WEST PLAINS, Mo. – It began 10 years ago as a way to help students seeking to better their lives with a degree or through career training meet the financial obstacles that stood in their way, and since its inception in 2007, the Corps of Opportunity Program at Missouri State University-West Plains has done just that for 90 students.
“Looking back on our hopes for this program when we first conceived of it . . . well, we just didn’t dream big enough then!” according to Dr. Dennis Lancaster, dean of academic affairs. “Really, we had no idea it would have served as many students as it has in the past decade nor as it does today on a yearly basis. Plus, I don’t think any of us could foresee how important the Corps of Opportunity program would be today to the campus as a whole.”
PROGRAM OFFERS SCHOLARSHIPS, WORK OPPORTUNITIES
The program combines scholarships and work opportunities on campus for qualified students who, because of their financial situation, still fall through the cracks of current financial aid options. Federal and state financial aid programs provide assistance to students who have the greatest financial need; the Corps of Opportunity Program targets students who have unmet financial need, whether or not they received benefits from a governmental program. Students who do not qualify for government programs but still have unmet financial need also are eligible for the Corps program.
Unmet financial need is described as the total cost of attending college minus all financial aid awarded (grants, scholarships, loans, etc.) and estimated contributions by the student and his/her family toward those college costs. Such items as living expenses and transportation costs are included in the total cost for attending college.
“Our principle aim with the Corps of Opportunity Program is to seek out the student – traditional-aged and those who are returning to school – who, given their life circumstances, cannot attend college without seeking large student loans or working full time, which limits their available times to attend classes and hinders their focus on their studies,” Lancaster said. “Since 2007, we’ve been able to assist 90 students toward achieving their educational goals. Some of them may not have had the opportunity without this program or, for some of them, it would have been harder and costlier.”
CORPS STUDENTS SING PROGRAM’S PRAISES
For Victoria Fowler, Caulfield, a math teacher at Bakersfield High School, being a part of the Corps program allowed her to complete her associate’s degree and a bachelor’s degree without taking a student loan. “The most beneficial aspect was the opportunity to work 40 hours a week in the summer. I had been worried that I would not be able to find work during the summer months only, so when I heard about the Corps of Opportunity Program, I was astounded,” she said. “I was able to work while going to school, which helped me pay for my education. I am debt free, and I owe much of that accomplishment to the Corps of Opportunity Program.”
Fowler worked as a mathematics, political science and computer information systems tutor in the Grizzly Tutoring Lab between 2011-2013, and said that experience prompted her to seek a bachelor’s degree in mathematics education from Missouri State University in Springfield. “Tutoring math is what led me to decide to become a math teacher. Tutoring and teaching are different in many ways, but they are closely related,” she said.
For Anna Sutherland, Walnut Grove, the program not only gave her a debt-free education, it also gave her the opportunity to travel to Europe as part of a short-term study abroad trip through the William and Virginia Darr Honors Program. Sutherland, who graduated with an Associate of Science in Nursing degree and an Associate of Arts in General Studies degree in 2014, worked in the registration and records office answering phones, preparing documents for mailing, scanning documents into the university’s electronic systems, and updating student information.
“My Corps of Opportunity job prepared me for working with the public,” she explained. “As a nurse, I deal with a variety of people and many personalities, and I attribute my calmness in high stress situations to my Corps job. In my personal business, I learned to become a leader and how to treat people the way I would want to be treated.”
Sutherland works as a registered nurse at Mercy Hospital in Springfield and co-owns her own business, Monroe House Boutique and Market, with her sister, Meg Biggs.
Caitlin Woodworth received similar benefits from participating in the program as Fowler and Sutherland. Currently working as a preschool teacher at West Plains Elementary School, Woodworth assisted staff in the University/Community Programs (U/CP) Department with managing and coordinating theater events, distributing posters of upcoming events throughout the area, and general office duties as part of the Corps program.
