STRATEGIC PLAN 2030:
BUSINESS FOR A BETTER WORLD

Pursue excellence in research that improves our understanding of business and its role in advancing sustainability. 

Measuring Success

• Increase per capita target journal authorships (three-year moving average)  
• Increase per capita Financial Times 50 journal authorships (three-year moving average)  
• Increase per capita UT Dallas journal authorships (three-year moving average)  
• Increase per capita ABS 4* authorships (three-year moving average) 
• Increase citation count (three-year moving average) 
• Achieve/Maintain 100% TT faculty meeting the Scholarly Academic (SA) criteria 
• Maintain greater than 50% of journal articles addressing Sustainability/UN Goal challenges  
• Maintain greater than 50% of journal articles including public policy implications 
• Sustain current level of research leadership as reflected in per capita Editor/Associate Editor roles 

Key Practices and Initiatives

B4BW Dissertation Proposal Competition and Research Symposium
This initiative promotes sustainability-focused research by hosting a global competition for Ph.D. students and an annual symposium where scholars present innovative work aligned with Business for a Better World (B4BW).

Business for a Better World Undergraduate Research Fellows Program
Faculty with a B4BW-aligned research project can receive research assistance from an undergraduate student accepted into this program. Students receive compensation, and the program includes a weekly seminar.

Endowed Chair, Professorship, and Fellowship Programs
The College has deployed an endowed chair, six professorships, six Dean’s Distinguished Research Fellowships, and the Woodward Family Faculty Fellowship. There are also three accounting-specific faculty fellowships. These awards incentivize excellence in research and teaching.

Summer Research Program (SRP) and B4BW Stipends
The College provides competitive funding for faculty to extend their research into the summer months, fostering a structured and equitable process for advancing impactful research projects.

Option of research-focused workload for those excelling
Faculty excelling across all three workload components (with a 40% teaching load) may qualify for a research-focused workload. Requires a robust research program and high productivity (consistent with high-achieving faculty at elite, research-oriented business schools).

Post-Doc Program
Each year, the College seeks to employ post-docs who are highly engaged in working with our faculty. Post-docs teach two courses a year and collaborate with multiple faculty. A formalized post-doc mentoring process is in place.

B4BW Research Tracking
The College’s publication platform facilitates tracking the extent to which research...

1. aligns with and advances the sustainable development goals.
2. has implications for public policy. Over the past 5 years, the percentage of research with SDG alignment and public policy implications has increased. This tracking tool drives awareness and accountability for impactful research.

Research Expense Fund and Climate Change Research Support
Managed by the Research Committee, the research expense fund supports various research projects.

Earmarked funds for climate change research were integrated into the research expense fund to encourage research that has the potential to help address climate change.

Membership and Leadership in RRBM
RRBM aligns us with efforts to make business research impactful. The College of Business is a Pioneering Institution with RRBM, and Dean Walker is a member of the RRBM Working Board. Faculty articles regularly make the RRBM honor roll, recognizing their societal impact.

Provide resources, remove barriers, and foster community to empower students to succeed.  

Measuring Success

• Achieve annual increase in College scholarship fundraising   
• Increase % of students utilizing College of Business academic services 
• Increase % of students registering on time 
• Increase % of students identifying a mentor or role model (senior survey) 
• Improve retention and graduation rates

Key Practices and Initiatives

First Generation in Business Summit
The First-Generation Business Summit is a free, week-long program at Colorado State University designed for first-generation high school students interested in business. Participants live on campus, develop business skills, compete in a case study competition, and connect with CSU mentors to prepare for college and future careers. The program has been successful at recruiting first-generation attendees and has been expanded to 60 participants.

Global Business Academy
The Global Business Academy is a 10-day summer business program at Colorado State University's College of Business. It is designed for high school students aged 15-18 to explore business concepts through hands-on activities, leadership development, and global networking opportunities.

