North Park has served five generations of students and continues to grow in diversity, academic relevance, and Christian commitment. Our Chicago location is a great asset that reflects the School’s global reach and outlook.
After 125 years, we’ve learned how to streamline the process of helping qualified applicants seek admission to North Park and find affordable ways to attend. If you don’t see what you’re looking for on our website, please contact us directly!
North Park offers more than 40 graduate and undergraduate programs in liberal arts, sciences, and professional studies. Classes average 17 students. 84% of our faculty have terminal degrees. Academics here are rigorous and results-oriented.
North Park Theological Seminary prepares you to answer the call to service through theological study, spiritual development, and the formative experiences of living in a community with others on a similar life path.
The Office of Alumni Engagement fosters lifelong connections by engaging alumni with the university and one another in activities, programs, and services that support the university’s mission and alumni needs.
From President Mary K. Surridge: I am delighted to announce today that the Executive Committee of North Park University’s Board of Trustees, acting on behalf of the full Board, has approved the nomination and appointment of Francisco X. Gaytán, PhD, as Vice President for Student Engagement (VPSE).
From President Mary K. Surridge:
I am delighted to announce today that the Executive Committee of North Park University’s Board of Trustees, acting on behalf of the full Board, has approved the nomination and appointment of Francisco X. Gaytán, PhD, as Vice President for Student Engagement (VPSE). Dr. Gaytán will join the President’s Cabinet, partnering with and reporting directly to the President, beginning August 23, 2021.
As the University’s chief student development officer, the VPSE provides leadership for the development and implementation of all student engagement planning and policy as well as the budget management and overall supervision of staff in the Center for Student Engagement. Within this role, the VPSE coordinates across all Student Engagement units—Dean of Students, Student Activities, Housing and Residence Life, Health Services, Counseling Support Services, University Ministries, Diversity and Intercultural Life, Student Success, and Career Services and Internships.
Dr. “Frank” Gaytán is a person of expressed Christian faith and has been an active member of St. John’s Episcopal Church for nearly 10 years. He is very enthusiastic about the mission and opportunity to serve North Park, to lead our student engagement staff, and to be a strong strategic senior partner with the president and her Cabinet now, and in the years to come. A skilled and strategic student life administrator and a champion for student success, Dr. Gaytán has a proven track record of dramatically improving student retention rates, closing equity gaps in retention, and improving student completion and success. Dr. Gaytán brings deep understanding and connection for our Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) in Chicago, and has proven experience in successfully managing the external funding available to HSI’s through federal grants.
Dr. Gaytán emerged as the premier candidate from a strong pool of finalists, after well-attended campus forums and dozens of submitted feedback forms that overwhelmingly supported his candidacy.
I have full confidence in Dr. Gaytán’s leadership and our partnership — and in his ability to support and advance our Christian mission and our commitment to the success of every student.
Dr. Gaytán comes to us from Northeastern Illinois University, where he served most recently as Associate Provost for Student Success and Retention — the University’s lead student engagement strategist.
Through innovative advisor training, and strategic management of financial aid, academic and financial barriers, and improved coordination and communication, he and his team improved first year to second year retention rates by 20.5 percentage points (a 44% increase in retention) in just three years. He earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Loyola University, master’s degrees from Harvard University and the University of California, Berkeley, and his PhD in Applied Psychology from New York University.
A highly engaging team-builder and collaborator, he brings more than 20 years of professional experience in higher education, more than a decade of teaching experience and eight years of progressively more complex administrative responsibilities. He has drawn on his own experience as a first-generation college student from a Mexican immigrant family to be a culturally competent role model for students and colleagues. He is an accomplished researcher, a proven administrator, and the right person to engage our students and staff at this important time in the history of our 130-year-old institution, as we create our future together through North Park Next and emerge as a model for Christian higher education in 21st Century America.
During his interview process, Dr. Gaytán expressed admiration for what he called “the parallel history” that Swedish immigrants to Chicago in the late 19th Century share with the current wave of immigrants from Latin America — education, community, shared values and a sense of purpose — students seeking a life for themselves that they could translate to leadership and service to their communities.
