Nazareth Announces Wellness and Rehabilitation Institute with $6.5M Major Gifts
Nazareth College President Daan Braveman announced the Wellness and Rehabilitation Institute at Nazareth College after receiving a commitment of $6.5 million in gifts from supporters of this next generation health care initiative. The $16.5 million Institute, set to open in fall 2014, physically expands on the existing educational and clinical facilities of Nazareth’s School of Health and Human Services. Read more.
Samford Announces Business Building Plans, Major Gift
Samford University's Brock School of Business has launched a campaign to build a new state-of-the-art business school on Samford's campus. Birmingham insurance executive Gary Cooney, a 1974 Samford graduate, publicly announced his pledge to give the Brock School of Business at least $12.5 million to help grow business education programs at Samford. Cooney is vice chairman of McGriff, Seibels and Williams, Inc. Read more.
Six NAC&U Members Named to Princeton Review’s Green Guide
Drury University, Ithaca College, North Central College, Pacific Lutheran University, Stetson University and Westminster College were mentioned among the 322 most environmentally responsible colleges in the U.S. and Canada, according to The Princeton Review’s Guide to 322 Green Colleges. It is the fourth straight year that Drury has been named to the list. For more information: Drury | North Central | Westminster |
Valparaiso Graduate Placement Exceeds 90 Percent for 20 Consecutive Years
Valparaiso University has achieved a 95.7 percent placement rate for 2011-2012 graduates, marking the 20th straight year of placement rates higher than 90 percent. Read more.
University of Evansville to Graduate Largest Class in Over a Decade
The University of Evansville will award 595 degrees to 579 graduating students during its 155th Commencement ceremony on May 4. The 2013 graduating class is the largest in over a decade. Read more.
PLU Named Top Producer of Peace Corps Volunteers
Pacific Lutheran University ranks No.18 on Peace Corps’ 2013 Top Colleges for small schools. The annual list recognizes the highest volunteer-producing colleges and universities for small, medium, large and graduate institutions. There are currently 15 undergraduate alumni from PLU serving overseas. Read more.
Belmont Awarded $300,000 for Simulation Fellowship, Upgrades
The Memorial Foundation has awarded Belmont University $300,000 to upgrade high-fidelity simulation equipment, support interprofessional training in the College of Health Sciences & Nursing and fund a post-graduate Healthcare Simulation Fellowship. Belmont has appointed Dr. Gwenn Randall as the college’s first fellow. Read more.
Arcadia Named One of 10 Campuses You Have to See to Believe
Arcadia University’s Grey Towers Castle is featured in “10 Colleges Campuses with Architecture You Have to See to Believe,” a WorldWideLearn.com story on distinctive buildings and facilities on college and university campuses. Read more.
Graduate Programs Ranked among Nation’s Best
Several graduate programs at New American Colleges and Universities were ranked in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Schools, 2014 edition, which was published online on March 12 (print version available on April 9).
Highlights include:
Hamline University’s School of Law jumped up 25 places and is now ranked within the first tier of law programs. Its alternative dispute program was ranked #4, marking the 13th year in a row to be ranked in the top five. Hamline’s health law program was ranked #16, moving up one place from last year.
The University of Scranton’s online graduate program in education was ranked #6.
Butler University’s part-time MBA program was ranked 67th, moving up two points from last year.
John Carroll Professor and Students Awarded Fellowship to Study in Sino-Tibetan Borderlands
Four John Carroll University students and Paul Nietupski, PhD, a theology and religious studies professor, have received a fellowship to conduct research in the borderlands of China and Tibet this summer. Read more.
Valparaiso University’s Donald V. Fites Engineering Innovation Center has been awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute. It is one of only 1,026 LEED Platinum certified buildings around the world. Read more.
Hampton and Bloomberg Partner to Prepare Students for Business Journalism and Communications Careers
Hampton University’s Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications (SHSJC) has partnered with Bloomberg L.P. to prepare students for careers in business journalism and communications. The partnership, which launches this spring with a new Scripps Howard School course in business journalism, includes a grant towards the establishment of a financial newsroom, complete with digital stock tickers, computers and access to the Bloomberg Professional Service, the product that revolutionized the way financial news, data and analytics are delivered to financial professionals worldwide. Read more.
Sage Announces Student Price Promise
The Sage Colleges Board of Trustees approved an undergraduate price guarantee that promises all newly admitted students a fixed tuition rate for their four years of study. Read more.
Arcadia Appoints Chief Operating Officer
The Board of Trustees of Arcadia University announced that effective March 8, 2013, Carl (Tobey) Oxholm III would no longer serve as president of Arcadia University, and that Dr. Nicolette DeVille Christensen has been named chief operating officer (COO), assuming all the relevant responsibilities of a university president. Read more.
Butler University Will Join Big East
Butler University will join the Big East conference in July 2013, President James M. Danko announced. As a Big East member, Butler will join Creighton University, DePaul University, Georgetown University, Marquette University, Providence College, Seton Hall University, St. John’s University, Villanova University, and Xavier University. Read more.
With Help from Wagner, Nazareth Pitches in for Hurricane Sandy Relief
The Nazareth College Center for Civic Engagement, in collaboration with Wagner College, New York Cares, and All Hands Volunteers in Staten Island, sponsored a Hurricane Sandy Rebuild service trip for Nazareth students, faculty and staff recently. To organize the trip, Nazareth worked with Rev. James Smith, chaplain at Wagner, as well as Samantha Siegel, assistant director of the Center for Leadership and Engagement at Wagner. Wagner provided overnight accommodations, boxed lunches and an orientation to the Staten Island community for all traveling from Nazareth. Without a place to stay, Nazareth would have been unable to travel and assist in the relief efforts.
Led by Shirley Sharp, clinical professor of social work at Nazareth, and Lorenzo Rambo, communications officer in campus safety, the team of 14 volunteers worked with All Hands Volunteers in Staten Island, helping residents clear out water-logged possessions, damaged drywall, insulation, siding, carpets and so on. Read more.
University of Redlands Inaugurates President Ralph Kuncl
Career Survey Reveals 92% Placement Rate for 2012 University of Evansville Graduates
A recently completed survey of the University of Evansville’s 2012 graduating class found that 92 percent are employed or in graduate school. The survey, a collaborative effort between UE’s Center for Career Development, Office of Alumni and Parent Relations, Office of Institutional Effectiveness, and academic departments, produced career information on 87 percent of the 583 members of the Class of 2012 (including December 2011, May 2012, and July 2012 graduates).
Highlights of the survey include:
The median salary of graduates employed full-time was $42,500.
Sixty-two percent of employed graduates were working in Indiana. When entering UE in fall 2006, 57 percent of this class was from Indiana.
Thirty-two percent of graduates not currently in graduate school indicated plans to pursue graduate school within the next three years. Read more.
Samford Trustees Endorse Concept for New College of Health Sciences
In one of the most far-reaching academic changes in recent history, Samford University's board of trustees executive committee gave preliminary approval to a new College of Health Sciences, effective with the 2013-14 academic year. The new college, when fully developed, will include the existing Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing and McWhorter School of Pharmacy, as well as two new units: a School of Health-Related Professions and a School of Community and Public Health. The department of kinesiology and nutrition science, currently housed in the Orlean Bullard Beeson School of Education and Professional Studies, will move to the new college as part of the School of Health-Related Professions. Read more.
John Carroll, Wagner Presidents Join AAC&U Board
Robert Niehoff, SJ, president of John Carroll University, and Richard Guarasci, president of Wagner College and chair of NAC&U, were recently appointed to the board of directors of the Association of American Colleges and Universities. For more information: AAC&U | Wagner
Pacific Lutheran Ranks Among Peace Corps’ Top Colleges
Pacific Lutheran University ranked No.18 on the Peace Corps’ 2013 Top Colleges for small schools. The annual list recognizes the highest volunteer-producing colleges and universities for small, medium, large and graduate institutions. There are currently 15 undergraduate alumni from PLU serving overseas. Read more.
Wagner Named Among Most Innovative Colleges
OnlineUniversities.com named Wagner College as one of its “10 Most Innovative Colleges in the Country,” along with Harvard, MIT and Carnegie-Mellon. Wagner College was cited for innovation in the field of community awareness. Read more.
Belmont Expands Doctoral Program for Nurses
Belmont University School of Nursing will expand its degree program for the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) to support national efforts to increase the number of nurse professionals prepared for advanced practice and leadership in the healthcare industry. Its BSN-to-DNP program will provide a direct pathway to the doctoral degree for registered nurses (RNs) who hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). The new program will prepare students for advanced practice as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) following three years of full-time study offered in a format friendly to working professionals. Previously the DNP program was offered to those who had already attained a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). Read more.
Stetson, Westminster Win CASE Awards
Stetson University and Westminster College recently won CASE (Council for the Advancement and Support of Education) awards at their respective district conferences. Criteria used for determining CASE awards include writing, editing, professional execution of publications, design, technical quality, creativity, and an array of other elements to the programs. For more information: Stetson | Westminster
Sage to Add Women's and Men's Outdoor Track & Field in 2013-2014
The Sage Colleges' department of athletics plans to expand in the coming academic year as Director of Athletics Dani Drews has announced the addition of women’s and men's outdoor track and field in the 2013-2014 academic year as the newest varsity program. Read more.
