New academic collaboration expands online graduate pathways, strengthens Catholic business education and creates new opportunities for working professionals.
IRVING, Texas (July 15, 2026) — University of Dallas and DeSales University have announced a new academic partnership designed to expand graduate business education opportunities for students at both institutions while advancing a shared commitment to mission-driven learning, ethical leadership and academic excellence.
Through a Memorandum of Understanding, enrolled graduate students at each university will be able to pursue select online concentration courses offered by the partner institution while remaining matriculated at their home university. The collaboration creates new pathways for students to broaden their academic experience, gain specialized expertise and prepare for leadership in today’s dynamic business environment.
The partnership brings together two Catholic institutions with complementary strengths in graduate business education. DeSales University students may access University of Dallas courses in Accounting, Finance and Financial Planning, while University of Dallas students may enroll in DeSales University courses in Healthcare Management and Operations & Supply Chain Management. Courses are delivered online, with flexible synchronous and asynchronous options designed to support working professionals and graduate students balancing academic, professional and personal commitments.
“We are excited to partner with DeSales University in a collaboration that expands academic opportunities for students at both institutions while preserving our shared commitment to rigorous, applied graduate business education,” said J. Lee Whittington, Dean of the Gupta College of Business. “By leveraging the distinctive strengths of each business school, we can offer students access to specialized concentrations, broader faculty expertise, and enhanced pathways for professional growth, all within a mission-driven environment grounded in ethical leadership and academic excellence.”
“We view this partnership as more than an academic agreement—it is a strategic collaboration between two institutions committed to student success,” said Chris Cocozza, Dean of the Waterbury Reilly School of Business. “By leveraging each university's areas of expertise, we can offer enhanced learning opportunities, broaden program offerings, and create additional value for our students. We believe this relationship will strengthen both institutions while preparing graduates to lead in an increasingly complex business environment.”
The partnership reflects a broader vision for collaboration among Catholic institutions of higher education. Rather than functioning solely as an administrative agreement, the initiative is intended to support student mobility, academic innovation and national collaboration between mission-aligned business schools. It also provides a foundation for future opportunities such as joint webinars, faculty collaboration, guest lectures, applied research projects and student-centered programming focused on ethical business leadership.
Key features of the collaboration include:
Expanded Graduate Pathways: Students may take up to four graduate concentration courses at the partner institution, subject to academic eligibility and advising approval.
Flexible Online Access: Courses are offered online, allowing students to pursue specialized graduate coursework while maintaining progress toward their degree at their home institution.
Coordinated Student Support: Visiting students receive access to appropriate technology, library resources and learning management systems, along with coordinated academic advising.
Commitment to Academic Quality: Both universities will conduct annual reviews of academic quality, enrollment and student outcomes to ensure the partnership continues to meet student needs and institutional standards.
Mission-Driven Leadership Formation: The collaboration supports both institutions’ commitment to forming ethical, service-oriented leaders prepared to meet the needs of their professions and communities.
Both institutions will maintain their distinct academic identities and degree requirements while ensuring that coursework completed through the partnership meets applicable accreditation standards. DeSales University’s business programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, and the University of Dallas Satish & Yasmin Gupta College of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
The partnership is designed to promote access to rigorous graduate education, support holistic student development and strengthen professional relevance across high-demand fields. For students, the collaboration offers expanded academic choice, broader faculty expertise and access to specialized coursework that can help support career advancement.
The universities also plan to use the partnership as a platform for continued collaboration, including student-facing information sessions, faculty-led conversations and future programming on topics such as ethical business leadership, healthcare management, financial planning, operations, supply chain management and the role of Catholic business education in today’s workforce.
For more information about the DeSales University–University of Dallas academic partnership, visit here.
This collaboration marks an important step in expanding academic choice and flexibility for graduate students while strengthening a national model of Catholic business education rooted in ethical leadership, professional excellence and mission-driven innovation.
About the Satish & Yasmin Gupta College of Business
The Satish & Yasmin Gupta College of Business at the University of Dallas has been
a pioneer of graduate business education for more than 50 years. Located in Irving,
Texas, the college was the first in Texas to offer an AACSB-accredited Doctor of Business
Administration. Today, the college offers flexible Master of Business Administration,
Master of Science, and professional education programs ideal for early- to mid-career
professionals seeking to advance their careers under the guidance of faculty who are
both scholars and accomplished business leaders. SB Hall, which opened in January
2016, houses the college, providing students with state-of-the-art technology and
practical tools to prepare them for their future careers. For more information, visit udallas.edu/cob.
About the University of Dallas
The University of Dallas is the premier Catholic liberal arts university in the nation, recommended by the Cardinal Newman Society for its rigorous Core Curriculum and vibrant intellectual and spiritual life. With campuses in Texas and Italy, UDallas forms students intellectually, socially and spiritually for a life well-lived through undergraduate, graduate liberal arts, graduate business programs and professional programs in the humanities, ministry and classical education. Learn more or apply at udallas.edu.
Media Contact
Lin Wang
Executive Director of Storytelling
University of Dallas
lwang@udallas.edu
