P R A C T I C A L E D U C AT I O N
August, 2013
ty resource, outweighed the costs. Therefore,
program service to being a comprehensive
at some major private universities. Their cam-
a few years after beginning the MRI program
educational institution, centered on providing
pus has grown to include major facilities at
they purchased a machine and are now one of
effective and thorough education and training
various locations throughout the city, so that
only a few, if not the only, institutions providing
in focused areas of study. But with that name
they now provide a free shuttle to their stu-
students the opportunity to learn and work on
change came the ultimate pursuit: becoming
dents to move between the various locations.
actual MRI scanners.
an accredited four-year institution providing
Yet through it all, the family remains focused
Bachelor’s degree programs for qualified stu-
on retaining the intimate and focused environ-
dents. In 2012 that quest was realized, and
ment from the beginning. Perhaps Yolanda
Southwest University began offering Bache-
put it best herself: “The biggest advantage we
lor’s Degree programs in Business Administra-
have is that we are a family-owned school. We
tion and Health Administration in 2012.
are very involved. The day that I don’t recog-
"BEING ABLE TO TOUCH A LIFE, THAT’S WHAT DRIVES ME".
nize my students, that is the day we get out. But perhaps the biggest changes have oc-
Today, the school has found itself providing
This is about people; not only the student, but
curred in the last year or two. As Southwest
much needed services to a growing base of
their families and their children.” With a collec-
continued to grow, and as they added the
prospective students. They serve students
tive focus and purpose, and with an amazing
capability to add first the Associates Degree
from all over the world, including a growing
level of sincerity and care for their community;
in Applied Sciences in Diagnostic Medical So-
number of students from Mexico. They put a
I am certain that Southwest University at El
nography, they changed their name to South-
large emphasis on providing incredible value
Paso will continue to grow and develop and re-
west University, to more accurately describe
in their programs, and their Bachelor’s pro-
shape how our community views education.
the educational environment of the school.
grams have a total cost over the four years
Perhaps more importantly, it will help our com-
They had truly evolved from providing a single
that is comparable to one year of total costs
munity rethink how we educate ourselves.