Gaining Employer Support for Your Part-time MBA

GAINING EMPLOYER SUPPORT FOR YOUR PART-TIME MBA

Employer Support: What It Means for a Part-time MBA Student

While obtaining financial support from your employer is not a requirement to apply and matriculate into a professional or online MBA program, employer support can help you make the most of your MBA experience. Beginning the process early is critical. A thorough understanding between you and your company of the expected benefits and time commitments involved will ensure a smooth MBA experience from start to finish.

Although financial support for part-time MBAs has declined in recent years, there is still reason to believe that you can successfully secure financial sponsorship from your company. Constructing an organized, savvy business case outlining the benefits of an MBA will help you to secure both time and financial support.

In this guide, you will find ways to illustrate the benefits of an MBA, how your participation can positively affect your organization, why you have chosen the University of Utah, and how an MBA connects to your personal career goals. We have also included some experiences and advice from University of Utah Professional and Online MBA students and alumni.

I chose the University of Utah’s Professional MBA program because of how recognizable the university was at a national level, especially in comparison to other schools in Utah.

Perry Slagowski University of Utah Professional MBA

First: Do Your Research

First, do all of the necessary research into how the University of Utah’s Professional or Online MBA program works. Make sure you have a solid understanding about program length, schedule, tuition costs, tuition payment schedules, and expected program commitments.

Next, find out if your employer has a formal sponsorship policy in place for employees. Interview others who have completed similar programs, either in your own organization or from others in the same sector. Ask them what they gained from the experience, as well as how they gained funding and/ or other support. You may contact the University of Utah’s Professional and Online MBA office to find somebody from your company or sector who has completed the program and may be able to advise you. It is essential to have this information at your fingertips in order to adapt your negotiation position and set the right objectives.

Establish who will be making the decision to provide support for your program participation. It may be a human resources employee, your direct supervisor, or even the chief executive, therefore you’ll need to tailor your specific talking points as appropriate.

Maren Beus

The PMBA program offered me the perfect triad: The convenience and flexibility I required as a working professional, instruction from professors with impressive professional and academic credentials, and the opportunity to learn from and network with experienced peers.

Finally, determine what level of support you need, whether it’s time to attend class, realignment of duties and responsibilities, financial backing, or more. Depending on your particular situation and your organization, you will need to customize your employer sponsorship goals.

Preparing Your Case

We recommend that you prepare a written business proposal for your employer. Introduce your business case for the MBA by clearly stating your rationale for pursuing the Professional or Online MBA at the University of Utah, and include the following details:

• Benefits to Your Employer

• Benefits to Your Professional Development

• MBA Program Highlights

• MBA Program Logistics

• Outline the Support You Need

• Communicate Your Commitment to Your Employer

Benefits to Your Employer

It’s important that this section focuses on your employer. You can bring some specificity to this space by outlining the demands of your current position and your goals for the future. Then, illustrate how studying for an MBA will help you to accomplish those goals and reach benchmarks for your company. This could also be an opportunity to mention some of the specific contributions other employees who have earned their MBA while working for your organization have made.

Here are some of the ways earning an MBA can create value for your employer:

Access an invaluable network

Part-time MBA students gain access to a network of talented professionals from a variety of industries and functions. MBA students and alumni can become business contacts, sources for advice, and future clients.

Become a better employee through your learning

In the program, students receive intensive training around strategic thinking, critical analysis, and ‘big picture’ understanding. These skills increase productivity, enhance decision-making abilities, and improve your company’s bottom line.

Your business knowledge transfers to your company

As you come back to the office after each week of class, you will inevitably pass the knowledge and skills you are gaining from the program onto others in your organization. As you interact with others and explain new perspectives and newly acquired business models, they too will be learning.

Make an impact on the work of your team

MBA students cultivate a distinct and deeply personal leadership style. They learn how to get the most out of those who work with them. Students gain access to individual coaching, 360-degree feedback, experimental teamwork training, and more, which is all designed to improve their leadership and teamwork capabilities.

Partner with School of Business faculty

David Eccles School of Business faculty are some of the most acclaimed business thinkers in the world. During the program, you will learn about cutting-edge business research, giving your company the chance to prepare for future challenges – ahead of the competition.

Gain insights into the global business environment

The University of Utah will give you problem-solving perspectives with international insights and the multicultural outlook you need to excel in today’s globalized business environment.

Solve business issues in the classroom

Throughout the MBA program, students bring their organization’s problems, business issues, and opportunities for growth into the classroom for discussion and gain input from faculty and students. Students become more valuable to their organizations from day one, because they bring business concepts and best practices back into the office that are immediately applicable.

Rene Daniels University of Utah MBA

Every single quality professor at the David Eccles School of Business is involved in the MBA Online program and is there for your use and for your educational enrichment. You’re getting the full educational experience in an online setting.

Benefits to Your Professional Development

Outline your own development goals through the pursuit of an MBA. Begin by offering a clear statement on what your objectives are and how they correspond to your career plans.

