University of Louisville Online Programs | Student Resources & Feature Stories

Life is full of challenges. Your online education doesn’t need to be one of them.

By admin | February 7, 2019

Julia Parsons (pictured above) wanted to go back to school for her family, in addition to realizing her dream of becoming a mentor and guiding force for college students. “I work full-time, I’m a mom and I’m a wife,” Julia says. Returning to school for her master’s degree was about “supporting my family and showing my daughter that I’m going to do what I set out to do.”

When Camille Jones graduated with her associate’s degree, she was pregnant with her daughter. “I worked for 15 years or so and I wanted to go back to school, but really didn’t have the time because I was a wife and mother of two kids.” She never gave up on her dream of going back to school, though, and she knew it was time when she kept hearing potential employers tell her the same thing. “I had interview after interview,” Camille explains, continuing that each time they would say, “We want to give you this job but you need a bachelor’s degree.”

For Troy Marables, the first in his family to go to college, it was about realizing his full potential. Troy received a promotion at work after 20 years of service, but felt he hadn’t gone as far as he wanted to go. “I needed to go back to school and get my degree in order to move to the next level of management.”

You may have dreamt about earning a college degree or going back to school, too. And each time you thought about it, you came up with reasons it wasn’t possible.

Like Camille, Troy and Julia, it’s time to turn your “why” into “how.”

Whether you want to earn your bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or obtain a specialized certificate, you can make your dreams come true through an online degree or certificate from University of Louisville (UofL) Online. UofL Online provides the support, expertise and student-driven focus needed to help you reach your goals.

It’s about you

Everyone has a reason for wanting to go back to school. They have their own unique set of circumstances that may have kept them from taking the first step. UofL Online has a team of trained counselors, faculty and support staff to help you throughout the discovery and decision process.

This is your dedicated team. They’re available to listen to your concerns, answer questions and guide you to the resources you need. They are truly dedicated to your success and will work with you every step of the way on your journey.

It’s about excellence

The faculty teaching at UofL Online are thought leaders and researchers actively contributing to the advancement of their fields through their work—and the same world-class instructors as the traditional, on-campus programs. For online students, this means exposure to new research, an environment of innovation, a culture of excellence and forward-thinking ideas. Because UofL is a tier 1 research institution, you have the opportunity to learn from the best and the ability to be directly involved in making a difference, even before earning your degree.

UofL faculty are preparing students today for the challenges of tomorrow, empowering them to be leaders and influencers in their chosen professions and their communities.

**It’s about time—and your time is now.**

UofL students come from all walks of life, all stages of career, with various backgrounds and from diverse cultures. Chances are you already know someone who has a degree from one of their programs. Now it’s your time to join UofL’s learners’ community.

With most of the online programs available at UofL, you won’t need to attend classes at set times. Choose the time that’s right for you to get your work done and meet course deadlines. You’ll also be able to work on your assignments and collaborate with classmates from any location.

Take the first step. Visit UofL Online to see what programs are available and start your journey. UofL currently has 32 online degree and certificate programs, with even more coming during the 2018-2019 academic year.

Turn your “why” into “how”. Gain the knowledge and confidence you need to knock down the barriers holding you back professionally. Become an inspiration to your family and friends. Most importantly, earn a sense of pride and accomplishment as you move past your hesitations, and embrace a future of possibilities.

“You can do it,” says Julia. “If it’s something that you want, that you have a passion for, and it’s where you see yourself in the future, then go for it.”

This blog post was originally published on Insider Louisville.

Earn more than just an MBA—new online program!

By admin | January 25, 2019

MBA programs might seem like they’re a dime a dozen.

The recently launched online Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the College of Business at the University of Louisville (UofL) is breaking the mold.

Designed for working professionals who want to advance their career, the new degree builds on the success of UofL’s nationally-recognized seated MBA programs by delivering an online curriculum taught by the same b-school faculty as the traditional options. UofL MBAs go beyond the cookie-cutter formula for a business administration program by presenting the opportunity for students to broaden their global mindsets and specialize their program—earning a degree that will distinguish them in the workplace.

In other words, this MBA that stands out so our graduates can too.

In this program, students with have the chance to:

Develop vital business skills needed to lead teams and improve the bottom line.
Expand their global business savvy with an optional 10-day international study trip.*
Use their elective hours to earn a certificate in a specialized business area or select from a variety of innovative online and on-campus courses available across various disciplines.
Engage with world-class faculty who have extensive industry background and leadership experience.
Learn from business leaders, guest speakers and successful alumni.
Network with other business professionals from around the world.

“This is a unique and exciting MBA program because it is built on what makes Louisville Louisville. Our MBA students have the option to customize their degree with one of our industry-based certificates that focus on the unique expertise required by local industries. And, the online platform enables professionals working in those industries to access the program from wherever they are in the world.”
Todd Mooradian
Dean, College of Business

The first cohort for the online program starts in August of 2019 (enrollment is open now!). Students can complete the program in five semesters (or less with dual-status).

