Seated are East Stroudsburg President Robert J. Dillman and
Shippensburg President Bill Ruud. Standing, from left, are Dr. Van. A Reidhead,
provost and vice president of academic affairs at East Stroudsburg; Dr. Marilyn
Wells, vice provost and graduate dean at East Stroudsburg; Dr. Alla L. Wilson, dean
of the College of Business and Management at East Stroudsburg; Dr. John Kooti,
Dean of the John L. Grove College of Business at Shippensburg; and Dr. Jody
Harpster, executive vice for president external affairs and university
relations at Shippensburg.
SU, ESU officials sign MBA pact
Shippensburg University and East Stroudsburg University officials today (June 29) signed a letter of agreement that will bring Shippensburg's nationally-accredited master of business administration program to East Stroudsburg's campus to meet a growing need in that region.
Shippensburg
President Bill Ruud and by East Stroudsburg President Robert J. Dillman signed
the agreement in the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg.
“One hallmark of
the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is the ability of its
14-members to work collaboratively to meet the needs of the citizens of the
Commonwealth,” President Ruud said. “By joining together to offer this program,
Shippensburg and East Stroudsburg not only meet the need for this type of
programming but continue to make the most effective and efficient use of the resources
entrusted to us by the Commonwealth. We look forward to bringing our MBA
program to East Stroudsburg and the area it serves.”
According to
President Dillman, “This partnership with Shippensburg University and its
highly respected nationally-accredited MBA program is significant. Offering the
program at ESU will provide working professionals, aspiring entrepreneurs,
recent ESU graduates and others in the Stroudsburg region with convenient
evening access to a high quality, affordable Masters in Business Administration
degree program. The partnership also demonstrates the efficiency of
cooperative planning between PASSHE universities as we strive to minimize
duplication of existing academic programs.”
The program,
which will begin with the Spring 2012 semester, is through Shippensburg’s John
L. Grove College of Business. Classes will be taught at East Stroudsburg by
Shippensburg faculty and, when needed, by East Stroudsburg faculty. Students
must meet admissions requirements set by Shippensburg and will receive their
degree from Shippensburg. Students will also be able to use the East
Stroudsburg library during their studies. Each university will also appoint a
liaison to coordinate the program.
Dr. Alla L. Wilson, dean of the College of Business and Management
and former interim dean of the Graduate College, was instrumental in
coordinating the MBA degree partnership with Shippensburg University. The
College of Business and Management at ESU offers undergraduate degrees in business
management, sport management, hotel restaurant and tourism management,
recreation management, as well as graduate degrees in sport management and
management and leadership.
In 1981, Grove College became the first school in the current
PASSHE system and the ninth college overall in Pennsylvania to become
internationally accredited by AACSB International. The college was established
in 1971 and last September U.S. News and
World Report recognized the college as among the best business programs in
the nation in its “Best Colleges Specialty Rankings: Best Undergraduate
Business Programs” category.
More information on the program is available online at
http://www.ship.edu/Academics/Programs/Graduate_Programs.
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