Agenda – Part-Time MBA Conference

Conference Registration at DoubleTree Hotel Dallas-Richardson

Buses depart hotel for Welcome Reception (15 minute ride)

Bus 1 departs for DoubleTree Hotel Dallas-Richardson

Conference Registration (continues) at DoubleTree Hotel Dallas-Richardson

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

Conference Registration (continues) at UT Dallas

Opening Welcome: Rev Your Engines – The Jetson’s are Here!

Monica Powell, The University of Texas at Dallas

Morning Coffee Break and Networking

1.1 How to Overcome Today’s Rebellious Buyers: Millenials and beyond 

This session is geared to understanding the new environment for marketing MBA programs. The buyer renaissance fueled by information technology has changed how prospective students want to learn about programs. Our marketing approaches need to reflect these changes and this session will provide you 2 examples of how to change your marketing approach.

Brette Matherne, Georgia State University

1.2 Is your Brand Lost in Space? Amazonification of your website (Session will be repeated)

University websites have not changed much in the last decade – geared toward delivering information more than making a creating a positive selling experience.  We will look at the transition of the DePaul University MBA website and how an outside organization was able to measure its effectiveness.  We will also look forward at the mind of the millennial (and beyond) and how we can think about the process by which youth gathers information and makes decisions.

Lisa Shatz, The University of Texas at Dallas
Christa Hinton, DePaul University

1.3 A New Hope: The Executive Assessment

Designed in partnership with selective business schools from around the world, the Executive Assessment launched in 2016 and is currently accepted by 38 schools globally.   The Executive Assessment was designed specifically for Working Professionals applying to Executive MBA programs and is currently used by Executive MBA, Executive Masters, and PTMBA programs to quickly assess the business school readiness of their candidates.  Since PTMBA programs and their candidates often face similar challenges as Executive MBA programs and their candidates, the EA has been made available to PTMBA programs to use in their admissions process since the beginning of 2018.  The assessment is comprised of three short 30-minute sections, requires light preparation, and its results are highly correlated to classroom performance.  Learn more about the new Executive Assessment and hear directly from UC Berkeley and UCLA about their experiences using the EA.

Manish Dharia, Graduate Management Admission Council
Majorie DeGraca, University of California, Berkeley
Dylan Stafford, University of California, Los Angeles

1.4 OneHaas: A Galactic Approach to Integrating the Evening and Weekend MBA with the Executive Program (Session will be repeated)

This presentation will describe the efforts undertaken to build stronger links between the Full-Time, Evening & Weekend and the MBA for Executives program – from Admissions through jointly offered electives to student experience events – to improve the quality of all programs while increasing efficiency of running these three top ten MBA programs.

Mark Gorenflo, University of California, Berkeley 
Rahul Sampat, University of California, Berkeley

Lunch

2.1 To Infinity & Beyond: Innovations for an Evolving PMBA Student Experience

As it becomes more challenging to attract PMBA students, schools must be both innovative and flexible in providing a worthwhile student experience and education.  With employer reimbursement on the decline, PMBA students now largely pay for these programs.  As such, student expectations move well beyond attending classes and taking exams.  The session will feature brief presentations of PMBA-specific GMAC data, approaches for understanding student needs, as well as examples of program innovations in the areas of community building, program flexibility and delivery, and career management. The session will conclude with a healthy Q&A.

Phil Miller, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Gonzalo Frexies, University of California, Los Angeles
Joe Stephens, The University of Texas at Austin  Megan Bryne Krueger, Northwestern University

2.2 Houston, We have a Problem! What Can We Learn from Other Industries Transforming at Warp Speed 

Change! Innovate! Hurry! Chicken Little and a House On Fire! We have heard these same alarm bells at many conferences. Great-but “So what? What now?”  In this interactive session, we move the needle on the need to change by presenting the theories of innovation and disruption, offering practical insights from industry and education, and giving you the opportunity to workshop directly with peers.  Prepare to break into power-teams for engaging sleeves-up collaboration.  We’ll come back in plenary and share our best ideas, and send you each back to your institution with a plan to go forward this year.

Toby McChesney, Santa Clara University
Nydia MacGregor, Santa Clara University
David Cook, Old Dominion University
Dylan Stafford, University of California, Los Angeles 

2.3 Crossing the Streams: Leveraging Engagement Across MBA Platforms and the University Community (Session will be repeated)

Engaging students in PMBA and O-MBA programs is sometimes challenging. By collaborating across platforms, university colleges, and the broader community, a school can expand the opportunities for success. Examples to maximize these synergies include leveraging international trips, Student Associations, and networking opportunities across platforms. Collaboration can occur not only within the b-school, but across the campus.  For example, b-schools can win recognition on campus or find support for their contributions to community engagement efforts, such as contributing to the attainment of the Carnegie Engaged Campus classification or receiving faculty grants.

Pamela Jorden, University of Arizona
Crystal Adams, University of Arizona 
Deborah Cours, California State University Northridge
Deborah Heisley, California State University Northridge

2.4 Is your Brand Lost in Space? Amazonification of your website (Session will be repeated)

University websites have not changed much in the last decade – geared toward delivering information more than making a creating a positive selling experience.  We will look at the transition of the DePaul University MBA website and how an outside organization was able to measure its effectiveness.  We will also look forward at the mind of the millennial (and beyond) and how we can think about the process by which youth gathers information and makes decisions.

Lisa Shatz, The University of Texas at Dallas
Christa Hinton, DePaul University

Afternoon Coffee Break and Networking

3.1 Over the Next Horizon: Future ROI of PMBA Programs

With part-time students wanting greater flexibility and options, plus the changing needs of Millennials and the coming Gen Z, the ROI of part-time MBA programs may look very different in the future.  Traditionally, ROI has been a simple financial equation, but what if getting the MBA is less about financial gain in the future and more about satisfaction, purposefulness, or work/life balance as the lead variable in the equation?  How will your school communicate the value of the MBA in more relevant ways to new generations?  For those primarily financially-driven, how will the new Career Services and Employer Alliance Standards (CSEA) part-time reporting standards help your school tell your story? Join us for a lively discussion with several break-outs to swap ideas with your peers.

Jillian Melton, Southern Methodist University 
Kathleen Edwards, Emory University
Kara Fichthorn,University of Washington

3.2 OneHaas: A Galactic Approach to Integrating the Evening and Weekend MBA with the Executive Program

This presentation will describe the efforts undertaken to build stronger links between the Full-Time, Evening & Weekend and the MBA for Executives program – from Admissions through jointly offered electives to student experience events – to improve the quality of all programs while increasing efficiency of running these three top ten MBA programs.

Mark Gorenflo, University of California, Berkeley
Rahul Sampat, University of California, Berkeley 

3.3 Beam Me Up: Getting Into the Online World

This session provides a variety of perspectives on strategic decisions involved in bringing programs online.  Panelists represent schools that are big and small, public and private, and used online partners to varying degrees.  Learn about what they’re doing now and, more importantly, how they got there.

Lisa Abendroth, University of St. Thomas
Eric Douthirt, University of South Florida St. Petersburg
George Andrewss, Rice University
Jeanne Simmons, Marquette University

3.4 Crossing the Streams: Leveraging Engagement Across MBA Platforms and the University Community

Engaging students in PMBA and O-MBA programs is sometimes challenging. By collaborating across platforms, university colleges, and the broader community, a school can expand the opportunities for success. Examples to maximize these synergies include leveraging international trips, Student Associations, and networking opportunities across platforms. Collaboration can occur not only within the b-school, but across the campus.  For example, b-schools can win recognition on campus or find support for their contributions to community engagement efforts, such as contributing to the attainment of the Carnegie Engaged Campus classification or receiving faculty grants.

Pamela Jorden, University of Arizona
Crystal Adams, University of Arizona
Deborah Cours, California State University Northridge
Deborah Heisley, California State University Northridge

Convenience Break prior to bus departure

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

Closing Remarks & 26th Annual Professional MBA Host Announcement

Monica Powell, The University of Texas at Dallas

Davidson Gundy Alumni Center
Ballroom

Buffet and To-Go Boxed Lunches for Attendees

Buses depart for DoubleTree Hotel Dallas-Richardson