Press Release

UA business students are beneficiaries of $3 million McCord scholarship

Eller College of Management will use the undergraduate scholarship to recruit Arizona’s top students

TUCSON, Ariz. – May 12, 2006 – Phoenix residents Robert and Sharon McCord have donated $10 million to establish the McCord Scholars program for outstanding undergraduate business students across the state of Arizona. Their unique gift provides a $3 million award to The University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management, $1 million to the College of Business Administration at Northern Arizona University, and $6 million to the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.

The gift demonstrates that the McCord family clearly understands the competition that business schools face nationally in attracting the most promising students. Donor Robert McCord commented, “Education is critical to maintaining competition in the international marketplace. This program will help us compete and will assist in attracting the best students in Arizona, thus providing great local benefit. It is our wish that this financial assistance will make a difference in the ability of talented students to finish their business education at quality universities.”

The McCord Scholars program will begin with the 2006-2007 academic year and is designed to attract outstanding business students who excel in academic ability, business acumen, and leadership skills. At the Eller College of Management, the scholarship award is up to $10,000 per student per year for a maximum of twelve students. The award will assist students in the business school in meeting the costs of tuition/fees, books, and living expenses. Each scholarship will be distributed over two semesters.

“Scholarships are critical in order to keep Arizona’s best and brightest high school students in-state,” said Paul Portney, dean of the Eller College of Management. “I am grateful to the McCords for this generous gift. I hope to use these funds to recruit McCord Scholars from nearly 200 Arizona high school merit scholars as incoming freshman pre-business students. It is our expectation that the McCord Scholars will meet the scholarship criteria by junior year and can then reap the financial benefits of the award.” Portney explained, “These dollars can really make a difference when used as a recruitment tool as students enter their college career.”

The Eller College is working with Robert and Sharon McCord to finalize scholarship criteria. Students will complete an application process, and scholarships will likely be awarded to students who meet the following criteria: must be admitted to upper division standing through the rigorous Eller College admissions process; be a member of the Eller Honors Program; pursue a minimum of 12 course hours per semester and make regular progress toward a four-year undergraduate degree; demonstrate leadership abilities and involvement in student and professional organizations; earn a minimum of 3.6 cumulative grade point average; and be an Arizona resident.

The Eller College of Management at The University of Arizona is internationally recognized for pioneering research, innovative curriculum, distinguished faculty, excellence in entrepreneurship, and social responsibility. U.S.News & World Report ranks the Eller undergraduate program #12 among public business schools and five of its departments are among the top 25 — Entrepreneurship, MIS, Marketing, Management and Organizations, and Accounting. The MPA program in the School of Public Administration and Policy ranks in the top 50. Financial Times ranks the Eller MBA full-time program #27 in the U.S. and #57 in the world, and Forbes ranks the program among the top 50 nationwide. The College leads the nation’s business schools in generating grant funds for research. In addition to a full-time MBA program, the Eller College offers an evening MBA program, and the Eller Executive MBA. The Eller College of Management supports more than 5,100 undergraduate and 600 graduate students on the UA campus in beautiful Tucson, Arizona.

Press Contact:
Liz Warren-Pederson, Eller College of Management
520.626.9547, news@eller.arizona.edu