Avila Now

Lawrence, Kansas – April 25–26, 2025 Avila University participated in the 2025 Kansas Data Science Conference (KDSCON25), hosted by the Kansas Data Science Consortium (KDSC) at the University of Kansas. The two-day event gathered students, faculty, industry professionals, and community leaders to showcase outstanding data science projects, offer hands-on workshops, and enhance the data science...

ACT NOW and get the information you need when you need it. The FAFSA can be overwhelming, no doubt. And, it can feel like a lot is riding on it. Plus, on top of the already confusing process, this year, they announced big changes to the form and these changes delayed the application process. Don’t...

Avila University enrolled the largest incoming class in institutional history this fall. “We are already ahead of the traditional undergraduate enrollment pace from last year by nearly 200 students – that’s a 70% increase year over year,” said Josh Parisse, vice president of enrollment management. Avila commits to providing “access through affordability, quality individualized education,...

Morgan Pettlon is a senior nursing student from Maryville, MO. She chose to spend two weeks at Bethlehem Farm this summer as a summer servant. Her experiences at the farm over the years, have inspired her to return again to the farm during Spring Break 2024, this time leading a group of Avila students in...

On May 13, commencement returned to campus at Avila University for the first time in 19 years. “President Burkee wanted to bring graduation back to campus to build tradition and foster community,” said Margaret Herron, registrar. The sun was shining, and the campus was buzzing with excitement from 344 graduates and over 2,000 guests in...

Avila School of Education graduates, Katie Mooneyham and Brooke Wells were awarded the MACTE Outstanding Beginning Teacher award. “We know that Brooke and Katie are making impacts at their schools in Districts not too far from Avila—in Blue Springs and Raytown. We have so many students who graduate from Avila and teach in Missouri districts...

Students from Avila’s School of Imaging Science took first place in the fast-paced, competitive “Ray Bowl” at the annual Missouri Society of Radiologic Technologists conference on April 5-7 in Columbia, Missouri.  “The Ray bowl was unlike anything I’ve ever done before, and to experience it with this group of people around me was incredible. We...

The agreement also makes Avila the most transfer-friendly university for MCC students.  Metropolitan Community College and Avila University leaders signed a six-year, $13.7 million scholarship agreement today, creating high-quality, low-cost pathways to obtaining a bachelor’s or master’s degree. The brief ceremony, led by MCC Chancellor Dr. Kimberly Beatty and Avila President Dr. James Burkee, marks...

Avila University is pleased to announce it is now offering an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) degree. This degree completion program is for students with some college experience or who hold an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in any field other than nursing. All students will receive a personalized degree completion plan that equips...

After assessing an all-time high of 1,500 U.S. bachelor’s degree-granting institutions on 17 measures of academic quality, U.S. News & World Report has named Avila University #51 in Top Performers on Social Mobility for Midwest regional institutions in the 2022-2023 edition of Best Colleges. While a college degree is still considered the surest path toward...