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August 2008
Central State chorus to sing at Tubb Jones memorial
The Central State University Chorus will perform on Saturday, Aug. 30, at the memorial service for late U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones. The service will be held at 11 a.m. at the Cleveland Public Auditorium and Convention Center.
Tubbs Jones, the first black elected to the House of Representatives from Ohio and a leader in the fight against predatory lending practices, died Wednesday, Aug. 20. She was 58. The cause was a ruptured brain aneurysm that Ms. Tubbs Jones suffered Aug. 19.
The Central State University Chorus, under the direction of William Henry Caldwell, has a repertoire encompassing all periods and styles, including black spiritual music.
Central State University in Wilberforce is the only public historically black university in Ohio.
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TweetOhio offers textbook discounts
Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland and Chancellor Eric D. Fingerhut announced that the University System of Ohio will offer a discount on electronic books in an agreement with the nation’s leading publishers.
The University System of Ohio sponsored a symposium in April 2008 on textbook affordability as part of the stated goal in Fingerhut’s 10-Year “Strategic Plan for Higher Education” to hold down costs for college students who are struggling to afford an education.
Through a partnership with CourseSmart, a provider of electronic textbooks from the six largest commercial publishers in the U.S., the University System of Ohio will offer half or more off the print price of the majority of active textbooks from these publishers to students enrolled in public and private colleges and universities and adult learning programs.
This is the first partnership between a university system and CourseSmart, which will offer nearly all of its digital textbooks at discounts of 50 to 55 percent off the new print price list. CourseSmart currently offers more than 4,000 titles, and over time more text books will be included in the program so that the opportunity for student savings will increase.
Using http://textbooks.uso.edu, students can purchase textbooks through CourseSmart’s catalogue. Students will also have the opportunity to save through CourseSmart at campus bookstores participating in the program.
Through a separate partnership with XanEdu, the national leader in “course packs” (articles, cases, textbook chapters, and other copyrighted materials), students will also now have increased access to more digital materials that supplement textbooks.
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TweetUD postpones student forum on alcohol
The University of Dayton has postponed the student forum on lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18. The event, scheduled for Friday, Aug. 29, was postponed to a later date to allow the Student Government Association to be more involved, according to UD officials. The new date has not been announced.
UD announced the forum in response to the Amethyst Initiative’s recruitment of about 100 college presidents to provoke debate about the drinking age.
UD President Daniel J. Curran did not sign the initiative.
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TweetOhio’s college-bound seniors improve SAT math score
Ohio’s college-bound seniors increased their SAT math scores by two points this year, increasing the state’s mean mathematics score to 544, according to figures released Tuesday, Aug. 26, by the College Board.
Ohio students scored 534 on the critical reading section, down two points from 2007, while the writing section score declined by one point to 521.
Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland applauded students’ 2008 success and encouraged educators and students to build on the state’s momentum.
“Nothing will ensure Ohio’s future like academic excellence,” Strickland said in a media release. “As a state, we are committed to providing our students with the opportunities they need to succeed in college and beyond. Ohio’s strong emphasis on math is making a difference, and I commend our students for their achievements on the SAT this year.”
Ohio students who scored higher on the SAT had completed core academic curricula and had attained an A average in their high school classes.
The scores for all of the seniors who took the test worldwide remained unchanged from 2007 to 2008, with critical reading at 502, mathematics at 515 and writing at 494. Because a much smaller percentage of Ohio’s students take the SAT than the percentage of SAT takers as a whole, Ohio’s scores should not be compared to the total group’s scores.
The college-bound seniors “Total Group Report” and Ohio “State Profile Report” are available here.
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TweetUD police investigate shooting incident
The University of Dayton Police Department is investigating an apparent shooting incident on Sunday, Aug. 24, on the UD campus.
A male UD student on Sunday awoke and found a small hole through the exterior wall of his university-owned house on Stonemill Avenue. The student and his roommates contacted UD police after finding other similar holes along the west exterior wall of the house.
