today—All Options Open.” Ms. Hutchi
son has earned a great deal of respect and recogni
tion from the Dallas business community as well
as national commendation. She received the
Women’s Center Award in 1987, was selected by
Glamour Magazine as one of Ten Outstanding
Working Women in America in 1977, and was
chosen One of Ten Outstanding Republican
Women in Texas in 1983. An active participant of
Texas politics, Ms. Hutchison has served as Chair
of the Texas Women for Bush/Quayle and Repub
lican precinct chairman. Women from the Bryan-
/College Station community and students are in
vited to attend the luncheon.
Tickets for the luncheon will be sold through
Thursday. January 26th in Blocker. The cost will
be $7 for students and $ 11 for non-students.
The symposium is open to all students (fresh
man through graduate level), as well as men and
women from the community. Many relevant issues
will be discussed so please make plans to attend.
For more information, please call the Business
Student Council Office at 845-1320 or Mr. Lynn
Zimmermann’s office at 845-5187 or Laurie Issacs
at 696-9367.
Retailing
Symposium
“Don’t Guess—Go Retail” is the
theme of this year’s retailing sym
posium which will be held on Sun
day, January 29th. The symposium,
presented by the Center for Retail
ing Studies, will address a number
of contemporary retailing issues
facing today’s graduates.
Beginning at 2:00pm in the Col
lege Station Hilton, the symposium
will cover topics dealing with char
acteristics of successful retailing
executives, what are recruiters
looking for, retailing careers, and
why students should consider a re
tailing internship. In addition, the
symposium will launch the summer
retailing internship program.
The speakers represent a wide ar
ray of bussinesses such as Toys “R”
Us, J.C. Penny Company, K-Mart
Apparel, and Mervyn’s. After the
presentation, students will be af
forded the opportunity to meet the
speakers at a reception sponsored
by the Center for Retailing Studies.
The reception will be held in the
Hilton Ballroom from 6:00pm
through 7:00pm and is open to all
symposium attendees. Tickets for
the symposium will be on sale in
the Blocker Building through Jan
uary 27th. Ticket price is $4 pre
sale and $5 at the door.
Business Career Fair Banquet
•John Adams, President of the Meiller Corp., to speak on-Going Interna
tional: Opportunity and Challenge in the World Market
•Dine with the recruiter(s) from the company of your choice!
•Jan. 31, 1989 7:00 pm College Station Hilton
•Admission $9
•Tickets on sale Blocker Lobby through January 27th
Business Career Fair Agenda
Sunday, January 29th
2:00pm-6:00pm RETAILING SYMPOSIUM
COLLEGE STATION HILTON
“Characteristics of Successful Retailing Executives—What Separates the Best from the
Rest”
-Thomas J. Frank, President, Conn Appliances, Inc.
-Carl Sewell, President, Sewell Village Cadillac
-Jeffrey Wells, Vice President, Human Resources, Toys “R” Us. “From Resumes
to References—What Are Recruiters Really Looking For?
-Gary Huddleston, Director, Human Resources, The Kroger Co.
-Roy Chapman, College Relations Manager, J.C. Penny Co., Inc. “Retailing Ca
reers—There’s More There Than You Think!”
-Marilyn Smith, Director of Trainning, Tom Thumb-Page Drug
-Karen Samford, Corporate Marketing Manager, Herring Marathon Group Inc.
-Tim White, Regional Personnel Manager, K-Mart Apparel
-Ronni Rosen, Human Resource Manage, Pier 1 Import
-Don Hughes, National Manage of Market Planning, Hallmark Cards,Inc.
-Ernesto Cuellar, Regional Personnel Manager, Mervyn’s “Why Students Should
Consider a Retailing Internship”
-Joey Jones, Govenment Programs Coordinator, Wal-Mart
-Missy Magnuson Adams, Assistant Buyer, Neiman-Marcus
6:00PM-7:30PM Reception in the Hilton Ballroom
Monday, January 30th WOMEN IN BUSINESS SYMPOSIUM
8:00AM-8:50AM “Secrets of Success-How to get ahead”—Blocker 102
9:00AM-9:50AM “Opportunities in Business-Where does your major fit in”—
Blocker 102
“Secrets of Success-How to get ahead”—Blocker 158
10:00AM-10:50AM “Conflicts in the Workplace”—Blocker 158
11:30AM-1:00PM “Women Today...All Options Open” Luncheon at the College
Station Hilton
Guest Speaker: Kay Hutchison
2:00PM-2:50PM “Opportunities in Business—Where does your major fit in”—
Blocker 165
“Screts of Success-How to get ahead-Blocker 158
Tuesday, January 31st
8:30AM-4:00PM Booths in Blocker
6:00PM-7:00PM MINORITY STUDENT RECEPTION
COLLEGE STATION HILTON (foyer of the ballroom)
7:00PM-9:00PM BUSINESS CAREER FAIR BANQUET
Wednesday, February 1st
8:30AM-4:00PM Booths in Blocker
Thursday, February 2nd
9:30AM-4:30PM MBA CASE COMPETITION
—Check with Masters Programs Office (331 Blocker)
for schedule of events.
