By Francesca Di Meglio

"BIGGER OPPORTUNITY."  She says the B-school has also had to manage students' expectations, because part-timers were convinced that the ability to participate in on-campus recruiting guaranteed a job. That's not necessarily so, says Morton. "This is just one more thing you can add to your job-search docket."

Chicago's new system is similar to successful programs already in progress on other campuses. The Franklin W. Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College in Wellesley, Mass., has a three-to-one ratio of part- to full-time students. Any MBA student graduating at the end of a given academic year has recruiting privileges and can attend corporate presentations. "This actually gives Babson a bigger opportunity with some organizations that have direct hire positions available for people with incrementally more work experience," says David C. Fetherston, director of the MBA Center for Career Development at Babson.

For nearly a decade, Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management has permitted part-time students who are within 12 months of graduation to engage in on-campus recruiting in Evanston, Ill., as long as their employer approves. About 70 to 100 part-time students apply to do so annually, but a smaller number end up participating because many of the events take place during the day, when they're at work, or because the available positions don't match up with their experience. Part-timers can also take advantage of a career counselor, who serves them exclusively at their downtown Chicago campus.

Kellogg Assistant Dean Roxanne Hori says if part-timers continue to finance their own education, then some B-schools might have to reconsider their restrictive policies. Pleasing all students will likely be a difficult task, but as the situation at Stern demonstrates, part-timers aren't likely to give up their recruiting perks without a fight.

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