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A survey designed to gauge the reactions of HR executives and recruiters toward students who graduate from both undergraduate and MBA programs is presented. The survey results will be analyzed and published in a later issue of HR Focus. Pressured by employers who recruit their students - and from the students themselves - business schools revamped curricula to fit a more modern workforce and global economy.

Much has been written--and spoken--about the quality of students being educated by American business schools. This issue of HR Focus hopes to gain even more opinions and insights on the topic by including a survey designed jointly by the newsletter editors and staff members at the Indiana University School of Business.

The results of this survey will be used to gauge the reactions of HR executives and recruiters toward students who graduate from both undergraduate business and MBA programs. The survey results will be analyzed and published in a later issue of HR Focus. All responses, naturally, will be confidential.

CHANGING DEMANDS

Business schools have changed dramatically in recent years. Pressured by employers who recruit their students--and from the students themselves--schools revamped curricula to fit a more modern workforce and global economy. They also changed recruiting methods to ensure a more proactive approach toward career development. Many of the problems that have plagued American business and industry--such as inefficiency and a propensity toward short-term planning--have been laid at the doors of those who educate businesspeople.

The economy, too, has reshaped much of what business schools do in the area of career placement. Schools no longer can count on corporate recruiters to always show up at their doors and hire their students. Universities and colleges now must convince recruiters that their visits are worth the time and money that they spend on them, and that their graduates truly are the kind of people who can become executives and corporate leaders.

Since becoming dean of Indiana University's School of Business nearly two years ago, I have encouraged our faculty and staff to try to understand the needs of the various groups that the school serves, foremost among them the businesses and industries that hire our graduates. Higher degrees of focus and differentiation will be key to maintaining the kind of leadership that the best business schools need to serve American companies.

SURVEY OBJECTIVES

The first set of survey questions deals with those graduates who possess a bachelor's degree in business. Since this is the largest population from which to recruit, it's important to gather your reactions concerning what skills you look for, the importance of a broad education, and what you like most--and least--about graduates you recently hired.

Pay particular attention to the question about the skills and attributes you find lacking among college students you come in contact with today. Some recruiters, for instance, lament the fact that students can't articulate their thoughts well; others bemoan their lack of formal etiquette skills. What do you think? We want to know. This question also seeks any suggestions you might have as to how universities and colleges can better prepare graduates to meet your needs.

The second part of the survey deals with MBA degree holders. This, too, concerns your impressions about what is most important--and least important--when deciding to hire a freshly minted MBA.

The third section deals more directly with the importance of previous work experience as compared to a focused educational background in specific skill sets, such as engineering, computer science and mathematics. Like almost all leading schools, the Indiana University MBA program has required previous work experience as a condition for admission. (Current graduates are, on average, 27-years old with four years of prior work experience.) However, faculty and placement office personnel are sensing that, in certain cases, employers are less concerned about previous experience than they are with specific undergraduate backgrounds in specialized areas. As a result, MBA programs are considering admitting a small number of high-quality, specialized undergraduate students with engineering, computer science and mathematics backgrounds. We want to know if this kind of trend fits with your thoughts about what kind of people will be needed by your corporation in the future.

We appreciate you taking a few minutes to complete this survey.

JOHN RAU is dean of Indiana University School of Business (IUSB) and former CEO of LaSalle National Bank, Chicago. Some 500 companies from around the country recruit at IUSB. For more information about its placement office, contact Randall Powell, Director of Business Placement, School of Business, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405; 812-855-5317.