Designed to accelerate entrepreneurship and innovation in the region
The University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees approved a new PhD in Business Administration, the 13th doctoral program at UMass Dartmouth and the first at the Charlton College of Business. The program, approved last Wednesday, will now be submitted to the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education for final approval.
The new PhD program advances the UMass Dartmouth strategic plan -- UMassDTransform2020 -- which envisions the University achieving Doctoral Research University status and serving as a catalyst in the development of the regional innovation economy. The PhD program builds on the MBA program which grew from 168 students in the fall of 2011 to 328 in fall of 2014. Besides being the only Business Administration PhD south of Boston, the Charlton College of Business doctoral program will be the only UMass Business Administration PhD with a part-time option for working business and technology executives, and it will feature an Operations/Technology Management option. The program will be linked to the University's Advanced Technology and Manufacturing Center, Business Innovation Research Center, and SouthCoast Development Partnership.
"The PhD in Business Administration is an important step toward UMass Dartmouth's goals of growing our $25 million research enterprise in both size and impact, and achieving national recognition as a doctoral research university,'' Chancellor Divina Grossman said. "This program is designed to accelerate innovation and entrepreneurship in our region and beyond. It will strengthen our engagement with the business community and create exciting research opportunities that connect the Charlton College with our other world class research enterprises."
"For the first time, those entrepreneurs and executives in our region who want to take on the challenge of the highest level of academic achievement will have that opportunity,'' said Provost Mohammed Karim. "They will be the exemplars who help build a culture of innovation in this region and strengthen the research culture on our campus."
"The survival of business enterprises in the global marketplace will increasingly depend on highly sophisticated strategies and processes that have yet to be discovered and deployed,'' said Dr. Angappa Gunasakaran, Dean of the Charlton College of Business. "High level skills such as problem framing and data analysis are very valuable in the information-driven economy so this program is designed to provide executives with the skills and knowledge they need to compete. At the same time, this program will add value to our MBA and undergraduate programs as our PhD scholars interact with our faculty and students."
Other UMass Dartmouth PhD programs are: Biomedical Engineering/Biotechnology, Chemistry, Educational Leadership/Policy Studies, Electrical Engineering, Engineering/Applied Science, Luso-Afro-Brazilian Studies and Theory, Marine Science and Technology, Mathematics Education, and Nursing.
UMass Dartmouth also offers a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Education Doctorate in Leadership and Policy (EdD), and the Commonwealth's only Juris Doctor (JD - Law) degree.
The Charlton College, internationally accredited by the AACSB, recently launched new master's degree programs in accounting, technology management, and health care management.
The Board of Trustees approval of the PhD program comes as the university is preparing to begin construction this summer on a $15 million expansion of the Charlton College of Business.
FEEDBACK FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY
Nicholas M. Christ, President/CEO, BayCoast Bank
"The addition of a PhD program at the Charlton College of Business would be a tremendous advancement in this region's efforts to improve local educational opportunities. It would open doors for so many of our local students, business leaders and innovative thinkers, including current professionals who would be best served by a part-time option that enables them to become leaders in the field while being employed in the area. This expansion of degree offering at the Charlton College of Business will support industry engagement and business innovation throughout the SouthCoast. It allows for another progressive option in our paths towards lifelong learning."
Karen Medeiros, Vice President, Gilbane Building Company
"As a member of the local business community, I am proud we now have a business administration PhD program available in the SouthCoast of Massachusetts. The potential of the program will drive research, innovation and entrepreneurship, resulting in economic development for the region while providing an executive option for working professionals. I applaud the Charlton College of Business leadership for its perseverance in making the SouthCoast a better place to do business."
Brian Plummer, Vice President of Manufacturing, Cadence, Inc.
"The new PhD program in business administration at CCB is a significant milestone in the University's support of economic development in the SouthCoast region. Innovation and entrepreneurship are essential elements in driving economic growth and the research provided through a PhD program in business administration strengthens those capabilities within our region.
"I think the flexibility of an executive PhD program is a valuable option for those working professionals who want to continue their career while pursuing a PhD part-time. I also believe the PhD program will strengthen the University itself by helping to attract and retain the highest quality faculty at both the graduate and undergraduate level while enhancing the depth and breadth of the research already taking place at the school. "
Michael A. Desmarais, Vice President Operations, ReTrans Freight
"The PhD program in business administration will promote innovative research to enrich the quality of all undergraduate and graduate business programs. The part-time option for working professionals will provide an excellent pathway to leadership positions in business, government and higher education."
Robert Mellion, President and CEO, Fall River Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry
"The business community of southeastern Massachusetts applauds the Charlton College of Business at UMass Dartmouth for addressing the educational needs of the region by establishing a PhD program in business administration. Development of a diversified and sustainable economy in the 21st century requires an availability of affordable and flexible advanced degree programs that steward innovation and entrepreneurship. Many area companies have had a difficult time in attracting and securing talented senior level management candidates. The PhD program in business administration addresses this problem by preparing existing executives and working professionals for advance positions within the financial, niche manufacturing, green technology, health and life sciences and professional industry clusters. Introduction of the new PhD program in business administration at the Charlton College of Business at UMass Dartmouth could not come at a better time."