Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the College of Business need a new facility?

When was the current business building built?

What will the building cost?

How big will the new facility be? How does it compare to the current facilities?

How will the new business facility improve business education?

What will the new business facility include?

How will the new facility fit into the rest of the UW campus?

Will a new building help the college maintain its accreditation?

What is the college's role in Wyoming's economic development?

What is the college's role in Wyoming's energy economy?

Are there other ways the College of Business supports the state of Wyoming?

How will a new building help the people of Wyoming?

Why does the College of Business need a new facility? - Top
Enrollment growth alone justifies the need for expanded space. The current business building was designed to accommodate 461 “commerce and industry” students. The number of business majors has more than tripled to an average of 1,300, and is projected to continue to increase due to programs like the Hathaway Scholarship as well as the reputation of the College of Business. In addition, approximately 1,250 non-business majors take business courses each semester. Space limitations for faculty and staff, many of whom must share offices, are equally severe.

When was the current business building built? - Top
The current building was dedicated in 1960 and opened its doors in 1961.

What will the building cost? - Top
Total project cost, including the Level III planning and construction costs, is currently estimated at $52,600,000

How big will the new facility be? How does it compare to the current facilities? - Top
The combined facility of renovated space and new construction will total 156,681 gross square feet, almost double the 79,070 gross square feet currently allocated to the college in the business building and in spaces distributed throughout Ross Hall, a former dormitory.

How will the new business facility improve business education? - Top
The proposed business facility will support student-focused business education that encourages faculty-student interaction, student access to state-of-the art technology, student participation in intensive real business experiences, and frequent opportunities for collaborative learning. Students will benefit from a modern technology infrastructure that will include both wired and wireless technologies. This will help ensure that Wyoming’s business graduates are well prepared to use and leverage technology in the workplace. In addition, students and faculty in economics and finance will no longer be isolated across campus in Ross Hall. Consolidating all business disciplines into one space will create a positive impact and will better model the business world.

What will the new business facility include? - Top
The student-centered facility will offer opportunities unique to business education, from a networked trading room for tracking investments to a fully furnished board room for executive meetings. Classroom spaces (e.g., group study rooms, a multimedia laboratory, flexible case study rooms, and practice rooms) will accommodate a variety of teaching and learning methods. Acknowledging that not all learning takes place in a classroom, the design of the new building will include open areas where faculty and students can get together informally to discuss ideas or work on projects. Student services – including academic advising and a career development center that will provide opportunities for students to pursue internships, networking, career planning, and job placement – will be centrally located.

How will the new facility fit into the rest of the UW campus? - Top
The renovation of the existing building will be extensive in scope but not disruptive in character, and the new addition will blend carefully with adjacent campus buildings. Exterior materials will be compatible with campus architecture, including rock-faced sandstone and limestone trim elements. Consistent with the college’s emerging academic emphasis in the area of sustainable business practices, the proposed facility will recognize the importance of sustainable design in both its programmatic and operational directives. At the onset, the design is planned to qualify for certification by the U.S. Green Building Council, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). LEED certification is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and a healthy place to live and work.

Will a new building help the college maintain its accreditation? - Top
The University of Wyoming is one of 506 business schools in the world accredited by AACSB-International. This places UW among the top 15% of business schools worldwide. AACSB accreditation assures quality and promotes excellence in undergraduate and graduate education. The most recent AACSB accreditation report (2000) specifically recommended (1) upgrades in instruction services and technology for the classrooms and (2) integration of all faculty, staff and student functions into a single building complex.

What is the college's role in Wyoming's economic development? - Top
Through its strategic initiatives – entrepreneurship, business ethics, and environment and natural resources – the college is committed to issues of importance to the state of Wyoming. It is trying to stop the flow of graduates out of the state by encouraging entrepreneurship among its students and making sure business graduates have the skills, knowledge, and abilities to create their own jobs in Wyoming. The college hosts the $10K entrepreneurship competition to encourage students to start new businesses and is developing a robust relationship with the Wyoming Technology Business Center.

What is the college's role in Wyoming's energy economy? - Top
The college’s historic strengths in environment and natural resource economics – ranked 10th in the nation – add value to Wyoming’s energy and agriculture industry, and are a key component of the university’s new School of Energy Resources.

Are there other ways the College of Business supports the state of Wyoming? - Top
The College of Business offers degrees encompassing core business skills such as accounting, marketing, economics, finance, and management. Minors are offered in banking and financial services, decision sciences, international business, and entrepreneurship. More than 4,300 business alumni put these skills to good use by living and working in Wyoming. The college offers an online BS degree in business administration, available to students who complete their first two years at Wyoming’s community colleges, and an online executive MBA program. Current collaborations with the community colleges include efforts to build common business ethics curricula and to improve basic information management skills. Plans are underway for increased outreach to the state, including additional career development opportunities and, potentially, executive education.

How will a new building help the people of Wyoming? - Top
Students who graduate from the business school will be better prepared, especially in terms of technology and group interaction skills, to enter the 21st century workforce. Faculty and graduate students who work in spaces conducive to interdisciplinary discussions will be better prepared to address research needs relevant to Wyoming, such as energy development, health care, financial literacy, business ethics, or other topical business needs. Further, with modern distance education technologies such as two-way videoconferencing, multimedia presentation laboratories, and Internet communications, visiting executives and faculty will be able to share their expertise in Laramie and statewide.

In this section, we are listing the questions most frequently asked. If your question is not answered here, please contact business@uwyo.edu with your question.

Frequently Asked Questions

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