Agenda – Online MBA Conference

Conference Registration at DoubleTree Hotel Dallas-Richardson

All buses depart for Gala Dinner (15 minute ride)

Bus 1 departing from DoubleTree Hotel Dallas-Richardson

Bus 2-4 departing from UT Dallas

Cocktails and Networking

Buses depart for DoubleTree Hotel Dallas-Richardson

Buses depart for UT Dallas – Davidson Gundy Alumni Center (DGA)

Future Work and its Impact on the MBA

This plenary will discuss the rapidly evolving nature of work in the face of rapid automation and the democratization of work. It will then drill into the consequences and implications for the reskilling of the global workforce and the MBA. Sharing a framework for the deconstruction of jobs and the redeployment of work, we will explore the implications for work, organizations, rewards and education.

Ravin Jesuthasan, Willis Towers Watson

Morning Coffee Break and Networking

4.1 The Jedi Path: Finding the Force between Social Justice and the Role of Business

Students are increasingly concerned with social justice and the creation of value in their communities. A course on professional identity and political economy—or modules from those areas inserted in other courses—can help students to connect their business education, their workplace roles, and the creation of value through the practice of the noble profession of business. This session will describe content used in multiple iterations of an elective MBA level course and point to practical ways to access and incorporate this content in standalone modules and/or existing courses

Matthew Phillips, Wake Forest University

4.2 Soften the Mork and Add More Mindy: Humanizing our MBA Martians

We will share the Simon Business School’s approach to developing students with high EQ while meeting the educational needs of their analytical and quantitative minds. By raising awareness of diverse communication styles, students can better collaborate beyond just articulating facts. They will be prepared to understand their listener, and learn how to be heard in an academic or work team environment. Attendees will receive a sample of materials our students work through at orientation, and will participate in an interactive team building activity as a sample of this learning brought to life.

Janet Mejias, University of Rochester

4.3 Close Encounters: Where PMBA and Online Worlds Collide

In the past two years, UC Irvine’s Merage School and William & Mary’s Mason School of Business launched successful new hybrid and online MBA programs, respectively, to meet marketplace demand. This session will review the design and implementation strategies for both successful programs, as well as key insights into the faculty “buy-in process,” and managing student expectations. The session will also review “lessons learned” and predictions for the future of hybrid and online MBA programs.

Jon Masciana, University of California, Irvine 
Pamela Suzadail, College of William & Mary

4.4 Online Program Rocket Boosters: Working with Coursera, 2U, edX, and Pearson

Have you considered working with an external partner to launch your online MBA or other online program?  Each of our panelists has worked with one (or several) external partners and will share their experiences here.  In addition to our brief presentations, we’ll save time for Q&A.

Judy Frels, University of Maryland 
Arshad Saiyed, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Amy Foster, University of Illinois
Stephen Taylor, Arizona State University

Closing Remarks & 26th Annual Professional MBA Host Announcement

Monica Powell, The University of Texas at Dallas

Buffet Lunch for Attendees

5.1 Launch Pad to Splash Down: Online Everything from Orientations, to Student Services, and Career Services 

Services This session will provide an overview of the major operational components of a successful online MBA program. The discussion will include implementation of an online orientation program, providing tailored student services for this unique population, and guiding students towards their post-MBA careers. Whether your school is planning to launch an online MBA program in the near future or already managing an established successful program, this session will provide a forum for participants to share best practices and potential challenges in the introduction and management of online MBA programs.

Janin Menendez, University of Florida
Valerie Henry, Temple University
Stacey Dorang Peeler, Pennsylvania State University

5.2 We launched with an online vendor, but are we married forever?

Colleges and Universities often turn to vendor partnerships in their hesitation to assume complete risk associated with launching an online program in an unfamiliar market. As that program matures, so too does the knowledge and expertise of institutional faculty and staff. And that maturation ultimately forces each institution to answer two critical questions: Do the for-profit motivations of our vendor partner align with the priorities of our non-profit institution? Can we continue to grow our online program on our own? This session will outline one institution’s struggle with answering those questions, and how those answers became the catalyst for developing a new strategy aimed at reaffirming their identity.

