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Share your story!
Calling all alumni, students and partners, we want to hear the story of your experience with the College of Business! Complete this short, 5-minute form for a chance to be featured in future editions of the Innovating Business eNewsletter and Bellevue University’s social media accounts.
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College of Business partners with community organization to offer free tax preparation.
It’s tax season, which means the College of Business is partnering again with the Omaha EITC Coalition to help local residents prepare and file free individual tax returns through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.
Tax assistance is available on Saturdays through April 6, 2024, on the University’s main campus at the Freeman Lozier Library on an appointment basis.
“It’s a great way to serve the community and prepare our own students in important skills like client relations and tax preparation,” said Associate Professor of Accounting Patrick Callan. “We hope to serve many individuals and families this tax season and look forward to our continued partnership with the Omaha EITC Coalition.”
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Dean Murdock joins Higher Learning Commission’s Peer Review Corp.
College of Business Dean Rebecca Murdock has been accepted as a member of the Peer Review Corp for the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The HLC, an independent corporation and one of the seven regional accreditors in the United States, is responsible for accrediting degree-granting postsecondary educational institutions across the nation.
As a peer reviewer, Dean Murdock will join a group of professionals trained to evaluate colleges and universities, providing advice and consultation to facilitate continuous improvement. The Peer Review Corp plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality of education and adherence to standards set by the HLC.
The initial term of service for peer reviewers is two years, commencing upon the completion of the comprehensive training program.
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A Message from Dean Rebecca Murdock
In this edition of our College of Business newsletter, Innovating Business, we highlight two of our degree programs that stand apart in how they prepare students to be leaders in their fields: the Master of Business Administration and the Teacher Education Program, which includes a bachelor of science degree and a post-baccalaureate certification program, as well as a master’s degree in the near future.
The College of Business launched the MBA in 1995. It was truly ahead of its time in many ways – including its delivery, as it was the first MBA program to be offered entirely online. Now, nearly 40 years and more than 5,100 graduates later, the program remains as vibrant and innovative as ever. In this edition, we look back at its rich history and look forward to its exciting future through conversations with professors, students and a member of the college’s Advisory Board.
In comparison, the college’s Teacher Education Program is relatively new, of course. The State of Nebraska’s Department of Education granted formal approval for the program in 2021 and it’s been full steam ahead ever since. In many ways, the program offers a new, modern approach to educating our next generation of secondary teachers. A key part of that is the infusion of technology, including our planned Teacher Education Center of Excellence. This project will repurpose 14,500 square feet of the Riley Technology Center on our main campus, transforming it into a hub for state-of-the-art teacher education. You can read more about this project, the Teacher Education Program and the students finding inspiration from the ways we’re preparing them for the classrooms of tomorrow.
Thank you to everyone who has played a role in the success of these two innovative programs – and the entire College of Business, for that matter. Our legacy is rich with innovation and our future promises more of the same. I hope you continue to find your own inspiration as we enter 2024.
Of course, if you want to know more about anything the College of Business is doing, my door is always open, as is my inbox. Contact me.
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Let’s Hear From…
College of Business Advisory Board Member Dave Gregory, President of Conatus3 LLC
Dave Gregory and his fellow members of the College of Business Advisory Board play a key role in building on the college’s rich history of innovation. It’s one reason why Gregory values the time he dedicates to the board, which he joined in 2018.
“We help drive innovation through our willingness to provide insights into the challenges businesses are facing daily,” said Gregory, president of Conatus3 LLC, an organizational performance consultancy focusing on talent planning, on-boarding and people development. “We also provide feedback during the design and development of programs to meet those needs.”
Gregory said he joined the Advisory Board because of the university’s commitment to the communities it serves – locally and beyond – and the prominent role the College of Business plays in carrying out that mission. “Higher education is faced with many challenges. The world is rapidly changing and serving on the College of Business Advisory Board allows you to participate in the dialogue of change,” Gregory said. “I feel like I’ve received much more than I’ve contributed during my service.”
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MBA program builds on legacy of innovation.
College of Business Professor David Levy has taught in the MBA program since the program’s inception in 1995. He said the program has blazed a path of innovation since day one, including when it became the first MBA offered entirely online.
Another example of early innovation: an emphasis from the beginning on teaching analytics and problem-solving. Levy said this focus has remained constant over the program’s history.
“I believe this is a strength of our program. We have seen other MBA programs move away from this as these courses can be more challenging. However, there is now an increased interest in not only analytics but data analytics,” Levy said. “So, our program has been prepared for this interest in preparing MBA students for analytical work. We continue to integrate data analytics into our program, including redesigning one course with this specific focus.”
The university also was an early leader in providing concentration areas of study for MBA students.
“We’ve modified our program over the years as there was interest in students wanting to take some courses focused on specific business functions,” said Levy, who served as the MBA program director for 12 years.
Students can now choose from 21 concentrations that align with their career goals, including marketing, cybersecurity, accounting, finance and healthcare.
Other key features of the MBA program that have never wavered: the flexibility for students to learn online, in-person or a combination of both; the ability for students to earn their degrees in an accelerated amount of time; and learning that connects classroom and career.
“Through activities throughout the various courses, students have the opportunity to connect their course work with their professional life,” Levy said. “In addition, our adjuncts bring their experience into the classroom. This also gives the students an opportunity to see the application of their course work.”
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Teacher Education Program sets new standard through use of technology.
The College of Business’s Teacher Education Program sets itself apart from similar programs in multiple ways, including one that Bellevue University has made part of its mission since day one: flexibility for working adults.
“We are one of the few universities that offer evening classes and cater to those who work during the day,” said Director of Teacher Education Susan Alford, who joined Bellevue University four years ago and has more than 40 years’ experience in K-12 special education and teacher education at the postsecondary level.
