Three years ago, we launched a new vision for Pamplin. We wanted to develop the best place in the country to educate students interested in business careers that use analytics, help students lead job and wealth growth through entrepreneurship, and prepare graduates for conducting business in the long-term global environment. We also wanted to expand our faculty by recruiting worldwide for the best talent. We are seeing the groundwork we have laid begin to pay off.

Our students graduate with more than just a great education. They have professional contacts, the right attitude, and a purpose to their career goals. These attributes resulted in Pamplin graduates achieving a placement rate by graduation of about 90 percent, with the average May 2016 salary about 10 percent above the 2015 average. A survey found that 93 percent of Pamplin students graduate with professional work experience — typically an internship.

Our national rankings for academic programs are good and improving. Two years ago, we moved into U.S. News & World Report’s No. 2 rank for our master of IT program, which we deliver jointly with Engineering. According to U.S. News, our flagship MBA program, the Evening MBA, improved from top 50 in 2013 to No.16 today. According to the Public Accounting Report, all our accounting programs are improving rapidly. In 2013, none of our accounting programs was ranked nationally by this source. Each year since then, we have improved from top 50 to top 30 to top 25.

Our entrepreneurship programs are becoming well known and are growing in size. In 2013, we started a dorm for students interested in entrepreneurship called Innovate, with the capacity for 35 residents. We have expanded to almost 90 students in a new location.

Our entrepreneurship center began operating in the summer of 2014 and became the Apex Systems Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship that fall. Through the center’s leadership, including its highly accomplished board, and generous private support, we have increased the number of students involved and have expanded the range of educational experiences to include not just courses but interaction with “entrepreneurs in residence” and startup owners and managers across the country through “entrepreneurship treks.”

We are excited to provide programs and people to help develop VT-shaped individuals, whose education reflects breadth and depth of knowledge and experiential and communal learning.