MBA students from business programs accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) in the U.S. and Canada are invited to register for the inaugural Penn State Smeal College of Business MBA Sustainability Case Competition. The competition, part of an initiative aimed at incorporating sustainability into the curriculum, will offer three top prizes that total $17,500.

“For the past six years, the college has been working to integrate sustainability into teaching, research and outreach,” said Gerry Susman, Emeritus Klein Professor of Management. “This case competition is the most recent teaching initiative and will provide a new way for students to analyze company sustainability as well as learn from others in their peer institutions.”

The competition will consist of two rounds. The case will be provided to registered teams on Monday, Sept. 15. The preliminary round will consist of electronic submissions of case analyses by noon Friday, Sept. 26. A panel of judges will select five finalists, to be announced Friday, Oct. 24.

Teams to make the finals will be invited to compete at Penn State in early December.

Registration is open to teams from any AACSB-accredited MBA program in the U.S. and Canada. Teams may consist of three or four members, and a maximum of two teams per MBA program may compete. Registration is open until Monday, Sept. 8. For more information or to register, visit www.smeal.psu.edu/sustainability-council/first-smeal-mba-sustainability-case-competition-fall-2014 or contact Susman by email at gis1@psu.edu.

About Sustainability at SmealThe Smeal College of Business is committed to sustainability in education, research and practice. In 2013, the college's Sustainability Strategic Plan was developed by a college task force and authorized by the dean. Sustainability is infused into courses across the Smeal curriculum, including a two-piece sequence for undergraduates and a concentration in the Penn State Smeal MBA Program. The college also supports faculty research efforts related to business and sustainability, promotes outreach efforts through educational units and research centers, and leads by example in promoting sustainable behavior among current faculty, staff and students. For more information on sustainability efforts at Smeal, visit the Smeal Sustainability Council's website at www.smeal.psu.edu/research/sustainability-council.