Fayetteville State University - School of Business and Economics

Fayetteville State University’s Business School offers students the unbeatable combination of “low cost” coupled with a “great reputation.” Students here truly appreciate that the “core curriculum is not repetitive and boring” and that the “small class sizes make learning easy and interactive.” The program caters to individuals who are employed fulltime and promises a “flexible” course schedule. Moreover, students can opt to either take classes online or on campus, and many courses are offered in the evening.

Students at Fayetteville are full of admiration for their professors. An impressed firstyear student shares, “All my professors are top notch. Not only are they proficient in their fields, they have a true desire to see each and every student succeed.” Additionally, students here truly appreciate the unparalleled access professors seem to grant them. As one MBA candidate reveals, “Professors are also extremely helpful. They are willing to give you their cell phone numbers, so that you can call anytime with questions, and they make themselves available on weekends, throughout the day.” Perhaps almost as impressive is that “e-mails for the most part are answered immediately. Professors also ensure that each class is recorded via Panopto, so if you are unable to attend you can still see them lecture on blackboard.”

Praise is also extended to the “outstanding” administration. As another student shares, “They are all tremendously helpful and quick to assist students with anything from advising to outside competitions, opportunities, and internships.” “The MBA office’s open-door policy created an atmosphere of nurturing support for its students. My experience in the MBA program not only taught me the necessary skills to be successful in the business world, but also how to think logically in a stringently growing global enterprise.”

Fayetteville State’s Career Services Center works diligently to ensure that students and alumni have a myriad of employment opportunities. Advocating on behalf of its students, Career Services has partnered with a number of organizations and services to guarantee that students have access to a variety resources. The office provides a number of workshops, and MBA candidates can receive help honing their resume, practice with mock interviews, and learn tips about refining their job search. The University also hosts several career fairs throughout the year. These events attract a wide variety of companies and organizations, such as Rite Aid, The Hershey Company, Lowe’s, WalMart, Internal Revenue Service, Social Security Administration, BB&T, and Altria. While the Career Services Center does offer assistance, some MBA students feel as though the office could do more. As one student states, “From my experience, the career placement is more geared to undergrads. Specific emphasis should be placed on MBA students.”

MBA candidates at Fayetteville State definitely agree that their fellow students truly enrich their academic experience. They are “very friendly” and “concerned with grasp- ing the material verses simply going through the motions.” As one student elaborates, “My fellow classmates are excited to learn new and interesting things, and they are always willing to work together to make sure that everyone is on the same page.” Indeed, despite sometimes letting their “competitive” natures shine through, most students are “helpful and promote teamwork and team building.” Fortunately, Fayetteville’s Business School manages to attract a “diverse” group of students. As one graduating student shares, “My fellow classmates are a diverse group from all walks of life. I enjoy each class because of the stimulating class discussions and rigorous debate. I look forward to building a valuable network, because they all are leaders within their respective fields.”

While some students occasionally grumble that “parking is not always easy,” most agree that life at Fayetteville is “great.” And though a number of students enroll in online or evening classes, many find the campus “full of life.” A large number of students are busy with families and full-time jobs, so socializing is often kept to a minimum. However, there are opportunities for extracurricular activities. As another student recounts, “There are several organizations available that give students an opportunity for national rec- ognition. FSU has provided opportunities for me to compete in national business plan competitions, where I have won cash prizes and gained powerful connections.”