The launch of the online MBA program is part of a university-wide effort to provide flexible in-demand degrees that serve working adults and the professional community. UofL currently offers 33 online programs.

“We continuously strive to launch innovative and career-focused programs that benefit adult learners and the community. Partnering with the College of Business to bring this unique MBA offering online is just the next step in our commitment to excellence in online higher education.”
Gale Rhodes
Vice Provost and Executive Director
Delphi Center for Teaching and Learning

To see if the online MBA from the University of Louisville is right for you, visit uofl.me/2RO9UZt.

*The international study trip benefit includes programming costs, hotels, most meals, visa fees, cultural immersion admissions, in-country guides and transportation, and between-country transportation. Airfare to the destination and some incidentals are excluded.

Growing Faster In A Franchise Business

By admin | January 18, 2019

By Kathleen Gosser, Ph.D.

Buying your first franchise is a big step in building your own business. It is exciting, and includes so much to learn.

By definition, franchising means you are provided with a business plan that has a proven track record of results. Your franchisor will provide you with this business model, which will guide you in getting your franchise up and running.

This platform includes products, standard operating procedures, trademarks and brand recognition. From there, your franchisor’s level of training and development may vary, depending upon their point of view regarding the risk associated with providing support (see my first blog post on Joint Employer laws for more information).

Building Your Franchise Enterprise

You are given enough information and support to launch your first franchise—but then what? Owning one franchise is much different than owning 100. How do you begin growing your organization?

As you expand your enterprise, you have to understand how to build an infrastructure to support this growth. You need a broadened understanding of functions such as finance, development, human resources, operations, legal and administrative support. However, developing these departments within your franchise is something you must learn outside of your franchisor.

An Education to Support Your Ambitions

A growing franchisee must be able to create a strategic vision in order to develop his/her organization. With a solid foundation of business principles from a business school education, franchisees are better equipped to effectively accelerate growth and succeed.

The online Franchise Management Certificate from the College of Business at the University of Louisville delivers an understanding of the business principles needed to build that solid and secure infrastructure across all vital disciplines. In addition, you’ll encounter courses in leadership that teach proven theories of driving results, as well as courses in business strategy.

For more information on the program, visit uofl.me/2FA5P4n.

Dr. Kathleen Gosser (PhD, University of Louisville) is an experienced leader in the franchise industry and a passionate educator. In her 30 year career in the franchise industry, she has enjoyed numerous roles, including leadership of customer satisfaction programs, operations measurement, employee recognition, training and team member engagement efforts. She also had direct P&L accountability as the Region Coach of 10 restaurants in Louisville, Kentucky.

This blog post was originally published on Fransocial.

What You Won’t Learn From Your Franchisor

By admin | January 15, 2019

By Kathleen Gosser, Ph.D.

So, you have entered into a franchise agreement with a well-established and successful franchisor. You have an entrepreneurial spirit, capital and drive. You believe that you are on your way to infinite success due to the guidance and support you will receive. You are all set… or are you?

A signed franchise agreement does not guarantee that your franchisor will teach you all you need to be a successful business owner. While you will receive a proven business model, there are many facets to running a business that you may not receive from your franchisor.

Department of Labor Impact on Franchisee Training

In 2016, the Department of Labor (DOL) provided insight on the interpretation of “Joint Employer.” The Wage and Hour Division of the DOL views joint employment in the franchise world to mean an individual worker is an employee of both the franchisee and franchisor.

This law has significant impact on the support, training and guidance a franchisor will provide.

There are provisions to make the final determination that include directing or controlling the work performed, employment conditions (hiring and firing), repetitive work (very often present in franchises) and the work is performed on the premises. In light of this interpretation, many franchisors are backing off the support they provide in terms of Human Resource guidance and advanced leadership skills training.

An Education Gap in Franchising

There are other constraints in place that prohibit franchisors from providing all the information needed to make strategic decisions as a franchisee. Gaps in franchisee education include how to ensure you remain profitable, including managing labor and cost of goods sold, or how to fund your franchise and growth is not always readily available information. For example, while pricing recommendations can be made, the franchisee has the right to price however he/she chooses in the marketplace—thus an area where guidance could be extremely beneficial.

The Business School Proposition

How do franchisees find the information they need to be successful? Aside from gaining and learning from hands-on experience, they have to search for it. There is a great deal of information online; however, it takes some digging. There are courses available through the IFA as well.

But nothing matches the education that can be earned from a business school.

Coupling a great franchise with sound business principles is a recipe for success. Business schools impart the knowledge you need to better understand the higher level strategic needs as well as the franchisor business model.

To meet this education need, the AACSB-accredited College of Business at the University of Louisville recently launched an innovative, one-of-a-kind Franchise Management Certificate, with the first cohort starting coursework in February 2019.

For more information on the program, visit uofl.me/2z6cmhL.