2023 Undergraduate Deans Conference

Naveen Jindal School of Management building

Undergraduate Deans Conference

The Annual Undergraduate Deans Conference, March 7-8, 2023

No Registration Fee

Are you responsible for the competitiveness of your undergraduate programs?
Are you experiencing difficulties in recruiting First-Time-in-College Freshman students?
Would you like to improve the overall ranking of your undergraduate programs?
Would you like to build quality relationships with industries to market your programs?
Are you in the process of developing a STEM program or enhancing your curriculum?

If you experience these issues, you are not alone. The conference hosted by Jindal School of Management brings a unique colloquium specific to assistant and associate deans who are involved in developing and managing different aspects of undergraduate programs and curriculum.

This conference is a premier colloquium for designing, developing, and even reinventing undergraduate programs. We encourage thought-provoking conversations, debates on several issues confronting business school leaders/deans, and discussions of emerging ideas to promote program success at every level, from the classroom through the dean’s suite.

Download Proceedings

2023 UT Dallas

2022 UT Dallas

Previous UG Deans Conferences

JSOM Highlights

Interested in Being a Speaker or Serving on a Faculty Panel?

Experts from various universities will provide insights and share their innovative techniques. If you are interested in sharing your experiences as a speaker or panelist, please email Associate Dean, Shawn Alborz. The agenda may include:

Brand Development and Differentiation
University and Industry Rankings
Methods to Grow Domestic Enrollment
Mentoring and Alumni Programs
Virtual Student Engagements

Curriculum Development
Honors, Research and Faculty Excellence
Study Abroad and Exchange Programs
Program Assessment (AACSB)
Building Industry Advisory Board and Relationships

Organizing Committee

If there are topics you would like to see on the program, please let us know, and we would be happy to add them to the program agenda.

Conference Chair, UT Dallas
Associate Dean, Undergraduate Programs

salborz@utdallas.edu | (972) 883-6455

Conference Co-Chair, UT Dallas
Project Manager, Undergraduate Programs

Shirley.Yu@utdallas.edu | (972) 883-4986

Message from Dean

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the 2023 Undergraduate Deans Conference. We are pleased to welcome you to Naveen Jindal School of Management (JSOM), at UT Dallas and we hope you enjoy your time with us.

This year’s conference will focus on differentiation, competitiveness, several exciting topics, and the importance of strong industry engagement and partnerships for outstanding undergraduate programs and curriculum. This is a wonderful opportunity for business school leaders to share their successes and exchange ideas as they confront challenges and recognize innovations in the field.

I would like to thank the conference program committee for their time and dedication to planning and delivering this conference. I am confident you will have a reinvigorated view of the work you do in your programs.

Best wishes for a productive and enjoyable conference.

Hasan Pirkul, PhD
Dean and Caruth Chair of Management

Keynote Speaker

Biography: Monica Powell, PhD

Dear Friends,

Dr. Monica Powell is the Senior Associate Dean and Graduate Dean for the Naveen Jindal School of Management at The University of Texas at Dallas. Her graduate business education experience spans 35 years, during which time she has held senior roles at both SMU and UT Dallas. Dr. Powell teaches at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and handles program management, the school’s Career Management Center, web services, data analytics team, academic operations, recruiting, and program support.

Dr. Powell earned her PhD in Higher Education with a minor in Communications from the University of North Texas. She also earned a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in advertising from the University of Alabama.

Best wishes,
Monica Powell, PhD
Sr Associate Dean, UT Dallas

Conference Agenda

The tentative schedule is noted below and will be updated periodically.

Schedule for Monday Reception, March 06, 2023 (Central Time)
Time	Program
05:00 – 07:00 PM	Welcome Reception Hilton Richardson Dallas 701 E Campbell Rd Richardson, TX 75081 (972) 231-9600