Student Clubs
The College of Business has a thriving community of student clubs that support our B4BW strategic vision, including Biz Pride, the Sales Club, the Women in Business Association, the Supply Chain Club, the Sustainable Business Club, and the First-Generation Business Association. Student clubs welcome all students.

Accounting Tutoring Lab
The Accounting Tutoring Lab has served students for over seven years using a one-on-one tutoring model. The tutoring lab supports ACT205, 210, and 220, which are business minor and major course requirements. 

Ambassador Program
Undergraduate student ambassadors annually introduce 500 visitors to the College and assist with student recruiting. These students also participate in Dial-A-Ram student recruiting campaigns.

IT in Business 
The IT in Business program is a free, five-day summer experience in which high school students explore the role of technology in business through hands-on activities such as app development, robotics, cybersecurity, and virtual reality.

Create collaborative learning experiences that equip students with the values, knowledge, and skills to navigate rapidly evolving markets and address global challenges with sustainable business models and practices.   

Measuring Success

• Increase curricular content addressing global challenges
• Increase curricular content addressing business sustainability 
• Increase in courses using cutting-edge digital tools and resources (e.g., AI, machine learning)
• Increase in student participation in "signature experiences"
• Sustain financial support for employees to integrate B4BW into the curriculum
• Maintain 80% or greater level of AOL objectives that exceed the 80% threshold
• Increase % of students identifying the College of Business as an impact-focused school (Positive Impact Rating)
• Maintain high level of B4BW curriculum leadership (Corporate Knights and others)

Key Practices and Initiatives

Sustainability Concentration
In fall 2024, the College launched a sustainable business concentration. This concentration features a series of courses designed to provide students with a broad understanding of sustainability challenges and expertise in addressing these challenges through business solutions.

Positive Impact Rating (PIR)
The College participates in this rating system annually and for three years and has achieved “Level 4” out of five possible levels. (Note that no US university has achieved level 5.) The rating is based on a multidimensional survey the Business Sustainability student organization disseminates and provides the college with student feedback (qualitative and quantitative) regarding our school’s progress and opportunities as they relate to impact.

B4BW Curriculum Integration
Each year, the College measures the extent to which classes address B4BW topics, including the sustainable development goals and triple bottom line. Many programs have seen significant increases in B4BW content. For example, the Music Business program has integrated a module on sustainability into all classes.

AI Education
The CIS department has added an AI-focused class and will offer an additional course and AI certificate. CIS department hiring supports this effort. The AI workgroup facilitated numerous AI training sessions for faculty, and faculty members have increased their use of new technology in the classroom.

Tinberg Teaching Innovations Grant Program
The program was revised in 2022 to provide broader opportunities for individuals or groups of faculty and/or staff to develop teaching-related initiatives and have associated costs covered via this program—revisions in 2023 to provide more flexibility in the timing of aligned efforts.

New Graduate Certificates
New Sustainable Business certificates and Global Supply Chain Management certificates launched in Fall 2023. There is a three-fold increase in interest in our graduate certificates from individuals “off the street.” Certificates open the door for pathways to earn an MBA by completing certificates.

Automated Production Studio
A studio for recording, trimming, and uploading content on your own. It includes a custom backdrop and lighting, among other features.

Hosting Case/Venture Competitions
The college hosts several case competitions, including Rams Operation Stimulus, Deloitte Women in Business Competition, Mulroy Real Estate Challenge, Sherman Miller Case Competition, Venture Rams Business Showcase, and the Operation Stimulus Supply Chain Competition.

Membership in aligned organizations: PRME, GRLI, ClimateCAP
As a UN PRME signatory since 2021, we are committed to the UN SDGs, integrating sustainable practices into education and research while transparently reporting our progress. Through our GRLI associate partnership since 2022, we collaborate with a global network to drive systemic change and develop responsible business leaders. Climate CAP is a collaborative of climate-focused MBA programs.

