All graduating students planning to participate in Commencement must attend the Grad Finale in the Kanbar Campus Center Performance Space between Noon and 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 24 or Thursday, March 25 to pick up apparel, tickets and other important graduation information.

Representatives from the Campus Store, Graduate Admissions and the Office of Development and Alumni Relations will be on hand to assist graduating students.
Students who have any questions regarding graduation eligibility must contact their academic advisor.

If you have any questions regarding Commencement or the graduation process, please contact the Office of the Provost at 215-951-2705 or email Provost@PhilaU.edu.

Philadelphia University MBA students will take international business study to the next level when they travel to India next week as part of the School of Business MBA business trip.

Fifty-one MBA students in the international business course have been working this academic year in collaborative, virtual teams with students at the Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMTECH) and Apeejay School of Management in New Delhi, India. The teams have been developing innovative products and solutions that could be implemented in India and other international markets.

The teams will have the opportunity to meet in person for the first time next week and will present preliminary product or service concepts together to faculty and fellow students.

“We are taking this trip to the next level and implementing a third dimension to the international business learning experience for our students,” said MarySheila McDonald, assistant dean of the graduate business programs. “Not only are our students learning about international emerging markets and studying in these countries, they are now working on collaborative, interdisciplinary teams with students in these markets to find solutions to business problems.”

Project concepts include wind energy used to power housing communities, drip irrigation services for Indian farmers, and auto microprocessors to curb noise pollution in busy downtown Indian cities, to name a few.

“The international business trip is an opportunity for our students to broaden their cultural and business experiences,” said D.K. Malhotra, professor of finance in the School of Business Administration, who teaches the international business course and co-coordinates the trip each year with McDonald. “This year we are adding an enhanced level of learning through our partnerships with BIMTECH and Apeejay. Our students will experience international business as if they are working for an international company.”

The virtual teams will present their final business proposals in April to a panel of judges.

As part of the ten-day trip, the one-year and part-time MBA students and five faculty advisors will meet with business executives at the Indian offices of SAP, Johnson & Johnson, Maruti Suzuki, LG Electronics, Nokia, KPMG and Reliance Brands. Students presented company briefs earlier this week in preparation for the site visits.

Students will tour factories and facilities to learn more about supply chain management and manufacturing. The group will also tour India’s famed Bollywood film industry facilities.

Several students are using the trip as an opportunity to enhance their internship experiences. Stephanie Scott, who currently interns with Quaker City Mercantile in Philadelphia, will conduct market research for a product the company distributes in India. Phillip Brown, a part-time MBA student who works as a procurement specialist at ICG Commerce in King of Prussia, Pa., will meet with ICG Commerce representatives in India who work with purchase-order processing and requisition entry. Brown will coordinate training and resources development to reduce the overall cost of the company’s Mars Chocolate account.

The group will also experience many of the cultural opportunities in India, including touring the Taj Mahal, visiting Mumbai and New Delhi, and other rural areas of India.  

“This trip helps break down international barriers for our students and not only strengthens their business knowledge, but also makes them better international citizens,” added McDonald.

Fifteen PhilaU students and three advisors will travel to West Virginia next week on an alternative spring break project to help build and renovate homes in partnership with Habitat for Humanity International.

In Pendleton County, the group will help to provide safe, affordable and sustainable housing for Habitat’s local affiliate program, Almost Heaven. Students will assist with a variety of construction projects, including applying dry wall, installing floors, painting and landscaping.

“This is more than just a community service experience,” said Missy Stolfi, associate director of student development programs and one of the advisors for the trip. “Students will learn new building skills, meet and work with members of the community, push their own personal boundaries, and experience intense teambuilding and collaboration with their fellow students. Our students also will work alongside and live with volunteers from two other colleges during the week.”

The Alternative Spring Break program has been part of PhilaU for more than ten years. It was created to provide students a way to take their interest in service to a deeper level by partnering with and contributing to a community and their team.

“This is going to be an amazing experience on so many levels,” said Megan Henry ’13, an architecture major. “I hope to find myself sharing my passion for helping others and eventually smiling with everyone after a week of hard work for our accomplishments as a community!”

“I look forward to the lessons that will be learned and the relationships that will be built,” said Dave Trapp ’14, an architecture major, reflecting on the upcoming trip. “It will be good to experience a different lifestyle, to become more aware and develop new understanding, while inevitably learning a lot about myself and others.”

Each member of the group is responsible for raising funds to support the trip. The fundraising efforts have included some creative and fun events, such as cheering on the men’s basketball team to win the Most Spirited Club/Organization competition at a home basketball game this season.

For more information and to make a contribution to the group, contact Missy Stolfi in the Office of Student Development Programs at stolfim@philau.edu or 215.951.2856.

PhilaU Rams March Madness continues! The men’s basketball team advanced to the NCAA Division II Sweet 16 Sunday night as they upset #1 seed Stonehill College 71-69 on the team’s home court. This is the first time in 15 years the Rams have advanced to the Sweet 16.

The men will take on Bentley University Tuesday, March 16 at 7 p.m. in the East Region Championship game at Stonehill, located at 320 Washington Street, Easton, Mass. 02357.

The winner advances to the NCAA Elite Eight, hosted by American International College at the Mass Mutual Center on March 24, 25 and 27 in Springfield, Mass. For more information on the NCAA DII tournament bracket, click here.

Senior guard Russell Frederick from Baltimore led the Rams with 26 points and four boards during the game Sunday.

The team defeated St. Anselm College on Saturday night in the quarterfinal game in overtime to advance in the tournament. PhilaU freshman guard Jim Connolly from Harleysville, Pa., led the Rams with 28 points (8-10 from three-point range).

Click here to follow the men’s basketball team on their blog. Click here for live stats and video of game on Tuesday night.

Go Rams!

Philadelphia University Men’s Basketball Coach Herb Magee, who became the winningest NCAA coach in history on Feb. 23, was honored by Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter at a City Hall ceremony Tuesday, March 9.

“This is a personal achievement, and we’re very proud of him as a city,” said Nutter, who presented Magee with the city’s Liberty Bell Award. “He’s a hometown guy, and we love for a hometown guy to be successful.”

During the ceremony, Nutter reeled off a list of Magee’s major achievements: most NCAA wins in history – 905 and counting, NCAA national championship in 1970, 25 trips to the NCAA tournament – including this year, 30 seasons of 20-plus wins, named to the Philadelphia and Pennsylvania Sports Halls of Fame, nominee to the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame, and “shot doctor” to NBA stars.

“Herb Magee has distinguished himself as one of the very highest basketball achievers,” Nutter said. “He is in the singular category of winningest NCAA basketball coach in history.”

Magee, who recalled a city motorcade celebration when the Rams won the NCAA national championship in 1970, said the recognition by Nutter and the city “is much appreciated by me and my family and the entire Philadelphia University community.”

Among those attending the ceremony were PhilaU President Stephen Spinelli Jr., Athletics Director and Women’s basketball Coach Tom Shirley and John Pierantozzi, special assistant to the president and a member of the Rams’ 1970 NCAA championship team. Temple University Basketball Coach Fran Dunphy was on hand to congratulate his friend.

“He’s had 50 years of greatness at Philadelphia University,” Spinelli said of Magee. “It amazing to have that kind of commitment and dedication to one university.” Referring to Magee’s myriad accomplishments, Spinelli said, “He should be in the Hall of Fame.”