UMaine Business School Introduces Business & Sustainability MBA
Contact: Terry Porter, 581- 1990; Nory Jones, 581-1995; George Manlove, 581-3756
ORONO — It’s no longer business as usual for a growing number of companies, as consumers more than ever demand evidence of corporate responsibility in environmental and social matters.
Businesses are realizing that a “triple bottom line” — economic growth, environmental protection and social equity — result in significant company-wide benefits. Reduced waste and enhanced operational efficiency, advantages in product and market development, increased employee commitment and an improved reputation among external stakeholders are among them, says Terry Porter, assistant professor of management in the Maine Business School at UMaine.
With that in mind, the Maine Business School introduced this fall a Masters of Business Administration Business and Sustainability Program. In addition to traditional MBA core classes, two new classes — in business and sustainability and in business ethics — are being offered.
The business school already has the necessary faculty expertise available to formalize the new degree program, Porter says.
In addition, faculty members from other disciplines at UMaine have extensive research backgrounds in environmental and social-equity issues. In addition to taking classes within the College of Business, Public Policy and Health, students in the program can choose sustainability-related electives in the College of Natural Sciences, Forestry and Agriculture, or through research institutes and centers on campus.
Foundational courses required for the MBA Business and Sustainability degree include business sustainability and business ethics, plus core courses in: management; marketing and management information systems; finance; business law; quantitative methods; and strategy and policy.
Faculty resources, combined with the accessibility in Maine of state government, policymakers and agencies, will lead to an exceptionally relevant program for future business leaders, Porter says.
“We’re approaching business from a holistic and sustainable point of view,” Porter says. “It opens up a lot of questions about the paradigms of business and the world.”
Information about the new MBA track can be obtained by calling Porter at 581-1990, Nory Jones, interim director of graduate business programs, at 581-1995, or by visiting the Maine Business School website.