Latest news with #VanGalen
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Graduate programs growing at MSSU
Graduate programs are growing in demand at Missouri Southern State University. In addition, the university will widen its statewide mission to include health and life sciences and immersive learning, President Dean Van Galen said at a Monday night meeting of the Joplin City Council. While the focus of the university to provide a well-rounded undergraduate program continues, the university is also seeing increased interest in graduate programs. Graduate enrollment has increased 52% in the past year, Van Galen said. Master's degrees in business administration, data analytics, health care administration and arts in teaching have been added to the master's program in recent years. 'So the university is intentionally adding these graduate programs to serve the citizens of our region and to provide opportunities, especially in an area of higher course demand in our region,' Van Galen said. In addition, the university is working to expand its statewide mission. 'This is a way to say, 'This is a strength of the university, something we're focusing on, something we're proud of and we want to grow into the future,'' Van Galen said. For a number of years, global education has been the university's mission. 'That will continue,' he said. 'We have sent over 3,400 students to study-abroad opportunities, and those are truly life changing, so that will continue.' The university will add two elements to its statewide mission — health and life sciences and immersive or hands-on learning experiences. 'This idea of immersive learning really is playing out across the campus. We're committed to engaging our students more,' he said. 'The days are over that lectures are the primary way to deliver education. We think this is a growing hallmark of Missouri Southern.' The university now has 15 health and sciences programs. That is the same number as the University of Missouri, bringing the two universities to the top in that field among state institutions, Van Galen said. They are high-quality programs that have produced a graduation rate of 100%, he added. 'Nursing is doing extraordinarily well. Recently, we gained approval by the State Board of Nursing to increase the size of our nursing cohort,' he said. The university is currently permitted 30 students per class, but the state board has approved a second group of 20 students starting in spring 2026. 'This will help us serve more students and certainly help us address the workforce needs for nursing in our region,' the university president explained. Another plus is that MSSU has received a grant to start a master in science degree program that will likely start in fall 2026. Coming up March 28, the university will host the Willcoxon Innovation in Health Sciences Summit. It is free and open to the public. This year's summit will focus on precision health, artificial intelligence, immunotherapy to prevent cancer and 3D printing. In addition, the work of the Joplin Regional Alliance for Health Sciences will be advanced with the recent appointment of a new director, Lori Worthington, the council was told. Van Galen also celebrated MSSU Lion athletics success last weekend when student-athlete Joy Udo-Gabriel competed in Indianapolis and won the women's 60-meter dash with a time of 7.11 seconds, setting an NCAA Division II record. She is among the fastest two or three women runners in that event in the nation, Van Galen said. Lions Forward is in its third year of fundraising. The goal is to reach $42.7 million in contributions and so far donations have reached $36.5 million. The president also commended the Humphreys Scholars, who are supported with scholarships from David and Debra Humphreys. A topping-off ceremony was recently held for the Roy Blunt Health Science Innovation Center on campus. It will offer immersive learning classrooms, an expanded cadaver lab and other educational facilities. Construction is expected to finish in July 2026. 'I think we all understand that the future of the university and the city in terms of economic development, community development and quality of life are connected,' Van Galen said.
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
MSSU marks construction milestone for Roy Blunt Health Science Innovation Center
The hottest attraction on the Missouri Southern State University campus this week has been a singular steel beam. Students, staff and faculty gravitated to it to sign their names. It is the final beam for the Roy Blunt Health Science Innovation Center under construction on the campus. Although high winds Friday canceled the physical topping off ceremony, the university marked the construction milestone at the nearby Billingsly Student Center. Student Senate President Dhvani Patel, a senior studying biomedical sciences, said she made it a priority to be one of the first students to sign the beam. As an MSSU president's ambassador, she's been talking with donors about why it's important from a student's perspective. She also offered input into the design about what students need in the center. 'I think signing that beam is representative of my contributions, however small, to the building,' said Patel. 'I'm forever going to be memorialized in the building for the rest of time. I'm very excited to see Missouri Southern expand in this direction.' Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe joined those who signed the beam before the celebration and assessed the building's progress with MSSU President Dean Van Galen. Kehoe signed his name with a green pen, and then, after a moment, asked for another yellow pen. Below his signature, Kehoe wrote 'On behalf of RDB,' for former U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, the building's namesake. 'When asked why I wanted to sign this, I've said I wanted to complete the monopoly board across the state of buildings with Roy Blunt's name on them,' Kehoe joked. 'I figured now I can get past 'Go.'' Van Galen said the $42 million center — scheduled to be completed in summer 2026 — will help the region become a leader in health science. 'For Missouri Southern, this transformation project is part of a strategic focus to serve as a statewide leader in health science education,' Van Galen said. 'This focus builds upon our strengths and addresses critical workforce needs in the region that is home to two outstanding health care systems and educational institutions.' He went on to praise the collaboration that's gone into the center between Missouri residents, local and state officials and private donors. 'This project is going to help you roar into the future,' Kehoe said, alluding to the MSSU lion mascot. 'It will provide a gateway for so many men and women who are considering what they're going to do in the future. It's a fantastic day to be a part of a project that's a living example of how we're going to provide the best place to live and work in the state of Missouri.' Aaron Hight, senior project manager with Crossland Construction, said despite a few challenges, mostly weather related, construction has gone well. In addition to steel beams on the building, students have watched this semester as cornerstones and masonry on elevator shafts have been constructed. Hight said now workers are starting on roughing in the interior, which means the start of mechanical, plumbing, electrical and fire sprinkler systems. Around May 1, exterior facade work should begin, with brick, metal panels and glass wall systems. 'This building is considered a legacy project,' Hight said. 'It's been designed, engineered and built to be a 150-year-plus building. Most buildings around here are designed to be 75-year buildings. It will outlast all of us and our grandchildren.'
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
NWACC students can now transfer easily to Missouri Southern State University
JOPLIN, Mo. — A ceremony in northwest Arkansas seals the deal to allow certain students to easily transfer to Missouri Southern State University. MSSU President Dr. Dean Van Galen shook hands with Dr. Dennis C. Rittle, president of Northwest Arkansas Community College, to make it official Monday. Students from NWACC in Bentonville will now be able to easily transfer their credits to Missouri Southern in Joplin after earning their associate's degree. NWACC students can now transfer easily to Missouri Southern State University 'Missouri Southern State Shoot-Out' brings young archers from four states for big prizes Missouri Southern launches Emergency Grant to aid students in crisis Dr. Van Galen calls it a 'clear and affordable pathway' for those students to further their education and earn their bachelor's degree at MSSU. Dr. Rittle had this to say: 'In this agreement it allows for a lot of seamless transfers so the college credits– nothing gets lost. it's a smooth transition and in many cases there are scholarships attached so the generosity of missouri southern has allowed for additonal incentives financial for the students,' said Dr. Rittle. Missouri Southern developed eight 'two plus two' (2+2) transfer pathways in collaboration with NWACC, meaning students can spend two years completing an associate's degree, then two more years to complete a bachelor's. Those areas of study include biology, business, and healthcare administration, just to name a few. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
