Seniors score above national average in standardized business test

Bryant students place in the 83 percentile on a test that measures student achievement in functional areas of business.

Bryant students continue to show that they are some of the best and brightest in the country. Seniors majoring in business placed in the 83rd percentile of the Major Field Test in Business.

“The high performance on this standardized test is a testament to the dedication and commitment of our students and professors,” says Jack Trifts, dean of Bryant's College of Business. “The passion of our faculty to create innovative programs and the willingness of our students to learn in and out of the classroom ensures we are preparing the next cadre of leaders.”

Especially noteworthy is the number of Bryant students in the top tier of the national rankings. In fall 2008, a total of 117 test takers, out of 314, placed in the top quartile nationally. Additionally, 16 students scored in the top five percent, 22 in the top 10 percent, and 79 in the top 25 percent.

The Major Field Test in Business is an objective, end-of-program test designed for students majoring in business degree programs. The two-hour test is administered to all undergraduate business students at Bryant during the semester in which they are enrolled in their business program capstone course.

The test examines achievements in nine content areas: accounting, economics, management, quantitative business analysis, finance, marketing, legal and social environment, information systems, and international issues.

Bryant’s results in each area were significantly above the average national scores with six of the academic indicators at or above the 80th percentile.

Hands-on learning

Bryant students take part in a rigorous academic experience that includes courses in both business and the liberal arts. All business students minor in a discipline offered through Bryant’s College of Arts and Sciences, and all liberal arts students minor in business.

During their first year at Bryant, all students take “Business 101,” where they create business plans for fictional companies. This year, for the first time, a group of honors students created a business plan that is being put into place by a local nonprofit organization. Students in the course also participate in a campuswide elevator pitch competition, where they have 90 seconds to “pitch” their business ideas to a panel of executives.

As part of their second year, students take Management 200, where they have the opportunity to work with a nonprofit organization to help it run more efficiently and effectively. At the end of the semester, a Service Learning Fair is held to showcase the top projects.

(L-R) Gergely Nemeth ’09 (Balatonfured, Hungary), Megan McCourt ’09 (Chicopee MA), Chris Lussier ’10 (Spencer, MA) Matthew Veves ’10 (Hudson, NH), and Jeff Steacie ’10 (Bellingham, MA) captured second place in the B-School Beanpot Case Competition.

Later in their Bryant careers, students can take part in the Target Case Competition, in which they “pitch” innovative ideas to executives of the retail giant. Bryant also made its inaugural appearance in the B-School Beanpot Case Competition in February and earned second place behind perennial champion Northeastern.

Campus organizations can provide an important forum for students to practice what they learn in the classroom. Bryant was named the best Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization chapter in the country for the second year in a row. The University’s chapter of Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) has won the regional competition and advanced to the nationals in seven of the last eight years. Bryant captured the 2009 Providence regional title earlier this week and will compete in the national competition in Philadelphia in May. SIFE is an international student organization that empowers students to become socially responsible business leaders.

Renowned educational programs

Earlier this semester, Bryant was ranked among the top schools by BusinessWeek in the magazine’s 2009 rankings of the top undergraduate business programs in the country. This year Bryant moved up five spots to No. 59.

The University was also reaccredited by AACSB International – a distinction earned by fewer than five percent of business schools worldwide. Bryant’s College of Business was cited for its culture of assessment, engagement, and innovative educational programs that are responsive to the needs of the marketplace.