4/30/02

AUBURN DEVELOPING CUSTOM MBA PROGRAM FOR JOSTENS

AUBURN -- Auburn University's College of Business has reached an agreement with Jostens, Inc., the leading provider of yearbooks, class rings, and graduation products, to deliver a custom MBA program designed exclusively for company employees.

This summer, Auburn will join a growing number of colleges and universities that offer professional degree programs tailored to satisfy corporate client needs.

The AU curriculum combines the essential MBA core disciplines -- accounting, finance, economics, management -- with specialized courses developed around Jostens' work projects.

"A customized corporate distance education program is the next logical step for our business school. It provides an innovative way to bring resources into the University, help fund the operations of the MBA program and support faculty salaries," says Dan Gropper, executive director of MBA Programs and assistant dean of the College of Business. "I'm very excited about helping Jostens educate its next generation of company leaders and am equally pleased to have excellent faculty who are enthusiastic about participating in this new approach to distance learning."

Geared towards mid to upper-level managers and senior professionals, the program will allow Jostens' employees the opportunity to earn a fully accredited MBA degree without career interruption.

The instructional format, designed by an award winning team of educators and filmmakers, allows the managers to learn from lectures, cases and computer simulations as well as real time interaction with faculty and fellow professionals. Combining onsite residencies at Jostens' headquarters in Minneapolis, residencies at Auburn, and utilizing innovative distance learning technologies, the Auburn program allows an intensive, but flexible learning environment.

Jostens selected AU because of its national reputation, and proven experience with blended distance learning programs, as well as its responsiveness to the needs of experienced professionals.

"Partnering with Auburn allows Jostens' employees to gain the business knowledge and insight necessary to become leaders of the future," said Steven Seay, corporate director of organizational development, "It's a program that is going to take Jostens' leadership to the next level."

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apr02:AU-jostens

CONTACT: Gropper, 334/ 844-4060; Seay, 952/830-4728.