It's been a couple of months, so I think it's time for another update! I've been busy with admissions, preparatory courses, and other summer teaching and administrative duties. When I was working in industry, the thought of having "summers off" as an academic was very appealing. After 4 years in academics, I can say (at least in my case), that myth has been debunked.
Now that our final official deadlines for fall applications are behind us, we're busy getting ready for classes in the fall. I just finished teaching my first completely "online" course, to help some of our incoming MIS students better understand fundamental information systems concepts. Now we're in the middle of the second "IT Toolkit" preparatory course, which met on Saturday June, 26, and will meet again on Saturday, July 10. This course is focused on ramping up on Visual Basic and SQL, to help students gain proficiency with a couple of fundamental skills that will prove useful in the coming semesters as they begin graduate coursework.
We just received our last few BI Certificate applications, and will be working on finalizing admissions in the coming weeks for incoming Professional MIS and BI Certificate students. A few more applications may trickle in over the next couple of weeks, and we will continue to look at them as long as we have space available in the classroom -- we are down to just a couple of remaining seats, with quite a few applications left to consider.
Going into this holiday weekend, celebrating the independence of the United States of America, I am thankful to live and work in a nation that gives us the freedom and encouragement to pursue our dreams and to make the most of what we have.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Program Admission Status - Full-Time and Professional
Just a quick status update on admissions: we are no longer accepting full-time MIS applications for the Fall 2010 term. All available full-time positions have been filled, and we have finalized the waiting list in case any of our admitted students are unable to attend.
The Walton Professional MIS program is still considering applications for Fall 2010 at this time. The deadline has passed, and we have received quite a few applications, but we do still have a few spots available and will continue to consider applications until the available seats are filled.
The Walton Professional MIS program is still considering applications for Fall 2010 at this time. The deadline has passed, and we have received quite a few applications, but we do still have a few spots available and will continue to consider applications until the available seats are filled.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Full-Time MIS Applications
The application deadline for the full-time MIS program was February 1, and from what I can tell so far we have a great group of applicants, both in size and quality. We have received about 70 applications, and expect to review those and make initial admission and assistantship decisions in the next couple of weeks.
Our full-time MIS program attracts some of the best and brightest students from universities around the world. Graduate Assistantship positions will be much more difficult to award this year, because we have so many great applicants and only a limited amount of funding available.
Our full-time MIS program attracts some of the best and brightest students from universities around the world. Graduate Assistantship positions will be much more difficult to award this year, because we have so many great applicants and only a limited amount of funding available.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Part-Time Program Enhancements
We have some pretty big news to share - we are broadening the appeal and accessibility of our part-time graduate programs in Information Systems. Beginning Fall 2010, courses in the Walton Professional MIS degree and BI Certificate programs will be delivered in a new format. Classes will be held one Saturday per month (two per month during summer), and we are now offering "IT Toolkit" preparatory courses during the summer to help prepare students from non-IT backgrounds for success in the program and facilitate a smooth transition into the field of information systems. For more information about these programs, visit http://gsb.uark.edu/mis.asp.
News is spreading, and applications for the Walton Professional MIS, ERP Certificate, and BI Certificate programs are coming in regularly. The deadline for application to the Walton Professional MIS program is March 15 (late applications will be considered on a space-available basis), and applications for the ERP and BI Certificate programs should be completed by May 1.
*Minor administrative note - this post was started in November, and completed in February. It seems that the longer I work in academia, the more absent-minded I become... for those who have been eagerly awaiting my next blog post, my apologies for the extended delay. I'll be updating things again soon!
News is spreading, and applications for the Walton Professional MIS, ERP Certificate, and BI Certificate programs are coming in regularly. The deadline for application to the Walton Professional MIS program is March 15 (late applications will be considered on a space-available basis), and applications for the ERP and BI Certificate programs should be completed by May 1.
*Minor administrative note - this post was started in November, and completed in February. It seems that the longer I work in academia, the more absent-minded I become... for those who have been eagerly awaiting my next blog post, my apologies for the extended delay. I'll be updating things again soon!
Friday, October 16, 2009
Half-Empty, Half-Full
We've reached the halfway point in the semester, and things are still going great. This is, of course, a stressful time in the semester for students and faculty alike - assignments, mid-terms, and project deliverables all seem to converge during this time. But it is also a good time to stop (but for just a few minutes, since we have so much to do) and reflect on where we are in our journey.
