I wanted to share a big announcement about our highly-ranked MBA@Nebraska program. To increase access and remove hurdles, we will no longer require a GMAT or GRE score. This change starts with those applying by the July 1 deadline for fall admission and continues with future application deadlines of November 1 and April 1 for spring and summer, respectively. Our MBA@Nebraska program provides one of the best ROIs, with a flat tuition rate of $650 per credit hour for all students, regardless of where you live. Also, 99% of graduates are employed or continuing education within the first four months and a recent survey by the Graduate Management Admissions Council™ showed that our MBA graduates earn approximately $26,000 more annually – that’s nearly the full cost of the MBA@Nebraska program.

We also continue to increase our entrepreneurship outreach. Nebraska students and young adults in The Bay’s Gap Year Program collaborated in a new pop-up course to create a personalized five-year plan for transitioning into their professional careers. Andrew Hanna, assistant professor of practice in management, and Mike Smith, a nationally recognized social entrepreneur and founder of The Bay, taught the course called Applied Design Thinking: A Human-Centered Approach to Designing Your Life (MNGT 398).

I was recently elected to serve on the board of directors for the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, our accreditation agency. We were one of 17 charter members of the AACSB in 1916, and I'm proud to continue to lead the future of business education by serving on this international board. I plan to lend my research expertise in organizational governance and provide input and updates about the accreditation standards that we will be measured against for re-accreditation. Our accreditations in business and accounting that focus on continual improvement, demonstrate the quality of faculty, relevant and challenging curriculum, and educational and career opportunities found at Nebraska Business.

One of the reasons I look forward to serving on this board for the next three years is because of all the great news I get to share about our college's community. In this month's newsletter, you'll find three great examples of students, faculty and staff doing big things, which include:

• Chad Mariska, '98, recently visited Nebraska as the College of Business Alumni Master to share with students the key leadership tools. Named Oklahoma's Secretary of Commerce and Workforce Development in October, he also shared how his family foundation is helping the university find a vaccine for the Epstein-Barr virus, which is linked to multiple sclerosis.
• Four MBA@Nebraska students competed in the Big Ten Case Competition finals held in Ohio in March. Vyom Joshi was named the top presenter overall.
• John Anderson, Baird Family Professor of Economics, served as lead researcher for a study on reforming Detroit’s property tax system. Featured in the Wall Street Journal, the team of public finance experts found that taxing land at a higher rate than buildings, known as split-rate property tax, would help revive the local economy and reduce tax bills for nearly every homeowner in the city.

Later this month, we'll honor three outstanding business professionals and one exemplary business at our 37th Annual Advisory Board Awards Luncheon. Also, stay tuned for an exciting announcement about new partnerships between employers and the college!

Thanks for all you do as alumni and friends to lead the future of business, and help share our stories. None of these things would be possible without the support of the Nebraska Business community!

Together, we are Nebraska Business.

Dean Kathy Farrell