Setting High EMBA Standards at Home and Abroad Avoiding the MBA-Lite Reputation

Transcription

1 Setting High EMBA Standards at Home and Abroad Avoiding the MBA-Lite Reputation Toronto EMBA Conference Oct 21-24, 2007 Professor Baizhu Chen, Academic Director Professor Larry Greiner, Founding Academic Director Global EMBA Program in Shanghai, Marshall School University of Southern California

2 Business Week The Drive Thru MBA

3 How Serious is the Problem? Generic inherent attributes of EMBA programs make them appear Lite Drive Thru programs entering the market to compete on price and lower standards Lite standards feed impression of many executives who believe quality of EMBA programs aren t up to regular MBA programs Growing international market and distance makes it hard to control and set standards with programs abroad Revenue pressures on business schools bring us some profit Creeping Lite happens to even well-established programs We don t talk about standards how serious are we about them?

4 Generic Characteristics of EMBA Programs Can Easily Make Them Susceptible to Lite Reputation Weekends and evenings for less than 24 months You can work while earning an MBA degree Students owe their allegiance to jobs and families, not school The same MBA degree awarded for several graduate programs; some shorter than others Less expensive than a full-time MBA program Result: We are all vulnerable!

5 Drive Thru Characteristics Can Also Produce Spillover Negative Effects Admitting people who are too young or aren t working and don t measure up as executives --the unemployed consultant Admitting non-college degrees Short programs and short days Light workload and easy grades Several internet courses Lax standards for attendance, etc. Low number of class teaching contact hours (e.g. below 500)

6 Abroad EMBA Programs Are Even Acquiring Some Drive Thru Characteristics Examples from our past experience or what we know about other programs: Program treated as cash cow = reluctance to set and enforce standards Class time allocated to preparation and reading=less contact hours Secretary attends class to take notes for boss Partner wants a large stake in teaching and control over admits and grades Only one culture in class gives students power over faculty

7 Low Standards Can Also Creep into Well-Established Programs Large number of part-time faculty Tolerating poor teachers the best go to the full-time program Lack of policies and enforcement on: Attendance Participation Integrity and cheating Due dates Grade targets and probation Lack of consistency across faculty on policies and enforcement Failure to make students responsible for policing themselves Little overall program management for academic quality

8 Creeping Lite Standards into USC EMBA Programs We already had heavy workload. experienced senior faculty, management structure, integrated curriculum, academic director thought that was enough, plus having mature students. But in initial classes we encountered: Students arriving late and returning late from breaks Students surfing the web and doing during class Students leaving class to make cell calls Late papers Students receiving materials/past quizzes from second year students Students expecting to be excused for business trips asking faculty for permission and make-up work Faculty not wanting to serve as policemen and the staff wanting to be liked by the students Contagion effect = if a few get away with it, others will follow

9 What We Did About Creeping Lite? Written policies announced first day of class and handed out ---tough, strong standards covering lots of issues---faculty know and agree from planning meetings (see next slides) Comments by Faculty: You are products, not customers to be served Whining is unprofessional always have a constructive solution No make up work ---you check with classmates on what you missed Ask students to manage themselves and others: Sign in and sign out sheets each class day Run regular PUB sessions (in class and social)---in class: turn around and talk with neighbors about concerns and suggestions faculty there to hear. Social: adjourn to faculty club No student government---don t want intermediary between faculty and the students Formed consistent grading policies across the faculty Grade target of B+ average, need B to graduate Faculty grade their own papers Give written feedback to students Faculty jointly determine a theme grade for all graded themes Put students on probation when they fall below B average. Probation letters Review at end of 1 st year and ask low performers to leave program Continuous Follow-up some don t get the message

10 Case Example from USC: Faculty Policies, Standards and Expectations Same policies apply across all three of our programs in Los Angeles, San Diego and Shanghai Attendance Classroom Conduct Laptop Use Preparation and Participation Evaluation and Grading Recording classes Integrity

