As associate dean of the Bryant University College of Business, Daniel Ames oversees the school’s graduate business programs and assists with recruiting and accreditation. Prior to joining Bryant in 2018, Ames served as associate dean of the Idaho State University College of Business in Pocatello, Idaho. There, he also held the position of accounting department chair.
PBN: A week after New Year’s Day, Bryant University launched a new online MBA program. What was the catalyst behind this addition to the College of Business offerings?
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AMES: It came down to meeting the needs of our students. As we thought about it, it became clear that education isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” endeavor – particularly at the graduate level, [in which] some students are working full time and perhaps travelling frequently. We felt it was important for us to provide another way for prospective graduate students to have access to a high-quality Bryant education.
PBN: For how long has this been under discussion and why did the school decide to launch the program at the start of 2019?
AMES: We’ve been discussing and researching this for a few years. It was important for us to get it right. Bryant is known for offering high-touch, high-quality programs and we wanted to find a way to carry those hallmarks over to the online space.
The January 2019 launch was the earliest we felt we could be ready to offer a high-quality product to our students. We wanted to make sure the degree program was up to Bryant standards.
PBN: How many people are signed up as of Jan. 21?
AMES: We have more than 40 people enrolled so far, which is ahead of our projections. We have multiple entry points over the year, which adds to the flexibility and appeal of the program. We’re excited about the rich backgrounds and experiences students are bringing and we anticipate that will raise the level of discussion and enhance the learning opportunities for everyone.
PBN: Demographically, from whom is Bryant seeing the most interest in enrollment?
AMES: Most, but not all, of the students currently registered are in the Northeast. We’ve seen a lot of interest around Boston, Providence and New York. However, we’ve also had students enroll from as far away as Illinois and Florida. Inquiries are coming in from all over the country, as well as overseas.
PBN: Programmatically, how does the course differ from the in-classroom degree offered at your Smithfield campus?
AMES: The online MBA is actually a professional MBA, it is 10 courses organized differently from our traditional program and is designed for mid-career professionals. Students can finish in as little as one year if they take two courses at a time. Each course is 10 weeks in duration, and students can join at the start of any [course].
Our next term will be in March, then May and so on. An online degree is different in that it involves a lot of independent work. However, what’s unique about this program is the extent to which it is connected to the Bryant community. The courses are taught by Bryant’s faculty and there are a lot of opportunities to interact with other students and faculty above and beyond a typical online program.
Emily Gowdey-Backus is a staff writer for PBN. You can follow her on Twitter @FlashGowdey or contact her via email, gowdey-backus@pbn.com.
