Oak Point University: A Legacy of Medical Education and Community Service
Oak Point University, formerly Resurrection University, has a rich history of providing focused, high-quality medical education and maintaining strong connections with major Catholic medical providers in the Chicago area. Founded in 1914 as West Suburban Hospital School for Nurses, the university has evolved over the years, expanding its programs and solidifying its identity. Although the university abruptly closed in April, its legacy remains.
A Historical Overview
Established on February 17, 1914, Oak Point University began as the West Suburban Hospital School for Nurses, coinciding with the opening of West Suburban Hospital. Initially offering a diploma program, the institution gained recognition from the Illinois Board of Higher Education in 1981, granting it the authority to award nursing degrees.
Affiliations and Expansions
In 1985, the university affiliated with Concordia College (now Concordia University Chicago), further enhancing its academic offerings. In 2004, Resurrection Health Care acquired West Suburban Medical Center and the College of Nursing, strengthening the university's ties to the healthcare industry. By 2008, the Higher Learning Commission approved baccalaureate degrees in health informatics and health administration, expanding the university's academic scope. The Saint Francis School of Radiography (SFSOR) merged with the university in 2015, leading to a Bachelor of Science in Imaging Technology (B.S.I.T.) program within the College of Health Sciences.
The Need for a New Home
While the partnership with Presence Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital provided embedded teaching spaces, it also presented challenges. Oak Point University's students were dispersed across floors, lacking a central gathering space and room for expansion. The university also sought to establish a stronger central identity.
Addressing Key Drivers of Success
HGA was selected to design a new space, employing a collaborative process of workshops and design thinking. Through journey mapping and persona role-playing exercises, HGA identified and prioritized key design criteria. These criteria included student wellness, academic success, and access to services and resources. The engagement process involved three Town Hall meetings with a diverse group of stakeholders, including university leadership, students, faculty, staff, and facilities personnel.
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Town Hall Meeting Highlights
The first workshop focused on empathy, aiming to understand the experiences of different users and establish design criteria based on behavior. The second meeting explored how physical space could be shaped by these experiences, identifying patterns and ideal adjacencies in the program. HGA designed three schemes and asked the groups to vote on how well each scheme addressed the priorities of their personas. After a scheme was selected, it was refined with the user groups.
Design Solutions and Impact
HGA's solutions provided Oak Point University with more space, a greater variety of spaces, and new types of spaces, such as active learning classrooms and a front-door resources center. The resource center offered commuter students a dedicated space to study and gather. The design also emphasized wellbeing, with a focus on daylight, healthy food choices, and a mental health resources area within student services.
Enhanced Learning Environment
The increased footprint of the new space allowed the university to incorporate a larger simulation lab, home health lab, and exam rooms, all located adjacent to one another. This expanded the curriculum and provided students with better opportunities to learn in a hands-on, replicated environment. The university's new branding solidified an identity that fostered academic success, mission, and pride in the university's journey and transformation. The welcoming and vibrant colors created an atmosphere of energy and inspiration.
Academic Profile and Rankings
Oak Point University offered undergraduate and graduate/professional programs in the health sciences, with a significant focus on nursing. College Factual recognized Oak Point University in its annual rankings, including categories for best overall colleges, best colleges for each major, and best value schools. In 2024, Oak Point University received 32 badges in the rankings, with registered nursing being the highest-ranked major.
Faculty and Student Demographics
The full-time faculty percentage at Oak Point University was 100%, indicating a strong commitment to student engagement and mentorship. The university's student body was diverse, with a significant percentage of students identifying as Hispanic or Latino, White, Black or African American, and Asian.
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Costs and Financial Aid
In 2023, the median undergraduate tuition at Oak Point University was $23,860, which is higher than the national average for Special Focus Institutions. However, a significant percentage of undergraduate students received financial aid through grants and loans, making education more accessible.
Enrollment and Graduation
In 2023, Oak Point University had a total enrollment of 451 students, with a mix of full-time and part-time students. The university awarded degrees in various health-related fields, with registered nursing being the most popular major.
Closure
Despite its achievements, Oak Point University abruptly announced its closure at the end of the spring 2024 semester. The university cited a dramatic decline in enrollment since the pandemic as the primary reason for its closure.
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