Health and Human Services News

Health building renamed Ann Kampeter Health Sciences Hall

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Especially in times of health crises, Missouri State University focuses on the importance of building a strong health care community.

The McQueary College of Health and Human Services (MCHHS) prepares students to fill urgent needs.

One way this is accomplished: give students access to first-rate facilities.

Today (Oct. 2), the Missouri State University Foundation unveiled a new name for the Professional Building: Ann Kampeter Health Sciences Hall.

It is named for Ann Kampeter, in recognition of a seven-figure gift to the foundation.

“Ann spent many hours in classes and visiting with faculty in the Professional Building when she was a student. Now she wants the physical surroundings to assist students in their education,” said Brent Dunn, executive director of the foundation.

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Ann Kampeter receives a Silver Medalilion for the Founders Club from President Smart.

Ann Kampeter receives a Silver Medallion for the Founders Club from President Smart in 2017.

Revealing the plan

Ann Kampeter Health Sciences Hall, formerly a bank building, stands at the corner of Kimbrough and Elm. Thanks to Kampeter’s gift, the building will undergo extensive renovations, including:

  • A centrally-located student access and advisement center that’s modern and fully equipped.
  • Updates to the Speech-Language and Hearing Clinic.
  • Additional meeting and study spaces.

“Missouri State students are motivated to make a difference in their communities,” said Missouri State President Clif Smart. “By improving facilities and giving students more spaces to collaborate, we are investing in the future of health care.”

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The renovations to Ann Kampeter Health Sciences Hall will begin immediately and be finalized by fall 2021.

“The renovated Ann Kampeter Health Sciences Hall will serve our students well as they study and gain practical experience in our labs, classrooms and clinics,” MCHHS Dean Dr. Mark Smith said.
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The building houses:

Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic clocks successful summer online

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March 17, 2020 is a day many MSU students and faculty won’t soon forget. In the middle of spring break, the university moved the remaining semester fully online because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic, online instruction meant in-person therapy sessions with clients wasn’t an option.

So, they got to work.

Sign outside door that reads "Speech-language-hearing clinic"
The Communication Sciences and Disorders Clinic in the Professional Building provides evaluation and treatment for all ages in the areas of Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology and early intervention for children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Finishing spring 2020

Many speech-language pathology (SLP) graduate students clock clinical hours here. Practice in a real environment with actual clients, as opposed to simulated labs, accounts for more than 75% of their hours.

It was imperative, for students and patients, the clinic resumed operation as soon as possible.

“We wanted to be able to provide that community again,” said Lauren Jones, director of the Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic.

For the remainder of the semester, students used their limited simulation allowance to clock clinical hours, while faculty and staff ran the race to restructure the clinic for the summer.

Transitioning online

The move to a fully online clinic was multi-faceted.

The transition included switching student logins to multi-factor authentication to protect patient files accessed from outside the university. It was not an easy task.

“The team in information security helped push that through,” Jones said. “They advocated for us, and that was huge.”

After licensing Zoom accounts, securing information and making it accessible from home, the clinic logged on for teletherapy.

Close up of hands instructing on a piece of paper
Before COVID-19, students in the Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic worked with patients one-on-one.

Summer 2020

For Jennifer Pratt, clinical associate professor of communication sciences and disorders, moving online worried her at first. She works primarily with stroke patients who have difficulty processing new information.

“I couldn’t envision how it was going to work without being right there with them,” Pratt said.

But Pratt’s meetings went better than she hoped.

“The clients adapted. They were comfortable in their homes. They were very productive with their work on the sessions,” Pratt said. “There were so many positive aspects of it, and it opened my eyes to a different way of delivering services and teaching our students.”

Students reinforce the success of the summer semester.

Before moving to teletherapy, students worked with patients one-on-one, with a supervisor watching from another room. On Zoom, they lead sessions in small groups.

Amber Holko, an SLP graduate student, loved the newfound collaboration with her peers.

“It was the most positive and constructive group assignment I’ve ever done,” Holko said. “We all gave 110% because we knew our assignment had a direct effect on our patients.”

Changes for the better

While group therapy is a temporary change for the clinic in the age of COVID-19, some changes may stick around.

Teletherapy is increasing in demand. Jones hopes the clinic can continue to offer the experience to students and patients, even after COVID-19.

“This situation opened our eyes to the importance of meeting the needs of our patients,” Jones said. “When the COVID situation improves, we’ll bring people back on site, but we are looking at offering more hybrid models in the future.”

