The Weekly Update – Professional and Online MBA: March 17, 2016
Program News & Announcements
US News & World Report Ranking
The Jenkins MBA Program rose to No. 52 among full-time MBA programs and No. 34 among part-time MBA programs in the United States, according to the 2017 U.S. News & World Report Best Business Schools ranking released today. This ranking follows a recent No. 15 Best Online MBA Program ranking (U.S. News & World Report) and No. 29 Best MBA Program ranking (Bloomberg Businessweek). We invite you to read more here.
Excel Level 2 Training at McKimmon Center: April 1st and April 8th
Excel Level 2 Training builds upon basic knowledge and skills and is designed for individuals who already have foundational knowledge and skills in Excel. Students will advance their data analysis skills and abilities through the application of advanced Excel functionality such as advanced formula creation, tables, charts, PivotTables, and PivotCharts. In this course, students will learn to create advanced formulas and analyze data with logical and lookup functions. Students will also learn to organize worksheet data with tables and visualize data by using charts.
The MBA program is happy to offer this course to Jenkins MBA students free of charge. Students can sign up for this Excel Level 2 Training on either Friday, April 1st or Friday, April 8th by filling out this Google Form by Tuesday, March 22nd to request a spot. Please note that filling out this form does not ensure you have a seat in the class – seats will be allocated on a first come, first served basis and spaces will be allocated equally amongst full-time, professional evening, and online students. Classes are restricted to 18 students per class and the course runs from 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the NC State McKimmon Center. Students will be notified by Wednesday, March 23rd if they have been approved to attend a session. Questions? Contact Claire Jefferies at csjeffer@ncsu.edu.
Save the Date – Graduation Reception: Thursday, May 5th
In the next two weeks, an invitation will go out to all students graduating this semester with details for our spring ’16 graduation reception at the Carol Johnson Poole Clubhouse on Centennial Campus. This is a great event and we encourage students to attend with their spouses/significant others and/or family members. We also encourage students to submit photos from their time in the program for a slideshow. Please email any photos (from class, events, volunteering, study abroad, etc.) to Ritika Bhatnagar at rbhatna2@ncsu.edu by Monday, April 18th.
Summer graduates: if you are interested in walking in the spring graduation ceremony and/or attending the spring graduation reception, please email your academic advisor ASAP for more details and to confirm your attendance.
Annual Poole College Student Leadership and Innovation Showcase: April 21st
Jenkins MBA students are encouraged to enter their practicum and other applied learning projects from either the fall 2015 or spring 2016 semester in the Poole College of Management’s 8th Annual Leadership & Innovation Showcase. Teams will submit a one-page project summary and poster, and will do two 90 second presentations to a team of judges comprised of business leaders, alumni, and Poole faculty/staff, for a chance to win up to $5000 in awards. To register and for more information, please visit the PCOM website.
Academic Advising
Key Dates and Advising Information
You should have received an email earlier this week from Dean Allen regarding summer and fall registration. However, as a reminder, here are the key dates and important information for you to consider:
- March 22: Summer registration opens at 9 a.m.
- Mid-April: Fall registration opens. Exact date TBA, but this is later than usual. Registration will open for all MBA students at the same time.
- Late registration for fall begins July 20th, so you will have about two months to register for classes prior to the late registration period.
For additional details about summer and fall registration or to book an appointment for summer advising with your academic advisor, please visit the MBA website.
Career Management Center
H1-B Process Presentation for International Students: March 18th
Join Jill Blitstein, an attorney with years of experience working with corporations and universities, for a presentation on the process of obtaining H1-B status. This workshop will help you understand how to explain the H1-B process to a potential employer and to show the ROI for hiring international candidates. Bring your questions! This session will be held on Friday, March 18th from 9 – 10:30 in Classroom 1130, Nelson Hall.
Campus & Student Club Events
BioScience Management Club Meeting: March 18th
The first meeting of the BioScience Management Club will be held this Friday, March 18th at 4:30 p.m. at Raleigh Brewing Company. At this first session, the club will learn about student’s interests in order to reach out to MMB/MBA alumni contacts and arrange a speaker for the next meeting. Even if you can only attend for a few minutes, please stop by so the club can get an idea of how many people will be participating in the club, what everyone’s schedules are like, and can gauge interest levels.