Dr. Gaytán shared his enthusiasm for our future in this way: “I am delighted to join the North Park University community during this exciting time in its history. As a first-generation college student from an immigrant family, I know firsthand the path that twenty-first century students take in pursuit of their dreams of a better life through education for themselves and their families. North Park’s Christian values, commitment to the city of Chicago, and its increasing diversity called me to this position. I look forward to working with the Student Engagement team to make North Park a university that is known for providing all students an opportunity for growth and success that they can then carry out and share with the world.”
I have full confidence in his ability to lead our excellent student engagement staff as we bring new energy, focus and strategies to student success through enhanced intercultural connections, improved retention rates, graduation rates, and career placement. Dr. Gaytán’s Curriculum Vitae is linked here.
Dr. Gaytán was selected after a national search conducted by a diverse committee of colleagues representing North Park faculty, staff, administrators, and students, in partnership with Academic Search.
The University is deeply grateful to Dr. Mahauganee Shaw and Dr. Thomas Shandley of Academic Search; to our Search committee co-chairs Melissa Vélez-Luce, Chief of Staff and Ingrid Tenglin, Assistant Vice President for Human Resources; and to our search committee members, Joseph Butler, Director of Student Services; Laura Ebner, Director for Health and Wellness; Dr. Al Kamienski, Professor of Finance; Dr. Richard Kohng, Director of Civic Engagement, Catalyst Hub; Ja’Vida Morris, Associate Director of Admission Services; Dr. Gwendolyn Purifoye, Associate Professor of Sociology; and Brooklynn Seals, President, Student Government Association.
Finally, my deepest gratitude and respect goes to Vice President Andrea Nevels. VP Nevels returned to North Park just as she was settling into a well-earned retirement, and she has served our students and our Cabinet with dedication, compassion, and wisdom. I am grateful for her leadership.
Dr. Gaytán’s appointment accelerates our momentum as we approach the 2021-2022 academic year. Please join me and the Cabinet in welcoming him to our community!
North Park has been recognized for its honorable commitment to engaged, hands-on education by Colleges of Distinction, a one-of-a-kind guide for college-bound students.
North Park has been recognized for its honorable commitment to engaged, hands-on education by Colleges of Distinction, a one-of-a-kind guide for college-bound students. As an institution whose primary goals are based on student success and satisfaction, North Park claims its honor as one of the renowned Colleges of Distinction.
Colleges of Distinction’s longstanding support for student-centered schools highlight those that traditional rankings often overlook. Founder Wes Creel created Colleges of Distinction to draw more attention to schools like North Park whose student-centered education prevails in applying theory to practice while fostering a dynamic learning community.
Colleges of Distinction’s selection process comprises a sequence of in-depth research and detailed interviews with the schools about each institution’s freshman experience and retention efforts alongside its general education programs, career development, strategic plan, student satisfaction, and more—and accepting only those that adhere to the Four Distinctions: Engaged Students, Great Teaching, Vibrant Community, and Successful Outcomes. These principles are all informed by the High-Impact Practices to prioritize the ways that institutions enable students to have a fulfilling, individualized college experience.
Every student has their own unique set of abilities, their own goals, and their own ideal settings in which they would thrive,” said Creel. “That’s why we don’t rank our schools. It’s about finding the best opportunities for each individual’s needs and desires.” North Park’s inclusion is informed by the unique ways it commits to achieving success.
Creel and his colleagues found that the most popular college rankings systems rely on metrics like peer reputation, size of endowment, and alumni salaries. They knew instead that the effective strategies for student satisfaction and outcomes were the kinds of engaging experiences found at North Park: experiential-based learning curriculum, service-learning programs, diversity and global learning programs, interdisciplinary programs, collaborative assignments and projects, undergraduate research opportunities, living-learning cohort communities, common intellectual experiences, study abroad, and internships.
Creel continued, “It’s inspiring to see North Park commit to the learning styles and community involvement that will best allow their students to succeed in and beyond their college years.”
Funded by the National Science Foundation, North Park’s S-STEM cohort of 20 students, embraced virtual learning opportunities with STEM guest speakers from across the country.
Working within COVID-19 guidelines, the cohort scholars experienced immersive learning through meetings with guest speakers. Physics and Engineering scholars attended 10 guest speaker sessions over the course of the school year and Biology scholars attended 12 guest speaker sessions.
