Milestones

Marriner S. Eccles Institute for Economics and Quantitative Analysis Begins

The new Institute provides transformational, interdisciplinary opportunities for students in fields related to economics.

QAMO Degree Launches

New Quantitative Analysis of Markets and Organizations (QAMO) major launches, giving students a rigorous training in the application of economics to business decision-making.

Ground Breaking for the Robert H. and Katharine B. Garff Executive Education Building

The new Robert H. and Katharine B. Garff Executive Education Building will house the Full-Time, Professional, Executive and Online MBA degrees.

Master of Science in Information Systems Online Program Launches

Through the MSIS Online program, students now have a flexible and accessible format for completing their graduate degree in information systems.

Goff Strategic Leadership Center Launches

Goff Strategic Leadership Center provides learning programs and research-based thought leadership to support current and aspiring strategic leaders.

Refugee Scholars Program Launches

New Refugee Scholars program launches in partnership with One Refugee Education.

Eccles Global Launches

The Eccles School launches Eccles Global, a new learning abroad program for Eccles School students with experiences in Rome, London, Paris, and Sydney.

Lassonde Studios Opens

Lassonde Studios opens, providing an innovative living and collaborative space to encourage entrepreneurship.

Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) Degree and Certificate Launched

Students can prepare to enter the world of big data by earning a Master of Science in Business Analytics or a Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics.

MHA Program Offered as Stand Alone Degree

Students can now earn their Master of Healthcare Administration without pursuing a dual-degree option.

Gardner Policy Institute Opens New Home in Thomas S. Monson Center

The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute officially opens its new home on South Temple Street, in a newly refurbished and renamed historic downtown Salt Lake City mansion.

The First Eccles School Coin Is Minted

The David Eccles School of Business presents each student with a coin commemorating the school’s namesake, David Eccles, and the values he espoused.

The First Ascent Scholars Program Begins

First Ascent Scholars program provides students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds the opportunity to attend the Eccles School and reach their full academic potential. This program has scholarshipped more than 30 students to date.

Corporate Outreach Launched by Business Career Services

Business Career Services continues to grow with the creation of Corporate Outreach - nurturing high level relationships between companies and the Eccles School, resulting in optimum student engagement, jobs, and internships.

Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute Launches

Gardner Policy Institute launches, combining academic rigor with practical experience to assist elected officials, business and community leaders, and the public in making informed decisions for a prosperous state.

Games4Health Launches

Participants use digital technology and apply gamification principles to create apps or games that solve a health or healthcare problem. To date, this is the largest global student healthcare technology design competition.

MAcc Intensive Program Begins

The Master of Accounting (MAcc) Intensive program begins, allowing students without accounting undergraduate degrees an opportunity to complete all the MAcc prerequisites in one semester.

Entrepreneurship Certificate Launches

The Eccles School launches an Entrepreneurship Certificate as a cost- and time-effective way for students to get the skills they need to start up their own companies or work for a startup.

Graduate Certificate and Co-Terminal Program in Information Systems Introduced

Expanded information systems programs to provide students from varied backgrounds an opportunity to further their education in technology, and support IS undergraduate students in pursuing a master’s degree.

MBA Online Program is Launched

The MBA Online program is established, allowing students access to the same top-ranked MBA but on their own schedule.

Spencer Fox Eccles Business Building Opens

Fully completed in 2013, the Spencer Fox Eccles Business Building (SFEBB) encompasses 188,000 square feet, with 70% of the space dedicated to student activities, including 17 state-of-the-art classrooms.

Business Career Services is Created

The Eccles School creates their own career services team to prepare students through career exploration, career preparation, connections with top employers for their first destination after graduation.

Sorenson Impact Center is Founded

The Sorenson Impact Center is established, marshaling capital for social good, empowering data-driven programs, breaking down silos across sectors, and equipping the next generation of leaders with social purpose.

Sorenson Center for Discovery & Innovation (SCDI) Launches

SCDI is founded, providing experiential learning for all U of U students to discover, design, and develop novel digital solutions to problems that generate new sources of value.

