UNA-College of Business

Mission Statement

The mission of the College of Business is to prepare students to become successful professionals capable of leading organizations in a diverse, dynamic global economy.

UNA business graduates will be able to communicate effectively and to exhibit leadership and teamwork skills. They will know how to use information technology to support decision-making. They will command analytical and reasoning skills for solving problems in a diverse, complex, and dynamic economic environment. They will possess the knowledge and skills appropriate to their chosen major. Above all, they will know how to behave ethically and professionally as they apply these skills.

The mission emphasizes practice-oriented teaching. Learning and research opportunities are selected to build student knowledge and decision-making skill; to promote continuing professional growth for students, faculty, and staff; and to support economic growth within the region.

Vision Statement

The College of Business seeks to become a recognized leader among regional universities in the South for providing high value professional business education to undergraduates and mid-career professionals. Both undergraduate and graduate programs will stress quality, currency, relevancy, practical application, accessibility and affordability.

Values Statement

The College of Business embraces accountability and ethical and professional behavior as fundamental principles. The College recognizes globalization and its implications of cultural diversity, need for innovation, and need for continuous improvement as opportunities. Accordingly, the College seeks to create a positive climate of performance based on ethical and professional behavior, and individual responsibility for performance improvement and continuous learning. The College seeks to enhance value for all stakeholders of the College of Business and the University, and holds itself accountable through regular assessment activities.

Educational Goals of the College of Business

Undergraduate Degree Program Learning Goals

The Learning Goals for the BBA program are driven by the College of Business mission statement which is to "prepare students to become successful professionals capable of leading organizations in a diverse, dynamic global economic environment."

Students graduating from the BBA program are expected to achieve each of the following six College of Business Program Learning Goals:

To be able to identify, analyze and solve business-related problems and to make effective decisions.

Student Learning Objectives/Expected Student Outcomes for this goal include:
1. Correctly identify business and economic problems and their constraints
2. Interpret causes of problems and potential consequences of decision alternatives
3. Use information technology and analytical tools effectively to support decision-making, demonstrate understanding of information systems and show skill in using:
  1. Office automation tools (word processors, spreadsheets, presentation software)
  2. Database applications
  3. Project planning, forecasting, and planning tools
4. Seek, organize and use appropriate information to support decision-making
5. Analyze and interpret an organization's financial information as a basis for decision making
6. Identify, analyze and propose solutions to marketing and production problems
To be able to communicate effectively.

Student Learning Objectives/Expected Student Outcomes for this goal include:
1. Communicate clearly and persuasively through written and oral reports with these attributes:
  1. Clear purpose and organization
  2. Sufficient supporting data
  3. Direct and economical style
  4. Professional quality vocabulary, grammar, punctuation, and spelling
  5. Appropriate choice of presentation media
To be able to demonstrate qualities of leadership and teamwork.

Student Learning Objectives/Expected Student Outcomes for this goal include
1. Recognize and comprehend common leadership models
2. Recognize, develop and display behavior consistent with effective teamwork
3. Develop an action plan for developing leadership skills in oneself and others through a process of self-examination, understanding of strengths and weaknesses, and concluding with an appropriate leadership development plan
To be able to act professionally and ethically.

Student Learning Objectives/Expected Student Outcomes for this goal include
1. Define and distinguish among the theories that represent the principles of legal and ethical decision-making
2. Understand and be able to display appropriate personal behavior and business etiquette in a variety of business, interpersonal and social situations
3. Understand concepts associated with business ethics and the impact of business ethics on corporate governance
4. Apply legal and ethical principles to situations facing business professionals in corporate, partnership, and/ or small business settings using a case study approach
To be able to function effectively in a diverse, dynamic global economic environment.

Student Learning Objectives/Expected Student Outcomes for this goal include
1. Identify key micro and macroeconomic terms.
2. Identify and describe the institutions and elements that distinguish global business.
3. Describe the advantages and challenges associated with a diverse economy and workforce
4. Analyze the opportunities and challenges associated with global business expansion
5. Demonstrate the ability to adjust business goals to global changes
To be able to exhibit knowledge and skills appropriate to a chosen major.

Student Learning Objectives/Expected Student Outcomes for this goal include
1. Satisfy major field achievement exam score as identified by major department.
2. Satisfy EBI survey score on content topics as identified by major department

Graduate Degree Program Learning Goals

The Learning Goals for the MBA program are driven by the College of Business's mission statement which is to "prepare students to become successful professionals capable of leading organizations in a diverse, dynamic global economic environment."

Students graduating from the MBA program are expected to achieve each of the following five College of Business Program Learning Goals:

To be able to identify, analyze and solve business related problems and to make effective decisions.
1. Gather, validate, and structure information, leveraging technology, in support of decision making.
2. Identify, analyze and propose solutions to complex problems occurring in a dynamic business environment recognize intended and unintended consequences of various proposed solutions
3. Integrate knowledge across business functions to identify sound decisions.
To be able to communicate effectively
1. Effectively communicate coherent and persuasive written reports and oral presentations
2. Evaluate interpersonal as well as organizational communication approaches and strategies, differentiating effective from ineffective approaches and styles
To be able to demonstrate qualities of leadership and teamwork.
1. Develop an action plan for developing leadership skills in oneself and others through a process of self-examination, classification of strengths and weaknesses, and concluding with an appropriate leadership style.
2. Select the leadership style that is most conducive to promoting effective individual performance and team performance after assessing the situation, people involved, and the organization.
To be able to act professionally and ethically
1. Understand and be able to display appropriate personal behavior and business etiquette in a variety of business, interpersonal and social situations.
2. Apply legal and ethical principles to situations facing business professionals in corporate, partnership, and/ or small business settings using a case study approach.
3. Recognize potential ethical dilemmas, evaluate their consequences, and select the best course of action to follow.
To be able to function effectively in a diverse, dynamic global economic environment
1. Analyze the opportunities and challenges associated with global business expansion.
2. Demonstrate the ability to adjust business goals to global changes.
3. Analyze how this adjustment affects each of the major business functions when moving from a domestic operation to a global operation.
4. Outline an enterprise strategic plan to respond to the global marketplace.

Student Populations Served

The College of Business supports the University's primary role as a traditional campus serving a substantial percentage of undergraduate students. The primary undergraduate student population served by the College of Business includes both traditional age and non-traditional high school and community college graduates from northwest Alabama, south-central Tennessee and northeast Mississippi. Many of the undergraduate students are considered 'first-generation college students.’ In recognition of the importance of diversity and globalization of the business environment, the College of Business recognizes the benefit of and seeks to also enroll well prepared international students from a wide range of cultures.

In the graduate program, the student population to be served by the College of Business includes high-potential entry level and mid-career professionals seeking to expand their management expertise and to prepare for career advancement. Students are sought from a wide variety of backgrounds and undergraduate majors. While the primary service area is northwest Alabama, south-central Tennessee and northeast Mississippi, the College of Business seeks to diversify and enrich its graduate student body by also enrolling highly qualified international students from a variety of cultures in its on-campus program. In addition, the College of Business, in recognition of the growth of Asian economies and the importance of integrating a global outlook in all business programs, seeks to develop and maintain a cohort of Asian students served via the College's distance learning program. Further, in support of the College of Business's vision of providing high value programs that are accessible and affordable, the graduate program serves a substantial number of working, mid-career professionals from throughout the U.S. via its graduate distance learning program.