Students interacted with an environmental science analyst from Argonne National Labs; Chicago-based architectural engineer; medical technologist at Amazon; and biomedical devices designer at Medical University of South Carolina.
Sunny Meva, a sophomore majoring in Environmental Science, found the networking
Sunny Meva
aspect of the cohort especially beneficial. “Having guest speakers come to talk to us and getting to know them has helped me make a comfortable transition to contacting other people. With the support of Dr. Choi and Dr. Quainoo I know I can succeed,” said Meva.
Dr. Yoojin Choi, professor of Biology and Department Chair, connected students with North Park alumni and professionals with intersectional experiences, such as pre-med students who pursued biomedical engineering/design; an environmental science major who is now a photovoltaic system designer; a physics major who is now studying environmental management; and a math and chemistry double major who now leads medical doctors in cancer research.
“The clear message that emerged from most of our guest speakers was that we need to be open to new career possibilities and that North Park’s liberal arts-based science education allows us to offer those valuable learning experiences,” said Choi.
North Park’s Biology Department maintains relationships with alumni and other industry partners so current students can speak directly with both accomplished and entry-level STEM professionals. The S-STEM grant introduces students to networking, communication, intentional advising, and immersive industry experiences. Thanks to the S-STEM grant, industry partnerships are already beginning to bloom – GI Supply, a biomedical devices company, has committed to offer funds to a team of three North Parkers to start a research project this summer.
From President Mary K. Surridge: I am delighted to announce today that the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees for North Park University has approved the nomination of Michael S. Carr, Ph.D. as Provost and chief academic officer, responsible for leading the university’s faculty and full academic program.
From President Mary K. Surridge: I am delighted to announce today that the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees for North Park University has approved the nomination of Michael S. Carr, Ph.D. as Provost and chief academic officer, responsible for leading the university’s faculty and full academic program. Dr. Carr will join the President’s Cabinet, partnering with and reporting directly to the President, beginning July 1, 2021.
As chief academic officer, the Provost provides leadership for the development and implementation of all academic planning and policy as well as the academic budget; reviews and approves academic appointments; and makes recommendations to the president on promotion and tenure decisions. Within this role, the Provost coordinates across all academic units—College of Arts and Sciences; School of Business & Nonprofit Management; School of Education; School of Nursing & Health Sciences; School of Music, Art and Theatre; School of Professional Studies; and Theological Seminary.
Dr. Carr is a person of active and expressed Christian faith and has been active for over 20 years in his Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) congregation. He is very enthused about the mission and opportunity to serve North Park, lead our faculty and be a strong strategic senior partner with the president now, and into the decade to come. He has measurable and demonstrated success in academic program development, personnel management, budget management, and strategic partnerships across higher education in the city of Chicago. He has demonstrated success with articulation agreements with two-year community colleges (an important and growing transfer market for North Park) and was the candidate with the deepest understanding and experience with a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) in Chicago.
Dr. Carr emerged as the premier candidate of our campus community from a strong pool of four finalists, after well-attended campus forums and more than 200 submitted feedback forms that overwhelmingly supported him.
I have full confidence in his leadership, our partnership, and his ability to support and advance our Christian mission.
Dr. Carr comes to us from National Louis University in Chicago where he has served as Deputy Provost responsible for advancing change leadership across the academic enterprise and providing direction and executive oversight that promotes academic excellence and positive student outcomes. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Olivet Nazarene University, his master’s from Ball State University, and his PhD in molecular biology from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
He is an accomplished scholar, a proven administrator, and the right person to serve in this vital role at this important time in the history of our 130-year-old institution, as we create our future together through North Park Next. I have full confidence in his ability to lead our excellent faculty as we enhance and expand our academic portfolio aligned with student interests and employer needs and emerge as a model for Christian higher education in 21st Century America.
