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Lipscomb University's College of Business: Nationally Ranked, Globally Minded, Spiritually Grounded

Kasie Corley | 

The Lipscomb University College of Business understands that in today’s thriving business world, there is more to one’s credentials than an academically rigorous degree on a resume. Earning national rankings for both its undergraduate and graduate programs by Bloomberg Businessweek, what started in 1917 with two degrees offered, shorthand and bookkeeping, has flourished into a thriving college a century later.

Finance Lab opening_1“Lipscomb’s College of Business has always had a good reputation and has graduates who have always been sought after,” said Ray Eldridge, dean of Lipscomb’s College of Business.  “We know that in today’s competitive world, you can’t just live on your reputation. Therefore, we’ve made a deliberate effort to demonstrate that quality evident in our achieving national accreditations and recent national rankings, quality faculty hires and innovative programming.”

“We want to continue to be the leader in Christian business education, and I am extremely grateful for the solid foundation of faith, integrity and excellence that this college was built upon by past leaders,” said Eldridge.

The college received two national rankings by Bloomberg Businessweek for both the undergraduate and graduate programs. The graduate program, the first to make the list for the Master of Business Administration program, earned a rank at 43 of 74 part-time MBA programs in the nation on the 2015 MBA rankings. The undergraduate program fell at 77 of 114 institutions and was the highest ranked university in Tennessee in spring 2016.

“This first-ever national ranking for Lipscomb’s undergraduate business program is a reflection of top-quality business instruction that has been a hallmark of Lipscomb University’s academic program for decades,” said Eldridge.  “We are very proud of our faculty, staff, administration and students for their dedication to making Lipscomb’s business program one of the best in the nation that prepares our students well for their next chapter in life.”

Offerings such as the Financial Markets Lab provide students with a rare opportunity to gain experience comparable to the real world. “As we equip our students with the tools and knowledge to enter a global workforce, having resources such as the Financial Markets Lab is essential for a business education that prepares students to be successful in their chosen career path,” said Eldridge.

“The Financial Markets Lab is designed to give our students the feel of what a real Wall Street trading floor is like,” said Brian Masterson, assistant professor of accounting and chair of Lipscomb’s Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics.

“Our goal in developing this lab was to create a space particularly for our finance students to have the best tools available to them as they prepare to enter the workforce, but it is a resource that will enhance the educational experience of every business student.”

Aspire 2Another offering, new this year, is Aspire Fellows, a selective and competitive cohort program for sophomore and junior business majors which occurs over a 12-month period, typically in the second semester of the junior year and first semester of the senior year. During this calendar year, students complete an 800-hour paid internship after securing their position through a rigorous matching process.  Students also engage in a Maymester global experience and receive focused mentorship from faculty, staff and employers. The program facilitates opportunities for students to network with alumni and the Nashville business community.

Furthermore, students of the College of Business are gaining attention on the national stage. In February 2018, the center for entrepreneurship had its first student to ever win a national level conference, the Southeast Entrepreneurship Conference. Hannah Kraebel impressed judges and brought home the victory for her new product via a polished pitch, design, and question fielding.

But, what makes the College of Business unique is the missional entrepreneurship program which provides opportunities for students to live their vision of ‘business as mission’ by creating global opportunities for students to help individuals from impoverished countries start businesses in their communities.

Rob Touchstone, founder of the Well Coffeehouse and lead of the missional entrepreneurship program, described the program goals. “We desire to leverage business profits into hope, and to inspire students within the College of Business to join in movements bigger than themselves,” Touchstone explained.

“Our vision has excited students, faculty, staff and our business stakeholders,” said Eldridge. “We want to become the ‘thought leaders’ for business as mission. We want to develop the very best business leaders we can, who embrace Christian values and virtues, whether they create their own missional enterprise, or work on Wall Street, or a big four accounting firm, or any corporation represented in Nashville and beyond.”COBTurns100_Side6

College of Business students gain access and credibility within Nashville’s broad business community and thriving healthcare, entertainment, technology, education, manufacturing and real estate industries.

Lipscomb provides a supportive Christian environment through small class sizes, individual mentorship and personal development opportunities. Business students build their acumen, personal brand and gain high-level exposure to effective business principles. At Lipscomb, students become prepared and equipped to launch into their vocational calling.

For more information about the College of Business, click here.