This semester, we’re welcoming a cohort of students from Mongolia to our campus. They’re working toward a Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies (MSIS), and they’re scheduled to graduate in May.

This opportunity developed from a connection between Missouri State’s office of community and global partnerships and Orkhon University, says Dr. Jerry Masterson, director of graduate interdisciplinary programs and partnerships. Orkhon reached out on behalf of a group of administrators and educators who wanted to learn more about the American education system. They wanted to do it within the context of a degree path, and because many of them had already earned master’s degrees, they hoped they could apply some of their credits toward a program at Missouri State.

In-person Experience

It was an uncommon request, but Masterson says the flexibility of the MSIS structure made it possible. He worked with colleagues in the College of Education (COE) to design a program that would meet the students’ needs.

During the fall 2024 semester, the cohort completed three online classes. This semester, they’ll complete their remaining classes on campus. Although the students could have completed every course online, they chose to travel here for an immersive experience, complete with in-person visits to American schools.

Dr. Jon Turner, associate professor in the School of Special Education, Leadership and Professional Studies, Dr. Nathaniel Quinn, senior instructor in the School of Special Education, Leadership and Professional Studies, and Dr. Krista Tate, instructor in the the School of Special Education, Leadership and Professional Studies, are instructing the cohort. Early in the semester, they surveyed the students to find out what kinds of field trips they’d like to prioritize.

“They’re interested in schools in Springfield as well as rural schools, so we plan to visit both,” Turner says. “They also want to learn about elements like extracurriculars and school-based, team sports. And they expressed interest in special education, so we plan to visit some of the excellent special education programs we have here in Springfield.”

Dr. Kayla Robinson, interim director of the School of Teaching, Learning and Developmental Sciences, agrees that visits to local schools are a valuable component of the program. “When they talk to school personnel, they get the opportunity to learn about things you would only know in person,” she says. “Online, you can’t replicate the experience of being present in the school.”

A Sustainable Partnership

While the students are in Springfield, they’re living in off-campus apartments, something the Graduate College took the lead in arranging. “We call it our ‘concierge service,'” Masterson says. “We pick them up at the airport, take them to their apartments, connect them with financial services and help support them as they get settled.”

They’ll also enjoy cultural experiences, such as outings to Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. “And we can’t wait for them to try Andy’s!” Turner says.

And while this cohort will graduate in May, Masterson looks forward to welcoming more educators who are seeking professional development in the U.S. “We’ve set it up to be sustainable,” he said. He expects new cohorts on a biennial basis as Missouri State continues to work with teachers and administrators from other schools in Mongolia.

“A lot of what we do is about creating touchpoints,” Masterson says. “It helps raise awareness of Missouri State around the world. If our students have a good experience here, then when they go back home, they may recommend us to other people who want to study internationally. It’s great to know that we have alumni all over the world.”

“A lot of what we do is about creating touchpoints. It helps raise awareness of Missouri State around the world.”

— Dr. Jerry Masterson

Around Campus…

You’ve probably noticed that there’s some construction happening. In the long term, that’s great news. In the short term, you may simply be trying to plan the quickest paths around campus. Here are resources that can help:

• On a weekly basis, the planning, design and construction team shares updates on most projects. Typically, these updates are published on Fridays. They help clarify which parts of campus are currently experiencing construction activity and why this activity is happening.
• The administrative services notifications blog keeps you informed about utility interruptions, closures and news related to traffic and parking.

Request Maintenance

And if you need to make a maintenance request, use the work order system. Any employee can make a work order request — it doesn’t have to be filed by a building manager or academic unit leader. Using the system to make your request helps document your issue and provides a specific order number to track it.