U of G’s Business School Gets New Name
February 11, 2014 - Campus Bulletin
The University of Guelph’s College of Management and Economics is changing its name. It will now be known as the College of Business and Economics, which better reflects its offerings and strategic directions, says Dean Julia Christensen Hughes.
Within the college, the former Department of Business will become the Department of Management, and the existing School of Hospitality and Tourism Management will become the School of Hospitality, Food and Tourism Management.
The change was announced at the University’s Senate meeting Monday.
“These changes follow an extensive consultation process with our faculty, staff and students, and are seen as essential to the achievement of our integrated plan priorities, our enhanced brand and our fundraising efforts,” Christensen Hughes says.
Students said identifying the college as a business school would better help them compete in the job market, she says.
“It was also acknowledged that many potential students, parents and employers are unaware that Guelph offered a full suite of business programs, despite having offered a commerce degree for nearly 50 years.”
Christensen Hughes adds that the decision was also consistent with efforts to put “business at Guelph on the map - both figuratively through the name change and literally, through the college`s upcoming move to Macdonald Hall.”
Last month, the University’s Board of Governors approved renovations for offices and teaching and learning space to remake Macdonald Hall as the new home of the business school.
Faculty members said the newly named Department of Management better reflects the unit’s academic interests and activities in organizational effectiveness, Christensen Hughes says. The name will also help distinguish the department itself from the larger college.
The renaming of the School of Hospitality, Food and Tourism Management reflects the unit’s contributions to the “business of food,” especially in food systems management.
“The new name reflects the expansion of the school’s expertise and research activity more accurately, and fits well with the U of G identity as ‘Canada’s food university," Christensen Hughes says.
Created in 2005, CME brought together existing programs from several departments to enhance Guelph’s strengths in business, management and leadership.
The College has more than 3,000 undergraduates and 210 graduate students.
