Momentum

Yale SOM is on a roll. Tonight, the Dean gave faculty, staff, and students some good news as well as information about up-coming changes.

First, the good news. In the fiscal year ending June 2006, Yale SOM raised a record-setting $32.9 million, a 286% increase over the previous year’s giving. So far this year, the school has raised more than $67 million. We are a third of the way towards our fundraising goal of $300 million. This money will enable us to construct a new campus and support faculty research, among other things.

The school is receiving a lot of support from the university. SOM is one of Yale University’s top ten priorities. Alumni of the business school and college are excited about recent developments. And their giving reflects that.

Other changes include:

• Improvements to the administrative structure of student services.
• Efforts to increase minority representation. While the school has done a tremendous job of attracting women, there is concern that we are not diverse enough.
• Additional study space. The school is allowing students to use the CDO’s interview rooms and the dining hall for studying and group meetings.
• A new Director of Career Development, someone – it would appear – with strong ties to the business community in New York City. We also promoted a long-time relationship manager in the CDO to Deputy Director. When the announcement of her promotion was made tonight, students erupted in applause that lasted several minutes. She was demonstrably touched by our reaction.

The school is definitely redefining itself. It’s the Harvard-ization of Yale SOM! The Dean has done a tremendous job in just a little over a year. I can’t help but wonder: With so many changes, what could possibly be next?