Compass Week is Early Career and Career Change MBA orientation which takes place Monday, August 19 through Friday, August 23, 2024. 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.
Take a look at the current version of the Compass Week 2024 schedule. This schedule is subject to some additional minor revisions, though you should plan on the timing to be very similar to the current version.
Monday, August 19 (Dress Business Casual)
| 8:00 AM | Check in opens, Mudd 2nd floor lobby Breakfast provided |
| 9:00 AM | Welcome from President Stephen Thorsett, Mudd 201 |
| 9:15 AM | Welcome from Dean Romana Autrey, Mudd 201 |
| 9:30 AM | Leadership and staff introductions, Mudd 201 |
| 10:00 AM | Compass Week overview, Mudd 201 Getting to know each other |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch, Mudd student lounge and patio |
| 1:00 PM | Program overview and resources, Mudd 201, 204, 304 |
| 2:30 PM | DEI Resource Panel: Emilio Solano, Lisa Jo Logan, and Juliane Corpus, Mudd 201 |
| 3:30 PM | End of day wrap up, Mudd 201 |
| 3:45 PM | Willamette Digital Tools introduction (optional), Mudd 201 |
Tuesday, August 20 (Dress Casual)
| 9:00 AM | Check-in opens, Mudd 2nd floor Tea and coffee provided |
| 9:30 AM | Managerial Disciplines Overview with Associate Professor of Economics Jon Thompson, Mudd 201 |
| 11:00 AM | Atkinson Student Association (ASA) Executive Board Introduction, Mudd 201 |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch, Goudy Commons |
| 1:00 PM | Cohort Teambuilding & introduction to Salem, Downtown Salem |
| 5:00 PM | Dinner (optional), Downtown Salem |
Wednesday, August 21 (Dress Business Casual)
| 10:30 AM | Check-in opens, Mudd 2nd floor lobby |
| 10:00 AM | The Atkinson MBA with JELD-WEN Professor of Free Enterprise Debra Ringold, Mudd 201 |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch, Mudd student lounge and patio |
| 1:00 PM | Career Management Information and Job Market Review, Mudd 201 |
| 2:15 PM | Professionalism and Professional Behaviors, Mudd 201 |
| 3:30 PM | Networking 101, Mudd 201 |
Thursday, August 22 (Dress Business Casual)
| 8:30 AM | Check-in opens, Mudd 201 Tea and coffee provided |
| 9:00 AM | Peer Career Advisors (PCA) Session, Mudd 201 |
| 9:45 AM | Second-Year MBA visit, Mudd 201 |
| 11:00 AM | MBA Alumni Panel, Mudd 201 |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch with Faculty, Mudd student lounge and patio |
| 1:30 PM | Introduction to Practical Application for Careers and Enterprises (PACE) Assistant Professor of Management Jim Ostler, Mudd 201 |
| 4:45 PM | Willamette MBA / College of Law Graduate Mixer, Lawn in front of College of Law |
| Evening | Thursday Night Out (optional), TBD With second-year MBA cohort |
Friday, August 23 (Dress Business Professional)
| 9:00 AM | Professional Headshots, Meet in Mudd student lounge |
| 11:00 AM | Employer Visits, Mudd 201, 204, 304 |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch, Mudd student lounge and patio |
| 1:00 PM | Employer Visits, Mudd 201, 204, 304 |
| 4:00 PM | Mentor and mentee meet-up (optional), Mudd student lounge |
| 4:30 PM | AGSM Reception, University Center (UC) 2nd floor balcony Appetizers and drinks provided |