NLU is a designated Hispanic and Minority Serving Institution (HSI, MSI) serving nearly 10,000 students annually at the undergraduate and graduate levels at multiple campuses and online. Among many other accomplishments at that institution, Dr. Carr co-led the development of Accelerate U, a new division focused on the creation of stackable credentials aligned with the bachelor’s degree and employer needs; developed the 2030 Strategic Plan Pillar “Preparing Our Students for the Future of Work”; worked with faculty to develop a strategic plan for research and scholarship; and worked with the Faculty Senate Chair and committees to develop Senate yearly goals and update policy revisions as needed. Dr. Carr also mobilized the university’s remote learning response to the pandemic and led NLU’s preparation for the 2021 HLC comprehensive site visit.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve at a university which aligns my personal and professional values. I look forward to working with the tremendous faculty and the collective community as North Park University becomes a model of urban, Christian education through community engagement and impact.”
Dr. Carr was selected after a national search conducted by a diverse committee of colleagues representing North Park faculty, staff, administrators, and Board of Trustees, in partnership with Academic Search. His Curriculum Vitae is linked here.
The University is deeply grateful to Dr. Andrea Hamos and Dr. Mahauganee Shaw of Academic Search; to our Search committee co-chairs, Anthony Scola, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing and Dr. Cindy Hudson, Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences; and to the members of the search committee: Yoojin Choi, Professor of Biology and Director of Summer Science Academy; Gregory Crawford, Board of Trustees and Adjunct Faculty, School of Business and Nonprofit Management; Peggy Kotowski, Assistant Professor of Nursing and Baccalaureate Program Director; Maya Durham Rayner, Assistant Professor of Art and Graphic Design; Aaron Schoof, Senior Director of Data and Administrative Services; Kelly Potteiger, Professor of Athletic Training; Andrea Nevels, Vice President for Student Engagement; Michael Johnson, Professor of History; and Rochelle Robinson-Levant, Associate Dean, School of Business and Nonprofit Management. I also thank all in our community who participated in the campus forums.
With deep gratitude and respect to Dr. Craig Johnson for his service and leadership as Provost over the last 18 months, we look forward to his engagement with Dr. Carr in a productive and successful transition.
Together, we did it! Read President Mary K. Surridge’s end-of-year message to the campus community.
Together, we did it!
With thanksgiving and glory to God, we offer congratulations to our North Park graduates, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends. We have completed this very challenging 2020–2021 academic year safely and successfully—and with much to celebrate as we head into summer.
The glorious scene on campus on Saturday, May 8, celebrated the graduating class of 2021, with FOUR consecutive in-person commencement ceremonies on the field of the Holmgren Athletic Complex. By the end of the day, 447 degrees were conferred upon 445 graduates—293 undergraduate and 154 graduate degrees!
The remarkable achievements of this resilient class will be forever noted as part of the rich history and strength of our university. Our graduates displayed the persistence and perseverance to succeed. We have much to be grateful for, and much to respect and admire in this outstanding class.
If you could not attend this past Saturday, I encourage you to join the celebration at 10 am on Saturday, May 15, 2021, for the full Virtual Commencement Ceremony at www.northpark.edu/live.
As one of the few universities in the Chicago area to pursue an in-person commencement, it was a fitting wrap to this academic year and provides acceleration and momentum to propel us forward.
2020–21 Reflections
With hope in God’s protection and provision, and the courageous endorsement of our Board of Trustees, we reopened our campus in the fall of 2020, kept Covid-19 cases to a minimum, and worked together to ensure educational progress. In December we celebrated a very moving virtual Festivalof Lessons and Carols: “A Light in the Darkness.” We returned in January for a spring semester that was even safer and provided an even more vibrant campus life, including a fire pit, hot chocolate, snowball fights, Viking athletics, and concerts.
Our gratitude and respect go to our Pandemic Response Team for their thoughtful, comprehensive planning and careful execution of our Covid-19 plan. That group, comprising a few dozen faculty, staff, and senior cabinet members, worked tirelessly all year to create the best possible learning and living environment for both remote and in-person learners. They monitored every guideline and case number and adjusted policies successfully. Our students faithfully observed the safety protocols, focused on their studies and campus activities, and helped each other keep moving. It was North Park community collaboration at its best.
What a year it has been!
In April, loyal North Park alumni and friends mounted a triumphant Blue and Gold Day, raising $225,184 for student scholarships.
Last week, 501 studentswerecommitted to North Park for Fall 2021byCollege National Decision Day—up from 384 students this time last year.
