UConn ups business on the syllabus

In a lightning-fast economy, universities must constantly adapt to the shifting job market by adding and subtracting courses, instructors and professional degrees, all while maintaining budget. Over the past several years, The University of Connecticut in Stamford has been responding to the job market by expanding its business school programs and strengthening its ties with the business community.

A risk-management offering that has nearly quadrupled enrollment in four years and that could sextuple the original number next year is one example of enthusiasm for the changes.

UConn'sStamford campus has always fostered positive relationships with corporations in the downtown area, said Stephanie Reitz, a spokeswoman for the university. Nestled in the heart of a booming business community, UConn Stamford's School of Business has been reaching out to major employers to get students involved in real projects for years.

"There's been a lot of emphasis on hands-on learning in the business school," Reitz said. "The Stamford Learning Accelerator has been teaming up students with companies to help them with projects. Last year, students worked with IBM to use their big data platform Big Blue. IBM mentored the students and it was a win-win for both sides."

UConn Business School Executive Director Jud Saviskas said there's been a definitive growth in the college and the business community plays a big role in providing direct input into that growth. Three new business programs have emerged in just four years.

Four years ago, the business school launched a master's degree program in financial risk management. Last fall, it started an undergraduate financial management program.

The one-year graduate program in financial risk management, which is offered in both the Hartford and Stamford campuses, grew from 23 students total in 2010 to 86 students who will graduate this May. The enrollment number is expected to reach 140 this fall.

"We set up a board of advisors made up of 12 different corporate individuals to come up with a curriculum for the graduate program in financial risk management," Saviskas said. "They have not only given us input when we started in 2010, but they continue to give us advice on trends in risk management we should be aware."

The undergraduate program in financial management accepted 29 students last fall. This is a combination of students transferring from other majors and new students. To strengthen the undergraduate financial management program, the school reached out to corporations and asked the Stamford Charted Financial Analyst society to mentor its students and provide advice on what content to include in its business programs.

"They stepped up to the plate and said, 'We'd be willing to mentor your students and find internships for some of them," Saviskas said. "And they've been great to work with."

A new undergraduate major in business data analytics is available starting this fall. At one time, courses that now contribute to this major were offered as electives. There has been ongoing dialogue between the business school and technology companies to discuss its curriculum.

"There's a big trend toward big data and data analysis," Saviskas said. "In various communications with IBM, GE and RBS, we learned that we should update our business program and introduce big data analysis, so we went to work on the curriculum."

Last fall, about 25 students enrolled in the business data analytics program. That number is expected to double by this fall.

UConn, which offers 13 undergraduate, three graduate and one nursing certificate program, has seen steady growth in admissions numbers throughout the years, Reitz said.

Four years ago, the university's board of trustees approved a faculty hiring plan, which means tuition would increase by 5 percent to 6 percent each year. The idea was that the tuition would contribute to the expansion of the faculty, programs and housing facilities, which could potentially double its student population to 2,800 by 2016, Reitz said.

"One thing UConn has been emphasizing over the years is ways to help boost the state's economy," Reitz said. "The way you do that is by graduating highly talented students who can make good careers with their jobs and also be entrepreneurial - create and grow a business and hire other people. It's a really good time for us to give back to the state."