Back to News 
MILLIGAN COLLEGE, TN (Nov. 20, 2002) – The business world needs leaders who act with an ethical conscie
nce and Christian morals, said Milligan economics professor Bill Greer, and that’s just what Milligan College intends to provide with its new master of business administration degree.
College officials announced the MBA program at a Wednesday luncheon for its Business Advisory Panel and President’s Executive Council. Both groups consist of local business and civic leaders.
“This program is a response to a great national need, and a place where Milligan should endeavor to lead,” said Milligan president Donald R. Jeanes. “Those called to leader
ship positions in the world of business and commerce have a great responsibility in today’s world-it is a responsibility that must be met with a commitment to Christian values and ethical conduct.
“Milligan designed its MBA program with this in mind-to prepare business people to meet the challenges of a highly competitive environment with integrity and character.”
MBA classes are scheduled to begin in July 2003. The program is an executive model to accommodate professionals working at every level of management and supervision, explained Greer, chair of the business area at Milligan. Classes meet one w
eekend per month for 18 months on the Milligan campus, with the remainder of course work capable of being completed online.
Jeanes said that Milligan has been considering
an MBA program since 1994 and in the past two years has worked to make it a reality.
“Market research, feasibility studies, and input from our Business Advisory Panel of local business leaders have reinforced our belief that there is a need for this program. Our business faculty have developed a very solid curriculum and program,” said Jeanes. “The faculty and board of trustees gave final approval to the program last month and we are now eager to start.”
Milligan’s academic dean, Dr. Mark Matson, said the program fits very well with Milligan’s mission as an insti
tution and with the rest of the college’s curriculum.
“The MBA has been developed with the high standards which are typical of Milligan’s academic curriculum,” said Matson. “The nature of the program certainly fits well with our effort to reach and prepare potential leaders for all areas of society.”
Matson, Jeanes and Greer all three explained that Milligan’s ethics-laden MBA program comes at a time when society perhaps needs it most.
series of investigations and revealing poor corporate governance at some of America’s best-known firms,” said Greer. “Not only are these practices eroding consumer and investor confidence and rocking the economy, but thousands have lost their jobs and some their life savings.”
Greer explained that Milligan’s MBA curriculum was designed to prepare students to be successful in the major functional areas of business, while reinforcing their commitment to Christian values.
”
Students will explore the relationship between Christianity and commerce and the role of character in leadership and ethical decision making,” said Greer. For example, in addition to learning theory and practices such as forecasting, statistical analysis, and managerial leadership, students will also be challenged to think about the ethical implications of their decisions.
“Morals, values, integrity and honesty are major components of each and every course, just as they should be in the business world with each and every transaction,” said Greer.
The MBA curriculum consists of four semesters. The program begins by developing a broad understanding of the global environment of commerce, through courses such as global commerce and economics, strategic management and global marketing.
Semester two refocuses the student’s attention inward, toward effective and efficient utilization of corporate resources, with an emphasis on stewardship and resource management. Courses include information management and analysis, managerial economics and finance. During semester three, attention turns toward management and Christian leadership issues and semester four looks at social responsibility and strategic management.
Each intensive academic weekend on campus-beginning Friday evening and concluding Saturday evening-is complemented by five to six weeks of on
ensive professional and consulting experience in business.going discussion, class participation and other assignments, all facilitated by faculty using Internet-based resources, explained Greer.
The MBA faculty all have terminal degrees in their fields, as well as corporate executive experience, said Greer. They include Carolyn Carter, with a Ph.D. from Virginia Tech; Greer, Ph.D., University of Tennessee-Knoxville; Matson, Ph.D., Duke University, Bruce Montgomery, Ph.D., Bowling Green State University; Mark Peacock, J.D., Northern Illinois University College of Law; and Victoria Sitter, who is completing a Ph.D. in business at Regent University and who has ext
The college already has had considerable interest in the MBA program. Greer said the admissions committee currently has 11 completed applications in hand for the first class, even before the program was officially announced. The applicants represent employers such as Eastman Credit Union, Holston Medical Group, Honeywell, John Deere Health, King Pharmaceuticals, Mountain States Health Alliance, State of Franklin Healthcare Associates, and the United States Post Office.
The admissions office is receiving daily inquiries about the program, which Greer said reaffirms the need for this program in our region and nation.
For more information about Milligan’s MBA program, visit www.milligan.edu/MBA or call 423-461-8796.