We jumped 22 spots in the 2021 Midwest regional rankings of U.S. News; ranked 14thof 87 Midwest schools in social mobility; and we were one of only 17 Midwest schools cited for “Best Undergraduate Teaching” by our peers.
We are creating our future together through North Park Next with a collaborative, campus-wide strategic review of all our programs and resources.
And, thanks to great work and community participation, we had a very positive campus experience with our HLC on-site visit for reaffirmation of our accreditation—and we await a final report at the end of June.
And it all culminated in our Commencement celebration on May 8! Now we head into summer with strong momentum and high hopes for a close-to-normal semester for students in the fall.
Thanks to all for a job well done! To paraphrase the message painted atop one North Park graduate’s mortar board Saturday:
North Park’s School of Nursing and Health Sciences is pleased to announce Alexis Volpentesta as the outstanding graduate student to be awarded with its first Dr. Joan E. Zetterlund Award in Graduate Nursing.
North Park’s School of Nursing and Health Sciences is pleased to announce Alexis Volpentesta as the outstanding graduate student to be awarded with its first Dr. Joan E. Zetterlund Award in Graduate Nursing. Volpentesta, selected for demonstrating academic and clinical excellence and commitment to nursing, was honored by the graduate nursing faculty at a virtual ceremony held on May 4th 2021.
Dr. Zetterlund presented the inaugural award to Volpentesta during the virtual ceremony.
Providing more than 35 years of distinguished service to North Park as faculty, Director, and Paul W. Brandel Professor of Nursing, Dr. Zetterlund is the first North Park nursing faculty to earn a doctorate and awarded an Honorary Doctor of Divinity from the Theological Seminary.
An oncology nurse at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Volpentesta’s call to nursing resonates with her daily. “I’m on this earth to serve, and I’m where I’m supposed to be so I can help the most people that I can,” said Volpentesta.
“Volpentesta is an excellent student embracing the philosophy of the North Park’s School of Nursing,” said Dr. Cynthia Hudson, North Park’s Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences. Volpentesta’s commitment to nursing was demonstrated throughout her studies and while working with vulnerable populations at the Lawndale Clinic. Faculty was also impressed with her positive attitude toward academic excellence. While discussing additional assignments, Volpentesta expressed to her professor, “I want to do everything I need to do to be a great Nurse Practitioner.”
To survive, and thrive, businesses require resilient and rapid responses to an ever-changing environment along with highly-functioning, well-prepared teams by their side. Acquiring these leadership skills starts with learning in an environment modeling adaptability.
At North Park’s School of Professional Studies (SPS), we practice what we teach—especially when it comes to preparing leaders to readily adapt to a changing business landscape.
Leadership classes focus on adaptability as a key take-away skill that will be applied right away in the workforce and is now the norm of hiring expectations. To survive, and thrive, businesses require resilient and rapid responses to an ever-changing environment along with highly-functioning, well-prepared teams by their side. Acquiring these leadership skills starts with learning in an environment modeling adaptability.
Melissa Feltner
“SPS has taught me that we can no longer just do as we have always done in the past, we must learn to adapt and change as quickly as the environment around us is changing,” says SPS student Melissa Feltner.
Covering relevant topics such as managing change and conflict; understanding group and organizational behavior; and leadership and management, SPS courses teach students how to be adaptive leaders.
“My professors emphasize how necessary preparation is as a leader, and my approach to problem solving has evolved. I am empowered to go after more opportunities and not let anything limit me from reaching for the stars,” says SPS student Mika Lenorr.
Online learning for SPS students is the culmination of over 12 years of online teaching experience with ongoing real-time conversations. “My professors regularly engage with us in discussion boards and other forums, which add more depth and perspective to the conversations,” says SPS student Ryan Canfield.
Mika Lenorr
Engaging in a multi-media online model, students participate in a weekly structure of discussion forums, group work, videos, and lectures. “The professors all provide tutorials in the beginning of each course ensuring that we are all comfortable with the required software and technology requirements,” says Lenorr.
While nurturing diverse learners in a supportive environment, classmates delve deep into material, conversing and connecting with one another developing their critical thinking and communication skills. “Each course is structured in a way that gives students the opportunity to collaborate and the independence and confidence to complete their tasks,” says Lenorr.