Officers responded and found several holes consistent with small caliber bullet holes, as well as spent shell casings outside the residence and bullets inside the house.
Witnesses reported seeing three black males in their early 20s near the house in the early morning hours of Sunday. Witnesses stated that one of the men was firing what appeared to be a small firearm into the air, then the men got into an “older-looking” full-size black car and let the area. No one reported the incident to the UD Department of Public Safety until the bullet holes were discovered Sunday afternoon.
UD students, faculty and staff are asked to report any suspicious person or activity by calling 911 from any campus phone or by calling 229-2121 from any off-campus phone or cell phone.
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TweetRobert F. Kennedy Jr. to speak at Xavier University
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will open Xavier University’s 2008-2009 Ethics/Religion and Society lecture series on Oct. 2 with a lecture on “Our Environmental Destiny.” Kennedy’s address at 7 p.m. in the Schiff Banquet and Convention Center will focus on global climate change.
Admission is free, but tickets are required. If the Schiff banquet room reaches capacity, tickets will be distributed for a simulcast in the Cintas Center conference rooms.
A maximum of four tickets per person may be obtained starting Sept. 2 at the Cintas Center ticket window during weekday business hours. Tickets also may obtained by mailing a self-addressed, stamped envelope and this downloaded form. Any tickets not distributed in advance will be available at the door the evening of the event.
Kennedy was named one of “Time” magazine’s “Heroes for the Planet” for his success in helping Riverkeeper lead the fight to restore the Hudson River. He serves as senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, chief prosecuting attorney for the Hudson Riverkeeper and president of the Waterkeeper Alliance. Kennedy also is a clinical professor and supervising attorney at Pace University School of Law’s Environmental Litigation Clinic and is co-host of “Ring of Fire” on Air America Radio.
For information on ticket availability, call (513) 745-3411, ext. 7.
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TweetSinclair opens new center for faculty
Sinclair Community College has started the Center for Teaching and Learning, in an effort to maintain a learning environment for its faculty.
“Sinclair has provided a professional development program for faculty for over 30 years,” said Associate Provost Tom Huguley in a media release. “The Center will ensure that all full- and part-time faculties can exchange ideas and mentor each other.”
The Center for Teaching and learning will host workshops and seminars, in addition to hosting an interactive Web site.
Kathy Rowell, a professor of sociology, will serve as director for the Center. Rowell has taught for 13 years in Sinclair’s Sociology Department. She was recognized in 2005 as the Outstanding Community College Professor of the Year by the Council for Advancement of Scholarship and Education and the Carnegie Foundation.
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TweetTalk to your college-bound children about money
If you have children heading off to college, there’s one subject you shouldn’t leave for their professors to cover: Money.
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants recommends that you discuss the issue before your dorm-bound kids walk out the door.
“Start with establishing a simple budget for their spending money,” said Susan Bruno of the AICPA in a media release. “If you have felt like a bottomless pit piggy bank up until now, you will really feel like one when the panic call comes that their spending account is gone — and it’s only October.”
Bruno suggested these budget-setting tips:
Break down expenses by category (entertainment, personal care, off-campus meals, laundry, etc.) and determine a reasonable weekly “need.”
Let your child come up with both the categories and amounts, without any initial reaction from you, and then have a conversation about what is reasonable.
Make certain your child understands that he or she will have to earn a portion, if not all, of the money used for discretionary spending.
Additional tips to help parents discuss money management with their college-age children can be found here.
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TweetAntioch McGregor offers new Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education
A new Antioch University McGregor program will help child development professionals who hold an Early Childhood Education associate degree to take their careers to the next level.
Antioch University McGregor in Yellow Springs has announced a new Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education, designed for community college graduates who have already earned an associate degree in early childhood education.
Under the new program, qualified students can:
Transfer in all courses from their associate’s degree.
Earn a bachelor’s degree with a major in Early Childhood Education.
Earn an Ohio teaching license to work with students in pre-school through Grade 3.
