Welcome New Admits!

Congratulations on your admittance to the University of Wisconsin-Madison Evening MBA Program at the Wisconsin School of Business. We are pleased that you’ll be a part of this program and we look forward to working with you.

Below you will find some helpful student services information for a successful transition to the Wisconsin Evening MBA Program. If you have any questions or suggestions for the New Admit web pages, please contact Vicky Myint vmyint@bus.wisc.edu.

Books

Before the start of each semester, you will receive information via e-mail about the textbooks and/or books you need to purchase for your upcoming classes.  While the University Bookstore on State Street in Madison, WI will stock the books you need, most Evening MBA students tend to make their purchases through Amazon.com due to the convenience.

Business Learning Center

The Business Learning Center helps students excel by providing ancillary academic support in quantitatively based business-related courses.  While most of the open study sessions are geared towards undergraduate courses and are offered during regular business hours, learning assistance (tutoring) can be provided to Evening MBA students (individuals or groups) upon special request.  Please visit http://www.bus.wisc.edu/blc/ to learn more.

Calculator

There are no special calculator needs for your first year Economics class.  With regards to Finance, please check your Finance syllabus for any specific financial calculator recommendations as each professor has his/her own preference.

Career Services

MBA Career Services’ mission is to prepare Wisconsin MBAs to enhance their marketability by providing resources and individualized career advising for students.  Ellen Bartkowiak is the Assistant Director of MBA Career Management Center, and she oversees MBA career services for the Evening and Executive MBA programs.  She offers workshops and provides individual appointments to assist students with such career related topics as career exploration, interviewing, salary negotiation techniques and professional etiquette.  Go to http://www.bus.wisc.edu/mbacs/to learn more.

Class Calendar

Please review the 2012-2015 cohort calendar for all class dates.  Attendance is expected at all class dates. The program will try to accommodate occasional and limited mandatory work absences, occasional and limited absences due to illness, and occasional major life events.

The program does not accommodate absences for vacations or other pleasure/leisure activities.

Please review the calendar upon your admission into the program. If there are any dates that you will not be able to attend class please contact Vicky Myint, Director of Students Services, (vmyint@bus.wisc.edu) to evaluate your individual situation and to develop a plan. Should mandatory work or illness absences exceed the amount of time you can miss and still be successful in the program, you may need to step out of the program for a period of time or withdraw from the program permanently prior to obtaining the degree.

Coach Service from Milwaukee

Milwaukee area residents are provided with private coach shuttle service to and from UW-Madison’s Grainger Hall from the Park-and-Ride at Goerke’s Corner on all Evening MBA school nights at no additional charge.   The coach service will be in service for Orientation and Math Review in August, 2012.  Detailed information about the coach service pickup/drop-off times will be sent to you with the Orientation schedule later this year.

Course Packets

Course packets are provided to each student at no additional charge, and they are distributed in the classroom on the first day of class.  You will receive your course packets for your first two classes during Orientation in August 2012.

Computing Environment

The Evening MBA Program supports a Student Business Center which has desktop computers, as well as a printer, copier, fax and telephone.  This Student Business Center is available to all Evening MBA and Executive MBA students.<

The Graduate School of Business also supports a computing lab for Masters' students. The lab is meant to supplement your own computing resources while you are on campus if you need something beyond what the Student Business Center can provide. Please note that this computing lab is frequently used to capacity by full-time MBA students.

The School of Business Library has 40 desktop computers which are connected to printers at the Circulation Desk on the main floor.  In addition, the Business Library has 25 laptop computers that can function either as a Mac or a PC. They can be checked out at the Circulation Desk for up to 3 days.

In addition, more than 1,000 computers are available in the 14 general-access labs located on campus. Even if you have your own computer, you can use the printers, scanners, CD burning and digital editing resources available in the labs; see http://www.doit.wisc.edu/computerlabs/. Wireless laptop computers are available for short-term checkout at several of the labs; see http://www.doit.wisc.edu/laptops/ . Campus computer kiosks also provide Internet access in many campus locations; see http://www.doit.wisc.edu/kiosks/.

Most campus buildings (including Grainger Hall which is the School of Business) provide access to the UW-Madison Wireless Network.  The campus wireless network is fast, about 20 times faster than a 56-kbps modem connection and is available in over 70% of all campus buildings. You have the portability of a cell telephone, with access to the Web, email, and other services.  To learn more, visit http://www.doit.wisc.edu/network/wireless/index.asp.