Our students have come very far, and are entrenched in the hands-on application of technology and business concepts that will help them achieve a higher level in their understanding of information systems. Our faculty members have helped students along the path, and now (as always) face the challenge of assessing student progress, making sure everyone is ready for the next step, and guiding students in the right direction to meet the learning objectives of each course and of the MIS program. Between now and December, students will continue to build on the foundation laid so far, integrating their learnings to meet increasingly complex challenges. And at the end of the semester, they will look back on what they learned, see how far they have come, and look forward to the next leg on their journey.
Our students have come very far, and are entrenched in the hands-on application of technology and business concepts that will help them achieve a higher level in their understanding of information systems. Our faculty members have helped students along the path, and now (as always) face the challenge of assessing student progress, making sure everyone is ready for the next step, and guiding students in the right direction to meet the learning objectives of each course and of the MIS program. Between now and December, students will continue to build on the foundation laid so far, integrating their learnings to meet increasingly complex challenges. And at the end of the semester, they will look back on what they learned, see how far they have come, and look forward to the next leg on their journey.
Monday, September 28, 2009
MIS Program Objectives
While preparing for a meeting with the MIS Advisory Committee, where we continue to improve and refine our programs, I pulled up a copy of the Master of Information Systems "Learning Objectives." This document consists of a short narrative paragraph describing the focus of the program, the expectations of incoming students, and the goals of coursework in the program. That paragraph is followed by a more detailed list of several specific objectives, ranging from technology development to teamwork.
This seems to be a fairly standard statement of program learning objectives. It is also the sort of statement that could be easy to lose sight of when considering possibilities for improving and expanding the program, reaching more people, offering more classes, and covering more topics. Consider the first sentence from the learning objectives:
"The MIS program provides preparation for the business student at the graduate level to master information systems technology and achieve success in their careers..." To focus in, just a little more: "... to master information systems technology..."
A master of woodworking must be able to visualize how components can be designed, formed, and assembled to create a product of exceptional quality, but must also be adept in the use jigs, routers, lathes, drills, and saws to achieve that vision.
A master of information systems must be able to visualize how processes, systems, and data can be integrated to solve difficult problems and generate significant value, but must also be adept in the use of technology to support business operations, model requirements, develop applications, analyze data, and improve decision-making to achieve that vision.
This is our shared vision, when we look at various ways to improve and expand the program. And this is the vision that brought us to where we are today, with a program that provides hands-on experience with some of the most widely used systems and technologies in modern business, cutting-edge curriculum delivered by world-class faculty, and practical application to solve real problems and provide real value.
This seems to be a fairly standard statement of program learning objectives. It is also the sort of statement that could be easy to lose sight of when considering possibilities for improving and expanding the program, reaching more people, offering more classes, and covering more topics. Consider the first sentence from the learning objectives:
"The MIS program provides preparation for the business student at the graduate level to master information systems technology and achieve success in their careers..." To focus in, just a little more: "... to master information systems technology..."
A master of woodworking must be able to visualize how components can be designed, formed, and assembled to create a product of exceptional quality, but must also be adept in the use jigs, routers, lathes, drills, and saws to achieve that vision.
A master of information systems must be able to visualize how processes, systems, and data can be integrated to solve difficult problems and generate significant value, but must also be adept in the use of technology to support business operations, model requirements, develop applications, analyze data, and improve decision-making to achieve that vision.
This is our shared vision, when we look at various ways to improve and expand the program. And this is the vision that brought us to where we are today, with a program that provides hands-on experience with some of the most widely used systems and technologies in modern business, cutting-edge curriculum delivered by world-class faculty, and practical application to solve real problems and provide real value.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Classes are Rolling
It's been a while since the last update, since preparing for the new cohort of MIS students and getting ready for classes has put blogging on a bit of a back burner. Well, classes are rolling now, and we have nearly 40 new graduate students this fall! The mix is roughly split between full-time MIS and part-time (Professional MIS and Certificate) students. We have so many great new students this semester that we are even experiencing a few growing pains... this is a wonderful challenge to have.
Most of our new students are taking Seminar in Systems Development and Data Management Systems in their first semester. Seminar in Systems Development explores modern challenges and opportunites in system analysis, design, and project management, and is taught by Dr. Viswanath Venkatesh. Data Management Systems takes a hands-on approach to learning how data is managed in modern organizations and how data can be turned into information for better and faster business decision making, and is taught by Dr. Paul Cronan.
Most of our new students are taking Seminar in Systems Development and Data Management Systems in their first semester. Seminar in Systems Development explores modern challenges and opportunites in system analysis, design, and project management, and is taught by Dr. Viswanath Venkatesh. Data Management Systems takes a hands-on approach to learning how data is managed in modern organizations and how data can be turned into information for better and faster business decision making, and is taught by Dr. Paul Cronan.
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