BGSU College of Business celebrates 90 years

The Allen W. and Carol M. Schmidthorst College of Business charted a new future for both BGSU and its greater region

The Allen W. and Carol M. Schmidthorst College of Business at Bowling Green State University is celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2025, a recognition of its journey from humble beginnings to becoming a leader within its field.

Despite significant challenges in its early years, the persistence and adaptability of the program became one of its very best qualities over time, as the College is now celebrating nine decades of producing skilled graduates that went on to change Ohio and beyond.

In 1935, the United States was in the midst of the Great Depression, and BGSU saw big changes on the horizon. Then known as Bowling Green Normal School, the University recognized an opportunity to expand its offerings and play an important role within in its region.

Aside from Toledo, a hub for glass and rail, most of northwestern Ohio was rural, had little industry and was beginning to feel the financial crunch of the era. 

The climate was such that the University reduced its rate of living in the women’s dormitories from $3.50 per week to $3 in 1933 to ease the financial burden on families, yet continued planning for a new and better future that included more robust class offerings that could contribute to the economic vitality of the region.

As recounted by the late Dr. Robert Overman ’56, a member of the first-ever BGSU faculty who wrote “The History of Bowling Green State University” after retiring from four decades of service to BGSU, the introduction of a business curriculum was a monumental achievement that charted a new course for the future of the University.

Overman recounted citizens of northern Ohio feeling left behind when compared to other higher education opportunities elsewhere in the state. At the time, there was no state university in the northern half of Ohio permitted to offer courses in business, an opportunity which BGSU recognized.

On the exact day that the Ohio General Assembly formalized the name Bowling Green State University, it also passed a second act authorizing a college of business administration — a landmark moment that opened new doors for both BGSU and its greater region.

Starting humbly with just two rooms and an office in what is now known as Hayes Hall, the University hired Ralph Harshman, a future president of the University, to be the new college’s first dean. His vision proved paramount to the college's success, placing significant emphasis on well-rounded students who not only gained business expertise, but also earned half their credits in other subjects.

The College quickly gained a reputation for producing prepared graduates due to coursework that adapted quickly to changes in the fields of finance, marketing, accounting and secretarial science. 

By the end of the post-World War II boom, enrollment in business programming had gone from 51 in its first year to nearly 1,400 in a decade, with national accreditation arriving in the spring of 1954. 

Then as now, BGSU hired expert faculty who design coursework that both challenges and prepares students for what they will actually face in the real world. 

In its early years, BGSU was among the first nationally to hire practicing lawyers to teach business law to undergraduates,helping students to understand contracts, both within business and government. It was also one of the first universities nationally to embrace computers, installing IBM equipment, including a computer, as early as 1954.

BGSU was also among the first to recognize the growing need to adapt to students of all backgrounds, crafting a Master of Business Administration program that it added to the catalog in the early 60s. It started by teaching its graduate-level courses in the evening to accommodate students who had burgeoning careers during the day, allowing them to remain employed full-time while still pursuing an advanced degree.

With the program on solid footing, the need for more space became apparent, and the Business Administration Building was completed in 1972 at the cost of $2.3 million. Since renamed Central Hall, the building housed business programming for decades.

In October 2018, the University broke ground on the Maurer Center, named after a gift from Bowling Green community members and longtime champions of BGSU Robert and Patricia Maurer. A stunning, state-of-the-art facility located along Wooster Street was completed in 2020 and has housed business courses ever since.

Accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the Schmidthorst College of Business offers 11 different undergraduate specializations, 11 minors, nine master's degree options, four fully-online programs and a Doctorate of Organizational Development and Change that allow students of all backgrounds and areas of interests to customize a business degree that matches their passion.

As new technologies emerge and markets shift quickly, the College continues to prioritize innovation to ensure students are ready to adapt, lead and make a difference.

Students' success is further enhanced through meaningful experiences that extend beyond the classroom in the form of paid co-ops that are embedded into the curriculum, networking with alumni and industry leaders, exploring new ideas through faculty-led research, honing their skills in business-focused student organizations and embracing entrepreneurship in The Hatch, a semester-long journey into turning innovative business ideas into reality.

Graduates leave BGSU not only with a degree, but with the confidence and skills to create a fulfilling career and great life.

“From its earliest days, the Schmidthorst College of Business has built a proud legacy of innovation — encouraging students to think entrepreneurially, follow their passions and lead organizations with purpose,” said Dr. Jennifer Percival, dean of the College of Business. “For 90 years, our graduates have taken the lessons learned at BGSU and transformed them into careers that not only achieve personal success but also strengthen communities and serve the public good.

"As we look ahead, we remain committed to carrying forward this tradition, inspiring current and future Falcons to build on our legacy and create an even brighter future.”