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In the news …
February 18, 2008
Elizabethtown College to Host U.S., Iraqi Teachers Who Established E-mail Exchange Program
A Brooklyn school teacher and Baghdad school teacher who created an e-mail exchange program for their students and colleagues will present "Putting a Human Face on Collateral Damage" at 7 p.m., March 10, at Elizabethtown College. The talk by Bruce Wallace and Nesreen (an Iraqi woman who uses only one name to avoid retaliation at home against her family), is part of a series of seminars on global citizenship. It will be held in the Bucher Meetinghouse of the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies and is open to the public free of charge. Wallace and Nesreen began connecting Baghdad and Brooklyn, N.Y., students and teachers via e-mail in 2004. The program, dubbed "121 Contact Iraq" was created to open the hearts of people on the "other side" of the occupation and create a peace bridge between the two sides. Nesreen, who taught literature at a Baghdad school for young women, came to the United States last summer to share with the American public the harsh reality of life in Baghdad today. Wallace, who has retired from teaching, is also a member of September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows. His nephew, Mitch Wallace, was killed at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. He works full-time teaching about the human face of collateral damage.
Source: Elizabethtown College, Pennsylvania
February 14, 2008
Hawai'i Pacific University: Nursing School Celebrates Largest-Ever Graduating Class
Every year, Hawai'i Pacific University graduates nearly 1,500 students - from Hawai'i, the mainland, and countries all over the world. HPU's recent winter 2008 commencement ceremony marked a milestone. More than 125 nursing students received their degrees, the largest graduating class ever for the nursing school. HPU Trustee Charles Sted, president of Hawai'i Pacific Health, delivered the commencement address in recognition of the landmark achievement. Sted spoke about the great career outlook for nurses, and urged all graduates to forge and maintain connections with the school and community. The ceremony also was highlighted by the presentation of the university's highest accolade, the Fellow of the Pacific Award, to entertainer Jim Nabors. Nabors, an actor, singer, and long-time Hawai'i resident, was recognized for his outstanding contributions to the community. Nabors is perhaps best known for his television character, Gomer Pyle, and is a "star" on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. But of the real stars of the ceremony were the graduates. Three graduates served as valedictory speakers, highlighting the varied backgrounds represented at HPU.
JACLYN PETRUS
A 2001 graduate of Punahou School, Jaclyn Petrus (B.A. in Psychology '07), is using her bachelor's degree as a stepping stone to a master's degree. "I plan to apply to graduate school to pursue clinical psychology," she said. "I hope to become a clinical psychologist, although I would also love to teach at the university level and eventually publish some articles." Petrus started college on the East Coast, but returned to the islands after deciding to pursue her education closer to home. She transferred to HPU and became active in various mental health organizations. Her hard work and passion were not lost on her professors. "HPU taught Ms. Petrus that everyone has the ability to teach her something. She found that HPU is the perfect environment for this, as everyone has his or her own diverse history, story and point of view," said HPU Assistant Psychology Professor Dr. Vincent Tsushima. Petrus proved she is able to handle a full plate - earning a 3.94 cumulative grade point average and a 4.0 in her major while volunteering at Hawai'i State Hospital, serving as president of the Psi Chi psychology honor society, authoring a handbook on eating disorders, and participating in campus activities."I would recommend HPU because it is very hard to get lost in the crowd, as could happen in larger universities," she said. "The professors are extremely invested in each student's education and success."
KELLIE PETERSON
Kellie Peterson (M.A. in Communication '07, B.A. in Public Relations '06) is truly an "island girl." She now considers Kapa'a, Kaua'i, home, but she was born in St. Croix in the Virgin Islands, and grew up on Catalina Island off the coast of Southern California. Peterson started her own business five years ago, Abyss Media Productions, which specializes in graphics, photo editing, on-camera talent, and production assistance. "HPU helped me hone my communication skills and gave me greater confidence in all my professional undertakings. Every time I write a proposal, report, or business correspondence, I employ the techniques I learned while studying at HPU," she said. Peterson managed to balance the rigors of graduate school alongside work and extracurricular activities. She was Miss Hawai'i International 2004 and works as a professional model. She earned a 3.91 GPA in her master's program while serving as president of the International Association of Business Communicators HPU Chapter and as an HPU President's Host. "Earning a master's degree was a personal goal," she said. "I like to have options in life. I believe that you have to be ready to get lucky. That means that in order to thrive, it's important to cultivate your best self and always pursue your greatest potential."
"She has been an exemplary role model in her classes," said HPU College of Communication Dean Dr. Steven Combs. "She helps other students, especially international students, when they struggle with language or conceptual issues." Peterson said she thrived in HPU's international atmosphere. "There's no matching HPU's quality professors, dedicated and accessible administrators, or the value of the international student body. I've traveled extensively, so the necessity of seeing one's self as a global citizen is far from lost on me," she said.
IVAN THOMPSON
First Sergeant Ivan Thompson (B.A. in Justice Administration '07) is a long way from home in Jacksonville, North Carolina. He works as a military paralegal at Fort Shafter and earned a degree through HPU's Military Campus Program. Thompson attended classes full-time while holding down a full-time job overseeing more than 180 soldiers and 60 paralegals. While doing all this, he earned a 3.89 GPA. Already having earned two associate degrees, Thompson came to HPU knowing what it takes to get ahead. "HPU has provided valuable insight into numerous avenues for life's achievements. The knowledge gained will be an added asset to everyone who possesses an HPU degree," he said. Experiencing HPU's cultural diversity was nothing new to Thompson. "He has served throughout the world including Hawai'i, Honduras, Panama, Korea, Republic of Haiti, and several other Central and South American countries," said HPU Military Campus Programs Dean Bob Cyboron. Now, Thompson has found himself in an unofficial new role as an HPU recruiter. "I recommend HPU to my soldiers all the time. I currently have roughly 15 soldiers attending HPU and more who are inquiring about the different degrees that are offered," Thompson said.
