Gatton Offers Certification in Business Foundations, Leadership

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 25, 2015) — If you are willing to invest 10 evenings, you just might change your entire outlook on your career. The University of Kentucky's Gatton College of Business and Economics, through its Don  and Cathy Jacobs Executive Education Center, is offering a pair of Certificate in Business Administration (CBA) programs in 2015-16, Business Foundations in the fall and Innovative Leadership in the spring.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to acquire the basics of a business degree without the time commitment a degree requires," said Joe Labianca, a Gatton Endowed Chair in Management and director of the Don and Cathy Jacobs Executive Education Center and the Executive MBA Program. "Or, if you're interested in exploring whether an advanced MBA degree is right for you before committing to it, this CBA series could be just right for you."

The first 10-week series, Business Foundations, begins Thursday, Sept. 17, and continues on Thursday evenings through Thursday, Nov. 19. The lively instructional environment, led by distinguished faculty from the Gatton College, is complemented by opportunities for hands-on experience with each three-hour class, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., focusing on a different vital topic.

The second series, Innovative Leadership, will run for 10 Thursday evenings starting March 24 and concluding May 26, 2016.

"These twin programs are designed to provide an understanding of business terms, practices, and tools to enable people to make better informed business decisions," added Labianca. "The CBA program is open to all interested persons who want to energize their careers and broaden their horizons."

The newly renovated Gatton College of Business and Economics building, located in the heart of the UK campus in Lexington, is the site for these stimulating weekly classes. Lighted, free parking is available close to the building for registrants. The cost is $1,000 for each series, or $1,800 for individuals registering for both the fall and the spring program. Groups of three or more people from an organization are eligible for a special discounted rate.

The fee also will be discounted for UK faculty, staff, and students. Interested UK personnel must contact the EEC to receive a special promo code for the UK discount before registering online.

Fees include instruction, all materials, and light refreshments at each session, in addition to parking. Individuals who attend 10 sessions will earn 27.5 course hours of continuing education credit and a certificate of completion.

Topics in the first series, Business Foundations, offered in the fall, include:

·         Organizational Design & Environment

·         Individual Behavior in Organizations

·         Essentials of Human Resources (HR) Management

·         Essentials of Marketing

·         Economics in the Workplace

·         Accounting Measurement and Reporting

·         Lean Supply Chain Management

·         Business Law

·         Strategic Management

·         Financial Decision Making

Topics in the second series, Innovative Leadership, offered in the spring, include:

·         Making Sense of Economic Data

·         Power, Conflict and Negotiation in Organizations

·         Emotion & Emotional Intelligence

·         Decision Making

·         Personal Selling

·         Integrated Marketing Communications

·         The Service Focused Business

·         Risk Management & Organizational Control

·         The Strategic Role of HR Management

·         Entrepreneurship & Writing a Business Plan

To register or for more information, go to http://gatton.uky.edu/CBA, call 1-800-284-6407, or email Connie Blakemore at csblak00@uky.edu.

MEDIA CONTACT: Carl Nathe, carl.nathe@uky.edu; 859-257-3200