Higher Education


pittsburg state university

pittstate.edu

Founded in Pittsburg, Kansas, in 1903, Pittsburg State University offers more than 200 undergraduate and graduate academic programs and a rich campus life.

Nearly 6,000 students from around the world find a home here, where they live and learn on a picturesque campus in buildings both historic and modern.

With more than 150 student groups and organizations, students have diverse opportunities to build leadership and collaboration skills and to enjoy activities in addition to academics.

With faculty who are experts in their field and who take time for one-on-one interactions, students have mentors beyond the classroom.

And with undergraduate and graduate programs in technology, construction, education, the sciences, business, nursing, and the arts , they have unparalleled options to prepare for a career.

Home to the NCAA’s only Gorilla mascot, Pittsburg State also has a strong athletics tradition that showcases student athletes and brings together a community of dedicated fans.

At Pittsburg State, students can apply their learning, gain a new understanding of the world and test their knowledge in ways that will last a lifetime. Learn more at www.pittstate.edu.

missouri southern state university

mssu.edu

Founded in 1937 as a junior college, Missouri Southern State University has grown into a regional educational powerhouse with a central mission to educate and graduate knowledgeable, responsible and successful global citizens.

A comprehensive, four-year state-supported university, it offers a variety of graduate programs, NCAA Division II athletics, themed semesters and a variety of enriching cultural activities.

Central to Missouri Southern’s mission is a strong commitment to international education, liberal arts and professional and pre-professional programs. The University emphasizes the complementary relationship that exists between these areas in order for students to flourish throughout their career.

More than 6,000 students are pursuing degrees and certificates in nearly 140 academic programs. The start of the fall 2018 semester saw the arrival of one of the largest freshman classes on record.

Academic programs are organized into four schools: the School of Arts & Sciences, the School of Education, the Robert W. Plaster School of Business and the School of Health Sciences. MSSU also offers a division of graduate studies and distance learning.

MSSU is recognized as an affordable option for students looking to invest in their academic future. For the last several years, the Lion Pride Tuition program has offered in-state tuition rate to residents in Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.

The university recently expanded the program to include students from Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands.

While celebrating its rich past, Missouri Southern remains committed to looking toward the future.

In the spring, Missouri Southern celebrated the latest addition to campus with a ribbon-cutting for Jeremiah “Jay” Nixon Hall – the new home for the mathematics department. Connected to Reynolds Hall via a skywalk, the building offers classrooms designed for collaborative and innovate learning, a computer lab, faculty offices and mathematically-themed design elements.

The University also recently established the Gipson Center for Healthcare Leadership. Located within the Julio S. León Health Sciences building, the center will help meet the growing demand for graduates with the education and skills to enter into business, management and leadership roles in the health care industry. The backbone of the program will be a new degree program, the Bachelor’s of Science in Healthcare Administration, which launches in fall 2019.

Other notable initiatives include:

  • In conjunction with the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, MSSU offers the Yours to Lose program – allowing for advance acceptance into medical school following an innovative, three-year course of study. The first cohort of students is set to graduate in spring 2020.
  • The Great Game of Education is a first-of-its-kind program to give all campus employees a vested interest in the University’s financial well-being. Utilizing the principles of open-book management, it allows all campus personnel to gain perspective on how they affect the institution’s bottom line.
  • Each fall, a particular country or region is selected to become the focus of intensive study – from the classroom to the cafeteria. Over the years, themed semesters have focused on China, India, Russia, Cuba, Africa, Great Britain and many others. For Fall 2019, the University will celebrate the Oceania region, which includes Australia, New Zealand, Papau-New Guinea and French Polynesia.
  • Study abroad opportunities offer students a unique chance to broaden their cultural horizons. In 2019 alone, students will travel to Italy, Belize, Mexico, Czechia, Germany, Norway, Spain, Portugal and Sweden on faculty-led trips. Students can also choose to spend an entire semester abroad in countries such as China, England, France, Japan and the Netherlands through the International Student Exchange Program or MSSU’s bilateral agreements with universities around the world.

FAST FACTS
Founded: 1937
Total enrollment: 6,006 (Fall 2018)
Athletics: NCAA Division II
Athletic conference: Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Mascot: Roary the Lion
Student/faculty ratio: 19:1

crowder college

crowder.edu

Crowder College was established in 1963 as a community college in southwest Missouri. Today, the college offers over 80 degrees and certificate programs that prepare students to transfer to a four-year university or enter the workforce.

With enrollment of just under 5,000 students, Crowder offers convenience with six locations in its nine-county service region. The main campus in Neosho offers an affordable education with housing, athletics, working farm, fine arts and career/technical programs. Instruction centers in Cassville, McDonald County, Nevada and Webb City offer similar programs. The newest ventures is a partnership with the Joplin Chamber and the City of Joplin at the Advanced Training and Technology Center where Crowder offers specialized training for high-demand jobs in the area. These programs may be completed in one or two semesters.

Crowder works with area business and industry to develop training programs that teach necessary skills. Advisory boards are valued by the college, as they help in the development of training curriculum. The college offers specialized programs including truck driver training, alternative energy, veterinary technology, EMT/paramedic and nursing (RN and LPN).

The college adheres in both philosophy and practice to a Servant Leadership approach to institutional governance with the belief that a leader’s primary duty is to be principal servant to all touched by the college.

