Our Mission

The Professional Development Institute at Park University provides outreach, development, and enrichment programs which afford students an opportunity to take non-credit or credit hours through the Park University Professional Development Institute (PDI). Students are offered a multitude of educational opportunities to fulfill their goals while still managing their busy life.

These continuing education offerings may be taken as stand alone courses, or the credits may be applied towards the completion of a certificate, or a maximum of six hours may be applied toward the completion of a degree program at Park University.

Kansas City, Missouri School District Parents

Park University's Professional Development Institute recently partnered with the Kansas City, Missouri School District to institute two educational programs designed to improve the educational level of parents of KCMSD children.

Anthony Amato, Kansas City Missouri School District superintendent, assigned Lorene James, director of Adult Basic Education and Dorothy Chaney, Director of Parent Resources, to provide leadership for this two-part initiative. The first initiative is the Parent Power Institute (PPI), a 90-contact hour refresher focusing on writing, math and computer skills. PDI began hosting the first group of 10 PPI students and three instructors on March 5th.

The second program, the Parents to College and Career (PCC) initiative, is designed to create an educational pathway by which KCMSD parents can complete their degrees with local institutions of higher education.

The KCMSD consortium of higher education institutions consisting of Park University's PDI, Avila, Metropolitan Community College (MCC) and the University of Missouri - Kansas City. This consortium meets every three weeks to discuss and establish supportive pathways for PPI parents. It is hoped the first group of students will enroll in their degree programs by fall 2007.

For additional information on this program and how you can be of assistance. Please contact Laura Lane, executive director, Professional Development Institute (816) 842-6182 ext. 5531 or laura.lane@park.edu.

Lego League Photos

Photos of our first Lego League are now online.

For further information

Please contact Laura Lane, Executive Director of the Professional Development Institute.
Tel. (816) 842-6182 ext. 5531
or e-mail:
laura.lane@park.edu.

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