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October 9, 2018Siena College, Burnt Hills Ballston Lake High School Sign Innovative Early Assurance MBA Agreement
An innovative Early Assurance Program agreement has been signed between Siena College and Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School, to establish a pathway for qualified students to matriculate to Siena on pace to earn a B.S. and MBA – in four years.
Effective immediately, eligible BH-BL students can apply for admission to the program as early as the 10th grade. After meeting the required course requirements at BH-BL, students will have the opportunity to enroll at Siena on pace to earn a customizable bachelor of science in business degree, then a master of business administration, all within four years.
There will also be an accelerated track for students to earn both degrees at Siena in three years.
Eligible students may apply for the program during their sophomore or junior year at BH-BL based on their past and projected academic performance. Students will need to submit an application, essay and transcript, and must be on track to complete a required number of academic units in English, social studies, mathematics, laboratory science, and language.
The agreement was signed Patrick M. McGrath, Ph.D., superintendent of schools for BH-BL, and Br. F. Edward Coughlin, president of Siena.
BH-BL was also represented by Maryellen Symer, assistant superintendent for instruction, and Tim Brunson, principal of BH-BL High School.
Siena was also represented by Charles F. Seifert, Ph.D., dean of Siena’s School of Business, and by Ned Jones, vice president for enrollment management.
The signing took place in the library at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School.
Siena and BH-BL will also work together to present a series of workshops at the district’s middle school and high school for all students, regardless of their college choices. Topics will include financial aid, the college application process, making campus visits and more.
Students who are accepted to the early assurance business program will not be required to enroll or to forgo application to other schools; rather they will be able to secure their admission and reserve a place at Siena.
If the program yields positive results for Siena and BH-BL, it may be expanded to other high schools, said Dean Seifert.
Siena’s School of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB). Fewer than five percent of business schools worldwide have earned AACSB accreditation. Siena initially received the accreditation in 2007; the review board specifically cited Siena’s variety of resources and support provided through the Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (CURCA) and the Stack Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
