Expansion Plans
Expanding Access By the numbers: Park University serves more than 20,900 students at 40 campus centers in 21 states and online worldwide, including the flagship campus in Parkville, Mo. All seasons: There’s no need to wait for classes to get started at Park — classes start five times a year: twice in the fall, twice in the spring and in the summer. Get smarter, faster: Park students take classes when it suits them — days, evenings, weekends, face-to-face and anytime online. Courses can be completed in eight-week sessions rather than the traditional 16week semester. All welcome: Park’s campus centers serve all students. While a majority of the University’s campuses are located on a military installation, Park serves military members and their dependents, and also welcomes civilians in the surrounding communities.
Park University has been fortunate to establish a longstanding partnership with the U.S. military over the years. “As we look to the future, we’re identifying strategic opportunities to expand Park’s extended campus system beyond the military base to meet the growing demand for affordable undergraduate and graduate programs,” said Dean Vakas, associate vice president of finance and administration. Overall, Vakas has identified diverse avenues of growth for Park Distance Learning:
Beyond the Base The military limits what academic programs universities can offer on a military installation. To offer more of its academic offerings, Park is looking to expand beyond the base in key geographical areas. “For example, Park has a large alumni contingent surrounding the Fort Bliss Campus Center in El Paso, Texas,” Vakas said. “We’re looking to establish a second campus center off base in the greater El Paso area where we can roll out a full suite of Park’s academic programs.”
Natural Connections With a history of serving those who serve, Park is looking to expand educational partnerships with federal and government agencies. “There’s a natural connection for Park to extend its experience with the military to educational partnerships with federal agencies such as the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security, particularly the customs and border patrol,” Vakas said.
Expand Graduate Programs Park predominately offers undergraduate programs on military bases based on established memorandums of understanding. “As veterans transition to civilian life, we want to be able to offer more of our graduate programs,” Vakas said. “We’re identifying geographic areas to open campus centers where graduate programs are in demand and where Park has established brand awareness.”
Community College Partners Park is pursuing opportunities similar to its partnership with Barstow (Calif.) Community College. “Barstow students’ options were limited with the nearest four-year university more than 30 miles across the High Desert,” Vakas said. The partnership is part of a 2+2 program, with an associate’s degree from BCC satisfying requirements for the first two years of a bachelor’s degree from Park. “We’re looking for similar opportunities to embed a Park campus on a community college campus to create a natural path for students to advance their education.”
Winter 2014 - 5