MASTERS PROGRAMS COMMITTEE
MINUTES
November 7, 2008
Present: K. Sedatole, R. Simonds, M. Moch, Glenn Omura, J. Whipple, B. Wiseman, K. Butler, Jack Lu, C. Speier, K. Shaw, L. Maillette
R. Simonds called the meeting to order at 1:33 p.m.
G. Omura initiated discussion on changes to draft minutes and moved to approve the October 10, 2008 minutes as corrected, seconded by K. Sedatole and confirmed unanimously by the committee.
Action Items
None
New Business
a. MS OEM delete program
C. Speier discussed deleting the MS OEM program. This program was envisioned as a small program linking engineering students to a 5th year business experience. We have had 4 students enroll over the last three years. Engineering is amicable with removing this program. The deletion of MS OEM affects two courses, MSC 888 and MSC 803. MSC 803 was approved for deletion at the October MPC meeting and Supply Chain would like approval to delete the capstone class, MSC 888. The remaining supply chain courses that supported the MS OEM were revamped last year to support the changes in the FT MBA program. There are a handful of courses in other departments that serve as service courses to the university and no changes have been recommended in those courses at this time.
Old Business
None.
Information Sharing and Updates
a. WMBA Expansion
C. Speier shared news of the WMBA Expansion and changes to programs announced by Dean Lashbrooke. In 2009-2010 there will be two WMBA cohorts in SE Michigan. EMBA will be repositioned to every other year with the next cohort starting in 2010. The taskforce is working with corporate organizations and collecting data. Students and prospects for both programs will be informed of this change. The next phase is to identify a faculty taskforce for the 2010-2011 roll out. We also need a strategic financial and resource review. Taskforce looked at where the market is and what the parameters are for these programs. The economy, room capacity, big year/small year numbers were considered and we expect 65ish in a cohort. The scheduled attendance at the Novi information session scheduled in November is encouraging and higher than expected. There are currently ten EMBA students admitted to the EMBA program for next year and 25 additional prospects in the funnel. We will talk with these students about the WMBA option for this year or EMBA in 2010. There is concern with the on campus recruiting capacity between FT MBA and WMBA. Career Services is aware of this issue and it is being discussed.
Committee members commented that it is important for administrators to be sensitive to the fact that when programs are being deleted or suspended, faculty feels this is also a curriculum matter and would like to be more involved in the decisions.
b. FT MBA Broad Proposal
C. Speier shared information on the Broad proposal being made in the coming week by Dean Lashbrooke and Provost Kim Wilcox. Since Mr. Broad is most interested in a very strong FT MBA program, a proposal was developed focusing on how to grow a program through scholarship, faculty (tenure track), staff, student activities and facilities. The proposal “ask” to Mr. Broad will be a transformational amount.
K. Butler moved to adjourn, seconded by M. Moch. Meeting was adjourned at 2:53 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Michelle J. McNure, Recording Secretary.
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