As we begin the 2026–27 academic year, The University of Tulsa’s Collins College of Business enters the semester with strong momentum. During the past year, we have strengthened undergraduate and graduate enrollment, launched our online MBA, redesigned the undergraduate core around professional skills and added leaders who will expand our academic quality and external engagement.
I am pleased to report that Collins College improved significantly in our enrollment, moving from approximately 18% of the total incoming UTulsa class to approximately 24% of the incoming class for 2026. We saw encouraging growth in finance, accounting, business information systems, marketing and management. This progress reflects sustained work by faculty, staff, admissions colleagues, current students, department chairs and center directors. Recruitment is only the first step; student success will continue to depend on engaged advising, early intervention and timely faculty communication.
On the graduate front, our online MBA, launched in January 2026, is another major achievement. Designed for working professionals, it combines flexibility, a right-sized price and strong academic content without requiring students to compromise on their professional schedules or families. The early response has been encouraging, and we have more than 100 students already enrolled. Our partner, Risepoint, has supported marketing, recruitment, student processes and course development, while our faculty have ensured that the program retains the quality of a UTulsa education. I am especially grateful to Professor Dontae Doughty for coordinating the launch and to all of our faculty who developed and teach the courses in this new, asynchronous format.
We are equally proud of our new undergraduate professional skills curriculum. Employers expect more than technical knowledge in the traditional business disciplines. Graduates must communicate clearly, collaborate effectively, exercise sound judgment, navigate cultural differences and use artificial intelligence responsibly. Our newly introduced BUS 1011 course builds business identity, teamwork, innovation and responsible AI use. BUS 2001 develops practical career tools, including résumés, LinkedIn profiles, networking and interviewing. A new course, BUS 3001, focuses on professionalism, industry engagement and workplace readiness. Courses including Effective Communication in Business and Navigating Cultural Diversity in the Global Business Ecosystem deepen communication, cultural intelligence, inclusive teamwork and ethical collaboration. Together, this curriculum makes professional skills required and assessable throughout the undergraduate experience.
We are strengthening the leadership team that will support this work. Kelly Taylor joins our staff as director of engagement with external stakeholders and will deepen our relationships with alumni, employers, corporate partners and community organizations. Lori Leonard, Ph.D., now serves as associate dean of faculty and academic affairs, supporting faculty success, academic quality and curricular development.
Professor Buford Pollett serves as director of the Center for Energy Studies. He brings deep energy expertise, strong industry relationships and national recognition, including the Association of International Energy Negotiators’ President’s Education of the Year Award. Anila Madhan, Ph.D., has taken on the role of director of the Center for Real Estate Studies, advancing applied research, professional education, experiential learning and community partnerships focused on housing and development. I am particularly enthusiastic about collaboration between these centers in areas such as energy infrastructure, commercial development, data centers and regional economic growth.
The common thread across these achievements is community. Enrollment gains, new programs, curriculum reform and stronger centers are possible only because faculty, staff, students, alumni and external partners work toward shared goals. Thank you for helping us begin the new academic year with clearer direction and real momentum.