Eccles School Milestones
2017
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.
2016
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.
2015
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.
2014
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.
2013
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.
2011
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.
2010
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.
2009
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.
2008
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.
2007
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.
2006
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.
2005
The First Opportunity Quest Competition
The first Opportunity Quest competition allows students to compete for monetary prizes.
2003
First Security House Opens
The First Security House on Officers Circle in Ft. Douglas opens.
2002
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.
2001
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.
2000
Utah Entrepreneur Challenge Begins
Students compete for a $40,000 grand prize in an annual business-model competition.
2000
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.
1999
Jack Brittain Becomes Dean
1998
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
1997
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.
1991
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.
1987
First Million Dollar Endowment Gift
The first $1 million dollar endowment gift given by the Francis A. Madsen family.
1987
John W. Seybolt Becomes Dean
1983
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.
1982
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.
1980
James H. Gardner Becomes Dean
1979
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
1976
Executive MBA is Launched
The Executive MBA program is launched as part of the Executive Development program.
1975
A. Blaine Huntsman Becomes Dean
1969
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.
1968
George Odiorne Becomes Dean
1966
Two More Buildings Completed
The Kendall D. Garff and Francis Armstrong Madsen buildings are completed, giving the School of Business its own home.
1965
First Endowed Faculty Chair Funded
The first endowed faculty chair is funded by the McGraw Foundation
1965
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.
1959
Master of Science in Business Administration/Industrial Relations Established
1958
Clyde Randall Becomes Dean
Clyde Randall, grandfather of current Dean Taylor Randall, becomes dean.
1957
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.
1955
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.
1954
International Learning Experiences Begin
International learning experiences begin when Dean Dilworth Walker establishes a partnership with the University of Rangoon in Burma.
1951
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.
1948
School of Business moves into the Annex Building
1946
Enrollment Increases Post War
Post-war enrollment increases to 131 students.
1944
Enrollment Drops During WWII
Enrollment drops to 51 students during the final years of WWII
1942
Dilworth Walker Becomes Dean
1936
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.
1933
First Graduate Degrees Awarded
The first graduate degrees are awarded in economics and business
1932
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.
1930
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.
1928
First Security Corporation is Established
1927
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.
1923
First Female Graduate
The first woman graduates from the School of Commerce and Finance.
1920
Enrollment Quadruples Within First Three Years
Enrollment skyrockets to 548 students in just three years.
1917
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.