NWMSU joins partnership to create Northland Innovation Campus

An artist's rendering of a proposed Northland Innovation Campus in Gladstone-photo NWMSU — An artist’s rendering of a proposed Northland Innovation Campus in Gladstone-photo NWMSU

Northwest Missouri State University joined the city of Gladstone, North Kansas City Schools and Metropolitan Community College-Maple Woods Tuesday in announcing a partnership and vision to create an innovation center designed for enhanced educational and research opportunities.

The cutting-edge Northland Innovation Campus, to be built in the heart of Gladstone’s emerging downtown development, will create a non-traditional educational environment for students to learn, lead and succeed in school, college and career fields, city and education leaders said.

The facility will provide needed classroom space to accommodate North Kansas City Schools’ steadily growing enrollment. It will house the district’s Students in Academically Gifted Education (SAFE) program and the Northland Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) program, a partnership with North Kansas City Schools and five Northland school districts. CAPS students are immersed in professional environments with industry partners – such as Cerner Corporation, Holland 1916, Ford Motor Company and North Kansas City Hospital – that mentor students to innovate and achieve real project results.

The center also could provide opportunities for students to earn college credit toward degrees from Maple Woods and Northwest.

“We’ve created partnerships to provide our students with enriched opportunities, to be embedded into the workforce and have the opportunity to learn and, more importantly, the opportunities to create a value to businesses,” said Dr. Todd White, superintendent of North Kansas City Schools.

Northwest President Dr. John Jasinski thanked the education, business and community partners for their collaboration and emphasized the importance of building relationships while keeping education relevant and rigorous for students.

“We all know education is changing, and it has to be relevant for our students,” Jasinski said. “I’m very proud to stand here and say that Northwest Missouri State University is looking forward to our relationship with the city of Gladstone and North Kansas City Schools as we move forward.”

Tuesday’s announcement is a continuation of Northwest’s partnership with North Kansas City Schools and Metropolitan Community College-Maple Woods.