College of Business

College Dean
Dr. Jeffrey Zimmerman
Plaster Hall 302 • 417-625-9319

Mission

The Robert W. Plaster College of Business provides quality, student-centered, accessible business education programs for undergraduate and graduate students from the four-state area and beyond.

We are committed to preparing our students with the knowledge, skills, and ethical perspectives necessary to thrive in the global community; developing close relationships with regional businesses; responding to stakeholder needs; engaging in applied research to advance the practice of business and the effectiveness of teaching and learning; and promoting faculty excellence in teaching, research, and community service.

Learning Goals

Graduates of the Plaster College of Business will:

be able to communicate effectively to a variety of audiences.
understand the functional areas of business.
recognize the importance of international business perspectives.
be able to evaluate business problems using quantitative analysis.
understand the importance of making ethical business decisions.
understand the importance of teamwork.

Vision

The Plaster College of Business aspires to be a respected school of choice, distinguished for the career preparation of its students and the engagement of its faculty.

Core Values

Learning and Research

We promote an environment that facilitates and supports learning, collaboration, and communication by both faculty and students directed at scholarly activity and the application of knowledge.

Community

We respond to the needs of our regional and global community by preparing responsible, productive citizens for leadership roles and by providing services that support economic development.

Innovation

We cultivate a spirit of entrepreneurship by developing new offerings and activities and by incorporating technological and pedagogical advances that support the learning environment.

Respect

We value each member of our community and promote an inclusive, transparent environment where diverse perspectives are welcomed and appreciated.

Integrity

We commit to operating with integrity in our leadership, our financial practices, our teaching and scholarship and among our students.

Social Responsibility

We believe that faculty and students should engage in activities that foster social and ethical awareness and respond to domestic and international needs for sustainable societies.

Diversity and Inclusion

We welcome and support a broad diversity of people and ideas as an essential element to quality education in a global interdependent society.

Continuous Improvement

We commit to continually assess and improve our programs and activities in support of our mission, vision, and core values.

Accreditation

Programs in the Robert W. Plaster College of Business have earned accreditation from multiple organizations. All Business programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. ACBSP is the leading specialized accreditation association for business education to support, celebrate and reward teaching excellence. The Industrial Engineering Technology program is accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC) of ABET, http://www.abet.org.

Student Organizations

The Accounting Club provides accounting students information about the profession, along with the opportunity to network with practicing accountants. Members can interact through monthly meetings and various social functions and are encouraged to become active in the area’s professional accounting organizations. The club publishes an annual Resume Book that is distributed as a resource to area employers that wish to hire new accounting graduates.

The Finance and Economics Club is open to all majors who desire knowledge about financial careers and investments. Meetings allow students to network with each other and financial professionals and an annual trip allows students to gain exposure to financial markets and companies.

Omicron Delta Epsilon is the honorary economics fraternity open to juniors with at least 15 hours in economics or finance and a 3.5 GPA in economics or finance courses.

Collegiate DECA is an international organization that engages students from a variety of educational disciplines while maintaining a strong focus on business-related areas such as marketing, management and entrepreneurship. Competitive events at the state and national levels allow students to gain recognition and develop leadership skills. Meetings provide networking opportunities with business professionals.

Phi Beta Lambda aims to develop competent and aggressive business leadership, to create more interest and understanding of American business enterprise and to improve business and citizenship through participation in worthy undertakings. PBL is open to all students.

Delta Mu Delta is an international honor society in Business Administration that exists to promote higher scholarship in training for business and to recognize and reward scholastic achievement in business subjects. To be inducted in the Lambda Gamma Chapter, students must major in business and graduate in the top 20% of their class.

The Society of Human Resource Management is designed to familiarize students with human resource administration, industrial psychology and labor relations. It also functions as a way to keep students up-to-date on new professional human resources developments.

The Society of Manufacturing Engineers Student Chapter U 178 (SME) sponsors social and educational events as well as provides students with the opportunity to network and gain the competitive edge needed for building lucrative careers. Club activities include plant tours, homecoming activities, Engineering Technology initiation event, career fairs, and other events.

The International Business Club is open to those interested in any facet of international business. Both U.S. and international students are represented. Monthly meetings give members a chance to hear guest speakers from different businesses engaged in international activities, as well as experience field trips to area businesses.

Computer Information Science Club is a forum for CIS students and other interested parties to meet and discuss topics of mutual interest and to network with potential employers and internship opportunities. The club typically hosts 4 or 5 outside speakers a year from nearly every major IT employer in the area. In addition, field trips and visits to such places as Leggett & Platt, Con-Way Truckload, Wal-Mart headquarters, and to the Mountain Underground Data Center have been organized. Through club auspices, members arrange study groups, tutoring, and community service projects and they form a personal network to help each other find internships during school and fulltime jobs after graduation.

Entrepreneurship Club is open to all majors who are interested in entrepreneurship while in school or after graduation. Meetings allow students to network with each other and entrepreneurs throughout the region. Students have the opportunity to share their ideas, learn more about entrepreneurship, and host events.

Economic Development

Small Business Development Center

The Robert W. Plaster College of Business, in conjunction with the Small Business Administration, has formed a Small Business Development Center. The SBDC was established in April 1987 and is located in the Robert W. Plaster Free Enterprise Center. The SBDC provides existing and start-up for-profit small businesses in Jasper, Newton, Barton, Vernon, Cedar, Dade, Lawrence and McDonald counties with one-on-one consulting. In addition, the SBDC assists businesses with their training and educational needs. The Center seeks to serve those needs by developing and/or coordinating various seminars and workshops for the local businesses.

Business and Economic Lecture Series

The Robert W. Plaster College of Business sponsors an annual lecture series. Speakers of interest to both students and local business people are featured.

SBDC Workshops

The Robert W. Plaster College of Business has established workshops to help local businesses with their training and educational needs. The Center seeks to serve those needs by developing and/or coordinating various seminars for the local businesses.

Business General Education Requirements

All BSBA candidates must take the following “core” courses in addition to the courses required in their major (see course descriptions for prerequisites):

Mathematics - All candidates for the BSBA degree must complete MATH 0125 (Contemporary Math) or higher as their General Education Core 42 mathematics course.