University of Louisville Online Programs | Student Resources & Feature Stories

Fall ’20 Newsletter: Online Engineering Management Program

By admin | November 30, 2020

Six Sigma Certification Now Available!

Letter from Dr. Elizabeth Gentry, MEEM Program Director

As we near the end of 2020, I know a lot of us are looking forward to 2021! I hope you are doing well! In the engineering management program, we are excited about the six sigma black belt certification program. The first group of students will be taking EM 684 and EM 686, Process Improvement Applications I and II, this spring and then test for their six sigma black belt in partnership with the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE).

Best wishes,
Dr. Elizabeth Gentry
Director, Engineering Management Program

“I want to get my Six Sigma Black Belt beuse it is an applicable certification that is highly recognized in the field which I work. Iuse Six Sigma tools at work every single day and this certification will only expand my expertise.”

– Rae Mills
Current EM Student
Quality Improvement Consultant, St. Elizabeth Healthcare

Student Spotlight

Hope Ferdinando – 2020 Louisville Chapter ASQ Leadership Award

I am currently a Staff Advanced Quality Engineer with Stryker Corporation in their spine division which designs and manufactures various implants and surgical instrumentation for spinal surgeries. My primary function is to provide QA support on new product development projects and complaint investigations on existing products.

So far, I have taken 6 EM courses which all have helped me tremendously at work especially when investigating product quality issues. The EM program at UofL goes beyond explaining the body of knowledge. The EM courses teach you about various tools & techniques and how to apply them in real world applications. At the end of each course, I feel that I am equipped with new powerful tools to help me perform better at work and grow in my career. I have used these tools to investigate supplier quality issues with surgical instruments that could result in a product recall. This requires me to gather information and analyze the data immediately.

The most invaluable tool was Minitab which I learned how to use from the engineering statistics and quality management courses. My teammates and upper management were so impressed with the data analysis from Minitab. I received so many compliments on the data visualization. They were amazed to see complex data being displayed in an easy to understand format. I have also used tools from the decision & risk analysis class which has helped me to reduce the scope of the investigation by assessing the risks to the impacted product lots. In many cases I have been able to avoid recalls and only perform field corrections or limit the recalls to specific lot/serial numbers.

The biggest win for me is that I can share what I have learned from the EM program and mentor the junior quality engineers on my team. We are now better at approaching investigations now that we are equipped with tools to drill down deep to the root causes which then helps us to come up with corrective action to address these quality issues.

Ready to get started?

Spring Term 1 starts January 11
Spring Term 2 starts March 2

Career Coaching

The JB Speed School of Engineering at the University of Louisville offers a one stop shop for all students in terms of their professional plans. Our staff can provide career coaching in terms of resume and cover letter preparation, practice interviews (in person or over the phone), LinkedIn profile reviews, graduate school applications, and salary negotiation.

Students that are taking online courses are also eligible for these services. In addition, we can provide information on relocating, new graduate salary statistics for UofL engineering students (mostly local offers), and job search strategies.

If you have any interest in utilizing these services, please reach out to Mary Andrade.

Mary Andrade
Engineering Career Services
Associate Director mary.andrade@louisville.edu
502-852-3196

Know someone who’d excel at the online Engineering Management program?

We’re always looking for new engineers who we can help take their career to the next level. Refer a friend by emailing elizabeth.gentry@louisville.edu and receive a small prize.

Read about other faculty and students in previous editions of the MEEM newsletter.

Managing in the Future: UofL’s Online MBA Prepares Students for the Future of Business [Video Q&A]

By Ashley Jefferson | November 19, 2020 | Comments 0 Comment

Prepare to Manage the Future of Business

UofL Online MBA: Elective Course "Managing in the Future"

“Managing in the Future” is a UofL MBA elective course designed to help students broaden their mindset and managerial expertise in order to overcome the ambiguity and theoretical nature of what may, can or will happen—and the impact of those possibilities on the future of business.

For the first time, this course will be offered in a fully-online format as an elective for the UofL online MBA program. The Spring 2021 focus for the course will be about managing in a time of global pandemics, and will take a in-depth look at the effect that COVID-19 (Coronavirus) is currently having and will continue to have on the business industry.

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The course is designed and taught by Dr. Nat Irvin, UofL College of Business Professor and Assistant Dean. Hear from Nat in our video Q&A to learn about the takeaways of the course, how it helps business managers of today and tomorrow find new ways of seeing the future of work.

LEARN MORE AND GET STARTED: UofL Online MBA

Where did you get the idea for "Managing in the Future," the MBA elective course?

