August 27, 1999
LAWRENCE -- The dean of the University of Kansas School of Business since 1995 will retire from KU effective June 30, 2000, university officials announced today.
This week, Tom Sarowski, 59, told the executive committee of the school's board of advisers and faculty that he would not continue as dean beyond his five-year commitment to the university. Sarowski plans to retire from the university to pursue other interests.
The announcement allows the university to begin a national search immediately with the goal of selecting a replacement before the end of the academic year, Provost David Shulenburger said. A search committee of faculty, staff, students and alumni will soon be formed.
"Tom Sarowski helped move the KU School of Business forward," Shulenburger said. "He instituted a number of changes, including helping the school set sight on being one of the best in the country. I believe we can continue the forward momentum that he began and achieve the goals he set."
A former accounting and consulting firm executive, Sarowski joined KU in 1991 as distinguished lecturer and executive-in-residence. He became acting dean in July 1995 and was named permanent dean in December 1995.
Prior to joining the KU faculty, Sarowski worked for Arthur Andersen & Co. for 26 years. He retired from the firm in 1990 as managing partner of Andersen Consulting's 170-person metropolitan Kansas City office. He earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the Detroit Institute of Technology and a master's degree in industrial administration from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.
As dean, Sarowski recently led the business school in the development of a strategic plan for excellence, which supports the school's goal to be among the top 10 public business schools in the country. To provide greater opportunities for its students and increase the rigor of its programs, the school improved its technology focus, strengthened its study abroad program in Italy, added plus/minus grading, and will begin giving course credit for internships.
Additionally, during Sarowski's tenure, higher entrance requirements were implemented at the undergraduate and graduate levels while enrollments increased by more than 20 percent. The school was reaccredited and the Accounting and Information Systems Division received its initial accreditation by the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business.
"Clearly this has been a period of significant change. I'm particularly proud of the outstanding new faculty we hired and our renewed emphasis on scholarship and interaction with the business community," Sarowski said. "I've enjoyed the opportunity to work closely with the school's talented faculty, staff and students, and its board of advisers. The board has been instrumental in formulating the school's vision and rallying support for our implementation efforts."
KU's School of Business, celebrating its 75th anniversary this academic year, emphasizes a broad-based business education, including exposure to the liberal arts and the functional disciplines of business. It has been a model for many other business schools around the nation. Undergraduate students may choose frommore than 40 areas of emphasis. The graduate program allows students with different backgrounds to tailor a program that suits their needs and fits their profile. The school also boasts a well-established executive education program and a new mini-MBA program.
KU's undergraduate business program was ranked 29th among public programs in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The Fiske Guide to Colleges calls the business school one of KU's strongest undergraduate programs. Business Week listed KU's master of business administration program among the top 15 in the nation that delivers value for investment.
Contact: Tom Hutton, (785) 864-8866 or hutton@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu.