In the 1980s, the MBA was king and business schools were handing out graduate degrees with all the gusto of a bull market on a seemingly endless advance. However, when the stock market plunged in the mid-1980s, so did the demand for MBA graduates.
Following the market downturn in 1987, businesses began to trim their work forces; not even an expensive MBA degree from an Ivy League school could protect many middle managers from feeling the blow of the downsizing ax.The glut of MBA students, coupled with a lagging economy in the 1980s, has been replaced by a healthy economy and a new demand for general managers capable of assimilating quickly into the constantly changing business environment of the 1990s.
Sixty-one percent of graduate schools polled in a recent survey reported an increase in the number of applications they received for their graduate business programs. Not only are more people vying for places at business schools, but the faces of these individuals are also changing.
In addition to recent college graduates, seasoned professionals are returning to school to get their MBAs. Overwhelmingly, MBA graduates say participation in programs has helped their careers.
However, the traditional MBA program where an individual is a full-time student for two academic years, the first of which they are usually not allowed to work, is not a feasible option for these practicing professionals.
To address the demands of these working adults, many colleges and universities offer executive MBA programs. While the programs differ on many levels, they share a common purpose - to cater to working professionals who want to get an MBA and continue working at the same time.
Dwight Potter was 37 years old, happily married for 13 years with six children when he decided he wanted to return to school and get his MBA. Shortly after his new resolve, Potter was transferred to Milford, Beaver County.
Already a CPA and controller of Circle Four Farms in Milford, Potter wasn't looking for more money when he applied to MBA school, rather, he was looking for personal development and to improve his people skills.
"I was really looking for management-type skills, people management and leadership skills when I enrolled in the MBA program," said Potter.
To get the skills Potter felt were essential to being a more-effective manager, he commutes 165 miles, each way, to Brigham Young University's J. Willard and Alice Marriott School of Management in Provo every Tuesday and Thursday night.
"Its been hard, but it has definitely been worth it. I feel like I've gotten more than my money's worth. While I haven't graduated yet, I've been able to use many of the lessons I learned in the program in my position as controller," said Potter.
Potter is one of several hundred working professionals in Utah juggling the demands of a full-time career and being a part-time MBA student.
In addition to BYU, the University of Utah at its main campus, University of Phoenix at its Murray and Provo campuses, Utah State in Logan, Ogden and Orem and Westminster College in Salt Lake City offer executive MBA programs, commonly referred to as EMBA programs.
BYU staggers class admissions between its Salt Lake center and the Provo campus each year. For example, when one class begins in Provo in 1998, a new class will start in Salt Lake City in 1999. Students attend all of their classes at the campus they originally enroll in.
Program structure
While the cirriculum at each of these schools is relatively the same, the administration and structure of these programs vary.
Professionals who are accepted into the BYU and University of Utah executive MBA programs are placed in a lock-step program, while Westminster College and University of Phoenix students can take classes in a more-traditional way, choosing among class offerings.
Only Utah State offers both the lock-step and more traditional program. The lock-step program is offered in Orem at Utah Valley State College. The more-traditional program is offered at the main campus in Logan and in Ogden at the Weber State University campus.
In a lock-step program, a set number of students comprise a class. Members of the class begin the program together, typically in the fall, and they graduate together. During this program, students must take an assigned number of classes in a set period of time.
"Our EMBA students go to class every Tuesday and Thursday night for two full calendar years, each class runs for three hours. In this program, you start and end on a schedule," said Gil Bertelson, executive MBA program administrator at BYU.
At the University of Utah, EMBA students go to class two nights a week for 21 months. "They alternate every Friday and Saturday. So a student would go to class from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday one week and then from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday the next week," said Dave Duncan, executive MBA program director at the University of Utah.
Both schools note that lock-step programs are effective because they foster teamwork and a heightened level of camaraderie. The students enroll together and graduate together.
There is also no chance for dallying in a lock-step program. "At some schools, students take up to six years to get their degree. In this program, you finish in two years and you get your MBA," said Bertelson.
