All times listed are Central Daylight Time. Conference session links have been emailed to registered attendees directly to prevent unregistered individuals from attending sessions.
October 5
9:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Conference Welcome
Monica Powell, Senior Associate Dean, University of Texas at Dallas
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Trends in PMBA/OMBA World & Our Collective Response to COVID-19
Monica Powell, Senior Associate Dean, University of Texas at Dallas
Description:
Understanding admissions and enrollment data in the part-time and online MBA market has always been challenging. For the first time in 26 years, we will present aggregated admissions and enrollment data from nearly 100 schools who are participating and attending this conference. This data will help us understand the current demand for our programs; how Covid-19 affected applications, enrollment and program delivery; whether women and under-represented minorities number have increased; and what the future may hold for the programs we lead. The analysis will provide a rich understanding of our programs and what we think may or may not happen in the future.
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
The GMAT/GRE requirement: Is it still necessary for PMBA/OMBA Admissions?
Stephanie Geisler, Director MBA, University of Utah
Kellee Scott, Director of Admissions, University of Southern California
Jen Arthur, Director of Admissions, North Carolina State University
Kimberly Winchell, Director of Recruitment, University of Arizona
Description
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated a trend toward waiving GMAT/GRE tests in the PMBA/OMBA admissions process. As GMAT/GRE exams become more available and online assessments more reliable, will this trend toward waiving the exams reverse, or is there no going back?
Unconventional Recruiting during COVID-19 environment
Toby McChesney, Sr. Assistant Dean of Graduate Business Programs, Santa Clara University
Kathleen Edwards, Director for Admissions, Emory University
Dave Cook, Assistant Dean of Graduate Business Programs, Old Dominion University
Sharon Barrett, Director – MBA Recruiting and Admissions, University of Texas at Austin
Description
Recruiting used to very often involve a smile and a handshake during visits, interviews, events. What unconventional methods have schools moved to where we can still give that personal touch? How are we replacing recruiting events, changing the application process, how are we using social media and how are we altering our websites to replace what were formerly in person efforts.
12:15 p.m.- 1:15 p.m.
Lunch Break
1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Curriculum, Format, and Delivery in the Time of COVID
Kris May, Executive Director, PMBA and OMBA, University of Utah
Jeanne Simmons, Associate Dean, Marquette University
Mark Gorenflo, Executive Director, University of California, Berkeley
Jennifer Blackhurst, Associate Dean, University of Iowa
Description
This session will be focused on how COVID has impacted the curriculum, format, and delivery of our online and in-person content. The panel will provide insights into the changes they have already made to deliver quality, accessible content, and in addition how these changes might have long-term strategic impacts on our MBA programs. Finally, we will discuss what curriculum or format changes might still need to happen in the future based on what we have learned in 2020 about content delivery adjustments, providing flexibility for students, and keeping our community safe.
Student Wants vs Needs… at what point does customer service go too far?
Mia Hawlk, Director of Part-Time MBA, University of Connecticut
Crystal Adams, Senior Director of MBA Innovation and Student Experience, Arizona State University
Eric Hamberger, Managing Director of Online Programs, Villanova University
Helaine Korn (Moderator), Executive Director of Graduate Programs, Baruch College
Description
Students have always pushed the boundaries of how far their faculty and administrators should go to make them happy. With the perception that students are getting a “lower quality of deliverable” due to the quickness with which classes, specifically, and other components of the educational experience, more generally, converted to alternate modalities, we will discuss how our institutions are managing student expectations. Attendees of this session will be asked: “ When does customer service infringe on the integrity of our program? Has the customer service model gone too far? How will we continue to navigate some of these difficult questions post –COVID 19?” This will be an interactive conference session; please come prepared to share your student services experiences.
Unexpected career needs from a curricular prospective of PMBA vs OMBA students today
Christa Hinton, Assistant Dean, DePaul University
Phil Miller, Assistant Dean, University of Minnesota
Jean Gekler, Senior Associate Director, University of Washington
Jessica Gagle, Director, DePaul University
Description
As Covid-19 has led to lay-offs, hiring freezes, rescinded offers, changes in hiring needs by industry, the career plans of our students are needing complete overhauls. Our session leaders will talk about the changes we need to make to meet the needs of these students and how to offer networking opportunities in a social distancing environment.
