Business school turns 100 this year

The University of Detroit Mercy’s College of Business Administration has been around for a century, and the college has continued to grow and evolve since it first opened its doors in October of 1916. 

What started out as a handful of students quickly grew to more than 800 within the school’s first decade as the campus added land and more buildings at Six Mile and Livernois. 

“For a full century, we’ve been providing a business education that looks beyond the bottom line, and truly incorporates social responsibility and compassion for others. Our courses emphasize business ethics, sustainability, diversity and global perspectives,” said Joseph G. Eisenhauer, dean of the College of Business Administration. “We’re beginning our second century with a renewed dedication to the creation of sustainable commerce having a positive social impact.”

That includes a new Center for Social Entreprenuership that helps start new ventures designed to help the less-fortunate, Eisenhauer said.

Since 1949, the school has been accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International. Detroit Mercy is part of the top 5 percent of business schools in the world that are accredited by AACSB.

“The unique part about UDM is its proximity to and connections with some of the top automotive manufacturers and suppliers, as well as the top accounting firms,” said Sarah Montone, a five-year MBA program student. “One thing I appreciate the most about the business school are the small class sizes. I have never been in a class larger than 30 students, and most of my classes are around 15 students. This allows each of our professors to know our names and capabilities, which I believe enhances classroom learning.”

With the school’s location and being so close to downtown, business majors find it easier to make connections with future employers. With Detroit’s business industry booming and on the rise, students from Detroit Mercy are able to thrive in the business world.

“Three generations of my family have graduated from Detroit Mercy’s business school,” said Brian Thelen, an alumnus. “The university has always provided the most qualified and experienced professors along with helping students get a foot in the field with an internship.”