Maryland Business School is one of nation's best for entrepreneurs, says SUCCESS

College Park, MD - August 28, 1997 - For the fourth consecutive year, SUCCESS magazine has ranked the University of Maryland Business School as one of the country's 25 best business schools for entrepreneurs. The Maryland Business School is the only school in the Baltimore-Washington region that made the top-25 list.

SUCCESS published its 1997 list, in alphabetical order, in the magazine's September issue. This marks the fourth year of the proprietary listing, which resulted from measures of five components of graduate entrepreneurship programs:

• quality, longevity, and resources;
• qualifications of the entrepreneurship faculty;
• depth and breadth of the entrepreneurship curriculum;
• special programs that link students with the business community;
• caliber of students measured by GMAT scores, undergraduate GPAs, and the percentage of applicants accepted.

The Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship, part of the Maryland Business School, administers the business school's MBA entrepreneurship concentration, which includes 11 graduate courses in entrepreneurship. Responding to student demand, the center is also launching an undergraduate program. Experienced entrepreneurs teach the classes. The curriculum offers the educational foundation students need to start their own businesses, work in or with small high-growth entrepreneurial firms, or create new ventures in larger organizations.

Each year, a select group of graduate students is accepted as Rudolph P. Lamone or James E. Dingman Entrepreneur Scholars. They receive several benefits to assist them in launching their careers.

Charles Heller, director of the Dingman Center, said: "We are pleased and proud that the Maryland Business School is recognized as one of the nation's elite schools for entrepreneurs. This recognition confirms that we are making a difference in the lives of our students and that we are succeeding in assisting our region's emerging companies."

The Dingman Center facilitates, supports, and encourages entrepreneurship and new enterprise growth in the mid-Atlantic region through its mentor program; Baltimore-Washington Venture Group (B-WVG); and educational, training, and networking programs and events. The B-WVG is a forum for entrepreneurs and companies to meet with providers of capital and professional services. It is the region's sole gateway to the Private Investors Network.

Among the Dingman Center's networking programs and events is its annual conference for women entrepreneurs. In addition, the center earlier this year hosted the first-ever Conference of University Entrepreneurship Centers, a gathering of the leaders of the country's top 50 university entrepreneurship centers. The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation has selected the Dingman Center to host the 1998 conference, as well.

For more information about the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship, call (301) 405-2144 or visit the center's Web site at: http://www.rhsmith.umd.edu/Dingman/.

About the Robert H. Smith School of Business

The Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland is an internationally recognized leader in management education and research for the digital economy. The school offers cross-functional study options in its six academic departments, which include accounting and information assurance; decision and information technologies; finance; logistics, business, and public policy; management and organization; and marketing. More information about the Robert H. Smith School of Business can be found at http://www.rhsmith.umd.edu.