The Robert Morris University Sport Management Newsletter Summer 2009 FROM THE BENCH Greetings to all Robert Morris University Sport Management students, alumni and friends. It’s been a busy year and below are a few highlights and thoughts about what has been going on at the university, with Sport Management, as well as the current economic status in the industry. • This past spring the RMU School of Business achieved initial accreditation by AACSB International– The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, joining only 5 percent of business schools worldwide to carry this prestigious recognition. AACSB International is an association of educational institutions, businesses, and other organizations recognized worldwide as the premier accrediting agency of collegiate business schools and accounting programs. This highly coveted recognition represents the peak standard of achievement for business schools; only 560 business schools in the world have achieved AACSB accreditation, and only one-third of business schools in the United States. With Sport Management being housed in the School of Business, this accreditation establishes greater credibility for the education and professional preparation of our students. • With the leadership of Harry Leckemby (SM BSBA 1987), there is now a RMU Sport Management Alumni group on Linkedin. Currently, approximately 100 alumni, faculty and friends of the program have joined this group. This is a great tool for networking, communicating as well as staying in touch with the university. If you use Linkedin and would like to join the network contact Harry at
[email protected] or myself at
[email protected] . • The economy has seriously impacted the sports and entertainment industry with the loss of sponsorship dollars and a decline in ticket and suite renewal sales –resulting in drastic budget cutbacks along with the layoffs of outstanding sport industry professionals.