Advisory Committee to the Business Honors Program
Agenda for February 28, 2004 Meeting
10:00 AM CST, Phone line = 512-471-0099
Participants:
In person: Michael Klein, Andrew Allemann, Anita Tandon, Saad and Maria Dimachkieh, Matt Landry, Eli Cox, Lara
Scheindlin, Mimosas
Via phone: Robin Boesch, Tanmay Desai, Tera Highbarger, John and Debbi Highbarger, Stewart and Donna Robinson, Nandu
Madhava, Maria Yuan, Crissy Perez, Danielle Pfaffenberger, Brian Lundrum, Greg Gerstenhaber, Dominic Sung, Mitch
Kreindler, Owen Nieberg,
I. Welcome-Robin and Andrew
New Members: Anita Tandon (’02), Gwen Thompson (Office of Resource Development)
Gwen is taking over for Nancy Niemann working with alumni and development specifically with several
constituents including the BHP
Anita joins us from the class of 2002 and has been very involved with the program through HBA, recruiting
events and more
II. Program Update - Dr. Cox
New Staffing – Shilpa Motwani
2004 BHP Symposium – Responding To Diversity and Change in Business – was successful; over 90 in attendance;
press coverage from PBS
2004 Alumni Reunion – feedback?
Start early (late Fall to coordinate with schedules, tracking down information not updated with the
University)
Very positive reconnection, something to build on in the future.
1984 had a 60% turnout, participated in the symposium as panelists, through which there was good
interaction with the current students.
1984 created a listserv prior to the event to facilitate reconnection
suggest having 5 yr reunions to maintain momentum
suggest more interaction with current students (discussion at symposium lunch, assigned seating)
1964 to meet in Houston/Dallas to attend recruiting functions
2005 Symposium – ideas
Want to find hot topics in professional areas of interest – more focus on alumni interests and professional
development… IDEAS? Please contact Eli.Cox@mccombs.utexas.edu
Continue with panels complete with keynote speakers as was the format this year
Alumni participation a plus
III. Alumni Relations
A. Area Events
Bay Area- Jan 31, HBA/Alumni Networking Event
Worked well, around 15 current students and alumni had a chance to interact
Houston – Jan 31, Breakfast
Around 20 people in attendance, good location, next event is a Rice/UT baseball game
Is there a way to leverage tools such as LinkedIn to be get a visual on what this network looks like?
B. Ideas: Summer Networking Program (NY, Dallas, Houston)
Based on the networking program began by NY last summer, the program would like to take the
summer opportunity to connect alumni and current students working in the area
Events to be held in NY, Dallas and Houston
A current student will be elected chair and will work with area chairs to plan an event
Might be a good idea to have contacts earlier to ask area and living questions to
IV. Admissions and Alumni Recruiting
A. Freshman Admissions
Application Results
Applications Received: 518 (down from 650 in 2003 – B-school down 25%)
The decrease is attributed to competitiveness and applicant self-selection
Recruiting Efforts:
Alumni Letters – sent out to applicants with high scores and good leadership to maintain interest while
waiting for admission decisions (March)
Alumni Phone Calls – to admitted students (April)
Prospective Member Conferences:
Houston/Dallas – April 17
Austin – April 18
INTERESTED IN HELPING OUT WITH ANY OF THE ABOVE? Please contact Lara at
Lara.Scheindlin@mccombs.utexas.edu or Crissy Perez at Crissy.perez@csfb.com
B. Sophomore Admissions
Applications Received: around 100
Decisions announced: July 1
Recruiting Efforts:
Alumni Interviews
Issues:
1. Standardization Issues – some standardization required across interviews
2. Tech Issues – lack of tech support
3. Recruiting Issues – will we be able to have enough volunteers?
4. Timing Issues – summer – may have people in hard to reach locations
5. Make optional in first year?
After much discussion, it was decided we would move forth with this initiative, if only to
benchmark for problems and issues. Once data is collected it will be determined how much weight
to give it in the admissions process and what improvements should be made for next year.
Crissy, Andrew, Lara and Dr. Cox will meet to discuss finalization to recruit participants, timing
for interviews, and number of interviews per applicant.
INTERESTED? Please e-mail either Lara.Scheindlin@mccombs.utexas.edu or
Crissy.perez@csfb.com
V. Resources
A. Excellence Fund
1. Totals
a. $49,042 received
b. $63,750 anticipate income from pledges (not including Robert Buchholz’s second pledge)
c. $53,750 anticipated income from pledges (not including Buchholz remaining pledge and second pledge:
35K)
d. Total without Buchholz remaining pledge 1 and pledge 2: 102,792
New Totals:
Gifts in Hand = $57142.50
Anticipated Income (active pledges) = $63900.00
Projected Total = $121042.50
2. Brainstorming for Big Gift?
After losing the Mitte money, there is still interest in raising a large sum from a single donor
Austin ventures was mentioned of a potential resource to be looked into
Other ideas? Call Andrew with thoughts 512-263-2351 or by e-mail at aa5621@sbc.com
VI. Parents Program
A. Parents’ Day: April 24:Partnering with UBC Parents Day – Alumni Panel Needed
o Sessions to include study abroad, typical case style courses, an alumni panel/reception, town hall meeting
o Shilpa Motwani will be taking point on this project. Shilpa.Motwani@mccombs.utexas.edu
B. Parents to Parents program with Admissions Process (April)
Will solicit for volunteers.
VII. Next Meeting – Mid to late May