We are not business as usual at Gies

At Gies College of Business, we are more than business. We are business on purpose. That means every initiative we undertake, every decision we make is intentional. It means we are committed to leading the world in innovation and life-changing access to business education.

Innovation is the lifeblood of our College. It is a purposeful endeavor and is integral to how we deliver business education. At Gies Business, we provide an environment and programs where big ideas can become reality, where collaborative thinking among students and faculty solves today’s business problems, and where students inspire one another to dream big and make a difference in business and in society.

At Gies Business, access is the cornerstone of our land-grant mission. Our commitment to excellence is enhanced when we are able to open our doors to talented students, regardless of their financial resources.

We set trends, break molds, and push beyond boundaries. We’re purposeful, resolute, and unwavering in how we do it. We’re big thinkers and big doers. And that makes a big difference.

Jeffrey R. Brown

Josef and Margot Lakonishok Professor of Business and Dean

Gies Annual Report

The Gies Purpose & Beliefs

At Gies, we've been a leader in business education for more than 100 years, and one key to our success is that we remain grounded in who we are and stay true to our priorities which have guided us so far. We don't talk about mission, vision, and values in a traditional sense; instead, we encourage our learners, faculty, and staff think about who we are, why we exist, and how we work to achieve our goals. Our Purpose Statement, Commitments, and Beliefs define who we are, and they guide our decisions every day.

Purpose.

Gies Business shapes purposeful leaders through life-changing access to education, research and innovation.

Commitments.

Expand ACCESS to world-class business education, transforming lives in an inclusive culture where all are seen, heard, and valued.

Foster EXCELLENCE in scholarship and teaching, which provides value for business and society and delivers educational opportunities at all stages in the learner journey.

Fuel INNOVATION through a diverse, engaged community that’s inspired to discover new ways to do business and new ways to teach business.

INCLUSION permeates all of our commitments and everything we do. Inclusion is essential for our scholars, learners, teachers, and leaders to thrive.

Facilitate meaningful life-long ENGAGEMENT with the Gies Community in our pursuit of a shared purpose.

Beliefs.

Common Humanity
We believe in honoring every person with dignity and respect and creating space for authenticity and opportunity.

Inclusive Belonging
We believe in building meaningful connections with empathy and fostering a community where all feel seen, heard, and valued.

Purposeful Innovation
We believe in celebrating curiosity, challenging assumptions, and pushing boundaries to lead and model what’s next.

Perpetual Learning
We believe learning and scholarship are ongoing pursuits that enrich individuals, organizations, and our community.

Meaningful Work
We believe in pursuing purpose and fulfillment to make work matter—for the betterment of ourselves and others.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Gies Business is committed to being a model for a diverse, equitable and inclusive community, being actively anti-racist, helping the next generation of business leaders do the same, and engaging the public and our corporate partners in these efforts. This commitment must be reflected among our students, within all aspects of our student and faculty recruiting efforts, and in our overall culture of discourse and community. Our Gies community stands united in recognizing the importance of these issues, and through the lens of our Business on Purpose mindset, each of us will be intentional about our work in this important area. While we acknowledge that we don’t have all the answers, we’re on this journey together. We can – and must – do better.

Significant positive change requires careful planning, leadership, resources, and coordination. We have charged a steering committee and four associated working groups to make tangible recommendations about how our College can become a better leader in diversity, equity, anti-racism, and inclusion. After consulting widely with appropriate stakeholders, the steering committee will identify priorities and incorporate those into Gies’ strategic plans; direct investments to put initiatives on a path to success; ensure we are accountable and measure our progress; and transparently communicate the plans to our broader community.

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