COVER STORY
Charting a Path Forward Our world is forever changed by the COVID-19 pandemic. As we mourn the loss of loved ones or deal with financial challenges and uncertainty, we find hope in the promise of vaccines and treatment breakthroughs. We also find hope in the resilience and perseverance of the VSB community. Our students continue to impress us with their grace and determination during challenging times. Our faculty and staff have come together to provide leadership, innovate and find ways to use the pandemic for a greater good. One of the positive outcomes of the pandemic has been the leadership shown in thought and action by both our staff and faculty. Faculty innovated in the classroom with new teaching methods and content to address current realities. (See Faculty Spotlight p.4). Faculty also became highly sought-after media experts in their respective fields. In numerous television and radio interviews and digital and print communications, our faculty offered insights, guidance and expertise for a rapidly changing business environment. Early in the shutdown, VSB leadership formed multiple task forces to address short- and long-term needs related to the pandemic. One group focused on the immediate impact to internships, study abroad programs and summer jobs for students. To address these lost or changed opportunities, the task force created the VSB Summer Practicum: Leading Through Disruption, coordinated by Jonathan Doh, PhD, associate dean of Research and Global Engagement, and Stephen Kelly, JD, professor of practice in the Management & Operations Department. The curriculum for the six-week, three-credit course combined academic instruction with skill-building and real-world experiential learning. The course addressed topics such as how periods of disruption and uncertainty can impact a business, and students participated in professional development workshops to learn skills for navigating a challenging environment. Another positive outcome of the pandemic was increased enrollment in many of our summer and online programs. The Summer Business Institute (SBI) welcomed a record number of 157 students who earned a business minor or certificate in business through SBI online, and the program was expanded to include non-business students who were facing lost career opportunities.
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Villanova Business Spring 2021
The Center for Church Management (CCM) more than tripled the enrollment in its fall Certificate in Church Management program (160 students, up from 52 the prior year) and added a spring cohort for the first time due to increased demand (an additional 72 students). According to CCM Director Chesley Turner, many Catholic dioceses are investing in their students by encouraging enrollment and assisting with tuition, even in the midst of the pandemic and reduced parish collections in many cases. CCM Enrollment Increases
in Church 307% Certificate Management (Fall Semester) Our MBA and master’s programs have experienced similar growth. With more people working from home and traveling less, they have time to devote to a graduate program. They also want to increase their marketable skills and gain a competitive edge during an unstable job market. VSB graduate programs are well-positioned for the current environment with flexible options (online and in-person) and with most programs taking less than two years to complete. Graduate Program Enrollment Increases
20% Fast-Track MBA 20% Online MBA 159% Master of Science in Finance of Accounting 27% Master with Data Analytics 38% Master of Science in Analytics
