Kansas University’s School of Business will be the exclusive educational provider for the 55,000-member American Business Women’s Assn., KU officials announced Monday.

The school was chosen by the Kansas City, Mo.-based organization to teach a “Mini-MBA Program” at its regional conferences and national convention later this year.

The program’s courses primarily will teach strategic planning and marketing.

William Fuerst, dean of the business school, said KU was chosen to lead the program in large part because the school’s Center for Management Education could design one-day courses to specifically meet the needs of the association.

“We believe our programs can meet their needs for top-quality, professional and timely education,” Fuerst said.

Toni Dixon, director of communications for the school of business, said KU officials also were excited about the increased national presence the program would give the school.

“The fact that we’ll be the exclusive provider really has us excited,” Dixon said. “It is a real good opportunity for us to reach a lot of professionals around the country that we maybe wouldn’t otherwise reach.”

Dixon said the school hoped to promote its on-campus courses through the program and the school’s continuing education classes, which often can be taken by correspondence throughout the country.

Kathleen Isaacson, communications manager for the association, said this is the first time the group will offer master’s-level courses for its members. The courses, although billed as master’s level, do not require students to have a college degree.

“Our goal is to provide business women, regardless of their educational background, access to the master’s level basics that will help them be more successful in the business world,” Isaacson said.

The association will pay the university a fee to teach the classes, but details of the deal were not released.