Implementation Plan
UW Graduate Business Consortium MBA Degree
University of Wisconsin -
Eau Claire, La Crosse, Oshkosh and Parkside
In partnership with
Extension
February 10, 2004
Background:
The preceding Entitlement to Plan describes the need and form of the UW Graduate Business Consortium MBA degree. What follows is how this consortial degree will be implemented.
The current “home institution based” policies and procedures for guiding inter-institutional collaboration have many limitations making it difficult to achieve the BOR vision within EGOLL. (Appendix A summarizes these issues.) The four UW degree-granting institutions proposing a new consortial model for awarding the degree each hold the entitlement to offer an MBA degree, and each is accredited by the AACSB-International. This Entitlement to Plan document seeks approval to offer a consortial degree, thereby leveraging resources from the four existing programs and capitalizing on the existing service system and technology infrastructure within UW-Extension to create access for time- and place-bound students through the on-line environment.
In the proposed consortial model, UW-Extension will provide a set of centralized learner support services and will interact with campus student service personnel as necessary to coordinate the delivery of these services. UW-Extension will manage the student transactions and logistics of delivering call center services, on-line registration, revenue collection and distribution, and data sharing among other services. The Consortium, through the participating degree-granting institutions, will be responsible for instruction and curriculum management.
Each university in the consortium must approve: 1) the Entitlement to Plan [see following Entitlement to Plan] 2,) the basic curriculum [See Appendix B], 3) offering a single degree awarded on behalf of the Consortium with the degree granting institutions listed on the diploma, 4) the program control process. All subsequent curriculum control and approval will be managed by the Consortium Academic Standards and Assessment Committee comprised of an MBA director and a faculty member representing each consortium member. By approving the Entitlement to Plan and its attached appendices, each university is agreeing that subsequent changes in curriculum will be approved by the Consortium Academic Standards and Assessment Committee and will not require approval of each university. Any consortium member may choose to leave the Consortium with a 12 month written notice. Appendix C summarizes the Assignment of Responsibilities for Program Management and Learner Services. Appendix E displays a schedule of courses. Appendix D shows financial pro-forma statements.
Appendix A
Problem with and Solution for the Home Institution Model
February 10, 2004
A. Problem:
Under the current “home institution” model, the business consortium must select from two models if it wants to offer a joint degree. Both of these models have problems.
Single Campus Student Assignment: All students are assigned to one of the Consortium Colleges. Ultimately this means that the single campus will be viewed as “owning” the program, and the other Colleges tend to have less interest. This is neither really a consortium degree nor does it leverage the resources of the UW System.
Rotating Student Assignment: Students are assigned to each campus in the Consortium, on some rotation basis. This would result in a true consortium, but it is difficult to manage. For example, each college faculty must approve the same curriculum and any changes in curriculum would require all Colleges to approve. Additionally, each College would need its own advising unit for this program. This causes confusion for the students because the consortium advertises the degree, while the students work primarily with one college, but receive instruction from several colleges.
In summary, for Consortium members, the “home institution” model is neither customer friendly nor administration friendly, e.g., admission standards vary, registration guidelines and time vary, grading guidelines vary, and academic calendars vary.
B. Proposed Joint Degree:
The solution to the above described problem is Board of Regents approval of Internet Business Consortium graduate degree. On-line students, administration, on-campus Internet course participants, and the UW-System would all benefit from the establishment of this degree. UW-LI will provide a set of centralized learner support services and will interact with campus student service personnel as necessary to coordinate the delivery of these services. The consortium would be responsible for curriculum and instruction while UW-LI would manage the logistics of delivering call center services, online registration, revenue collection and distribution, and data sharing among other services.
Appendix B
Basic Curriculum
February 10, 2004
Introduction: Our MBA curriculum balances theory with application, number-crunching with interpersonal skill development, and team projects with individual assignments. A student in our thirty-credit online program will complete a Required Core of study consisting of four, interdisciplinary modules (16 credits) plus Electives (14 credits).
We offer all MBA modules and electives online. Faculty members, using the latest in web-based coursework, teach each course and conduct virtual office hours. Our four MBA modules reflect the situations managers face as their organizations move through the business cycle. Each module is taught by a team of three to four graduate faculty members from the four University of Wisconsin Business Consortium schools.
