Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ucbvax!hplabs!hplabsz!taylor
From: ps%cc8632@rochester.edu (Peggy Sullivan)
Newsgroups: comp.society
Subject: Re: University Education and Industry Needs
Message-ID: <1472@hplabsz.HPL.HP.COM>
Date: 25 Jan 88 05:30:08 GMT
Sender: taylor@hplabsz.HPL.HP.COM
Organization: CCI, Communications Systems Division, Rochester, NY
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Approved: taylor@hplabs

I am working on my MBA at the University of Rochester and it isn't true that
the U of R skews their classes to benefit Kodak and therefore, includes
proprietary information in the courses.  It is true that a large number of
the MBA students come from Kodak, but as far as I can tell, the course 
material is straight-forward business school material.  It is definitely 
NOT true that proprietary information is included in any discussions or 
assignments for the classes.  Most examples are either of imaginary 
companies or from companies from the professor's past.  None of the real 
world companies mentioned in any of the courses I've taken even had offices 
in Rochester.

That was one of the things that people here, especially the faculty at the
U of R, were most amazed about.  There really was no cause for concern on
Kodak's part.  Unless the MBA students from Kodak were stupid enough to
VOLUNTEER proprietary information during class or outside of class (something
I've never heard in a class or outside), no competing company would get any 
such information just by attending class.  For anyone who was familiar with 
the curriculum here, it just made Kodak look stupid and pushy.

As far as my personal opinion, I don't think Kodak should have requested that
the U of R reject the candidate from Fuji and I don't think the U of R should
have agreed to it.  The U of R did stand to lose a lot of students and tuition
if Kodak made good on its threat but most people never believed that Kodak
would really ever do it.  In any case, the U of R should have had more respect
for its own integrity.  The U of R did change its mind, but of course, the
damage was already done.  However, I don't think you'll see this happen again
here.  Too many people at both Kodak and the U of R were embarrassed that it
happened at all.

Peggy