The Woodbury School of Business: going from good to great in the Beehive State
A trade school? Nah. A backup school in case you aren’t accepted into your first college choice? Nope. Being known as the kid sister to BYU? Not anymore, and at this rate, kid sister is teaching her elder a thing or two.
With its recent jump to university status, UVU is continually reaching new plateaus in the educational field, receiving numerous accolades for its quick progression, as well as garnering more and more attention of other schools, public figures and prospective students from around the world. What the Woodbury School of Business is currently doing is going to accelerate that process even more.
The Woodbury School of Business (WSB) at UVU is currently the largest business school in Utah’s System of Higher Education, and has been for several years.
The WSB currently is home to 3,850 students — nearly 400 more students than the next closest institution, the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business.
Recently, UVUSA Business Senator Christopher Loumeau met with Woodbury Business School Dean, Ian Wilson. During this conversation, Loumeau was able to receive some insight as to why UVU is seeing such a huge increase in participation from students in the Woodbury School of Business.
“We have smaller classes and more personalized instruction than one would get elsewhere,” Loumeau says. “The classes aren’t held in large, lecture theaters and we (business students) can be taught and mentored directly by faculty.”
Smaller class sizes and more personalized teaching approaches aren’t the only reason why the WSB is becoming increasingly popular. Many of the faculty members are very experienced in the profession and are able to provide students with “real-life” teaching scenarios and preparation.
“Most of our faculty has worked in business and come out of the business world,” Loumeau says. “They have practical experience.”
One of those faculty members is Hospitality and Business Management Professor Douglas Miller. Miller, who has worked around the world managing hotels and conventions, has also taught Hospitality and Business Management classes in Hawaii and Guatemala.
After having taught at UVU for over 15 years, Miller is convinced that the Woodbury School of Business is one of the most dynamic of which he’s ever been a part.
“The Woodbury School of Business is one of the most dynamic business schools in the state at this time,” Miller says. “Our students have been highly successful. They are unique and this uniqueness has been recognized by recruiters and business professionals from all over the country.”
The uniqueness of students, the school’s 2006 accreditation from The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and the recent announcement that the WSB would begin its first-ever MBA program starting in Fall 2010, all are examples of the school solidifying its high-ranking position.
The MBA program is only the third Master’s program currently offered at UVU (Master in Education and Master of Science in Nursing), and will offer two different course tracks — one in general management, and one in accounting.
For more information on the Woodbury School of Business, visit http://www.uvu.edu/woodbury.
+++++++++Statistics regarding the business school+++++++++
Fall 2009:
UVU Woodbury School of Business – 3,864
BYU Marriott School of Management – 4,059*
UTAH David Eccles School of Business – 3,442*+
USU Huntsman School of Business – 2,530*
Weber State Goddard School of Business – 2,299*
Westminster College Gore School of Business – 965*
SUU School of Business – 821*
*Official numbers include undergraduate and graduate programs. The MBA program at UVU’s Woodbury School of Business will begin Fall 2010 with an initial enrollment of 40 students.
+This number includes 856 Master’s and Ph.D students at Utah’s DESB. Its undergraduate enrollment is 2,586.
Source:
Randy Beckham
Assistant Dean
Woodbury School of Business
Utah Valley University