Some professionals, however, want the option of taking an extended period of time to complete their degree. "The University of Utah and Brigham Young University both have a canned program, you do this now, and then that, and then this. Westminster College offered a lot more flexibility. Their program targets the nontraditional, professional student," said Vicki van der Have, 44-year-old director of consulting services at the Utah League of Credit Unions and a current MBA student at Westminster College.
The flexibility that van der Have found at Westminster College is centered around its more traditional class schedule. At Westminster College and the University of Phoenix, EMBA students can take as many or as few classes as they want during an academic cycle.
"We have three semesters and students can enter during any semester. Our program is very flexible, students take classes that fit into their personal and professional schedules," said Jerry VanOs, MBA director at Westminster College.
Created in 1976, the University of Phoenix's MBA program was designed specifically for working professionals. "We don't call this an EMBA because all we do is service adults already established in their careers. We have continuous enrollment where students take one course for six weeks; each class is approximately four hours long," said Craig Swenson, regional vice president and Utah campus director for the University of Phoenix.
Trends
Changes are not only occurring in the age and status of people pursuing an MBA but also in the academic background of EMBA students.
"There are a lot more people with technical backgrounds enrolling in our program," said VanOs. For many engineers, programmers and other technical support staff, just doing their job is no longer enough to reach high-level management positions.
"As Utah continues to grow into a mini Silicon Valley, technicians will need to develop their management skills in order to move up in their careers," said Gary McKinnin, MBA program director at BYU.
Techno-wizards aren't the only new professionals deciding to get an MBA. Both Duncan and McKinnin have seen more doctors and nurses pursuing MBA degrees.
"Some nurses are being entrusted to manage million-dollar accounts; more and more of them are coming to business school to help teach them how to manage these funds," said McKinnin.
Effectiveness
For many professionals, the personal, financial and emotional investment involved with pursuing an MBA has been well worth the sacrifice.
"I was married and had two kids when I went back to school to get my MBA. In addition to my academic commitments, I was also working in the hotel business putting in 12-hour days," said Dean Reeder, director of Division of Travel Development for the state of Utah.
Reeder admits that the stress of his job and his school work presented a challenging situation to his young family.
After graduating from the University of Utah's EMBA program in 1987, Reeder almost immediately had an opportunity to utilize the skills he was taught as an MBA student.
"The lessons I learned in the EMBA program helped me resurrect a bankrupt resort in southern Utah . . . it was a fabulous experience. I couldn't have done it without getting an MBA,"said Reeder.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Executive MBA programs
PROGRAM LENGTH: Brigham Young University (Provo, Salt Lake City): 2 years
University of Utah (Salt Lake City): 21 months
Westminster College (Salt Lake City): Varies for each student. They have up to 6 years to complete the program. Most do it in 2-3 years.
University of Phoenix (Murray, Provo): 26 months
Utah State University (Logan, Orem, Ogden): Depends on which campus the students go to. The UVSC campus employs a lock-step program. It is 2 years in length. At the Ogden and Logan campus program length varies; students have up to 8 years to complete their course work.
TIME COMMITMENT:
Brigham Young University (Provo, Salt Lake City): 3 hours of class Tuesday and Thursday nights; total of 6 hrs/week.
University of Utah (Salt Lake City): One day a week from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Alternate between Fridays and Saturdays.
Westminster College (Salt Lake City): Students make their own schedule. The majority of students take 2 night classes a week. Each class is 3 hours.
University of Phoenix (Murray, Provo): One night a week for 4 hours. There is a task team that each student is assigned to. They set their own meeting times. Some meet electronically, after class, at each others homes, etc.
Utah State University (Logan, Orem, Ogden): At UVSC, students meet Friday 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. - noon. At the other campuses classes are often offered Monday - Friday.
