Neighbor Island students begin UH MBA program via Internet

Neighbor Island participants enrolled in the new University of Hawaii at Manoa Shidler College of Business Distance Learning Executive MBA (Distance EMBA) program gathered on Oahu in late September to take part in a residence weekend.

For approximately 22 months, 30 students — three professionals from Kauai, nine from Hilo, 12 from Maui, two from Kona, one from Molokai and three from Oahu will attend classes remotely via the Internet.

“With this new program, military personnel and Neighbor Island professionals can now earn an Executive MBA and gain a competitive advantage for career growth within their own communities,” said Vance Roley, dean of the Shidler College of Business.

The Distance EMBA program is designed to give working professionals the opportunity to pursue a graduate degree while living and working in their current place of residence.

Through the Internet, students on all islands can connect to classes held at the Shidler College of Business.

Students are able to ask questions, conduct presentations and participate in classroom discussions — all in real time. This enables students to feel engaged, as if they are in a real class settings.

More than half the Neighbor Island participants received a partial scholarship, which was made possible through a $120,000 gift from Young Brothers, Hawaiian Tug & Barge, Maui Petroleum, Hawaii Petroleum, Minit Stop, Aloha Air Cargo and Saltchuk Resources.

For more information on the program, visit www.shidler.hawaii.edu/mba/dl or call (808) 956-5774.