Gerard Ras wants to hear what his students think. And he wants their feedback not just when they’re enrolled in class but after they enter the workforce, even if it’s years after graduation.
As dean of the School of Business and Technology at Wayne State College, it’s his business to ensure that the classes offered to MBA students directly reflect the needs of the business world. In fact, the majority of the students are already working full-time and participating in the online classes during their off hours. As a result, the communication lines are always open between students, faculty, the departmental advisory boards and area business and civic leaders, providing a wealth of immediate feedback on what the students need to succeed in their jobs.
“In the past, we could see trends coming and prepare for them in terms of class offerings and such over a much longer period of time,” Ras said. “But now, these demanding workplace changes and industry updates are coming at such a rapid pace that we need to adjust our education process to address them more quickly. By embracing and staying ahead of the trends, we can have an immediate impact on a student’s career.”
Ras said getting feedback from the departmental advisory boards, which are made up of professionals and industry experts, both from the area and regionally, is instrumental in providing valuable insight as programs are updated to reflect real-world business needs.
“We are at an advantage in that we are a perfectly sized school,” Ras said. “We are big enough to provide these focused areas of study but small enough to connect with the students on a more personal level. We have, on average, about 20 to 25 students in a typical class. In addition, our professors are constantly interacting with our graduates in the professional world who, in turn, are letting us know what we may need to address in our curriculum as we move forward. Our faculty meet student interns on site and get invited to tour these businesses.”
In the last year alone, Wayne State has added four specialty areas students can either earn certificates in or add on to their MBA program studies: Supply Chain Management, Accounting, Human Resources and, new for the fall of 2025, Leadership.
Ras said these are critical areas of study that will immediately impact a student’s worth.
“Leadership, for example, plays a very big role in today’s workforce,” Ras said. “In this class, students will discover that managing is not all about the numbers but forging relationships with your most important asset, people. Today, it’s about how to work with people in multiple locations, possibly crossing borders, integrating the workforce into smart teams, understanding what works in some situations and locations, doesn’t work in others.”
During Ras’ term as dean, the school has divided semesters for the MBA program into eight-week sections, making it easier for students to finish a certificate or MBA at a quicker pace, if they desire. Ras said another perk is that the college has streamlined the way students progress through both the undergrad and grad experience, making it easier to navigate under the tutelage of an assigned adviser throughout their entire student journey.
Since the MBA program is 100 percent online, Ras said, there is no requirement for MBA students to visit campus. There is also a flat rate tuition, regardless of residency, and the program is accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education.
Wayne State’s MBA program has garnered numerous accolades including best online MBA in Nebraska and in the top 33 of all ranked MBA programs accredited in the country; No. 9 as most affordable online program for 2025 out of more than 2,000 colleges and universities in the U.S.; and one of a select group of institutions to achieve the Military Friendly School distinction.
For more information on the MBA program at Wayne State College, please visit wsc.edu.
