Editors Note: Photos available.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A new class of 55 highly talented M.B.A. students began classes this week at The University of Alabama’s Manderson Graduate School of Business, which was recently ranked 28th nationally among public M.B.A. programs by U.S. News and World Report.

Hailing from points as far reaching as Brazil, Hungary, India, Maine and California -- as well as locations throughout Alabama and the Southeast -- the incoming M.B.A students arrived on campus Aug. 13 to participate in a five-day orientation that included sessions on team building, career management, alumni networking and technology training.

The Alabama M.B.A. class of 2005 is diverse not only in its geographical origins, but also in its professional experiences. Professionals from the legal, public relations, journalism, consulting, marketing, engineering, computer science and asset management fields, to name a few, comprise an experientially diverse, cross-functional M.B.A teaching and learning environment, long a hallmark of the Alabama M.B.A. program. Also represented in the class is a limited group of high achieving, high potential students who will be entering the program immediately following undergraduate studies.

According to Dr. David Funk, director of the Alabama M.B.A. program, approximately 55 percent of the incoming M.B.A. students have completed undergraduate degrees in non-business disciplines. “The Alabama M.B.A. admissions committee seeks this wide range of academic and professional backgrounds because it ensures the diversity of viewpoints and experiences that is reflective of today’s corporate environment,” he said.

The program received more than 240 applications for the 55 seats available in the class, which places the Alabama M.B.A. program among the most selective in the country. As a whole, the incoming class has achieved an average Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) score of 615, ranking in the top 18th percentile among all GMAT test takers, and an average undergraduate grade point average of 3.4. Women represent 33 percent, international students comprise 11 percent and minority students make up 11 percent of the class.

In an academic year when most M.B.A. programs nationwide have reported downturns in the volume of applications received, the Manderson M.B.A. program has actually experienced a 19 percent increase in total applications, which translates into a selectivity rate of 38 percent, said Burch Barger, coordinator of admissions and recruiting for the program.

“Today’s prospective M.B.A. students are examining the value, or return on investment, in deciding among top M.B.A. programs and are increasingly opting for the combination of quality, affordability, and career placement success found in the Manderson program,” said Barger.

One hundred percent of the incoming M.B.A. students have secured merit-based financial support opportunities to offset a portion of their enrollment costs. Five members of the Alabama M.B.A. class of 2005 competed against graduate students campus-wide and received coveted Graduate Council Fellowships, which provide a full tuition waiver and a stipend of $14,000. Additional students qualified for graduate research assistantships, teaching assistantships, Capstone M.B.A. Fellowships or corporate sponsorships that provide support as well as meaningful work experiences to compliment their M.B.A. program of study.

Ranked 65th overall by U.S. News and World Report, The University of Alabama Masters of Business Administration program is nationally recognized for excellence. The program consistently ranks among the top M.B.A. programs in the nation for return on investment, most recently recognized by Forbes Magazine as 21st in 2000. By allowing 50 to 60 students entry each year, the hallmark of the program is the selection of a diverse academic and professional class that has in common high achievement and high potential for leadership. The Manderson M.B.A. program prepares students for success through innovative programs, a relationship-intensive learning environment, and strong career services to help them compete in today’s job market.

The Manderson M.B.A. program at The University of Alabama is a two-year program, including a summer internship. Enrollment takes place in August each year. The first deadline for submitting applications for enrollment in 2004 will be Jan. 5.

For additional information, please visit http://mba.cba.ua.edu.