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University of Notre Dame
Mendoza College of Business

204 Mendoza College of Business
Notre Dame, IN 46556
United States

In the school's own words...

At the Mendoza College of Business, our deeply rooted mission of service and concern for the common good is finding new vibrancy in today’s complex global business world. Led by Dean Carolyn Woo and supported by faculty, the Mendoza College continues to emphasize leadership grounded in ethics and social responsibility, with a view as to how business can solve some of society’s most intractable problems.

This perspective pervades the MBA program, from orientation to the coursework, to an extensive list of extracurricular activities. A new MBA curriculum launched in 2005 focuses on problem-solving opportunities in the context of individual ethics, organizational effectiveness and promoting the greater good. All 14 required courses and a notable 93 electives integrate social, ethical or environmental issues. Two new courses, “Issues in Sustainability” and “Ethics in Investing,” are dedicated to examining the rising importance of ESG investment criteria.

There is a consistent effort to integrate classroom learning with real-life experiences, which not only adds relevancy but instills a deeper understanding and appreciation for the power of business in action. Last fall, every first-year MBA student participated in a case competition presented by Coca-Cola Co. involving a current social responsibility issue. A new course, “Business on the Frontlines,” explores the role of business in rebuilding war-torn societies, with students traveling to Lebanon and Bosnia to analyze conditions first-hand. “Front Line Ethics,” challenges students to provide ethics cases based on their own experiences.

The global aspect of the College’s focus on social responsibility is fostered through the spirit and commitment of Dean Woo, who in 2007 spearheaded the Principles for Responsible Management (PRME) initiative and recently spoke before the U.N. Global Forum for Responsible Management Education. PRME – now endorsed by nearly 200 business schools – incorporates universal values of the U.N. Global Compact into business school curricula and research. A “Peace Through Commerce” course further instructs students in the Global Compact and specific corporate applications. Dean Woo presented a video on the “15 Global Challenges” as defined by the U.N. to all Mendoza students.

The Mendoza faculty continually drives the message of social responsibility through its teaching, scholarship and organized events. Recent faculty research has explored topics including plagiarizing ethics codes and lying in the sales cycle. A fall ethics conference convenes leading scholars in core business disciplines to identify contemporary ethics questions, with the papers being published in the Journal of Business Ethics.

Our commitment to social responsibility also is demonstrated through its extracurricular programs and internships. Mendoza offers an annual Social Venture Business Plan Competition. Internships in Microventuring and Social Enterprise, as well as opportunities in Jamaica and South Africa, are available. The 2008 Net Impact Guide ranked our active Net Impact chapter as top five in two of three matrices. One of many MBA club projects supports the local community with a microfinance project that makes loans to local businesses. In recognition of its commitment to diversity, Mendoza MBA has been selected as lead academic sponsor for the 2010 NSHMBA National Conference and Career Expo.

School Demographic Information