The Robert W. Plaster School of Business Administration is one step closer to bringing a master’s of business administration to Missouri Southern.

In a ceremony held Friday, Sept. 7 at Northwest Missouri State University’s Kansas City Center in Liberty, Mo., Dr. Terri Agee, acting president of Missouri Southern and Dr. Dean Hubbard, president of Northwest signed a memorandum of understanding, beginning the process for the master’s program. Both staff and students have anticipated the program for some time.

“Originally the program started moving forward in 2003 but the original partnership stalled and we re-started the program about a year and a half ago,” said Dr. Brad Kleindl, dean of the school of business.

The process for creating the program began with the agreement but is subject to approval by the Coordinating Board of Higher Education and the Higher Learning Commission during their visit in the spring. The proposal outlines an online program with teaching responsibilities shared between the two universities. The program, which could begin as early as fall 2008, will follow guidelines and admissions process already in place at Northwest’s MBA program.

“I’m so excited about it,” said Mariya Gavrilova, senior marketing and Spanish major, who is considering joining the program after graduation.

Gavrilova said the program is a step ahead for Southern. “It’s about time for the school to do something like that,” she said.

Gavrilova says the marketing and management, and accounting programs are strong but she sees the need for Southern to move forward in building it’s array of offerings.

“I think that students need flexibility in their schedules in order to meet their educational goals,” Kleindl said, referring to the online format of the program. Because of the increased demand for online accessibility from baccalaureate students, he feels the online component will be welcomed by students. Using a distance learning approach allows both students and instructors to operate from their home areas and prevents them from commuting between campuses.

“It will give people a chance to go to work and still get their master’s degree,” said Elizabeth Currier, senior CIS major. She plans to complete the program after graduation and says it gives graduates a chance to stick with their school instead of traveling to Springfield or Pittsburg for classes. “It opens a lot of opportunities to people,” Currier said.