September proclaimed College and Career Readiness Month in Kentucky by Governor Beshear

(FRANKFORT, Ky. ) - Campus presidents from Kentucky’s colleges and universities signed a resolution yesterday pledging their commitment to be full partners with the Kentucky Department of Education in preparing high school graduates to be college and career ready.

Bill Huston, AIKCU board chairman and president of St. Catharine College, signed The Commonwealth Commitment to signal the independent sector’s continued commitment to college and career readiness. All twenty AIKCU member institutions are actively involved in a wide range of college readiness initiatives and have strong partnerships with P-12 schools in their respective areas.

St. Catharine College President Bill Huston, AIKCU board chair, signs the Commonwealth Commitment on behalf of the Association

While campuses have long been involved with college readiness programs in their service regions, this action signals a significant commitment to continue and expand college and career readiness services and programs to more students. Kentucky data shows that students who are prepared for college graduate college at twice the rate of those who are not prepared.

Senate Bill 1, passed by the 2009 General Assembly, calls for P-12 and higher education systems to work more closely together to create the alignment necessary to improve readiness levels required for students to succeed in a credit-bearing course at a postsecondary institution.

“Senate Bill 1 has re-energized our efforts at the highest levels on our campuses,” said Council on Postsecondary Education President Robert King. “In my experience working in several states, I have not seen this level and depth of cooperation and collaboration that is represented here by all campuses and embedded in this commitment.”

In February, Kentucky was the first state in the country to adopt new common core standards at a joint meeting of the Council on Postsecondary Education, the Kentucky Board of Education and the Education Professional Standards Board. Higher, clearer and more in-depth academic standards are required by Senate Bill 1.

In May, the Kentucky Department of Education and the CPE developed a set of unified strategies to promote college readiness and degree completion for underprepared students. The goal is to reduce by 50 percent the number of recent high school graduates entering college not prepared for credit-bearing coursework, and to increase graduation rates of postsecondary students with college readiness needs.

“As part of the mandates of 2009’s Senate Bill 1, the Kentucky Board of Education will adopt a new system of school and district accountability that puts great emphasis on college and career readiness,” said Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holliday. “The resolution signed today confirms the commitment of the state’s higher education institutions to moving Kentucky forward and working as partners to improve our children’s futures.”

First Lady Jane Beshear expressed the administration’s support for ongoing work to implement Senate Bill 1, and read a proclamation signed by Governor Steven Beshear declaring September 2010 as College and Career Readiness Month in Kentucky.

Eastern Kentucky University President Doug Whitlock, convener of the Advisory Conference of Presidents, highlighted a number of campus initiatives that are improving readiness of Kentucky’s students. The initiatives represent the breadth and depth of programs and services in support of a stronger P-16 pipeline.

Other state leaders offering remarks included Ken Winters, chair of the Senate Education Committee, Rep. Carl Rollins, chair of the House Education Committee, and Philip Rogers, executive director of the Education Professional Standards Board.

Student speaker, Benjamin Whitlock, a senior at Green County High School, challenged school officials to set high expectations for students. Whitlock said students would meet the challenge.

The event was sponsored by Kentucky’s college and universities and the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, in partnership with Kentucky Department of Education and Education Professional Standards Board.

For event photos and information on college and career readiness, visit http://www.cpe.ky.gov/news/events/. Video and a downloadable audio podcast of the event are also available.

The five-year grant was awarded by the United States Department of Education under the agency’s Student Support Services (SSS) program.

Union President Ed de Rosset says the grant is critical to the college’s goal of providing opportunity for all students who desire a college education.

“Union wants all our students to have access to the resources they need to have the best possible success, whether they come to us as academically strong or needing a little help with the transition to college,” said de Rosset. “This grant allows us to provide our students such resources, and on a scale that gives depth and range to the services we can offer.”

The SSS program provides academic and other support services to low-income, first-generation or disabled college students. Services include basic study skills; tutoring; academic, financial or personal counseling; assistance in applying to graduate and professional programs; career guidance; mentoring; and grant aid.

Just over 50 percent of Union’s undergraduates are first-generation college students. Over 70 percent of Union undergraduates come from Kentucky.

Union has offered an SSS program for more than 30 years. This year’s grant of $1.5 million is a renewal award that will fund Union’s SSS program over the next five years.

To learn more about Union’s Student Support Services programs, visit www.unionky.edu and access the “Academics” drop-down menu.

CONTACT: Brenna Wallhausser
Director of College Communications
Office: 606-546-1230 Cell: 606-545-2527
bwallhausser@unionky.edu

Barbourville, Ky., 12August 2010- Union College has learned that its undergraduate and graduate programs in education have been fully reaccredited by the Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB).

The reaccreditation status applies to all education-related programs offered by Union.

In an announcement to faculty and staff following the reaccreditation decision, Union President Ed de Rosset called the news “a very important moment, both in terms of the school’s history and in terms of what we can set out to do-in education, and in other academic areas.”

Though a periodic reaccreditation review process is standard fare for higher education institutions, Union’s bid for renewal of accreditation was extended beyond the usual time frame due to a confluence of events: a change in the presidency at a crucial point in the process, which resulted in a loss of momentum toward reaccreditation; changing leadership in the college’s Department of Educational Studies; and a simultaneous bid to earn accreditation from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

As a result, Union administrators navigated a more complex path than usual to earn reaccreditation. The college’s process took seven years to complete, but has ended in a positive response from EPSB.

