171 Executives Make '51's Advanced Management Course Largest So Far

Probably the University's most enthusiastic students are its oldest, the executives who take the 12 week Advanced Management course at the Business School.

This term, 171 men, the largest class since the program began shortly before the war, were accepted for the course. About 300 had applied.

Most of the executives who attend the Advanced Management Program represent "blue chip" firms, largely because it costs so much to send a man to the course. In addition to paying their man's regular salary, the firm also has to foot the school bill and other expenses, which run between $1,500 and $1,800.

But businesses seem to be happy to foot this bill because most repeat once they send a man to the program. The Esso Division of Standard Oil, for instance, has shipped 80 men in the relatively short time the program has been functioning.

These firms are enthusiastic about the program because it has been successful in transforming specialist executives into general administrators. Most of the men who come to the A.M.P. arrive prior to assuming more general responsibilities.

The A.M.P.'s study in six specialized fields which closely resemble the fields open to regular students at the Business School. Like the regular students, they work with the case method.

So far as the administrators of the A.M.P. are concerned, however, the informal contact and discussion of problems among the executives is the really fruitful part of the program.

Most of these discussions take place in Hamilton Hall, the small dormitory located to the right of the main Business School courtyard. Hamilton has a pleasant lounge with huge leather chairs and subdued lighting. The room is supposed to make up for the downtown clubs the A.M.P.'s are used to attending and is supposed to serve as an attraction to keep the men around talking to each other.

Fifteen of this year's A.M.P.'s come from the Armed Forcez, five from each branch. The military men usually come to prep for jobs in which they will have to handle civilian personnel on a large scale.

Eighteen of the 171 come from foreign countries. The most represented line of business was railroading, a new wrinkle in this year's class. The average age of students is 43 1/2 though they range from 30 to 60.

Committees of A.M.P.'s are already meeting with Director Harvey P. Bishop, assistant dean.