Schedule for Tuesday, March 07, 2023 (Central Time)
Time	Program
07:30 – 08:15 AM	Registration and Breakfast
08:15 – 08:30 AM	Conference Welcome: Shawn Alborz, PhD (UT Dallas)
08:30 – 09:30 AM	Keynote: How Does UG Business Education Meet the Future of Work? Speaker: Monica Powell, Phd, Senior Associate Dean, UT Dallas Undergraduate degree programs are experiencing new challenges that call on senior leadership to create new strategies to address enrollment challenges and new mandates for performance by higher education coordinating boards, state legislations, and parents. Changes in expectations by students have exacerbated these challenges. As GenZ moves on to its next academic journey, the new Alpha generation will bring various demands and needs to undergraduate business schools. This session explores such challenges and suggestions for overcoming the obstacles ahead for those who lead.
09:30 – 10:45 AM	Session #1: Innovation and Building Value in UG Programs Today’s undergraduate programs require relevant content, combining concept and practice and curriculum delivery flexibility to attract and retain students. This session discusses how undergraduate programs are working to create an “out of the box” curriculum to ensure programs are achieving the best possible competitive advantage in an increasingly crowded education market. Panelists: Romana Autrey, Associate Dean, Willamettee University Beth Schneider, UG Director, Queens University of Charlotte Vlad Griskevicius, Associate Dean, University of Minnesota
10:45 – 11:00 PM	Coffee Break
11:00 – 12:15 PM	Session #2: Retention and Engagement Programs Retention and engagement of undergraduate students continue to evolve as students are increasingly seeking strong market-demanded programs which provide rigor, employment marketability, and personal esteem. In this session, attendees hear from leaders about how they are innovating their retention and engagement methods to ensure a high level of program success that meets the student’s value expectations. Panelists: Laurie Miller, Associate Dean, University of Nebraska Evgenia Golubeva, Associate Dean, University of Illinois at Chicago Barbara Cartledge, Senior Assistant Dean, Samford University
12:15 – 01:30 PM	Lunch
01:30 – 02:45 PM	Session #3: How to Implement and Demonstrate Social Impact The awareness and efforts of the organization’s positive societal impact are critical for success. Undergraduate programs increasingly incorporate social impact goals to meet the demands of business and society. This session explores new approaches leaders are taking to create innovative programs that focus on developing and delivering societal impact content to meet the needs of accreditation bodies, businesses, and students. Panelists: Rama Yelkur, Dean, Texas Women University Anil Kumar, Associate Dean, Texas A&M Commerce Kate Demarest, Associate Dean, University of Baltimore
02:45 – 03:30 PM	Coffee
03:00 – 04:15 PM	Session #4: Enforcing Academic Integrity in an Online Environment Over the few years, undergraduate leaders and students have incorporated academic software applications (such as Brainly, Blackboard, Canvass, ChatGPT, Connect, Chegg Study, GoNoodle, Kahoot, MyLab, or Zoom) to assist in providing interactive learning experiences for students. While these tools have provided innovative platforms for course curriculum delivery, they have also exposed faculty, programs, and students to higher levels of risk to academic integrity. In this session, you learn from leaders what efforts schools are taking to safely incorporate these applications to ensure high academic integrity while providing students with an interactive learning experience. Panelists: Keldon Bauer, Associate Dean, Tarleton State University Todd Alessandri, Associate Dean, Northeastern University Karen Kennedy, Associate Dean , University of Alabama at Birmingham
04:15 – 04:30 PM	Wrap up: Shawn Alborz (UT Dallas)
04:45 – 08:30 PM	Dinner

Schedule for Wednesday, March 08, 2023 (Central Time)
Time	Program
08:00 – 09:00 AM	Breakfast and Coffee
09:00 – 10:15 AM	Session #5: Study Abroad Programs and Challenges A global perspective on cultural, economic, and societal issues is crucial for students’ success. As we emerge from the pandemic travel restrictions, undergraduate programs are returning to study abroad experiences to provide students with the opportunity to cultivate this perspective on their world. In this session, you hear from program leaders reestablishing study abroad programs that take advantage of many global study opportunities while overcoming the many challenges related to these efforts. Panelists: Mike Lavender, Associate Dean, University of North Georgia Raman Randhawa, Vice Dean, University of Southern California Robert Whitelaw, Dean, Stern, New York University
10:15 – 10:30 AM	Coffee Break
10:30 – 11:45 PM	Session #6: Mentoring UG Students Often students arrive at their university wondering who to turn to for assistance such as course selections, registration, career development, etc. At its core, the mentoring program reassures students that there is someone who cares about them and that they are not alone in dealing with the challenges of college life. In this session, program leaders discuss the development and implementation of mentor programs to ensure student success. Panelists: Frank Kelley, Associate Dean, University of Houston Jerald Hughes, Associate Dean, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Ana Giron-Rubio, Program Manager, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Kevin O’Mara, Dean, Campbell University Shannon Deer, Associate Dean, Texas A&M Frederic Brunel, Associate Dean, Boston University
11:45 – 12:00 PM	Wrap Up: Shawn Alborz (UT Dallas)
12:00 PM	Lunch Boxes and Farewell

Travel and Hotel

Hotel Information

Hilton Richards Hotel has been contracted to provide a group rate of $129 per night (one king bed or two double beds) for the duration of the conference. Rooms are limited so please visit the link below and reserve them now.

Hilton Richardson Hotel
701 E Campbell Rd,Richardson, TX 75081
Reservation: (972) 231-9600

Just in case, you may consider other hotels near campus.

Hyatt Regency Richardson – Dallas
701 East Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75081
Reservation: (972) 619-1234

Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Richardson
250 Municipal Dr, Richardson, TX, 75080
Reservation: (800) 337-0202

Hampton Inn & Suites Dallas/Richardson
2250 N. Glenville Drive, Richardson, TX 75082
Reservation: (972) 231-9800

Welcome to Jindal School of Management, UT Dallas Campus