Perhaps you’ve been thinking that you’d like to earn an MBA. If you used U.S. News & World Reports MBA Rankings to assist in making your decision, youd discover that none of the local MBA programs was ranked in the Top 50 nationally. In fact, the only ranked school in the entire state is The University of Florida. But for some South Floridians, traveling to Gainesville for classes did not fit into their busy schedule. Well to put a new twist on an old phrase, if you cannot go to the MBA, the MBA will come to you.
But don’t think this is some second-rate road show. In October 2004, the University of Florida established, at the Wyndham Bonaventure Resort near Ft. Lauderdale, a Professional MBA Program that matches in quality the MBA Programs offered on the University’s main campus.
“Our professional programs on our UF campus have classes once per month, so that candidates anywhere in Florida can participate and earn our nationally ranked MBA,” said Alex Sevilla, Director of the University of Florida MBA Programs. “We decided to launch our South Florida MBA program in 2004 because many candidates in South Florida were not willing or able to make a 5-plus hour drive to Gainesville each month. We wanted to make it more convenient for those individuals. South Florida is a thriving hub of commerce and international trade, led by a community of bright, focused professionals. We felt strongly South Florida needed and deserved a world-class MBA program to call its own.”
But its not just about convenience. Sevilla emphasized the quality of the Program. For example, with regard to the faculty, he said, “We have a top-10 research faculty, unmatched in the Southeast. Our South Florida faculty team is the same faculty that teaches in our full-time program in Gainesville. They have earned their stripes and we do not have adjunct professors.”
Classes are held in an amphitheater at the Bonaventure, complete with full A/V support, printers and Internet connections. Sevilla said, “There is a full catering staff to take care of the students throughout the day. We also have an MBA staff member who goes to the Bonaventure every weekend, to answer questions and get to know the students. It is important that our South Florida students remain connected to our Program.”
With the significant role health care plays in South Florida, Sevilla, who has been with the University of Florida since 1998, sees the MBA Program filling an important niche. “The health-care industry, for both physicians and administrators, is definitely a market that has evolved,” he said. “And as it changes, the industry becomes more complex. A number of our professional students work in health care, and they look to apply the skills that a top-tier MBA program provides: financial analysis, operations, marketing and strategy, directly within the ever-changing health-care landscape. These professionals expect to take the lead in these areas, add value to their divisions, and push their careers forward.
“The MBA can be of critical importance to physicians, as more and more of their time is spent dealing with HMOs, regulations, malpractice lawsuits and emerging technology. Their education trained them for their craft, but not for the shifting economics of todays health-care market. These changes have underscored the need for true physician leaders in the industry, and many MDs are turning to MBA programs to acquire top level business and leadership training.”
Sevilla stressed the caliber of the students the University of Florida considers for the Program. “We are very selective in our admissions process, and I would encourage candidates to consider any business schools selectivity when choosing an MBA program,” he said. “By admitting a high caliber of professionals into our program, we can ensure that the intellectual capital of the classroom will be maximized. Selecting students carefully also impacts the long-term value of your MBA. The success of our alumni shapes and defines the reputation of the Florida MBA Program. We know that accomplished, focused, and driven students yield an outstanding classroom experience, an elite brand reputation for our MBA Program, and a valuable alumni network.”
The first class started with 40 students and all 40 are still in the Program. The next class will begin on September 30, 2005, and applications are still being accepted. But professionals who apply should be primed for what’s involved.
“We have a rigorous program, one that is not watered down for professional students. A top-tier MBA degree and the national reputation that goes with it must be earned. The wonderful part about our program is that our students always step up to the challenges set by our faculty and their peers,” Sevilla said.
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