New grad program targets college administrators

Northwest's Department of Educational Leadership is introducing a new master's degree program this fall designed to broaden opportunities for working adults wishing to build or further careers as mid-level higher education professionals.

The master of science degree in higher education leadership recently gained approval from the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education, and Dr. Max Fridell, assistant professor of educational leadership, and Dr. Phil Messner, professor of educational leadership, say there has already been a "remarkable response" from prospective students.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for college administrators in such areas as admissions, talent development (tutoring and learning assistance), advancement (fundraising), advisement, residential life and campus safety is growing.

The bureau estimates that about 130,000 such administrators currently work on the nation's campuses, and rising retirement rates mean many of those jobs will fall vacant within the next few years.

Salaries for higher education managers can range from around $40,000 to more than $100,000 a year and generally exceed the national average for white-collar employees.

Fridell and Messner said the new program's "blended" course design combines on-line content, classroom lectures and field experience and allows students to complete all 33 credit hours of required course work in less than two years. During their final semester, degree candidates must also submit a portfolio and field study project, which together serve as a comprehensive exit examination.

The fieldwork, said Messner, essentially turns the entire University into a laboratory and encourages students to apply theory and techniques learned on-line and in class.

In an effort to accommodate prospective students with full-time jobs, most classes will take place on Friday evenings and during day-long sessions on Saturday.

"We truly believe this program to be unique, not only in its philosophy but in its content and particularly in its delivery," said Fridell, citing a team-teaching approach that includes Educational Leadership faculty, in-service professionals who have earned terminal degrees and workplace supervisors.

The team approach, he said, reinforces broad themes central to running virtually all campus offices and programs: leadership; administration; working with students and meeting their needs; and a basic understanding of law, policy and finance.

In the past, Northwest's Educational Leadership programs have targeted graduate students, often in-service teachers, seeking careers as primary and secondary school administrators. Messner said this sometimes forced candidates working in higher education to earn degrees that didn't really fit their professional goals.

"We're a leadership department," he said. "My degree is in higher education, and so is Max's. I've been the vice president at a medical school, and he's been the president of a community college. We just felt that there was a piece missing."

Though the new degree is designed primarily for middle managers -- rather than future deans or presidents, who traditionally advance through the faculty ranks -- Messner said he did expect the program to serve as a "feeder" for Northwest's cooperative doctorate in educational leadership, which is offered in conjunction with the University of Missouri.

The following Northwest staff members joined Fridell and Messner as members of the team charged with designing the new program: Matt Baker, director of residential life; Jeffrey Foot, director of international affairs; Dr. Leslie Galbreath, director, Talent Development Center; Dr. Sam Jennings, director of student development, Missouri Academy of Science, Mathematics and Computing; and Paul Klute, assistant to the president. Galbreath, Jennings, Fridell and Messner make up the faculty

Prospective students interested earning a master's degree in higher education leadership should contact the Northwest Graduate Office at 660.562.1145 or e-mail gradsch@nwmissouri.edu. Detailed Information about the program is also available on the Educational Leadership Web site at www.nwmissouri.edu/dept/edlead.

Fridell, who directs the program, can be reached at 660.562.1270 or mfridel@nwmissouri.ed

For more information, please contact:

Anthony Brown,
News Bureau Manager
E-Mail: abrown@nwmissouri.edu
Phone (660) 562-1704
Fax (660) 562-1900

Northwest Missouri State University
219 Administration Building,
800 University Drive
Maryville, MO 64468

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