New England College of Business faculty profile: Donna Viens, program chair of business administration degree programs

When Donna Viens returned to school for her business degree, she endured a 25-mile commute to her night classes while working full time and raising her children. Her experience as an adult graduate student helped her gain perspective on the importance and effectiveness of an online education. She joined New England College of Business in April 2015, and Donna can already appreciate the innovative approach the college takes to helping students succeed.

“In other schools, the nontraditional student isn’t always taken into account,” she says. “[I wanted to work at] a school that was a staple in the community for helping students.”

As program chair of the associate's degree and the bachelor's degree programs in business administration, and bachelor's degree program in international business, Donna evaluates the effectiveness of the programs, as well as supervising administrative procedures such as class scheduling. An accountant by trade, Donna has taught courses in the college's basic accounting and intermediate accounting certificate programs, including: management/cost accounting, intermediate accounting 1, accounting 1 and principles of financial markets.

UPDATE 2/2020: Donna has been promoted and now has a much more expanded role in the college. She is currently VP of Academic Affairs, Chief Academic Officer and Undergraduate Dean as well as the Program Director for the accounting programs (ASA, BSA, MSA).

“It’s great to know that our online students can get their education at home, while working full time,” she says. “It’s a much better methodology for getting a degree.”

Aside from appreciating the accessibility of online courses, Donna says she’s seen firsthand how online course design allows students to leave with fewer loan payments, having an advantage over students with more loans to pay when it comes to the job hunt after graduation. Before students begin their program at New England College of Business, they are counseled on which loans will help them the most.

“Students can leave with a leg up against other recent graduates,” Donna says. “They can take the job they want versus the job they have to take to pay their loans.”

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