Eric Hamberger, Villanova University 
Claire Bruno, Villanova University
Marie Witman, Villanova University

5.3 Integrity: The Critical Frontier

Academic Integrity in an online MBA program can quickly turn into an ‘arms race’, with students learning new ways to exploit technology for unethical purposes, and faculty/administrators adopting new technology to hinder such exploitations. Our mission, however, is to go boldly where at least many others have not yet gone, exploring new and more comprehensive approaches to promoting ethical attitudes throughout OMBA programs. This session specifically addresses best practices for embedding the ABCs of academic integrity into your program: affect, behavior, and cognition.

Michelle Darnell, Pennsylvania State University

Afternoon Coffee Break and Networking

6.1 Out-of-this-World Curriculum Design: Best Practices

Two leading universities, with in-house production teams, will present two different approaches to designing an online MBA curriculum.

Ramesh Venkataraman, Indiana University
Sandra Chrystal, University of Southern California
Phil Griego, University of Southern California

6.2 Key Success Factors to Launch and Deliver a Top Online Program

What does it take to launch and deliver a successful online program? What are the different elements to consider? How do you get the most out of new technologies? In this lecture, professors Gafo and Rojo will examine the key components to be bear in mind when designing and implementing a top online program, and how to integrate them successfully. The session will review the process of designing and setting up the WoW Room at IE and explain the role of different stakeholders (faculty, program management, learning innovation team, etc.) in doing so.

Laura Rojo, IE University
Ignacio Gafo, IE University

6.3 From Inception to the Stars – Imperial’s Global Growth

The Imperial College Business School Global MBA is now in its four year of delivery and is going from strength to strength. The programme was launched in response to a growing demand by students around the world to learn online, primarily due to ease of the format and its accessibility. Since launching the Global Online MBA programme at Imperial College Business School, we have seen a growth of 30% in applications each year. This growth has been realized with a rising number of high-quality applications from applicants around the world. We will discuss the origins of the MBA, strategic and organic growth in recruitment, and the future of the programme.

Gavin Symmonds, Imperial College
Phil Carter, Imperial College

Buses depart for DoubleTree Hotel Dallas-Richardson

Buses depart for UT Dallas – Davidson Gundy Alumni Center (DGA)

Explore the Many Worlds of Online Innovation

In this session, led by Assistant Dean for the W. P. Carey School at Arizona State University, participants will be challenged to think broadly about change and innovation, and how risk, market, and context play critical roles in the success or failure of changes.  This roundtable workshop gives attendees at the Online MBA Conference an opportunity to move twice during the workshop to participate in two innovation generation exercises.  Table topic leaders will engage attendees to brainstorm innovative ideas that solve real problems within Online MBA programs.  Topics will include:   Hybrid Programs – PMBA/EMBA, Online Student Services, Curriculum Design, Growing Enrollment, Online Student Engagement, Social Media, Marketing Online, and Residencies.

Stephen Taylor, Arizona State University

Morning Coffee Break and Networking

7.1 Docking Online Satellites to the Mothership for an Out-of-this-World Experience

In-person experiences are an important part of online learning.  They provide students an opportunity to network and strengthen relationships with their peers, while also allowing them to feel a greater connection to the program and school.  Leaders from universities who are doing this in creative and exciting ways will discuss why immersions are so important to their programs and how they successfully plan and implement them.  The panel will discuss topics such as locations, staffing, and balancing an effective learning experience while allowing for “white space”, where students can network and explore the location on their own.

Amy McHale, Syracuse University
Amy Foster, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

7.2 MBA News at the Speed of Light

This session focuses on recent news stories and emerging trends that have the potential of forcing program managers to change their program’s strategy, structure, and curriculum. The overall goal is to offer insight into how graduate management education is changing and how part-time and online MBA programs managers and faculty will need to adjust to those changes.

Rodney Alsup, MBA News Digest

7.3 Online Launch Readiness: Faculty Certification

This session explains the process our team followed to create an online teaching certification customized to the University’s faculty community, and covers the life cycle of the program including conceptualization, design, pilot runs and mid-course corrections, content creation/ sourcing, delivery and participant experience.

Darren Crone, The University of Texas at Dallas
Roopa Chandrasekhar, The University of Texas at Dallas

Conference Wrap-Up and Closing Remarks

Monica Powell, The University of Texas at Dallas

Buses depart for DoubleTree Hotel Dallas-Richardson