Business Scholars Program Launches

The Business Scholars program is created, giving high-achieving students an opportunity to work with top ranked faculty, develop a professional network, visit companies and travel abroad, and receive scholarships.

The Get Seeded Entrepreneurship Funding Program Launches

Get Seeded Entrepreneurship Funding program launches, giving aspiring student entrepreneurs recurring opportunities to pitch their ideas to get seed funding.

Master of Real Estate Development (MRED) Program Introduced

The Master of Real Estate Development program is established, giving students the opportunity to apply knowledge gained in the classroom to real-world situations, case studies and projects.

Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Launched

This initiative works to integrate ethics instruction throughout the curriculum that includes real-world practical applications, provides exposure to business practitioners, and maintains relevance to the ever-changing business environment.

Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS) Program Founded

The Master of Science in Information Systems program is launched, offering students the advanced education necessary to manage the technology of business.

Taylor Randall Becomes Dean

Taylor Randall, grandson of past Dean Clyde Randall, becomes dean of the Eccles School.

Opening of Lassonde House

The building serves as the administrative headquarters for the Pierre Lassonde Entrepreneur Center. The original structure was built during the Civil War.

Ivory-Boyer Real Estate Center Launches

The Ivory-Boyer Real Estate Center launches, giving experience to the next generation of leaders in real estate through academic programs, degree options, executive education programs and the Utah Real Estate Challenge.

The Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) Program is Established

The MHA program is established, emphasizing classroom and experiential education, and providing students the opportunity to network with top healthcare executives.

The Pierre Lassonde Entrepreneur Center is Founded

Pierre Lassonde raises his donation to $13 million to create the Pierre Lassonde Entrepreneur Center. The donation expands the center’s reach to include student business-plan competitions.

Master of Science in Finance Program Launches

The MSF program is established, preparing students for advanced careers in finance.

The First Opportunity Quest Competition

The first Opportunity Quest competition allows students to compete for monetary prizes.

First Security House Opens

The First Security House on Officers Circle in Ft. Douglas opens.

Salt Lake City Hosts the 2002 Winter Olympics

The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games and commonly known as Salt Lake 2002. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 78 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout 165 sporting sessions.

The World Olympians Association Partners with the Eccles School

The Eccles School partners with the World Olympians Association to offer career training. The WOA represents all past and present athletes who have competed in summer and winter games, more than 80,000 individuals worldwide.

Eccles School Wins Diversity Award

The Eccles School receives the University of Utah Diversity Award for the success of its Opportunity Scholars program.

University Venture Fund Starts

University Venture Fund launches with $18.2 million in committed assets, combining a supervisory structure and a motivated group of students to launch the largest student-centric venture fund to date.

Utah Entrepreneur Challenge Begins

Students compete for a $40,000 grand prize in an annual business-model competition.

C. Roland Christensen Center Opens

The C. Roland Christensen Center (CRCC) is named after the Harvard Business School professor who focused on case-method teaching.

Jack Brittain Becomes Dean

Student Investment Fund Begins

Student Investment Fund begins, giving undergraduate students the opportunity to invest in and manage an equity portfolio. The student investment fund has beat the market over the last 15 years.

Debra Scammon is Interim Dean

The Eccles School Tradition of Bagpipes at Graduation Begins

The pipes honor David Eccles, the school’s namesake, who immigrated to Utah from Scotland.

Opportunity Scholars Program is Launched

Opportunity Scholars Program is Launched and to date has scholarshipped more than 400 students with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

School of Business Becomes David Eccles School of Business

Emma Eccles Jones, daughter of David Eccles, donates $15 million in recognition of her father’s monumental achievements in pioneering economic development of the Intermountain West.

The First Spencer Fox Eccles Convocation Takes Place

The Eccles School celebrates its new name with the first Spencer Fox Eccles Convocation.

First Million Dollar Endowment Gift

The first $1 million dollar endowment gift given by the Francis A. Madsen family.

