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It’s common knowledge that paving your way to a college degree requires the ability to remain focused.
This summer, students at the University of Phoenix campus in Spokane Valley have dealt seamlessly with the distraction of a renovation project that will transform the interior of the 13,500-square-foot site on Mission Avenue. The makeover, which broke ground in early August, was designed to provide increased room for student support services, according to Campus Director Paul Green.
“This will more than double the space for student resources,” said Green. “It lets our students know that there is local support for them.”
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| A renovation project covering half of the 13,500-square-foot space at the University of Phoenix building in Spokane Valley will provide more room for student support services. The campus, one of over 200 in the U.S., opened in April 2005. |
Since opening in April 2005, the campus has seen it numbers climb each year. There are now nearly 1,300 students from Eastern Washington and North Idaho enrolled here. Growth this year, Green said, is up 130 percent from 2007.
“People get here and they realize, ‘I can do this,’” Green said. “The difference it can make is pretty extensive.”
Students can earn associates, bachelors or masters degrees in close to 70 different fields with topics ranging from business management to information technology to health care. Green said a shift in recent years has seen nearly 90 percent of students opt for online courses – a main reason for the redesign on campus.
“We could have easily remained status quo,” Green said. “But we wanted to do what was better for the students, something that would help them achieve their educational goals.”
That approach meant replacing some of the less utilized classroom area with resource space and additional computers. The upgrade involves over half of the current square footage and is expected to be finished by the end of the month.
While the campus will still feature five classrooms, Green said the new arrangement will provide additional room for math and writing labs, academic counseling and workshops.
“It’s a significant investment on behalf of our students,” he said.
Barry Brooks, the director of academics at the Spokane Valley campus, said the renovation is consistent with the school’s emphasis on technology and putting the student first.
“We see more and more employers out there who are utilizing online training,” Brooks said. “I think they value people who have that kind of background.”
Prior to his current job as administrator and teacher, Brooks taught at the University of Idaho. He said the University of Phoenix format calls for students to become “self-starters.”
“They learn pretty quickly that it’s an investment of time,” Brooks said. “You really have to participate on a consistent basis.”
About 70 percent of a student’s grade is based on individual assignments with the remaining 30 percent centered on team projects. Brooks said the practical applications transfer well into the job market.
“A more traditional classroom is more lecture oriented,” he said. “Here, students are learning skill sets they can apply in a work setting.”
Want to find out more?
The University of Phoenix is located at 8775 E. Mission Ave. and can be reached at 327-2443 or online at www.universityofphoenix-online.com.
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By
Craig Howard