Attend classes on weekday evenings and weekends.
Study in a team approach with adult learners who also have work and family obligations.
Antioch University McGregor, established in 1988, offers adults interested in furthering their education a range of graduate and undergraduate programs. More information on the new Early Childhood Education degree track is available here.
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TweetXavier University makes “worst colleges” list
‘Radar’ magazine’s annual survey of the worst colleges in America is featured in the pop culture mag’s September issue. Thankfully, no Dayton-area colleges or universities made the list.
The 2008 Dishonor Roll includes “Worst College in America” (University of Bridgeport, Conn.); “Ugliest Campus” (Drexel University, Philadephia, Pa.); “Most Dubious Degree” (Trump University, online); and “Most Overrated” (Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.).
‘Radar’ also notes some of the most unfortunately named schools: Wartburg College, Hickey College and Ball State, just to name a few.
Xavier University in Cincinnati was honored for having one of “America’s Saddest Mascots,” for its “bulbous” Blue Blob.
The Blue Blob serves as a secondary mascot for the Xavier University athletic teams, whose primary mascot is D’Artagnan the Musketeer, according to the Xavier University Athletics Web site. The Blob is well known for being able to excite the crowd and is a favorite among the younger Musketeer fans.
It sure beats the heck out of Evergreen State College’s “half-baked clam,” Geoduck.
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TweetCedarville students honored for children’s walker design
A Cedarville University engineering team has won the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) Student Design competition, alongside four other universities.
The contest focused on creative and innovative designs intended to help individuals with disabilities to function more independently. Of the 62 submissions, Cedarville’s debut entry made the top five.
The Cedarville team partnered with the Children’s Medical Center of Dayton to design a children’s walker. Children tend to bear too much weight on walker handgrips instead of relying on their legs, which is required for independent standing and walking. The team designed the handles to depress when a child places too much weight on the walker.
Part of the team’s challenge was to create an incentive for children to want to use the device. Their solution was the addition of a Nerf gun on the front of the walker, transforming physical therapy into a fun target competition.
Cedarville’s team presented their work before a panel of judges at the RESNA 2008 Annual Conference, held June 28-30 in Washington, D.C.
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TweetNonstop Liberal Arts Institute to hold fall academic open house
The Nonstop Liberal Arts Institute, founded by former faculty of Antioch College, will present a fall academic open house on Aug. 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the John Bryan Center gymnasium, 100 Dayton St., Yellow Springs.
The Nonstop Liberal Arts Institute offers open-source post-secondary education via courses, study groups and workshops. The institute also will host Nonstop Presents, a semester-long festival of public lectures, films, exhibitions and performances.
The Nonstop Liberal Arts Institute and Nonstop Antioch movement are not affiliated with or sponsored by Antioch University or any of its campuses or related organizations.
Nonstop courses are not currently accredited, but their structures and requirements adhere to national crediting standards, according to institute officials.
The institute will offer classes in a variety of disciplines, including anthropology, art, chemistry, communications, dance, journalism, philosophy, theater, political science and writing.
For more information, call (937) 319-4001 or visit www.nonstopinstitute.org.
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TweetThe “ABC’S” of backpack use
Students from grade school to college use backpacks to carry their school-related materials, and many can risk injury through improper fit and use.
“An overloaded backpack or improper fit may place unbalanced stress on a student’s neck, shoulders and back leading to pain or posture problems,” said Philip Anloague, director of the University of Dayton’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program, in a media release.
A study published in the Journal of American College Health of young adults and adolescents found 30 percent experienced low back pain unrelated to injury, and more than half of those cases were suspected to be due to improperly wearing a backpack.
Anloague recommends students follow the ABC’S of backpack use:
Asymmetry — Avoid asymmetry. The backpack should be worn in a way that keeps the body in alignment to maintain good posture. The head should not be forward, and the student should be able to wear the pack with the shoulders over the hips without leaning or shifting to one side.
