While the experience of building a new program is very lucrative, the beginning stages are almost always littered with challenges. As you push past the initial launch, the number of growing pains faced becomes inevitable. From recruiting and marketing, faculty staffing, student and faculty adjustments to one another, and remaining in compliance with regulations, many of the challenges that come with new programs can be overcome with careful planning, constant evaluation, and open communication with all stakeholders on and off campus.
“It’s easy to live on the top of the mountain but the hard work and real growth occurs while you are climbing”- We in BBA consider ourselves in the climbing stages and understand that we have much more work to do.
Despite the challenges, BBA is proud to recognize its triumphs. In as little as two semesters, BBA has welcomed an amazing combination of new and current faculty such as Dr. Gardenia Burks, Dr. Bruce Jones, Camille Pace, Dr. Jocelyn Steward and Dr. Oris Guillaume. We will also welcome a new full-time instructor for the logistics and supply chain degree this Fall.
In addition, BBA students teamed up with the community and participated in their first service learning project during Fall 2017 and have already gone into the planning stages for their second project, to include the newest cohort, Fall of 2018. Each group will adopt a separate non-profit organization and begin to design a plan of operation to include ways in which they can help provide a need.
Between both healthcare and Logistics groups, we have wrapped up our 5th social event. The social events include 2 BBA snack and chats during Fall 2017, an end of Fall 2017 holiday bash held at Los Palmas with faculty and students in attendance, and 2 end of Spring 2018 semester celebrations. These celebrations included food, soft drinks, desserts, and in some cases, games and prizes. It also allowed students to build stronger relationships with one another and with faculty.
Both groups have welcomed several class speakers to include Healthcare professionals, Lawyers who specialize in Healthcare law, Lean six sigma Directors and Logistics and Supply Chain Professionals. Under the direction of Dr. Steward, BBA students have organized their very own student organization known as B.L.O.T- Business Leaders of Tomorrow. This organization is open to all GHC students and will allow BBA students to network with students of all majors, including those that have an interest in the program.
Both groups have also toured several industries to include Floyd and Bartow county 911 Centers, Floyd Superior Court, Georgia Supreme Court, Bartow County Detention Center and its Medical Infirmary, Anheuser Busch, Shaw Industries, and Floyd Medical Center. We are in the planning stages for the upcoming 2018-2019 tours which will include Cartersville Medical Center, Harbin Clinic, Atlanta Hartsfield Airport (Delta), UPS/FEDX distribution Hubs, and Lowes Distribution Center.
After receiving over 102 applications during Spring 2018, BBA is on track to reach its max capacity of 70 students this Fall, 35 for healthcare and 35 for logistics.
As with anything new, there will be growing pains. But…. “it’s not the problems that define us, but how well we respond to the problems”
~Georgia Supreme Court Justice