Kenan-Flagler’s new Bell Hall. Courtesy photo
This past August, 200 students at the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School received big news: They are the inaugural cohort of the school’s new Future Business Admits program.
Students selected for the FBA program are guaranteed a spot in the undergraduate business program beginning their sophomore year, provided they pass their core business classes.
Assistant Dean Jordan Hale says the program was born out of necessity.
“We were watching peer institutions around the country make this very thoughtful shift,” he explained. “Some of the best and brightest minds in North Carolina were choosing other universities because they knew they’d be admitted there. They wanted to stay here, but didn’t want to risk only possibly being admitted to Kenan-Flagler.”
By offering early assurance, Kenan-Flagler hopes to retain more students who might otherwise choose a school that can guarantee their acceptance.
UNC business undergraduates in the classroom. Courtesy photo.
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO EXPLORE THEIR INTERESTS
With the new FBA program, instead of spending their first year hustling to pad their résumés with business-heavy clubs and activities to improve their chances of admission, students can redirect their energy toward their other passions.
The school highly values students with mixed interests, including the liberal arts, and now they have the space to explore more of what UNC has to offer.
“They can just be college students instead of focusing on the grind of applying to Kenan-Flagler,” Hale said.
In their first year, FBA students get a head start by taking two business courses right away – an intro to business class in the fall and a leadership course in the spring.
“We had a smaller group before of about 50 students that we called assured admits,” Hale said. “Now those numbers are going to grow significantly. There will be a whole new application process.”
Programmatically, many of the courses mirror what Kenan-Flagler has historically offered undergraduates, but the school plans to add FBA-specific opportunities such as specialized advising and experiential learning.
“We are going to offer a new slate of global opportunities for the students, like career treks,” Hale said. “They’re going to be able to take a core class in Spain, which will be brand new.”
Jordan Hale, assistant dean of the Undergraduate Business Program. Courtesy photo.
MAKING BUSINESS EDUCATION ACCESSIBLE
Leaders of the FBA program are seeking students who are resilient, committed to their education, and grounded in humility. Associate Dean Shimul Melwani says that’s the heart of the program. “We want students who think beyond business,” she adds.
A key feature is the leadership course, where FBA students learn directly from seniors who’ve walked the same path. That creates natural mentorship opportunities. “FBA students take recitations led by seniors in the program – leaders who have been deeply engaged with the school,” Melwani notes.
The program will also be housed in Kenan-Flagler’s new state-of-the-art building, Bell Hall, where students, faculty, and alumni will have more space to connect and collaborate. It’s all part of the school’s broader vision.
“When we get students in early, you can show them right away that business is the gateway to doing anything you want, whether it’s traditional or nontraditional,” Melwani says.
Shimul Melwani, associate dean of the Undergraduate Business Program
DON’T MISS REDEFINING THE FUTURE OF BUSINESS AT UNC KENAN-FLAGLER AND NOTRE DAME LAUNCHES A DEFERRED ADMISSION PROGRAM FOR ITS MBAS
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