USNews Ranks Scranton, Samford Online Degree Programs Among Nation’s Best
The University of Scranton’s online graduate program in education ranked No. 6 in the nation, and its online MBA program ranked No. 39, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2013 Best Online Education Programs. Online graduate programs in Samford University's Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing earned a #35 national ranking. The lists, published Jan. 15, ranked online programs offered by nonprofit and for-profit institutions in the United States in categories of business, education, engineering, nursing and computer information technology. For more information: Samford | Scranton |
Drury University and GreenTown Joplin Partner to Design and Build Demonstration Eco-Home for Tornado-Stricken Joplin
GreenTown Joplin will partner with Drury University Hammons School of Architecture to develop and construct a demonstration eco-home in Joplin. Nine students will spend this semester researching and designing a unique home that will be used by GreenTown Joplin as an education center and office. Read more.
Hamline School of Business Announces Collaboration with Institute in China
In an effort to build on important academic and business partnerships, Hamline University is proud to announce its new collaboration between the Hamline School of Business and the law school at the Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade (SIFT). This new partnership brings together two institutions with long traditions of excellence in public administration and will create a cooperative learning program that brings students from SIFT to Hamline to earn their Master in Public Administration (MPA) degree. Read more.
Widener Joins Clinton Global Initiative University Network
Former President Bill Clinton has invited Widener University to join the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI University) Network, a growing consortium of colleges and universities that support, mentor, and provide seed funding to student leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs to develop solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Widener becomes one of only 24 colleges and universities nationwide to join the network, and the only institution in the five-county Philadelphia region. Read more.
Redlands to Partner with Washington University for Engineering Degree Program
The University of Redlands has announced a new partner school for its engineering combined degree program. The engineering program started last year as a partnership with Columbia University and now Washington University at St. Louis has been added. This opportunity affords students the opportunity to earn both a B.S. from Washington University’s School of Engineering or Applied Science and a B.A. or B.S. from Redlands. The program combines the strengths of a liberal arts education in a small college setting with professional education at a highly regarded school of engineering. Read more.
Sage to Establish Center in Honor of Sandy Hook Principal
The Esteves School of Education at The Sage Colleges will honor Dawn Hochsprung, principal of Sandy Hook Elementary School and doctoral candidate in Sage’s Educational Leadership program, who was killed in the December shooting in Newtown, CT. Through discussions with her colleagues in the doctoral program and her family members, it was decided that the most appropriate and impactful way to honor her life and legacy is to establish a center in the Esteves School of Education, to be called the Dawn Hochsprung Center for the Promotion of Mental Health and School Safety. Read more.
Hampton Provost Appointed Board Chair of National Institute of Aerospace
Hampton University Provost Dr. Pamela V. Hammond was recently appointed chair of the board of directors of the National Institute of Aerospace (NIA). Headquartered in the city of Hampton, NIA is a non-profit research and graduate education institute created to conduct cutting-edge research in the areas of aerospace and atmospheric science. Read more.
National Endowment for the Humanities Awards Manhattan College with Exclusive Collection
Manhattan College’s Holocaust, Genocide and Interfaith Education (HGI) Center in partnership with the Mary Alice and Tom O’Malley Library, was recently selected by the National Endowment for the Humanities to receive the Muslim Journeys Bookshelf collection. The College is among 842 libraries and state humanities councils in the United States, and one of only eight in New York City, to receive the award. The collection of 25 books, three films and other resources was created to help familiarize the American public with the history and culture of Muslims. Read more.
Nazareth Partners with Other Colleges to Support Veterans' Behavioral Health
Nazareth College is one of several upstate New York schools of social work to support behavioral health initiatives for veterans. The project, which is supported by a three-year, $480,253 competitive grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), is intended to increase social workers' capacity to address the mental and behavioral health needs of veterans, military personnel and their families, and residents of medically underserved rural communities. The grant was one of only 13 funded by HRSA nationally. Read more.
Samford, Drury to Offer New Program, Certificate
Samford University's Brock School of Business is adding a sports marketing concentration and course offerings to its curriculum in the fall of 2013. This concentration will offer students a chance to develop their skills for a career in the multibillion dollar global sports industry. Read more.
Citing advances in new technology, the Affordable Care Act and digital health records, Forbes predicts that the digital health field will explode in 2013. To meet the need for education and knowledge in this growing field, Drury University’s Department of Communication will offer an Online Advanced Graduate Certificate in Digital Health Communication beginning in June. Read more.
University of Scranton Names VP for Development and Alumni Relations
Gary R. Olsen has been named vice president for development and alumni relations at The University of Scranton, effective Monday, Feb. 4, 2013. For the past 20 years, Olsen has served as associate vice president for alumni relations and executive director of the alumni association at Villanova University, Villanova. Read more.
Valparaiso University Appoints Dean to the College of Engineering
Valparaiso University has appointed Eric Johnson as dean of the College of Engineering. Johnson has served as acting dean of the College of Engineering since July 1, 2012, and he has been on Valpo’s faculty since 1997 as professor of electrical and computer engineering, serving as chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering from 2008 to 2012. He was the director of the University’s study abroad center in Reutlingen, Germany, from 2004 to 2007, has been named the Brandt Professor of Engineering, and was awarded the Valparaiso University Alumni Association Distinguished Teaching Award in 2003. Read more.
Westminster Appoints Executive Director of Integrated Marketing Communications
Westminster College has named Sheila Rappazzo Yorkin as its executive director of Integrated Marketing Communications. Yorkin will lead the college’s Office of Communication beginning March 2013. Yorkin joins Westminster after four years as director of Marketing and Communications at the Economic Development Corporation of Utah, where she strategically positioned the state of Utah as a business and relocation destination. Read more.
Westminster Awarded $790,000 Grant for High School Computer Science Project
Westminster College has been awarded a $790,000 grant for a program that will change the way students in Utah’s public schools learn about computing. The National Science Foundation (NSF) is funding the project called The Utah Exploring Computer Science Initiative. While most teens are always plugged into some sort of technology, teachers and businesses are finding that Utah high school graduates lack a solid understanding of how their favorite devices work. Last year only 25 percent of Utah high schools offered a rigorous computer science course and only 11 percent of high schools offered a course in AP computer science. This project will seek to address the problem of decreased enrollments in high school computer science classes and the increased need for computing professionals in the workforce. Read more.
Arcadia President Co-authors ‘American Journal of Nursing’ Book of the Year
Legal Issues Confronting Today’s Nursing Faculty: A Case Study Approach (F.A. Davis, 2012) was named book of the year in the nursing education category by the American Journal of Nursing. The book was co-authored by Mary Ellen Smith Glasgow, H. Michael Dreher and Arcadia University President Carl (Tobey) Oxholm III.
University of Evansville Wins Community Service Award
The University of Evansville has received the annual Community Service Award, presented by the Southwestern Indiana chapter of the Project Management Institute. According to Dr. Curtis Colleton, the chapter’s president, nominees were evaluated on how well their programs promote project management tools, techniques, and/or processes; influence the social and economic well-being of our communities; promote education of youths and adults in the area of project management; and champion community service and corporate programs that promote environmental stewardship and green management practices. Read more.
North Central College Welcomes Dr. Troy D. Hammond
Dr. Troy D. Hammond officially began his duties on Tuesday, January 1, as the 10th president of North Central College. He was formerly the president of the energy services business at BlueStar Energy in Chicago. Hammond and his wife Sharlene have lived in Naperville with their four children since 2010. Read more.
Hampton President Reflects on 35 Years at the University
The Huffington Post ran an interview with Hampton University President William Harvey, written by Jarret L. Carter of the HBCU Digest. After 35 years as president of Hampton, Harvey talked about building long-term relationships, withstanding criticism and taking an entrepreneurial approach to leading a university. Read more.
The University of Scranton, Belmont University Among Nation’s Most Efficient Colleges
A new listing by U.S. News & World Report includes Belmont University and The University of Scranton among only 40 of the nation’s “highly ranked universities” that operate “most efficiently.” They are both among just five “Regional Universities” in their respective geographical location, as well. The list, published online Dec. 6, commends colleges “able to achieve the highest academic quality” while judiciously managing spending per student on “instruction, research, student services, and related educational expenditures.” Financial resources account for 10 percent of the score a school receives in U.S. News “Best Colleges” ranking. Read more.
Valparaiso University Receives Caterpillar Funding to Support Study Abroad in China
The Caterpillar Foundation has selected Valparaiso University as one of five universities nationwide to receive funding to support study abroad in China, as a partner in the United States Department of State’s 100,000 Strong Initiative. Read more.
Social Media Fundraising Campaign Earns CASE Award for University of Evansville
The University of Evansville has received a regional award from CASE, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, for its innovative approaches to fundraising.
The University won the bronze Pride of CASE V award in the category of “Best Program in Annual Giving” for UEGive: 24, the University’s first-ever social media fundraising campaign, which took place in March 2012. Read more.
Hamline’s Stern Appointed Provost of University of Tampa
David Stern has been named by The University of Tampa as the provost and vice president for academic affairs. He will begin his duties at UT in April. Stern most recently served, from 2006-2012, as vice president for academic and student affairs at Hamline University in St. Paul, MN. There he helped develop 10 new academic programs, oversaw regional re-accreditation, created an office of diversity integration and a Center for Teaching and Learning, and increased external funding, including a $7 million consortial grant to transform teacher education. Read more.
