MOUNTAIN GROVE, Mo. – For over 50 years, Missouri State University-West Plains has provided quality, affordable degree programs to the greater Ozarks area through its main campus in West Plains, but did you know you can take advantage many of these same great opportunities at Shannon Hall, its satellite campus in Mountain Grove?
The Mountain Grove campus gives residents of such counties as Wright, Texas, Douglas and Webster the opportunity to take college classes closer to home. Daytime, evening and online classes are available, just like at the main campus, and Shannon Hall’s Barbe Library, computer lab, and tutoring and academic advising services provide the support services needed to help students succeed, according to Mountain Grove Campus Coordinator Lu Adams. Not having to drive the extra distance to West Plains for classes or these services saves gas money, as well as wear and tear on the vehicle, she pointed out.
Students at the Mountain Grove campus can complete the Associate of Arts in General Studies, which is a degree that fulfills many or all of the general education requirements necessary to transfer to a four-year institution. All of the courses necessary for the degree are offered on a rotating schedule, or students can opt to take some classes online or at the West Plains campus, if need be.
“We have a lot of flexibility here with our online and night classes,” Adams said. “Students can even take classes simultaneously from both campuses if necessary. For instance, if a class at one campus has filled up, students can mix and match any way that works for them.”
Adams said university officials hope the campus grows to the point that all of the daytime classes can be offered at night, as well. This would accommodate students who are busy with work or family during the day.
“A lot of parents of students would like to be students, as well, but don’t know they can be,” Adams said. “To those adults, I would say come see us if they want to make a change in their lives. And something I tell parents is that if their students are eligible for Pell Grants, they, too, might be if they decide to become students themselves. It’s never too late to go to college.”
OTHER ADVANTAGES
Students also can choose to take classes toward one of the many career programs offered by Missouri State-West Plains. Associate of Applied Science or Associate of Science degrees are technical, hands-on, two-year programs geared toward allowing students to enter the workforce immediately after graduation. Many of these degrees have courses that are available online, allowing students to complete several of the course requirements from the Mountain Grove campus.
Applying for financial aid is also a simple matter for those attending the Mountain Grove campus. They have the same financial aid opportunities as students attending in West Plains, such as A+, federal Pell Grants and scholarships, and they can fill out their applications on-campus without having to travel to West Plains.
The Mountain Grove campus also has its own Student Government Association, giving students an opportunity to participate in on-campus leadership, as well as a Veterans Services representative.
STUDENTS’ STORIES
Sean Gillette of Seymour and Scarlett Bice of Drury attended the Mountain Grove campus and graduated May 14 with their Associate of Arts in General Studies degrees. Gillette chose to earn his AA at Mountain Grove because it was much closer to home than the West Plains campus. All of the courses he needed for his degree were available at Mountain Grove, but he took one class online and another at the West Plains campus due to scheduling conflicts.
Gillette said he found many advantages to studying at Mountain Grove. “There were a lot smaller class sizes, which meant I got to talk one-on-one with my teachers. Plus, I already worked in Mountain Grove,” he explained
“I liked being a student at Mountain Grove,” he added. “Everyone there is very helpful, like Lu Adams and the IT Department. The teachers are easy to get along with, and all the classes are in one building so you don’t have to walk across campus to get from class to class. The new computers in the lab and library are great, too.”
Gillette said out of all the classes he took as a student, his favorites were his history courses – Survey of U.S. History to 1877 (HST 121) and Survey of U.S. History Since 1877 (HST 122).
Now that he’s got his AA degree, Gillette is going to take College Algebra (MTH 135) at the West Plains campus this summer, after which he plans to transfer to Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, where he will major in mechanical engineering.
Bice, too, chose the Mountain Grove campus because it was closer than driving to West Plains or Springfield, and she also worked in Mountain Grove. She said she liked Mountain Grove because of the classes that were available, the people she knew there and the new people she was able to meet.
“I’m a mail lady, so I delivered mail to some of the faculty,” she said. “It’s a small campus, and it’s kind of like a small community. You really get to know the people, and the staff and teachers are always there to help you.”
Bice attended at the West Plains campus her first semester, but when she found out she could take many of the same classes closer to home she started attending at Shannon Hall. She also took some classes online. Her favorite classes, too, were the history classes taught by Krista Tate.
Bice will be moving to England in July to study phlebotomy.
REGISTER NOW
Registration for summer and fall sessions is currently underway. Summer classes begin June 6 and fall classes Aug. 22. Adams said students can register for classes at Shannon Hall via the web or in the Office of Registration/Records on the West Plains Campus.
“I recently attended four graduations to hand out awards, and I wish in those crowds I could reach out not just to the parents but to the students who did not receive any awards or scholarships,” Adams said. “If you never really thought about going to college, come talk to me. What’s it going to hurt? Come visit us for a while and consider the possibilities.”
For more information about admission and registration procedures, contact Adams at 417-547-7575 or visit www.wp.missouristate.edu.