MBA program to compete with Southern Methodist
By Meghan Youker
Staff Reporter

The M.J. Neeley School of Business’s MBA program will “really have to compete” to offset gains made by Southern Methodist University’s off-campus MBA program at Lockheed Martin, Dean Robert Lusch said Thursday.

SMU’s Cox School of Business will teach core MBA classes near the Fort Worth plant in September, said Tom Perkowski, director of SMU’s executive MBA program.

In contrast, Lockheed employees in TCU’s program have always attended classes on campus.

Lusch said he was disappointed Lockheed did not publicize its interest in having on-site classes.

“We’ve had to really hustle to compete,” Lusch said. “And over time, we will continue to be responsive to the market.”

More than 30 percent of TCU’s part-time MBA students are Lockheed employees, Lusch said.

The cost of TCU’s MBA program is about $34,000 with tuition, books and fees, compared to about $60,000 for SMU’s program. If TCU’s MBA program lost 20 prospective students to competitors, the university could lose $680,000.

“We won’t know how much it will hurt us for another six months to a year,” Lusch said. “But we believe that a lot of the participating students are already enrolled in SMU’s program or were already planning to go to SMU.”

The part-time MBA program that SMU will offer at Lockheed is the only one in the state ranked in the top 25 by U.S. News & World Report. Perkowski said SMU’s program at Lockheed will likely enroll between 25 and 50 people.

Lusch said Lockheed has been a critical player for the business school since the 1950s. Additionally, the work ethic and management and analytical skills of Lockheed employees contributes significantly to classrooms, he said.

In January, the Neeley School will offer a new start date for part-time evening MBA students, Lusch said. The school has also planned more informational fairs and held a reception for past and current MBA students who are Lockheed employees, he said.

In an October interview, Chancellor Victor Boschini said SMU’s program at Lockheed is a good thing for TCU because the rivalry will drive the university’s program to additional success.

Perkowski also said the rivalry will be advantageous.

“I think the program benefits both schools,” Perkowski said. “Competition is good, right?”