Computer Requirements

Source: http://www.doit.wisc.edu/students/faq.asp

    What technology resources are available and how can I learn more about them?
  • Each student receives a free Internet service account with a unique NetID, that includes   UW email (WiscMail), online calendar (WiscCal), online file storage and Web space (My WebSpace) and more. A Web site called My UW-Madison provides a personal entry point to these services and vital academic and other campus information and services such as course information and registration, advising, financial aid, library services, help desk services, work records and more

    Do I need to buy a new computer or can I just bring one from home?
  • You don’t need a new computer, but you do need a computer with ample processing speed and memory and the capability to support fast network connections. We recommend a Windows PC with at least a 1.6GHz Pentium 4, Atom, Core or equivalent processor and 1GB memory, or a Macintosh with at least a 1.83GHz Core Duo processor and 1GB memory.  For recommended system requirements visit http://support.doit.wisc.edu/showroom/page.php?id=3061.

    Laptop vs. Netbook vs. Desktop
  • Laptops or Netbooks with wireless networking can expand your academic experience by offering the opportunity to work collaboratively in numerous locations both on and off campus. About 93% of UW-Madison students own laptops, and some colleges and schools (e.g., Business and Engineering) encourage their use. Netbooks are generally inexpensive portable web browsers and word processors with smaller keyboards, smaller screens, less RAM, slower processors, and smaller hard drives (less space for music, video and pictures) than laptops. With their low cost and lower computing power, netbooks make a good fit as a second, very portable computer. Desktop computers generally cost less than laptops, have more powerful processors, and offer larger monitors and keyboards for more comfort. In summary, laptop and netbook computers will offer more opportunity for collaboration and increased productivity, while desktop computers can offer more computing power for the dollar.

    Should I get a Macintosh or Windows computer?
  • Both platforms are used and supported on the UW-Madison campus, and both provide the necessary student computing tools. A good rule of thumb is, "go with what you know."

    What software do I need?
  • DoIT recommends recent versions of the following software:
  • Operating System (Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7; MacOS X 10.5 or 10.6) with latest security updates.
  • Office Suite (such as Microsoft Office, Apple iWorks, Open Office or other office solutions) with latest security updates
  • AntiVirus and Anti-Spyware (Symantec Endpoint Protection/AntiVirus: free download or free CD in Tech Store and at SOAR)
  • Firewall (included in Windows XP/Vista/7 and Mac OS X)
  • Web Browser (such as Internet Explorer 7.x, Mozilla Firefox 3.6.x, Safari 4.x) with latest security updates

    What software does DoIT sell?
  • DoIT has great deals on popular Microsoft products (Windows 7 Pro or Ultimate and Office for Windows or Mac starting at $69.95), and a variety of Adobe graphics and multimedia software. You can buy these products in person at the DoIT Tech Store at http://techstore.doit.wisc.edu/ or the onlineWisconsin Integrated Software Catalog (WISC) at http://wiscsoftware.wisc.edu/wisc/. Many other popular software programs are also available for purchase at educational discounts at the DoIT Tech Store and via WISC. All purchases require an active UW-Madison ID. Some products such as Microsoft and Adobe products also require students to sign a license agreement.

    What kinds of computers does DoIT sell or recommend?
  • The DoIT Tech Store has educational discount programs arranged with Dell and Apple. They stock and sell a select number of standard Dell computers, and provide a link to Dell's Higher Education online store to build and order customized versions of most any Dell computer. They also stock and sell standard Apple computers, and provide a link to the Apple Store for Education to build and order customized versions of these systems. Educational discounts usually amount to a savings of up to 7%. Visit http://techstore.doit.wisc.edu/ for more information.

    Where can I find software training?
  • As a registered UW-Madison student, you can take advantage of free training through the Software Training for Students program. Classes vary from basic desktop applications to advanced Web design. No registration is required, but seating is usually limited and is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. See the Web site at http://www.doit.wisc.edu/training/sts for more information.

    What equipment can I rent from DoIT?
  • UW-Madison faculty, staff and students can rent laptops, projectors and projection screens from the DoIT Service Desk on a daily, weekly, monthly or semester basis. Please visit http://doit.wisc.edu/repair/rentals.aspx for more information.

    Where are food and beverages located?
  • Food and beverages are available for purchase before classes at the Capital Café or at the vending machines.  Please note that the Capital Café often has shortened hours of operation when the undergraduate students are on break.  Complimentary beverages and snacks are provided by the Evening MBA program office when Evening MBA classes are in session.

    Is parking available?
  • Parking at Grainger Hall (Lot 7 – an underground garage) is provided for Evening MBA students.  Parking permits will be mailed to students this summer, and they are valid Monday through Friday after 4:00pm, and all day Saturday and Sunday.

    Where is the library?
  • The Business Library is located in Room 2200 of Grainger Hall.  To learn more and/or to access the online resources, go to http://business.library.wisc.edu/.

    Where is the program office located?
  • The Evening MBA program office is located at 975 University Avenue, 2310 Grainger Hall, Madison, WI 53706 (phone 608-263-1169).  The program office is generally open in the evenings on all Evening MBA school nights for advising and assistance.  Staff can meet with students on other evenings as well by appointment.