IU Southeast business program ranks 5th in nation for best classroom experience in The Princeton Review

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October 22, 2008

By TARA HETTINGER The News and Tribune Wed Oct 22, 2008, 01:13 PM EDT

For the second straight year, Indiana University Southeast’s School of Business is being recognized nationally.

Last year, it was BusinessWeek which ranked IUS’ part-time MBA program as 18th in the nation and third in the Midwest.

Now, The Princeton Review ranked IUS’ business school as fifth in the nation for “Best Classroom Experience,” which is one of 11 categories measured.

“It’s not our goal to seek rankings ... but we are very pleased to be recognized,” said Jay White, dean of the school of business. “We’ve always had a good program, but it’s just now that we’re finally getting recognized.”

That recognition has helped with its MBA enrollment numbers. Last year, the program had 220 students and this year 253, according to Jon Bingham, director of graduate business programs.

White is urging those interested in the school to apply early.

“If it’s anything like the BusinessWeek rankings we got last year, this probably means a big bump up in applications,” White said. “We’re at capacity. We’re as big as we can get without expansions.”

However, Bingham said room will be made for qualified candidates.

“We’ll definitely find ways to accommodate students,” he said.

The Princeton Review’s rankings are based on its surveys of 19,000 students attending the 296 business schools listed in the book and on school-reported data from the 2007-08, 2006-07, and 2005-06 academic years.

The 80-question survey asked students about their school’s academics, student body and campus life, themselves and their career plans.

White said IUS’ business program was built around the students’ needs, taking into consideration the schedules of busy working professionals and the fact that some have or are starting families while they are pursuing a degree.

He said he believes that is why students rank the school so well.

Even with reaching this achievement, White said the school is not done.

“We’re certainly not going to sit back and get comfortable,” White said. “We’re already looking at ways to improve our curriculum” and help meet students’ needs.

THE PRINCETON REVIEW

TOP 5: BEST CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE

1. Indiana University — Bloomington (The Kelley School)

2. The Acton School of Business — Austin, Texas

3. Millsaps College Else School of Business — Jackson, Miss.

4. East Tennessee State College of Business & Technology — Johnson City, Tenn.

5. Indiana University Southeast School of Business — New Albany

IF YOU GO

• WHAT: Indiana University Southeast MBA Open House

• WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Thursday

• WHERE: IUS library

• DETAILS: Learn more about the MBA program

• FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.ius.edu/mba