Ryan Canfield
With specific courses geared towards understanding what it means to be a leader, students learn more about themselves and the type of leader they aspire to be. For Canfield, the courses he took in Leadership & Management, Understanding Group & Organizational Behavior, Servant Leadership, and Business Ethics strengthened his understanding of how to function as a leader in his career. “One of the greatest impacts on developing as a leader was learning about servant leadership and how this style allows me to align my approach with my core values of helping others,” says Canfield.
“My Strategic Management and Servant Leadership course have both been the biggest influence for how I have reshaped my approach in the way that I engage with people within my personal life and in my career,” adds Lenorr.
An attentive learning environment, with a shared goal to develop personally and professionally, fosters close relationships between faculty and peers for an all-around valuable experience. “Being part of such a supportive environment has allowed me to truly absorb the content of my courses and use that information in my everyday life,” says Feltner.
On March 17 and 18, North Park University hosted “Here and Now: Vocation, Work and Career in a Time of Constant Change,” a NetVue symposium led by Dr. Gordon Smith, President of Ambrose University.
On March 17 and 18, North Park University hosted “Here and Now: Vocation, Work and Career in a Time of Constant Change,” a NetVue symposium led by Dr. Gordon Smith, President of Ambrose University. The Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education, NetVUE is a nationwide network of colleges and universities formed to enrich the intellectual and theological exploration of vocation among undergraduate students.
When it comes to vocation and providing students with life skills, North Park maintains an ongoing commitment to bring experts to campus for additional practical learning opportunities. “To foster the capacity that our institutions have to equip, empower, encourage, give all the emotional and spiritual and intellectual resources to each student to be able to discern vocation well, there’s hardly a better gift you can give another,” said Dr. Smith.
Dr. Gordon Smith, President of Ambrose University
Through resources such as NetVue, North Park fosters an environment where students can explore their vocational interests and career tracks. Faculty seek out and support outlets like NetVue to stay abreast of current trends in the job market, preparing students to graduate and enter the workforce with a stronger understanding of specific professions. Shaping content within courses to be relevant to today’s world, North Park professors teach vocation so graduates can make connections between what they’re learning in the classroom and their career paths.
During the symposium, Dr. Smith encouraged students to find their own voices along their career paths. “Universities like North Park can celebrate the diverse ways in which God is calling women and men into every sphere and sector of society to participate with what God is doing as Creator and Redeemer in the healing of creation, in the healing of the nations, in the healing and empowerment of families and communities,” said Dr. Smith.
This symposium is made possible by a generous grant awarded to North Park University by the Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE), the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC), and the Lilly Endowment.
The alumni award, which will be presented virtually, recognizes significant alumni contributions that reflect the Seminary’s core values and mission.
When Rev. Richard B. Lucco S’79 came to North Park Theological Seminary to pursue a graduate degree in youth ministry, his life took a positive direction in many ways. “I said to God that the one thing I’d never do is become a pastor. Then, I fell in love with the Evangelical Covenant Church.”
Rev. Richard B. Lucco
After earning his Master of Divinity, Dick served in various pastoral roles for 25 years and is currently Pastor of Congregational Care and Spiritual Formation at Northwest Covenant Church. He also served the ECC as Superintendent of the Great Lakes Conference (2002–2011) and Executive Director of Ministry Development (2011–2018). Dick also was a member of North Park’s Board of Trustees (2007–2011).
The alumni award, which will be presented virtually, recognizes significant alumni contributions that reflect the Seminary’s core values and mission. “This award means so much because going to North Park literally changed my life,” says Dick. In addition to being called to pastoral ministry, Dick met his wife Valerie in the Seminary library. Married for 43 years, they have four sons, including two North Park graduates.
“It was a tremendous gift to make my deepest, lasting friendships at North Park and to discover a church and community I could be part of, and share in the freedom of Christ,” says Dick.
Reinstating a sense of face-to-face interaction with faculty and peers, Synchronous Summer will mirror the format of in-person classes, building into the schedule a number of synchronous virtual meetings.
Online learning is a skill of its own. Learners and instructors need to have the right technology, understand how to use e-learning platforms, and be fully engaged. Success starts with a faculty trained in online teaching supported by an environment that has been offering distance learning even before it became a new reality. Staying in tune with the progress of each student informs faculty on what they need to provide to deliver the best possible e-learning experience.