Poole College Business Sustainability Collaborative
Free Registration for NC State Students to Attend Environmental Tech Summit
Join environmental professionals and software/hardware developers at the first Environmental Tech Summit on April 11th at the Contemporary Art Museum (CAM) in downtown Raleigh. The Summit will inspire the next generation of techno-environmental professionals by exploring commercially available technologies. Hear from keynote Nicholas Albergo (GHD Services, founder and CEO of HSA Engineers & Scientists) as well as representatives from ESC Lab Sciences, Duke University, Rutgers University, Souther Environmental Law Center, Smashing Boxes, and many more. NC State students can use the code NCSUETS2016 to receive complimentary registration.
Upcoming Dates to Remember:
March 18: H1-B Workshop
March 18: BioSciences Club Meeting
March 22: Summer Registration Begins
March 24: YPN Event – Professional Development Through Volunteerism
March 25: Spring Holiday – no classes
April 1: Excel Level 2 Training
April 8: Excel Level 2 Training
April 11: Environmental Tech Summit
April 14: Summer 1 Billing Due Date
April 21: Summer 1 Late Registration Begins
May 3: Summer 1 Billing Due Date
May 18: Summer 1 Census Date
May 30: Memorial Day Holiday – no classes
April 21: 8th Annual Student Leadership and Innovation Showcase
April 26: Reading Day – no classes
April 27 – May 5: Final Exams
May 5: Jenkins MBA Graduation Reception
May 7: Spring Commencement
Meet a Jenkins MBA: The Weekly Spotlight
Name: Allison Bonner, Jenkins Professional Evening MBA
Employer & Job Title: Culture & Communications Specialist, SAS
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
Previous Degrees & Institutions: B.A. in Music and B.A. in Communications, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Q: Tell us something we might be surprised to find out.
A: I have a degree in Opera, and have sung in the Bulgarian Opera House, Carnegie Hall, and the Royal Academy of Music in London. Oh, and my ancestors were Irish horse thieves, so there’s that.
Q: What’s the most fun or enlightening experience you’ve had in the MBA program so far?
A: It would have to be working with John Hutchings. I took his “Accelerate Your Career” course my first semester, and it was a great opportunity to reflect and assess my professional aspirations. Now, I’m thrilled to call him a friend and mentor – he’s coached me through two job opportunities, and provided great insight and advice throughout the process. If you haven’t met John yet (or taken his class), you’re missing out.
Q: If you had five minutes to teach someone something new, what would you teach?
A: I’ve lived in and loved the south my whole life, so I’d teach people a few “southern-isms.” If someone is going through a hard time, you bring them a “covered dish.” If someone says “Bless your heart,” it’s not a compliment. If someone lets you change lanes in traffic, throw your hand up and wave. “Y’all” is the best contraction ever created. “Yonder” is an unspecified distance that’s probably a little farther than you think. Finally, my personal favorite southern sentiment, shared by Reese Witherspoon: “If it’s not moving, monogram it.”
Q: What’s the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you?
A: I was in a meeting early in my career, and I posed a question to the group hedging with, “This may be a stupid question, but…” I got a call that afternoon from my Vice President, and she said, “You don’t ever need to say that your question might be stupid. You’re an intelligent woman whose voice deserves to be heard, and you asked a great question. You’re better than that.” I was floored and profoundly thankful that she took the time and interest in me to share that advice. I’ve never used those words again.
Q: What’s your favorite song to cheer you up get you pumped up, or ready to face the day?
A: Anything by Queen Bey. #IWokeUpLikeThis
Q: What’s your dream job/career goal? How is the Jenkins MBA helping you get there?
A: I’d like to be a Chief Human Resources Officer or lead a Corporate Affairs team because I have a passion for people, communications, and corporate reputation/employment brand strategy. The Jenkins MBA will help me achieve these goals because, while it’s easy to focus on the aspects of business I have a particular affinity for, this degree will give me the ability to operate at an enterprise level providing a solid understanding of core business functions.
