The University’s Leon Hess Business School was recently ranked as one of the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Schools this year.
Its part-time Master of Business Administration program (MBA), which offers tracks in accounting, finance, and real estate, as well as a concentration in healthcare management, made its way to the national list, coming in at 208 out of the 282 ranked colleges.
To be considered for the list, the Leon Hess Business School had to meet the criteria of being internationally accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International. The business school is ranked among the top five percent of business schools accredited.
“I am thrilled that our MBA program was recognized with this honor,” Don Moliver, Dean of the Leon Hess Business School, said in a 2014 press release. “The ranking is a direct reflection of the commitment of our faculty, staff and alumni. Our personalized education for busy professionals prepares graduates to compete and prosper in today’s global marketplace.”
The University’s Master of Business Administration program has been recently recognized by the U.S. News & World Report, along with several other schools. The School of Social Work’s Master of Social Work program was ranked 60 among 206 similar national graduate social work programs, and the Marjorie K. Unterberg School of Nursing and Health Studies’ Master of Science in Nursing program was ranked 332 among 442 national graduate nursing programs.
In addition, the University as a whole has been placed on U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best Northern Regional Universities list and on The Princeton Review’s annual best 387 colleges list this year.
Linda Flaming, Chair of the Accounting Department, believes the relationship between professors and students at the Leon Hess Business School is just one of the many aspects of the MBA program that differentiates it from others and allows it to be placed on such a prestigious list.
“Professors help students get the best schedule and program possible,” Flaming said, an associate professor in the school of business. “This faculty-student interaction enhances the experience for students.”
Another aspect of the MBA program that Flaming mentioned is the effectiveness of its flexibility. While other programs force students into a rigid lockstep as they pursue their MBA, the University’s program is individualized for each student so they can get their degree at whatever pace they are comfortable with, she added.
The faculty members who make the University’s MBA program possible are not the only ones who are proud of the Leon Hess Business School for making the list. Graduate students participating in the program also believe the recognition is well-deserved.
“It doesn’t surprise me,” said Brian Carlsen, a graduate student currently pursuing a general business MBA. “Our program is characterized by top-notch facilities and highly qualified professors. I think our students know this, which is why our graduation rates are high and student transfers are so infrequent.”
Carlsen cited several professors and advisors who have made his experience with the MBA program worthwhile by sharing their business knowledge and working with him to discuss class options.
Raichel Kerr, a graduate student pursuing an MBA in finance, appreciates that professors acknowledge the possibility of graduate student scheduling conflicts. Many of Kerr’s classmates have full-time jobs or must attend events but the students receive understanding and encouragement from their professors, she said.
“The faculty is great because you understand them and they understand you,” said Kerr. “They get that we have adult, professional lives.”
According to Kerr, the MBA professors are not only considerate and supportive; they are also intelligent. Their business background and experiences allow them to teach effectively. Using real life examples, analyzing real stocks and quotes, and guessing interest rates in class, the professors prepare their graduate students for a smooth transition from the classroom to the business world.
The University, especially its MBA program, has high hopes to be ranked on the list again. To reach an even higher placement next year, Kerr suggests offering more class times to make the MBA program even more accessible for students.
Carlsen believes that the MBA program should continue to hire the best and most qualified professors in the business field to ensure they are recognized on the U.S. News & World Report’s list of top graduate schools again in the coming years.
PHOTO TAKEN from cohpa.edu
