This year, in addition to our Professional MBA and MACC programs, most of you are aware that we have also added a new Accelerated MBA program for those individuals with high academic potential but without the requisite professional experience necessary for admission into our PMBA program. To date, I am very pleased with the quality of this new group of students. In addition to some of our recent Belmont COBA graduates who are enrolling in this new program, we are drawing interest from a number of international students as well. Yesterday, I interviewed an applicant from Canada, and we are even working with one individual from Turkey. This should prove to be a talented and yet very diverse cohort of students who will add a whole new dimension to our graduate programs.

A little farther down in this edition of the eLeader, you will read about our current group of Summer Accounting Institute (SAI) students. We expect that with the size of this year's class entering the MACC program in the fall, we should be the largest MACC program in the State of Tennessee--a first for The Massey School.

Another group of Massey students is currently preparing for the next study-abroad experience. Dr. Susan Taylor is leading 25 individuals next month on a trip with a primary focus on Ireland, yet with a brief set of activities in London as well.

And finally, if you haven't already done so, be sure to sign up for our Belmont University Massey Graduate School of Business at LinkedIn.com. Our group has arleady grown to 321 alumni and students, with new individuals adding each week. Our goal is to reach 500 by the end of this calendar year, and we are currently on pace to exceed that number. LinkedIn groups are a great tool for expanding your professional network as well as keeping up with current job opportunities.

I hope are having a wonderful and yet productive summer. I look forward to seeing you soon at one of our upcoming networking or power luncheon events. Joe