New England College of Business and Finance Celebrates 101st Commencement
NECB honors inaugural graduating class in Business Ethics and Compliance – the nation's first ethics and compliance degree program
Boston, MA (June 25, 2010) - Today's economic crisis has focused a critical lens on the importance of business ethics and compliance. Increasingly businesses are recognizing that they cannot be narrowly focused on the bottom-line, but also need to be aware of their impact on their customers, their employees, the communities in which they operate, and the social fabric in general. As businesses begin to recognize that ethical conduct actually enhances their market position, rather than detracts from it, business schools have begun to alter their curriculum to put more focus on this area.
In Boston, graduates of the Harvard Business School have begun to take a voluntary oath which promises among other things that they will manage companies in a way that does not advance them personally at the expense of the society. But just down the block, a hundred year old business college, which has historically focused on the financial services industry, has taken things even further, with an actual master's degree in business ethics and compliance and will be graduating it first class of business ethicists tomorrow, June 26th, 2010.
This first-of-its-kind in the nation degree program uses both traditional instruction and a case method approach to teach what makes good governance and ethical conduct. Students work through courses such as the "Culture of Ethics and Competition" which are balanced with courses like "Regulations and Regulators: A Practical Application." Graduates learn how to spot problems in their companies and how to address them to minimize a negative impact to the overall business. With the continued overhaul in financial regulations, the number of compliance jobs in this country is likely to grow exponentially. In today's downsized job market, these NECB graduates will gain a potential edge for those kinds of jobs.
Emphasizing the importance of business ethics, NECB President Howard E. Horton told graduates that "it is no longer just a question of 'can I?' but also of 'should I?' when it comes to business operations. Because if we look at what makes or breaks companies and careers, ethical misconduct tends to unravel things more quickly and more permanently than other kinds of business mistakes."
Natalie McVeigh, a 2010 MBE graduate, said "Some people spend forever looking for a career. I've been working in compliance for a while and love the field. From the moment I saw the ad on the "T" I knew the MBE was the degree I needed to move ahead in my career. I wanted to complete my master's degree by the time I turned 25 and because the MBE program is accelerated, I actually finished one week before my 25th birthday! Now I can focus on advancing in my career as a compliance professional."
About New England College of Business and Finance
Founded in 1909, New England College of Business and Finance (NECB) is a leading Boston institution offering quality education and degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels. NECB empowers students with skills and expert knowledge taught by seasoned business leaders and research faculty, using state-of-the-art online courses. Serving students across the United States, NECB is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), and is licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education. Online enrollments in the U.S. are growing at rates far in excess of the total higher education student population, with no signs of slowing, according to a recent national report by the Babson Survey Research Group. For information or to enroll in NECB, visit www.necb.edu or call 1-800-997-1673.
Contact Info: Emily.Knight@necb.edu
610-291-0306
2010 Commencement Ceremony: Saturday, June 26th, 2010 – 10:30am at the Boston Hyatt Regency Hotel
