Grad school reaches new campus

The UA Manderson Graduate School of Business will soon offer its executive master's program at the University of Alabama at Huntsville campus, said Susan West, director of the business college's graduate programs.

In fall 2008, executives who enroll in the program can take classes at the UAH campus but receive a UA degree, West said.

"I'm grateful we've had the opportunity to expand our program," West said. "Both campuses have worked hard to make it happen. I look forward to being up there and utilizing our sister campus."

West said the UAH program consists of 16 courses over a 21-month period, with classes meeting every other weekend. She also said the program is for mid- to senior-level management executives.

West said close to one-third of the Tuscaloosa program's students are from Huntsville, and the Huntsville area will be experiencing a fair amount of growth over the next few years due to military base realignment.

Brent Wren, director of graduate studies at the UAH business school, said he has been in charge of gathering resources for UAH to contribute to the program.

He said UAH does not have the resources for the program, and the UA program will serve a need in the area due to Huntsville's growing executive populous.

"We're enthusiastic about the whole process," Wren said. "We're glad we are now able to serve our area and the executives and students that will play a part in the program."

West said the Tuscaloosa program averages about 30 students a year, and she hopes the new program at UAH will enroll 15 to 20 next fall.

"It's a highly sought after degree," she said. "I strongly believe the demand will be there in the area. People know about our program, we're nationally recognized. We know what we're doing."

West said admissions and degrees for the program, as well as recruitment, will be handled in Tuscaloosa.

Classes will take an executive boardroom approach, as opposed to traditional lectures.

The program costs about $43,000 a year, which includes lodging, tuition and travel expenses, West said.