Top US Business Schools Share Their 2019 New Year Resolutions

2018 saw record numbers of visitors to QS websites and events considering the US as their top study destination. With those numbers expected to grow further in 2019, US schools are preparing for another year of innovation and new program launches.

Aled Owens talked to key leaders from US MBA and master’s programs about their school’s 2019 New Year’s Resolutions:

Carnegie Mellon Tepper School of Business: Kari Calvario, Director, Masters Admissions

Our New Year’s resolution is to welcome our first class into our newly relaunched, highly flexible and very dynamic Part-Time Flex MBA Program.

In addition to our top-ranked full-time and part-time online MBA programs, the Tepper School is excited to welcome our recently relaunched Part-Time Flex MBA program. This is the MBA for the future of Pittsburgh.

With the core curriculum online, Access Weekends on campus in Pittsburgh every six weeks, and a choice of online or in-person electives, we like to think of this program as the best of both worlds – a top-ranked MBA in Pittsburghers’ backyards that is delivered in a way that works for our students’ busy lifestyles.

Find out more

Simon Graduate School of Business, University of Rochester: Rebekah Lewin, Assistant Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid

Simon Business School recently became the only MBA program in the US to offer a STEM-designated option for all specializations. This signals quantitative rigor to employers who are eager to hire leaders with expertise in managing data and analytics across many industries and functions, while also allowing international students to work in the US for up to 36 months on a student visa if hired in a STEM-eligible role.

Our recent curriculum innovation tailors students’ coursework and co-curricular activities to align with their career goals and ensure our MBA students are prepared to immediately add value in their new roles.

Find out more

UCI Paul Merage School of Business: Jon B. Kaplan, Assistant Dean, MBA and Specialty Masters Programs

We are excited to welcome our initial Master’s of Innovation and Entrepreneurship class, and our resolution is to deliver the first of its kind in the UC System.

The UCI Master of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (MIE) will be the only program of its kind in the UC System, and will provide extensive integrated and immersive academic and practical experience for students looking to embark on careers as entrepreneurs (innovating to form new companies) and intrapreneurs (innovating within existing companies).

The program will provide students with knowledge on core topics on the process of innovation and entrepreneurship, including identifying new venture opportunities through lean startup methodology, developing a business model, preparing a business plan, assembling a team, raising the necessary financing including venture capital, and launching a new business.

It will also be rich in experiential learning opportunities within the UC Irvine entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Find out more

Gies College of Business - University of Illinois: Jennifer Larson, Director, Recruitment and Admissions

Our resolution is to successfully offer three STEM-designated specialized master’s degrees.

STEM degrees are in high demand in the US and globally, so we now have three specialized master’s programs that are STEM-designated. These programs provide a new level of technical and science-based study to our curriculum which is taught by our world-class faculty.

They include Master of Science in Accountancy, Master of Science in Finance and Master of Science in Technology Management.

Find out more

University of Miami School of Business: Joseph Cosials, Associate Director

Our resolution is to successfully introduce our new program, as the US partner in the global five-school MBA consortium, known as OneMBA.

The OneMBA starts Fall 2019 and is the only global executive MBA delivered in partnership by five premier international business schools. Professors from all schools and international practitioners provide a framework for understanding the global business environment and management challenges specific to doing business in Europe, Asia and the Americas.

OneMBA participants develop the skills to lead international organizations, with an emphasis on working with multicultural teams.

Find out more

American University’s Kogod School of Business: Wendy Boland, Associate Dean of Programs and Learning

We will give Kogod students exclusive access to hundreds of startups where they can learn, practice, and do.

At Kogod, we believe in learning by doing. Therefore, in 2019, we plan to give Kogod students an exclusive opportunity to work with a variety of local startups, where they will practice the many skills they learn in school while making long-lasting relationships with entrepreneurs and professionals in their fields of interest.

Find out more

Rady School of Management – UC San Diego: Jay Bryant, Director of Admissions

Our resolution is to bring in a class that mirrors California’s innovative and diverse population.

California has a very rich tradition of bringing diverse people together in one place to create the technologies and services of the future.  The Rady School is dedicated to find a class that represents our unique state and community. 

Innovation is the cornerstone of all we do at the Rady School and therefore we are always on the lookout for future business leaders that want to create new value in the world.

Find out more

Olin Business School, Washington University in St. Louis: Ruthie Pyles, Assistant Dean and Director of Graduate Admissions and Financial Aid

Our resolution is that Olin will be unmatched in preparing students to make a world of difference, for good.

WashU Olin is dedicated to preparing students who can make better business decisions through a values-based, data-driven approach to leadership. They’re prepared to make a “world of difference” through the first-of-its-kind, ‘round-the-world global immersion Olin’s MBA class of ’21 begins this summer.

We’re equipping students to know not only which problems require attention, but which solutions will do the most good.

Find out more

Eller College of Management, University of Arizona: Shyam Sunder, Associate Dean

We will fill the Technology Leadership Program (TLP) with a diverse class of highly engaged students on a career path to be the future CIO’s of the Fortune 500.

The TLP is a dual degree program where students earn a master’s in MIS and MBA in five semesters. Eller is looking to expand this program with a diverse class of motivated leaders. Our dean has made available 100 percent funding of tuition and fees to applicants admitted to this unique program.

Find out more

Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business: The MBA program team

Scheller resolves to further capitalize on Georgia Tech’s Tech Square resources by launching a new program called Innovation Fellows in which select MBA students will be placed in corporate innovation centers located at Tech Square for a two-semester internship where they will be assigned “live” projects.

We are looking to further our partnerships with different companies in Tech Square to provide real-world experience for our MBA students. Illustrative examples of Innovation Fellows projects will be new product/service prototyping and assessment, operations analysis, product redesign, and automation.

Find out more

Georgetown University, McDonough School of Business: Prashant Malaviya, Senior Associate Dean, MBA Programs

Our New Year's resolution is to continue providing an education that develops the whole person.

Education of future business leaders is not just about imparting knowledge. It is also about developing relevant skills for the future of work and life. But most importantly, the future demands that education be about developing mindsets that address the social challenges of tomorrow with purpose, with principles and with inclusion of global citizens.

Read what other top US business schools had to say about their new year's resolutions