A backbone for economic development in Wichita and in Kansas is Wichita State University. With an enrollment of nearly 15,000 students who come from all 50 states as well as 110 foreign countries, WSU is the only urban-serving state research university in Kansas.

WSU offers more than 60 undergraduate degree programs in 200 areas of study, plus 44 master's degree programs and 10 doctorates. The university has six colleges: the College of Education, College of Engineering, College of Fine Arts, College of Health Professions, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the W. Frank Barton School of Business.

The highly decorated Barton School has gained a reputation that extends far beyond the campus. Among its recent recognitions was being ranked as one of the Best Business Schools in America for 2011 by the Princeton Review.

Business Not as Usual

The Barton School of Business includes six centers of research: the Center for Economic Development and Business Research, Center for Economic Education, Center for Entrepreneurship, Center for International Business Advancement, Center for Management Development and the Center for Real Estate. The Barton School is one of only 165 schools globally to hold both business and accounting accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, and that places it in the top 12 percent of all business schools throughout the United States.

And the college has deep roots in Wichita's business community, with a long history of connections from its faculty and students to area businesses. Those connections have occurred through efforts such as executive and management training, economic forecasting, international trade, economic education and consulting.

“Employer surveys indicate a preference for Barton School graduates given their technical expertise, business experience and work ethic,” says Douglas Hensler, dean of the Barton School of Business. “Many of our alumni are entrepreneurs. Professor Fran Jabara started our Center for Entrepreneurship in 1977 and it is still going strong. In fact, our namesake, W. Frank Barton, was an entrepreneur who started Rent-A-Center with alumnus Tom Devlin, an entrepreneur and golf enthusiast.”

What's the B.I.G. Idea?

Another successful facet of the business school is its Barton International Group, or B.I.G., comprised of an elite group of students who intern with global companies. The students often travel abroad and complete projects aimed at helping companies become more successful in the global marketplace.

“These students bring a contagious enthusiasm and creative insight unique to their generation, providing honest and straightforward information to companies based on the students' research,” Hensler says. “These Barton School students get valuable work experience working alongside companies' top executives, who often turn out to be their future employers. The B.I.G. program is developing our students into entrepreneurial leaders with a global perspective.”