2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Virtual Happy Hour Discussion Rooms
How are you preparing PMBA & OMBA faculty
Brad Vierig, Session Leader, University of Utah
How has this affected the culture of your school or department
Christa Hinton, Session Leader, DePaul University
Managing filling seats vs. maintaining quality
Gonzalo Freixes, Session Leader, University of California, Los Angeles
Answering the question – how do you differ from a fully online school when everything is online?
Brian Jennings, Session Leader, Georgia State University
How to cut expenses when you were already at rock bottom
Beth Figini, Session Leader, Baruch College – CUNY
New to the PMBA/OMBA Conference? Get to know others that are new to our community
Toby McChesney, Session Leader, Santa Clara University
October 6
10:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
How far ahead is the future? How COVID-19 Accelerated the “Future of Work.”
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Tips & Tricks for Managing Admissions in the COVID-19 Environment
The Next Normal – Predicting which activities that went virtual for a reason will stay virtual for the ease.
Brian Jennings – Associate Dean of Graduate Programs, Georgia State University
Melanie Coburn – Director, FEMBA Admissions, University of California – Irvine
Kara Fichthorn – Director, Evening MBA Student Affairs, University of Washington
Pamela McCoy – Associate Dean, Graduate Programs, Loyola University, Chicago
Description
The pandemic has significantly disrupted nearly all traditional aspects of the student experience in the past 6 months. In this session, we will explore which activities are most likely to remain virtual in the future, for the very simple reason that they just work better – better turnout, better feedback and better outcomes.
12:15 p.m.- 1:15 p.m.
Lunch Break
1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
The Top 50 Technical Tools that were Successful during COVID-19
Gonzalo Freixes, Associate Dean, Fully Employed and Executive MBA Program, University of California, Los Angeles
Patti Russo, Managing Director of Part-time MBA Programs, University of Michigan
Wendy Guild, Assistant Dean of MBA Programs, University of Washington
Benjamin Plummer, PhD Learning Experience Designer, University of Michigan
Description
COVID-19 forced all PTMBA programs to implement online and hybrid learning in their courses. Along the way, many of us discovered new programs, apps and features that enhanced the learning experience for students. Come see what new tools have proven the most successful, engaging and fun for our students.
Tips and Tricks for Managing Student Services in an Online COVID-19 Environment
Christa Hinton, Assistant Dean, DePaul University
Adam Herman, Executive Director – Student Program Office, Rice University
Jim Parrish, Executive Director – Full Time and Online MBA Programs, Auburn University
Marissa McGee, Director of Student Experience, Global Programs, and Strategic Initiatives, Indiana University
Description
Student service professionals will share tips and tricks for serving students efficiently in a virtual environment.
Setting and Managing Student and Prospect Expectations in a COVID World
Fred Burke, Director of Graduate Career Management Center, Baruch College
Stacey Dorang-Peeler, Managing Director of Penn State Online MBA, Pennsylvania State University
Jose Swanson, Program Director, University of St. Thomas
Beth Figini (Moderator), Director of Graduate Programs, Baruch College
Description
The facilitators of this session will discuss their experiences with how both prospective and current professional and online MBA students measure the value of the programs they consider. They will consider how this has changed with recent events and how we need to adjust as well.
2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Virtual Happy Hour Discussion Rooms
How I need to change to be prepared for what my program will look like.
Toby McChesney, Session Leader, Santa Clara University
How to incorporate the way work will change into the way we prepare students for that work.
Monica Powell, Session Leader, University of Texas at Dallas
What parts of what we do will stay virtual after Covid-19 is gone.
Brad Vierig, Session Leader, University of Utah
Managing staff that don’t adjust well to change.
Christa Hinton, Session Leader, DePaul University
How we are going to do on rankings now that everyone is changing what they do.
Gonzalo Freixes, Session Leader, University of California, Los Angeles
Discussion about the changing expectations of our prospects and students.
Beth Figini, Session Leader, Baruch College – CUNY