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Doctorates in Residence plan and review samples of plans from a variety of industries. We schedule assignments and deadlines for deliverables, so that the teams can present their prog- ress in class, hand in materials for evaluation, and incorporate feed- back into their plans. By the end of the winter quarter, the teams have completed their plans and are ready to pitch their ideas. At the end of the quarter, each team also must hand in a writ- ten report for evaluation, make a 15-minute presentation to a panel of VCs, and answer the panel's ques- tions. This is incredibly valuable experience for students because it forces them to defend the merit of their ideas. Business Software: The Skills "Business Software Applications" teaches students how they can apply Microsoft Excel to business problems and business plan devel- opment. We focus on using the software in areas such as product costing, project budgeting, account- ing statement analysis, target mar- ket analysis, sales and invoice man- agement, cash flow analysis, and breakeven analysis. By taking the course concurrently with Business 2, students can apply the Excel skills they learn to homework assignments linked to the develop- ment of their business plans. We've found that one of our students' biggest challenges in Business 2 is to apply what they learn in class to what they're doing for their own business plans, because in their eyes, the two seem immensely different. That's why close coordination between the instructors of the Excel course and Business 2 is critical to the BY MATHEW HAYWARD An ongoing challenge for business schools is how to integrate scholarship and prac- tice into their doctoral programs, much as medical and law schools do. To achieve this integration, many schools offer executive-in-residence programs that provide seasoned executives with offices and ask them to teach courses for a year or more. But in our experience, these executives often don't interact with our academically qualified professors. Consequently, they often lack an understanding of research and its relevance to the business world. To give executives a better introduction to scholarship, the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado at Boulder now offers the Visiting Doctoral Program. Cre- ated by Sanjai Bhagat, a finance professor and head of the doctoral program at Leeds, the program allows mature students to immerse themselves in the school's offerings through paid doctoral work. The program encompasses doctoral-level seminars, where these students work side by side with their younger counterparts, studying an identical curriculum and fully participating in seminar proceedings. Students in the Visiting Doctoral Program can choose the disciplines that they wish to investigate. In addition to conducting academic study and building faculty relationships, these student-prac- titioners contribute to courses and the professional develop- ment of other students by helping to teach MBA and undergraduate courses. They provide mentoring, career advice, and other counsel for students at all levels. The program aims to help executives who may be uncer- tain about doctoral study by giv- ing them a short-term opportu- nity to see if a PhD program is a good fit for them. At the same time, our faculty can evaluate their candidacy for research. It also serves as a transition into a formal program. If the student is in good stand- ing, he or she ultimately receives formal academic recognition. The student can then pursue a doctorate either at the Leeds School, if accepted, or elsewhere by transferring credits. Once a student is admitted to Leeds' PhD program, all course credits apply—typically 12 credit hours. One of the first to enroll in this program, Douglas Bennett already had earned his BS, MBA, and JD degrees. Bennett is an Army combat veteran with experience in government and politics on Capitol Hill. He was a partner in a national law firm and, for the past 20 years, an entrepreneur. Bennett is just the type of student that the Visiting Doctoral Pro- gram was designed for. We found that our younger candidates benefited from his experi- ence, and he benefited from exposure to business theory and scholarship. The Visiting Doctoral Program has become an opportunity for the school to make seasoned executives like Bennett a vital part of Leeds' community of scholars. Just as it can with executive-in-residence programs, the Leeds School can tap the Visiting Doctoral Program to draw upon senior executives' networks and experience for development and even open up additional opportunities for research projects and collaboration. We are pleased that the Visiting Doctoral Program has proved to be a successful way to attract executives whose aspirations and contributions align with those of the Leeds School. Mathew Hayward is an associate professor of management and entrepreneurship at the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado at Boulder. BizEd January/February 2012 49 OJO IMAGES/GLOW IMAGES