Undergraduate Opportunities

Last month, Alliant President Geoff Cox announced a major new undergraduate education initiative. Alliant has removed its previous minimum number of transfer units and is now accepting applications from students with any number of credits earned elsewhere. Each student’s transfer credits will be assessed to meet degree requirements and a growing range of lower division undergraduate courses will be offered this Fall in both specialized areas such as business, international relations and psychology and in broader general education topics.

Additionally, President Cox announced an important expansion of Alliant’s financial aid for undergraduates — new scholarships for students with good academic records. The net effect of such aid will be to reduce the cost of an Alliant education for many students to a level near that of the California State University system.Allliant’s already low tuition levels and is another example of our commitment to the students of California and beyond. For more information, go to www.success.alliant.edu. James Ellis of Alliant’s admissions team will be glad to provide assistance (jellis@alliant.edu).

A Lot Going On

The last few weeks of an academic year are always extremely full. Not only do we try to complete classes, give exams and otherwise finish the term, but the calendar if full of other things.

For example, in the past three weeks I have been in Mexico City and Beijing. In Mexico City I was working with Alliant’s team there to continue to improve our offerings and to expand our programs. My trip to Beijing was designed to work with three partner universities there and to increase the number of their students coming to Alliant. In both cases, this work was directly connected to Alliant’s international mission. All of Alliant gains from international students who bring perspectives and ideas the contribute to the education among peers that goes on here. In addition, we want to provide opportunities and incentives for our American students to study in other countries.

Russia is another country were partnerships are being forged. We were visited by two senior academics from St. Petersburg University of Management and Economics as part of an effort enable their MBA students to study in San Diego. And, since faculty connections are vital, Professor Lee White is preparing to co-teach an accounting course in St. Petersburg in the Fall of 2012. More such partnerships are in the works, as we seek a diverse group of global partners.

Professor White has also has led ASM’s efforts in the area of professional certification. Last week, I had the pleasure of presenting the first four SAP certificates. SAP, the German software giant, works universities around the world to augment classes with material designed to provide students with specialized capacities with SAP’s products and services. ASM students can qualify for such certification through their courses — an outcome with clear practical impacts. There are thousands of job openings globally for people with these skills.

Rigor and quality are also vital in an educational institution. After all, there is no market for mediocrity. Alliant’s faculty has taken on he task of reviewing and restructuring its DBA curriculum (having already done the same with the MBA and undergraduate curricula). The faculty has also initiated a series of doctoral research seminars. The first of these was held May 18 and included a reception for DBA students and faculty, followed by a fascinating presentation by Professor Cornelis Los. This series will pick up again in the Fall and will be held monthly with different members of the faculty presenting their research.This format provides a superb opportunity for DBA students and faculty members to interact and build on their classes together.

Finally, we are almost at Commencement (Friday, May 25). “Commencement” is the proper term, as the students who have fulfilled the requirements of their degrees are stepping out from the “free and ordered space” of the university (to use the words of the late Bart Giammati, former President of Yale) into the disorderly world where they will put their learning to use.

 

 

 

Alliant’s Expanded Undergraduate Opportunities

Alliant has just announced a new set of undergraduate opportunities and its commitment to the students of California. Below is the press released issued today. This is an important step for Alliant and for students all over the State. There will be a fair amount of media attention in the next few days.

ALLIANT INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY LAUNCHES SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
&
NEW COURSE OFFERINGS

Program is part of efforts to increase access for students affected by California budget cuts.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – At a time when public higher education in California is declining in accessibility, affordability and availability, Alliant International University is expanding its undergraduate offerings, making its programs more flexible and cost effective, and implementing new merit‐based scholarships. Alliant’s three‐pronged initiative, which will be implemented for the Fall 2012 semester at the San Diego campus, includes the following:

1. Alliant is eliminating its current minimum requirement of 45 units of transfer credit. Students may transfer any number of credits from other institutions including community colleges. Students can major in psychology, business, marketing and international relations. Additional majors in child development and criminal justice are coming soon. The curriculum will follow California standards for general education, meaning that credits from community colleges or California State University branches will seamlessly transfer into Alliant.

2. To increase flexibility Alliant undergraduate students will have three options to take courses: in the classroom, online, or a hybrid of the two.

