Full-time MBA programs prosper

CNY Business Journal (1996+), Dec 07, 2001 by Kropf, Annemarie

In 1994, Dr. Thomas LaClair returned to school - not for medicine, but rather, for his MBA.

"It appeared to me that the medical profession and health care in general is very much a business as well as an art and a social good," says the Camillus family physician with the FamilyCare Medical Group. "I never had formal business classes in college."

LaClair enrolled in Le Moyne College's part-time master's in business administration program to get his degree. He took one class every semester, including summers, for five years.

"Most people, if not all, in the MBA program, had an undergraduate degree and were already working in some occupation," he says. "Some folks worked for Niagara Mohawk or hospitals, or were physician therapists and pharmacists."

LaClair graduated from the program in 1999. He says it was definitely a positive experience.

"It helped me understand all the changes in health care with information technology," he says. "It helped me understand the insurance industry and how health care is paid for."

Some Central New York colleges are finding a greater interest in their MBA programs this year.

"Most of the people are not looking to change their field," says Wally Elmer, director of the MBA program at Le Moyne College, "but they're simply realizing they need more business skills."

Jerry Frantz, executive director of drug safety evaluation at Bristol-Myers Squibb Company in Syracuse, says he wasn't interested in an MBA, but rather just learning more. "I do a lot of managing and budgeting, even though it's a sciencerelated job," he says. "With a science background, I had no grounding in business." Frantz graduated from Le Moyne College in 1997 with an MBA. His increased business knowledge has only helped him in his job, he says. "I'm more and more involved with business stuff all the time," he adds.

In today's economy, many people are looking to business schools for shelter from the job market.

"A lot of companies are laying off, and some get benefits to go back to school," says Carol Swanberg, director of admissions for the MBA and master's program at the School of Management at Syracuse University. "The general job market is that usually people want to get in school when the economy is bad. The last recession, we saw an increase in applications."

The application deadline varies from school to school, but Syracuse University's deadline is Jan. 15. The university doesn't offer early admission for the business school.

"We're not seeing an increase [in applications] yet," Swanberg says. "We'll know better at the start of the new year." There are currently 200 full-time students in the MBA program.

'Really encouraging'

In the meantime, Swanberg says there are definite signs that applications will arrive in greater numbers. "There's been a lot more inquiries about starting the prograin," she says. "We're seeing a lot more interest out there." She has received about one-third more e-mail from people asking about the full-time program.

"I wouldn't say interest increased 50 percent, but I've been to a few events where I thought only a few people would come by the table, and there's been a constant flow," she says. "It's been really encouraging."

Ithaca College also is seeing an increase in interest, says Robert Ullrich, dean of the school of business. Though the school has a tolling admission. Ullrich says that it is too early in the year to see an increase in applications.

"Our applications go to the graduate studies office where they sit until complete," Ullrich says. This includes receiving all test scores and reference letters.

"We only see completed applications," he says.

There are currently 14 students in the program, which only began last year. This year's target is 20, and Ullrich is confident they will make it. "We can max out at 40," he says.

Full-time MBA programs seem to be faring better than part-time programs.

"Full-time programs prosper in a recession," Elmer says. "Part-time programs level off during a period of recession. When the opposite occurs, part-time does exceptionally well."

Elmer says that the demand for Le Moyne's part-time MBA program has remained steady for the past few months. "We have 300 active students every semester," he says. Though he says the program is not in a holding pattern, he adds that the onlyway for the number of students to increase is for the Central New York economy to change its course.

Going full time?

A full-time MBA program at Le Moyne College is a possibility, Elmer says. Discussions are already taking place. "There's more and more demand from students to provide more services," he adds.

Charles Spector, MBA director at the State University of New York at Oswego, says that his college is seeing the same thing as Le Moyne.

"Le Moyne is pretty similar to us. It pretty much serves the local community," he says. "Syracuse [University] attracts people from outside the community."

Spector says it's up to the economy to change things for part-time MBA programs.

"I think the local marketplace is pretty saturated," he says. "And is having an effect."