School of Business

Andy Knopp, student body president, dreams of the day when he again will manage a $14 million budget and affect the lives of more than 26,000 people through decisions that he influences. With Knopp's credentials, that day may come sooner than he expects.

"I really see the student body president as the CEO of a major corporation," Knopp said. "It's a big responsibility, and finances are a big part of Student Senate. So definitely having that business mindset and having that accounting background has been really helpful."

Knopp is majoring in accounting and business administration. He said his experiences and instruction at the School of Business have helped him perform his presidential duties.

"I think it's really beneficial to students to have someone who is looking out for them and making sure their money is being spent well, wisely," Knopp said.

State judges in the classroom

Keith Chauvin, associate dean of business, teaches part of the Economics Institute for Judges program, the flagship course of the Judicial Education Program, sponsored jointly by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) and the Brookings Institute. He describes it as "a practical, tools course in economics for state judges."

This two-week program provides principles and practical concepts in economics, finance, statistics, and scientific methodology. Theory is reinforced through numerous practical applications to legal and public policy issues.

The program was developed in 1995 at the KU School of Business by Professor Henry Butler no comma and now includes leading scholars from AEI and Brookings and outstanding professors from major universities including Stanford, Harvard and Northwestern.

More than 40 state judges from across the country attended the course in October that Chauvin and Professor Barry Baysinger taught in Washington, D.C. Many of them were state supreme and appellate court judges. One-third to one-half of all sitting federal judges have been through a similar program now sponsored by George Mason University.

"The judges get an introduction to finance, economics, the principles of science, and their application to the law," Chauvin said. "This training has applications to a wide array of matters that judges deal with daily including contracts, employment law, and valuation issues in business dissolutions and divorces. The program also provides tools that help judges evaluate the scientific methodology used by expert witnesses."

Chauvin said that the dual sponsorship of the AEI and Brookings Institute was a high recommendation of the course. "The two institutes frequently take positions toward opposite ends of the spectrum of economic policy. Their willingness to jointly sponsor the program indicates how strongly they agree that judges need access to this type of education." Chauvin is scheduled to participate in several sessions scheduled in Spring 2004.

For more information visit the School of Business website.