Butler Selects Kathryn Morris As Provost
Kathryn Morris, who has served as interim provost and vice president for academic affairs at Butler University since January, has been named to the position full time. Read more.
Fisk to Lead Samford Participation in IIE Myanmar Initiative
Samford University professor Rosemary Fisk will participate in an Institute of International Education (IIE) initiative to develop partnerships with universities in Myanmar and to assist in rebuilding higher education capacity in the country. Nine U.S. colleges and universities will take part in the initiative known as the International Academic Partnership Program (IAPP), although Samford is the only one from the South. Read more.
Seven NAC&U Members Named Best Values
Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine has named seven NAC&U members among the nation’s top 100 “best values” in the private universities. Kiplinger’s rankings emphasize both academic quality and affordability. Criteria include a school’s admission rate, academic support, graduation rate, and cost and financial aid. Members on the list are Butler University, Drury University, Ithaca College, John Carroll University, Nazareth College, Samford University and Valparaiso University. For more information: John Carroll University
IIE Names NAC&U Members Among Top Study Abroad Institutions
The Institute of International Education released its annual Open Doors report, which ranks the study abroad participation in the nation. Arcadia University continued to be ranked #1 for the percentage of undergraduate students participating in a study abroad experience of master’s level universities. The University of Redlands, University of Evansville, Samford University, Pacific Lutheran University, Valparaiso University and Ithaca College were also ranked on the same list. The report also examined the number, rather than percentage, of students participating in study abroad programs and among master’s level universities, Arcadia, Hamline University, Redlands and Ithaca were ranked. For more information: Arcadia | Evansville | Samford |
T.A.P.E.S.T.R.Y. Begins at Scranton’s Panuska College of Professional Studies
Incoming freshmen in The University of Scranton’s Panuska College of Professional Studies are the first to participate in a new co-curricular initiative devoted exclusively to developing healthy and well-rounded adults. The T.A.P.E.S.T.R.Y. program, a four-year program geared toward personal and professional development, offers students an opportunity to experience all the University can provide through a series of structured offerings. As part of T.A.P.E.S.T.R.Y., Panuska College students will attend special lectures, complete service learning projects, meet with advisors, and participate in wellness activities designed to build a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Read more.
Hampton Receives $2.9 Million to Establish Nanoscience Concentration
The Hampton University School of Science received a $2.9 million grant to establish a nanoscience concentration. The multidisciplinary concentration will engage students in nanoscience education and research with international partners. Read more.
Illinois House Congratulates North Central President Harold Wilde for Leadership
The Illinois House of Representatives congratulated retiring North Central College President Harold R. Wilde for his nearly 22 years of leadership at the school with a resolution sponsored by state Rep. Michael Connelly (R-Naperville). Wilde retires on Dec. 31 and will be succeeded by Dr. Troy D. Hammond.
“During his time as president, the institution has seen a nearly 10-fold increase in its endowment, a doubling of its full-time student population, completion of 15 major building projects, continuously balanced budgets, and a successful $50 million capital campaign,” the resolution states. Read more.
Wagner Nursing Program is 'Center of Excellence'
The National League for Nursing named Wagner College’s Evelyn L. Spiro School of Nursing a 2012-2016 Center of Excellence in Nursing Education in the category of Creating Environments that Enhance Student Learning and Professional Development. Read more.
Samford Trustees Take Several Significant Actions in Winter Meeting
Changes in the employee pension plan and several academic programs were among significant actions approved by Samford University's board of trustees. Trustees approved a revision of the pension plan, effective Dec. 31, from a defined-benefit to a defined-contribution plan. The soft-freeze provides that there will be no change in benefits for current employees but new employees hired after Dec. 31, 2012, will be eligible to enter a new 403(b) plan. This action is designed to "reduce volatility, decrease liability, provide significant future cost reduction and set the stage for the elimination of risk" related to defined-benefit plans "while providing a competitive retirement plan for new employees," according to Harry B. Brock III, Samford's vice president for business and financial affairs. The changes follow an in-depth study that included trustees, administration and representatives from both faculty and staff.
A change in nomenclature was approved for the adult degree program to Samford University Evening College. The change is needed to better market the program and more accurately reflect program offerings, according to university officials. A new Center for Children, Law and Ethics was approved in Cumberland School of Law. It replaces the Center for Biotechnology, Law and Ethics. Read more.
Also, Samford University's Brock School of Business and journalism and mass communication (JMC) Department have announced a unique partnership that allows JMC students who obtain a business minor as part of their JMC degree to remain at Samford with the opportunity to obtain an MBA over the course of the following year. Read more.
Butler’s College of Business Introduces Entrepreneurship Major and Minor
Butler University’s College of Business has created a major in entrepreneurship and innovation for business students and a minor in that subject matter that will be available to students throughout campus. The new major will add classes in creativity and innovation, entrepreneurial finance, social entrepreneurship (creating organizations that do social good), sales and marketing, and web design/commerce. It also will require students to take the existing practicum class, in which they operate a business for a semester. The minor is designed to bring in students from the sciences, arts, liberal arts, and other areas to add entrepreneurial training to their base of knowledge. Read more.
University of Evansville Hires Two New Administrators
The University of Evansville has hired Dr. Shane Davidson as its new vice president for enrollment services. Davidson, who currently serves as vice president for enrollment and marketing management at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas, will begin work at the University of Evansville on January 2, 2013. Read more.
The University of Evansville also has hired Donald L. Jones, an alumnus and former adjunct faculty member, as the University’s first vice president for marketing and communications.
In his new role, Jones will be responsible for overseeing the University’s brand strategy, marketing, public relations, and communications. He began his role on December 10. Read more.
Stetson Revisits Values Commitments
Building upon the legacy of former President Doug Lee, Stetson President Wendy Libby initiated a process that has rearticulated and invigorated Stetson’s commitment to fundamental human values. She tasked American Studies Professor Emily Mieras and Vice President of Student Affairs Chris Kandus-Fisher with establishing the framework for moving forward. Their work led to the creation of the Values Commitment Steering Team which now requests input and involvement from the entire university community regarding how best to implement our freshly reconceived institutional values. Already, there are more than 30 individuals directly involved in various task forces working on development of specific recommendations to integrate our value commitments more fully into university operations, campus life and our academic curriculum. Read more.
Manhattan College to Break Ground on Integrated Student Commons
Manhattan College will celebrate the groundbreaking of the Raymond W. Kelly ’63 Student Commons. The 70,000-square-foot building, set to open in 2014, will significantly enhance the College’s ability to integrate academics and student life programming, and will provide space for fitness and wellness programming, dining, study, and cultural and community events. An approximately $48 million project, the Raymond W. Kelly ’63 Student Commons will be the College’s first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified building. Read more.
Ithaca College Aging Studies Course Named One of the Country's Best
“Assisted Living Today,” a provider of senior care news and information, has named Ithaca College’s Fieldwork in Gerontology course one of the country’s top 20 college courses for geriatrics and senior care. Read more.
Valparaiso University Launches New Website
Valparaiso University unveiled the first phase of its redesigned www.valpo.edu. The new website features a refreshed design, streamlined content and simpler navigation while showcasing Valpo’s academic excellence and life-enriching experiences. Read more.
Meet Kevin Dyerly: Redlands’ New VP of Enrollment
As an undergraduate, Kevin Dyerly never stepped foot in the University of Redlands Admissions office. Just days before graduating, he went to apply for a position there and wasn’t exactly sure where to go. Read more.
Drury, North Central Select New Presidents
Drury University announced that Dr. David Manuel will become Drury’s president on June 1, 2013. Dr. Manuel is currently the chancellor and a professor of Economics at Louisiana State University at Alexandria. Prior to working at LSU-Alexandria, Manuel was the vice president of academic affairs at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas. Manuel holds a Ph.D. and a master’s in economics from the University of Mississippi. He has a bachelor’s degree in economics from Nicholls State University.
The search for the 17th Drury president began in August of 2011 when current Drury President Todd Parnell announced that he would retire in May of 2013. President Parnell took over as Drury’s interim president on June 1, 2007, following the resignation of Dr. John Sellars. A 1969 Drury graduate, Parnell applied for the presidency and was named Drury’s 16th president on Jan. 31, 2008. Parnell will be 65 when he retires in May of 2013. Read more or view video below:
Dr. Troy D. Hammond, a scientist, teacher and entrepreneur, will be North Central College’s next president, only the 10th in the school’s 151-year history. The 45-year-old scientist, originally from Kokomo, Ind., earned his Ph.D. in experimental atomic physics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1996 where he was mentored by Dr. David Pritchard and Nobel Laureate Dr. Wolfgang Ketterle. Dr. Hammond and his family moved to Naperville in 2010 when he became president of the energy services business at BlueStar Energy, a private firm headquartered in Chicago.
The search process began in February when Dr. Harold R. Wilde announced his plans to retire December 31, 2012 after serving more than 21 years as president of the College. Hammond succeeds Wilde on January 1, 2013. Read more or view video.
President Guarasci Celebrates Ten Years at Wagner College
Friends and family of Wagner College gathered at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in New York City for a gala dinner and program to celebrate President Richard Guarasci’s 10th anniversary.
