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Wharton Vice Dean and Graduate Studies Director Isik Inselbag has announced that he will step down effective June 30. He will remain at the University, however, resuming his role as an adjunct marketing professor. Wharton Deputy Dean Janice Bellace said Inselbag's replacement has been selected but will not be announced until the end of the semester. Inselbag, who has served as vice dean of the Masters of Business Administration program since 1991, oversaw the revamping of the Wharton graduate curriculum. Inselbag credits the innovative new format as integral in the school's garnering of the top rating from Business Week last October. The MBA program also received a 99.8 percent ranking -- a second place finish -- in U. S. News & World Report's special graduate school issue this March. Four years ago, Inselbag helped initiate the pilot program with a portion of the incoming Class of 1993. It has been expanded each year to encompass the entire graduate student body. The new curriculum is receiving "world-wide attention," Inselbag said. The pilot program functions as a broadening experience, Inselbag said. Rather than the traditional five semester-long courses, the pilot course load consists of 10 six-week modules on varying topics, allowing for coverage of an increased variety of material. The goal is to train executives who are able to handle the many facets of business administration -- from marketing to production to profit margins, Inselbag said. Bellace said Inselbag "assumed the post at a very critical time." "The new curriculum involved more changes than we had originally envisioned. He spearheaded the entire division," she said. Inselbag noted that in the past year, applications have increased by 20 percent with no drop in applicant quality. The average GMAT scores also rose, he said. Inselbag said, however, that it was important for the MBA program to be able to keep on the cutting edge of information technology, such as the Internet and the World Wide Web. "Hopefully, we'll be ready for the for the incoming class," he said. Inselbag said the thing he enjoyed the most about his post was the conversations he has had with students, the graduations he has attended and the teaching award ceremonies. "Learning about the number one ranking in Business Week was not a disappointing moment," Inselbag added. He also spoke affectionately of the party held after the rankings were published. Inselbag said that he taught at least one course per semester despite his administrative workload. After years of attending meetings and dealing with administrative details, Inselbag said his return to teaching will be "therapeutic." Still, Bellace said that Inselbag will be missed.

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