Compass Week is Early Career and Career Change MBA orientation which takes place Monday, August 21 through Friday, August 25, 2023. All incoming students to the Early Career and Career Change MBA program are required to participate.
Designed to get your MBA journey started on the right foot, Compass Week focuses on preparing students for effective scholarly practice, professional readiness, and community engagement. provides incoming students with an opportunity to meet fellow classmates, faculty, and staff. The Compass Week agenda will include program resources, academic modules and exercises, team-building activities, career development, opportunities to meet faculty, and much more.
Download the schedule in PDF format here.
Monday, August 21, 2023 | Dress for the Day: Business Casual
| 8:30 a.m. - 9 a.m. | Check-In Opens, Breakfast Provided, Mudd 2nd Floor Lobby |
| 9 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. | Welcome from President Stephen Thorsett, Mudd 201 |
| 9:15 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. | Welcome from Dean Örn Bodvarsson, Mudd 201 |
| 9:30 a.m. - 10 a.m. | Welcome and Staff Introductions with Senior Associate Dean Alex Subert, Mudd 201 |
| 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. | Compass Week Overview, Getting to Know Each Other, Mudd 201 |
| 12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Lunch, Mudd Student Lounge and Patio |
| 1:30 p.m. - 3 p.m. | Program Overview and Resources, Mudd 201, 204, and 304 |
| 3 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. | End of Day Wrap Up, Mudd 201 |
| 3:30 p.m. | Willamette Integrated Technology Services (WITS) account help (optional), Mudd 201 |
| 4:30 p.m. | Willamette MBA / College of Law Graduate Mixer, Rick's Cafe & Mudd Lawn and Patio |
Tuesday, August 22, 2023 | Dress for the Day: Casual
| 9 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. | Check-In Opens, Tea and Coffee Provided, Mudd 2nd Floor |
| 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. | Managerial Disciplines Overview with Associate Professor of Economics Jon Thompson, Mudd 201 |
| 11 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. | Atkinson Student Association (ASA) Executive Board Introduction, Mudd 201 |
| 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Lunch, Goudy Commons |
| 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. | Cohort Teambuilding & Introduction to Salem, Downtown Salem |
| 5 p.m. | Dinner (Optional), Downtown Salem |
Wednesday, August 23, 2023 | Dress for the Day: Business Casual
| 10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. | Check-In Opens, Mudd 2nd Floor Lobby |
| 10:45 a.m. - 12 p.m. | The Atkinson MBA with JELD-WEN Professor of Free Enterprise Debra Ringold, Mudd 201 |
| 12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Lunch with Faculty, Mudd Student Lounge and Patio |
| 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. | Info and Job Market Review, Mudd 201 |
| 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. | PrinciplesYou Assessment Activity, Mudd 201 |
| 3:30 p.m. | Networking 101, Mudd 201 |
Thursday, August 24, 2023 | Dress for the Day: Business Casual
| 8:30 a.m. - 9 a.m. | Check-In Opens, Tea and Coffee Provided, Atkinson Annex 101 |
| 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. | Introduction to Practical Application for Careers and Enterprises (PACE) Assistant Professor of Management Jim Ostler, Atkinson Annex 101 |
| 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. | Lunch, Mudd Student Lounge and Patio |
| 1 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Peer Career Advisors (PCA) Session, Mudd 201 |
| 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. | Not-for-Profit Partner Visits, Mudd 201, 204, and 304 |
| 3:30 p.m. | MBA Alumni Panel, Mudd 201 |
| Evening | Thursday Night Out (Optional) with Second-Year MBA Cohort, TBD |
Friday, August 25, 2023 | Dress for the Day: Business Professional
| 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. | Professional Headshots, Mudd Student Lounge |
| 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. | Employer Visits, Mudd 201, 204, and 304 |
| 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. | Lunch, Mudd Student Lounge and Patio |
| 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. | Employer Visits, Mudd 201, 204, and 304 |
| 4 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Mentor and Mentee Meet-Up (Optional), Mudd Student Lounge |
| 4:30 p.m. | AGSM Reception, Appetizers and Drinks Provided, University Center (UC) 2nd Floor Balcony |