Valparaiso University - College of Business Administration

Valparaiso University College of Business offers “strong academic programs with an emphasis on values-based leadership and sustainability,” thereby creating MBAs who are “well-equipped to be the leaders of the future green economy,” students report. It’s a big deal; Valpo’s “commitment to moral and ethical standing” is frequently cited by students when asked to explain why they chose to attend this northwest Indiana university. Convenience, especially for the part-time students who make up about 36 percent of the MBA student body, is another factor. Valpo offers evening classes with the ability to attend remotely anf through which live on-campus classes are broadcast over the Internet (allowing those remote students to participate in class). Valpo’s online software also allows students to collaborate on group projects remotely.

Valpo’s MBA program is small and relatively new. It is also innovative, particularly in its scheduling. Valpo’s eight-week bloc system creates six different entry dates during the academic year and allows a pick-and-choose approach that accommodates both fast-trackers and those who need take a little more time to complete the degree. The Valpo MBA entails eight core courses and four elective, or “enhancement” courses; the latter run the gamut from finance to management to e-commerce. Students who lack adequate undergraduate training in business can complete a series of foundational courses in addition to their core and enhancement work.

The small size of the MBA program and a “low student-to-professor ratio” mean plenty of “individual attention from professors,” which students appreciate. “Access to mentors and extra projects is excellent” here, and students report that “it’s easy to get into the classes you want” (although class selection, due to the size of the program, is limited). Professors bring “real-world experience” to the classroom to “provide real-world examples that we can immediately implement at work.” Administrators are “constantly looking to improve the available programs. They seek student input [on] topics [ranging from]…new courses offered to the overall strategic plan of the university.”

Valpo’s MBA program has been in existence since 2001. Students admit that “the word has not spread about Valpo,” and the business community is just beginning to catch on to this new source of talented recruits. However, with the power of the Valparaiso name behind it and the strength of the MBA curriculum, students know it’s just a matter of time before their program begins to draw its rightful share of attention from recruiters.

Many Valpo students are already employed when they begin their MBA and plan to continue at their current companies after graduation. However, those who are looking for new positions have access to the Valparaiso University Career Center. The Career Center serves the school’s graduate and undergraduate community and offers a variety of professional development workshops and career counseling, campus career fairs, and a job search database.

Valpo MBAs are primarily part-time students. Part-timers range from twenty-two to fifty-five years old and have, on average, almost ten years of professional experience coming into the program. They typically “exhibit strong leadership skills with an emphasis on integrity, fairness, honesty and trust.” Full-timers tend to be younger and less experienced. International students make up 1 percent of the part-time student body and 8 percent of the full-time population.

On campus, there are athletic events and multicultural events weekly for our enjoy- ment,” and the program “encourages interaction with fellow students outside the class- room throughout the week.” For those seeking big city entertainment, Chicago is only fifty miles to the northwest—you can’t get much more “big city” than that! On the other hand, part-timers are typically too busy for any of that.