Module I: Strategies for Managing Ongoing Operations, focuses on the strategies needed to manage the day-to-day operations of an organization and the interplay among the various functional areas of business. In this module, students analyze and discuss corporate issues and formulate a strategy that is customer focused. Students will also discuss manufacturing and service strategies that support a company's target markets.
Module II: Developing New Products and Services, introduces the complexities involved in launching new products/services, business ventures, subsidiaries, or divisions within existing businesses. Two themes predominate in this module: a marketing theme focusing on the identification and fulfillment of customer needs, and a financial theme exploring capital budgeting and long-term financial issues.
Module III: Managing Strategically in a Global Environment, challenges students to develop the critical skills and integrated knowledge necessary to function effectively in today's global environment. Students analyze the impact of multinational corporate lobbying on geopolitical issues and discuss how global agreements, changing technologies, global institutions, and evolving political patterns affect the conduct of global business.
Module IV: Focusing on the Future, builds on previous modules by preparing students to consider present conditions and analyze possible future events during your career. Students identify and analyze trends in business and project their potential impact on managerial practice. They also learn how potential changes may affect them professionally and personally.
Electives: Over a 20 credits of electives have already been developed and shared among the consortium schools. These electives include Organizational Leadership and Change, Project Management, E-Business Fundamentals, Securing Company Information, and Marketing Agreements & Emerging Markets.
Appendix C
UW Graduate Business Consortium MBA and Foundation Courses
Tasks and Responsibilities for Students Enrolled in the Consortium Degree
February 10, 2004
|
TASKS |
RESPONSIBLE GROUP |
|
Student Acquisition |
|
|
Develop marketing information |
LI & MBA Directors & Online MBA Coordinator[1] |
|
Prepare marketing materials |
LI & Coordinator |
|
Distribute materials |
LI |
|
Develop Web Site |
LI |
|
Conduct Information Sessions |
Coordinator |
|
Contact prospective students |
LI |
|
Screen prospective students |
Coordinator and then Academic Standards and Assessment Committee (ASAC) |
|
|
|
|
Program Management |
|
|
Course content development |
Delivery Campus |
|
Course delivery development |
LI |
|
Program development |
Consortium |
|
Program assessment |
ASAC |
|
Course scheduling |
LI & Coordinator & Deans & MBA Directors |
|
Financial Management |
LI |
|
|
|
|
Student Management |
|
|
Admit students to program |
LI & ASAC Co-Chairs |
|
Admit students to candidacy |
LI & ASAC Co-Chairs |
|
Initial & basic advising of students |
LI |
|
Advising students with issues |
Coordinator with ASAC Co-Chairs as backup |
|
Program Advising |
Coordinator |
|
Maintain student records |
LI |
|
Degree Audit |
Coordinator |
|
Process Degree information |
LI |
|
Provide Transcripts |
LI |
|
|
|
|
Course Management |
|
|
Set up course on web |
LI |
|
Collect course tuition |
LI |
|
Textbook management |
LI |
|
Access to library resources |
LI & Delivery campus |
|
Student support |
LI |
|
Provide faculty support |
LI & Delivery campus |
|
Initial Registration of Students |
LI |
|
Register students in degree course |
LI |
|
Submit grades |
Delivery campus |
Appendix D
Schedule of MBA and Foundation Courses
February 10, 2004
Fall
• ACCT 800
• ECON 800, 801
• FIN 800
• MKTG 800
• MIS 800
• ORG 800
• POM 800
• STAT 800
• MODULE 1
• MODULE 3
• Electives such as Portfolio Construction & Management (2) – Fin. Securing Company Information (1) – Acct, Project Management (1 ½) – Mgmt
Spring
• ACCT 800
• ECON 800, 801
• FIN 800
• MKTG 800
• MIS 800
• ORG 800
• POM 800
• MODULE 2
• MODULE 4
• 6 credits of electives such as Employee Training & Development (2)
Summer Year 1
• MKTG 800
• POM 800
• ORG 800
• Electives such as Computer Fraud Fund. (1 ½) –Acct, Internat’l Mktg Research (1 ½) - Mktg Strategies & Tactics of Pricing (2) – Mktg
Summer Year 2
• MIS 800
• FIN 800
• 6 credits of Electives such as Project Management (1 ½)
[1] It is likely that an academic staff person will be needed for overall coordination of the Online MBA. This person may be located at LI. Salary would come from the Program Administration budget line.