What Employers Want

What is the one skill employers in health care say they want from our students?

Ironically, it’s not something we offer in any one class.

It’s communications — to speak and write clearly. Time and time again employers tell us they look for people who have excellent communications skills. And it makes sense. With so much at stake these days, it stands to reason that executives need to exhibit superior speaking and writing skills.

We’ve addressed this need by providing several different hands-on workshops in writing and public speaking while the students are on-campus. Both have gotten high marks from the students, who say they’ve appreciated the extra help. We like to think that if we can produce health executives who demonstrate solid or superior communication skills, then people will remember those people as clearly “UNC graduates.”

The Weakest Link

What appears to be the weakest link in a prospective student’s background?

Financial management.

In fact, we often hear that people pursue their MHA specifically to build up their knowledge and skills in this arena. No wonder. Many health care professionals, especially clinicians, don’t get that kind of training or background, and to do it on your own takes a lot of dedication and perseverance.

Fortunately, we spend a lot of time on it. Our MHA program has three classes just in financial management, not to mention a statistics class. The result — you come out of UNC-Chapel Hill with a solid foundation of number-crunching abilities (not to mention being a whiz at Excel).

No Thesis?

Some people are surprised to learn that our graduate program does not require a master’s thesis. Sacrilegious!

The thesis was done away a number of years ago.

Instead, it has been replaced with what’s called the Capstone class.

That class, which is the last in the program, allows students to develop, write and present a group business plan. The subject matter is of their own choosing, and some have literally used the opportunity to create a plan that turned into a business opportunity. In fact, we’ve had one student recently who just sold his software company, which began as a germ of an idea in Capstone.

If you intend to go into research, the thesis makes more sense. If you intend to develop and implement business or social marketing strategies, the Capstone fits the bill perfectly.

A Head Start

Some people have inquired about starting their coursework before they actually begin the program. In other words, can they take classes ahead of time or transfer classes already taken?

As for transfers — that is possible. However, the classes taken must match the subject matter of our program and they must be graduate-level courses.

With respect to taking other classes — one of the best options is to take UNC’s  one-year public health certificate program.  Three of the four courses in that program can be applied to the Executive Master’s Program. Here is more information on that program.

MHA or MPH?

Some prospective students are unclear whether or not they should pursue a Master of Health Administration (MHA) or a Master of Public Health (MPH).

What’s the difference? Here are a few helpful (but not hard-and-fast) guidelines.

Clearly, if you intend to run a hospital or one of it’s divisions, the MHA is generally the preferred degree of choice. It’s also the likely choice if you intend to go into a more entrepreneurial health care environment. For example, a physician wanting to set up his or her own practice or group would benefit from the MHA. Also, if you want a stronger financial management background, it will come out of the MHA program.

A person interested in health policy, government, non-profits, global health, or public health in general would probably be better served with an MPH. That’s not to say one can’t effectively use an MPH degree in a hospital setting; it’s just not the norm.

One last comment — the MHA takes three years and the MPH takes 2.5 years. You can also start with the MPH and switch to the MHA if you chang your mind.

The Internet Format

Some prospective students have asked us to explain our distance ed format.

Most obliged.

We run an open-source software program specifically developed for us by a Chapel Hill company, called TerraDotta. It effectively combines multimedia presentations, student tracking and grading, multimedia presentations, and online communications into one integrated package.

A student accesses the program from his or her computer at home or work. Using a high-speed Internet connection and a headset, the student listens to a faculty presentation or lecture live. (The faculty member is also usually seen via a video camera.) The class session is often recorded, but not always, and it always occurs sometime after 6 p.m. once a week.

Thus, students participate in a live session twice a week.

One other interesting note — the session is interactive. Students can ask questions, provide feedback, and even write comments via an IM tool — all live.

It’s about as close to a real classroom setting as you can get.

Hours of Study

We have been asked from time to time to comment on the amount of study time expected from our students that are in the program. This is an important question because people lead very busy lives.

Recently, we conducted a brief survey of current students to gauge their responses. We found that on average most people are spending between 16-20 hours of week on their coursework (including their online course sessions.)

However, many first year students appear to spending more time — anywhere from 20-30 hours a week. That’s to be expected as people get used to the new demands of being back in school, especially at the graduate level where there are more and longer reading assignments.

Length of Program

To complete all requirements for the Master of Health Administration (MHA), our program takes three years. To complete the Master of Public Health (MPH) designation — it takes 2.5 years.

Why so long?

