Uconn Connecticut

History

Charles and Augustus Storrs were two brothers who donated land and provided the initial funding to start an agricultural school in Connecticut by the name Storrs Agricultural School in 1881. In 1893, the name of the institution was changed to Storrs Agricultural College, when women were permitted to seek admission in the College. In 1899, the name was again changed to Connecticut Agricultural College. In 1920, the institution awarded its first master’s degree. In 1933, the institution was renamed as Connecticut State College. In 1939, the institution acquired its current name the University of Connecticut. The graduate programs commenced in the year 1940.

MISSION STATEMENT

The University of Connecticut is dedicated to excellence demonstrated through national and international recognition. Through freedom of academic inquiry and expression, we create and disseminate knowledge by means of scholarly and creative achievements, graduate and professional education, and outreach. With our focus on teaching and learning, the University helps every student grow intellectually and become a contributing member of the state, national, and world communities. Through research, teaching, service, and outreach, we embrace diversity and cultivate leadership, integrity, and engaged citizenship in our students, faculty, staff, and alumni. As our state’s flagship public University, and as a land and sea grant institution, we promote the health and well-being of citizens by enhancing the social, economic, cultural, and natural environments of the state and beyond.

Core Strengths of the School

The UConn School of Business acquired AACSB accreditation in 1958 and is recognized worldwide among the top 20 public research universities. UConn has acquired its quality and recognition due to the right blend of intellectual focus, experiential learning opportunities, and engagement with corporate and non-profit businesses in its curriculum. This unique combination is an asset for the School and students are able to hone their skills and develop long-term capability to resolve complex business challenges and lead their organizations in a dynamic global environment. The School focuses on building the student’s profile based on his strengths and the requirements of the employers. UConn has been consistently rated high on the return-on-investment ROI parameter due to its brand name, strategic location advantages, corporate network, tuition cost and program size. The program admits 45-60 students annually for the program and it is this small class size structure that fosters strong bonding between the students and the faculty. Students are given the choice to opt for two elective courses in their area of concentration in the first year itself, which benefits them during internships. The curriculum has core courses in the areas of Business Foundations, Core Functional Knowledge and Business Leadership which build the business acumen of the students. Students get a solid understanding of the different functional areas and how they are integrated to work together as a unit in any organization.

Uniqueness in MBA Pedagogy

Experiential Learning has been embedded in the core curriculum of UConn from past two decades. UConn MBA focuses on bridging the gap between theory and practical through “live case” class projects, case competitions and experiential learning courses delivered through their Innovative Learning Accelerators. The School has unique semester-long experiential learning activities in the form of Learning Accelerators that bridge the gap between theory and practical. Students collaborate with faculty, researchers and top-executives of business firms and brainstorm over the current complex business challenges to develop innovative and cutting-edge solutions. It is a platform that is mutually beneficial to all the parties involved. UConn’s Financial Accelerator is a platform for students to work on business challenges in the areas of risk management, market analysis and financial analysis by liaising with financial and insurance institutions. The Student Managed Fund SMF is an initiative by the School to give its students hands-on experience in the areas of investment and portfolio management. Students play the role of a professional fund manager and manage the stocks, funds and portfolio of the University. The Innovative Learning Accelerator along with the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation addresses the complex business challenges faced by the technology startups. Students work in groups to identify and leverage the business opportunities and develop innovative and sustainable solutions to the business problems. The Sustainable Community Outreach and Public Engagement Accelerator (SCOPE) is an attempt by the School to generate awareness regarding the impact of business decisions on the society and environment. SCOPE collaborates with non-profit and for-profit organizations that have community responsibility and social outreach as part of their agenda and works on improving the sustainability of such organizations.

The School encourages the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit in its students by encouraging them to participate in national case competitions. Innovation Quest iQ competition is another platform for the students to shed their inhibitions and get their ideas funded. iQ is an initiative to recognize and reward budding and passionate entrepreneurs.

CONCENTRATIONS OFFERED

LOCATION ADVANTAGES

The School is located at the heart of Connecticut’s capital Hartford. Hartford houses several financial, insurance, healthcare and manufacturing companies. This is an opportunity for the students to establish relationships beyond the classroom by making use of the School’s strategic location. Wadsworth Atheneum encloses vibrant art collections of ancient times. The Hartford Stage is the city’s leading resident theatre that comes up with plays and dramas from time to time. Bushnell Center for Performing Arts is a great place for theatre lovers with exquisite artwork and fantastic acoustics. The Elizabeth Park is walker’s heaven with abundant roses and wild flower trails along the path.

CAREER SUPPORT

The Graduate Career Services Office gives access to the Career Development tools and resources that would aid the students land into their dream jobs. On-line career assessment is done in order to help the students explore themselves, and discover their strengths and capabilities. The Office provides immense help to the students in creating a winning resume and establishing their personal brand. The career coaches develop a marketing plan for each student based on his strengths and areas of interest. The Career Services Office trains the students in leveraging the social media connections to the fullest. Mock interviews are conducted and students are provided feedback in order to improve their responses for the final interview.