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Independent Review Supports UMKC Bloch School's Top Ranking

A report released Friday confirms the rankings of the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Bloch School of Management.

The Journal of Product Innovation Management ranked the Bloch School number one in innovation management research. Controversy started last year after an article in the Kansas City Star questioned the validity of ranking the school as a global leader.

After reading the Star’s report questioning the authors’ methodology and ties with the school, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon asked the University of Missouri Board of Curators to examine the rankings. Board members commissioned an independent review of the rankings.

The report released Friday by the UM Board of Curators found that the top ranking was, "consistent with generally acceptable professional practices." The report also maintains that the school didn’t inflate the ranking in order to get a $32 million donation from philanthropist Henry W. Bloch for a new building. 

The review found that he made that decision months before the ranking.

The report did find that the Bloch school reported flawed data to the Princeton Review board, inflating the number of student clubs, how mentorship programs were counted, and enrollment calculations. The incorrect data reportedly did not make a substantial difference to the school’s rankings.

KCUR is licensed to the University of Missouri Board of Curators and is an editorially independent community service of the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

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