For videos and more content, including a link to photos
Four NAC&U Members Named Top Producers of Fulbright Students; Scranton Adds Another Fulbright Winner to This Year’s List
Nazareth College, Pacific Lutheran University, The University of Scranton and the University of Redlands were named to the list of Top Fulbright Producers among masters level universities in a list published in The Chronicle of Higher Education. Nazareth College was in first place, tied with St. Edward’s University and the University of Portland. And in related news, Scranton just announced that a fifth student, originally named an alternate, has secured a Fulbright for 2012-13. For more information: Nazareth | Pacific Lutheran | Scranton | Scranton additional student.
Westminster College Installs Brian Levin-Stankevich as 17th President
In his inauguration ceremony, Westminster College’s newest president, Dr. Brian Levin-Stankevich, touted the value of higher education and its importance in creating well-rounded graduates who lead successful lives.
“I have always been committed to excellence in education for all students,” said Levin-Stankevich. “It is important that we as a nation, as a state and as a community fully develop the talents of every motivated member of our community.” Read more.
Redlands Starts Webisode Series Starring its New President
The University of Redlands has been chronicling President Ralph Kuncl’s first months in office, creating “webisodes” of his adventures.
Webisode#1: Dr. Kuncl’s Month of Firsts
Dr. Kuncl and Mrs. Nancy Kuncl meet freshmen, parents and student athletes during move-in day
Webisode#2: Redlands Traditions Dr. Kuncl meets the University of Redlands mascot, Thurber the bulldog. Dr. Kuncl also learns about the “R” and attempts to learn the “Och Tamale” chant.
Several NAC&U Members Named Among Princeton Review’s Best Business Schools
Business schools at Belmont University, Butler University, Ithaca College, John Carroll University, Pacific Lutheran University, Stetson University, The University of Scranton and Valparaiso were named among the nation’s most outstanding business schools, according to education services company The Princeton Review. The company featured the schools in the new 2013 edition of its annual guidebook, “The Best 296 Business Schools” (Random House / Princeton Review). For more information: Belmont | Ithaca | Stetson
Arcadia University Provost Michael Named Trustee for Romania’s Danubius University
Dr. Steve O. Michael, Arcadia University provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, has been named to the board of trustees for Danubius University, the top-ranked private university in Romania. He becomes the first international member of the university’s governing board. Read more.
Ithaca College Media Literacy Program Awarded Library of Congress Grant
The U.S. Library of Congress has awarded Project Look Sharp — a media literacy program based at Ithaca College — a grant that will aid its work in helping educators effectively integrate media literacy into their classroom curricula. Read more.
Samford Pharmacy School Receives $865,568 Grant
Samford University's McWhorter School of Pharmacy will receive a $865,568 federal grant to assist with an initiative to reduce avoidable hospitalizations among Medicare-Medicaid dual enrollees in 23 Alabama nursing home facilities. The grant from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is part of a program led by the Alabama Quality Assurance Foundation (AQAF), one of seven organizations that will partner with CMS to improve quality of care and reduce hospitalizations among nursing home residents at 145 sites nationwide. Read more.
Widener Embarks on Early Career and College Partnership
Widener University and Sussex Technical School District, a public Career and Technical Education school district nearby, entered into a partnership that will bring new higher education course offerings to high school students in Sussex County and central Delaware. Beginning in the fall of 2013, interested students will have the opportunity to enroll in and complete college courses during their junior and senior years of high school. The dual credit courses are fully accredited, and upon successful completion, students will be awarded both Sussex Technical High School and Widener University credits. Participating students can complete in excess of the first year of college requirements through this new arrangement. Upon graduation from high school, they can either apply to Widener, where all courses are accepted, or transfer their credits to other institutions of higher learning depending upon that institution’s acceptance of the transferrable credit. Read more.
Hampton Partners with UPenn Dental Medicine for Biodental Program
Hampton University has partnered with the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine (Penn Dental Medicine) to form the HU-UPenn Biodental program. The partnership allows students to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from HU and a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Penn Dental Medicine. Read more.
Manhattan College to Open Center for Urban Resilience and Environmental Sustainability
Since Mayor Bloomberg first introduced PlaNYC in 2007 to create a greener, greater New York City, Manhattan College has remained committed to making the campus more sustainable and decreasing the College’s carbon footprint. As a way to further promote the importance of urban sustainability and environmental justice within the academic community and beyond, the College will open a new Center for Urban Resilience and Environmental Sustainability (CURES) this fall. Read more.
Hamline Dedicates Memorial to Service
Hamline University recently dedicated the new Kenneth H. Dahlberg Memorial to Service which honors service of all types and represents Hamline's key values: service, humanity, education, community, and faith. In particular, the memorial commemorates Hamline University Trustee Emeritus and Doctor of Humanities Degree recipient Kenneth Dahlberg who served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. Read more.
Valparaiso Expands Continuing Education with Non-Credit Certification
Valparaiso University Graduate School and Continuing Education has partnered with Dalton Education to offer new non-credit certificates in financial planning and paralegal studies. Read more.
Hampton University’s Pharmacy School Receives $1.35M Grant to Develop Lung Cancer Therapies
The Hampton University Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences in the School of Pharmacy, was selected to receive a $1.35 million research grant, from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), for a project on developing novel drug therapies for the treatment of lung cancer. Dr. Anand Iyer and Dr. Neelam Azad, assistant professors of pharmaceutical sciences, will serve as the grant’s principal investigator and co-principal investigator respectively. The project, “Anti-Tumorigenic Potential of Novel Digitoxin Analogues,” has been funded for a period of five years, extending through August 2017. Read more.
Belmont University Ranks in Top 20 in Nation for Entrepreneurship
Belmont University’s Center for Entrepreneurship is one of the best in the nation according to The Princeton Review. The education services company today named the University No. 19 on its list of “Top Undergraduate Schools for Entrepreneurship Programs.” Based on surveys of business school administrators at nearly 2,000 schools about their institution’s entrepreneurship offerings, the annual lists salute 50 programs in all – 25 undergraduate and 25 graduate – for their excellence in entrepreneurship education. Read more.
Arcadia CIO Pens Article on Campus Connectivity
Edtech Digest recently published “Enabling the University Campus for Tomorrow, Today” by Arcadia University vice president and chief information officer Steven Alter. In the article, Alter discusses strategies for staying current with campus wireless connectivity and securities. Read more.
Richey Takes Over As VP for University Advancement at Butler
Shari Alexander Richey ’88 has joined Butler University as the interim vice president for University Advancement. Richey will be responsible for directing the organization and implementation of Butler’s fundraising, alumni and parent programs, capital campaigns, annual giving, and corporate and foundation relations. Read more.
Real Life Crime Scene Investigations in a Drury Class
The 2010 movie, Conviction, tells the true story of a high school dropout who puts herself through college and law school to work to clear the name of her wrongfully convicted brother, Kenny. The movie also tells the story of The Innocence Project, the not-for-profit organization that works to exonerate wrongfully convicted defendants through DNA evidence. Missouri has an Innocence Project chapter, The Midwest Innocence Project (MIP), which serves six states, and Drury students taking The Innocence Project Clinic class (CRIM 365) regularly work on real cases involving inmates’ claims of wrongful conviction. Read more.
Hampton University Modifies Some of its Majors
Hampton University’s School of Journalism and Communications and School of Liberal Arts have responded to the times by revamping their curriculum offerings and adding new majors and concentrations. Read more.
Transmedia Studio at Ithaca College's Roy H. Park School of Communications will Give Students New Opportunity to Create Media Projects
A new program being created by the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College takes the idea of the traditional Hollywood movie studio and gives it a modern twist, providing students with unparalleled opportunities to produce and distribute projects across multiple media platforms. The Transmedia Studio will be a cocurricular organization, mirroring the structure of the school’s award-winning student television, radio and newspaper operations.
An executive staff made up of Park School students will run the studio, listening to “pitches” from fellow students and deciding which project proposals to fund. The projects can range from narrative films to online webisodes, and draw upon the talents of students across the entire campus, from writing, producing, directing and acting to editing, budgeting, scoring, set and costume design and marketing. Read more.
Manhattan College Launches New Co-Major in Business Analytics
This semester, Manhattan College’s School of Business has launched a new co-major in business analytics, which will provide undergraduate business students the opportunity to evaluate their current areas of study and learn to formalize the process of analyzing data.
According to a search by the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, business intelligence (another term used for business analytics) skills are in great demand with a growth of seven percent to 13 percent a year between 2008 and 2018. In 2009, The New York Times also cited that IBM alone would hire or retain 4,000 more analysts for a newly created Business Analytics and Optimization Services Group. Read more.
Nazareth & RIT Tech2Teach Program Receives NSF Grant to Develop Future STEM Teachers
Rochester Institute of Technology and Nazareth College have won a $300,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to cultivate interest among RIT science majors in careers in secondary education. Read more.
Survey Finds North Central Graduates Among Highest Income-Earners
Graduates of North Central College earn more income over their lifetimes than peers who graduate from most comparable schools, a new survey finds. North Central College ranks among the top 15 percent of private, nonprofit schools in the 2011-2012 survey by Payscale.com. Read more.
Pacific Lutheran’s VP Wins Goodnight Award
Pacific Lutheran University vice president for Student Life and dean of students, Laura Majovski, was named the recipient of the 2012-2013 Scott Goodnight Award in Region V of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. Read more.
