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Dr.
Ori James
2006 Beta Gamma Sigma
Award Banquet Remarks
Georgia Southern University
DEAN SHIFFLER, HONORED
MEMBERS OF BETA GAMMA SIGMA, INITIATESS, RETIREES, AND HONORED GUESTS.
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS
AGO, DEAN JIM BEARDON FROM EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY, WHO WAS THE NATIONAL
PRESIDENT OF BETA GAMMA SIGMA, INSTALLED THIS CHAPTER. I NEVER EXPECTED
TO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF ADDRESSING THE CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE YEARS LATER.
I NEVER EXPECTED TO EVEN BE HERE TWENTY-FIVE YEARS LATER.
THE OTHER DAY, WHEN
I WAS HAVING LUNCH WITH SOME OF THE OTHER RETIREES, WE OBSERVED THAT THE
CURRENT COBA PICTORIAL FACULTY DIRECTORY DOESN’T CONTAIN THE PICTURE
OF ANY MEMBER OF THE FACULTY OR STAFF WHO WAS HERE WHEN THE CHAPTER WAS
INSTALLED IN 1981, LET ALONE WHEN THE THEN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS WAS AWARDED
INITIAL ACCREDITATION IN THE SPRING OF 1977.
AS YOU KNOW, CHAPTERS OF BETA GAMMA SIGMA CAN BE INSTALLED ONLY IN INSTITUTIONS
THAT ARE ACCREDITED BY AACSB, WHICH USED TO STAND FOR AMERICAN ASSEMBLY
OF COLLEGIATE SCHOOLS OF BUSINESS. WHEN THE ORGANIZATION WENT INTERNATIONAL,
IT CHANGED THE NAME TO ASSOCIATION TO ADVANCE COLLEGIATE SCHOOLS OF BUSINESS,
KEEPING THE AACSB INITIALS. AACSB WAS FOUNDED IN 1916 AND BEGAN ACCREDITING
BUSINESS PROGRAMS IN 1919.
WHEN GEORGIA SOUTHERN ACHIEVED INITIAL ACCREDITATION IN 1977, THERE WERE
202 ACCREDITED INSTITUTIONS, ALL IN NORTH AMERICA. NOW THERE ARE 515,
INCLUDING SCHOOLS IN EUROPE, ASIA, SOUTH & CENTRAL AMERICA, THE MIDDLE
EAST, AND AUSTRALIA. ABOUT 25 PER CENT OF THE BUSINESS SCHOOLS IN THE
U. S. ARE ACCREDITED, AND ABOUT THREE-FOURTHS OF THESE SCHOOLS HAVE CHAPTERS
OF BETA GAMMA SIGMA. YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED TO KNOW THAT GEORGIA SOUTHERN
WAS ACCREDITED BEFORE RICE, DUKE AND VANDERBILT, AMONG OTHER PRESTIGIOUS
UNIVERSITIES.
I WON’T PRETEND
THAT GETTING A CHAPTER OF BETA GAMMA SIGMA WAS OUR PRIMARY GOAL IN SEEKING
ACCREDITATION, BUT ONE OF OUR GOALS WAS TO ATTRACT MORE STUDENTS OF THE
CALIBER OF THOSE OF WHO QUALIFY FOR BETA GAMMA SIGMA.
THE AACSB ACCREDITATION
TEAM TAKES A HARD LOOK AT THE FACULTY QUALIFICATIONS. I WAS FORTUNATE
TO HAVE INHERITED AN EXCELLENT FACULTY AND SOUND ACADEMIC PROGRAM FROM
THE DEAN WHO PRECEDED ME, DR. PAUL LAGRONE.
I’D LIKE TO
ASK THE FACULTY MEMBERS WHO WERE HERE DURING THE ACCREDITATION PROCESS
TO STAND UP (IF THEY CAN). THEY PLAYED A HUGE ROLE IN OUR GETTING ACCREDITED.
MY NUMBER ONE GOAL
WHEN I BECAME DEAN OF BUSINESS AT GEORGIA SOUTHERN WAS TO ACHIEVE AACSB
ACCREDITATION. SOON AFTER ARRIVING IN 1974, I BEGAN ATTENDING ACCREDITATION
WORKSHOPS AND AFTER ATTENDING A NUMBER OF THESE—I’LL SPARE
YOU THE DETAILS-- I FELT THAT OUR PROGRAM WAS ACCREDITABLE.
IN 1976, WE UNDERTOOK
A SELF STUDY WHICH WAS COMPLETED AND MAILED TO THE ST. LOUIS OFFICE IN
THE FALL OF THAT YEAR. LAST YEAR’S BETA GAMMA SIGMA HONOREE, RISA
HAMMONDS, WAS ONE OF THE STUDENTS WHO TYPED THE REPORT ON MAG CARDS USING
AN AWKWARD MACHINE WHICH WAS STATE-OF-THE ART FOR THOSE NON-COMPUTER DAYS.
