Professional schools now open at Northwest

TOM PINNEY/DAILY FORUM
A new way of learning… Northwest Missouri State University President Dr. John Jasinski addresses a crowd gathered at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Professional Schools at Northwest Thursday afternoon. The ceremony memorialized the change in Northwest’s educational philosophy to focus more on profession-based learning. For more pictures from the ceremony, flip through the gallery to the left of this article.

The higher education philosophy is changing at Northwest Missouri State University.

On Thursday, Northwest hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new professional schools, commemorating a change to profession-based learning at the University.

Profession-based learning, according to Provost Dr. Timothy Mottet, creates an environment where students are ready to enter the workplace the day they graduate.

“We are still anchored by the College of Arts and Sciences,” Mottet explained, “but having professional schools allows students to have a more tailor-made education.”

The professional schools will not have much of a change in leadership from before, as each school kept its original department head.

The School of Computer Science and Information Systems is led by Director Dr. Carol Spradling. The Melvin D. and Valorie G. Booth School of Business is led by Director Dr. Steve Ludwig.

The School of Communication and Mass Media is led by Director Dr. Matt Walker. The School of Agricultural Sciences is led by Director Rod Barr.

Due to the setup of the School of Education, its Director will be called a Dean. Dr. Timothy Wall serves as Dean of the School of Education.

These five professional schools follow the opening of the School of Health and Wellness Studies, which opened in fall 2015.

During his address, Northwest Board of Regents chair Dr. Pat Harr said this change had been a part of the University’s plan for a while.

“This move came about because of our mission and strategic objectives,” Harr said. “For the first time, the Student Senate, the Faculty Senate, and the Board of Regents were all going in the same direction.

“Change is sometimes difficult, but in this case, it is worth it.”

Northwest President Dr. John Jasinski said Northwest was in the middle of an academic renaissance.

“What we’re doing is an amazing journey, and it’s not over yet,” Jasinski said. “We don’t look like we did years ago.

“Look at the results we produce: we don’t just lead the state [in educational experience]. We lead the nation in our peer class.”

Jasinski praised the people and culture of Northwest as the driving force behind its success.

“The things that the staff and faculty do don’t go unnoticed,” Jasinski said. “It’s about the students. It’s about being a Bearcat.”

Dr. Mottet said one of the biggest changes students will notice is the push for students to network within their schools.

“There’s a new role for socializing students in the professional schools,” Mottet explained. “It’s important for them to become familiar with the culture of the profession for which they are training and how it works.

“This reduces the on-the-job learning curve and allows the students to build confidence.”

Mottet said the change will eventually morph how professors in the schools begin teaching.

“We’re working on adding professional learning studios where professors can teach problem solving skills in a room which might mirror the look and feel of where the students will eventually work,” Mottet said. “Students will be able to work in these studios 24/7 in order to get used to the workplace.”

Mottet mentioned that such a learning studio already exists in the School of Communication and Mass Media, as the studios for local radio stations, 90.5 KXCV and 106.7 KZLX, as well as the newsroom for KXCV look and feel like professional radio stations would. They also give students hands-on experience running locally-aired radio stations.

Mottet said the ultimate goal for Northwest is to prepare professionals who will make an impact on their family and community.