University of Maryland Business School Pledges to Achieve Gender Equality

Women typically make up between 30 percent and 40 percent of the enrollments in MBA programs at U.S. universities. In the fall of 2014, women were 32 percent of the total enrollments at the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University if Maryland at College Park.

But the Smith School of Business has just made a “50/50 by 2020 Pledge” to bring equality to the school’s MBA programs over the next five years. The business school will offer more scholarships to women, institute more flexible programs to ensure increased access to academic offerings, increase fellowship and intern opportunities, and provide women-only counseling.

Joyce E. A. Russell, vice dean at the business school and the leader of the Women’s Initiative Board, stated that “we are asking women what they need from the business school, and we are responding.”

“Many business schools talk about their commitment to women,” said Alex Triantis, dean of the business school. “Now it is time to deliver results. Working together with public, private and social sector organizations, we will do what it takes to attract and advance more women in business careers.”