11 Attendance Classroom Conduct Classroom is center for learning; attendance is required at all sessions and international trips. No exceptions for business reasons Attendance is also required at all non-classroom events, such as field trips, PUB sessions, dinners, etc. Be on time for all classes and events--return from breaks and lunch on time Do not leave class during class -- it is rude and disruptive - use breaks and lunch for business calls and restrooms Attendance is taken each class daysign in and sign out. Staff monitors Severe grade penalties are given for missing a class. Make-up work is not given Cell phones off in class Whining and complaining are unprofessional. Speak-up and offer constructive suggestions - use PUB sessions faculty will listen If you anticipate missing a class, notify the Academic Director immediately and also the Shanghai Program Director We depend on self-discipline and peer-pressure from the class

12 Laptop Use Preparation and Participation Required for all students - useful for class exercises, note-taking, projects, study groups and travel communication Preparation and active participation in class helps everyone to learn through sharing different ideas and experience Unplugged from internet during class unless instructor wants to use net for class exercise Participation leads to development of managerial skills of persuasion and influence Use for personal purposes only during breaks or at lunch OK for note-taking during a lecture - - but please close screen during case discussions Participation is not frequency of talking -- but it involves quality contributions and building on others Random short in-class quizzes given to assure preparation Faculty vary in how they evaluate participation in grading-- Theme III faculty give joint participation grade

13 Evaluation and Grading Recording Policy Receive single grade for each theme made up of marks from each professor 3.00 gpa is required to graduate on probation if you fall below Exams and papers are usually due within 3 weeks after end of each theme Exams and papers must be turned in by due date or grade penalty Intellectual property is a sensitive issue these days because of ease of digital transmission Please ask faculty member in advance to record any lectures Recordings and slides should be shared only with class participants

14 Integrity Helping each other is the norm -- except when instructed to do individual work on exams and papers Destroy any material (lecture notes, exams, projects) received from past students Sign Integrity Statement and live by it! Violators will receive a failing grade and possible expulsion

15 Sharing Expectations Exercise in Initial Week We go away for the first week to assure strong community and to demonstrate our faculty standards. On second day: Students meet in small teams after faculty give their policies and expectations Teams make presentations with all faculty present: What are our goals in program? What do we expect from the faculty? What do we expect from our colleagues?

16 Issues Encountered Abroad (USC Shanghai Global EMBA program example) Partner Involvement USC controls curriculum, faculty, grading and degree we share revenue and they learn from us and give certificate Admissions: English no Toefl or GMAT (solution =must interview everyone) Applicants too young, lacking managerial experience--- (solution = raise average age to 38) Admitting people not working (solution = stop) Classroom: Students organize a class president and council (solution = it is just for entertainment and suggestions, no decisions) Want to change daily schedule let s take 2 hours for lunch to do business (solution = survey-no support) Can I come late to L.A. I have business meeting? (solution = no, but they will change or drop out) Some not showing up for field trip (solution = announce policy where everyone expected to show up for non-class events) Want to vote on international trip let s go to Dubai (solution = survey) Lack of preparation (solution = random quizzes) Can t let issues fester-have to get on top quickly High standards helps to attract good students (4 th class with over 60 managers from 14 countries) 14 Countries a big help---local culture doesn t gang up as a block

17 So What s Our Advice for Programs and EMBA Council (and all of us)? For Programs: Appoint an Academic Director---full time respected professor Get the faculty to assess and set standards in your program every program is different Share standards experience across programs State standards clearly and in writing Announce first day continue to enforce and manage Don t copy characteristics of the really lite programs Get the students to police themselves, rather than the faculty/staff? Don t expect high standards if your goal is to make $ and up the numbers--causes standards to slide For EMBA Council (and all of us): Advocate high standards for EMBA programs, not accreditation Conduct major PR campaign to convince companies and managers on the value of EMBA and that they have high standards Nothing so good as high standards to gain reputation and attract high quality students

18 Discussion Starters How serious is the problem? Do you agree? What have been your standards issues? What are some examples of standard setting you have used? Should EMBA Council come out and advocate high standards, and even specify some? Not accreditation. What is min # of teacher contact hours? (500 hours?) What should be the minimum work experience of students? (7 years?) Does the program have an Academic Director? Does the program have written policies on attendance, grading, etc? What is number of tenure track faculty (over 60%?) Should EMBA Council conduct PR campaign on the unique nature of EMBA and how it is different from regular MBA---article on exemplars?