5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 LAUNCH!!!!!!

Our new website was launched late yesterday afternoon. Please check it out and let me know what you think. The link is to the right (gsb.uark.edu). We do still have some corrections to make and we will be doing some minor tweaking as we get feedback.

This was a major undertaking and it couldn't have been done without our Assistant Dean, Marion Dunagan, our Walton College Web master, Leonard Ridley, and our MBA grad assistant, Dave Alderson. I have to say I probably did more harm than good. I gave Dave the words and then he made them look good. My attempts at web design failed miserably. Graphic artist, I am not. This has made me appreciate all of those great websites out there. I was calling this a redesign. I learned at a conference last year that we actually did a tear down and build back up. This was no small task. I never realized how many pages we really do have.

Anyway, everything is up to date and all pretty and shiny. I am very proud of this new site. I think it will be much more attractive to our shopping students.

Be sure to tell me what you think at gsb@walton.uark.edu.

Part-time/Professional MIS

On my last post, I reviewed our part-time MBA program. The Walton College has a second part-time option that is perfect for full-time working professionals. Our part-time MIS, also known as our Professional MIS is a 30 hour program. Students take 6 hours each semester but only meet in class one night each week for 5 semesters. The program begins in August and students finish in May, less than two years later. Students are able to do a concentration in either Enterprise Systems or Enterprise Resource Planning.

The Walton College is the only business school in the world to use the following mix of large-scale Enterprise Systems in class:

IBM zSeries Mainframe Server
NCR Teradata Database Server
SAP Enterprise Resource Planning
Microsoft SQL Server and Business Intelligence Studio
Large-scale, real-world data sets from Sam's Club, Tyson Foods, and Walmart

This application deadline is March 15. However, we will accept applications throughout the summer.

Part-time/Managerial MBA

Let's talk about what an amazing opportunity our part-time MBA is. We call this program our Managerial MBA (MMBA). This program starts each August and students take six hours a semester for six semesters by attending class in Fayetteville only one Saturday each month. This program was designed for full-time working professionals (i.e. very busy people). If you are a very busy person, this is the program for you.

Application deadline is April 1. However, we do accept application through the summer. To see the application criteria, go to gsb.uark.edu. We do end up enrolling about half of our applicants. This is a competitive and selective program. The admissions committee pays most attention to test score (GMAT is preferred but we will accept GRE) and work experience.

We are located in Northwest Arkansas - home of Walmart, Tyson Foods, Inc., and JB Hunt. Over 300 Fortune 500 companies are located in our backyard. Because of this unique situation, we have many highly qualified applicants. Current students are with Walmart, Tyson, JB Hunt, ConAgra, Dr. Pepper Snapple, Welch's, Leggett & Platt, P&G, Kraft, Cargill, Nestle, Hershey, and many, many more.

The Walton College GSB is fairly small compared to other schools of Business. Our total population is about 300. Over half of this number are MBA students - both part and full-time. Each August our new MMBA class enrolls approximately 60. These classes are held in the new state-of-the art Willard J. Walker Hall. Check it out by going to the link on the right. Each class is videorecorded for the convenience of our students. You can watch these lectures over and over, as many times as is needed.

Since class is only held once a month, many students do attend this program who are not from Northwest Arkansas. In between these monthly face-to-face meetings, you will be working online - turning in assignments, taking quizzes, participating in discussions. The Walton College uses Blackboard as our web-based classroom enhancer.

You would be fortunate to be in the next MMBA class to start in fall 2009. AND, you do still have time to apply. Contact gsb@walton.uark.edu with questions.

Upcoming Visits

I wanted to share my upcoming recruiting trips. Today I visited Walmart's Information Systems Division in Bentonville. When I visit corporate locations, I am providing information about our two part-time programs: the Managerial MBA (MMBA) and the Professional MIS. These programs are designed for full-time working professionals and are completed in two years (MMBA ) or less (21 months-Professional MIS).

Next week I will be going to Oklahoma University on Monday, February 9 to participate in their Martin Luther King, Jr. Fair. On Tuesday the 10th I will be here at the fabulous Walton College at our career fair. I will take pictures to post. Thursday, February the 12th, I will be going to Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas.

If you are in Norman, OK or Pittsburg, KS, stop by and say HI.

Master of Accountancy Application Deadline Approaching

The next deadline that we will be dealing with here at the GSB is the March 1 application deadline for the Master of Accountancy.

The Walton College's Master of Accountancy (MAcc) is a two-semester, 30-hour program that begins in August. The admissions committee pays close attention to the GMAT score, GPA, Honors classes, extracurricular activities, and leadership roles. If an applicant scores 600+ on the GMAT and has a 3.2+ GPA, chances of admission are very good. Last year the department received approximately 60 applications and enrolled 30. If you complete the Walton College's MAcc, you are eligible to sit for the CPA exam in the state of Arkansas.

There are graduate assistantships (GA) available. Tuition is waived and a stipend of $2500 each semester is awarded in exchange for working 15 hours a week. All admitted students are automatically considered for a GA; no separate application is needed. The Accounting Department is also very fortunate to have several scholarship opportunities for the MAcc students. At the time a student receives their offer of admission, funding offers are included.

Be sure to submit all application materials by March 1 for full consideration for admission and funding.

Become Our Friend on Facebook

The Walton MBA has two facebook sites. Please visit and become a friend. These sites are managed by one of our MBA Ambassadors, Cameron Foster. This is a good place to get additional information and to talk to current students. The next deadline for MBA is April 1. This is the early decision deadline. Our next class does not begin until January 2010 but for those of you who are also considering other MBA programs that start in August, if you apply to the Walton MBA by April 1, you will have an admissions decision (along with funding offer) by May 1. This will allow you to be able to decide which program will be best for you. Be sure to keep an eye on the student blogs and email with questions - gsb@walton.uark.edu.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/profile.php?id=1496081803&ref=ts
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=34767058295&ref=ts

The University is Open for Business

The University of Arkansas is open and back in business today. There are still some parts of northwest Arkansas without power. My electricity came back on Saturday at noon. I was very glad. I have come to the realization (after 4 days without power) that I am just not a "roughing it" kind of girl. I am rather fond of hot showers and my hair dryer. My kids handled this experience much better than I did. They did not complain nearly as much as I did.

Applications are due for both the Master of Information Systems and the Master of Arts in Economics today. Since the University was closed four days last week, we will accept late applications.

The next application deadline is March 1 - Master of Accountancy.