Stetson Places 3rd Among Florida Law Schools on Summer Bar Exam
Stetson University College of Law placed third among Florida law schools for the percent of graduates passing the July 2012 Florida bar examination on their first try, according to the Florida Board of Bar Examiners. Stetson’s pass rate for first-time takers was 88.9%, well above the statewide average of 80% with 232 out of 261 Stetson students passing the examination.
Master Plan Enhances Physical Campus, Focuses on Student Experience
Valparaiso University unveiled the Campus Master Plan, a map that will guide ongoing change across campus for the coming decades. The Master Plan implements several goals of the Strategic Plan, including enrollment growth, student experience, innovation, and engagement. Read more.
Westminster Opens Mixed-Use Development in Sugar House
Westminster College recently opened “Westminster on the Draw,” a new facility that combines classroom space, student housing and retail space under one roof. Read more.
Widener Launches Pioneering Interactive Website for High School Students to Track Their Community and Civic Involvement
Widener University recently launched the first-of-its-kind site that encourages high school students to track and share their activities, community service and leadership actions at leadershipworks.widener.edu this fall. Read more.
Welcome to Three New Presidents
NAC&U would like to warmly welcome newly inaugurated presidents at Pacific Lutheran University, University of Redlands and Westminster College. We caught up with each one during their first few weeks on the job and asked each to answer a different question so we can get to know them better. President Thomas Krise, Pacific Lutheran University
Dr. Krise’s career includes 22 years in the U.S. Air Force, where he retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He served on the faculty of the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, as a senior military fellow of the Institute for National Strategic Studies in Washington, D.C., and as vice director of the National Defense University Press.
We asked: Have your experiences in military service given you special insight into managing the challenges and opportunities for higher education today?
He answered: “Having experience with the military—and especially with the military education and training system—helps me to be aware not only of the variable needs of a working student population but also the vast array of ways to fund higher education. I also have experience with the military’s well-developed system of life-long learning and its culture of continuing education.
As a president who has come to the position from the faculty side, I also find that having experience with the gung-ho culture of the military helps me relate well with Student Life professionals, who share the spirited team-building skills so evident in military culture.”
President Ralph Kuncl, University of Redlands
In addition to serving as provost at the University of Rochester, Dr. Kuncl was a professor of brain and cognitive sciences and neurology.
We asked: How has your background in brain and cognitive sciences informed your career in higher education teaching and leadership?
He answered: “I am a neurologist, but only from the neck down—my specialty is actually muscles and motor neurons. In order to transform myself from a doctor into a credible educational leader, I followed the advice of management experts who recommend that every year you should give a lecture on a subject about which you previously knew nothing. So I decided to learn about how people learn, and I read everything I could on the matter. I became the ‘go to’ expert on how people learn—giving lectures and teaching classes on the subject. That journey taught me how to be a professor. But first, I had to be a student. And once you teach on a subject, it seeps out in everything you do.” President Brian Levin-Stankevich, Westminster College
Dr. Levin-Stankevich holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Hamilton College and a Ph.D. from SUNY.
We asked: What leader from the past would you like to solicit for advice on guiding an institution?
He answered: Among many great figures in history, I have always been intrigued by Pope John XXIII, particularly when I came to my first presidency some years ago through an interim appointment by the trustees. Pope John was viewed as a compromise choice and not expected to lead for long or with great strength. Yet he became one of the most significant figures in the Catholic Church in the 20th Century. Not only did he assess and act on his beliefs surrounding the church and its need to meet the needs of a changed society, but he also led with humility, a strong sense of service, and a practice of going out and interacting with the public. I would want to know how he came to assess the needs he addressed, how he managed the multiple constituencies of his jurisdiction, and how he balanced his understanding of the needs of his church members with the expectations of the established hierarchy.
Pacific Lutheran Inaugurates Thomas W. Krise as its 13th President
The beginning of Pacific Lutheran University’s 123rd year marked a time of change and a celebration of a rich history of pursuing lives of service and thoughtful inquiry. The Presidential Inauguration and Convocation welcomed the class of 2016 and the swearing in of PLU’s 13th president, Thomas W. Krise.
“We become Lutes together today,” Krise told a crowd of students at Olson Auditorium. “Ceremonies like today are how we act out what we cannot say.” Read more. View photos from the inauguration.
Samford President Discusses Higher Ed Issues in Welcoming Address to Faculty, Staff
Higher education may be in "a really big, bad mess," but the people of Samford University are unusually equipped to help solve the problems, Samford president Andrew Westmoreland told employees last month.
"We must recreate higher education, arriving at an intersection of high quality and a reasonable price, and focused on student learning," said Dr. Westmoreland in his annual State of the University address.
Westmoreland discussed seven issues in higher education during his address. Read more.
Presidents Welcome New Students with Convocation Speeches
Widener Trustees Extend Contract of President James Harris
The trustees of Widener University extended the contract of President James T. Harris III for another five years beyond its current expiration date.
"President Harris's strong and inspiring vision for Widener University to become a leading metropolitan institution ismatched only by his approach to lead us toward a future in which our university is recognized as one of the most dynamic and civically committed universities in the country," said Board of Trustees chairman Nicholas Trainer. "The trustees are confident that Dr. Harris is the best president for Widener University at this time in our history and delighted he has agreed to this extension." Read more.
Arcadia Mentioned in Chronicle Article about Study Abroad
The Chronicle of Higher Education featured Arcadia University in the article “For a Growing Number of Freshman, Packing for College Requires a Passport,” on Sept. 3. Contributor Ian Wilhelm reported that a growing number of universities are encouraging students to study abroad early in their college life, something that Arcadia, an innovator in study abroad, has been doing since it introduced Preview in 1994 and the semester-long First Year Study Abroad Program in 2003. Read more.
New Year Traditions at NAC&U Campuses
Service to Others
Central to their shared commitment to civic engagement, many NAC&U members kick off the school year with a Day of Service.
Some 1,800 Belmont University students volunteered in their new hometown at 32 local non-profit organizations, including Adventure Science Center, 14 Metro Nashville Public Schools, Y-CAP YMCA and Feed the Children, as part of SERVE. Read more.
Butler University students -- 550 of them -- fanned out across Indianapolis as part of Bulldogs Into the Streets (BITS), Butler’s annual day of volunteer service, which began in 1995. They worked at 23 locations, watering trees, caring for adoptable dogs, cooking for the homeless and more. Read more.
More than 540 first-year Hamline University students spent the morning before the first day of classes volunteering at local organizations and learning more about how to get involved in the community they just joined. Activities ranged from stocking food shelves, helping with an outdoor restoration project at Como Park, and learning about how to become an engaged citizen on the local and state levels. Read more.
Groups of 18-24 new Nazareth College students (first year, transfer and international students) along with orientation leaders, faculty and staff traveled to one of over 27 service sites within the community. Upon returning to Naz, the Orientation Leaders facilitated a reflection of the day’s events. Read more.
Nearly 400 Sage students beautified Albany’s Tricentennial Park and Camp Barker in Grafton. Read more.
Some 180 incoming Ithaca College students arrived in town several days ahead of their classmates to take part in a series of activities designed to help ease their transition into the Ithaca experience — both on campus and in the community. Now in its 15th year, Jumpstart provides an opportunity for interested first-year and transfer students to apply for a spot in one of four programs, each of which has a different thematic focus: Community Plunge, ECHO (Experiencing Connections by Heading Outdoors), Lead-In and the GREEN (Gardening, Recycling, Eating, Enjoying Nature) Tour. Read more.
The annual Freshman Service Project at the University of Evansville sent new students to 20 locations throughout the city - including parks, community centers, and other nonprofit organizations - to perform tasks ranging from painting to cleaning to landscaping. Read more.
As part of the college’s annual Helping Hands Day, the Westminster College community participated in more than a dozen service projects throughout Sugar House and Salt Lake City. Read more.
As part of Arcadia University’s Day of Service, 48 students traveled to Camden, N.J., to help Heart of Camden create a welcoming space for art and craftsmanship in Waterfront South. Sleeves rolled, dust masks in place, students removed rotting floorboards and beams, preparing a beautiful but deteriorating firehouse for a transformation. Read more.
Forty-three members of The University of Scranton’s Class of 2016 arrived a week earlier than their classmates to participate in FIRST (Freshmen Involved in Reflective Service Together), a service immersion program now in its 10th year. Read more.
Other campuses, including Pacific Lutheran University, will hold service days later this month after students have settled into their fall routines. And many institutions, including Stetson University, are hosting a “Day of Action” in conjunction with the national 911day.org movement.
New or Renovated Facilities
Many members mark the new year with ribbon-cutting ceremonies, either to celebrate new construction or to unveil freshly renovated facilities.
The University of Scranton celebrated the opening of its new Loyola Science Center. One of the most innovative science buildings in the country, the $85 million, 200,000-square-foot Loyola Science Center is the culmination of more than 15 years of planning and preparation. The center’s layout provides a physical space that encourages integration among the traditional science, technology, engineering, mathematics programs, as well as the humanities, to drive the development of new teaching methods and engage students in practices that will prepare them for future challenges.This facility also incorporates a dynamic, modern design that includes visible glass-walled laboratories, and is one of a kind in the way it advances collaboration among students with different interests. Read more.