AVERAGE CLASS SIZE:
Brigham Young University (Provo, Salt Lake City): 60
University of Utah (Salt Lake City): 35
Westminster College (Salt Lake City): 17
University of Phoenix (Murray, Provo): 15
Utah State University (Logan, Orem, Ogden): 25
AVERAGE YEARS OF WORK EXPERIENCE:
Brigham Young University (Provo, Salt Lake City): 8 years
University of Utah (Salt Lake City): 10-12 Westminster College (Salt Lake City): 7 years
University of Phoenix (Murray, Provo): 12 years
Utah State University (Logan, Orem, Ogden): 10 years
AVERAGE GMAT:
Brigham Young University (Provo, Salt Lake City): 621
University of Utah (Salt Lake City): 560
Westminster College (Salt Lake City): The GMAT is only required if students have less than 3 years of full-time, professional work experience. The average score of those in this category is 550
University of Phoenix (Murray, Provo): No GMAT is required. However, students must have 3 years of significant work experience
Utah State University (Logan, Orem, Ogden): 570
TAUGHT BY:
Brigham Young University (Provo, Salt Lake City): Full-time professors
University of Utah (Salt Lake City): Full-time professors
Westminster College (Salt Lake City): 70% are full-time professors, 30% are business practioners
University of Phoenix (Murray, Provo): Taught by professionals working in a field, i.e., upper-level managers, Accountants, etc.
Utah State University (Logan, Orem, Ogden): Full-time professors
COSTS:
Brigham Young University (Provo, Salt Lake City): $20,140; price includes all school costs for two years: books, written materials, two-week international excursions
University of Utah (Salt Lake City): $19,750; includes entire program cost for 21 months: books, tuition and trip.
Westminster College (Salt Lake City): $16,400 - $24,500; price depends on whether or not students need to take business foundations courses.
University of Phoenix (Murray, Provo): $12,300; includes tuition for 26 months. Books, fees and other materials are not included.
Utah State University (Logan, Orem, Ogden): Varies. Call for details.
ARE THERE SPECIALIZATIONS?:
Brigham Young University (Provo, Salt Lake City): No.
University of Utah (Salt Lake City): There are specializations, but students are not part of the program. If a student wants to pursue one the length of his program would be greater.
Westminster College (Salt Lake City): Accounting, business communications, health-care administration, finance, international business, marketing, management information systems, human resource and organizational deveopment.
University of Phoenix (Murray, Provo): Technology management
Utah State University (Logan, Orem, Ogden): Accounting, offered at the UVSC campus
GENDER COMPOSITIONS:
Brigham Young University (Provo, Salt Lake City): W 15%, M 85%
University of Utah (Salt Lake City): W 15%, M 85%
Westminster College (Salt Lake City): W 15%, M 85%
University of Phoenix (Murray, Provo): W 45%, M 55%
Utah State University (Logan, Orem, Ogden): W 40%, M 60%
ETHNIC FOREIGN COMPOSITION:
Brigham Young University (Provo, Salt Lake City): 5% - 8%
University of Utah (Salt Lake City): 5% - 6%
Westminster College (Salt Lake City): 5% - 6%
University of Phoenix (Murray, Provo): No data
Utah State University (Logan, Orem, Ogden): No data
AVERAGE AGE OF STUDENT:
Brigham Young University (Provo, Salt Lake City): 33
University of Utah (Salt Lake City): 32-33
Westminster College (Salt Lake City): 32-33
University of Phoenix (Murray, Provo): 35
Utah State University (Logan, Orem, Ogden): 30
BUSINESS TRIP:
Brigham Young University (Provo, Salt Lake City): Two-week international excursion 3 months before graduation.
University of Utah (Salt Lake City): 10 - 12 day international trip at the end of the program.
Westminster College (Salt Lake City): None
University of Phoenix (Murray, Provo): None
Utah State University (Logan, Orem, Ogden): None
PHONE NUMBER:
Brigham Young University (Provo, Salt Lake City): 378-3500
University of Utah (Salt Lake City): 581-5577
Westminster College (Salt Lake City): 488-4294
University of Phoenix (Murray, Provo): 263-1444
Utah State University (Logan, Orem, Ogden): 797-2360