Ottawa University

Positive Changes Mark New Year for OU's Kansas City Campus

OTTAWA, Kansas - Expansion and addition - both are signs of growth and change that can be seen at Ottawa University's Kansas City (OUKC) campus at the beginning of 2007.

Perhaps the most visible evidence of expansion on the campus is the 1,680 square feet of additional classroom space recently leased by the University to accommodate more students and classes.  More significant, however, are the positive changes in administration.

Dr. Terrel Haines, Provost of the OUKC campus from September 2005 - December 2006, expanded his leadership role with the University when he accepted the University-wide position of Vice President and Provost for all Adult Professional Studies (APS) locations effective January 1, 2007.  Dr. Haines came to Ottawa University in 2005 from Huntingdon College (Alabama) where he had served as a Vice President and Dean for more than eleven years.  Though remaining on the KC campus, Haines will be managing, strengthening and growing the APS programs at all eight Ottawa University adult campuses and instructional sites. OU's APS campuses are located in the greater metropolitan areas of Kansas City, Missouri; Phoenix, Arizona; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Jeffersonville, Indiana.

"I look forward to working with a very bright and capable group of faculty and staff at our multiple sites," said Haines.  "Together we will build on the good things of the past and work together to take us into a positive, realistic tomorrow."  

About that work, Haines, who has served in higher education for 25 years, said, "All that we intend to do is directed towards helping the University realize its mission of ‘providing the highest quality liberal arts and professional education in a caring, Christ-centered community of grace which integrates faith, learning and life.'  It should be and is why we are serving our students and our communities."

To fill the position of Campus Executive Officer left open by Haines, Ottawa University has added the leadership of Dr. Ted Collins, former Academic Dean of National American University.  His tenure officially began on January 15.

"I was looking for a more traditional university," said Collins.  "Ottawa University's reputation and mission attracted me to this position, and the Kansas City APS campus was a good fit because of my recent experience and success with adult learners."

Collins' primary directives as Campus Executive Officer will be external relations and campus oversight/development, both of the Kansas City campus and the Lee's Summit instructional site.  He hopes to work directly with corporations and community colleges to assess adult students' educational needs, develop expanded course and degree offerings, and find innovative, opportune ways of where and how those offerings are provided.   Perhaps one of Dr. Collins' favorite quotes by Walt Disney best identifies what we can expect from him as the new Campus Executive Officer of OU's Kansas City campus:  "It's kind of fun to do the impossible."

A single father of three daughters, Collins brings a background of distinguished experience and success to his new position.  He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Iowa, a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from the University of Iowa College of Education, and a Juris Doctor from Drake University Law School in Iowa.  He has served as Officer and Director of the Iowa State Bar Review School, Inc., Student Director for Tulane University's volunteer program in Louisiana, Director of Service Learning Programs in both Colorado and Washington, and Regional Director of Legal Studies and Academic Dean at National American University in Kansas. 

Founded in 1865, Ottawa University is a comprehensive, not-for-profit educational institution affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA. Ottawa University's educational mission brings together a residential campus in Ottawa, Kansas, and adult campuses in Kansas City, Missouri; Phoenix, Mesa and Tempe, Arizona; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Jeffersonville, Indiana; as well as multiple international instructional sites.  For more information, visit http://www.ottawa.edu/.

# # #