Good question. One obvious reason — we require more credit hours (60 for the MHA and 48 for the MPH). Another reason — this is a part-time program. Why is that? Because we have found that people working full-time and sharing family responsibilities typically can’t handle a full-time load. Something has to give. We’d rather spread things out a little longer than have you sacrifice your job or family for our sake. It’s busy enough with two courses every 14-15 weeks without making it insane.

Which Background is Best?

Invariably prospective students want to know which background is most ideally suited for entrance into the Executive Master’s Program. Is it hospital administration, nursing, law, clinical work, physical therapy?

The answer is — all of the above — and more.

The beauty of this program is that it accepts (and looks for) people from a wide variety of health backgrounds. The reason is simple. People learn from each other as much, if not more, than the coursework itself. Thus, it makes sense to diversify as much as possible.

As long as a person has the requisite three-years health care experience in their background — we really don’t care what it’s in.

The Purpose of this Program

Sometimes it helps to step back and ask fundamental questions.

For us, the question is simple really — what is the purpose of the executive program?

We could say it’s purpose is to transfer knowledge, insight and skills related to public health and health care. That’s true.

But even more fundamentally — the purpose of this program (and the department as a whole) is to develop people who expect to be running health organizations in a significant leadership role.

That’s it. That’s our reason for existing. If that’s your goal, then we invite you to participate.

A Question about Tuition

A prospective candidate asked us recently how we are able to provide such a quality education at such good tuition rates.

The answer has three sides to it.

First, with respect to quality — that’s built into our DNA. We have been providing a quality executive education for more than 40 years now. Frankly, we don’t know how to do it any other way.

As for the tuition rates — those are set by the University and the North Carolina legislature. Both have been strong supporters of an affordable education ever since the school’s creation.

And finally, we have positioned ourselves in the marketplace as the best education at the best value. It’s how we set ourselves apart. We know all about how people perceive things as being better the more expensive they are. We just don’t buy into it.

A Reminder about Deadlines

The next deadline for the Executive Master’s Program is June 1st. That means all materials (GRE scores, transcripts, etc.) must be submitted to the Grad School by that date.

HOWEVER — if that deadline proves to be too difficult for you — our next cohort begins in December, with a deadline of November 1st.

Also, if you get accepted for the August starting date and you find that you have other pressing obligations, you can always defer or delay your matriculation up to one year and not have to start the application process over again.

Happy New Year!

We hope that everybody has survived the stress of the holidays, recharged their batteries, and are now ready to tackle new challenges or pursue new opportunities.

The Executive Program is going full-steam ahead. To date, nearly 50 people have started the application process with us for the Fall, 2008 cohort and about 8 have already completed their application. That means we’re starting to already get a good group of applicants. Of course, some of those people will not complete their application, but it does spell out clearly one thing — the competition for slots is heating up!

Now is the time to decide. If you’re going to apply for the Fall, 2008 session, don’t delay and don’t wait until the June 1 deadline. You can collect materials as you go along. Also, if you decide that the August starting date doesn’t work for you, then you can always move directly into our December starting date. We keep all of your materials on file, so the transition is relatively painless.

One other comment — if you have not made plans to take the GRE, we suggest you do so ASAP. Plan on spending 6-8 weeks of intensive study and then another two weeks for the official grades to get to us. You don’t want to caught waiting for official scores past our deadline, which can hurt your chances significantly.

The Future of Higher Education

The New York Times has a good article on online education. The thrust of the article — while some colleges and universities are dragging their feet and not implementing online courses, many are and it’s clearly the wave of the future.

The Executive Master’s Program at UNC-Chapel Hill has been a leader in the field, having jumped on board as soon as the technology became available. We too think it’s the wave of the future. We also think it’s the wave of today. All 60 hours of our MHA and 48 hours of our MPH programs are taught online.

MPH Graduates as Problem Solvers

As health problems around the world continue to challenge even the most seasoned veterans, the need for well-educated problem solvers has never been greater. Could more people with an MPH (Master of Public Health) degree be one of the solutions? It just might be, especially if two trends continue — greater global knowledge by students and an interest towards teaching social entrepreneurship.

Greater global knowledge is happening at all levels within universities as technology and economic growth in China and India fosters a drive towards partnerships. Meanwhile, social entrepreneurship — where entrepreneurial principles are applied to social problems — are catching fire. Students are beginning to reject the standard and usual career track for opportunities that gives them greater freedom AND the chance to do good. Public health could be an important beneficiary of such efforts and who better to lead the way than master’s students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. These are indeed exciting times to be considering graduate school.

