On Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, the Peter B. Lewis Building was a buzz with activity for the first day of fall classes. Traffic in the hallways was congested with the Weatherhead School of Management experiencing its largest undergraduate class. Several graduate programs also realized notable enrollment growth, including the Executive MBA program, which had a 24% larger cohort over last year, and the Master of Accountancy program enrollment increasing by 58% compared to 2022.
Also on the rise are the school’s rankings. In the recent Bloomberg Businessweek’s Best Business Schools list Weatherhead was ranked #59, a 19-position improvement over the 2021-22 ranking at #78. Fortune Education’s Best MBA Program ranking placed Weatherhead #56, up from #61 in 2022.
Other exciting developments include the launch of the Center for Family Business. Building on the school’s network of more than 24,000 Weatherhead alumni, many of whom are family business owners, and leveraging support from government, nonprofit and corporate partners, the Center for Family Business will deliver an enterprise of resources to family-owned businesses.
Another significant introduction is the Office of Strategic Research Initiatives (OSRI), established July 1 of this year, to create a bold, forward-looking research strategy that transcends traditional individual efforts.
And the legacy of the late Richard L. Osborne continues to grow with the introduction of Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition, ETA certificates starting in January. On Oct. 25, the 2nd annual Richard L. Osborne Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Symposium will be held at Tinkham Veale Center on the campus of Case Western Reserve University.
Finally, in November, an important initiative will be held to ensure the school continues an upward trajectory for many decades. The school will hold an Appreciative Inquiry Summit, bringing together faculty and students, alumni and staff and corporate and community partners to help shape our future.
Together, these developments paint a picture of a premier business school on the rise.