1. Administering and marketing your program Lessons from MAS-Marine Biodiversity and Conservation Richard Norris, Chair: MAS in Marine Conservation and Biodiversity Scripps Institution of Oceanography Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation 1

2. MAS Year-Round Calendar 2 2

3. Values to UCSD  Increase number of:  Interdisciplinary courses  TAs  Resources for other UCSD students  Increase University reach into non- traditional career paths  Build capacity in international settings  Feedback into fund-raising, awareness of brand, research collaborations 3 3

4. Business Plan  Market Analysis  How many students are there for your program?  Determine market for students  Who wants your students?  What skills do they need?  Evaluate competition to determine:  Pricing  Program features  What is your niche?  Use Market analysis for recruitment 4 4

5. Program Goals  Define measurable objectives  A ‘three year” plan for growth, structure, and quality  Use external evaluation to practice adaptive management  Align Program & Institution Goals  What are funds intended for?  How to engage Faculty?  Shared Vision  Steering Committee  Rewards for teaching, Capstone advising, leadership 5 5

6. Marketing & Planning  Web site is key element describing:  Affiliated faculty  Research programs & groups  Courses  Alumni stories  But, different audiences may respond to different messages/approaches 6 6

7. Administrative Organization  Autonomy is key to remain nimble  MAS programs are not like typical MS or Ph.D. program  Are much more competitive  Need defined program home  For advertising  Set up interdisciplinary partnerships  Foster links to NGOs, agencies, & business  Academic chair reports to Steering Committee 7 7

8. Administrative Roles  Program Representative  Academic Chair  Academic Coordinator  Instructors (including lecturers)  Marketing Specialist  Financial Management  Keep separate books 8 8

9. Leadership  As in any successful business, need committed leadership  Empower faculty & support staff decision making by providing some autonomy  Give credit for:  teaching  committee service  advising  Need new mechanisms for credit in interdisciplinary programs  Provide monetary rewards 9 9

10. Consistent Course Structure  Students need to know what they are paying for, so….  Have consistent, published, course schedule  Set-up appointments a year in advance  Students begin to look at programs then  To simplify administration, run same course structure repeatedly 10

11. Admissions  Don’t take just anyone:  Bad students damage your brand…  …And are a lot of work  Have transparent process to maintain faculty support  Like a steering committee with rotating membership  Use fellowships to capture the best students  Avoid a two-tiered system of graduate education  Both MAS and Ph.D.s can learn from each other 11

12. Develop Placement Track Record  Track alumni  Return alumni to talk to current students  Engage market for students with:  Internships  Capstone Research  Offers to interact with students in:  Classes,  T elling life stories,  Explaining business goals 12

13. Develop strong feedback mechanisms Faculty Chair and Program coordinators need to meet regularly with students to get ‘real time’ feedback We use the “MAS Forum” for this Then practice ‘adaptive management’ to fix problems Hold “mixers” to engage: Faculty involvement Links to Ph.D. program Links to NGO/business/government world 13