Physicians and the Executive Degree

More and more physicians and medical students are enrolling in our Executive Programs. In fact, we are starting to see physician enrollments in the neighborhood of 20-25 percent for each cohort. That makes sense, considering the turmoil many physicians are facing these days. And we welcome them. Their knowledge, insight, and unique perspective adds a great deal to class discussions and group projects. It’s also valuable to have all sides of the healthcare equation enrolled, including payors, providers, and suppliers. Physicians are also learning that it pays to have an MHA if they hope to move up the hospital “ladder.” Executive search firms tell us that physicians with health administration knowledge are in strong demand right now.

Non-U.S. Medical School v. the GRE

We’ve had several applicants ask if they are exempt from the GRE because they received their medical education outside the U.S. The general answer is — no. If you received your medical degree outside the United States or Canada, you are still required to take the GRE. Sorry.

We’ve also had a couple of applicants who have received their PharmD ask if they are exempt from the GRE. Yes. PharmD recipients do not have to take the GRE. The same is true for DDS, MD, JD or PhD.

Why Pay the App Fee Early

Many people wait until the very last moment to pay their application fee. And that makes sense. Nobody wants to waste money, especially if you’re still not sure that you want to formally apply to our program. However, if you are fairly certain (70 percent chance) that you are going to apply, then paying the $73 app fee is strongly encouraged. Why? Because until you pay that app fee, you are not considered an applicant in the eyes of the Grad School and therefore no one there can help you with pulling together transcripts, letters of recommendation and other important materials. Think of it this way. The $73 is an investment in “someone else’s time and attention.” Without that app fee in hand, the Grad School is leaving you completely on your own.

First-Come, First-Served

Some people are surprised to learn that our enrollment to the Executive Master’s Program is on a first-come, first-served basis FOR THOSE WHO QUALIFY. In other words, if you meet all of our qualifications and get all of your materials in early, we will accept you early. We currently do not wait until the deadline to look at all of the candidates and see which ones we would like to invite.

Why do we do this? Several reasons.

First, we want to reward people for their diligence and organization. If somebody has worked hard to get in their materials well before our deadline, then those people should get first consideration. Second, by having an acceptance plan on a rolling basis, it spreads out the evaluation process. That way, we don’t have to wait until the last minute to look at all of the applications, which could cause mistakes and errors. Third, we think this approach is more democratic and provides greater diversity. Our cohorts invariably have a broad mix of backgrounds and we think that helps the learning environment.

We don’t know if we will continue this approach in the near future or change to something else. But for now, it seems to be working and so we’re not likely to change the process anytime soon.

GRE Scores

Nothing continues to create more anxiety among prospective students than the GRE (Graduate Record Examination). And with good reason. Since most of our students are in their 30s and 40s, it’s usally been a number of years since they last took a look at an algebra book. There’s also a good chance math wasn’t their favorite or best subject. Nevertheless, because the test is required and a good score is necessary to be considered for the program, here are a few quick tips on how to “beat this beast.”

1. Practice. Practice. Practice. There is simply no substitute for doing as many math problems as you can get your hands on. That means buying not one GRE Test Prep book, but several, so you can load up on taking a number of questions. The math principles will eventually start coming back to you, but it’s applying those principles in a time-pressured environment that’s the challenge. Thus, the more familiar you are with test questions, the less likely you are to spend during test day trying to figure out what they’re looking for. And if you don’t mind used books, you might put out a request to buy used GRE Test Prep books on craigslist and see what happens.

2. GRE Prep Course. A course can be very helpful for two reasons. First, you get to interact with people who are probably in the same predicament. Second, you can generally get useful tips from the presenters. Third, sometimes we all need someone to show us how a problem is solved in order to facilitate learning. The brand name programs are valuable but they aren’t cheap, so take that into consideration. There is a less expensive alternative online that has a UNC connection (the program is run by an alum of our department) — called www.prepsuccess.com.

3. Take the Test Again. There’s no penalty for taking the GRE multiple times (except your pocketbook). The Grad School accepts the best scores and ignores any previous attempts. If you take it the first time and your scores do not initially meet our qualifications (50th percentile), then it is definitely in your best interests to take it again after studying again. You will know what to expect, you probably won’t be as anxious, and you will have had the benefit of more study time. But a note of caution — plan on taking your initial test early enough in the registration process so you leave yourself extra time for a second test before the registration deadline.

