Flex Online Finds Success in Year One

When Mays Business School decided to launch online master’s programs, we did so very intentionally, ensuring that the educational caliber and student experience would rival the school’s highly ranked in-person graduate programs. Students enrolled in six Flex Online master’s programs launched in fall 2024, and after the first year, the results are clear: That careful planning paid dividends. There were 413 students in the first official Flex Online cohorts, and the programs saw a 45% increase in enrollment for the second year, demonstrating the growing demand for Mays’ quality business education in an online environment.

The six programs — which include an MBA and masters of science in accounting, entrepreneurial leadership, human resource management, marketing, and management information systems — are designed to help working professionals from all backgrounds gain essential skills to advance their careers without having to interrupt it. Mays’ innovative approach delivers more than just academic excellence. Students enjoy the unique Texas A&M experience and connection to the powerful Aggie Network that sets apart the Mays education from other business programs.

While all programs have some in-person events during the year that students are encouraged to attend (ranging from orientations to tailgates), most won’t spend much time on campus in College Station. Nevertheless, with weekly synchronous sessions in which students and professors meet together online for live discussions, the cohorts are forming strong bonds, just as they would in person.

The efforts to embed the Aggie experience in an online format have been a driving force for retention and engagement, led by `Jon (Sean) Jasperson, associate dean for academic innovation and a clinical professor who teaches a course in the Flex Online MIS program. Faculty are encouraged to creatively incorporate Aggie traditions and values into their curriculum. Students in Jasperson’s Fundamentals of Business Programming class, for example, work within a grading scale that mirrors the ranks in the Corps of Cadets — with an A grade earning them the rank of Cadet Colonel (the highest rank possible for student cadets).

“We encourage our faculty during their course design to find ways to connect students with Aggie identity, values, and traditions through their courses,” says Jasperson. “We want to intentionally build those connections so that students develop a genuine sense of what it means to be an Aggie. In addition, we want every student to know and understand the Aggie Core Values, even though their time on campus is limited. Finally, every one of our programs includes former students who already earned an undergraduate or graduate degree at Texas A&M, so they naturally share those experiences within their cohorts.”

The courses are also purposefully designed not just to replicate the in-person experience, but to take advantage of the unique capabilities of online learning. The synchronous cohort sessions held via Zoom stand out as one of Flex Online’s signature elements. Utilizing breakout rooms, professors drop in and out of small groups and take note of conversations — these real-time interactions often spark follow-up discussions that might have gone unnoticed in a traditional classroom. Additionally, the chat feature enables simultaneous mini discussions among the students and drives engagement.

The Mays Teaching and Learning Innovation team — led by Jasperson and composed of 35 full-time staff and several student workers — supports the development and continuous evolution of Flex Online courses to ensure they remain on the cutting-edge of student experience and business education. “On my team, we like to say we make learning better,” Jasperson says. “That aligns perfectly with Mays’ mission of building a better future through business. We are focused on ensuring both students and faculty have exceptional learning experiences.”

After year one, they introduced some enhancements to the course modules, and big upgrades are on the horizon with the construction of dedicated learning studios and a stage that faculty will use to incorporate Extended Reality (XR) into the curriculum. XR will provide immersive learning experiences that expand access and enhance learning for all Flex Online students.

“Not only does Flex Online make it possible for anyone in the world to be a Mays Business School student, but we’re also helping our students learn to leverage technology in meaningful ways within their companies,” says Jasperson. “Artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality are rapidly transforming how business gets done. Through the Flex Online programs, we’re preparing students to be part of that transformation.”

The ever-evolving Flex Online programs reflect Mays’ commitment to being bigger than business — extending beyond traditional classrooms, straightforward coursework, and the boundaries of College Station to develop excellence in leaders of character who will transform the business landscape, no matter where they live, work, and serve.