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Executive MBA Fits Busy SchedulesHeads turn and doors open for aspiring business executives these days when the letters "MBA" show up on their resume. Finding time to get a master's in business administration is not always easy, however, for busy people who want the degree but love their jobs so much they don't want to leave.
And that's where the executive MBA program at the Daytona Beach, Fla., campus of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University fits in. It was created to address the challenge, says Kellie Kelley, director of the university's Executive Management Institute, which oversees the executive MBA program.
Broader knowledge needed"Many pursue an MBA because it allows them to retool, or obtain tools in an area they were not originally trained in," Kelley says. "A person may have strong knowledge in their functional area, be it in manufacturing, marketing, operations, or as a pilot, but to reach higher levels in the company, an aspiring executive needs a broader understanding of all the functional areas in an organization."The Embry-Riddle executive MBA was designed to minimize disruption to a student's business life and personal life and still offer a degree in a reasonable amount of time, 13 months. There are six modules, each containing two weeks of pre-residency preparation -- accumulating and reviewing books and materials -- followed by a two-week residency at Embry-Riddle, followed by two weeks of post-residency work, including the completion of assignments. When students get to Daytona Beach for the two-week residency, they attend classes from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with breaks and a lunch hour included. They are enrolled in three master's-level courses that encompass advanced concepts combined with a specific focus on case studies from the aviation and aerospace industry. Embry-Riddle faculty are joined by guest lecturers who are recognized experts in the industry. "It's jam-packed," says James Buckalew, member of the first executive MBA contingent that started work in spring of 1999. He is manager of maintenance and engineering for Southwest Airlines in Dallas, Tex. "I wish we had more time in a day," Buckalew said. Guest speakers have included Peter Belobaba, associate professor of aeronautics and astronautics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Clinton Oster, professor of public and environmental affairs at Indiana University. Close to 80 percent of the work is accomplished in these sessions, Kelley says.
Intense, accelerated, focused"The students have responded well to the nontraditional structure of the program," Kelley says. "They like the idea that it is very intense, very accelerated, very focused.""They've done a great job designing it," says Brian Taggart, assistant maintenance officer for the aircraft fleet operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Tampa, Fla. "I like the group, the camaraderie, the studying until midnight." The executive MBA program was designed by business faculty and Abe Harraf, former chairman of the business administration department and presently dean of academics. Not many other institutions are trying this approach, Kelley says. "From the feedback we've had, students enjoy it," she says. "Initially, they were worried about the pace being too quick," Kelley says. "But after the first module was over, many of the students said they could not imagine doing it any other way." Taggart says the program is a good match for busy professionals like him who are deeply committed to their jobs. "I enjoy my job," he says. "I didn't want to attend school full time." Like many others seeking an executive MBA, Taggart enrolled to heighten his advancement and promotion potential. "Government jobs are highly competitive," he says. "Few people move up the chain without an advanced degree."
'It fits my travel schedule'Kelley says the executive MBA at Embry-Riddle was created with aviation professionals especially in mind. It was envisioned they would welcome the opportunity to fly into Daytona Beach International Airport, hop over to the campus for two weeks, and fly home again to complete the module."It fits my travel schedule," says Taggart, who is also a pilot for NOAA, but also works in the programs area to make sure NOAA's airplanes are being used properly. The idea of employees having executive MBAs fits right in with the federal government's ongoing effort to become more business-oriented, as well, Taggart says. "Accountability is ever more important these days, as financial controls grow tighter in government and employees must learn to make assets go further than before." Getting a more-rounded education in aviation was James Buckalew's reason for enrolling in Embry-Riddle's program. He is a licensed pilot who earned his B.S. in aviation maintenance management at Embry-Riddle nine years ago, as well as his airframe and powerplant certification. He wants to expand his knowledge of the airline industry and be a more valuable asset to Southwest Airlines. "I want to understand the business and economic end of the industry, not just the technical end," he says.
Student diversity is appealingThe eight students participating in this first executive MBA class at Embry-Riddle hail from all over the continental United States, plus one from London, England, and another from Kelvin, South Africa. All are executives or managers in their companies, and one, Taggart, is a commissioned officer in the NOAA corps.While on campus, they spend a lot of time in close quarters with each other, and most feel inspired by their interaction with faculty and fellow students. "The diversity of students, the class makeup, was appealing to me," says Joel Madden, flight test engineer for Sikorsky Aircraft in West Palm Beach, Fla. Cost of the program is $36,000, which Kelley says is in the mid-range for such degrees. The fee includes tuition, textbooks, cases, assigned readings, activity fees, and class materials. Application deadline for the next enrollment is Feb. 1, 2000. Application should be made to the Executive MBA Program, Executive Management Institute, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, 600 S. Clyde Morris Blvd., Daytona Beach, FL 32114-3900. For more information about the program, call 386-226-7946 or access http://www.erau.edu/0Universe/01/01ma-executivemba.html.
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