Tabor hosts ribbon-cutting for Graduate Studies building

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<p data-recalc-dims=Holding the ribbon for the ceremonial opening are: (from left) Mark Posson, program director for nontraditional graduate business programs; Frank Johnson, executive vice president of academics and compliance; Lauren Ensey, Hillsboro Chamber president; President Jules Glanzer and Tammy Stefek, director of nursing programs.

” width=”600″ height=”400″ class=”alignleft size-large wp-image-84164″ />Tabor College officially opened its new location for the School for Graduate Studies and additional online learning opportunities, with a mid-morning ribbon-cutting ceremony Sept. 17 at 315 S. Lincoln, Hillsboro, the former home of MB Foundation.

Prior to the ceremonial ribbon-cutting, President Jules Glanzer reviewed Tabor’s efforts in the area of graduate studies.

“In 1994 Tabor established a site to reach adults who wanted to complete their degrees in the Wichita area,” he said. “In 2000, we launched several master’s programs — an MBA, an MEI, an MSN and an MED.”

During the past 10 years, the face of education has changed to online education.

“Although we touched about 3,000 people who have been a part of our various programs, it changed so all students were online in the program, and it didn’t matter where it was located,” Glanzer said. “Our professors were from across the nation, too.”

Frank Johnson, Tabor’s executive vice president of academics and compliance, expressed pleasure with the Hillsboro location.

“I’m especially excited that graduate studies has come home,” he said. “In my opinion, to have the entire college right here in this community is an advantage. We serve not only the great state of Kansas, but students from all over the world. We are poised for significant growth in our online graduate programs.”

Johnson added, “We have a number of programs in the hopper, including new ministry programs, and we hope to have a brand new doctorate in ministry approved later this year.”

Johnson said that, historically, Tabor’s largest program has been nursing, led by director Tammy Stefek.

“More than 60 percent of our (online) graduates have been nurses, whether they be RN-to-BSN students or MSN students,” he added. “We want to expand our portfolio of programs in the coming days, and we look forward to partnering with area businesses and Chamber members to see how we can work together.”

Lauren Ensey, Hillsboro Chamber president, participated in the ribbon cutting, which drew about 70 to 80 people from the campus and community.

“I know you are delighted to be back in Hillsboro,” Ensey said about the move. “We are just as delighted for that, too.”

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