Nat has been teaching this course for over 20 years—yet never teaches a section of the course in the same way. As he says, “How can you?” After all, there are always different developments and variables that come into play when we think about the future.

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Nat shares that “Managing in the Future” was developed to help students learn to see all the possibilities that can impact the future of business and learn to identify relationships between business and evolving trends in society. The course is designed to complement the traditional information learned in an MBA program such as the fundamentals of accounting, marketing, leadership, CIS, etc., in order to create better, more well-rounded managers, ready for the future of business.

The course description talks about developing a “new way of seeing the future.” Tell us a bit more about that.

Seeing the future is more about eyesight. Nat aspires to help MBA students expand their perspective and open their minds in order to identify what is happening around them, and how those happenings (such as advancements in artificial

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intelligence and social media) are impacting the future of business, as well as our daily lives.

Was there a particular MBA student segment or business-level manager that this course is targeted toward? Or do you feel it’s applicable to business leaders at varying levels?

MBA programs are sought after and applicable to students across various levels of business—small business owners, managers at private companies or non-profits, middle managers, people managers, CEOs—this course is no different.

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Nat designs course material and lectures to align with the people that are in his class, focusing more on areas of interest for his students.

Business leaders everywhere are looking to adapt their management and leadership skills to adjust to unforeseen challenges. What sort of takeaways will students completing this elective as part of their MBA leave the program with?

As Nat puts it, “students get different things from a course like this.” His greatest hope for what students will achieve in the “Managing in the Future” elective? Great insights into themselves.

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The MBA has only been offered at UofL for little over a year now, and this is the first time Managing in the Future is being offered as an online elective.

What excites you most about bringing this great, innovative elective course option to online students?

Online education opens up possibilities for UofL to reach more students than ever—from outside our local area—extending our high-quality, research-based education to those who otherwise wouldn’t be able to enroll due to other priorities, location, etc.

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Nat is personally excited about the 100% online delivery for this course providing the opportunity to bring this course to more MBA students and allowing him to bring in experts and speakers from the business industry, regardless of where they are in the world, to share their knowledge.

The Spring 2021 topic for the course is focused around managing during and after COVID-19—which is obviously on the top of everyone’s mind as we navigate these unprecedented times.

What will students learn about the pandemic in this course?

COVID-19 is rocking the business world everyday, putting managers in extraordinary situations, facing unprecedented challenges. The coronavirus pandemic has required businesses everywhere to operate with greater

Play Video

adaptability than ever before, especially as so many of our businesses shifted to flexible work from home operations. Naturally, when planning his Spring 2021 online section of the “Managing in the Future” course, Nat was drawn to helping student consider the short- and long-term implications of how this disease is shaping business and operations.

SPRING 2021 COURSE DESCRIPTION
Imagine living in a time when the very foundations of the world are being upended by one single event, COVID-19. An event so powerful that it has literally touched every single human on the planet. How does one prepare to manage and lead in this new world? What would you read? What new skills would you need to learn and what beliefs would should leave behind? Whom will you trust when there is so much uncertainty about the future, and the efficacy of sources of information? What questions will you ask when the world of “Black Mirror”, Black Lives Matter, Black Swans, Machine Learning, AI Nationalism, CRISPR, Climate Change, Aging, and Social Media all converge? This course is designed for the curious mind; to help you your way into a new way of seeing the future. You will be challenged to reach beyond your comfort zone in a journey to discover new emerging broad social, political, economic, technological, and environmental trends and events that will impact your effectiveness as a manager in a post-pandemic world.

UOFL ONLINE MBA

Offered through the College of Business, UofL’s online MBA is more than your typical MBA degree. Students will gain an understanding of the proven business theories, practices, and leadership skills expected of an MBA while also developing specialized expertise needed to stand out in today’s competitive business world. The program includes an optional 10-day business study trip, innovative electives like “Managing in the Future,” and the opportunity to earn a certificate in areas like Managerial Analytics or Distilled Spirits Business at no extra time or cost. Prepare for the future of business with UofL.

LEARN MORE AND GET STARTED: UofL Online MBA

MORE ABOUT NAT IRVIN

Dr. Nat Irvin, II, is an author, innovator, futurist, teacher, composer, and former radio and television commentator. Dr Irvin serves as Assistant Dean of Thought Leadership and Civic Engagement, Woodrow M. Strickler Chair and Professor of Management Practice for the University of Louisville’s College of Business. He teaches graduate courses in the future of management, leadership, and team dynamics. Dr. Irvin has engaged the leadership and management teams of several groups and organizations, including Fortune 100 companies in strategic conversations focused on the significant social, political, economic, technological and environmental trends and events that will drive the mid-to-long term future. Dr. Irvin is a graduate of the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and a Master’s degree in Media Arts. An accomplished composer, he also holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in Music Composition from the University of North Texas and is a graduate of the Institute for Educational Management, Harvard University Graduate School of Education.

