The national economic news may be grim, but Bill Sandefer reports some cautiously optimistic news from graduate admissions. MBA applications are up 34 percent from last year. As of this week, Freeman has received 173 applications for admission to the full-time MBA program. Sandefer says the goal is to receive 400 MBA applications and ultimately to enroll a first-year class of 100.

When Ian Furman started to research MBA programs, he targeted schools with strong international programs, especially in Latin America. In the end, he chose Freeman over larger schools, and his main reason was the Global MBA program.

"I didn't see any other school that offered the same breadth and experience," says Furman, who after graduation hopes to work for a multinational company doing business in Latin America. "The Global MBA is one of the major reasons I decided to apply to Tulane."

Since its launch last year, the Freeman School's Global MBA has quickly become one of...

While drivers nationwide revel in lower gasoline prices, many in Louisiana are anxiously watching the cost of oil fall to its lowest levels in 18 months. In a state whose economy has for more than a half-century been closely linked to the petroleum industry, prosperity has been measured by the barrel, and some fear that as oil goes, so goes Louisiana.

Although Louisiana's economy depends heavily on the petroleum industry, faculty member Eric Smith believes the oil derricks will keep pumping through the economic crisis.

It's a fear that is largely unfounded, says Eric Smith...

The most innovative idea in the world isn't worth a nickel if you don't execute it properly.

That was the central message of Richard M. Bracken, president and COO of Hospital Corp. of America, the world's largest private operator of health care facilities, in his keynote luncheon address at the 29th annual Tulane Business Forum.

The forum, an annual presentation of the Tulane Association of Business Alumni, took place on Friday, Oct. 17, at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside. More than 700 local business leaders attended this year's event.

The theme of this year's...

Richard M. Bracken, president and COO of HCA, the world's largest private operator of health care facilities, highlights a wide-ranging lineup of speakers scheduled to present at the 29th annual Tulane Business Forum.

This year's forum, which will take place on Friday, Oct. 17, at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, focuses on the theme of innovation, a topic that forum co-chair Keith Crawford says is relevant to all businesses regardless of size or industry.

"Innovation can be found in some unlikely places," says Crawford, a management consultant and chief financial officer...