2:OOPM-3:15PM PLACEMENT CENTER ORIENTATION
“How to Use the Placement Center”
Speaker-Mr. Lou Van Pelt, Director. Room 307 Blocker
Minority Student Reception
Something new happening this year will
be a minority student reception, jointly
sponsored by the Hispanic Business Stu
dents’ Association (HBSA) and the Na
tional Association of Black Accountants
(NABA). Students will have the oppor
tunity to speak to, recruiters informally,
on a one to one basis, in a more relaxed
setting than other Career Fair activities
offer.
Freshman and sophomore students are
especially encouraged to attend the re
ception so that they will have an opportu
nity to establish a rapport with each re
cruiter. Often the same recruiters come
back each year to the Career Fair. There
fore, contacts made early can become
useful throughout the college years. As
Dr. Hillary Jessup, advisor of HBSA,
notes, “It is my hope that these contacts
will result not only in job opportunities
but also opportunities for summer em
ployment.”
The reception will take place in the
foyer of the College Station Hilton from
6:00pm to 7:OOpm on Tuesday, January,
31. Students are reminded that the event
will be business attire. All minority stu
dents strongly urged to attend.
MBA Case Competition
The public is invited to observe several
teams of MBA students while they ex
hibit their analytical skill as strategic
consultants in a case competition on
Thursday, February 2.
Each team of 3 MBA students will
have two weeks to prepare a presentation
for a panal of judges (executives from
the Dallas and Houston areas). During
the preparation time, the students will
analyze the business procedures of a lo
cal company. Then on the Thursday of
Career Fair, the teams will deliver a one
hour presentation of their findings to the
judges.
The winning team will go on to represent
Texas A&M at the regional competition
held annually in April at the University
of Southern Mississippi.
The public is reminded that the dress
will be business attire. A schedule of
events will be available at the Masters
Program Office, room 331 Blocker.
Phone Bill Zartler (845-4714) for more
information.
Additional Company Booths in Blocker Bldg.
Tuesday Jan. 31-Wednesday Feb. 1
ALL STATE INSURANCE
BUSINESS: Insurance
LOCATION: Irving
REPRESENTATIVES: Robert Hores, Mary Bry
ant
COOPERS & LYBRAND
BUSINESS: Public Accounting
LOCATION: Houston
REPRESENTATIVE: Chris Bacon
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
BUSINESS: Government
LOCATION: Houston
REPRESENTATIVE: Jim Garcia
MERVYN’S
BUSINESS: Department Store
LOCATION: Houston
REPRESENTATIVES: Ernesto Cuellar, Mike
Guillard
NCS-STOP N GO
BUSINESS: Convenience Store
LOCATION: Houston
REPRESENTATIVES: Robin Pelleschi, Lisa Pas-
chal-Alcom
PENNZOIL COMPANY
BUSINESS: Oil and Gas Production
LOCATION: Houston
REPRESENTATIVE: Linda Wood
RALSTON PURINA
BUSINESS: Grocery Products
LOCATION: Houston
REPRESENTATIVES: Steve Peter, George Keap-
poch
U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE
BUSINESS: Government
LOCATION: Washington D.C.
REPRESENTATIVE: Jeffrey Hall
PEARLE HEALTH SERVICES
DOW CHEMICAL
QUAKER OATS
NAVY OFFICER’S PROGRAM
BECKER’S CPA REVIEW
PETERSON & COMPANY
SOUTHWESTERN BELL
U.S. TREASURY DEPT.
BSC OFFICER...845-1320
BUSINESS FAIR FEATURES SYMPOSIUMS