3. Alliant is introducing the Direct Success Scholarship Program. The program has two levels – a $3,000 Merit scholarship provided to all students who have completed at least 60 units (including those transferred from another institution) and a cumulative GPA of 3.0; and a $7,000 President’s scholarship awarded to qualified students who have exhibited leadership skills and academic excellence including a GPA of 3.5 or better. Details of the application process and eligibility guidelines can be found at success.alliant.edu

“As we all witness the California higher education budget crisis unfold, impacting the aspirations of thousands of students, we are helping to ensure that the dream of higher education will continue,” said Geoffrey Cox, president, Alliant International University. “Alliant already has a strong reputation for its small classes, flexible schedules, remarkable diversity, and tuition that is much lower than most private schools. With these new offerings, we’re also hoping to be part of the solution to the current economic challenges.”

“We welcome students with any number of credits,” said Russ Newman, provost and vice president for academic affairs, Alliant International University. “We’ll work with every student to take full advantage of their transfer credits and help them fill in any missing requirements. In today’s economy, and with so many non‐traditional students and recent veterans looking to advance their education to secure better careers, we felt it was important that Alliant develop a system that ensures that students can enter at any point in the curriculum.”

Currently, these new offerings are only available to students enrolled at Alliant’s San Diego campus. Depending on the interest and success of these new offerings, Alliant may consider expanding this program to its other seven California campuses. For further information and to apply for the Alliant Direct to Success Scholarships, students should visit http://success.alliant.edu or call the Admissions Office at 1‐866‐U‐ALLIANT.

About Alliant

Alliant International University is a private, not‐for‐profit university accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Alliant was formed in 2001 by the merger of two legacy institutions, the California School of Professional Psychology and United States International University, with more than 45,000 alumni. Today, Alliant serves more than 4,000 students in six California cities and three international locations. It is one of the most diverse universities in the nation. Alliant qualifies as a Hispanic Serving Institution and has been recognized as one of the top “Military Friendly” universities in the country. For more details, visit http://www.alliant.edu.

Getting Started

I have been seeking ways to better connect with Alliant alumni, students and prospective students and at the urging of some of the faculty and staff  have initiated this blog. It is my hope that this channel of communication can augment the other avenues I have to talk about the School of Management and the University and the tremendous opportunities before us.

I would like to thank Professor Mile Beauchamp and his integrated marketing and communication undergraduate students who helped me set up this blog. They zipped me through the process, designing and producing a professional-looking blog site and making the appropriate links, all in about one hour. I am always impressed with Alliant students. They combine technical competence, creativity, and a professional outlook. Coming from several different countries, they not only learn from each other, but are representative of not only Alliant, but the world. One cannot talk seriously about management and leadership without fully integrating perspectives on diversity, multiculturalism and internationalism. Our students personify this and this is a great advantage for them in whatever they do.

 

Welcome to my blog

Although the Alliant School of Management has a lengthy and distinguished history, it is the future that we are focused upon. I recently joined the School as Dean and have been delighted and impressed with the quality of our faculty and students. This is, of course, the most important thing—an institution of higher education has no other real purpose besides providing the best possible environment for student learning.

Here at Alliant, we concentrate on professional practice. Our goal is not to be an ivory tower, but to help educate individuals who will go out into the world to accomplish something. Our graduates have been successful in many companies, fields and countries, and we intend to build upon this tradition.

Alliant is also one of the most diverse and international schools of management and business in the world. We have successful alumni in over 100 countries – and currently, 28 different countries are represented among our students. We also have a strong record of educational success for students from all sorts of backgrounds. This is especially important for the learning of all students. We know that peer education—students learning from both formal and informal interaction with each other—is a crucial element of higher education. The diversity of our student body means we have the highest quality peer education.

In addition, our location in San Diego, one of the more heterogeneous and international cities in the United States, means an Alliant education takes place in the richest of environments. Finally, this sort of educational experience is particularly valuable because we know that the world of the future our students will inherit and shape will be a world of ever increasing change and variety. Successful organizational and business leaders will know how to work and lead in such environments.

Our faculty is highly regarded, both academically and professionally. Its members also come from diverse backgrounds and they are dedicated teachers with tremendous, wide experience in industry and academe.

We have strong networks for internships, research projects and jobs. Classes are relatively small and students are treated as academic colleagues and professionals. In short, the learning environment is very conducive to student growth and learning.

We at Alliant School of Management are committed to excellence in education, to providing our students with what they need to make the most of their professional opportunities. I hope you will take a look at us and our programs. My colleagues and I welcome an opportunity to talk with you.

Dr. Chet Haskell
Dean
School of Management