UW-L to offer online MBA

La Crosse Tribune, Oct 08, 2005 by Schott, Kate

MADISON - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and three other system campuses will combine to offer a master's of business administration degree that can be earned online.

The UW Board of Regents on Friday approved UW-La Crosse - along with UW campuses in Eau Claire, Oshkosh, Parkside near Kenosha and the Extension Learning Innovations - launching a consortial online MBA this year.

Bill Colclough, dean of the UW-L College of Business Administration, said the program allows the system to share teachers and offer an MBA degree that can be accessed throughout the world but is designed for Wisconsin professionals.

It is estimated 90 percent of students who will take the online program already are employed at Wisconsin businesses, according to documents presented to the regents.

The four schools all have an on-campus MBA program, but only Eau Claire offered an online degree as well. Graduates of the new program will be given a degree from all four schools, Colclough said.

It will be possible for students to complete the program in two years but UW administrators estimate it will take most up to three years.

Course development for the program will be paid for by the universities; the program itself is expected to be selfsupporting through student enrollment revenue.

The regents Friday also approved giving UW-L the authority to expand its campus boundaries if given the opportunity. The area in question is the irregular-shaped parcel of land on the east edge of campus, where Emerson Elementary School resides,

The land is not for sale. But UW-L administrators said the regent's approval will allow UW-L to immediately make an offer if the land does become available.