The Missouri A+ Scholarship program for high school students provides free tuition and common fees for those students attending a community college, providing education with little or no debt.

ozark christian college

occ.edu

For over 75 years, Ozark Christian College has held fast to one mission: training men and women for Christian service. Today, Ozark’s 15,000 alumni serve in all 50 states and in over 100 countries around the world. Founded in Bentonville, Arkansas, with just a handful of students, the college now averages more than 600 students per semester and stands as one of the largest undergraduate Bible colleges in the country.

Ozark is nationally accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education and holds regional accreditation candidacy status with the Higher Learning Commission. Ozark’s outstanding biblical training, Christian community and global service opportunities equip students for all kinds of ministry: missions, music, youth and children’s ministry, preaching, counseling, organizational leadership and an entire bachelor’s degree online.

Outside the classroom, Ozark’s well-known athletics programs have received many honors, including five national championships. A member of the National Christian College Association of Athletics, the college offers competitive basketball, cross country, women’s volleyball and men’s soccer. Students also participate in intramural sports, drama, performance groups, and other activities that build community and further prepare them for Christian service.

For more information, visit occ.edu.

kansas city university of medicine and biosciences

kcumb.edu/joplin

Founded in 1916, Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences (KCU) began as one of the nation’s first colleges of osteopathic medicine and has grown to become the ninth largest medical school in the United States.

In 2017, KCU opened the Farber-McIntire campus in Joplin (KCU-Joplin), marking a significant milestone in the University’s history. KCU-Joplin was made possible through partnerships between KCU and Mercy Hospital Joplin, Freeman Health System, the City of Joplin and philanthropic leaders from Joplin and the surrounding communities.

As the only medical school campus in southwest Missouri, KCU-Joplin seeks to provide educational opportunities for students who want to study and practice medicine in the area, rather than having to relocate. As the region experiences a growing need for physicians, it’s hoped that KCU-Joplin will help provide new doctors who expand access to primary care. Currently, nearly 50 percent of KCU alumni practice in primary care specialties, with more than 50 percent serving in rural or underserved areas.

KCU-Joplin’s inaugural class of 162 students began in July 2017. The College of Osteopathic Medicine will reach full enrollment in 2020, with 600 total students having matriculated. At that time, KCU-Joplin will have also added approximately 100 new jobs and will provide an estimated annual economic impact of $120 million to the region.

In 2019, KCU launched Score 1 for Health, a children’s preventive health screening program, at its Joplin campus. Through this program, KCU-Joplin second-year medical students, under the supervision of physicians and registered nurses, provided a variety of free health assessments for elementary school students.technical schoolsCity Pointe Beauty Academy
citypointebeauty.com

City Pointe Beauty Academy focuses on preparing top salon professionals by offering a variety of programs that teach professional skills along with a business background.

City Pointe, which has an enrollment of about 80 students, is a Redken premier school, which means it trains students using only top-of-the-line professional products.

School programs are cosmetology, esthetics, nail technology and massage therapy, according to Sherry Porter, owner of City Pointe. The students get hands-on salon and spa training with guests while learning what they need to pass written and practical tests.

The school started its first class in 2009 in a 9,000-square-foot facility. In 2017, the Academy added 1,750 square feet and built on to its massage program.

The academy is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts & Sciences, licensed by the Missouri Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners, the Missouri Board of Therapeutic Massage, certified to operate by Missouri Department of Education and approved by the U.S. Department of Education to offer federal student aid.

Franklin Technology Center

franklintechnologycenter.com
ftc.joplinschools.org

Franklin Technology Center is an area career center dedicated to serving secondary students from the districts of Joplin, Carl Junction, Webb City and Sarcoxie, as well as some home-school and private school students in the area. In addition to serving secondary students, the center also serves approximately 200 full-time adult students annually.

Franklin Technology Center started as a Joplin Schools program in 1937 and has offered programs through the years to help meet the manpower needs of the community. Programs are offered at the secondary level in the areas of trade and industry, health, agriculture, business and marketing.

Career and technical student organizations such as Skills USA and DECA are co-curricular and provide workplace readiness skills as well as many opportunities for leadership. Primary focus for all FTC programs, both secondary and adult, is on high wage/high demand occupational areas.

New Dimensions School of Hair Design

newdimensionsschoolofhairdesign.com

New Dimensions offers cosmetology, hairdressing and manicuring programs to Joplin-area students.

The school, which was opened in 1991 by Dennis and Sharon Clements, uses Paul Mitchell products and plays host to Paul Mitchell-trained educators who come into the school twice monthly to provide further education to the students. These extra classes concentrate more on the aspects of working in the salon and guest services than textbook theory.

The school has about 30 students at a time. New Dimensions offers different attendance schedules to fit the needs and lifestyles of students, including people with part-time jobs, single parents or parents with school-age children.

WTI

wti.edu

The WTI Joplin campus specializes in helping students change careers, begin new careers or train for promotions. WTI, which has five campus locations in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma, is celebrating its 65-year anniversary.

“We are different due to the fact we are small, student-centered, flexible and help the students by making enrollment through graduation a process where we work as one,” said campus director Linda Lynch. “We stand beside our students through the process.”

The school offers programs for Computer technology and network administration; heating, air conditioning and refrigeration technology; medical assistant and pharmacy technician.

WTI stays in constant contact with employers to ensure it is meeting their needs. For example, each program has its own program advisory committee made up of area employers.