Northwest Missouri State University’s Board of Regents during a regular session Wednesday afternoon approved the addition of a healthcare management emphasis to the University’s suite of online Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree programs as well as renovations to the McKemy Center for future systems management training and skill development courses.

The Board approved the creation of the healthcare management program to launch next fall within the Melvin D. and Valorie G. Booth School of Business in collaboration with the School of Health Science and Wellness.

Presenting the proposal to Regents, Provost Dr. Jamie Hooyman explained the program addition is part of a strategic initiative to grow graduate enrollment at Northwest while adding emphasis areas to the University’s Online Professional MBA programming.

Hooyman also noted the program will meet growing needs and demands in the healthcare industry. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical and health services managers is expected to grow 32 percent through 2029, with 133,200 jobs created.

Further, the new program will afford the University an opportunity to capture business students interested in pursuing positions in healthcare agencies as well as those already working in healthcare and seeking to expand their business knowledge.

Northwest’s online MBA degree program recently was named by CEO Magazine among the top business programs in the world. In addition to a general degree, Northwest offers MBA specializations in business analytics, human resource management, management and marketing. Northwest also will begin offering specializations in accounting, finance and geographic information systems (GIS) next fall.

Renovations to McKemy Center

The Board also approved the University’s proposal to renovate McKemy Center by adding laboratory space and equipment while completing safety and infrastructure upgrades. The renovation project, estimated to cost about $1.5 million, is funded through Missouri’s MoExcels program, a matching fund program focused on workforce development, as well as University and donor funds.

Within the renovated space, Northwest seeks to enhance the workforce for manufacturing and agribusiness industry clusters by offering comprehensive systems management training and skill development as well as certifying skills with industry-recognized stackable credentials.

Northwest will offer courses – such as welding, precision measuring, electronics and electricity, mechatronics and personal protective equipment – that could be completed for certification or “stacked” to earn a credentialed systems management badge. Coursework may be further aggregated to earn a systems management emphasis or minor to supplement a bachelor’s degree.  

Other business

In other business, Regents approved the appointments of 213 full-time and adjunct faculty for the summer term in addition to the appointment, per a Missouri statute, of University Police Officer Gaige Olivero.  

Regents approved spring degree candidates in preparation for four weekend commencement ceremonies. The University ceremonies will honor nearly 1,500 students completing degrees this spring and summer.

The Board meeting was the last for Student Regent Connor Thompson, who graduates this weekend with his bachelor’s degree in political science with a global affairs emphasis.

Prior to a 45-minute public comment period, Northwest President Dr. John Jasinski concluded the reports portion of the meeting, as he typically does, by addressing Regents and the crowd gathered for the session. Jasinski, who recently announced his departure from the University at the end of June, took the time to reflect on the University’s “performance excellence” during his 13-year tenure and some of the opportunities and gaps that lie ahead for the institution. He also noted the anniversary of Thomas Gaunt’s purchase of a tract of land, 162 years to the day of Wednesday’s meeting, for $693 to establish a tree nursery that eventually became the Northwest campus.

“We could talk about enrollment, retention, graduation, placement,” Jasinski said. “We can talk about fundraising and a financial turnaround. And we can go on – student satisfaction survey results – and, and, and. And some folks can say, ‘Gosh, you talk too much about the good things.’ I will never ever, ever say ‘I’m sorry about that.’ Here’s why: Northwest stands in a great place. … I encourage us all to embrace performance excellence because I can promise you, many of our peers can’t do that.”

Simultaneously praising the love and support of his family – which includes children Matt, Joe, Leah and Lucas – Jasinski said he and his wife, Denise, have continuously sought to uplift the communities and the region Northwest serves since he arrived at the University as a faculty member 36 years ago. Reflecting on the University’s mission statement and the University’s “Being a Bearcat” mantra, Jasinski also thanked the Northwest community for its continued work to advance the institution.

“It’s been inspiring for me because it shows that Bearcats are Bearcats and that we uplift each other, no matter who we are and what we’re all about, because we focus on student success – every student every day,” Jasinski said.  

He added, “It has been a blessing. We’re lucky, and hopefully we’ve served you the way we should.”

The Board of Regents is responsible for sound resource management of the University and for determining general, educational and financial policies.