The Higher Education Review

Set up with the mission to offer an exceptional and accessible education that prepares students with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to succeed in a global society, Governors State University (GSU) was established in 1969. Since its inception, the institute has grown to become the only regional, public, comprehensive university in Chicago's south suburban area, serving approximately 4,600 students annually in 85 different bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and certificate programs.

GSU is an expert at guiding freshman and transfers students to discover the right degree program to excite their interests. The university's extensive list of graduate programs prepares students in a variety of fields for the next level of academic achievement. As an AACSB-accredited institute, Governors State University offers a Master of Science in Business Analytics program which is designed to prepare students to make the best use of data to add value to organizations. This program is designed based on the input from academic and industry stakeholders and is curated to meet rigorous requirements for AACSB business school assessment which assures student learning in meeting program competencies.

Preparing Students to Apply Technical Knowledge
Governors State University provides accessible, high-value undergraduate and graduate education to culturally and economically diverse students from across the region and around the world. From its mission statement, GSU is continuously striving to offer a holistic education that prepares students with the right knowledge, skills, and confidence to succeed in today's competitive corporate world.

"We ensure that our degree programs are rigorous and relevant and meet industry demands by preparing students with the business knowledge, problem-solving techniques, and data analytics technical skills needed for a data-driven economy. GSU's industry advisory board and other industry partners help make sure we remain current with program content, technology, and experiential learning opportunities", says Dr. David Green, Professor of Management Information Systems and Division Chair of the Master of Science in Business Analytics.

As an AACSB-accredited institute, Governors State University offers a Master of Science in Business Analytics program which is designed to prepare students to make the best use of data to add value to organizations

The College of Business encourages students to participate in internships during the program and tracks alumni success after completing the program. AACSB accreditation means GSU has high standards for hiring, retaining, and promoting faculty. Faculty must maintain scholarly or practice-based qualifications by staying current in their field. Scholarly Academic faculty in the MSBA program have Ph.Ds from top universities in the United States and regularly publish research in academic journals in the discipline.

To add to this, there are opportunities for students to compete for graduate assistantships. Although assistantships are limited and very competitive they assist high-achieving students who wish to pursue research projects with faculty in the program.

Charting the Path Ahead
GSU has an exceptionally beautiful campus which is conveniently located within easy reach by road and rail to Chicago and surrounding communities that have a wealth of cultural and natural attractions. All the students of GSU have access to modern technology-equipped classrooms, a learning

management system, and computer labs. The GSU Library is also a place for research and studies whether in person or online.

Although many students often choose to live in the surrounding communities, GSU also offers campus housing facilities. There are fitness and recreation opportunities as well as intercultural programs. Dining options are available throughout the Campus Cafe. GSU students have access to campus health and counseling services along with career services. GSU's campus ranks as the safest public university in the state of Illinois.

GSU functions with the vision to create an intellectually stimulating public square, serve as an economic catalyst for the region, and lead as a model of academic excellence, innovation, diversity, and responsible citizenship. The institute encourages students to participate in a new student orientation prior to the start of the program and gives them opportunities for ongoing professional development through the Graduate Student Professional Network, Annual Research Day on campus, College of Business Career and Internship Fair and seminars, and other campus student activities and organizations.

The new students at GSU are also invited to attend the graduating student business analytics capstone project presentations.GSU's College of Business Advisory Board helps the MSBA program stay current and address trends. The program embeds software and tools used in industry including Python, R, Tableau, SQL, SAP, Microsoft Excel, Gephi, and RapidMiner, as well as simulations that allow students to make decisions in a realistic business environment. For the coming years, the program continues to review its curriculum, and student success and innovates within individual courses to add new topics or technology. GSU's new courses are also being developed to allow students more flexibility in the program based on their individual career goals.