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BALTIMORE (Map, News) - After 10 years as dean of the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, Howard Frank will step down at the end of the this academic year, having been instrumental in expanding the curriculum and Van Munching Hall, where the school is located.
Before coming to College Park, Frank, 66, had a long career in information technology in public service and the private sector, including stints as director of the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency’s Information Technology Office and as founder, chairman and CEO of Network Management Inc.
Q Why did you decide to step down?
A I will not be leaving the university. I’ll still be a professor of management sciences. [But] I’d been thinking about it for the last few years. I think 10 years is enough for a dean — you want someone with new ideas. The school is in phenomenal shape. It seemed like the right time.
Q What has changed in your 10 years?
A Inside the school this has been an unmitigated roll. We’ve doubled the size of the facility, achieved an unparalleled role in the region, we’re certainly in anyone’s Top 25, and we’ve become a powerhouse. We’ve really had a wonderful run.
Business education is now one of the most popular undergrad or graduate majors.
Last year, we conferred 19 percent of the degrees in the entire university.
At the same time, there has been a shift from business education being local to being global. A large percentage of our students engage in some global program.
Q The school’s faculty was recently named No. 5 in the world for research output. What have you done to attract top professors?
A First, when we started the process, we had a vision to build a technologically advanced research institution. The word ‘technology’ was key.
Second, the school itself is very collaborative.
The third reason is, we decided we really had to invest in our faculty and compete with the best schools.
We went out and raised private dollars, so we could supplement the faculty stipend. For example, when I got to this school, it had about 70 faculty, one chair and two or three full professors.
Now we have 140 faculty with 20 full professorships.
We’re getting it into the competitive range.
Q Last year, you introduced the Smith Fellows Program for undergraduates. What does it add to the school?
A We did an analysis of what we thought were the top programs in the country and found two interesting things.
One, the top ones were very wealthy; second, they were small — 600 students across all years.
What we’d like to do is invest in our students, as if we were a private institution; we’d like to create special opportunities for our 1,800 students. It’s a monumental effort.
Bob Smith made another major gift about 2 1/2 years ago, and we decided to devote all of that gift to the Smith Fellows Program.
There are 30 programs altogether, and we’re adding another four or five next year. It’s amazing.
As far as we can tell, nothing has ever been done at this speed at a school of our size.
Q What qualifications do students need?
A Our average SAT score is 1360 on the 1600 basis, that’s up about 150 points from about 10 years ago. Our average high school GPA is about 4.0. They’ve been either leaders or musicians or athletes while they were in school.They’re multidimensional; they’re really wonderful people. We bring in about 400 freshmen, and we get 3,000 applications. And we bring in about the same number of juniors from the same number of applications.
Q What sets you apart from other business schools?
A With the Smith Fellows Program, we will have the best set of curricula in any business school within three years. Our students love it, and student satisfaction is sky-high.
Course evaluations average 4.3 in the undergraduate program on a 5-point basis. That’s phenomenal.
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI
» Carly Fiorina, former CEO, Hewlett-Packard, 1980.
» Robert H. Smith, chairman, Charles E. Smith Co. Commercial Realty, 1950.
» Kevin Plank, founder and CEO, Under Armour, 1996.
» Robert Basham, founder and vice chairman, Outback Steakhouse, 1970.
» Jim O’Brien, head coach, Indiana Pacers, 1981.
» Gary Williams, head coach, University of Maryland men’s basketball team, 1968.
» David Trone, senior vice president and senior analyst, Fox-Pitt, Kelton, 1995.
» Paul Norris, non-executive chairman, W.R. Grace, 1971.
FAST FACTS
» Enrollment: 2,849 undergraduates; 1,497 graduate students
» Student breakdown: 62.5 percent male; 37.5 percent female
» Tuition: $6,566 for in-state; $20,005 for out-of-state
» Room and board: $8,562
» Undergraduate business students receiving scholarships: 34 percent for 2006-07
Source: Robert H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland College Park
The Examiner is taking a look at colleges and university across the state. Click here to read the entire series.