Arcadia University revealed a newly renovated Boyer Hall, a math and science center, that now has additional labs for psychology research. Sophomores in the psychology program are required to undertake research, and faculty believes the facility updates will enhance the quality of those studies. Read more.
Nazareth College also opened a new, 74,000 square foot, integrated math and science center with space for faculty and student to collaborate on research. Read more.
The new Randall and Sadie Baskin Center at Belmont University, a 75,000 square foot, three-story brick and limestone building, will house Belmont’s College of Law, a program starting its second year of classes. Read more.
Belmont also opened a new residence hall with great views of Nashville from the top floors. Read more.
Wagner College is wrapping up extensive renovations of Main Hall, a primary classroom building. Read more.
Climbing Enrollments
Undergraduate enrollment at The Sage Colleges has increased seven percent in the last year, and that over the largest incoming class in 10 years on both campuses in 2011, and 28 percent since 2008. One program that has seen significant growth is The Discovery Degree, an accelerated honors program at Russell Sage that allows exceptionally qualified students to complete their bachelor’s degree in three years. The program will welcome 32 students this fall, the most since the programs’ inception in 2010. Read more.
Belmont University reached another record-breaking enrollment number, this time with a total of 6,647 students. This is the twelfth consecutive year the University has topped its previous enrollment. Read more.
For the seventh straight year, North Central College anticipated record enrollment. Total enrollment is expected to top 3,000 for the first time. Read more.
The University of Redlands freshmen class in its College of Arts and Sciences is the largest ever. Read more.
Although official totals were not yet available, officials at Samford University tentatively projected another record fall enrollment. Last year's record was 4,758. The total includes what is projected as the third largest freshman class in university history, with more than 720 first-year students. Read more.
Many other campuses, including Stetson University, project that this will be another record year for enrollment once the final numbers are calculated later this semester.
NAC&U Members Among Princeton Review’s Top Colleges and Regional Bests
The Princeton Review ranked its top 377 colleges and universities nationwide and then asked students at those universities to rate their institutions in various categories, including value and financial aid. Eight NAC&U members are among the 377 top colleges: Hampton University, Ithaca College, Nazareth College, The University of Scranton, University of Redlands, Valparaiso University, Wagner College and Westminster College. In addition, Ithaca was noted for its college radio station and theater, and Wagner was noted for its theater as well. Both Wagner and Redlands were ranked as places where “classroom discussions are encouraged.” Redlands was noted as both a best value for a private education and as having “great financial aid.” In addition to these rankings, the Princeton Review also ranked many NAC&U members in its regional rankings which included 633 institutions nationwide. For more information: Ithaca | Nazareth | Redlands | Scranton | Wagner | Westminster |
For more on regional rankings: Belmont | Drury | Evansville | Hamline | North Central |
Washington Monthly Ranks Schools for Research, Service, Social Mobility
Washington Monthly's 2012 rankings rated 682 schools based on their contribution to the public good in three broad categories: Social Mobility (recruiting and graduating low-income students), Research (producing cutting-edge scholarship and PhDs), and Service (encouraging students to give something back to their country). Stetson University was the top-ranked NAC&U member, coming in at #13 on the list. Cindi Brownfield, director of news and media relations at Stetson, attributed the high ranking to Stetson’s emphasis on community engagement, plus the growing ROTC program and high number of students who join the Peace Corps. She wrote, “Community service and outreach have long been a part of Stetson's mission, but in 2011, we took that commitment further by making ‘fostering civic and community engagement’ a top priority in our new three-year strategic plan.”
Here’s how NAC&U members fared in the masters’ level university category: Stetson (13), Valparaiso (19), Hamline (20), Nazareth (21), Redlands (30), Evansville (36), Ithaca (50), John Carroll (51), Wagner (94), Samford (110), Hampton (113), Manhattan (179), Drury (180), Scranton (187), Arcadia (196), Westminster (205), Pacific Lutheran (218), Belmont (219), Butler (232), and North Central (247). For more information: Complete Listings | Hamline |
Ithaca |
Nazareth | Redlands |
Stetson | Wagner |
Colleges of Distinction Includes NAC&U Members in Online Guide
Colleges of Distinction, an online college guide, recently posted its 2012-13 rankings which are based on the opinions of guidance counselors, educators and admissions professionals regarding colleges that excel in four areas of undergraduate education: student engagement in the educational process, great teaching, vibrant learning communities and successful outcomes. NAC&U members listed in the rankings include Arcadia University, Belmont University, Manhattan College, North Central College, Samford University, Stetson University, The Sage Colleges, University of Evansville, and Westminster College. For more information: Complete Listings |
North Central |
Valpo’s Foreign Language Program Ranked Among Top Universities
Valparaiso University has been named to The Best College's list of the 10 Most Innovative Colleges for Foreign Language Study, ranking among prestigious universities including Yale, Columbia, Cornell, and UCLA.
The article, found on thebestcolleges.org, stated that "one of the coolest aspects of foreign language learning at Valparaiso is their foreign language dormitories, which are available in French or German. Students live, work, and teach these languages for the entire time they're at school, giving them plenty of experience to work toward fluency." Read more.
Belmont’s ‘Sophomore Experience’ Profiled in AAC&U Newsletter
The September 2012 issue of AAC&U’s newsletter looks at Belmont University’s Sophomore Experience program which seeks to support sophomores’ unique needs. Read more.
Brian Levin-Stankevich Talks About Role of NAC&U in Decision to Become Westminster President
In his first radio interview as president of Westminster College, Brian Levin-Stankevich talked about his decision to take on his new role and how NAC&U affected his choice. Listen to interview.
Wagner Picked for Major Assessment Study
The Council of Independent Colleges recently announced that Wagner College and 39 other colleges and universities will be part of a new group supported by the Teagle Fund, the Engaging Evidence Consortium, that will use assessment data to guide campus projects designed to improve student learning. The projects conducted by the 40 different institutions will be quite varied, but all will focus on assessing and improving teaching and learning at the university level.
Wagner College’s project will examine how “digital storytelling” — the creation of student-made video essays — helps students reflect on their personal experiences and what they have learned. The “laboratory” for this study will be a first-year learning community — an interdisciplinary combination of courses with a focus on reflection, writing and a service-learning project — taught by history professor Rita Reynolds and Stephen Preskill, professor of civic engagement and leadership. Called “The Quest for Equality,” this L.C. will expose freshmen to the history of the American Civil Rights movement as well as the concept of “childism” in America. Read more.
NAC&U Members Listed in the 2013 Fiske Guide to Colleges
Butler University, Ithaca College, Stetson University and the University of Redlands were named among approximately 300 institutions in the 2013 Fiske Guide to Colleges.
Butler University was named a “Best Buy” school in the guide — one of only 21 private schools and 41 nationwide to receive that designation this year. This is the second consecutive year Butler has been named a “Best Buy.” For more information: Butler | Stetson
Chronicle of Higher Education names North Central, Westminster on 2012 Great College To Work For List
North Central College and Westminster College rank among the best colleges in the nation to work for, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education. Results of a study released Aug. 6 in The Chronicle’s fifth annual report on The Academic Workplace are based on a survey of nearly 46,000 employees at 294 colleges and universities. For more information: North Central | Westminster
Nazareth Announces Wellness and Rehabilitation Institute with $6.5M Major Gifts
Nazareth College President Daan Braveman announced the Wellness and Rehabilitation Institute at Nazareth College after receiving a commitment of $6.5 million in gifts from supporters of this next generation health care initiative. The $16.5 million Institute, set to open in fall 2014, physically expands on the existing educational and clinical facilities of Nazareth’s School of Health and Human Services. 
Samford University's Brock School of Business has launched a campaign to build a new state-of-the-art business school on Samford's campus. Birmingham insurance executive Gary Cooney, a 1974 Samford graduate, publicly announced his pledge to give the Brock School of Business at least $12.5 million to help grow business education programs at Samford. Cooney is vice chairman of McGriff, Seibels and Williams, Inc. 
Drury University, Ithaca College, North Central College, Pacific Lutheran University, Stetson University and Westminster College were mentioned among the 322 most environmentally responsible colleges in the U.S. and Canada, according to The Princeton Review’s Guide to 322 Green Colleges. It is the fourth straight year that Drury has been named to the list. For more information: 
Arcadia University’s Grey Towers Castle is featured in “10 Colleges Campuses with Architecture You Have to See to Believe,” a WorldWideLearn.com story on distinctive buildings and facilities on college and university campuses. 
Several graduate programs at New American Colleges and Universities were ranked in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Schools, 2014 edition, which was published online on March 12 (print version available on April 9).
Valparaiso University’s Donald V. Fites Engineering Innovation Center has been awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute. It is one of only 1,026 LEED Platinum certified buildings around the world. 
Butler University will join the Big East conference in July 2013, President James M. Danko announced. As a Big East member, Butler will join Creighton University, DePaul University, Georgetown University, Marquette University, Providence College, Seton Hall University, St. John’s University, Villanova University, and Xavier University. 
The Nazareth College Center for Civic Engagement, in collaboration with Wagner College, New York Cares, and All Hands Volunteers in Staten Island, sponsored a Hurricane Sandy Rebuild service trip for Nazareth students, faculty and staff recently. To organize the trip, Nazareth worked with Rev. James Smith, chaplain at Wagner, as well as Samantha Siegel, assistant director of the Center for Leadership and Engagement at Wagner. Wagner provided overnight accommodations, boxed lunches and an orientation to the Staten Island community for all traveling from Nazareth. Without a place to stay, Nazareth would have been unable to travel and assist in the relief efforts. 
