WELCOME TO WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY'S MBA PROGRAM!
Admitted U.S. Students

This Information Directory provides some basic information you will need as you plan for your MBA education at Willamette University's Atkinson Graduate School of Management. We will keep you up-to-date and informed throughout the coming months.

Be sure to contact us with your questions. Call 503-370-6167 (toll free within the U.S. at 1-866-MBA-AGSM) or email Judy at joneill@willamette.edu.

The entire Atkinson School community congratulates you on your admission to the Willamette MBA program and encourages you to join us for a career-building and life-changing experience.

Sincerely,

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Reserve Your Place in the Incoming Class of 2010
To confirm your place in the entering class of 2010, complete the Acceptance of Admission form enclosed with your letter of admission and return it with your $200 deposit to the Willamette University MBA program by your deposit date. Make checks payable to Willamette University. The deposit will be applied toward your tuition and fees billing for fall semester 2010. Deposits are not refundable.

If you need more time to make your decision, email Judy O'Neill at joneill@willamette.edu to ask for an extension of your deposit date. If you decide not to attend the Willamette MBA, please notify Judy O'Neill.

Academic Calendar for 2010 - 2011
Fall Semester 2010 begins on Tuesday, August 17th, with Compass Week. Compass Week is required for all new students.
The academic calendar for 2010-11 is shown below.

New students should plan to arrive in Salem between August 2nd and August 10th (or before) so you have time to get get settled and rested before school starts. Also, you will want to be sure to participate in the pre-session events on August 13th: "Living and Learning in Salem" and Dinner at the Dean's House.

Laptop Requirement
All Willamette MBA students are required to have a laptop computer. In some classes you will use your laptop extensively; in others periodically or minimally. Current required laptop specifications are listed below.

* 802.11b or 802.11g wireless LAN capability
* Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access)
* Recommended RAM of 2G
* Some courses require Windows only software applications. Apple OS X Intel based laptops (MacBook and MacPro) must be set up to support the Windows operating system. The cost to purchase Windows operating system software and license are the responsibility of the laptop user.

The cost to purchase the required laptop can be included in your financial aid budget. If you plan to use funds from educational loans to pay for you laptop, contact Katy Wilson, Senior Financial Aid Counselor, (gradaid@willamette.edu , 503-370-6273, toll free in U.S. 1-877-744-3736) for information about submitting a Budget Adjustment Form.

Special Note: If you intend to use a laptop provided by another organization or an employer for your MBA course work, be sure the laptop administration is NOT restricted by the organization's IT department. You may be required to install software, make network changes, or make other system configuration changes to your laptop. Laptops with administration lock down or that are only partially configurable will not meet the requirements of this program.

Tuition for 2010-2011
The cost of tuition for 2010-11 will be $29,00 for the academic year ($14,950 per semester). The student body fee is $80 per academic year ($40 per semester). Tuition generally increases approximately 4% to 5% each year. There is also an additional second year of fee of $50 for renting graduation regalia.

Financial Aid - Educational Loans
Educational loans are the most common source of financial aid for MBA students in the US, and make it possible for students to invest in a future of expanded career opportunities and increased earning power. The combination of Federal Direct Stafford loans (up to $20,500 per year) and the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loans can cover the entire estimated institutional budget for educational, living and personal expenses while completing your MBA.

Federal Direct Stafford Loans and the new Federal Direct Graduate Plus Loan are awarded through the Willamette University Financial Aid Office and require submission of the FAFSA form. The FAFSA can be submitted online online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The Willamette University FAFSA code is 003227.

If you have questions about loan programs, contact Katy Wilson, Willamette University Senior Financial Aid Counselor. Email Katy at gradaid@willamette.edu, call toll free at 1-877-744-3736 or call 503-370-6273.


Financial Aid - Merit-based Scholarships
Merit-based scholarships are awarded to approximately 50% of full-time Early Career MBA and MBA for Career Change students. Scholarships are announced in your letter of admission and based on a number of criteria including GMAT or GRE score. Applicants who did not receive a scholarship or are interested in increasing their scholarship will generally be required to retake the GMAT or the GRE. If you are interested in retaking the GMAT or GRE, be sure your new GMAT or GRE scores are received by the admission office by March 1, 2010. If your GMAT or GRE score increases significantly, your eligibility for scholarship assistance can be reevaluated.