In the School of Business and Nonprofit Management (SBNM), we care; we listen; we respond. When SBNM Associate Dean Rochelle Robinson-Levant was preparing the 2020–2021 academic year schedule, she included course offerings reflecting requests to simulate face-to-face instruction. Synchronous Summer 2021 was born from this very planning exercise, incorporating feedback from students to best support their learning and flexible class options.
Having made the shift during the pandemic to all online classes, many students felt they were missing a human connection. Reinstating a sense of face-to-face interaction with faculty and peers, Synchronous Summer will mirror the format of in-person classes, building into the schedule a number of synchronous virtual meetings. Frequency and length will be determined by the faculty based on what they believe would provide the greatest benefit to students. For one class, that might mean a virtual meeting during weeks one, four, and seven for an hour at a time, addressing complex topics or providing opportunities for discussion. For another class, there could be a virtual meeting for the first week to set the stage and the last week for student presentations.
“The idea was to build flexibility into the classes so that faculty could use the synchronous meetings in a way that was most advantageous for the learning experience in their particular class,” said Robinson-Levant. Looking ahead, there are many advantages to continuing with the synchronous online format even when it is deemed safe to return to in person classes. “Students living further away from campus will be able to take classes that offer the synchronous component and it will allow more flexibility for those students who do prefer face-to-face learning,” said Robinson-Levant.
Juanita Koziol
“I feel confident that synchronous summer will be fully supported by the SBNM program and staff and students,” said Juanita Koziol, MBA candidate with certificates in finance and nonprofit governance.”
Important to Koziol is the ability to continue establishing relationships with her classmates. “During synchronous summer, students can have the reassurance of knowing that their classes will always be meaningful, in a learning platform that offers real business experience from professors working in their field,” said Koziol.
Balancing graduate school with family and professional life, has become even more apparent during COVID-19. SBNM faculty recognize this added layer of responsibility and the importance of offering a flexible schedule.
Bryan Carlson
“I would not have been able to continue to take classes without the flexibility component of online classes this past year. My schedule changed dramatically when I was redeployed for several months with different hours,” said Bryan Carlson, MBA candidate, who works in a hospital.
Adult learners like Koziol appreciate SBNM’s flexible class offerings. “Having peace of mind knowing that logging into a class can be at my leisure and the class is always available 24/7. This means for an adult student who has a busy schedule with family, health, career, volunteering, or other life goals, they can trust SBNM to provide an enriching learning experience and most importantly continuing their studies during a pandemic crisis,” said Koziol.
Whether seamlessly pivoting to fully online due to the pandemic or simulating closer connections through Synchronous Summer, SBNM faculty are preparing future leaders to respond to a changing landscape while maintaining the rigor of graduate programming.
Rebecca Headrick
“I am inspired by the richness of the program relevant to critical aspects of business leadership such as ethical decision making, understanding diversity, conflict, team strengths and weaknesses, and more. I feel better prepared to do well in leadership roles now than I would have without this experience,” said MBA candidate Rebecca Headrick.
With an innovative mindset and readiness to lead positive change, graduating MBA candidates Koziol, Carlson, and Headrick are well prepared to embrace new challenges and make a difference in their fields.
I am delighted to announce today that the Executive Committee of North Park University’s Board of Trustees, acting on behalf of the full Board, has approved the nomination and appointment of Francisco X. Gaytán, PhD, as Vice President for Student Engagement (VPSE). Dr. Gaytán will join the President’s Cabinet, partnering with and reporting directly to the President, beginning August 23, 2021.
Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories Announcement, News, Stories
From President Mary K. Surridge: I am delighted to announce today that the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees for North Park University has approved the nomination of Michael S. Carr, Ph.D. as Provost and chief academic officer, responsible for leading the university’s faculty and full academic program. Dr. Carr will join the President’s Cabinet, partnering with and reporting directly to the President, beginning July 1, 2021.
Providing more than 35 years of distinguished service to North Park as faculty, Director, and Paul W. Brandel Professor of Nursing, Dr. Zetterlund is the first North Park nursing faculty to earn a doctorate and awarded an Honorary Doctor of Divinity from the Theological Seminary.