One last comment — we know there is no correlation between GRE test scores and future success. However, as long as they are required, then you might as well make the best of the situation. Just think of it this way — preparing for the GRE is great way to get into the discipline and habit again of studying. Once you get past this hurdle, then you should find the graduate work fairly smooth sailing.

MBA and MHA?

Should a person with an MBA get an MHA? That was the situation with one of our recent prospective students and the answer is — it depends. It depends on intent. If you have an MBA, why would you want an MHA? Will that help your job prospects? Perhaps your particular industry really favors having an MHA and so it truly is the ticket to the “top.” On the other hand, if you already have an MBA, you’re probably not going to get much new knowledge or skills with the MHA. Our MHA is basically an MBA with a healthcare “slant.” For example, in our marketing class you learn the fundamentals of marketing just like you would in an MBA class. But you learn those fundamentals in the context of a healthcare environment. Is that enough to justify the cost you are going to incur going after the MHA? Probably not.

The simple answer to the question is — if you already have your MBA, you probably don’t need to go after your MHA. Instead, consider looking into some specific seminars or workshops around the country that will fill in whatever gaps you feel you are missing. For example, sometime next year we hope to introduce a one-year, comprehensive certificate program in Quality and Patient Safety. Also, if you don’t have either your MBA or your MHA and intend to stay in health care, then we would recommend that you go for the MHA because of that health care focus.

On-Campus Visits

A number of people have asked about the on-campus visits that are required as part of the Executive Master’s Program. Here’s a rundown.

Purpose of On-Campus Visits
While the vast majority of our coursework is conducted online, we feel it’s important that students meet with their colleagues and faculty in person in order to develop relationships and foster cooperation, especially in the beginning of each semester. Students often remark to us that the on-campus visits really help people get to know one another and share ideas. Thus, we feel that it adds to one’s education and has become an integral part of our program.

Length of Time
There are three on-campus visits in the course of one school year — one in August, one in December and one in April. The total amount of days away from your work and family is 18. The visits in August and December last seven days, while the visit in April lasts four days.

The visits in August and December go from Monday through Sunday. Thus, if you are visiting from out of town and plan on staying at a hotel, you would schedule your hotel stay to arrive Sunday night and leave Sunday afternoon. If you are driving a relatively short distance and do not plan on staying in a hotel, then you would arrive Monday morning in time for the first class, which generally starts at 8:30 a.m. EST.

Plan on spending a full day each day. Classes generally end each day between 4-5 p.m. On the final Sunday, there should be sufficient time to catch a flight back home.

Content of On-Campus Visits
The on-campus visits are designed to squeeze in a lot of coursework into a short window. Three main activities take place. First, every on-campus visit starts with the first sessions of the two classes for that semester. Faculty introduce themselves and the syllabus, which includes all of the readings for the entire year. They also jump right into the content of the class.

The middle of the week consists of the free, “Effective Executive” workshops that are available to students. These unique sessions (we don’t know any other MHA or MPH program offering them) usually last one day and consist of a number of different topics we feel will help students as they prepare for their next career move. For example, all first-year students take workshops in Excel, Self-Leadership and Accounting. Second and third year students take workshops in such subjects as Critical Thinking, Innovative Thinking, and Team Dynamics. Each class is taught by an authority on the subject and provide students with both knowledge and skills they can use immediately.

The last several days of the on-campus visit wrap up the classes that are currently being conducted. Thus, students gather for one last time with the faculty member and close out the semester, bringing closure to a busy time period.

Travel Details
There are a number of affordable hotels and motels in or near Chapel Hill where students often stay, including such brand names as Marriott’s Courtyard and Sheraton. As for transportation, there are a couple of options. First, if you fly in — you can rent a car. While some of the hotels are on the free, public transit line that will get you close to our building — many are not. Thus, a car is the most convenient way to get to and from your hotel. For those on a tight budget, we’re looking into a couple of other options, but there’s nothing to report yet. One option is to see if we can help organize a car pool.

Welcome

Welcome to blog for the Executive Master’s Program at UNC-Chapel Hill. The purpose of this blog is to keep prospective students informed about our program. A number of students have questions about our program and, instead of putting a long laundry list of Frequently Asked Questions on our website, we thought it might be better to distribute information this way. As the number #1 ranked program in the country (according to Modern Healthcare magazine), we strive to be on the cutting edge of higher education learning and this is just one example. We hope you enjoy it and find it informative.