Led by Shirley Sharp, clinical professor of social work at Nazareth, and Lorenzo Rambo, communications officer in campus safety, the team of 14 volunteers worked with All Hands Volunteers in Staten Island, helping residents clear out water-logged possessions, damaged drywall, insulation, siding, carpets and so on. 
In one of the most far-reaching academic changes in recent history, Samford University's board of trustees executive committee gave preliminary approval to a new College of Health Sciences, effective with the 2013-14 academic year. The new college, when fully developed, will include the existing Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing and McWhorter School of Pharmacy, as well as two new units: a School of Health-Related Professions and a School of Community and Public Health. The department of kinesiology and nutrition science, currently housed in the Orlean Bullard Beeson School of Education and Professional Studies, will move to the new college as part of the School of Health-Related Professions. 
Pacific Lutheran University ranked No.18 on the Peace Corps’ 2013 Top Colleges for small schools. The annual list recognizes the highest volunteer-producing colleges and universities for small, medium, large and graduate institutions. There are currently 15 undergraduate alumni from PLU serving overseas. 
Belmont University School of Nursing will expand its degree program for the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) to support national efforts to increase the number of nurse professionals prepared for advanced practice and leadership in the healthcare industry. Its BSN-to-DNP program will provide a direct pathway to the doctoral degree for registered nurses (RNs) who hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). The new program will prepare students for advanced practice as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) following three years of full-time study offered in a format friendly to working professionals. Previously the DNP program was offered to those who had already attained a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). 
The University of Scranton’s online graduate program in education ranked No. 6 in the nation, and its online MBA program ranked No. 39, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2013 Best Online Education Programs. Online graduate programs in Samford University's Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing earned a #35 national ranking. The lists, published Jan. 15, ranked online programs offered by nonprofit and for-profit institutions in the United States in categories of business, education, engineering, nursing and computer information technology. For more information: 
In an effort to build on important academic and business partnerships, Hamline University is proud to announce its new collaboration between the Hamline School of Business and the law school at the Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade (SIFT). This new partnership brings together two institutions with long traditions of excellence in public administration and will create a cooperative learning program that brings students from SIFT to Hamline to earn their Master in Public Administration (MPA) degree. 
Former President Bill Clinton has invited Widener University to join the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI University) Network, a growing consortium of colleges and universities that support, mentor, and provide seed funding to student leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs to develop solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Widener becomes one of only 24 colleges and universities nationwide to join the network, and the only institution in the five-county Philadelphia region. 
Nazareth College is one of several upstate New York schools of social work to support behavioral health initiatives for veterans. The project, which is supported by a three-year, $480,253 competitive grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), is intended to increase social workers' capacity to address the mental and behavioral health needs of veterans, military personnel and their families, and residents of medically underserved rural communities. The grant was one of only 13 funded by HRSA nationally. 
Citing advances in new technology, the Affordable Care Act and digital health records, Forbes predicts that the digital health field will explode in 2013. To meet the need for education and knowledge in this growing field, Drury University’s Department of Communication will offer an Online Advanced Graduate Certificate in Digital Health Communication beginning in June. 
Valparaiso University has appointed Eric Johnson as dean of the College of Engineering. Johnson has served as acting dean of the College of Engineering since July 1, 2012, and he has been on Valpo’s faculty since 1997 as professor of electrical and computer engineering, serving as chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering from 2008 to 2012. He was the director of the University’s study abroad center in Reutlingen, Germany, from 2004 to 2007, has been named the Brandt Professor of Engineering, and was awarded the Valparaiso University Alumni Association Distinguished Teaching Award in 2003. 
Westminster College has named Sheila Rappazzo Yorkin as its executive director of Integrated Marketing Communications. Yorkin will lead the college’s Office of Communication beginning March 2013. Yorkin joins Westminster after four years as director of Marketing and Communications at the Economic Development Corporation of Utah, where she strategically positioned the state of Utah as a business and relocation destination. 
Westminster College has been awarded a $790,000 grant for a program that will change the way students in Utah’s public schools learn about computing. The National Science Foundation (NSF) is funding the project called The Utah Exploring Computer Science Initiative. While most teens are always plugged into some sort of technology, teachers and businesses are finding that Utah high school graduates lack a solid understanding of how their favorite devices work. Last year only 25 percent of Utah high schools offered a rigorous computer science course and only 11 percent of high schools offered a course in AP computer science. This project will seek to address the problem of decreased enrollments in high school computer science classes and the increased need for computing professionals in the workforce. 
A new listing by U.S. News & World Report includes Belmont University and The University of Scranton among only 40 of the nation’s “highly ranked universities” that operate “most efficiently.” They are both among just five “Regional Universities” in their respective geographical location, as well. The list, published online Dec. 6, commends colleges “able to achieve the highest academic quality” while judiciously managing spending per student on “instruction, research, student services, and related educational expenditures.” Financial resources account for 10 percent of the score a school receives in U.S. News “Best Colleges” ranking. 
The University of Evansville has received a regional award from CASE, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, for its innovative approaches to fundraising.
David Stern has been named by The University of Tampa as the provost and vice president for academic affairs. He will begin his duties at UT in April. Stern most recently served, from 2006-2012, as vice president for academic and student affairs at Hamline University in St. Paul, MN. There he helped develop 10 new academic programs, oversaw regional re-accreditation, created an office of diversity integration and a Center for Teaching and Learning, and increased external funding, including a $7 million consortial grant to transform teacher education. 
Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine has named seven NAC&U members among the nation’s top 100 “best values” in the private universities. Kiplinger’s rankings emphasize both academic quality and affordability. Criteria include a school’s admission rate, academic support, graduation rate, and cost and financial aid. Members on the list are Butler University, Drury University, Ithaca College, John Carroll University, Nazareth College, Samford University and Valparaiso University. For more information: 
The Illinois House of Representatives congratulated retiring North Central College President Harold R. Wilde for his nearly 22 years of leadership at the school with a resolution sponsored by state Rep. Michael Connelly (R-Naperville). Wilde retires on Dec. 31 and will be succeeded by Dr. Troy D. Hammond. 
The National League for Nursing named Wagner College’s Evelyn L. Spiro School of Nursing a 2012-2016 Center of Excellence in Nursing Education in the category of Creating Environments that Enhance Student Learning and Professional Development. 
Changes in the employee pension plan and several academic programs were among significant actions approved by Samford University's board of trustees. Trustees approved a revision of the pension plan, effective Dec. 31, from a defined-benefit to a defined-contribution plan. The soft-freeze provides that there will be no change in benefits for current employees but new employees hired after Dec. 31, 2012, will be eligible to enter a new 403(b) plan. This action is designed to "reduce volatility, decrease liability, provide significant future cost reduction and set the stage for the elimination of risk" related to defined-benefit plans "while providing a competitive retirement plan for new employees," according to Harry B. Brock III, Samford's vice president for business and financial affairs. The changes follow an in-depth study that included trustees, administration and representatives from both faculty and staff.
Butler University’s College of Business has created a major in entrepreneurship and innovation for business students and a minor in that subject matter that will be available to students throughout campus. The new major will add classes in creativity and innovation, entrepreneurial finance, social entrepreneurship (creating organizations that do social good), sales and marketing, and web design/commerce. It also will require students to take the existing practicum class, in which they operate a business for a semester. The minor is designed to bring in students from the sciences, arts, liberal arts, and other areas to add entrepreneurial training to their base of knowledge. 
Building upon the legacy of former President Doug Lee, Stetson President Wendy Libby initiated a process that has rearticulated and invigorated Stetson’s commitment to fundamental human values. She tasked American Studies Professor Emily Mieras and Vice President of Student Affairs Chris Kandus-Fisher with establishing the framework for moving forward. Their work led to the creation of the Values Commitment Steering Team which now requests input and involvement from the entire university community regarding how best to implement our freshly reconceived institutional values. Already, there are more than 30 individuals directly involved in various task forces working on development of specific recommendations to integrate our value commitments more fully into university operations, campus life and our academic curriculum. 
Manhattan College will celebrate the groundbreaking of the Raymond W. Kelly ’63 Student Commons. The 70,000-square-foot building, set to open in 2014, will significantly enhance the College’s ability to integrate academics and student life programming, and will provide space for fitness and wellness programming, dining, study, and cultural and community events. An approximately $48 million project, the Raymond W. Kelly ’63 Student Commons will be the College’s first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified building. 
Drury University announced that Dr. David Manuel will become Drury’s president on June 1, 2013. Dr. Manuel is currently the chancellor and a professor of Economics at Louisiana State University at Alexandria. Prior to working at LSU-Alexandria, Manuel was the vice president of academic affairs at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas. Manuel holds a Ph.D. and a master’s in economics from the University of Mississippi. He has a bachelor’s degree in economics from Nicholls State University.
Dr. Troy D. Hammond, a scientist, teacher and entrepreneur, will be North Central College’s next president, only the 10th in the school’s 151-year history. The 45-year-old scientist, originally from Kokomo, Ind., earned his Ph.D. in experimental atomic physics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1996 where he was mentored by Dr. David Pritchard and Nobel Laureate Dr. Wolfgang Ketterle. Dr. Hammond and his family moved to Naperville in 2010 when he became president of the energy services business at BlueStar Energy, a private firm headquartered in Chicago. 
