For many people in the working world, the idea of quitting a job to go back to school is an impossible dream. But beginning in January 2006, The University of Mississippi will offer those interested in an MBA the chance to earn their degrees while remaining at a full-time job.

The new Professional MBA program is designed to meet the needs of working adults who would like to complete a graduate business degree. In fact, one of the requirements is two years of experience after completing an undergraduate degree. Candidates will complete two courses each semester over a two-year period.

Flexibility is a key component, and Internet learning systems, telephone conference calls, videoconferencing and interactive CD ROM/DVD technology make it possible for students to complete the program while continuing to work and without uprooting their families. A limited number of on-campus, in-person gatherings will also be required.

“We will use current and emerging technology to distribute content,” says Dr. John Holleman, director of the MBA program. “Instead of being in the physical classroom, we’ll use a variety of distance-learning capabilities, including the Internet.”

The Professional MBA will be taught by many of the same faculty as the traditional on-campus MBA and will require the same level of effort and dedication. The curriculum will focus on developing analytical skills, and classes will include statistics, global business, managerial communication and business decision making. Tuition is in line with other universities offering similar programs, and is expected to total $18,000 for the entire program.

Holleman says he is anticipating 15-20 students the first year. “We are keeping it intentionally small,” he said. “It is a cohort program, meaning the students will enter as a group and go through the program as peers, which we think is important.”

Having the students together in this manner means that faculty can identify students’ strengths and weaknesses in each field, such as finance or IT.

Another advantage of the Professional MBA program is that where the student lives is not a problem. “The cool thing about it is that it opens it up to everyone, without regard to geography. You could live in Portland or Boston and earn your MBA from Ole Miss,” Holleman says. “This is a great program for those who earned their undergraduate degrees from Ole Miss a few years ago. We also welcome anyone with an interest in advancing his or her career. As long as you have Web access, you can participate.”

Holleman himself is no stranger to the virtual classroom. “I’ve taken several online classes, and they’ve been enriching, relevant and convenient. You can do it at 5:30 a.m. or 11 p.m.,” he says. “The structural integrity is there. It’s not the same thing as the classroom, but we are excited about it because in our area—the business environment—there is full exploitation of the Internet, and we are using it, too.”

“It’s possible to have a lot of success, not just in numbers but how we serve the students and the quality of the programs,” adds Holleman, who has administered the university’s MBA program for nine years.

International students are also being targeted for the program. “A visa is so hard to get, and online study is a way to serve them without that glitch,” he says. “U.S. business schools are regarded as prestigious institutions, and what is really inspiring is for us to enroll people on a global basis because the demand is there.”

Because Oxford is not a major metropolitan area, this is a way for students to earn a degree free from the constraints of a traditional program. “It’s also a way for us in a semi-isolated place to attract students, and we can now draw them in from a wide geographical base.”

The business school is trying to generate interest in the program through advertising and e-mail blasts. Ads have been placed in Business First, the Alumni Review, the Mississippi Business Journal and the Commercial Appeal, and alumni and businesses have been informed about the program. Holleman said larger companies with human resource departments that have education assistance programs have also been contacted.

“There was no structured payout in the world that could distribute it fairly to get the best payout on return,” Effel says. “With Adam’s help we were able to make sure the money was distributed fairly. He created a simple way to solve the problem, and it was really neat how it all came together.”

For information about the Professional MBA program, contact John Holleman at 662-915-5483 or jholleman@bus.olemiss.edu. To apply or for more information, visit the Ole Miss Web site at www.ole missbusiness.com/mba. BF