On the fast track
UT-Arlington's new EMBA program adds cachet to growing downtown

Fort Worth Business Press; 1/29/2007

FORT WORTH, Texas—(Fort Worth Business Press)—January 29, 2007

The University of Texas at Arlington is on the fast track with the hottest product in the growing business education market: a master's degree in business for executives. Now the school's expansion into downtown Fort Worth not only pushes the EMBA program ahead of the competition, but also puts UTA in the center of downtown's continuing renaissance.

UT-Arlington's Fort Worth Center opened Jan. 16 in the historic Santa Fe Freight Building. The 70-year-old freight station at 1401 Jones St. was remodeled at a cost of $1.2 million, specifically for the advanced classes that target busy upper-level managers and leaders who value both their time and money. The facility houses the center's headquarters, eight classrooms and a virtual library

According to Jim Ellis, executive director of the program, a major factor in the choice of the center's location was its proximity to both the Intermodal Transportation Center – a downtown hub for bus and train service – and the hospital district.

UT-Arlington's redevelopment of the Santa Fe Station has contributed to the overall restoration of the southern end of downtown, and Ellis hopes that major construction projects within the Lancaster corridor area will help his program pick up steam. Among them: construction of the Omni convention center hotel and renovations to the Texas & Pacific Railway Terminal, the Water Gardens and the Sheraton hotel.

"It's a competitive edge for us to be in downtown Fort Worth," said Ellis. "Our students are working professionals with an average age of 38 and an annual income of $130,000. They can't stop work to obtain an advanced degree. Here, they only have to walk across the street, in some cases, and not waste time driving to Arlington."

Faculty and administrative offices occupy the second floor of the 21,000-square-foot Santa Fe building, which most recently was the centerpiece of the Fort Worth Rail Market – a mix of shops, restaurants and a farmer's market that succumbed to financial problems two years ago. The center provides additional degrees, including a traditional MBA, a master of science in health care administration, and a master of science in engineering management. Continuing education classes will be added later this year.

Approximately 480 students are taking classes in the restored structure, which retains most of its industrial-like architectural charm. Exposed red bricks, pipes and ductwork make a perfect backdrop for display cases of historic photographs and artifacts. The executive MBA classroom mimics a boardroom, replete with dark oak paneling, state-of-the-art technology and walls that muffle any street noise.

Comparative advantage

UT-Arlington's Riverbend Park campus in east Fort Worth formerly housed some of the classes that moved to the Santa Fe Station. Opened in 1999, the Riverbend campus continues to offer graduate degrees, including a master of science in systems engineering and a master of education with principal certification.

But it's the downtown campus and its EMBA program that UTA officials believe will set the course for future growth and a greater presence within Tarrant County.

"This is not our first step into Fort Worth, nor will it be our last," promised UT-Arlington President James D. Spaniola, who is spearheading his school's expansion.

"This location is a wonderful selling feature," Ellis said, "but, more importantly, our program offers benefits and opportunities you won't find anywhere else."

While most executive MBA programs typically last 21 to 24 months, UTA's accelerated program is the only 15-month classroom-based program in Texas. Students begin to apply the program's platform of leadership, innovation and globalization six months earlier than other graduates. Class times alternate every other weekend, with classes on Fridays beginning at 1 p.m. so students can put in a half-day's work. Catered meals are included in the program's $55,000 price tag – a bargain compared with the four other universities offering EMBA programs in North Texas– as is the program's highlight, a 13-day immersion tour of China, where students meet and mingle with hundreds of their Chinese counterparts.

UT-Arlington is the only university in the United States operating a China-based EMBA program. Started in 2001, the program began with 56 students and now has 466. For Fort Worth-based EMBA students, the Chinese program means immediate networking opportunities, a huge plus for students whose companies are expanding into Asian markets.

"China is hot, it's booming," Ellis explains. "It's the gold rush of today's world. No one can help businesses connect in China like we can. We offer immediate contacts with 500 Chinese executives, who are eager to network with American executives."

The China connection is what attracted David L. Campbell to the EMBA program. An 18-year veteran with American Airlines and vice president for base maintenance at Alliance Fort Worth, Campbell is one of 20 students from various sectors, both public and private, enrolled in the program.

"I feel I'm in the right place at the right time," Campbell said. "My goal is to use my EMBA degree to help American restructure and retain sustainability. And since we're trying to expand into China, I'll be able to use my contacts there. This is an efficient use of my time as an executive."

The 2007 program begins in August but, according to Ellis, "with Fort Worth growing as rapidly as it is, we may see enough interest to increase the program to 30 or 40 students and even offer a second one. I hope we have to – and look for another, larger building to restore."