Awards and Rankings
Annually, we have pursued awards, such as AACSB Innovations that Inspire; we also submit materials to Financial Times, US News & World Report, QS Symonds, and Corporate Knights for their rankings.  During 2024, the College was recognized by Financial Times as one of the top 5 business schools (globally) in advancing responsible business practices. In addition, Corporate Knights Better World MBA ranked our MBA programs at #1 globally among large schools and #4 overall.

Foster impactful career pathways and create an engaged and purpose-driven alumni community. 

Measuring Success

• Increase internship rates 
• Track and optimize plans-secured rates within six months post-graduation 
• Increase % of MBA graduates within the past two years employed in sustainability-related roles or organizations
• Increase and grow affinity among alumni:
  • Increase % Alumni who give to the College of Business (APR)
  • Increase alumni classroom engagement

Key Practices and Initiatives

RamsConnect Mentoring Platform
The new Rams Connect Mentoring Platform enables students, alums, and industry professionals to engage in flash mentoring and join group communities, enhancing connectivity and support within the College of Business community.

Internship Programs
Nearly 70% of College of Business students engage in internships, applying classroom knowledge in real-world settings to enhance professional development.

Mentoring Programs
Flash mentoring, graduate mentoring, and professional mentoring programs within the Career Management Center are building a multi-level cycle of mentoring engagement.

Continuing Ed Tuition Benefits
The College offers its alumni a 15% tuition benefit for online graduate business degrees, encouraging lifelong learning and ongoing engagement with the institution.

Utilize our academic resources to collaborate with external stakeholders and drive shared innovation and positive impact.

Measuring Success

• Sustained Center Engagement (track number of centers/institutes that are externally engaged).
• Increase research press (marcomm popular press count)
• Advisory board engagement (track number of active advisory boards)

Key Practices and Initiatives

Corporate Sustainability Fellowship Program & EPA Partnership & Funding
Over the past 4 years, the Impact MBA has partnered with companies to place 136 MBA students in sustainability internships, completing more than 58,000 hours of sustainability work. For the third time, a 2-year grant was secured with the EPA to support pollution prevention work in companies.

VITA Tax Prep
Each year, for the eight weeks leading up to Tax Day, accounting students and community members volunteer with the College’s VITA program to assist locals with tax returns while gaining career skills. In 2024, the group completed 208 returns with an average refund of $2,100, benefiting community members with limited incomes.

Rockies/Plains Food, Energy, and Water Accelerator
A partnership between the CSU College of Business, CSU STRATA, and the Spur Innovation Network, this program supports startups focused on innovations in food, energy, and water systems. It has helped 27 client companies advance their climate technologies since 2022.

Student Venture Accelerator
New Student Venture Accelerator with 12 teams selected, five executives in residence, and $60,000 (up to $5,000 in funding per team). Sets up students for “next step” community programs & funding channels. Partnerships include Larimer County SBDC, SAGE Mentor Network, and 1M Cups Fort Collins.

Corporate Partnership Engagement
Corporate Partnership efforts, including tailgates, enhance relationships with the business community.

Community Giving and Volunteering
Since 1986, CSU has held the annual C.A.N.S Around the Oval to fight food insecurity through cash and food donations. For 18 years running, the College has been the top contributor to the cause. The College participates in numerous philanthropic programs, including coat drives, tree planting, and more.

Business Advisory Boards
The College of Business engages with industry leaders through advisory boards such as the Accounting Advisory Board and the Global Leadership Council, which provide support and strategic input.

Centers and Institutes

• Center for Corporate Financial Reporting: Promotes quality in financial reporting through educational outreach and research.
• Center for Marketing and Social Impact: Engages in groundbreaking research addressing issues through marketing principles and techniques.
• Center for Professional Selling: Prepares the next generation of sales leaders by teaching students the value of professional selling through innovative education and hands-on experience with corporate partners.
• Everitt Real Estate Center: Produces and distributes knowledge that addresses current and future real estate-related needs of Northern Colorado and the Front Range.
• HR Edge Network: Connects HR scholars and executives to create innovative solutions for challenges like organizational culture, teams and talent management practices.
• Institute for Entrepreneurship: Support 900 students via co-curricular programming, connect with broader community via programming opportunities, operate pre-college programs.
• Supply Chain Management Forum: Provides partners with opportunities to interact with CSU supply chain faculty, outstanding supply chain students, and other company partners.