Body weight — The backpack load should be no more than 10 to 15 percent of the person’s body weight. Carry only the items needed for that day or class. Place the heaviest items closest to the back.
Center the weight — Wear the backpack over the strongest muscles of the back. Typically, this is near the middle of the back. The backpack should not rest below the low back.
Straps — Wear both straps. Using only one strap may cause one side of the body to bear the weight of the pack unevenly. The straps should allow free arm movement, but they should not be loose.
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TweetSinclair partners with Ohio University
Sinclair Community College graduates who have earned an associate degree in a technical field from Sinclair now have the opportunity to complete a bachelor’s degree from Ohio University, without leaving the Dayton area.
Sinclair Senior Vice President and Provost Helen Grove and Ohio University Executive Vice President and Provost Kathy Krendl signed an agreement Monday, Aug. 11, outlining the terms under which the institutions will work together.
Two degree programs will be offered this fall, allowing students to take classes from Sinclair and online from Ohio University to meet degree requirements.
These programs will provide convenient, affordable options for students who are unwilling or unable to relocate, with an average savings of about 40 percent on the cost of tuition, according to Sinclair officials.
Sinclair on July 22 announced a similar partnership with Wilmington College that will help business students transfer to into a four-year program.
More information about the Sinclair and Ohio University agreement can be found here. Information also will be available during information sessions on Aug. 12 and 18 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. in Sinclair’s Academic Advising Center. Call Sinclair at (937) 512-2522 or Ohio University at (740) 597-2938.
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TweetOhio State-Michigan ranks among top college rivalries
Ohio State University’s long-simmering grudge match with that school up north ranks among the nation’s 12 hottest college rivalries, according to the 2009 Kaplan/Newsweek “How to Get Into College” Guide.
The guide, on sale Aug. 18, provides an in-depth guide to navigating the increasingly complex college admissions landscape, from guidance on the admissions process to insights on school trends.
This year’s guide also features “The 12 Hottest Rivalries in the Country,” highlighting 11 pairs of top schools and one trio of competitive colleges with strong similarities that often create competition within the same applicant populations. Ohio’s Oberlin College also made the list:
Old Ivies: Harvard University (Cambridge, MA) vs. Yale University (New Haven, CT)
Bay Area Giants: University of California — Berkeley (Berkeley, CA) vs. Stanford University (Stanford, CA)
American Warriors: Annapolis (Annapolis, MD) vs. West Point (West Point, NY)
For Women Only: Smith College (Northampton, MA) vs. Wellesley College (Wellesley, MA)
Social Activists: Guilford College (Greensboro, NC) vs. Oberlin College (Oberlin, OH)
Catholic Powers: Boston College (Chestnut Hill, MA) vs. University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame, IN)
Consortium Jewels: Amherst College (Amherst, MA) vs. Pomona College (Claremont, CA)
Science Magnets: California Institute of Technology (Pasadena, CA) vs. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA)
Big Hoosiers: Indiana University (Bloomington, IN) vs. Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN)
Midwest Stars: University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI) vs. Ohio State University (Columbus, OH)
Historically Black: Howard University (Washington, DC) vs. Morehouse College (Atlanta, GA) vs. Spelman College (Atlanta, GA)
Cinematic Enclaves: Tisch School of the Arts at NYU (New York, NY) vs. USC School of Cinematic Arts (Los Angeles, CA)
The 266-page guide will be available in bookstores and can also be ordered on Kaplan’s Web site or by calling toll-free 1-800-KAP-ITEM.
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TweetReserved RV parking available for OSU football season
Ohio State University football fans who park recreational vehicles in campus parking lots this season will have a reserved spot waiting for them. That’s because RV parking will no longer be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
This year, all RV football parking will be sold in advance online through the OSU Athletics Department Web site, www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com. The policy, announced last year, is part of a program to improve RV parking availability and reduce congestion. The goal is to eliminate the need for Buckeyes fans to come early to get a “good” parking space.
