Expansive Naz
Expand innovative models of teaching and learning to reach a wide range of learners navigating their life’s work
Goals
- To become the partner of choice for organizations seeking reskilling for their employees
- To develop programming for learners seeking career change and advancement
- To develop accelerated, flexible degree programs focused on cost-conscious undergraduates
- To provide flexible, creative instructional content and delivery options to address the unique needs of new and different learners
Che' Hagins drawn to one-weekend-a-month format
Che' Hagins '22G wants to become a transformational leader. He chose Nazareth's master's in leadership and organizational change program because of Nazareth's strong reputation and he values the one-weekend-a-month-on-campus class format.
Progress
What’s happening?
- Our newly launched Institute for Responsible Technology aims to attract new and different learners with programs and partnerships focused on promoting a just and equitable technological future.
- Multiple degrees offer the flexibility of full-time or part-time study.
- Hybrid (part online, part on campus) programs offer flexibility for grad students, to fit around work and personal obligations. For example, some School of Business and Leadership graduate degrees are scheduled as one-weekend-a-month on campus. Some School of Education graduate degrees are one night per week on campus.
- We're establishing groundbreaking Expansive Naz programming such as the School of Business and Leadership’s women’s leadership workshop series “All In. All You. All Together” and the SBL Next Generation Leadership workshop series in partnership with M&T Bank, Bonadio Group, and Woods Oviatt Gilman.
Hybrid model
Three graduate programs in the School of Education — literacy, inclusive adolescence, and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) — moved to a hybrid delivery model. Students are on campus for classes only one day per week and the remainder of the program happens online.
Janet Anderson was hired in July 2022 as executive director of Expansive Naz, leading the work to expand innovative models of teaching and learning to bring the Nazareth mission to a wide range of learners, and build awareness of Nazareth in the region and beyond.
Online option for teachers
Nazareth's 12-credit bilingual extension program is now 100% online. In two semesters, certified teachers can gain high-quality preparation to effectively teach native Spanish speakers who are learning English. Bilingual Education program »
Weekend-only classes
- The leadership and organizational change (LOC) and marketing communications leadership (MCL) master's degree programs graduated their first cohorts of students in August 2021. The unusual one-weekend-a-month class schedule brings students to campus for two full days of small-group projects and learning.
- A new master's in public health program, beginning fall 2022, will meet on Saturdays only.
Video: Sady Alvarado-Fischer '22G says the weekend format enabled her — a busy parent, community activist, and corporate director — to advance her work leading diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy for Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. Watch video »
New equivalency certificate
Students who studied music for their bachelor's degree have a new path to becoming a music therapist through Nazareth: a 24-credit music therapy equivalency certificate program, which begins in June 2022 with two summer courses. News story ≫
Beyond degrees
In addition to full degrees, Nazareth’s School of Business and Leadership offers executive education and certificate programs to support people changing jobs, engaging in start-up businesses, and needing to rapidly adapt.
Professional development
"For Rochester to compete and win in the race for relevance among creative-class talent, we need to work collaboratively to build programs that develop homegrown talent and grow our culture of learning and innovation to attract talent new to our region. The Next Generation Leadership program is an important next step, bringing employers together to address workforce needs facing our entire region."
— Dan Burns, regional president, M&T Bank
The Nazareth School of Business and Leadership launched Next Generation Leadership in November 2021 with more than two dozen participants from three companies — M&T Bank; Bonadio Group; and Woods, Oviatt, Gilman. This employee development program help employers develop talent and support retention and can be customized to employers' needs.
Faculty support students of all ages
"What makes Nazareth a good fit for me is the smaller classroom settings as well as the empathy, empowerment, resources, and time that the faculty have for each student who walks through the doors. Also the completion and success rates of the students once their educational journey is fully completed.
"As a returning adult student and a single mother of five, I found Nazareth helps students to climb each hurdle — standing by our side in the face of adversity, weariness, or self-defeat as we attempt to reach our goals.
"Nazareth has been one of the best social and formal supports — people who stand by my side and believe in my dreams of helping the world."
— La'Kisha Kenyatta Brown Sims '20, '21G, pictured with Shirley Sharp, social work professor and mentor
RISE aims to strengthen and diversify the early childhood workforce
"We commend Nazareth for their foresight to create a new early-intervention interprofessional concentration that prepares graduate students to more authentically connect with and serve a diverse family population." — Jackie Campbell, executive director of Roc the Future, a nonprofit alliance in Rochester, N.Y., dedicated to improving outcomes for every child locally
Read more about Project RISE.