The MBA experience at the University of Baltimore: A critical assessment of the program through the eyes of the graduates and their employers

This Executive Position Paper examines the Flex MBA program at the University of Baltimore's Merrick School of Business. This examination is prompted by decreasing enrollments and the need for the school to be competitive with regional MBA programs, and to respond to calls from accrediting agencies, the University System of Maryland and the State Legislature to be accountable for the education students receive in institutions of higher learning.; Executive Position Paper 1 describes the University of Baltimore, discusses the rationale and theoretical framework for the study and gives a review of the literature on student growth, the needs of business with regard to MBA graduates and the need for accountability in higher education.; Executive Position Paper 2 presents the methods used to accomplish the goals of this study. Incoming and graduating students were surveyed to measure their perceptions of change in their levels of business knowledge and skills and MBA graduates were interviewed to explore their perceptions of the MBA experience at UB and to secure their recommendations for possible change.; Executive Position Paper 3 presents the recommendations for the Merrick School of Business and the implementation issues of making changes. Suggested changes relate to the MBA curriculum, improvements in teaching and teaching evaluation, better career services for Flex MBA students, opportunities for student recognition, the addition of honors sections of required courses, and a marketing plan that defines the Merrick School's niche and emphasizes a program that is applicable to current business practices and the real world of work. Implementation issues include priority decisions, the need for a focus on the value added to the students, and the need to involve all constituents in decisions related to change.