School of Management
FAQ for MBA Suspension

Please contact Valentina Jimmerson, School of Management Administrative Manager, at valentina.jimmerson@uas.alaska.edu / 907-796-6202.

Yes.  The suspension of future admissions of the MBA program does not affect the quality of the program delivered.  The University of Alaska Southeast is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education.  This accreditation insures the credibility and value of the School of Management’s MBA program.   The School of Management’s quality faculty will continue to deliver a practical, relevant for Alaskans, convenient and accessible distance Master’s program.  The MBA Program will continue to meet your needs and offer courses over the next 3 years.  If you have any feedback or concerns, please contact Valentina Jimmerson,  School of Management Administrative Manager, at valentina.jimmerson@uas.alaska.edu / 907-796-6202.

As the School of Management seeks to be a center of excellence for undergraduate business and accounting degrees this strategic direction requires suspending admissions to the MBA program, effective immediately.  Our faculty and staff are committed to supporting the completion of students currently in the program over a three year period.

Two important factors contributed to this decision. First, in economic terms the University of Alaska system continues to focus on strategic reallocation of resources, investing in programmatic growth where a critical mass of university and external community resources exists. That critical mass is growing elsewhere in the university system where nationally-accredited MBA programs already exist. Moreover, there is growing interest statewide in an online Executive MBA that could meet needs across the State of Alaska. While details of this new initiative are not yet defined, it highlights the growing number of MBA program options available to Alaskans.

Second, our program review spotlighted growing demand for quality undergraduate business and accounting classes—both campus-based and online. The School of Management has talented faculty with exceptional expertise and experience in offering these courses and enrollments for Fall 2011 are reaching capacity.  Given this, UAS administration and faculty have decided to focus resources in the area of highest demand: quality undergraduate business and accounting degrees. The School of Management will also continue to offer a high quality Master’s degree in Public Administration along with the School’s associate degrees and certificates.

The School of Management will continue offering core and elective MBA courses over the next three years.  The 2013-2014 offerings will be made available as we have a better understanding of the demand during that academic year.  Core and elective course offerings will continue to be available in our web-delivered format. Those students currently admitted to the program—including those provisionally or fully admitted in Fall 2011—will have the opportunity to take core and elective courses that will enable them to graduate successfully.

Various electives will be offered as resources allow.

Your cohort and the cohort system will stay intact over the next 3 years of teaching.  Each continuing MBA student will be required to complete a Degree Plan.  Please contact Valentina Jimmerson, School of Management Administrative Manager, at valentina.jimmerson@uas.alaska.edu / 907-796-6202.

Please contact  Valentina Jimmerson, School of Management Administrative Manager, at valentina.jimmerson@uas.alaska.edu / 907-796-6202 to learn your current status in the MBA program.

Any student who wishes to withdraw from the program as a result of this news should do so in writing to the Interim Dean, School of Management, before September 15, 2011 for a full refund of fall 2011 tuition and fees, including the Admissions fee.  Students may withdraw after September 15, but a full refund is not guaranteed. Students who have not completed their admission process by the end of the fall 2011 semester will be removed from the program.

There are residency MBA program options available within the UA system and distance programs available outside the UA system.  Please contact  Valentina Jimmerson, School of Management Administrative Manager, at valentina.jimmerson@uas.alaska.edu / 907-796-6202 for more information.

Current MBA students are advised to continue with their cohort and complete the MBA program with UAS over the next two years.  Courses will continue to be offered each academic year by School of Management MBA faculty in the distance delivery format.
Students interested in transferring to a MBA program in the UA system are encouraged to contact UAA College of Business and Public Policy at (907) 786-4121 and UAF School of Management at (907) 474-7461.  Transfer policies for these graduate programs are listed below.

UAF Graduate Transfer Policy - Up to one-half of all graduate degree credits approved for a graduate program may be transferred from UAA and UAS. No more than one-third of approved program credits may be transferred from other accredited institutions outside the UA system. Transferred credits may not be used from a previously earned degree. A minimum B grade (3.0) is required in all graduate courses presented for transfer.

UAA Graduate Transfer Policy - Up to 9 semester credits not used toward any other degree (graduate or undergraduate) may be transferred to UAA from an accredited institution and counted toward a master’s degree. Acceptance of transfer credit toward program requirements is at the discretion of the individual program faculty. The Graduate School Dean or designee may allow credit earned at other universities within the UA system, excluding thesis credit and credits used toward another degree, to satisfy graduate program requirements, as long as at least 9 credits applicable to the student’s program are earned at UAA after acceptance into the program.