John W. Seybolt Becomes Dean

The MAcc Program Launches

The Master of Accounting program launches, preparing students to sit for the Utah CPA exam and prepares them for careers in public and corporate accounting, tax, auditing, advisory, nonprofit accounting, government accounting, and financial reporting.

Iver E. Bradley Becomes Dean

Personal Computer Technology Instituted

Personal computing technology is instituted, making the school one of the first business schools in the country with a network accessible to students and faculty.

Kendall D. Garff Building Named

The Garff building — the twin of BuC — is constructed and serves as the school's administration building. It was later torn down to make way for the Spencer Fox Eccles Business Building.

James H. Gardner Becomes Dean

George S. Eccles Donates Money for Faculty Research

George S. Eccles, chairman of the Board and CEO of First Security Bank, donates money for summer faculty research grants

Executive MBA is Launched

The Executive MBA program is launched as part of the Executive Development program.

A. Blaine Huntsman Becomes Dean

University Pilots Precursor to Internet

The University of Utah becomes one of the four pilot schools for ARPANET, the precursor to the modern-day World Wide Web.

Executive Development Program is Started

The Executive Development Program is started, the precursor to today's Executive Education Program.

George Odiorne Becomes Dean

Two More Buildings Completed

The Kendall D. Garff and Francis Armstrong Madsen buildings are completed, giving the School of Business its own home.

First Endowed Faculty Chair Funded

The first endowed faculty chair is funded by the McGraw Foundation

First Ph.D. Student Graduates

Robert Edwin Shirley becomes the first Ph.D. graduate of the School of Business

BuC Completed

The Business Classroom Building (BuC) opened its doors in 1965.

Master of Science in Business Administration/Industrial Relations Established

Clyde Randall Becomes Dean

Clyde Randall, grandfather of current Dean Taylor Randall, becomes dean.

First MBA Degree Awarded

Institute of Industrial Relations Established

The Institute of Industrial Relations is established at the University of Utah and housed in the School of Business.

Computing Machines Introduced at School of Business

IBM donates used card sorters to the School of Business. The machines are used in classes including accounting systems, statistics, secretarial and marketing research.

MBA Program Founded

The MBA program is founded by acting Dean Clyde Randall, with 36 students enrolled. It is the first of its type to be offered between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Coast.

International Learning Experiences Begin

International learning experiences begin when Dean Dilworth Walker establishes a partnership with the University of Rangoon in Burma.

First Scholarship Luncheon Held

The first Scholarship Luncheon is hosted to thank donors for sponsoring 10 scholarships. The school now awards more than $7 million in scholarships annually.

School of Business moves into the Annex Building

Enrollment Increases Post War

Post-war enrollment increases to 131 students.

Enrollment Drops During WWII

Enrollment drops to 51 students during the final years of WWII

Dilworth Walker Becomes Dean

AACSB Accreditation

School of Business receives accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, a designation held by only 5 percent of business schools worldwide.

First Graduate Degrees Awarded

The first graduate degrees are awarded in economics and business

BEBR Established

The Bureau of Economic and Business Research (BEBR) is established, producing research regarding Utah's robust economy. BEBR will later merge with the Center for Public Policy & Administration to form the Kem C. Gardner Institute.

Seven Majors Offered

Majors offered: Modern Business Administration, Accounting, Banking and Finance Principles, Modern Business Management, Marketing, Statistics, General Business Training, and Elements of Economics.

First Security Corporation is Established

Name Changes to School of Business

The University changes the name to the School of Business and moves from LeRoy Cowles Building to the Industrial Education Building (now the Alfred Emery Building). Degrees offered: Accounting, Distribution and Production, Finance, and Economics.

First Female Graduate

The first woman graduates from the School of Commerce and Finance.

Enrollment Quadruples Within First Three Years

Enrollment skyrockets to 548 students in just three years.

School of Commerce and Finance Established

The School of Commerce and Finance is established at the University of Utah with 126 students and Thomas Beal as Dean.

Eccles School Milestones

March 2017