DBA Program Launch

Dr. Jeff Boyce welcomed IWU- N&G's inaugural group of DBA students at a dinner on Thursday night, September 19th. The 64 learners represent the largest single start of a program in National and Global's history. Studying in a blended format, these doctoral learners will engage in a program uniquely designed for them as working adults.

Faculty joined their mentees at tables for the evening meal which included a keynote address from President David Wright and messages of welcome from Dr. Stacy Hammons (provost) and Dr. Mike Manning (VPAA). Dr. Wright challenged students to consider the deeper impact of their intellectual study. Being a doctoral student is a unique opportunity to challenge assumptions and engage in transformational learning. Tips for success included developing support networks and seeking God in the midst of study.

There was certainly a buzz of excitement in the room. Faculty have worked tirelessly to engineer a DBA program structured around the very best learning design research. Students will be exposed to problem-based learning (PBL) during their first intensive together, walking through a PBL scenario in teams. As they leave the face-to-face setting and return to their homes, their online coursework will ask them to continue engaging both in PBL and in collaborative dialogue with their team members and mentors. The traditional dissertation has been modified, and these adult learners will be engaged for at least two years in choosing a real-world problem and utilizing PBL as a methodology to learn about and propose a solution for a problem facing their organizations.

The DeVoe School of Business has threaded the development of biblical virtues throughout the coursework, and leaders look forward to graduates who are not only prepared to tackle today's toughest business challenges, but learners who are also engaged in transforming their worlds with Christ-like character, service, and love for others.