Located on the 6th floor of the landmark Macy’s Building at 22 South Flagler Street, the College of Business Administration’s Downtown Center offers three graduate programs designed for people who work or live in the area.
The Downtown Center, which opened in 2005, is now marketing itself through a campaign that includes ads in 20 bus shelters and in publications such as The Miami Herald and Brickell Magazine.
“The ads point out the quality of the business school and the convenience of getting a master’s degree right in downtown Miami,” said Diana Medina (MBA ’07), assistant director, Downtown MBA, who manages the Downtown Center.
Three programs and amenities draw students.
In addition to the 18-month Downtown MBA, students can opt for one of two 12-month programs: the Master of Science in Finance (MSF) or the Master of Science in International Real Estate (MSIRE). Classes meet two evenings a week-Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday-from 5:30-9:30 p.m. Isabel Lopez (MIB ’06, BBA ’03) serves as assistant director of the MSF and MSIRE.
“Among a number of benefits, our students receive complimentary meals and parking,” Medina said. “Most importantly, they don’t have to commute to get a first-rate business education. And if they live outside the downtown area, they can sit in class instead of sitting in traffic.”
Although monthly information sessions at the site have attracted many prospects and enrollment numbers have been good, the college wanted to spread the word even more.
“We’ve been working with Luis Casas, director, marketing, communications and recruiting; and Helen Cantos, marketing coordinator, to develop the campaign,” Medina said.
Marketing effort includes co-sponsorship of Jon Secada performance at Mary Brickell Village.
When 500 young professionals get together at Mary Brickell Village on June 11, 2009 for “Food, Fashion, & Music with Jon Secada,” the Downtown Center will be much in evidence with a booth and banner-another part of the marketing plan to promote what the Downtown Center has to offer to locals. The Downtown MBA, MSF and MSIRE programs are among the co-sponsors of the singer/songwriter’s performance at the invitation-only music and fashion event being held at the trendy, urban lifestyle center in the heart of Brickell’s financial district.
“The whole area surrounding downtown Miami has grown and we want raise awareness about the Downtown Center among the people who live or work in the Brickell vicinity” said Lopez, who is coordinating the college’s involvement.
For more information about the offerings at the Downtown Center, contact Diana Medina at 305.577.1651 or dimedina@fiu.edu.
