Flexibility of Distance Learning

• Online (distance learning) courses and instruction offer a great degree of flexibility that traditional in-person courses often lack. Most distance learning programs allow you to review materials at your own pace and on your own time, as long as you complete all the work by an assigned due date. The technology used for distance learning programs is quite advanced, so a lot of the interactivity of in-person instruction is maintained during online classes. You will likely be required to participate in class discussions via chat rooms, message boards and other social media platforms, but the time requirements of your participation will be very flexible. Most distance learning programs aim to allow students to have a well-rounded experience, not lacking any of the social components that traditional programs offer.
  
  

Facts About the Program

• The Cornell distance learning MBA program was founded in 2005, and is accredited by the AACSB (the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business). The program has a duration of 17 months, and that is the maximum period of time that enrolled students are allowed to complete their degrees. The ages of enrolled students are between 30 and 47, with 37 being the average age. The students have between 72 and 276 months of work experience prior to entering the program, with the average being 168 months.
  
  

Boardroom Learning Model

• According to the Cornell University website, the Executive MBA program is "currently offered in New York State, Ohio, Washington State, Oregon, Washington, D.C., and across Canada. The program's Boardroom Learning Model features a combination of on-campus residential sessions and multi-point interactive videoconferencing-based boardroom sessions held approximately three Saturdays per month." This type of approach gives students the flexibility and advantages of distance learning, but also allows for sufficient face time and in-person interaction. Even though students may need to travel and take time off from their weekend, they do not need to travel during the week, and can complete all their course requirements online, on their own time.
  
  

Contact Information

• In order to learn more about the distance learning executive MBA program at Cornell University, contact the director of the program, Danny Szpiro, Ph.D. Cornell University lists his contact information as follows:
  
  Danny Szpiro, Ph.D.
  Director, Cornell-Queen's Executive MBA Program
  Phone: 607-254-1260
  Fax: 607-255-0018
  E-mail: das247@cornell.edu
  
  

Considerations

• Completing an online program may be just as challenging as completing an entirely in-classroom program. Therefore, research the time commitment that the program you choose demands, and assess your own ability to attend online lectures, complete assignments and study the required readings. Furthermore, be sure to clarify the specific equipment that you will need to do the program--specifically, the minimum computer hardware requirements, Internet connection speed, and peripherals such as a web camera.