Source: Hawaii Pacific University
February 5, 2008
Program Strengthens Arizona State University-China Ties
A group of more than 25 deans and directors from Sichuan University (SCU), ASU's sister institution in China, spent three weeks analyzing the university's structure and visiting its campuses. The training program, requested by SCU and part of the collaboration agreement between the two institutions, is meant to help deans and directors learn how public American institutions work and operate, with a focus on the administrative structure and management styles at ASU. Chinese officials attended 17 presentations by ASU executive leaders and dozens of subgroup meetings with university counterparts that covered everything from Internet technology management, student services and branding to global engagement, economic development and innovation. "Sichuan University is making great strides to meet the challenges and opportunities of the rapidly growing urban region of Chengdu - and, more broadly, the breathtakingly rapid expansion of China and its role in the world," says Anthony "Bud" Rock, ASU vice president for global engagement. "ASU and SCU have much in common, as Phoenix, like Chengdu, experiences astounding growth and impact. This process requires progressive, forward-looking university design and administration." Rock discussed ASU's global engagement initiatives, exchange programs and international projects with the Chinese delegation. In general, China faces many of the higher education challenges that the United States is experiencing. As a sister institution, SCU shares many similarities with ASU. SCU is a comprehensive public metropolitan research university, with more than 60,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students on three campuses. As one of the key national universities directly under the supervision of the Ministry of Education, SCU has been moving at an accelerated pace to establish itself as one of the world-class universities. But the general culture of universities in China is different from the United States. The training program's brief, prepared by Mengying Li, strategic planner in the Office of the Vice President for Global Engagement, cites that issues of enrolment, retention and remedial studies are virtually nonexistent in China. Since Chinese higher education is dominated by high-stakes testing, and admission criteria are primarily based on the scores of the National College Entrance Exam, only high achievers have the opportunities to go to college, so dropping out is the last thing one would expect to do there. A study conducted by UNESCO in 2006 concludes that because Chinese universities did not start collecting tuition until 1995, financial aid and student services have become an important issue in that country. With significant enrolment expansion, there's also been a concern for maintaining quality standards in the face of limited resources. "It is always helpful to learn about best practices and challenges that other institutions face," says Mariko Silver, director of strategic projects and a special adviser in ASU's Office of the President. "For this group, they were able to get a sense not just of ASU, but also of the American higher education system and approach to tertiary education in general. ASU and Sichuan University have established a sister-institution relationship, so the exchange takes on special significance, as it is particularly important for us to get to know one another across the institutions." Silver gave the SCU group an overview of ASU and its New American University plan with examples of each of the design imperatives. The Chinese delegation showed particular interest in the areas of human resources management, faculty and staff compensation, use-inspired research, research funding, and entrepreneurship programs and projects. However, many of the SCU deans had the opportunity to meet counterparts and cultivate relationships with key ASU contacts.
Source: Arizona State University
February 5, 2008
CMAA Awards Scholarship to Three Hawaii Pacific University TIM Students
The Club Managers Association of America (CMAA) has awarded scholarships to three HPU Travel Industry Management (TIM) students: Zhi Yang Yong, Uyen Nguyen, and Lee Hyun Lee. Yong is from Singapore and a junior at HPU. He is the Director of Activities for the TIM Student Organization (TIMSO), works part-time on campus, and interns at the Hawai'i Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association (HHSMA). Nguyen is from Vietnam and a sophomore at HPU. Jee Hyun Lee is from South Korea, and this is her second semester at HPU. CMAA is a professional association for managers of membership clubs in America. Throughout the years, the Club Foundation has distributed over $3.5 million to support scholarships and grant programs.
Source: Hawaii Pacific University
February 1, 2008
Old Dominion University Anticipates Record Enrolment for 2008
Already experiencing record enrolments overall, Old Dominion University is projecting an additional increase in its 22,000-member student body for 2008-09 based on applications received to date, according to John R. Broderick, vice president for institutional advancement and admissions. Broderick said ODU recorded its largest freshman class last fall of more than 2,500 students. The record-size class submitted more than 9,000 applications for admission. Through January 2008, ODU has already received 7,000 applications for admission from prospective freshmen, an increase of more than 10 percent from this time last year. "It is important to note as we discuss growth in numbers, we are concurrently raising the entrance requirements," Broderick said. The popularity of Old Dominion also holds true among transfer, graduate, off-campus and international students. Total applications for admission to ODU in the fall of 2007 exceeded 18,000. Broderick said the overall application rate has climbed 9 percent over the past year. "There are so many factors that contribute to the positive growth we have experienced here," Broderick noted. "Clearly, the starting point is with our faculty. Parents and students notice the fact that Old Dominion University faculty are being honored in record numbers by the Virginia State Council of Higher Education for their teaching excellence." Alice McAdory, executive director of admissions and assistant vice president, said that many exciting changes to the physical campus have also helped in recruiting more qualified students. "The campus has been greatly enhanced by new academic and research facilities, modern student housing, the University Village and, of course, the Ted Constant Convocation Center," McAdory said. "Students also recognize the importance of attending a university where they will be in classes with individuals from all 50 states and more than 100 nations."
Source: Old Dominion University, Virginia
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