Below is an example for how this could read:

My main objective in studying for an MBA is to further develop my leadership skills and prepare to be an employee who drives change and innovation through the business.

I have followed an accelerated trajectory since joining the company in [year]. This has resulted from consistently high performance evaluations and shows that I am recognized as an employee with potential both internally and externally. Currently, I’m at a point in my career where I can see my next steps and the tools I need to get there.

Earning an MBA aligns with my personal development plan and overall career goals. I believe that I have the potential to succeed in a leadership position in the company. The skills I will learn and practice during an MBA will be critical to developing that potential. In addition, the pursuit of an MBA echoes our company’s commitment towards career growth and employee development.

Since I began the PMBA program, I have been much more vocal about ideas I have for making business processes better, and I’ve taken some pretty big career risks that have really paid off.

Tessa Karrington University of Utah Professional MBA

This is the opportunity for you to make your case more personal by adding details around passions or strengths you want to explore through the pursuit of an MBA. You can also show your aptitude for this type of work - you could include examples of continuing education or Executive Education courses you’ve taken to show a record of interest and academic performance, or point out that studying business fundamentals in a highly competitive environment would push you further and give you more of what you need versus hiring a career coach.

Finally, this is also a time to be humble. Show your self-awareness by addressing gaps that you know exist, and discuss how an MBA will enable you to improve on them. For example, you could mention a weakness in presentation skills and point out that through the collaborative classwork, culture of debate, and training at the University of Utah, this shortcoming could be addressed.

MBA Program Highlights

This section should demonstrate why you chose the University of Utah Professional or Online MBA program. First, outline your considerations — what components did you feel were essential for your MBA experience? From there, identify which schools you looked at and how you evaluated them. Utilize program websites, media articles, and relevant industry data. If you contacted business school alumni in your network, provide synopses of those conversations, particularly if they were conducted with employees at your company. If you attended information sessions or met with admissions directors, you may also wish to include your impressions.

Next, clearly define the program differentiators and explain why they are meaningful to you and your company.

Here are some of the key differentiators you may choose to highlight to your employer:

• The Professional MBA program is ranked the #1 part-time MBA program in Utah by U.S. News & World Report. The MBA Online program is ranked top 10 in the world by the Princeton Review.

• The program is 24 months long, with a that schedule allows students to continue working and to apply learning to current

The MBA Online program has broadened my work experience and it has garnered respect for the knowledge that I bring to the table. It is constantly opening up more opportunities for me - not just positions but also opportunities to take on projects.

Christon Khong University

business issues and challenges in the workplace.

• 30% of program curriculum consists of elective courses in a variety of business subjects, including an international trip elective that gives students the opportunity to gain a global perspective of business.

• Students have an average 6 - 8 years of professional work experience in a variety of fields, such as finance, healthcare, information technology and manufacturing. Students range from entry-level employees to executives.

• Admission to the program is competitive and based on several factors. Please visit our website to see the current admission requirements.

• Students have access to world-class faculty, high-caliber networking, and invaluable career advancement services, yielding powerful results.

• Professional and Online MBA graduates earn exactly the same degree as our Full-Time MBA students.

MBA Program Logistics and Tuition

The University of Utah Professional and Online MBA program schedules are predictable. This allows students to plan work, travel, and personal commitments far in advance.

Students commit to the following:

• The PMBA program begins in August or January, and the MBA Online program begins in August, February or May, and includes six semesters (24 months) of coursework.

• Utah’s Professional MBA has been elevated to a hybrid model; classes are held 50% online and 50% in person. This means classes are held in person one night per week and online once per week from 5:30 - 10:00 p.m..

Fall: Tuesday (In person), Thursday (Online)

Spring: Monday (In person), Wednesday (Online)

• Students average 20 to 25 hours a week outside of class, focusing on some combination of team and individual assignments. Our staff is committed to providing superior student support around administrative and technical questions.

Tuition is due in installments at the beginning of each semester. Tuition payments can be deferred past tuition deadlines if your employer is reimbursing more than 50% of your tuition cost. There is a seat deposit due upon acceptance to the program, $700 of which will be applied toward the first semester tuition payment.

The curriculum is designed to lead students along an upward path. Each class we took seemed to build on the last class. As I approached my elective courses, I had a foundation and understanding of many business principles that allowed me to take classes outside my normal comfort zone.

Jordan Smith University of Utah Professional MBA

Curriculum

The Professional and Online MBA program curriculum consists of 31.5 credit hours in core business classes, with the remaining 16.5 credit hours composed of elective courses that allow you to personalize your degree to meet your career goals. Curriculum is subject to change.

Accounting

• Financial Accounting

• Managerial Accounting

Business Communication

• Laying the Foundation of Teamwork

• Business Communication

Finance & Economics

• Managerial Economics

• Financial Management

Management & Organization

• Managing and Leading in Organizations

• Business Strategy

• Business Ethics

Marketing

• Marketing Management

Operations and Information Systems

• Data Analysis and Decision Making

• Operations Management

• Information Systems

Electives Available in All Business Disciplines

Outline the Support You Need

Time and commitment

Offer your employer a full and realistic picture of the time investment for the program, as detailed in the previous section. The program is designed to not interfere with regular working hours, but the timetable is intense.

