By CONNOR RYAN
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
The Gabelli School of Business (GSB) will open a small undergraduate program next fall at Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus in Manhattan, concluding nearly 20 years of planning and discussions, according to a University statement.
Students enrolled in the program will pursue a Bachelor of Science in global business degree, and will select one of four subject concentrations: digital media and technology; global finance and business economics; management, with a focus on health care; and marketing with a focus on consumer insight.
GSB at Lincoln Center will begin with an inaugural class of 50 freshmen next year, according to the statement. There will be no sophomore, junior or senior programs until that freshman class advances.
By the 2017-18 academic year, administrators expect to have a full-range of student levels enrolled in the business program at Lincoln Center.
Donna Rapaccioli, dean of GSB, says she looks forward to offering students a wide variety of course options.
“This program will provide a values-based business education that has a liberal arts focus,” Rapaccioli said in an email. “Having a site in midtown Manhattan will attract attention to our undergraduate business program in general, which carries benefits that will accrue to Rose Hill and Lincoln Center students, alike.”
Nevin Kulangara, GSB ’15 and USG vice president of GSB, says the new program will make Fordham’s business program more competitive.
“Manhattan is really the business hub of the world, so it makes sense for the Gabelli School to take this step,” Kulangara said. “I think having this other option for students will help us compete with NYU’s Stern School of Business for the best students.”
Considering Fordham’s business education as a whole, Rapaccioli said students looking to pursue accounting, finance and marketing will find stronger programs at Rose Hill, but students interested in health care, consumer anthropology, global business and digital media will find those classes at Lincoln Center.
“There will be two campuses, yes, and different academic concentrations in each, but I want to stress that we will be one community and one school,” she said.
But Kulangara looks toward the schism that may be a result of the new program’s installation.
“The challenge that will arise from this is avoiding a sense of separation between Gabelli at Lincoln Center and Gabelli at Rose Hill,” he said.
Rapaccioli will speak about the new program during a town hall-style meeting on Sept. 23 at 5 p.m. in the McGinley Center Ballroom at Rose Hill.
Katie Meyer contributed reporting.
