ISU and Westfield-Washington Schools Join Forces to Offer MBA Program
Writer / Natalie Gargiulo
Photography Provided
In a collaborative effort to bolster education opportunities for professionals and students alike, a groundbreaking partnership has been forged between Indiana State University (ISU) and Westfield-Washington Schools.
The Scott College of Business Professional Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a comprehensive program tailored to current professionals seeking to enhance their business acumen, as well as aspiring students looking to pursue higher education.
“This will help students with ground-level understanding by giving them a picture of all functional business areas,” says Kyle Rice, executive director of graduate programs at the ISU Scott College of Business. “When a student is at a decision-making table at any organization they are working at, no matter what their background is, they can have an intelligent conversation with anyone even though the technical language might be different. This is what the MBA is designed to do.”
Lindsay Tomamichel, the Westfield-Washington Schools director of college, careers and strategic initiatives, led the efforts in this partnership, and says the school district decided on this partnership in an effort to open the door to future education opportunities for the community’s high school students and working professionals.
“We are looking at the MBA program and partnership with ISU as an opportunity to continue to grow educational opportunities in the community,” she says. “Our hope is that we start with the MBA program and then we are able to partner with ISU for other things as well.”
Additionally, the partnership aims to address the scarcity of local college options in Hamilton County, and provide a stimulating in-person, cohort-based learning experience.
“When you look at Hamilton County as a whole, we don’t have a ton of college options,” Tomamichel says. “Not only will this program offer the working professionals that live here an opportunity to go back to school in the community that they live in, but also to have an opportunity to attend in-person classes instead of online.”
The partnership’s vision extends beyond the MBA program to address the educational gaps within the Hamilton County area. Recognizing the limited college options available, the collaboration aims to offer local residents the opportunity to attain a professional MBA that aligns with higher education paths.
“This opportunity felt really good for our community and our adult learners,” Tomamichel says.
At the core of the MBA program lies the cohort-based learning model, a key driver of its success. Students enrolled in the program embark on their academic journey together, forming a close-knit community that fosters collaboration and camaraderie. Graduates can find lasting connections with their cohort members, which can be invaluable in their career advancement long after completing the program.
“When I went through my master’s program I was in a cohort as well,” Tomamichel says. “What was so beneficial is the relationships I made in those cohorts. I still have contact with some of the people I was in my cohort with on a professional level.”
The transformative partnership will enhance residents’ professional skills through attaining a professional MBA offered by ISU. This well-rounded and immersive program will equip students with a diverse understanding of critical business areas such as marketing, supply-chain management, accounting, finance and human resources.
Amidst the fatigue associated with online education during the pandemic, the program introduces a refreshing alternative. It will be delivered in person, providing a dynamic and engaging learning environment.
“The program will be an 18-month program with two classes per semester,” Rice says. “Each semester, a student will take two concurrent classes for 10-week semesters. The two courses will meet weekly in Westfield, with one week for lectures and two weeks to work on assignments.”
With the program set to commence at the Westfield-Washington School District’s central office this September, professionals will come together, embarking on a journey that promises to transform their careers and educational paths.
For more, visit indstate.edu/scott-mba.