“I learned how to talk with the public, whether they are happy or upset, just like with the parents of my students. I learned that managing volunteers is just like managing a classroom. I learned to work well with others, even when we disagree,” she explained.
CAMPUS DEPARTMENTS BENEFIT, TOO
Students aren’t the only beneficiaries of the program. The campus, itself, gains valuable employees who, many times, fill important positions in various offices and departments. “Some of these positions are in critical areas for completing campus operations,” Lancaster said. “In registration and records, admissions, U/CP, financial aid, information technology, some of these positions are important positions that we wouldn’t be able to fill with a full-time employee. Some functions or services we wouldn’t be able to offer simply because of the budget crunch. Students are able to complete these jobs, learn from their experiences and benefit themselves, as well as the university.”
For the Writing Lab, having a Corps worker has been crucial to providing services to students, according to Writing Specialist Alexandra Graham. “I couldn’t run the Writing Lab nearly as well without them. They have been sources of great ideas, they’ve been good leaders, they’ve been my lifeline when my work life went crazy,” she said. “I would have to hire two people to do the work of one person, and I wouldn’t have anyone in the summer to work in the Writing Lab. I wouldn’t be able to have the level of stability I do.”
The Corps worker in the Writing Lab is the lead tutor, Graham said. “He/she has the most hours, is the go-to person for all extra duties, like compiling data, creating mentoring programs, the person who most often makes presentations in classrooms, etc. My Corps people have piloted projects, created presentations, mentored new tutors, been the public face of the Writing Lab, and of course, they have the highest evaluations from students because they have the most experience working with our students.”
In admissions, the Corps student has filled a position that was lost during a hiring freeze in 2008, Coordinator Melissa Jett said. “Our Corps students have been and are critical to the operation of our department. Without Corps positions, our efficiency would be greatly reduced. There have been several situations where a staff member has been out unexpectedly and/or for an extended period and a Corps student has ‘held down the fort,’” she explained.
In addition to general office duties, Corps students have updated admission web pages, assisted in the development of media presentations, and collaborated in the creation of short videos and features for social media and recruitment events.
“Our Corps students have benefitted from the program in multiple ways. Not only has the program helped them financially, they’ve gained valuable experience. They have gone on to a variety of professions, not necessarily directly related to their Corps positions, but the skills gained carried over to their careers. They became familiar with working in a team environment and grew tremendously in their soft skills. They learned responsibility, time management and other abilities valued in the work force,” Jett said.
Like the positions in the Writing Lab and admissions, the Corps worker in the business office also fills a crucial role in its functions, Accounting Manager Christina Kerley said. “They are a very important piece to keeping students happy, helping us meet deadlines, and picking up day-to-day tasks so staff can concentrate on other duties,” she explained. “As more and more duties are assigned to this office, our Corps worker helps us keep our nose above water.
“We are very appreciative of our Corps worker and would be lost without that additional help,” Kerley continued. “I know that our office has become extremely dependent on the extra pair of hands, and I’m sure that is the case with all of the other offices, as well. This office only has three full-time people and one part-time person, and if you remove someone from the mix because of vacation and another person has to be out because of sickness, the Corps worker can be the difference in keeping the office staffed appropriately.”
OFFICIALS SEE NEED FOR PROGRAM EXPANSION
Continued reductions in state appropriations for Missouri State-West Plains make the Corps of Opportunity Program even more imperative for students and the campus, alike. That’s why gifts like the $4 million donation from the Lorene Thompson Brooks estate in 2012, which endowed and expanded the program and allowed for its growth to 23 students, are greatly appreciated, Lancaster said.
“It would be nice if we could expand the program and offer it to more students each year. I know there are more positions where we could use student help,” he said.
For more information about the Corps of Opportunity Program and how to apply, contact the Missouri State-West Plains financial aid office, 417-255-7243. For more information about financially supporting this or other university programs, call the development office at 417-255-7240.