Comments from Examiner Readers
8:44 AM MST on Fri., May. 23, 2008 re: "For many women, this school is a perfect fit"
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Examiner Reader said:
The institution is a fraud. They treat employees unfairly and they have forgotten the roots of the institution- the undergraduate women and the communal attitude. The school has become driven by profit and has turn into an old boys club. Higher-ups chum it up with each other while "lesser" staff are walked all over. The students enjoy their time, but with limited resources and budget- the school is having a hard time providing for their campus members.
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Examiner Reader said:
my question is at the end of your statement you said that you don't want the most quilfied nurse to take care of you. why that just don't make sense. I just retired from the military and am looking to become a nurse and if I was some old person laying bed I would like to know that there was someone that was well quilified to take care of me. thank you for your time in reading this note
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Examiner Reader said:
The Maryland State Board of Nursing should let LPN's do the MD degrees not just BSN on line... The Associates On-line degree program is only 12-18 months long to complete, compared to 18-24 months for the MD. And it costs half as much to acquire....Some of our dedicated nurses are moving to other states to complete MD programs. Many don't come back to Maryland to work.I like it that way. And I promise not to delete anyone else's comment ever again
177 agree | 188 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The Maryland State Board of Nursing should let LPN's do the MD degrees not just BSN on line... The Associates On-line degree program is only 12-18 months long to complete, compared to 18-24 months for the MD. And it costs half as much to acquire....Some of our dedicated nurses are moving to other states to complete MD programs. Many don't come back to Maryland to work.I like it that way. And I promise not to delete anyone else's comment ever again
185 agree | 188 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The Maryland State Board of Nursing should let LPN's do the RN Associates degrees not just BSN on line... The Associates On-line degree program is only 12-18 months long to complete. Compared to 18-24 months for BSN. And it costs half as much to acquire....Some of our dedicated nurses are moving to other states to complete programs. Many don't come back to Maryland to work.
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Examiner Reader said:
If the military truly wanted to have potential recruits understand the enlistment contract it would simply reduce the entire bogus contract to the following infamous 40 words from Section C, Paragraph 9: "Laws and regulations that govern military personnel may change without notice to me. Such changes may affect my status, pay, allowances, benefits, and responsibilities as a member of the Armed Forces regardless of the provisions of this enlistment/reenlistment document." - Pat Elder
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Don said:
I tried to join up they told me I was too old. I'm 64 I think I'll file papers for age discrimination.
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Examiner Reader said:
Any plans in the works to overthrow the Vatican again or is that something you can't talk about?
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Diversity? said:
What diversity? The article talks only about blacks.
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Examiner Reader said:
Great article...My 2 kids went there and it was the best 8 yrs anyone could ask for. Both have since gone on to great jobs and both value their days at SMCM.
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Examiner Reader said:
Glad to see you acknowledge McDaniel College. I am a grad ( Class of "61 ) and a Trustee--and very proud to be both. George Varga
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Examiner Reader said:
Over the last 20 years or more "Baltimore City School System," has been under the microscope of Judge Garbish (Special Education). Morgan, Johns Hopkin, Coppin, all have had opportunities as research institutions to address this major educational problem and the poverty rate, un-employment, single mothers crime. Coppin has had its misfortunes, and attracted low quality of instructors whom are not concerned with the social economical, educational, problems that plague the Urban Inner City youth. Poverty is a key element in Baltimore City. Politicians does not give a hoot of the demographics nor the incidents of poverty across the city. The fourth count census 2000 is a clear in measuring how people live. African Americans are left out of the loop "Johns Hopkins are the main architect to disenfranchise the poor, disadvantaged. They are the major research institution in Maryland from all indications the African American community is ignored by the major players.
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Examiner Reader said:
Coppin State should be proud that it focuses on academics and not sports. Who cares if the baseball team lost 44 games in a year. The students who earn a degree will have more power than any hitter on a baseball diamond.
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Examiner Reader said:
Excellent and informative series that parents and students can use to decide on a Maryland college or university. Thanks!
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