Message From the Dean

June 29, 2023

After graduating our largest-ever undergraduate class this May (834 students), the Rawls College of Business is definitely in summertime mode. Although it is quiet in the building (and hot outside of the building!), this does not mean the college is not busy. This summer, our faculty are offering six courses to 122 students in locations such as Rome, Norway, and London as part of our study abroad program. Students earn credit for core, required courses so they can study abroad and still make progress toward graduation. They learn international aspects of business while being immersed in a different culture.  

Overall, summer school enrollment is up nearly 30% for undergraduate students compared to 2022. We attribute this growth to a greater number of courses being offered online. One thing we learned from the pandemic summer of 2020 is that students like online classes in the summer because they can continue their studies without the geographic constraint of remaining in Lubbock. Faculty have continued to refine their online skills with the help of the Rawls eLearning Center to provide engaging and high-quality learning experiences. 

Another curriculum enhancement for Texas Tech students is the availability of high-demand industry certifications from top companies at no additional cost to students. Beginning in the fall 2023 semester, all Texas Tech students will have access to over 30 certifications from companies such as Google, IBM, Meta, and Salesforce. These introductory yet rigorous certificates include cybersecurity, data warehouse engineering, UX, marketing analytics, and sales operations. They are designed to complement a student's degree program by allowing them to pair their degrees with industry-recognized credentials. The work is online, self-paced, and can take less than 20 hours to three to six months to complete. Several faculty are planning to incorporate relevant certificates into their courses so that, for example, students in a digital marketing class might complete the course with a Meta Marketing Analytics certificate. More certifications will continue to be added over time. This is another way we support the career success of our graduates. 

As I read this month's newsletter, I was struck by the variety of stories. The articles highlight the breadth of our interactions, including with prospective students (the Business Career Awareness Program), undergraduate and graduate student award winners, business success stories (Laughing Goat Design), dedicated alumni (the Doyle family), and impactful donors (those supporting the Free Market Institute).  We are able to touch so many because so many of you engage with and support us.  

I hope that your summer is healthy and productive and that you are taking time to relax and enjoy your friends and family. I look forward to hearing from you.

Margaret

Margaret L. Williams, Ph.D.
Professor of Management
Dean