Secure financial and operational stability and strength to sustain programs and fuel the College’s strategic priorities.

Measuring Success

• Diversify revenue streams such that no single program accounts for more than 65% of the College's revenue
• Achieve annual increases in College fundraising (measured on a five-year moving average after removing the max and the min) that are aligned with strategic priorities
• Strategic and efficient utilization of capital resources
  • 90%+ Rockwell/West classroom utilization M-F 8am-5pm (with business classes)
  • Create vibrant academic department hallways. 50% faculty utilization of office spaces 9-5 (per department chair estimation)
  • Within next two years, develop a revised physical master plan to accommodate future strategic needs and growth

Key Practices and Initiatives

Budgeting for Strategic Outcomes
Annually, the College solicits proposals from all employees for initiatives that will further the College’s strategic plan. This planning approach aligns resource allocation with the College's strategic priorities to maximize impact and achieve desired outcomes.

Participation in and Adapting to a New Budget Model
The CSU College of Business actively engages in the university's Budget Model Redesign initiative by participating in steering committees and utilizing data to inform strategic financial and programmatic decisions.

Green Team
Implemented in 2022, the Green Team advances numerous initiatives, including transportation programs, courtyard renewal, energy works (building efficiency improvements), plants in Rockwell, and building connections with the President's Sustainability Commission.

Rockwell and Rockwell West Improvements
The College has added student collaboration space and will continue to expand/improve such places for students to gather and collaborate.

Inspire a conscientious and well-equipped community of employees dedicated to making a positive impact in the workplace and beyond.

Measuring Success

• Demonstrate improvement in employee engagement and culture assessments. (Measured by various metrics within CSU and College of Business culture surveys)
• Sustain or Increase Employee perception:
  • The College of Business is a national leader in advancing business to address the social, environmental, and economic challenges of the 21st century.
  • The College of Business is in the business of transforming lives. Through business education, scholarly research and community engagement, we make our world a better place.
  • I am contributing to the College's vision of becoming a national leader in advancing business to address the social, environmental, and economic challenges of the 21st century.
• Through robust recruiting plans, continue efforts to increase broad awareness of employment opportunities within the College
• Recognize faculty and staff who make an impact in our local and regional communities by addressing social, environmental and economic challenges. (Measured by participation and reward efforts in the college, i.e. Fellowships, Professorships, Faculty & Staff Annual Awards, SPOT Awards, etc.)
• Employee Retention:
  • Mentorship participation rates (Percentage of employees participating in College of Business employee mentorship programs)
  • Reduce the percentage of employees citing controllable factors (such as autonomy, supervisor relationships, or culture) as main reasons for resigning. (Measured by exit interview survey data)
  • Ensure voluntary turnover rates remain below the industry national average. (Measured by College of Business voluntary turnover in comparison to annual CUPA HR industry specific data)

Key Practices and Initiatives

SPOT Award Program
On an ongoing basis, SPOT awards reward employee contributions that exceed expectations through extraordinary behavior.

Greening the College of Business and Courtyard Renovation
Over 50 "high impact" live plants were installed and maintained in common areas of Rockwell Hall and Rockwell West. Most recently, plant installations have been added to select classrooms. To better connect employees and students to the outdoors and enhance the workplace, the College is renovating the courtyard during the summer of 2025.

Culture Survey
About every 1.5 years, the College’s culture is assessed via a third-party survey. Results lead to plans to address areas of growth within each unit.

PEEP Sessions
The College’s HR team and the People Engaging in Enrichment Program (PEEP) Committee hold various sessions on connections, wellness, and sustainability.

College Intranet and College of Business News
An additional phase of intranet development will improve navigation so employees can easily access a wide range of helpful information. Weekly College of Business news emails remain a vital means of updating employees regarding a wide assortment of news.