The State Department of Education granted formal approval of the program in 2021, making it the first new teacher education degree program to be created in Nebraska in nearly 20 years. The university currently offers an undergraduate residential program and a post-baccalaureate non-degree certification program, with a master’s-level program planned for the near future.
The Teacher Education Program offers an innovative approach to educating the next generation of teachers, including the integration of the latest technology into its curriculum.
A driving force behind the increased emphasis on technology is the planned creation of the Teacher Education Center of Excellence, a project that would re-purpose 14,560 feet of the Riley Technology Center on the university’s main campus. Teachers in training will be able to learn and practice concepts related to the “flipped classroom” model, where class time is not devoted to lectures, but to a host of active-learning activities to students in various locations. The activities will range from breakout groups, to live polling, to guest speakers, to “live chat” discussions and virtual whiteboard activities. Additionally, two model classrooms are included in the project and will include both technology and equipment, such as interactive whiteboards, 3D and immersive learning, video conferencing software, and modular classroom furniture that will support future educators on the main campus and in classroom sites across Nebraska via technology.“ We’ll have truly state-of-the-art model classrooms,” Alford said. “We’ll be partnering with our Technology Center to allow our students to use technology in innovative ways for future teaching experiences, including things like AI, robotics and greenhouses.”
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MBA students prepared for shifting business landscape.
Since its creation nearly 40 years ago, Bellevue University’s MBA program has established itself as an innovative force in the world of graduate-level business education. Looking into the future, there’s no end in sight to that commitment.
“The program’s ongoing dedication to student success will be built on a proactive approach,” said the program’s director, Associate Professor Randa Zalman, “one that emphasizes an educational atmosphere that extends beyond traditional classroom settings to help prepare them for leadership roles in a constantly changing business environment.”
Zalman said moving forward, she and her College of Business colleagues will place an even greater emphasis on experiential learning opportunities, including the exploration of simulations and the incorporation of leading-edge technologies in areas like artificial intelligence and data analytics.
“We want to give our students the courage to stay curious about the talents and tools they’ll need to remain at the forefront of industry trends and today’s rapidly evolving business landscape,” she said, adding, “As the job market shifts, we’ll continue to be nimble and adapt by offering education and training in emerging fields and industries. Our focus will always be on helping our students be difference-makers and successful leaders, regardless of how the business environment changes.”
Of course, students will continue to benefit from faculty who combine lofty academic qualifications and rich professional experience. There’s no better example of this than Zalman herself, who started with the College of Business as an adjunct instructor in 2007. At the time, she was the advertising manager for a national insurance company. She eventually launched her own successful marketing agency, which she sold in 2019 when she accepted a full-time role with Bellevue University as an assistant professor.
This level of experience might seem rare, but it’s common among MBA faculty.
“Our students can learn from the latest industry insights and also enjoy a positive and enriching learning environment in the best traditions of academic pursuit,” Zalman said. “This makes the student experience both challenging and enjoyable.”
It’s an exciting time to be part of the MBA program, Zalman said.
“The program is an educational journey where collaboration, idea exchange and collective growth are prevalent,” she said. “It’s also a very vibrant community where students can build valuable connections and networks with like-minded individuals who share this dream of achieving success and contributing to the larger, dynamic business landscape.”
Rayne Clarkson echoes that glowing review. A commodity business manager in the semiconductor industry, she’s on track to graduate from the MBA program in fall 2024.
“Pursuing an MBA at Bellevue University has significantly enhanced my understanding of business practices, particularly in finance. This knowledge directly benefits my role in managing supply chain and supplier relationships,” Clarkson said. “I’ve already recommended the program to numerous colleagues who are now thriving in the program.”
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Education major draws inspiration from teachers, past and present.
Beverly Duran will graduate from Bellevue University with her Bachelor of Science in Education (Secondary) in summer 2024. A few months later, she plans on standing in front of a classroom of students with diverse learning needs and sharing her passion for history.
She’s confident she’ll be ready for the moment, thanks to her experience with the College of Business’s Teacher Education Program. Duran credits the program’s professors, who “always allow space for growth and understanding,” as well as the student support systems in place within the university.
“The unique approach that Bellevue University takes is the village that surrounds us as students,” Duran said. “I have always felt supported in every way.”
Duran is currently substitute teaching in her home school district while she finishes her degree. She believes this generation of school-age children are often unfairly criticized. “I think the current generation we teach is extremely bold, brave and resilient,” she said. “Being a part of the growth of the current generation would be an honor and an inspiration.”
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Middle school teacher finds his calling, credits Teacher Education Program.
Derek Berg heard his calling to be a teacher nearly 10 years after he earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science. He realized he wanted to teach physical education but didn’t possess the proper degree to pursue his career goal. Thanks to the Bellevue University Teacher Education Program, offered through the College of Business, Berg has answered his calling.
He recently earned his Bachelor of Science in Education (Secondary) with an endorsement in Physical Education. He’s teaching with Omaha Public Schools at Nathan Hale Magnet Middle School.
“Bellevue University is very good at taking students of all backgrounds and ages to preparing them to be educators,” Berg said.
He appreciates how the Teacher Education Program armed him with the wide range of knowledge and skills necessary for his current position.
“The program covers everything from classroom management to creating lesson plans and assessments, grading, methods of teaching, incorporating technology, reading and writing across all content areas, human relations and much more,” he said. “Everything has translated into my own classroom.”
Now he wears the blue and red of the Nathan Hale Patriots with pride. He’s also partial to purple and yellow.
“I’m proud to be a Bellevue University alum.”