Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business developing plans to offer new online MBA for professionals

RICE UNIVERSITY
David Ruth
713-348-6327
david@rice.edu

Jeff Falk
713-348-6775
jfalk@rice.edu

2U, INC.
Jemila Woodson
301-892-4419
jwoodson@2U.com 

Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business developing plans to offer new online MBA for professionals

HOUSTON – (June 29, 2017) – Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business  today announced plans to launch a new online Master of Business Administration program, subject to Rice Faculty Senate and accreditor approval.* MBA@Rice is designed to prepare the next generation of global leaders to excel in the ever-changing business landscape.

McNair Hall, home of Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business.

The Jones School is partnering with 2U Inc., a leading provider of high-quality education online, to deliver the program.

“Our top priority is to deliver distinctive degree programs and groundbreaking research to impact businesses worldwide,” said Peter Rodriguez, dean of the Jones School. “Through an extensive consultative process and formal vote, the Jones School faculty strongly endorsed this new program. We look forward to working with the Rice Faculty Senate and our accrediting body in the next developmental steps.”

“Offering these degree programs will increasingly involve leveraging digital education. Students across the country will have the opportunity to experience the Rice MBA program without the need to relocate,” Rodriguez added.

The Jones Graduate School of Business ranks among the nation’s top business schools by Bloomberg Businessweek and the Financial Times. MBA@Rice courses will be taught by nationally recognized faculty who integrate insights from their own research to teach in a compelling, engaging learning environment, Rodriguez said. Students and faculty will meet weekly in live, small-group online sessions. Students will study prerecorded, interactive course content between sessions. The program will include required on-campus immersive experiences and global offsite experiences, where students will collaborate in person to further develop leadership skills in a global context.

“The Jones School has a well-earned reputation for innovation, rigor and creativity in its educational programs,” said Rice Provost Marie Lynn Miranda. “This new approach is yet another example of the school’s agility and inventiveness in leveraging new technologies to reach a broader audience.”

“We’re excited that the Jones School plans to offer Rice University’s first blended degree program,” said Rice President David Leebron. “The Jones School faculty rightly insisted the highest standards be applied to this program, and we believe it will make an outstanding business education available to a larger number of talented students around the world.”

MBA@Rice will be designed to serve working professionals with extensive experience who may not have the option to study on campus. The program, targeting career accelerators, will join the on-campus full-time, professional and executive programs as avenues to earn the Rice MBA.

The Jones School seeks to launch the new program in 2018.

*Rice’s regional accrediting agency is the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

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Related materials:

Jones Graduate School of Business: http://business.rice.edu.