Towson/UB MBA
Why pay tuition when you have to teach yourself?

The Towson/UB MBA program is the result of an arranged marriage between Towson University and The Univesity of Baltimore Merrick School of Business approved in 2005 by Calvin W. Burnett, Marylands secretary for higher education. My experience as a recent student in the program is that there are stark contrasts in the quality of experience between the two campuses. This report is in no way an indictment of Towson University, where my learning experiences were always exceptional, and always exceeded my expectations, rather, this is a report of a totally unacceptable experience atThe University of Maryland Merrick School of business, and the very disappointingresponse (or failure to respond) of the Merrick School administration.

I am a 58 year old retired dental specialist and professional educator. I spent 10 years teaching doctoral and post-doctoral students at the University of Maryland Dental School. I am no stranger to either side of the classroom, and well qualified to evaluate teaching quality. I was expecting to be educated and stimulated at The Merrick School. The instructor for my last course was selected on short notice after the listed professor became unavailable. Our last minute replacement arrived for classes totally unprepared, disorganized, and unable to solve the problems that he assigned for homework. As a fellow educator, it was often painful to watch him. After several classes of disappointment I contacted
the administration to complain. The chairman of the Finance departmentwas totally dismissive and condescending to me, and only began to investigate my complaints after several weeks of insistence.By that time I had dropped the course and began making arrangement to transfer to Loyola University of Maryland. Discussions with the Assistant Dean, requests relayed to the Dean, and appeals on my behalf from Senator Ed Kasemeyer, chairman of the finance committee that funds the school, were all ineffectual in eliciting any acceptance of responsibility for the poor (non-existent) quality of instruction, or any statement that my experience was in any way out of the ordinary at UB. After 6 patient week of waiting for things to improve, I was left no option but to leave. The University was unwilling to refund any of my tuition.

If a good restaurant gave you a meal you found unacceptable, they would be anxious to try and make it right. If a retailer sold you defective merchandise, they would offer to replace it or give you a refund. Somehow The University of Baltimore is not similarly accountable for the quality of instruction they offer. My course could have just as well been self taught. There was not a scintilla of enrichment to be had by virtue of the classroom experience. I received nothing for my $2,000, and lost a semester of time.

The failure of the school to refund my tuition is what attracted me to complaint but of greater concern to me is the total lack of interest in the problem that I experienced from the administration. They were completely dismissive. The concept of students as consumers does not appear to have reached the peaks of the ivory towers at the Merrick School of Business. I specifically asked the administration on several occasions whether my experience was unusual or anomalous. I asked if my expectations of the University were too high. (My expectations of the partner school, Towson University, were exceeded.) I was never given an answer. I am left therefore to assume that my experience is standard fare for the University of Baltimore Merrick School of Business. The good news is that Graduate Business programs are now being offered at Towson University. For students who
just need a degree for job advancement, training at UB is probably sufficient. For those seeking stimulation, enrichment, and good value for theirtuition dollar, I would recommend taking as many courses as possible at Towson, or with the new Graduate programs starting in the Fall of you could avoid UB altogether.

Company: Towson/UB MBA
Country: USA
State: Maryland
City: Baltimore
Address: 1420 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland
Phone: 4108376565

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