The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia recently gave its approval to Clayton State's proposal to establish a cohort of the MBA program at the Rockdale Career Academy. The Clayton State MBA program, which graduated its first degree-holders this past May, already has programs in Morrow, Fayette and in Peachtree City.

Dr. Jacob Chacko, dean of the School of Business, said of the regional effect, "The impact that an MBA program can have is virtually immeasurable. When you have a workforce that has a cutting edge and world class education you can expect them to be more innovative and cost conscious, better decision makers and better business people," he said.

Establishing the program addresses a shortfall of individuals with post-secondary degrees, according to school officials. Census numbers show 14.5 percent of the adult population of Rockdale County, 21.3 percent of DeKalb County, and 11.6 of Newton County have bachelor's degrees. The establishment of the Clayton State MBA at the Rockdale Career Academy is in direct response to a report to the Board of Regents Office of Economic Development, made by Georgia Tech in June 2005. This report indicated that 263,000 workers were currently in core logistics industries throughout Georgia and that number would increase to nearly 500,000 by 2012.
The program is planning for 30 students in the first cohort, according to Chacko.
"We are expecting students who have at least a Bachelors degree and who are interested in gaining advanced knowledge of business principles," he explained. "We are one of Metro Atlanta's most diverse MBA programs so we home to attract strong candidates from all backgrounds and industries."

Open houses for potential students about the MBA program will be held in Rockdale County starting later this summer. MBA open houses are also held at the Clayton State main campus in Morrow on the second Tuesday of every month from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Spivey Board Room of the Harry S. Downs Center.
For more information on the Clayton State MBA, contract program director Dr. Michael Deis at michaeldeis@clayton.edu or by calling Andrea Johnson
at 678-466-4500.