RV spaces will be pre-assigned, and held for the permit holder until 90 minutes before kick-off. RV parking lots open at 5 a.m. on the day of each home football game.
Reserved RV parking space is $90 per game. Fans may purchase one RV parking permit per game based on availability. There are a total of 141 spaces available. Passes will be sold online only; no walk-up or phone orders will be accepted.
Alternate RV parking is available at the Ohio Expo Center, with shuttle buses available to and from the game.
More information is available here.
The Buckeyes’ 2008 football season kicks off on Aug. 30 at home against Youngstown State.
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TweetU.S. Department of Education rep reminisces at Wright State
Awarding a federal special education grant on Tuesday, Aug. 5, presented the U.S. Department of Education’s Kristine Cohn with “an opportunity in a very sweet way to revisit Wright State University.”
Cohn, the U.S. Secretary of Education’s regional representative, is a former Kettering resident who attended Wright State for one year after graduating from Fairmont West High School.
Cohn arrived early on campus “and just had a wonderful, wonderful time reminiscing about the great start that this university gave me many, many, many years ago, as far as my first year … to do my undergraduate work,” she said.
Cohn praised Wright State for taking every opportunity to partner and grow, and for giving “the appropriate and diverse experiences to their students and their community.”
“The State of Ohio and this community needs to be very proud of Wright State University, for not only what it has been in the past 40 years, but what it’s going to continue to be for its future,” Cohn said.
Cohn represents the U.S. Secretary of Education as the senior official for Region V, which encompasses Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin and is headquartered in Chicago. She is the secretary’s principal agent for promoting understanding and outreach of federal education policies to educators, state and local government officials, civic and business leaders, and parents throughout the six states. President George W. Bush appointed Cohn in May, 2004.
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TweetWright State University gets grant for special education teacher training
Wright State University on Tuesday, Aug. 5, was awarded a new federal $100,000 grant to improve special education teacher training.
The Special Education Preservice Training Improvement grant will help to train teachers who are highly qualified with high incidence disabilities students, as well as in two core subject areas, such as science, math or language arts.
“We look at this as an opportunity to have different colleges and universities bring together an enormous amount of partners to address the need of highly qualified teacher-leaders in classrooms, in not only specific core subject areas, but then also in their ability to be a special-needs facilitator,” said Kristine Cohn of the U.S. Department of Education.
Cohn, a former Kettering resident who attended Wright State for one year after graduating from Fairmont West High School, presented the award to WSU President David R. Hopkins.
The grant is one of 20 awarded in 15 states totaling $2.4 million announced on July 29 by U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings. Wright State is one of two Ohio universities to receive a grant.
The grants cover the first year of what’s expected to be five-year projects overseen by the Education Department’s Office of Special Education Programs.
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TweetInternational students to cheer on Olympics at UD
Athletes from around the world will gather in Beijing, China, on Friday, Aug. 8, to celebrate the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Olympic Games. International students from many of those countries, including China, will meet at the University of Dayton to cheer on their homelands.
The University of Dayton Center for International Programs is sponsoring a party for UD international students and their friends to watch the Olympics opening ceremony from 8 p.m. to midnight at the Hangar in the basement of the Kennedy Union on the UD campus.
“The Olympics is truly an international event and something all of our students — no matter what country they call home — can get excited about,” said Tina Manco, CIP partnership and exchange coordinator, in a media release.
Hopefully, there still will be a few chants of “USA! USA!”
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TweetUD Law School listed among nation’s most Mormon-friendly schools
The University of Dayton School of Law has been named among the 11 most Mormon-friendly law schools in the U.S. by Mormonlawyers.com.
The rankings are based on the number of Mormon law students, the cost-of-living, tuition, distance to the nearest Mormon temple and prestige. UD has six Mormon law students and is 68 miles from a Mormon temple in Columbus.
The law schools at Harvard University, Columbia University and New York University also are on the list. UD is one of three Catholic law schools listed, along with Georgetown University and Creighton University.
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