An Interview with Professor Brenda Bouse

“Sometimes when you’re online, you might feel like you’re out there by yourself. If students aren’t getting [feedback and responses] from their professor, they really don’t know if they’re meeting expectations or not.”

Maryville University has always been different from other schools. In fact, we’ve been challenging the status quo in education for nearly 150 years. But what is it that makes us unique?

We spoke with Brenda Bouse, an adjunct professor in our John E. Simon School of Business, to get her take on what makes Maryville such a great option for students.

She says our success starts with keeping lines of communication open to build bonds between students, and from the students to their professors.

“Personal communication is so important,” she says. “I try to give excellent feedback for each of the students to make sure they’re really understanding the material ― with online communication, you have to make the extra effort.”

Whether you need help with a tricky assignment or you just want to discuss the coursework or get more insight about your favorite subject, our professors are here for you.

Check out the full interview with Professor Bouse below: 

How do you support your online students? 

Professor Bouse: I support students through ongoing communication. That could be through email, direct messaging, or video conferencing. So I really watch to make sure that they’re communicating with the other students on their team.

I’ll sometimes send out surveys and find out how they feel like they’re doing. I’ve even met with students in person who are my online students. Obviously, that’s not always possible, but if students ever want to meet in person to talk, I’m happy to do so.

Personal communication is just so important ― making sure that they’re getting good feedback as part of that communication, because sometimes when you’re online, you might feel like you’re out there by yourself. If students aren’t getting anything back from their professor, they really don’t know if they’re meeting expectations or not.

I try to give excellent feedback for each of the students to make sure they’re really understanding the material ― with online communication, you have to make the extra effort.