A l u m n i M a g a z i n e - Duke University's Fuqua School of Business

75 11 Adams also affirms that our culture
and community is what has moved
us into this position of external
recognition. “Everyone takes a
sense of responsibility for the quality
of this place,” he said.
J.B. Fuqua, longtime friend and
benefactor for whom the school is
named, was “pleased but not really
surprised” when he learned the
rankings results. “I view the
Business Week rankings as a consumer
satisfaction survey, since the
rankings reflect the views of alumni,
employers and students. It is
very satisfying to see that we are
indeed graded highly by these constituencies.
That is the most impor-
[ 1998 ]
tant thing about the rankings.” Mr. Fuqua complimented the
thorough analysis of data, constant improvements in the rankings
system and the quality of work performed by the Business
Week staff. “It is particularly interesting to me because I can
look at the ratings as sort of a corporate earnings report, and
my school is doing very well indeed.”
The Business Week rankings reflect customer satisfaction of
recent graduates and recruiting companies’ satisfaction of graduates.
The 2000 “Special Report” is based on responses from
10,039 graduates and 247 recruiting companies. Reading through
the report, Duke/Fuqua appeared on almost every page.
While ranking No.5 in the overall rankings, Fuqua claimed
the No.1 spot in several categories. Recruiters ranked Fuqua
No. 1 in the most improved program. The school also captured
the No.1 spot in a new category called intellectual capital
which ranks “the quality of the scholarship and ability to influ-
[ 2000 ]
Feature
OOL WORLD by storm”
[ 1996 ]
Dean Rex Adams and Board of Visitors chairman Richard
Wagoner present J. B. Fuqua with a replica of Business
Week’s 2000 Best B-Schools cover at the November
Board meeting. This keepsake marks the school’s No. 5
ranking 20 years after Mr. Fuqua’s $10 million gift to
the school.
ence thinking in the business world
at large.” Duke/Fuqua “topped the
list thanks to a handful of professors
who are leading lights in their specialties.”
Realizing that the rankings do not
drive the marketing and recruiting
efforts for the MBA program, Liz
Riley, director of admissions said, “It
certainly has an impact on the minds
of potential students. We anticipate a
record number of applications this
year. In fact, we’ve already run out
of applications and had to reprint an
additional 10,000 to help us get
through our busiest recruiting season
to date.”
Business Week assessed that “in the
business world, where technology and globalization seem to
continually transform the landscape, the schools that rank
highest are those that are able to keep up with the changes.”
Our brand characteristics which undergird all that is done at
Fuqua—a spirit of collaboration, a tradition of innovation and
a commitment to leadership—make the school a natural for
continuous and sustainable success.
Dean Adams identifies customer focus, innovation and risk
taking, momentum, sustainability and culture as the intangibles
that matter the most at The Fuqua School of Business. He
affirms that the school is in good shape in all these areas, and
that sustainability is the key element that will keep the school
in the Top 5. “Good programs attain excellence. Great programs
sustain excellence,” said Adams. As he reported to
Business Week, “There’s no one trying harder than we are: it’s
our culture, it’s our ethic.”
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