Check out more feature stories about UofL’s online business programs.

[Video] Debunking myths with interesting facts about online education

By Ashley Jefferson | October 27, 2020 | Comments 0 Comment

Misconceptions about online learning are everywhere.

Online learning is on the rise, but there remain a lot of questions surrounding it. Let’s debunk five common online education myths with true, interesting facts about the reality of education in an online environment, especially at institutions like the University of Louisville (UofL).

Myth #1 - “Online degrees don’t have the same value as traditional degrees.”

The truth is, online degrees are real degrees. Studies, including one completed by the Department of Education, find that there is no significant difference in learning outcomes when compared to face-to-face programs. You may wonder, “What will employers think about an online degree?” At UofL, you receive the same degree online as you would on campus, with no indication of course format on your diploma. In other words, employers won’t know how you earned your degree unless you choose to tell them. Plus, most employers value the time management skills that online students must master to balance education with work, family life and other priorities.

Myth #2 - “Online students are not held to the same standards as traditional students.”

According to the U.S. News and World Report, job recruiters are more concerned about the legitimacy of the institution you receive your education from than the format of your program. One important part of this is the accreditation of your chosen university. New programs at universities like UofL undergo a thorough review process before approval in order to ensure that their online degrees meet the same high standards as their face-to-face degrees. Feeling secure in where you earn your education will give you confidence as you pursue career advancement.

[Want to know more interesting facts about online education? Check out our FAQ video: What are the benefits of online learning?]

Myth #3 - “Online classes are easier than traditional classes.”

An online program is a simpler, abbreviated version of a traditional program, right? Wrong. In an online program at UofL, you will have the same expectations, the same courses and the same faculty as you would on campus. You are expected to engage and work toward the same curriculum as the equivalent on-campus programs. Group projects, proctored tests and field assignments can be accomplished in an online setting too. The format may look different, but that doesn’t make it any easier.

Myth #4 - “You have to teach yourself.”

You aren’t physically sitting in a classroom, but that doesn’t mean you’re in this alone. Technology is a beautiful thing. In an online classroom setting, your teachers will communicate regularly through videos, discussion boards, group work, interactive activities, assignment responses, and more. They’re also available by email and for scheduled one-on-one appointments, as needed.

Myth #5 - “It’s hard to build a network in an online setting.”

In an increasingly competitive job market, the relationships you build throughout your education are essential. You can still make important connections with other students in an online setting. Online students are often working adults, returning to start or finish their bachelor’s degree or earn an advanced education through a master’s degree or certificate. In fact, many graduates of UofL’s online programs worked for Fortune 500 companies while earning their education. Because of the unique life and job experience the typical online student brings to the classroom with them, these connections are even more invaluable. At UofL, these experiences are often integrated into the lessons, allowing you to learn directly from your peers. You’ll also have the opportunity to network beyond your local area, with online students at UofL coming from across Kentucky and around the world.

[Check out the featured news section on our blog to see what online programs UofL recently launched!]

GET STARTED TODAY!

If these interesting facts about online education helped you realize online learning would fit your life, take the next step with confidence at UofL. We offer more 50+ online bachelor’s, master’s and certificates across a variety of fields and industries, all designed to help you take the next step in you education with confidence and ease. Visit our site for more information and to get started today!

Happy 73rd Birthday to the United States Air Force

By admin | September 16, 2020 | Comments 0 Comment

The University of Louisville (UofL) is proud to recognize and celebrate the 73^rd birthday of the United States Air Force on September 18, 2020.

UofL
has a long and proud tradition of supporting the United States Air Force.
Between 1947 and today, hundreds of members of the United States Air Force
pursued voluntary education and completed degrees at UofL. Since 1949, UofL has
been home to a United States Air Force Reserve Officer Training Command
(AFROTC) Detachment which has sent hundreds of Second Lieutenants into the Air
Force.

Our AFROTC
Detachment, and United States Army Reserve Officer Training Command Battalion
are housed in Dougherty Hall. The hall is named
in honor of retired
United States Air Force General Russell E. Dougherty, the former
commander-in-chief of United States Strategic Air Command and a 1948 University
of Louisville Law School graduate.

