Bearcats Invest in Their Future
Dedicated Focus on Students
The School of Business has recently received specialized accreditation for its business programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE). For good reason, too – this division is a powerhouse that continues to provide students with several majors to choose from, including accounting, business administration, cyber defense, entrepreneurship, communications, and many more. Additionally, many of these degrees are offered in-person, online, or as a hybrid option.
The School of Business is also known for its great attention to student-centered learning. It champions a holistic approach to business education, often by placing students in real-life scenarios and providing plenty of hands-on learning opportunities as it aims to develop their skills, knowledge, and ethical values. Courses are taught by several former or current business owners and entrepreneurs, which helps ensure students gain the technical business knowledge they need for success after graduation.
For Viola Cipriani ’23, MBA ’24, saving time in getting not only her bachelor’s in business administration in marketing but also her master’s in business administration in a short amount of time is a big reason why she chose McKendree’s School of Business.
“I thrilled at the idea of being able to get an MBA in as quick as one year,” she said. “Most schools do not offer the option of taking a master’s degree that is condensed to be completed in 12 months, and McKendree gave me this opportunity while still offering challenging courses. Thanks to this program, I was able to deepen my understanding and skills in business administration and get a second degree while also enjoying my last year of NCAA eligibility on the tennis team.”
A native of Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy, Viola has not only been the captain of McKendree’s women’s tennis team but also graduated summa cum laude this year.
“My athletic commitments as a tennis player take up almost 30 hours a week between practice, gym, and matches. I’m proud to say that I exceeded academically while pursuing these commitments,” she said.
For Kyle Elmore ’24, a native of Trenton, Ill., he chose to major in both marketing and management because of the exciting introductory classes – and the outstanding professors who taught them.
“My management professor and advisor, Dr. Jean Sampson ’83, helped immensely with my class schedule, and she also gave me guidance in various scenarios. She’s someone who makes the School of Business amazing,” he said. “My other marketing professors, Dr. Allie Helfrich and Dr. Brittany Dobill ’06, MBA ’09, are the best. Having both of them as my marketing professors made me want to pursue a career in marketing because of how great they are at using real-world tools and experiences to teach their classes.”
Kyle was not only on the McKendree men’s basketball team for all four years and a member of several honor societies, but he also participated in the Regional Business Council Mentorship Program and graduated summa cum laude.
“The degree programs I chose have helped me grow tremendously by allowing me to grasp so much knowledge from the business world,” he said.
A Relentless Thirst for Self-Improvement
It would be easy for the School of Business to rest on its laurels and become complacent with its accomplishments – but if that were the case, it really wouldn’t be McKendree’s School of Business. The division works tirelessly to self-innovate and self-improve for the betterment of its students.
The School of Business’s faculty members strive to stay abreast of emerging trends and technologies in the field to prepare their students for the ever-evolving business landscape. They constantly attend various trainings and conferences, coming back equipped with the updated skills they need to continue delivering high-quality education in their classes.
Not only that, but the School of Business also seeks regular feedback from several outside sources, including current students and alumni. They also tap industry partners to enhance their curriculum, teaching methods, and resources.
The School of Business not only maintains strong connections with business leaders throughout the area, but they also rely on the External Advisory Board, a McKendree-established board that is comprised of professionals from various industries. This board, which is made up of McKendree alumni, provides guidance and input on curriculum development, important industry trends, and programmatic initiatives.
Bringing the Outside In
The School of Business doesn’t just rely on its own expertise in shaping its students to become successful businesspeople; it also gleans knowledgeable nuggets and know-how from the outside world and presents it to students in several formats. Most notably are hands-on experiences, internships, job shadowing, and plenty of professional business community connections. Students can also take advantage of the annual speed-networking event, which is held in the Hett lobby in the fall. Sponsored in part by the O’Fallon Chamber of Commerce, Chamber members from various backgrounds meet with McKendree students at a five-minute interval, allowing Bearcats to begin gaining important connections long before they graduate.
McKendree also invites entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs for a full day of interaction with students and a special Lanter Lecture, which is open to not just the McKendree community but also the public at large. This expert meets with different classes, connects with Bearcats over lunch and dinner, and speaks to the public in the evening each fall. It is through these important relationships that the School of Business continues gaining insights into emerging practices, technological advancements, and real-world challenges so that its students can come out far ahead of the game upon graduation.