WE COULDN’T AFFORD TO BUY THE MACHINE. IT WAS BORROWED BY DOCTOR
BOLEN. I AM TOLD THAT I DO NOT WANT TO KNOW WHERE IT CAME FROM. AT THAT
TIME WE DIDN’T EVEN HAVE A MEMORY TYPEWRITER ON CAMPUS, AND COMPUTERS
WERE STILL THE SUBJECT OF SCIENCE FICTION.
AACSB ASSIGNED A TEAM OF DEAN JACK TURNER OF WEST VIRGINIA, DEAN DON MOSELY
OF SOUTH ALABAMA AND PROFESSOR ROD HOLMES OF BAYLOR. BUT BEFORE THEY SCHEDULED
A VISIT, AACSB RECOMMENDED THAT WE NOT BE VISITED, BASING THE DECISION
ON OUR SELF-STUDY. I WAS DEVASTATED. I CALLED DEAN TURNER FOR ADVICE,
AND HE RESPONDED, “YOU CAN’T HIT THE BALL IF YOU DON’T
TAKE THE BAT OFF YOUR SHOULDER,” SINCE AACSB RULES STIPULATED THAT
THE DEANS REQUEST FOR A VISIT COULD NOT BE TURNED DOWN, I ASKED FOR THE
VISIT.
THE TEAM ARRIVED IN
STATESBORO ON A SUNDAY IN JANUARY, 1977, THE COLDEST WINTER I CAN REMEMBER
IN MY THIRTY-TWO YEARS HERE. BECAUSE OF A BUDGET CRUNCH, THE COLLEGE HAD
TURNED OFF THE HEAT IN ALL OF BUILDINGS. THE TEAM, WHICH WORKED LATE INTO
THE NIGHT INSPECTING RECORDS IN THE HOLLIS BUILDING, REFERRED TO THEMSELVES
AS ”THE BLUE-FINGERED BRIGADE.” MY ROLE DURING ALL THIS WAS
TO FETCH THEM COFFEE AND SANDWICHES. SO NOW YOU KNOW WHAT A DEAN’S
REAL FUNCTION IS.
A VISITATION TEAM
EXPECTS TO BE WINED AND DINED. WINING WAS NOT A PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY,
THOUGH, DINING FACILITIES WERE LIMITED. THE ONLY RESTAURANT IN STATESBORO
OPEN ON SUNDAY NIGHTS WAS FRANKLIN’S, AND WE WEREN’T SURE
ABOUT HOW FRANKLIN’S GOOD OL’ DOWN-HOME COOKING WOULD GO OVER
WITH THOSE CITY BOYS. SO MY WIFE AND I HAD THE TEAM OVER TO THE HOUSE
FOR SUPPER THE NIGHT THEY ARRIVED. ONE OF THE ITEMS WE SERVED WAS ANGEL
BISCUITS, WHICH WERE A BIG HIT. I HAVE ALWAYS SUSPECTED THAT THE ANGEL
BISCUITS WERE WHY WE RECEIVED ACCREDITATION
THE VISIT LASTED ALMOST
THREE DAYS. THE TEAM MET WITH FACULTY, ADMINISTRATORS, STUDENTS, LIBRARIANS,
ADMISSIONS AND ANYONE ELSE THAT THEY DEEMED IT NECESSARY TO TALK TO IN
ORDER TO DETERMINE THAT OUR PROGRAM WAS UP TO AACSB STANDARDS.
THE TEAM IS NOT PERMITTED
TO DISCLOSE THEIR RECOMMENDATION TO THE APPLYING INSTITUTION, SO OUR SITUATION
WHEN THEY LEFT WAS LIKE WALKING OUT OF AN EXAM WHEN YOU THINK YOU PROBABLY
PASSED BUT KNOWING YOU MISSED A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. I WAS CONFIDENT THAT
WE HAD HAD A GOOD VISIT, BUT WE’D HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE ANNUAL
MEETING OF AASCB IN APRIL TO FIND OUT THE FINAL RECOMMENDATION OF THE
TEAM.
THE MEETING THAT YEAR WAS IN TORONTO. OUR TRAVEL BUDGET WAS FAR FROM GENEROUS,
SO I FLEW TO DETROIT AND RENTED A CAR, PROBABLY SAVING 50 OR 60 DOLLARS.
DR. LEO PARRISH AND DR. ROBERT COSTON FROM GEORGIA SOUTHERN ALSO ATTENDED
THE MEETING AND RODE BACK TO TORONTO WITH ME AFTERWARD, SAVING PROBABLY
A HUNDRED DOLLARS MORE. BIG BUCKS IN THOSE DAYS.
THE MORNING OF THE DAY WHEN I WAS SCHEDULED TO MEET WITH THE INITIAL ACCREDIATION
COMMITTEE, I RAN INTO DEAN JOHN PEARSON FROM TEXAS A & M, A FRIEND
AND A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE , WHO ASKED IF I KNEW THE TEAM’S RECOMMENDATION.
