Valpo MBA program sees record influx of students

Enrollment in Valparaiso University’s MBA program in the 2010-2011 academic year has increased 35 percent over last year, the largest year-over-year increase in the program’s history.

“Valparaiso University has a reputation for quality and the MBA program is no exception,” said Bruce MacLean, director of Valpo’s graduate programs in management. “Students are coming to Valpo not only because of the excellence of our program and faculty, but also because of the flexibility we offer working professionals.”

The Valpo MBA is designed for the working professional, MacLean said, offering flexibility designed to meet the needs of a student’s demanding work and personal life, with six start dates, eight-week terms and courses offered via MBA Live for students who are unable to attend in person.

“I had a number of classes to choose from, so I could take classes on nights that would be the least disruptive to my family,” said recent Valpo MBA graduate Paul Stark, ArcelorMittal’s USA Indiana Harbor manager of logistics planning and scheduling. “Also, the mix of classes held on various nights during the week were a big positive for the Valpo MBA over others that would only meet for a full day Saturday.”

Stark said the MBA program is no small commitment, but students can tailor their class schedule to be both work and family friendly.

“There are a wide variety of electives available in addition to the core classes, allowing you to focus on areas you feel are more important to furthering your career,” said Stark. “The most valuable part of the MBA program for me was the emphasis on leadership and teamwork – the tools and techniques I learned through the Valpo MBA program have helped me more effectively manage my team and work as a more productive member on project teams.”

The MBA program has been ranked consistently as “Best in the Region” by Northwest Indiana Business and nationally by the Princeton Review and holds the top-tier business school AACSB accreditation, placing Valpo’s College of Business among the top 5 percent of business schools worldwide.

During the past five years, 94 percent of Valpo MBA graduates have been hired within six months of graduation, and the College of Business has a student-to-faculty ratio of 20 to 1, ensuring personal attention.

The next MBA Open House will take place June 14 at 5 p.m. (CST) in Urschel Hall on campus (valpo.edu/maps). Prospective students will have the opportunity to attend a class, “Creativity and Innovation,” with Dr. Doug Tougaw and Dr. Jeff Will and to meet current MBA students.

For more information about the Valpo MBA, please contact Cindy Scanlan at 219.465.7952 or visit valpo.edu/mba.