2008 Woodie Awards
College of Business and Economics offers a new executive MBA program
BARRY FRANKLIN
Issue date: 3/1/07 Section: BizTech
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Last fall, the College of Business and Economics began offering an executive MBA program.
Kirk Smith, associate dean for the College of Business and Economics Graduate Studies and Executive Education said the program is designed for people who are a midlevel executive.
“These are people with at least six years of managerial experience … who have tremendous skill in a narrow area [such as] lawyers, engineers or scientists,” Smith said.
Participants meet once a month for an entire day over the course of two years.
They discuss situations involving conflict resolution, industry evolution, working with people from other cultures and problem solving.
Smith said the program’s main goal is to help people take their company to really exceptional places and to give previously experienced individuals the skills to rise through the ranks in their profession.
“We [are] able to pair people with an individual leadership coach, executive coach and communication coach and help them excel … it’s interactive and energetic,” Smith said.
The College of Business and Economics developed the executive masters program with about 25 businesses in the area possessing an integrated interest.
The eight businesses most involved include: Albertson’s Inc., IDACORP Inc., J.R. Simplot Company, Smokey Mountain Pizza and Pasta, Hewlett-Packard, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Micron Technology and Woodgrain Millwork.
Smith said the program is the first and only one of its kind in Idaho and one of fewer than 100 in the United States.
“This is diametrically opposite to a lecture type situation,” Smith said. “People who complete this program typically do well.”
Cheryl Maille and Patrick Coyne work closely with the participants in the executive MBA program.
“We help to guide faculty as well as make sure it all comes off seamlessly,” Maille said.
Coyne went through the regular MBA program at Boise State and now is the Program Manager of the College of Business and Economics Executive Education. He said he has sees a very different situation in the executive program.
“It is much different, really interesting to see this unfolding and what they go through,” Coyne said.
Maille said the rigorousness of the program adds a whole new level of stress to the participants.
They often have families and are already working high stress jobs, she said.
Maille said the program comes to $38,000 but the sum is all -
inclusive.
Coyne said the executive MBA is a generalized, well-rounded degree with a focus on business areas.
“What they really need is a wide verity of knowledge,” Coyne said.
Smith said students who graduate with an undergraduate degree, step into the work place and feel a position as president or vice president is possible are perfect candidates for the new MBA program.
“We only let about 28 people into the group,” Smith said. “This is not MBA light, this is a big deal for people who already have big jobs.”
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