News Release

OPA News Release: [12/23/2003]
Contact Name: Peggy Abrahamson
Phone Number: (202) 693-5052

U.S. Department of Labor Launches Third MBA Fellows Class

WASHINGTON—U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced that the Department of Labor is accepting applications for a third class of MBA Fellows to begin work at the Cabinet agency in June 2004.

MBA Fellows participate in an intensive two-year training and development program that is designed to provide them with competencies needed for future leadership positions within the government. The third class of Fellows will serve from June 2004 through May 2006, at which point they will be eligible to join the Department as full-time career employees.

Secretary Chao, who is a Harvard Business School graduate, launched the MBA Outreach Program in June 2002. The program was inspired by the President’s Management Agenda to attract individuals with the types of business skills needed to help make the government more results and business oriented as well as citizen centered.

“MBAs are trained in key management skills—quantitative analysis, strategic planning and performance measurement—skill that are valuable in the changing world of public administration,” said Secretary Chao. The MBA Fellows Program has been recognized as a model program in several publications including the Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and Federal Times.

Last summer, 30 MBA Fellows were selected out of more than 600 applicants to make up the inaugural and second class of MBA Fellows. This second class will soon complete the first year of the two-year fellowship and have worked on a variety of assignments in organizations throughout DOL. Some of the projects the fellows have been involved in include implementing e-Government initiatives, strategic management of human capital, competitive sourcing, financial management and process analysis within various DOL agencies.

For the first time, DOL is accepting on-line applications to the program via the DOL web site. Applications for the MBA Fellows Program will be accepted beginning January 1, 2004 through March 31, 2004. Applicants will be able to apply on-line by visiting the Department of Labor’s website at www.jobs.dol.gov/mba. Details about the program and the application process are also available on the website. For additional information, contact us via email MBA-Fellows@dol.gov.

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