Sponsorship Guide

Don’t know how to go about asking for financial support from your employer? We have developed a Sponsorship Guide for your use. Topics covered include why an employer should sponsor an employee, what it means to sponsor an employee, and who the organization should choose to sponsor.

Why Should an Organization Sponsor an Employee Who Wishes to Obtain an Executive MBA Degree?

Emphasis on developing the employee as a leader. From executive leadership and team building delivered on an outdoor ropes course during orientation, to a culminating strategic team building exercise before graduation, Auburn’s EMBA program focuses on leadership development and team building.

In many courses the professor will willingly allow the employee to complete case work and project assignments on issues critical to your organization. This not only makes coursework applicable to the “real world”, but also gives the employee an opportunity to apply the latest academic principles to organizational issues, giving the employee a larger and more effective problem-solving skill set.

The cohort approach of Auburn’s EMBA program allows numerous opportunities for the employee to network both in person and via distance. Executive MBA students have the unique opportunity to exchange knowledge with the distinguished faculty in the Harbert College of Business, other peers in the EMBA program, EMBA alumni and various industry experts both home and abroad. With so many avenues of experience to learn from, the employee will gain valuable insight on how to effectively negotiate through the complexity of today’s global business issues.

The curriculum concentrates on the five fundamentals of business: Accounting, Economics, Finance, Management and Marketing—with an emphasis on tying these fundamentals together through managerial applicability, thus allowing the employee to better understand how these five fundamentals interact to support the functions of their organization.

With business strategies becoming increasingly global, Auburn’s EMBA program prepares the employee for managing in a global environment. Through course work, case study, and an International Business and Operations course (conducted in Asia, Europe or South America), our executive students have the chance to see first-hand what it is like to do business in other countries.

Auburn’s Executive MBA program is designed to allow your employees to study anytime, anywhere. The program is designed with minimal interference to work and family, affording us the opportunity to select candidates from anywhere in the United States and the world. By utilizing periodic residencies, and an international trip experience, Auburn’s EMBA program allows the student to spend the remainder of the 21-month program balancing work, family and school.

As an organization, there are few things one can do that is more positive than investing in the education of your employees. With a tight labor market, organizations have to be creative in retaining their best internal talent. Sponsoring an employee in our Executive MBA program not only makes a positive statement to potential executives in the organization, but also promotes loyalty and retention.

Finally, the Executive MBA program at Auburn University has been rated by both Forbes and Kiplinger as an excellent return on investment. From day one our students can apply what is being learned to the organization, greatly reducing the time it takes for the organization to re-coop its sponsorship investment.

What Does It Mean to Sponsor an Employee?

There are three primary ways in which an organization can sponsor one of its employees. While a situation where an organization utilizes all three methods of sponsorship is ideal, at the very least one method should be utilized to support the employee in his/her educational endeavors.

I. Financial Support

Although not a requirement for admission, many of our Executive MBA students receive financial support (generally in the range of 15%-100%) from their organization. Auburn University provides financial aid in the form of loans, both government and private, should the student have to fund all or parts of the program on their own. We also utilize third-party billing to make it easier for organizations to support their employees and the Executive MBA program accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discovery, and American Express as well.

II. Paid time off

Another popular way to sponsor an employee is to provide paid time off during domestic and international residencies. While time away from work is reduced to a minimum, not penalizing the employee or requiring him/her to utilize vacation or sick leave is a way to sponsor someone without providing direct financial assistance.

III. Fostering an organizational climate that is supportive of executive education.

Auburn’s Executive MBA program requires a 21-month commitment from not only the student and their family, but from the organization as well. It can be a very stressful time as one tries to balance work, family and school, and critical to the successful completion of the EMBA program is an organization that openly maintains a supportive atmosphere.

Who Should the Organization Choose to Sponsor?

Auburn’s Executive MBA program is looking for candidates who have at least 8 years of professional experience from all facets of organizational life: business, computer science, engineering, physicians, nurses, not-for-profit, etc. Diversity is critical to the success of the organization and our program.

Organizations should identify individuals who can mentally handle the academic components of the program. Whether it’s a course in statistics or accounting, individual exercises or group projects, our degrees are earned through hard work and perseverance.

Organizations should identify individuals who are committed to life-long learning. An advanced degree is a powerful tool in the hands of those who are committed to furthering their own skills and the skills of the organization. Advanced identification of said individuals is an excellent opportunity for the organization to recognize fast-track individuals and prepare them for positions of increasing responsibility.