Penn State Faculty To Review Several Brigham Young University Centers & Institutes

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA-Nirmal Pal, executive director of Penn State's eBusiness Research Center, will serve as an external reviewer for the comprehensive review of the academic departments in Brigham Young University's Marriott School Centers & Institutes.

"The reviews of academic departments are an important part of the institutional process. These systematic reviews exist for the purpose of assessing the effectiveness of Brigham Young University in fulfilling its mission, reaching its goals and objectives,
being accountable, and furthering collegiality and collaboration," explains Pal.

Elements of academic department review include accountability; relationship to the institutional aims and mission; self-reflection and analysis; faculty involvement; peer evaluation, both external and internal; and feedback from students and other stakeholders, including parents, employers, and administrative leaders.

Pal will review the Center for International Business Education and Research, Rollins Center for eBusiness, Center for Entrepreneurship and Institute of Retail Management Department.

A long-time IBM executive, Pal previously headed IBM's e-business consulting practice worldwide. He is currently executive director of Penn State's eBusiness Research Center, which fosters research in e-business strategy, management, and marketing to improve business profitability, and co-editor of the new book, Pushing the Digital Frontier.

The eBRC is a joint effort of the School of Information Sciences and Technology and the Smeal College of Business Administration. The School of Information Sciences and Technology opened its doors in 1999. Developed from the ground up, the school's educational programs are designed to develop leadership for the digital, global economy. IST's outreach programs provide a critical source of research, knowledge, and workforce development for business, education, and government. The Smeal College of Business Administration has a special focus on the impact of information technology and the emergence of e-business on strategy, logistics, operations, and the exchange process. Working with a network of firms exploring e-business, the Smeal College has an active research and educational agenda in e-business.