Nazareth College, Pacific Lutheran University, The University of Scranton and the University of Redlands were named to the list of Top Fulbright Producers among masters level universities in a list published in The Chronicle of Higher Education. Nazareth College was in first place, tied with St. Edward’s University and the University of Portland. And in related news, Scranton just announced that a fifth student, originally named an alternate, has secured a Fulbright for 2012-13. For more information: 
Business schools at Belmont University, Butler University, Ithaca College, John Carroll University, Pacific Lutheran University, Stetson University, The University of Scranton and Valparaiso were named among the nation’s most outstanding business schools, according to education services company The Princeton Review. The company featured the schools in the new 2013 edition of its annual guidebook, “The Best 296 Business Schools” (Random House / Princeton Review). For more information: 
Samford University's McWhorter School of Pharmacy will receive a $865,568 federal grant to assist with an initiative to reduce avoidable hospitalizations among Medicare-Medicaid dual enrollees in 23 Alabama nursing home facilities. The grant from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is part of a program led by the Alabama Quality Assurance Foundation (AQAF), one of seven organizations that will partner with CMS to improve quality of care and reduce hospitalizations among nursing home residents at 145 sites nationwide. 
Widener University and Sussex Technical School District, a public Career and Technical Education school district nearby, entered into a partnership that will bring new higher education course offerings to high school students in Sussex County and central Delaware. Beginning in the fall of 2013, interested students will have the opportunity to enroll in and complete college courses during their junior and senior years of high school. The dual credit courses are fully accredited, and upon successful completion, students will be awarded both Sussex Technical High School and Widener University credits. Participating students can complete in excess of the first year of college requirements through this new arrangement. Upon graduation from high school, they can either apply to Widener, where all courses are accepted, or transfer their credits to other institutions of higher learning depending upon that institution’s acceptance of the transferrable credit. 
Hampton University has partnered with the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine (Penn Dental Medicine) to form the HU-UPenn Biodental program. The partnership allows students to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from HU and a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Penn Dental Medicine. 
Since Mayor Bloomberg first introduced PlaNYC in 2007 to create a greener, greater New York City, Manhattan College has remained committed to making the campus more sustainable and decreasing the College’s carbon footprint. As a way to further promote the importance of urban sustainability and environmental justice within the academic community and beyond, the College will open a new Center for Urban Resilience and Environmental Sustainability (CURES) this fall. 
Hamline University recently dedicated the new Kenneth H. Dahlberg Memorial to Service which honors service of all types and represents Hamline's key values: service, humanity, education, community, and faith. In particular, the memorial commemorates Hamline University Trustee Emeritus and Doctor of Humanities Degree recipient Kenneth Dahlberg who served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. 
The Hampton University Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences in the School of Pharmacy, was selected to receive a $1.35 million research grant, from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), for a project on developing novel drug therapies for the treatment of lung cancer. Dr. Anand Iyer and Dr. Neelam Azad, assistant professors of pharmaceutical sciences, will serve as the grant’s principal investigator and co-principal investigator respectively. The project, “Anti-Tumorigenic Potential of Novel Digitoxin Analogues,” has been funded for a period of five years, extending through August 2017. 
Shari Alexander Richey ’88 has joined Butler University as the interim vice president for University Advancement. Richey will be responsible for directing the organization and implementation of Butler’s fundraising, alumni and parent programs, capital campaigns, annual giving, and corporate and foundation relations. 
The movie also tells the story of The Innocence Project, the not-for-profit organization that works to exonerate wrongfully convicted defendants through DNA evidence. Missouri has an Innocence Project chapter, The Midwest Innocence Project (MIP), which serves six states, and Drury students taking The Innocence Project Clinic class (CRIM 365) regularly work on real cases involving inmates’ claims of wrongful conviction. 
A new program being created by the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College takes the idea of the traditional Hollywood movie studio and gives it a modern twist, providing students with unparalleled opportunities to produce and distribute projects across multiple media platforms. The Transmedia Studio will be a cocurricular organization, mirroring the structure of the school’s award-winning student television, radio and newspaper operations.
Pacific Lutheran University vice president for Student Life and dean of students, Laura Majovski, was named the recipient of the 2012-2013 Scott Goodnight Award in Region V of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. 
President Thomas Krise, Pacific Lutheran University
President Ralph Kuncl, University of Redlands
President Brian Levin-Stankevich, Westminster College
Pacific Lutheran Inaugurates Thomas W. Krise as its 13th President
Higher education may be in "a really big, bad mess," but the people of Samford University are unusually equipped to help solve the problems, Samford president Andrew Westmoreland told employees last month.
President Tom Rochon’s Convocation Address at Ithaca College
The trustees of Widener University extended the contract of President James T. Harris III for another five years beyond its current expiration date.
The Chronicle of Higher Education featured Arcadia University in the article “For a Growing Number of Freshman, Packing for College Requires a Passport,” on Sept. 3. Contributor Ian Wilhelm reported that a growing number of universities are encouraging students to study abroad early in their college life, something that Arcadia, an innovator in study abroad, has been doing since it introduced Preview in 1994 and the semester-long First Year Study Abroad Program in 2003. 
Some 1,800 Belmont University students volunteered in their new hometown at 32 local non-profit organizations, including Adventure Science Center, 14 Metro Nashville Public Schools, Y-CAP YMCA and Feed the Children, as part of SERVE. 
Some 180 incoming Ithaca College students arrived in town several days ahead of their classmates to take part in a series of activities designed to help ease their transition into the Ithaca experience — both on campus and in the community. Now in its 15th year, Jumpstart provides an opportunity for interested first-year and transfer students to apply for a spot in one of four programs, each of which has a different thematic focus: Community Plunge, ECHO (Experiencing Connections by Heading Outdoors), Lead-In and the GREEN (Gardening, Recycling, Eating, Enjoying Nature) Tour. 
The University of Scranton celebrated the opening of its new Loyola Science Center. One of the most innovative science buildings in the country, the $85 million, 200,000-square-foot Loyola Science Center is the culmination of more than 15 years of planning and preparation. The center’s layout provides a physical space that encourages integration among the traditional science, technology, engineering, mathematics programs, as well as the humanities, to drive the development of new teaching methods and engage students in practices that will prepare them for future challenges.This facility also incorporates a dynamic, modern design that includes visible glass-walled laboratories, and is one of a kind in the way it advances collaboration among students with different interests. 
Wagner College is wrapping up extensive renovations of Main Hall, a primary classroom building. 
The Princeton Review ranked its top 377 colleges and universities nationwide and then asked students at those universities to rate their institutions in various categories, including value and financial aid. Eight NAC&U members are among the 377 top colleges: Hampton University, Ithaca College, Nazareth College, The University of Scranton, University of Redlands, Valparaiso University, Wagner College and Westminster College. In addition, Ithaca was noted for its college radio station and theater, and Wagner was noted for its theater as well. Both Wagner and Redlands were ranked as places where “classroom discussions are encouraged.” Redlands was noted as both a best value for a private education and as having “great financial aid.” In addition to these rankings, the Princeton Review also ranked many NAC&U members in its regional rankings which included 633 institutions nationwide. For more information: 
Washington Monthly's 2012 rankings rated 682 schools based on their contribution to the public good in three broad categories: Social Mobility (recruiting and graduating low-income students), Research (producing cutting-edge scholarship and PhDs), and Service (encouraging students to give something back to their country). Stetson University was the top-ranked NAC&U member, coming in at #13 on the list. Cindi Brownfield, director of news and media relations at Stetson, attributed the high ranking to Stetson’s emphasis on community engagement, plus the growing ROTC program and high number of students who join the Peace Corps. She wrote, “Community service and outreach have long been a part of Stetson's mission, but in 2011, we took that commitment further by making ‘fostering civic and community engagement’ a top priority in our new three-year strategic plan.”
Colleges of Distinction, an online college guide, recently posted its 2012-13 rankings which are based on the opinions of guidance counselors, educators and admissions professionals regarding colleges that excel in four areas of undergraduate education: student engagement in the educational process, great teaching, vibrant learning communities and successful outcomes. NAC&U members listed in the rankings include Arcadia University, Belmont University, Manhattan College, North Central College, Samford University, Stetson University, The Sage Colleges, University of Evansville, and Westminster College. For more information: 
Valparaiso University has been named to The Best College's list of the 10 Most Innovative Colleges for Foreign Language Study, ranking among prestigious universities including Yale, Columbia, Cornell, and UCLA.
The Council of Independent Colleges recently announced that Wagner College and 39 other colleges and universities will be part of a new group supported by the Teagle Fund, the Engaging Evidence Consortium, that will use assessment data to guide campus projects designed to improve student learning. The projects conducted by the 40 different institutions will be quite varied, but all will focus on assessing and improving teaching and learning at the university level. 
Butler University, Ithaca College, Stetson University and the University of Redlands were named among approximately 300 institutions in the 2013 Fiske Guide to Colleges. 
North Central College and Westminster College rank among the best colleges in the nation to work for, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education. Results of a study released Aug. 6 in The Chronicle’s fifth annual report on The Academic Workplace are based on a survey of nearly 46,000 employees at 294 colleges and universities. For more information: 