To
say that UofL is proud of its students, alumni, faculty and staff who serve or
served in the United States Air Force would be an understatement. We are
honored to teach them, work with them and serve them.

Honoring a U.S. Air Force Student: Sannely Vega Siurano

One of our current students who is a member of the United States Air Force is Sannely Vega Siurano. Sannely, an Air Force Public Health specialist, is a student in UofL’s online Master of Science of Social Work (MSSW) program.

Hailing from Caguas, Puerto Rico,
Sannely has been in the Air Force since 2018 and is currently stationed at
Aviano Air Base, Italy. Despite her short time in the Air Force, she already
boasts an impressive list of accomplishments including: Honor Graduate from Basic
Training, promotion to Airman Below-the-Zone and promotion to Senior Airman six
months early.

She was also awarded a Diamond
Sharp Award, as well as an Achievement Award for her performance during her
installation’s COVID-19 response. Sannely says her favorite Air Force memory so
far is the day she graduated basic training when she saw her family and was
able to “eat candy and fast food after two months”.

When searching for a leading online MSSW program, Sannely was looking for a program which was flexible about practicum placement for overseas military members. This search led her to UofL and she knew this was the right place for her when she found out UofL offers a reduced tuition rate of $250 per credit hour for Active Duty, Coast Guard and qualifying members of the National Guard and Reserve for undergraduate and most graduate programs.

Since the military’s Tuition
Assistance (TA) programs reimburses service members up to $250 per credit hour,
UofL’s reduced tuition rate allows Sannely to save her Department of Veterans
Affairs Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to either pursue education beyond her
master’s degree, or to transfer her Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to a family
member.

According to Sannely, UofL was
easy to work with and provided excellent support throughout her enrollment
process. In particular, Sannely said Connie Uzzell, Admissions Coordinator in
the Kent School of Social Work, was extremely helpful during the admission
process.

While she has only recently started
coursework, Sannely has been impressed by her professors’ and advisors’
flexibility and understanding. She says her classmates seem genuinely motivated
to help make the world a little better.

When she completes her master’s program, Sannely intends to remain in the Air Force and pursue a commission and career as a Clinical Social Worker.

As we pause to celebrate
the Air Force’s birthday, we are thankful for the members of the United States
Air Force, and their families, serving
in harm’s way to defend this nation and our interests.

LEARN MORE AND GET STARTED

Want to learn how UofL’s 100% online programs can help you soar? Visit https://uofl.me/2EQzZBX.

Six Sigma Certification Now Available!

Student Spotlight

Hope Ferdinando – 2020 Louisville Chapter ASQ Leadership Award

Ready to get started?

Prepare to Manage the Future of Business

UofL Online MBA: Elective Course "Managing in the Future"

Where did you get the idea for "Managing in the Future," the MBA elective course?

The course description talks about developing a “new way of seeing the future.” Tell us a bit more about that.

Was there a particular MBA student segment or business-level manager that this course is targeted toward? Or do you feel it’s applicable to business leaders at varying levels?

Business leaders everywhere are looking to adapt their management and leadership skills to adjust to unforeseen challenges. What sort of takeaways will students completing this elective as part of their MBA leave the program with?

The MBA has only been offered at UofL for little over a year now, and this is the first time Managing in the Future is being offered as an online elective. What excites you most about bringing this great, innovative elective course option to online students?

The Spring 2021 topic for the course is focused around managing during and after COVID-19—which is obviously on the top of everyone’s mind as we navigate these unprecedented times. What will students learn about the pandemic in this course?

UOFL ONLINE MBA

MORE ABOUT NAT IRVIN

Misconceptions about online learning are everywhere.

Myth #1 - “Online degrees don’t have the same value as traditional degrees.”

Myth #2 - “Online students are not held to the same standards as traditional students.”

Myth #3 - “Online classes are easier than traditional classes.”

Myth #4 - “You have to teach yourself.”

Myth #5 - “It’s hard to build a network in an online setting.”

GET STARTED TODAY!

Honoring a U.S. Air Force Student: Sannely Vega Siurano

LEARN MORE AND GET STARTED

Unknown Feed

The MBA has only been offered at UofL for little over a year now, and this is the first time Managing in the Future is being offered as an online elective.

What excites you most about bringing this great, innovative elective course option to online students?

The Spring 2021 topic for the course is focused around managing during and after COVID-19—which is obviously on the top of everyone’s mind as we navigate these unprecedented times.

What will students learn about the pandemic in this course?