Marketing Yields Results at Maine Business School

Undergraduate enrollment in the Maine Business School (MBS) at the University of Maine is at an all-time high of 947 students, an increase of nearly 21 percent from a year ago. And, at the same time the SAT scores of the incoming classes have consistently improved since 2009.

MBS Dean Ivan Manev says the 162-student increase reflects the quality of the school’s education and is the result of institutional recruitment and marketing efforts by MBS Associate Dean Stephanie Welcomer, student ambassadors and faculty.

The school’s enrollment jump aligns with Pathway 2 of UMaine President Paul Ferguson’s Blue Sky Project, which targets ensuring the university’s financial sustainability by attracting more students, particularly to signature programs, Manev says.

One big draw for the MBS includes the recently acquired Bloomberg Terminal, which affords students the ability to observe and analyze real-time financial market data and electronic trading. Students can learn important skills, including how to access global economic and security price information, as well as energy prices, interest rates, currency rates and supply chain analysis — advantageous skills for those seeking to land jobs in banking and marketing research.

Students also can glean valuable experience managing the Student Portfolio Investment Fund (SPIFFY), which is a part of the University of Maine Foundation’s endowment. More than 70 students actively participate in this group led by faculty adviser Professor Robert Strong. In October 2013, SPIFFY surpassed $2 million for the first time, says Manev.

And, through the IRS-sponsored Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, business student volunteers gain hands-on skills preparing tax returns while simultaneously providing a community service for students and low-income taxpayers.

This year, U.S. News & World Report cited the Maine Business School as one of the nation’s top 150 business undergraduate programs. The MBS offers a four-year undergraduate degree in business administration with majors in accounting, finance, management and marketing, and concentrations in entrepreneurship, international business, and management information systems. It also offers an MBA. The school’s mission is to prepare students for successful careers by challenging them to discover their potential, develop business skills, and act responsibly.

Contact: Beth Staples, 207.581.3777