Business Process Mapping: Prospective Student Visits to the Darden School

Abstract

Appropriate for courses in operations management and process improvement. Hundreds of prospective students visit the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration throughout the academic year to interview for admission and gain a better understanding of the Darden educational experience. In anticipation of these visits, the Darden Admissions Office coordinates a typical schedule of events with the first-year (FY) and second-year (SY) student hosts, the faculty members who will be teaching the MBA case discussion classes that all prospective students will attend, Abbott Center personnel, and of course the prospective students.

Excerpt

UVA-OM-1445

Rev. Jul. 21, 2011

Business Process Mapping:

Prospective Student VisIts to The Darden School

Hundreds of prospective students visit the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration throughout the academic year to gain a better understanding of the Darden educational experience. In anticipation of these visits, the Darden Admissions Office coordinates a typical schedule of events with the first-year (FY) and second-year (SY) student hosts, the faculty members who will be teaching the MBA case discussion classes that prospective students can attend, Abbott Center personnel, and, of course, the prospective students.

The Admissions Office publishes a list of dates on which the prospective students are invited to the Darden School to formally observe the learning process in a classroom setting, participate in a tour of the Darden grounds, eat lunch in the Abbott Dining Center, and meet with Darden MBA students and faculty members in informal settings. Once a prospective student signs up to visit Darden by completing an online form, the Admissions Office staff sends a confirmation and serves as a point of contact for prospective students should there be any questions. The Admissions Office then coordinates with faculty members, FY/SY hosts, and the Abbott Dining Center to ensure that prospective students are able to attend scheduled classes, followed by lunch with SY students and a tour of the grounds. The SY Student Admissions Committee members coordinate the lunch with SY students, and the SY tour guides.

After arriving at Darden by 8 a.m., prospective students are greeted by their FY/SY hosts at the Admissions Office and together they attend the First Coffee gathering at 9:25 a.m. before heading to class. During class, prospective students introduce themselves to the faculty member teaching the class and members of the class. After class, the FY/SY hosts escort the prospective students to the Abbott Dining Center, where other SY students join the collective group for lunch. Following lunch, SY tour guides provide a 30- to 45-minute tour of the Darden grounds, before escorting the students back to the Admissions Office for any last minute questions or optional Q&A sessions with faculty and staff members. Visits by prospective students are concluded by 3:00 p.m.

Assignment Questions

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Keywords: continuous improvement, process mapping