By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville has announced a restructuring of its academic units to meet the changing needs of higher education.
Provost Jamie Hooyman says the goal of the restructuring was to increase collaboration in units and help to delineate roles for people in each area
“We had people doing multiple different tasks, some were able to accomplish those, some had too much on their plate, so really looking at roles and responsibilities,” Hooyman tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “Also looking at the student learning process and how do we make that better, that’s why we’re here, higher education is all about the learning experience for the students.”
Effective July 1, Northwest’s academic schools and departments will be reorganized within four colleges, each led by a dean charged with ensuring the quality of academic programs, research, faculty development and student outcomes.
Hooyman says the restructuring is to help meet the everchanging needs of higher education. Hooyman says the change will also help encourage collaboration in departments
“Take for example the Agriculture and Natural Sciences, by putting those together there are a lot of different ways those two units can collaborate more effectively, because when you’re talking soils and working through that and then you have the agricultural side, there are a lot of ways they complement each other,” Hooyman explains.
The academic restructure returns Northwest to a structure in place before its current arrangement was implemented in 2016.
Along with a restructuring of academics at Northwest Missouri State University next semester, the school will be bringing a brand-new center for students.
The Center for Engagement and Community Connections will help offer resources for students in several areas including financial concerns, academics, and professional development.
Hooyman says often times students may not know where all of the offices are on campus that can help them
“So this office will help, it’s right in the middle of the union which is easy access for a lot of our students, so they will also collaborate with a lot of different offices to make sure the services are available and the students know where they’re at and how we can help them, things like that,” Hooyman says.
Hooyman says the center will also help broaden first-year peer mentoring and other mentorship programs, including those for first-generation and transfer students.
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