As you may have already heard, the administration at Gies College of Business has decided to end the full time and professional MBA programs. It is our position that this action would do irreparable harm to the future of the Gies College of Business and our brand, and must be stopped.  

By eliminating the residential MBA program, the administration resigns itself to losing a nationally ranked graduate business administration program. As alumni, we are in danger of losing credibility as graduates of the Gies College of Business, as well as diminishing the value of our educational quality within our respective industries. The value of our degree only goes so far as its globally perceived worth, and the depth of ties that bind us as Illinois Gies MBA alumni. This decision by the administration will take us on an irreversible path toward diminishing the value of our degree in the eyes of employers and peers. Eliminating the program will reduce the access students in Illinois have to a high quality, affordable public MBA education.

After careful research and consideration, we have aligned on three reasons why the residential Gies MBA program must be saved:

1. Trends cited by the administration may not continue. The decline in MBA applications is attributed largely to the strong economy and current political climate in the U.S., both of which could reverse (see US News).
2. It is unclear whether the iMBA will sustain its current growth. While enrollment has taken off initially, this market is becoming more saturated and only 3% of prospective MBA candidates actually prefer the online format (see Poets & Quants). It is also unclear whether online MBA programs can survive without being tied to a flagship residential program.
3. The on-campus MBA experience and its impact on the college are invaluable. Taking it away will be detrimental to future students and employers, the Gies College of Business, and the UIUC community at large. Not only do residential MBA students increase the visibility of the college through prestigious internships and jobs, but they provide indispensable leadership on campus through consulting groups, case competitions, mentoring programs, and campus technology and innovation centers (i.e. Research Park, EnterpriseWorks, and the Office of Technology Management).

The residential full time MBA, as noted, is the bedrock of business graduate studies. Here are a few of the many ways in which this program adds considerable enrichment to the Gies College of Business, the University of Illinois Urbana- Champaign, and the Champaign-Urbana communities as it further solidifies our reputation as a top MBA program:

• Action Learning (experiential consulting) connects the institution with industry through specialized projects, building a reputation of excellence throughout industry while strengthening and forging new working relationships with Fortune 500 companies and startups
• Full time MBAs act as senior leaders and bring extensive experience and credibility to multiple other cross-program experiential consulting projects, immensely impacting undergraduate and other graduate programs
• Technology and innovation units of the University such as EnterpriseWorks, Research Park, and Office of Technology Management rely on Full-time MBA expertise to propel innovation and business ideas
• Full time MBAs initiate mentoring programs with undergraduate students, planned leadership conferences in the Gies Business Instructional Facility, and attend industry specific conferences throughout the nation and globe which increases our credibility and reputation
• Full time MBAs have competed in over 35 national and international case competitions in the most recent year, increasing our visibility

The growth potential of the full time Gies MBA is demonstrated by the value and determination of its students.  Gies full time MBAs compete with students in other top schools and consistently land coveted jobs at industry-leading firms.  The most recent cohort includes multiple students with full-time roles at Google, Accenture, S&P Global, and Microsoft, just to name a few. In addition, our graduate students are consistently nationally recognized as top performers. Three of the 2019 full time MBA graduates were featured in Poets & Quants MBAs to Watch, a recognition which is only given to 100 MBAs throughout the nation.

As the world moves online, we strongly believe that the immersive experience of a residential MBA serves its purpose differently than online programs and will continue to be in demand for years to come. Please join us in ensuring that future students in the Gies College of Business are given this opportunity. We ask that the administration commit to continuing the growth of its already strong and vibrant residential MBA programs.

As valued stakeholders, your voice and financial support matters and speak volumes. We ask you to sign our petition and call, email, and set meetings with administration. Please contact Gies College of Business Dean Jeff Brown to voice your disapproval of this short-sighted decision— brownjr@illinois.edu, PH: 217-333-3322.

Please also engage any and all stakeholder connections you may have, including Provost Andreas Cangellaris— cangella@illinois.edu, PH: 217-333-6677, Chancellor Robert J. Jones— chancellor@illinois.edu, PH: 2l7-333-3070, The Board of Trustees, and distinguished alumni.

EDIT: Please contact the Academic Senate and request an investigation into this decision.

OFFICE OF THE SENATE | UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
228 English Building, MC-461 | 608 South Wright Street | Urbana, IL 61801 | P 217.333.6805 | F 217.333.4848 | senate@illinois.edu

Sincerely,

Gies College of Business MBA Students and Alumni

 

 

 

Photo Credit: Jeff Goldberg/Esto