Fifty percent of a scholarship award for the academic year is dispersed for fall semester and 50% is dispersed for spring semester. Scholarship awards are not available for summer semester.

Additional scholarship opportunities for second year students include a selection of competitive scholarships that recognize characteristics such as entrepreneurship, academic achievement, leadership, service, and initiative. Our MBA students apply for these scholarships during the spring semester of the first year of study.

Renewal of Scholarships - Atkinson School MBA scholarships are generally renewable for the second year of study if the MBA student meets all of the following requirements: 1) maintains a minimum MBA cumulative grade point average of 3.3 (B+); 2) maintains fulltime enrollment in the Full-time MBA program and completes a minimum of 12 MBA credits per semester; and 3) maintains good standing within the academic policies and expectations of conduct of the Atkinson School and Willamette University.

MBA/JD joint degree students who receive scholarship assistance from the MBA program will receive the scholarship only during the first academic year in which they are enrolled full-time in the MBA program.

Cancellation of Scholarships - The Willamette MBA views ethics and academic honesty as very important parts of our MBA education. Scholarship recipients who have been placed on conduct probation or found to have committed the offense of plagiarism, cheating, or unauthorized possession of academic materials will lose all scholarship assitance awarded by the Atkinson School. See http://www.willamette.edu/mba/handbook/mba/Conduct_2009.html for definitions of the terms "plagiarism," "cheating," "unauthorized possession of academic materials," and "conduct probation."

Deferment Policy
Admitted students may defer their enrollment for up to one year. Deferment applies to admission only and does not defer scholarship awards or financial aid. Contact Judy O'Neill at joneill@willamette.edu or call 503-370-6167 (toll free 1-866-MBA-AGSM).

Off-Campus Housing
Willamette MBA students generally live off-campus. Check our 2010 Google map and recommendations from students at http://www.willamette.edu/agsm/full-time/admitted/Off_Campus_Housing_10.html

Other resources for information include the Statesman Journal (Classified Ad) and Craigslist

A recent Statesman Journal newspaper article estimates the going rate for two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment ranges from $560 to $650 per month. ...The typical one-bedroom rents for about $460 to $570 per month.


On-Campus Housing
Limited on-campus housing is availabe for graduate students for the 2010-11 academic year. If you are interested in living on-campus, email housing@willamette.edu right away.

Disability and Learning Services
The mission of the Willamette University Disability and Learning Services office is to facilitate reasonable accommodations for those students with a qualifying disability or temporary medical condition and to provide academic assistance on an individual basis to any undergraduate or graduate student who requests it. Admitted applicants desiring information regarding Disability Services for Willamette MBA students may go to www.willamette.edu/dept/disability and follow the procedures listed. Students who have a documented disability requiring accommodation should contact the Office of Disability and Learning Services at 503-370-6471 or email JoAnne Hill at jmhill@willamette.edu

Communicate with an MBA Student, Faculty Member or Alumnus
If you would like to communicate with an MBA student, faculty member and/or alumnus, we will be happy to connect you! To request contact, just email joneill@willamette.edu.

Changes in Your Mailing Address, Email Address or Telephone Number
If you have a change in your mailing address, email address or telephone number, be sure to tell us so we can continue to keep you informed of important information. Email changes to joneill@willamette.edu.

Visit the Atkinson School
If you have not already visited us, plan to do so soon. We will be happy to arrange a campus visit for you. Email joneill@willamette.edu.

WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY RESOURCE DIRECTORY

WEB RESOURCES FOR LEARNING ABOUT OREGON, SALEM AND PORTLAND

• Salem Wikepedia
• Salem Community Guide
• Salem Convention and Visitors Information
• Statesman Journal Online (Salem area news and classified ads for housing, etc.)
• Oregon Live.com
• Portland Essential Links
• Portland International Airport
• Travel Oregon Online
• Welcome to Oregon
• Weather Forecast for Salem