UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business Rejoins The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management to Foster Diversity
BERKELEY, Calif. — The Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley has rejoined The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management, Haas School Dean Rich Lyons announced today.
The Consortium, an alliance of leading American business schools and corporations aimed at fostering diversity among graduate business students and corporate leaders, has made changes to its mission that have allowed the Haas School to become a member once again after a seven-year hiatus.
“Being part of The Consortium is another way to show that UC Berkeley and the Haas School of Business are welcoming of all forms of diversity,” says Dean Lyons. “We want to reflect the diversity of business today at our school.”
Diversity is a key goal of the Haas School of Business. Participation in The Consortium is one of several ongoing Haas School efforts in this area, including an annual diversity conference, diversity workshops for prospective students, and the Women in Leadership club and conference, among others.
The Haas School of Business originally joined The Consortium in 1993, but withdrew in 2003 as a consequence of Proposition 209, which prohibits public institutions from participating in programs that give preferential treatment on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. At that time, The Consortium awarded fellowships to African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Native Americans. But it expanded its mission in 2005 to include all US citizens and permanent residents who demonstrate a commitment to The Consortium’s mission of advancing diversity and inclusion in US business schools and corporations. This change made it possible for the Haas School to rejoin The Consortium while meeting the requirements of California law.
Conversations between Haas and The Consortium leading to the school’s renewed membership started in earnest last summer.
“I am very pleased with the outcome of our ongoing discussions with The Consortium over the past eight months,” says Peter Johnson, executive director of full-time MBA admissions at the Haas School, who led this effort on behalf of the school. “Through this partnership we will attract even more students to the Haas School who will bring greater diversity to business organizations around the world.”
The Haas School will work with The Consortium to recruit prospective full-time MBA students for the Haas School of Business for the incoming class starting in fall 2011.
