UMO Introduces New & Expanding Academic Programs
MOUNT OLIVE – University of Mount Olive (UMO) President David Poole consistently reminds the UMO community, “After the mission and the covenant, it is all about enrollment.” While it is possible to grow gradually by promoting existing programs, the surest way to expand the reach of the University is to develop new programs with appeal to new students and new markets. The University has therefore developed an aggressive program expansion agenda and is also working to unveil new strategic program initiatives.
Expanding Current Programs
To complement the bachelor of business administration degree, the Tillman School of Business is designing focused business majors targeted to working adults in accounting, computer information systems, finance, healthcare management, human resource management, and management. These transfer-friendly majors will provide working adults the opportunity to earn a business degree tied directly to their career goals.
Director of the Lois G. Britt Agribusiness Center and Chair of the Division of Agriculture Dr. Sandy Maddox and her team continue to move to full-service agriculture programming. Building their programs on the foundation of an agriculture core, they are developing majors in animal science, plant science, and environmental and natural resources.
A major advancement to UMO agriculture programming, the environmental and natural resources degree will provide students with hands-on educational experiences in the relationship of agriculture and natural resource conservation. This curriculum includes courses in fisheries and wildlife management, natural resource management, wetlands conservation, avian ecology, field techniques, and aquaculture. Students will prepare for careers in fields such park rangers, soil conservationists, and plant protection technicians.
Plans are also underway for an innovative Agri-Business program. It will be the Agriculture Division’s first venture into serving adult and online students and should have broad appeal not only in North Carolina, but also across the southeast region of our nation.
Veterinary Bioscience is an interdisciplinary program designed by the Department of Biological and Physical Sciences and the Division of Agriculture to give students a foundation in science with options in biological sciences or animal science as concentrations. Both options allow students to complete prerequisite coursework stipulated by the Veterinary Medical College Application Service and the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges.
The Department of Biological and Physical Sciences has also introduced a BS in chemistry with a pre-pharmacy concentration. This degree allows students to complete prerequisite coursework stipulated by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy and the PharmCAS School Directory. Additionally, this program establishes the foundational coursework for students to pursue a research-based graduate program in science and/or industry positions related to pharmaceuticals.
Associate Professor of Psychology Dr. Ray Taylor and Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice Dr. Amy Warmingham are leading the development of a BS in Human Services. They are collaborating with representatives from regional community colleges and other state agencies in the development of this degree program. Designed for both traditional students and adult learners, this curriculum will support transfer crosswalks for students who have completed an Associate in Applied Science in Human Services from community colleges.
New Strategic Program Initiatives
The UMO mission “to serve our students, our founding church, and our communities” calls us to continually expand our programming to new directions. To fulfill this mission, President Poole has challenged the University to develop the following new undergraduate and graduate programs: bachelor of science in communications disorders, bachelor of science in aviation management, master of public administration, master of social work, and the master of science in counseling psychology.
Each of these areas represents a new program initiative for UMO. Searches are currently underway to identify champions to drive the development of these curricula with the goal of having these programs approved and enrolling students during 2020.
The University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The University, sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists, has locations in Mount Olive, New Bern, Wilmington, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Research Triangle Park, Washington, Jacksonville, in Smithfield at Johnston Community College, and online. For more information, visit www.umo.edu.
UMO President Dr. David Poole talks about the University’s plans for new and expanding academic programs.