WHEN I TOLD HIM THAT I FELT THAT WE HAD HAD A GOOD VISIT BUT DIDN’T
KNOW WHAT THE TEAM HAD RECOMMENDED. HE TOOK OUT HIS COPY OF THE TEAM REPORT
WHICH INCLUDED THE TEAM’S RECOMMENDATION. IT WAS A “YES.”
THEN HE TOLD ME, “JUST DON’T BLOW IT AT THE INTERVIEW.
TO KEEP FROM BLOWING
IT AT THE INTERVIEW, I DIDN’T SAY MUCH EXCEPT “YES SIR,”
AND “NO SIR”. DEAN DICK PEEBLER OF DRAKE UNIVERSITY WAS CHAIRMAN
OF THE COMMITTEE. HE WAS VERY FAMILIAR WITH GEORGIA SOUTHERN AND WAS MOST
SUPPORTIVE IN HIS QUESTIONS, WHICH I’M SURE SET THE TONE FOR THE
COMMITTEE,
I CAN’T DESCRIBE
HOW RELIEVED I WAS WHEN I FINALLY RECEIVED OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION THAT
GEORGIA SOUTHERN WAS ACCREDITED. AFTER THE ANNOUCEMENTS WERE MADE, DR.
MARY TORIAN, THE BUSINESS DEAN AT SAVANNAH STATE, WHO STOOD AT LEAST SIX
FEET TALL, LIFTED ME OFF THE FLOOR BY MY ARMPITS AND GAVE ME A BIG HUG.
IT WAS TIME FOR CELEBRATION!
MAYBE YOU’RE
WONDERING WHY, IF WE WERE ACCREDITED IN 1977, IT TOOK FOUR YEARS TO INSTALL
A CHAPTER OF BETA GAMMA SIGMA. YOU WERE PAYING ATTENTION, WEREN’T
YOU? WELL, WE STILL HAD A PROBLEM. WE COULD GET A CHAPTER OF BETA GAMMA
SIGMA WITHOUT MASTER’S ACCREDITATION, BUT THEN IF WE FAILED TO GET
THE MASTER’S ACCREDITATION, WE WOULD HAVE TO GIVE UP THE CHAPTER.
WE DECIDED TO BE PRUDENT AND DELAY OUR REQUEST FOR THE BETA GAMMA SIGMA
CHAPTER.
AACSB DID NOT BELIEVE THAT OFF-CAMPUS BUSINESS PROGRAMS WERE OF THE SAME
QUALITY AS THOSE ON CAMPUS, AND WE HAD A PROGRAM IN BRUNSWICK. AS LONG
AS WE HAD THAT PROGRAM, WE HAD ZERO CHANCE OF GETTING MASTER’S ACCREDITATION.
OUR PRESIDENT AT THAT TIME, DALE LICK, FELT THAT ONE OF GEORGIA SOUTHERN’S
MISSIONS WAS TO SERVE SOUTH GEORGIA, AND HE DIDN’T WANT TO KILL
THE BRUNSWICK PROGRAM. ONE DAY I MET PRESIDENT LICK AS I WAS WALKING ACROSS
THE CAMPUS. HE ASKED ABOUT MASTER’S ACCREDITATION AND I EXPLAINED
THE BRUNSWICK PROBLEM. “SO GET OUT OF BRUNSWICK,” HE SAID.
SO WE GOT OUT OF BRUNSWICK, AND WE CONFIDENTLY APPLIED FOR A CHAPTER OF
BETA GAMMA SIGMA, AND HERE WE ARE, TWENTY FIVE YEARS LATER. THAT’S
HOW IT ALL CAME ABOUT.
THOSE TWENTY-FIVE
YEARS HAVE SEEN LOTS OF CHANGES. GSC BECAME GSU. THE S. O. B. BECAME THE
C.O.B.A. DEANS GOODING AND SCHIFFLER HAVE LED THE BUSINESS PROGRAM TO
HEIGHTS THAT WE COULDN’T HAVE DREAMED OF WHEN WE WERE STRUGGLING
TO GAIN NATIONAL RECOGNITION. BUT THEN AND NOW, IT HAS BEEN STUDENTS LIKE
YOU WHO ARE BEING INITIATED TONIGHT THAT HAVE MADE IT ALL POSSIBLE.
HOWEVER, I WOULD LIKE
TO POINT OUT THAT WHAT MY COLLEAGUES AND I AND OUR SUCCESSORS DID TO LEAD
YOU MEMBERS AND INITIATES TO WHERE YOU STAND TONIGHT EXEMPLIFIES SOME
OF THE MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF SUCCESS IN ANY ENDEAVOR, BUSINESS OR OTHERWISE:
BELIEVE IN WHAT YOU’RE DOING, WORK VERY HARDTO MAKE IT HAPPEN, AND
KEEP A RECIPE FOR ANGEL BISCUITS IN RESERVE.
THANK YOU AND LET’S
GO WATCH BASKETBALL.
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