Working students embrace college’s online programs
Dear friends,
I am delighted to share a recent Carson College of Business achievement with you: our online business programs are the first choice for working students seeking an affordable, quality, online business education from a Pacific Northwest university.
Since 2015, more than 3,300 online students have received undergraduate business degrees, MBAs, or Executive MBAs through our college. I’m proud of our students’ academic achievements and excited about the professional opportunities they have realized through investing in their education. I am also proud of the faculty, staff, and partners who enable us to deliver these high-quality programs.
When COVID-19 disrupted our lives, many of our online students said the one thing that did not change was their ability to continue their studies thanks to our already well-designed online programs. This is a tribute to the Carson College’s 30 years of deliberate strategy in delivering online business education through the WSU Global Campus.
Students frequently tell me how their degree has made a difference in their lives and careers. Some say they’ve developed the confidence and leadership skills to accept a promotion. Others needed expertise in a particular business discipline to make a career switch. Still others talk about how the connections made through our online programs support them in their current role or led them to their next leadership opportunity. I am even aware of one couple who became life partners after meeting in our program!
Beyond the benefits to individuals, this investment is significant for the Pacific Northwest’s economy and the world. About half of our enrolled students live in Washington state. Others live elsewhere in the United States or in other countries. The Carson College’s online business education programs prepare students for increasingly advanced roles at their companies and drive business innovation at their firms. Companies value students’ investment in a business degree. Many employers require the degree for promotion, and about 25 percent participate in tuition reimbursement programs.
The college continues to invest in our online business degrees to meet the evolving needs of students and the companies where they are employed. I’m excited about these new initiatives.
Executive MBA students are now able to receive some free executive coaching through the college’s relationship with the International Coaching Federation’s Washington state chapter. We have added introductory and final MBA courses to our portfolio of tools preparing students for academic and career success. In addition, Designing Your Life, a curriculum developed at Stanford University, will be offered as an MBA elective this fall. There’s more to come, and I invite you to keep in touch for updates over the next year.
We also are thankful to offer study abroad programs this year. EMBA students traveled to Tallinn, Estonia, and Prague, Czech Republic, while online MBA students traveled to Prague. These international trips give students a view into the global nature of business.
While we deliver a high-quality, affordable suite of online business programs, the success of these programs does not lie with us alone. Our students make the choice to pursue their online education in the Carson College of Business. They work diligently in their coursework and career preparedness activities. And, lastly, they invest in developing meaningful relationships with their peers, creating lifelong connections.
The team in online and graduate programs looks forward to continuing growth in enrollments, adding value for our students and their employers, and staying connected with our alumni.
Go Cougs!
Cheryl Oliver, associate dean
Professional programs
Learn more about online degrees, online MBAs, and Executive MBAs at the Carson College of Business.