How We Got Our Name
Ron Davis accomplished in business what few people dream of achieving. His track record among entrepreneurs is well known. Having traveled the globe, Davis established meaningful relationships and life-long friendships throughout the world. However, success in business isn’t what provides meaning in his life today. Providing upward mobility for youth and a pathway to a better future has been the focus of his life for more than two decades. He believes each individual human being contains within them equal intrinsic value. He values a world where education plays the continuing role of equalizing opportunity for all people to pursue the higher aim of their choice. The newly established Davis School of Business at Colorado Mesa University will provide a legacy for the values Ron Davis believes can enrich the lives of young people through his philanthropy.
In 1998, Davis founded the Guardian Scholars at California State University, Fullerton with a preliminary gift of $250,000. The program derived its name from the fact that nearly all the original recipients were former foster youth, and in some respects lacked the “guardians” needed to provide support and resources to further their education. Hence, the Guardian Scholars program was created to cover the cost of their education and provide support. Perhaps just as important, the scholarship came with mentorship opportunities. The program has graduated more than 700 students since its inception and expanded to more than 70 colleges and universities.
Davis also serves on the board and his service mirrors the values implicit in his philanthropy. He always matches his financial contributions with his time, talent, and treasures. In the case of the Davis School of Business at CMU, his significant investment in CMU scholarships and students will be matched by his tireless efforts on the governing board of the university.
From business executive to philanthropic leader, Davis’ legacy is fixed not in the brick and mortar of buildings, but in the hearts and lives of the people who have knowledge woven into the fabric of their lives and families because of this generosity.
Colorado Mesa University’s Davis School of Business is focused on preparing students to be
sound decision makers who transform businesses in the Rocky Mountain region, the nation,
and the world. We strive to develop students who demonstrate strong ethical principles,
superior critical thinking, effective communication, and robust business acumen.
Take a look at our plan to incorporate real-world, applied business-related opportunities for students.
Greetings, and thank you for your interest in our School of Business programs. The Davis School of Business (DSB) builds upon the “Teacher-Scholar Model.” Our faculty strives to be excellent teachers while incorporating their research into lectures, students’ projects, and other activities that develop the skills and competencies demanded by today’s organizations and businesses. Most full-time faculty have terminal degrees (PhDs, Doctoral Degree, Juris Doctors, etc.) in their areas of expertise. Moreover, more than 70% of our faculty have professional-practitioner experiences in their domains.
Many potential students and parents ask me what makes CMU and the Davis Business School an excellent choice to pursue their higher education. As indicated before, our professors and staff give special importance to the learning experience our students receive. Our faculty develop their courses using “student-centered approaches,” incorporating experiential learning, service-learning, internship, traditional lecturing, and inquiry-based learning, among many others, into their pedagogy. Additionally, our clubs and student organizations are the perfect companion in the educational journey here in Grand Junction.
Our school of business is in the later stages of pursuing the AACSB initial accreditation. During this process, our school has engaged in a continuous improvement process adopting several best practices and standards followed by some of the most recognized business schools worldwide. We continuously prepare business leaders and professionals that demonstrate strong ethical principles, superior critical thinking, effective communication, and robust business acumen.
The quality of our programs is supported by the incredible job placement our alumni receive. Many past students work now for multinationals, local firms, and government agencies. A large number also decide to pursue their entrepreneurial ideas. Employer feedback indicates that we are doing the right things.
I invite you to carefully review our business programs and concentrations, including our fully online MBA program. Although we offer most courses face to face and online, the school offers a fully online Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in management. This concentration is often the preferred choice for students who are currently working and want to complete their higher education in a way that accommodates their existing schedule.
Now, when you are considering your future career and personal development, multiple questions may come to your mind. Please feel free to contact our Davis School of Business faculty or email our staff at [email protected] so that we can entertain those questions or route you properly in the right direction.
Sincerely,
Dr. Suzanne Owens-Ott
Professor of Accounting
Interim Academic Head for the Davis School of Business
Departmental Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of their business degree, a business student who has earned their degree will be able to:
Bachelor of Business (BBA), Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS), and Bachelor of Science - Computer Information Systems (BS-CISB):
SLO #1: Critical Thinking:
- 1.1 - Apply business knowledge and skills in appropriate business contexts
- 1.2 - Analyze business issues critically using quantitative research methodologies
- 1.3 - Analyze business issues critically using qualitative research methodologies
SLO #2: Effective Communication Skills
- 2.1 - Communicate clearly, appropriately, and accurately to the audience in writing
- 2.2 - Communicate clearly, appropriately, and accurately to the audience orally
SLO #3: Teamwork
- 3.1 - Differentiate various functions of teams within organizations
- 3.2 - Demonstrate behaviors consistent with effective teamwork
SLO #4: Ethical Awareness
- 4.1 - Analyze an issue within an ethical framework
- 4.2 - Recommend a solution based on an ethical framework
- 4.3 - Engage in a local, regional, national, and/or international activity that positively impacts society
Bachelor of Science - Accounting (BS-ACCT):
SLO #1: Critical Thinking & Information Literacy:
- Utilize relevant and critically evaluated accounting information to apply accounting knowledge and skills in appropriate contexts and transfer knowledge and skills to a new situation
SLO #2: Effective Communication Skills
- 2.1 - Communicate clearly, appropriately, and persuasively to the audience orally
- 2.2 - Communicate clearly, appropriately, and persuasively to the audience in writing
SLO #3: Teamwork
- Effectively work in a team
SLO #4: Ethical Awareness and Societal Impact
- 4.1 - Be able to recommend appropriate ethical actions
- 4.2 - Develop professional relationships with CMU stakeholders (CPAs and community members) by assisting area residents with annual income tax return filing requirements
Master of Business Administration (MBA):
SLO #1: Specialized Knowledge:
- Apply business-specific knowledge within projects individually and/or collaboratively
SLO #2: Quantitative Fluency
- Employ advanced mathematical, statistical methods, or other analytical processes to address issues within a business environment
SLO #3: Communication Fluency
- Create oral and written arguments or explanations, well-grounded in business-related theories and methods
SLO #4: Critical Thinking
- Formulate and evaluate hypotheses as related to business problems, issues, concepts, and various perspectives
SLO #5: Information Literacy
- Synthesize, evaluate, or refine the information base of various business scholarly sources
SLO #6: Ethical Reasoning
- Articulate moral, ethical, legal, or professional challenges within the business environment
Take a look at the steps our faculty take to be qualified in their roles as instructors.
Contact Information:
Colorado Mesa University
Davis School of Business
1100 North Ave., DH 301
Grand Junction, CO 81501
970.248.1778