The College’s planned School of Business was the focus of the inaugural meeting of the Boston President’s Council in November.

Modeled after the Providence-based President’s Council that acts as the primary external advisory body to the president and the College administration, the Boston council has 24 founding members. It is comprised of top business executives, other community leaders, and emerging leaders from the ranks of the College’s younger alumni—all in Greater Boston.

The council is chaired by Michael Joyce ’84, a partner with Richards Barry Joyce & Partners, LLC and a member of the Providence council.

The Boston President’s Council will meet three times annually. Each meeting will feature discussion on a major strategic topic of importance to the College. The next meeting in January will concentrate on the athletics program.

According to Edward J. Caron ’70, vice president for college relations and planning and council liaison to the Providence President’s Council, the Boston council will be used as a pilot initiative. The hope is that additional councils will be formed in major metropolitan markets across the country, with New York City being the next target.

President Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. ’80 led a five-member PC delegation that attended the inaugural meeting of the Boston President’s Council. In his opening remarks, Father Shanley summarized the College’s strategic direction, tracing major developments since his first day in office in July 2005.

Among the topics he discussed were establishing the Office of Mission and Ministry, the Core Curriculum review, the accreditation self-study, the Strategic Plan, and decisions to shift from merit- to need-based aid and making SAT and ACT scores optional for undergraduate applicants.

Father Shanley—and subsequently, council members—spent the rest of the meeting discussing the new School of Business. The current Division of Business Administration will be restructured into a School of Business as of July 1, 2007, and a national search is under way to appoint its first dean.

In conjunction with the School of Business, council members discussed the College’s candidacy for accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International. Members also offered input to Father Shanley on a proposed Business School Advisory Council. This council would provide advice and counsel to the new dean of the business school.

In its discussions, the Boston group identified possible roles a Business School Advisory Council would serve and contributed other observations on the advisory council’s function, including its makeup and the importance of maintaining a liberal arts focus in the business curriculum.