Realignment of duties and responsibilities

There may be some assignments and work duties that may not align with your program participation and schedule constraints. Detail how you will manage and delegate responsibilities while attending classes. Make sure to address any concerns your employer has about this by describing the team you have in place and how you will utilize them.

Financial sponsorship

Financing your MBA will take careful thought and consideration. It is important to consider all your financing options, whether through savings, loans, scholarships, military funding, and sponsorship from your employer or – most likely – a combination of these resources.

It is entirely at the discretion of your employer whether to provide financial

support for your MBA. Most students fund their education through a combination of employer tuition reimbursements, federal student loans, and self-funding.

Keep in mind that any financial sponsorship your company offers will be directly linked to the benefits your company believes it will gain from your participation in the program. You might be asked to sign a retention agreement, which will oblige you to stay for a predetermined amount of time at the company in return for sponsorship.

Outside of traditional tuition sponsorship, employers may be amenable to a form of “retrospective” sponsorship, whereby the company pays a percentage of the total tuition when you deliver on certain pre-arranged conditions. For example, if your workload and deadlines are not compromised after your attendance during the first semester of the program, your employer may reimburse you a preapproved amount.

Alternatively, some employers may choose to pay tuition and fees in lieu of salary or structure the sponsorship as salary bonuses. Others may consider sponsoring books and materials or additional courses and certifications as part of your program participation. Be creative in your approach, and you may find more success in the discussion process with your employer.

I travel every week - I’m usually hopping on a plane and going to a different city every week, so the MBA Online program platform is perfect for me. I can pick it up and take it anywhere - I’m not set on a certain schedule.

Cassia Connors University of Utah MBA

Communicate Your Commitment to Your Employer

End by describing what your employer’s support means to you. You will want to demonstrate your commitment to the company and the future trajectory you see for yourself there.

In discussions with your supervisors, leadership team, and human resources department, you should carefully consider and clearly communicate the long-term benefits you can offer to the company in return for their investment in you.

It’s important to reiterate how seriously you take the opportunity to earn an MBA at the University of Utah. The University of Utah’s Professional and Online MBA programs are known for their rigorous curriculum and high academic standards, and your desire to attend speaks volumes about your dedication to learning and improvement. Your passion to be challenged and your commitment towards hard work will be evident as you succeed in your MBA program.

I have begun to think differently about how a business is run and how decisions are made within a corporation. It has provided me with a wealth of ideas that I can bring to the table to help the company and myself to be more successful.

Trevor Moss University of Utah Professional MBA

Continue to Involve Your Employer in Your MBA

It’s not uncommon for students to receive permission to attend the University of Utah’s Professional or Online MBA with support for the time commitment and continue to have negotiation discussions after the program begins. Sometimes the more valuable discussions with your employer can occur after you’re well into your program.

To help your company maximize the ROI of its sponsorship, we encourage you to have regular meetings with your supervisor to discuss takeaways from the program. Consider discussing:

• How topics studied in the classroom address current challenges and opportunities faced by your organization

• Whether your organization has immediate issues that would benefit from the perspective of faculty experts and fellow students

• How to test or apply tools or frameworks learned in the program

• What opportunities exist to educate and workshop with colleagues

We invite you to act as a resource for your organization, as well as a contact for other colleagues who may be interested in earning an MBA.

Next Steps

Contact Our Office

The University of Utah’s Professional and Online MBA office is here to help you. Please contact us by phone or email at any point during your inquiry, admissions, and matriculation process. We also invite you to provide our contact details to your organization, as they are welcome to reach out to us directly with their questions during the decision-making process, as well.

Attend Admissions Events

If you haven’t already attended the University of Utah’s admissions events, we encourage you to do so. Our monthly Information Sessions and Webinars, Financing Your MBA Workshops, Class Visits, and more, can prove invaluable as you make your decision to go back to school. See all upcoming events on our website.

Alternatively, we are happy to meet you at a time and place that is convenient for you to provide a face-to-face, personalized advisor meeting that will address your specific questions and circumstances. Please reach out to our office by phone or email with your availability to schedule a meeting.

Submit Your Online Application

Applications for the University of Utah’s Professional and Online MBA are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year. If you would like to receive priority consideration, we encourage you to apply as early as possible. Applications received after the class is full will be considered for the waitlist or for the following semester.

The online application can be found at ApplyUtahMBA.com. Application requirements include accredited undergraduate college transcripts, essay, resume, and a recommendation letter. Feel free to contact our office for more details.

Following your application submission, our office will contact you to set up an admissions interview. Following the interview, your application will be reviewed by our admissions committee, and an admissions decisions will be given to you within two weeks.

Don’t wait - Make this the year you invest in yourself and take your next step.

Nishikawa University of Utah

Everything that I’ve learned has helped me develop a little bit more in my career and it’s helped me get to a point that I absolutely know I wouldn’t have gotten to had I not made the decision to get my MBA.

Shane