Future Teacher Finds Success Through McKendree
When Elizabeth Eubanks was looking for a program to help her become a full-fledged teacher, she hoped she would find something that gave her the opportunity to continue her work as a paraprofessional while she student-taught. McKendree’s Paraprofessional+ Pathway program helped her not only achieve that goal but also gave her the ability to spend more time with her children. “Choosing this program was a no-brainer!” she said.
A native of Albers, Ill., Elizabeth currently serves as a paraprofessional in District 118 teaching students in small reading groups from kindergarten through the second grade and also small reading and math groups with intermediate grades. After she earns her degree, she hopes to teach math with both intermediate and middle school students and perhaps even obtain a math endorsement to become a junior high math teacher. For now, she has been working to align her lessons to common core standards so her students can get the most out of her lessons each day.
“I’ve been perfecting how to properly write a lesson plan, which helps me to better prepare for my lessons in the classroom,” Elizabeth said. “I’ve been taught the importance of building positive relationships to help students feel welcomed and accepted. I’ve become another adult whom they can trust.”
In her journey to become a teacher, Elizabeth has been learning the best instructional strategies to not only enhance her students’ knowledge but also to help them retain new information. As a current student herself, she has found that the professors at McKendree are among her favorite parts of the program. As many McKendreans can attest, the faculty are very knowledgeable, kind, and want their students to succeed.
“They are always there when I need help and are understanding when it comes to life situations,” Elizabeth added. “I would definitely recommend this program to others. There are so many benefits: you save time, and you get to keep doing your job while you do the two-year program.”
Future Teacher Finds Success Through McKendree
As an institution that deeply values lifelong learning, McKendree saw fit to take steps in addressing the teacher shortage not only in Illinois but also throughout the nation by creating the Paraprofessional+ Pathway program last fall. This ingenious new program, which allows professionals to become Illinois licensed teachers at the elementary level or the special education level in only two years, has seen impressive growth and higher demand in only one short year.
Furthermore, it gained certification from the Illinois State Board of Education and became the first-ever approved apprenticeship model for the State of Illinois through the Department of Labor this spring.
The School of Education doesn’t stop there. It continues to fill in the educational gaps seen in Illinois by providing a Master of Arts in Teaching degree. This degree allows paraprofessionals, substitute teachers, content knowledge pathway candidates, and anyone who already holds a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university to receive their initial licensure in either three or five semesters.
All portions of the program - elementary, middle, and secondary education – are fully available online, making it a convenient and flexible choice for working teachers-to-be.
Flexibility Maxes Learning Easier for All
Visit the bustling halls of the Piper Academic Center and you’ll encounter similar setups of the classrooms within: long tables dotted with black chairs or desks perfectly aligned facing Smart Boards at the head of the room. But peer into room number 114 and you’ll see something a little different.
Stepping into PAC 114 feels like you’re revisiting your old middle school classroom: the bulletin boards are adorned with positive words and affirmations with characters from Disney’s Inside Out. Along with the typical chairs that accompany the tables, various seating options grace the room, including yoga balls, wobble chairs, tractor seats, wobble cushions, and fidget foot bands. This is what’s called a flexible seating classroom.
Students can choose their regular chairs or any type of unique seating options available in the room. In fact, it isn’t unusual for students taking classes in this room to sate their curiosity by testing out each seating option. They also frequently choose to focus (or calm) their minds by toying with a small object in their hands, the muffled clinks and softened pops echoing gently like raindrops.
“These types of seats encourage movement and allow students who don’t like to sit still the ability to move around while learning,” said Dr. Michael Downton, assistant professor of education and chair of the School of Education. “In class, I have days where students rotate throughout the seating to make sure they tried every option. The most popular option is the yoga balls; many students choose that option every single day.”
In addition to the seating options, students also have at their disposal focus tools such as liquid timers, spinners, bubble poppers, stress balls, fidget bands for chairs, meditation and mindfulness QR codes, and an appreciation wall on which students can write what they are grateful for. A rainbow of sticky notes brightens the walls with words of gratitude and smiley faces scrawled upon them.
“I would love to see a full-scale flexible seating environment. I’ve heard nothing but good things from our students and faculty about this room,” Michael said.
The seating options, which were made possible by a gift from a donor, are meant not only to simulate a classroom that McKendree’s future educators might encounter, but they are also meant to benefit the students themselves as they learn in the classroom.
“The School of Education’s goal is to prepare our future teachers for real-world scenarios, and flexible seating fits this to a T. What better way for them to use it in the university classroom to see what may work in their future classrooms?” Michael said.
