MBA program on hold until Millersville can achieve AACSB standards

On March 27, a news release was made available which explained Millersville University’s recent decision to forgo the accepting of applications to the MBA (master of business administration) program.

In the release, Dr. Vilas A. Prabhu, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, was quoted as saying, “because of the current severe economic situation and the University’s limited resources, [the University has] decided to devote [its] time and resources to the undergraduate program.”

Adding, “the limited resources will necessitate the suspension of applications for the master of business administration (MBA) degree program until such time that economic conditions allow us to allocate resources to upgrade the MBA program to achieve AACSB standards.”

Three years ago, before the recent economic recession, PASSHE mandated that all 14 state system universities of Pennsylvania comply with AACSB (the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) accreditation for their business administration programs.

Some schools have already made that shift—for example, West Chester and Shippensburg—but Millersville hasn’t.

Millersville University’s business administration programs are currently accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).

During this shift, the MBA programs will continue with its ACBSP accreditation as it seeks AACSB accreditation. Prabhu expressed that students wonder now if their degrees are going to be valid. He insists that they will.

Only, they are not recognized by PASSHE any longer.

Considered a gold-standard accreditation, however, the AACSB accreditation “represents the highest standard of achievement for business schools, worldwide,” the AACSB website states.

The AACSB accreditation process takes anywhere between five to seven years to complete, the majority of the years being “candidacy” years, where the university is constantly observed and steps are taken to ensure the institution’s continued compliance with AACSB standards.

MU has just begun their application process. And they want all current MBA students to complete their degrees by 2012, while, in the meantime, as of the March 27 news release, MU has ceased to accept any further applications to its MBA program.

MU will, instead, focus what seems to be dwindling resources upon the undergraduate business administration program—home to 850 students, compared to the 45 students currently enrolled in the MBA program.

However, as can be noticed, the 2012 deadline gives those who have just enrolled in the MBA program less than three years to satisfy the degree requirements of the program, placing a bit of a squeeze on them.

It also places some pressure upon those in the middle of their program.

Dr. Victor S. DeSantis, dean of graduate studies and research, said Friday morning that MU is “actively working with matriculating MBA students on an individual basis to determine the courses they need and scheduling MBA courses to match those needs.”

DeSantis, as well as Prabhu insisted that on the morning of April 3, MU will find some way to make sure those entering the MBA program can graduate as well as fulfill all degree requirements before 2012.

According to the MU MBA website (http://www.millersville.edu/~theMBA/degreq.php), a business administration degree can be completed in as little as 14 months (a little over one year)—assuming the respective students are full-time students with no prerequisite coursework.

Full-time students must take four courses per semester (must pass each of those course with at least a “B” average) and do so directly after graduating from their undergraduate program, enrolling in the immediate summer session.

“Thus, the time required to complete the program could be as short as 14 months or as long as five years,” the website concludes.

Upon whether there would be any specific actions or programs utilized in order to ensure that all currently enrolled candidates for the MBA programs, full-time or not, are able to achieve their degrees, DeSantis offered some possibilities.

“We will be assisting those students, as needed, to identify other MBA programs that would allow them to take courses to transfer back to MU.  We will also offer independent study options in certain instances,” DeSantis explained.

Dr. J. Douglas Frazer, professor of accounting in the department of business administration, has been keeping a wide eye on this issue and worries that a good number of students will receive the short end of the stick, despite the administration’s musings.

“The undergraduate students will benefit, obviously. There are several students who are caught in the middle. They are in the MBA program already,” Frazer said.

The decision to stop accepting applications to the MBA program was made in order to cut the losses for both the students and the university.

In general, every department on campus will be receiving a mandatory 3 percent reduction in their operating budgets. The university as a whole faces a $1.67 million deficit. That deficit more than likely will be greater for next year’s budget.

MU had a decision between seeking AACSB accreditation for both programs—graduate and undergraduate business administration—the former having 850 students and the latter having 45 students. It chose to ensure the success of at least 800 undergraduate students a year for the next five to seven years rather than risking the failure of both programs because of insufficient resources.

“If they’re (MBA students) just entering, they would probably be better served to transfer. For example, if they’ve taken less than six credits…most institutions will transfer the credits. I’m not saying that coldly, but it would probably be better for them to cut their losses and find some other way to finish,” Frazer admitted.

He added that he doesn’t know what specific steps MU could take in order to secure certainty that all students will have the resources to complete their MBA program.

“Millersville is an excellent University. So, we’re not going to be the laggers,” Prabhu said.

“There are only five universities in the state system that have AACSB. There are another four that have already been approved for AACSB—that are going through the candidacy. That’s nine out of 14. We want to be there!” Prabhu exclaimed in conclusion with a smile of optimism and pride on his face.

Dr. William Darley, director of the MBA program, newly hired by MU specifically to seek out AACSB accreditation for both programs, was not responsive to inquiries.