Atlanta — April 19, 2000

Starting this fall, qualified students will be able to earn a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree online through a consortium of five University System of Georgia institutions spread throughout the state.

Named “WebMBA” by its developers, the advanced degree program is targeted to working professionals who may not be able to participate in a traditional on-campus MBA program. The University System Board of Regents approved the new program at its April meeting, held yesterday and today at Georgia State University.

The WebMBA consortium includes Georgia College & State University, Georgia Southern University, Kennesaw State University, the State University of West Georgia, and Valdosta State University. All of these institutions currently offer MBA programs accredited by the organization formerly known as the Association of Accredited Colleges and Schools of Business, now known as the International Association For Management Education. Individuals interested in applying for admission to the new program can learn more by going to the website: http://www.webmbaonline.org/

Dr. Beheruz Sethna, interim senior vice chancellor for academic affairs with the University System of Georgia, announced the new program, citing it as a collaborative model among system institutions. “This new WebMBA Program is a product of the Board of Regents’ technology study, which was aimed at broadening access to higher education opportunities through the innovative use of information technology,” Sethna said. “This on-line degree meets a very real need in Georgia, and has positive implications for developing Georgia’s management talent for the 21st Century economy.” While first preference will be given to qualified Georgia students, participation in the WebMBA program is open to anyone, anywhere in the country. Individuals who are interested in the WebMBA program first must be accepted as a MBA student in one of the five consortium institutions and meet the requirements of that institution for enrollment. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will receive a diploma from the institution in which they are enrolled.

The WebMBA will consist of 30 semester hours (eight required and two elective courses). All WebMBA students will attend a two-day orientation program to learn WebCT, the program’s computing platform. Students may need to go to an authorized testing center in their area for on-going exams. Otherwise all instruction will be online.

The initial Fall 2000 WebMBA class will be limited to 30 students, six from each participating institution. Individuals interested in the program will be required to submit an application to any one of the five consortium institutions along with a letter outlining why they should be considered.

Pilot tuition rates have been established for the program, at $250 per credit hour for in-state students and $1,000 per credit hour for out-of-state students.

The new degree is expected to increase access to MBA programs offered by the University System of Georgia throughout the state. Currently, ten University System of Georgia institutions offer 11 traditional and/or executive MBA degrees. They include:

• Albany State University,
• Augusta State University,
• Columbus State University,
• Georgia College & State University,
• Georgia Southern University,
• Georgia State University,
• Kennesaw State University,
• The State University of West Georgia,
• The University of Georgia, and
• Valdosta State University.

In the 1999 academic year, these 10 University System of Georgia institutions awarded approximately 1,800 MBA degrees.

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