Advisory Committee to the Business Honors Program
Agenda for June 5, 2004 Meeting
10:00 AM CST, Phone line = 512-471-0099
Participants:
In person: Michael Klein, Andrew Allemann, Eli Cox, Lara Scheindlin
Via phone: Mitch Kreindler, Eileen Marks, Owen Nieberg, Glenna Sharafeldin, Boris Siperstein, Greg Gerstenhaber, Danielle
Pfaffenberger, Steve Carlson, Nandu Madhava, Robin Boesch, Maria Yuan, Bob Bennett (PC), Stewart Robinson (PC), Anita
Tandon, Monika Mann, Gwen Thompson (ORD)
I. Welcome-Robin and Andrew
New Members: Eileen Marks (’84)
Member Emeritus: Lynn Utter (’84)
After introducing Eileen, Andrew reminded those present that the committee was set up originally to allow members
to freely participate as they had the time and that any other advisory committee member that would like to “retire”
to let him know by e-mailing him at aa5621@sbc.com
II. Program Update - Dr. Cox
2004 Freshman Admissions
517 applications
174 admits
Average SAT/admit: 1419
Average class rank/admit: 2.2%
2004 Make A Mark
Participants: 64
Pledges: $5831
Match: Accenture
Current Total: around $129K (not including this year’s match and pledges)
Three MAM scholarships will be awarded this year for 2500 apiece. Robin and Dr. Cox have decided that this will
be used as a recruiting tool and that they will go to top students in leadership and be awarded for one year only.
Boris mentioned that it might be a good tool to entice students to come to UT from out of state enhancing the
diversity in the program. Dr. Cox added that if out of state students received this scholarship, they will also receive
in-state tuition.
2004 Sophomore Admissions
105 Applications received/90 complete applications
Close to 100% interviewed
2004 Alumni Mentor Program
Senior Volunteers: 38
Freshman Requests: 33
III. Alumni Events
A. Area Events
Houston: April, breakfast
NY, Austin, Houston Dallas – Summer Networking with BHP Juniors
Glenna reported that in the fall, Houston intends to set up a panel to discuss getting advanced degrees for those
younger alumns interested in the process and worth. She also planned a Rice/UT baseball game. Robin
mentioned a good resource was to coordinate with the Texas Exes chapter.
B. Class Reunions (1965- 2005)
No class chairs for 1965, 1970, 1975, 1985, 1990
Lara will send out lists to advisory committee members who graduated around the years missing to see if those
people can contact friends in those years who might want to serve as class chairs. Barring that, Dr. Cox will
attempt to recruit as well. Time is of the essence
IV. Alumni Recruiting, etc.
A. Prospective Member Conferences Alumni Attendance
Austin – 2 Alumni
Houston – 5 alumni
Dallas – 5 alumni
Parents Day (Austin) – 2 alumni
B. Sophomore Interviews
22 Alumni Participants (2-4 interviews per alumn)
C. Proposed 2005 Freshman Interviews
Projected Participants Needed: 150
Projected budget for Spring 2005 Freshman Interviews only:
Labor 595
Phone Cards 1500
Total 2095
Feedback?
Feasibility?
Most alumns who had participated from the advisory committee felt the experience to be a valuable one. It was
mentioned that students were able to stand out in their interviews and allowed for a good understanding of the
applicant. It can also be a good recruiting tool as it impresses upon students the accomplishments of the alumns.
It is also in the same camp as a lot of our competing schools (many ivy leagues require interviews and all MBA).
Recommendations:
1. Alumni should interview 3-4 as a basis to compare applicants yet not overwhelm the alumn
2. Phone cards should not be provided. Most alumns will be willing to donate the minutes and this should not
hamper recruiting of alumni interviewers. Care should be taken to pair alumns/applicants in the same area where
possible. This can also lead to in-person interviews
3. Alumns should be provided with information on accepted applicants for future reference and relationship
building at future events
V. Resources
A. Excellence Fund
1. Totals
a. $63,652 received
b. $62,690 anticipate income from pledges
c. Total without McCombs match: 126,342
d. Total with Mccombs match: 226,342
Robin asked for the program to brainstorm a list of priorities where the money will be spent for the next meeting
and the committee will decide and edit that list from there.
2. Excellence Fund/Annual Fund Issues
In 2004-2005, BHP prospects were removed from the calling pool for the Annual Fund to avoid cannibalization.
Should they be returned for 2005-2006 to be contacted for the Annual Fund? What is the future for the Excellence
Fund?
Alumns will not be re-added to the Annual Fund contact list this year – momentum will continue with the
Excellence Fund. Mitch Kreindler mentioned the significance of being contacted by a student – Robin asked the
feasibility of pulling together a phonathon by the junior class in the Spring. Mitch and Stewart Robinson reminded
the program that it is important to let donors know where there money went as it is a very confusing system.
VI. Parents Program
A. Parents’ Day: April 24, 2004; 68 parents in attendance
Dr. Cox mentioned he would like to hand over the parents funds to the parents council, from which HBA or BHP
would apply for money for their programs. Bob Bennett and Stewart Robinson agreed that a meeting should come to
order in the summer to discuss this further.
VII. New Projects/Committees/Increasing Alumni Involvement
There were a number of new initiatives and committees mentioned. Committee members interested in chairing or
sitting on any of these committees should contact Robin at: Robin.Boesch@gs.com. Additionally if there are other
committees you would like to see or chair not listed, please contact Robin as well.
Class Reunion Committee: Assist with the planning of the events, generate ideas to increase attendance and
participation
Junior Class Fundraising Committee: Work to provide direction and oversight to a student led phonathon for the
BHP Excellence Fund and general alumni contact
Alumni Mentor Program Committee: Work to improve the existing program
Book Club Committee: alumns recommend books for business to undergraduates. Help to plan discussion of these
books led by local alumns?
Mock Interview Committee: alumns interview juniors on the phone to help prepare them professionally
VIII. Updated Advisory Committee profiles for Alumni webpage: please forward any updates/profiles to
Lara.Scheindlin@mccombs.utexas.edu
IX. Next Meeting
Next meeting tentatively set for: September 28, 2004 to coincide with a game