Overall, the experience and the changes pair often with one word: positive.

“My takeaway from this time is asking, ‘Would we have done this if we hadn’t been forced?’” Pratt said. “It’s exciting to think about our opportunities for the future, and to see something good come out of this.”

MCHHS back to campus guide

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In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Missouri State released a Return to Campus Guide on July 6. Since then, they’ve added some updates and additions. 

This guide is here to let MCHHS students know what to expect when they return on August 17. 

Masks: 

Masks must be worn in all buildings on campus this fall.

Read the full masking policy. 

Masking exceptions: 

In the event that an individual cannot wear a Mask due to an underlying disability, they may initiate the university’s interactive accommodations process in order to request a “reasonable accommodation. Students who wish to request an accommodation may contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Meyer Library, Suite 111, and available at DRC@MissouriState.edu; 417-836-4192; or TTY (417) 836-2792.

Mask enforcement: 

Students who have not been granted an accommodation and who refuse to wear a mask while in the classroom or other academic settings are subject to administrative withdrawal, consistent with Op3.04-11 Class Disruption. Additionally, students who fail to comply with this policy in areas outside the classroom or other academic settings are subject to disciplinary action consistent with the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities.

If you show symptoms and need to get tested:

You must first be assessed by a physician. Options for assessment by a physician include:

  • Contact Magers at 417-836-4000.
  • After hours, contact the Mercy Nurse On-Call at 417-820-6055.
  • Contact your primary care provider.
  • In case of medical emergency, go to a local hospital emergency room or call 911.

COVID-19 testing is available on campus at Magers for students, faculty and staff who have been referred by a physician for testing. If you have insurance, your insurance company will be billed for the test. If you do not have insurance or if your insurance does not pay for the entire cost of the test, the university will not bill you for the balance.

Additional information about testing, including information about other testing locations in the Springfield area, can be found on the Springfield-Greene County Health Department’s webpage.

Missouri State is also tracking confirmed cases on campus. 

Keep an eye on your class schedule.

Your method of instruction may have changed since you registered, so do a check of your detailed schedule. You can find your detailed schedule under the registration tab in My Missouri State.

Any relevant updates will be added to this guide as we approach the first day of class. 

Additional information can be found on Missouri State’s COVID-19 webpage. 

Burrell Behavioral Health, School of Social Work partner on tuition assistance program for Burrell employees

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Under a new agreement between Missouri’s second-largest community mental health center and the state’s second-largest university, Burrell Behavioral Health and Missouri State University will partner to provide educational opportunities for Burrell employees seeking an online Master of Social Work degree from Missouri State’s School of Social Work.

“This agreement reinforces Burrell’s commitment to its employees, and to training and retaining the best and brightest social workers. They are the backbone of our workforce and are vital to the whole-person health of our communities,” said Burrell president and CEO Dr. C.J. Davis. “We could not be more excited to help our employees access a respected institution like Missouri State University, which lives and breathes its public affairs mission throughout Missouri and beyond.”

About the program

Under Burrell’s tuition assistance program, four employees applied and qualified to receive Burrell assistance. They were accepted to Missouri State by meeting school of social work admission criteria. These four individuals, currently working as Community Support Specialists for Burrell in southwest or central Missouri or northwest Arkansas, will receive $10,000 from Burrell toward their advanced degree. This covers roughly half of the typical cost of tuition, fees and expenses for the Master of Social Work program.

Employees were admitted to one of two Master of Social Work tracks, advanced or regular. Advanced for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in social work, and regular for students with relevant degrees who need additional coursework to complete the master’s program.

In exchange for the financial assistance, the employees agree to continue working for Burrell for at least three years following the completion of the program. Burrell social workers who graduate from the Missouri State School of Social Work with their master’s in social work will have increased opportunities for advancement and leadership positions within Burrell.

“We get to be part of the solution.”

For Missouri State, benefits include additional qualified students who will continue to work in regions mutually served by Burrell and MSU following their graduation.

“It is our responsibility as a university to support the community and the needs of said community,” said Dr. Mark Smith, dean of  McQueary College of Health and Human Services. “Forming a partnership with Burrell affords both organizations the opportunity to do just that as we both strive to educate and place mental health professionals where they are needed the most: Supporting the mental needs of us all.”

“The benefit to Missouri State is that we get to be part of a solution,” Smith also said. “We get to be a community partner that together can place highly qualified social workers into the community so they make a difference.”