Kenan-Flagler Business School
November 18, 2005
by David Werry

Since 1919, a business school has been a vital component of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Obviously much has changed over the years, but this longstanding program has always provided UNC with a strong foundation for educating future and present business leaders throughout North Carolina and the world.

For many who are not directly involved with the business school, it can have an element of mystery to it. Its’ physical location (south campus beside the Dean Smith Center) is not easily accessible for many students either. Therefore, it was important for our field lab members to familiarize ourselves with these buildings and with those who lead the business school.

Throughout the semester this class has focused on ‘seeing things,’ especially things that a student would not normally have the opportunity to experience. In the case of the business school lab, we focused more on meeting several knowledgable and energetic campus leaders and administrators whom the numerous undergraduate students not in the business school may have few opportunities to meet.

To begin the tour we met with Dr. John P. "Jack" Evans, a former Dean of UNC Kenan-Flagler and a current professor in the MBA program. Dr. Evans’ personal experience at UNC and historical knowledge provided a great start to the tour as he detailed important landmarks that the business school has had throughout its history, including the variations in public sentiment towards business schools. For instance, Dr. Evans noted that during the Vietnam War and for a period of time after, enrolling in a business school was an unpopular course of action for American youth. Dr. Evans also spoke about the business school moving from Carroll Hall to its new location and how they have dealt with large enrollment demands. Lastly, Dr. Evans outlined the school's philosophy of creating a liberal arts business program, in alignment with UNC's liberal arts foundation. This approach allows undergraduate students the most flexibility possible in taking electives in the general college while still being an accredited business school.

The class toured the Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise with Dr. Evans with a stop to address the class in the Kenan Lounge. There Dr. Evans spoke about the history of the Kenan Institute and its mission of promoting private enterprise, as well as the Carolina Entrepreneurial Initiative. His discussion ended in a classroom in McColl Building.

Jeff Cannon, Director of BSBA Undergraduate Program, met the group after lunch in Café McColl and guided a tour of the facilities, which included computer labs and reading rooms. From the McColl front lobby, Mr. Cannon spoke about the two entrepreneurs recognized in the name of the business school: William R. Kenan and Henry M. Flagler. Then, students perused the names of large donors to the school, who are recognized on a plaque in the front of McColl Building. Our next stop with Mr. Cannon was a walk-through of the market room, where real-time data is kept on the stock market.

As the director of the undergraduate program, Mr. Cannon’s address was mostly focused on the undergraduate aspect of the business school. He spoke about some new initiatives that they are introducing, including a goal to have 100% of their students gain academic credit outside of the United States. This global approach to their undergraduate business degree is an important philosophy within the business school.

Steve Jones, Dean of the Business School, was the last speaker to address the class. We met Dean Jones in the Faculty Reading Room. Comfortable chairs and large windows offered a picturesque view of the rest of the business school - an ideal spot to end the tour. Dean Jones was an undergraduate student at UNC, worked for McKinsey & Company as a consultant, received an MBA from Harvard and was a CEO of a major bank in Australia – all before coming back to UNC at a young age. His personal experience in business and his ties to UNC were a springboard for many student questions.

Dean Jones spoke about the business world in comparison with academia, noting that the main difference is the efficiency with which things get done in business. Additionally, he stated that in business it can be easier to ‘keep score’ of how you are doing. One way to know how you are doing in the academy is to consider private donations, which Dean Jones described as being at the margin of excellence for a public university. He estimated that he spends around 50% of this time focused on donor relations and development.