Faculty commitment to MBA students shines in assessment outcomes

Faculty in Heidelberg’s School of Business are having a strong and positive impact on students in the PlusOneAdvantage® MBA program, and they have the numbers to back it up.
 
Associate Professor Dr. Trish Berg recently led an assessment study with Peregrine Global Services which looked at student learning and outcomes across 13 concept areas. Peregrine -- the industry standard instrument used by business schools worldwide – conducted online pre-testing of MBA students in the fall semester as part of the MBA orientation course and then a post-test in the MBA capstone course as they finish the program. Results are then compared with peer and aspirant schools.
 
After learning the results, faculty members are beaming with pride.
 
’Berg MBA students stacked up exceedingly well, performing better in the aggregate in comparison with benchmarks in three groups: Accreditation Council for Business School Programs (ACBSP) Region 4 schools (Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin), all ACBSP schools in the U.S, and Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), another national accrediting agency.
 
“This is a big deal,” Trish said. “Our students performed very, very well against all three of these benchmarks. … No matter who you compare us to, (these results) show that we are a valid, rigorous MBA program.
 
“We have a standard to live up to and it’s really important to know that we are doing that.”
 
In essence, ‘Berg MBA students started the test with high results and ended even higher. Here is a snapshot of how they fared:

• 83.6% scored in the top half of ACBSP Region 4 schools
• 75.4% scored in the top half of all ACBSP-accredited schools
• 78.7% scored in the top half of all AACSB schools

“This is really impressive and demonstrates that the MBA education students receive from Heidelberg prepares them across business disciplines on par with business schools across the nation,” said Dr. Todd Harrison, dean of the School of Business.
 
For example, MBA students’ knowledge skyrocketed more than 50 percent from pre-test to post-test, a “testament to the quality of instruction students receive.”
 
“This backs my initial observation of the work our faculty put into their classes,” said Todd, who became dean of the School of Business in August.
 
School of Business faculty members took on the Peregrine assessment study in preparation for the ACBSP reaccreditation process in 2026. Every faculty member who teaches in the MBA program – now offered fully online – sets the bar high for student success, working together as a team. They also bring their industry experience and teaching experience from other institutions to the table. They are successfully utilizing their breadth of knowledge and experience to train skilled, intelligent, and well-prepared graduates.
 
But don’t take our word for it. Hear it from two recent MBA alumni who are thriving in their careers.

From the classroom to the real world

About six months ago, Em Swain, who earned their bachelor’s degree in ‘22 and MBA in ’23, accepted a position with Epic Systems in Madison, Wisconsin. She trains employees of healthcare organizations around the world to get the most out of Epic’s software and make patients’ lives easier with tools like MyChart. In her new role, Em has found that they utilize skills gained in the MBA program daily, especially the Excel tool.
 
“The Heidelberg MBA also helped me hone my presenting and public speaking skills, which are necessary for a job like mine,” Em said. “I also find that I use some of the sales tactics and marketing language when I train because it’s my job to introduce and sell end-users the software that their organization leadership may have already purchased.”
 
For Megan Vesely, an internship while she was finishing up her MBA this summer has turned into full-time employment. Megan started as a social media content creator intern with Where I’m From Apparel in Columbus, Ohio, and was recently promoted to a marketing coordinator.
 
Confident in her marketing skills, Megan wanted a deeper understanding of how areas like sales, finance, and logistics interconnect. So she pursued her MBA at the Berg after earning her bachelor’s degree here in ’23. “My goal was to ensure my marketing strategies were more targeted, informed, and aligned with the broader objectives of the business,” she said.
 
In her full-time role, Megan has discovered that she applies data analysis concepts daily. “Now, my social media decisions are driven by insights that align with the company’s sales objectives, rather than just following creative impulses.”
 
No matter the setting, Megan can clearly communicate her strategies, explain the thinking behind them, and ask for support when she needs it. “Heidelberg’s MBA equipped me well for this transition from the classroom to the professional world,” she said.
 
Armed with the experience and knowledge they gained as MBA students, Em and Megan have proven they are just two ‘Berg MBA alumni who are crushing it in the industry.