“Feedback from members of EPSB has been positive, helpful, and, most recently, marked by frequent praise for the dedication and hard work of the faculty and staff in the Department of Educational Studies,” said President de Rosset. “They were impressed with the amount of work accomplished, especially over the past three years, and with the quality of the processes and changes we have put into place to continually enhance our education programs.”

President de Rosset believes the successful outcome is due in large part to the college’s collaboration with the P-12 community.

“Our relationship with local and regional educators and educational leaders is strong,” said President de Rosset. “Before and during the reaccreditation process, they have been part of informing our curriculum and assessment practices, and are a key partner in preparing our students to be well-rounded, accomplished educators.”

The majority of undergraduate students at Union major in education, according to college officials. Union also offers master’s degrees in education through the Department of Graduate Education, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Between 1999 and 2008, student enrollment in Union’s graduate program increased by over 140 percent.

“Our growth will continue,” said President de Rosset. “Full reaccreditation gives us the opportunity to add more programs, and we look forward to doing so. The education faculty and I are eager to work with area educators to discuss how we might shape and expand our programs according to the needs of the region.”

To learn more about Union, visit www.unionky.edu.

CPE is located just down the street from AIKCU at:

Suite 320, 1024 Capital Center Drive
Frankfort, KY 40601

Directions: http://www.cpe.ky.gov/about/directions.htm

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - Campbellsville University has a long history of serving the educational needs of the community, region and state, and one such vehicle for that service is the CU Technology Training Center.

John Chowning, vice president for church and external relations and executive assistant to the president, who was responsible for getting the Tech Center established, said, “Since establishment of the TTC, a total of almost 10,300 people have received training through the varied programs of Campbellsville University’s Technology Training Center.”

And these individuals, who have received training at the center, are not included in the 20 consecutive semesters of record enrollment at CU.

Chowning said these training programs have been paid for by those receiving training and from federal and state grant programs, and plans are in process to expand the variety and number of training courses available.

The Tech Center was a response to the closure of the Fruit of the Loom plant in the late 1990s in Campbellsville. Although CU has always been dedicated to enhancing educational attainment in an underserved region of the state and nation, CU begin offering classes to several hundred displaced workers, most of whom completed associate and bachelor’s degrees within a few years.

“CU worked closely with local and state officials in the formation of a new economic development agency and helped prepare a strategic plan for community progress,” Chowning said. He said CU provided intellectual and spiritual leadership in a time of “challenge and fear when unemployment soared to nearly 30 percent.”

“In many ways, CU’s community service, coupled with close working partnerships with elected officials and civic leaders, helped facilitate the community’s economic recovery,” he said.

Working with local, state, and federal officials, Campbellsville University established the Technology Training Center to increase the number of skilled workers for technology driven occupations in the southern region of the state, make available specialized training as needed for area industry, provide continuing education opportunities for a variety of businesses and professions, offer a series of personal enrichment courses, and offer affordable training to businesses and industries in the region. The groundbreaking for the center was held in February 2000, and staff moved into the new building in the spring of 2002.

Training programs offered have included the following: Microsoft applications, COMPTIA A+, Metwork+, state registered nurse aid (SRNA), GED testing, VUE/Pearson Training, Prometric Testing, continuing education for electricians and contractors, Cisco training, various personal enrichment, Kids’ College (educational enrichment for elementary and middle school students), office technology, workforce essential skills, Microsoft certifications, electrical wiring, LEAN Manufacturing, Six Sigma, other health care certifications, hospitality industry training, etc.

OWENSBORO, Ky. - Brescia University announces that S. Todd Brock has joined the university as the new Vice President for Institutional Advancement. Todd comes to Brescia with more than 10 years experience in advancement, fundraising, special projects and non-profits. He most recently hails from Hanover College in southern Indiana, where he was Interim and Assistant Vice President for Institutional Advancement. Todd has also worked as Director of Development at Nativity Academy Model School in Louisville, Kentucky.

Brescia University President, Fr. Larry Hostetter, commented, “Todd brings great advancement experience and knowledge to this position. He has worked at an Ursuline institution, so he comes to us with a deep understanding of that part of our mission.”

“Brescia is a special place and watching our students grow spiritually, academically, and socially is both an honor and a privilege,” said Todd. “To have an Ursuline institution of higher learning in western Kentucky adds great value and equity to our region.”

Todd’s position is responsible for oversight of the following offices: Alumni Relations, Annual Fund, Database, Public Relations and Marketing. He is also responsible for the implementation and assessment of Brescia University’s new five year strategic plan in the areas relating to Institutional Advancement.

“It is our aim to create and nurture positive relationships for the benefit of our students, alumni, and community partners,” said Todd on the mission of the advancement office. “The Institutional Advancement office should act as a bridge between our external constituents, including alumni, and the University.”

Todd received a B.A. in Psychology and a B.G.S. with a minor in Public Relations and Supervision from Indiana University.

The results, released this week in The Chronicle’s third-annual report, are based on a survey of more than 42,000 employees at 275 colleges and universities.

In all, only 97 of the 275 institutions achieved “Great College to Work For” recognition for specific best practices and policies. In addition, Centre was among 39 colleges who made the honor roll for being cited in most categories. Results are reported for small, medium, and large institutions, with Centre included among the small institutions with 2,999 or fewer students.

Centre was honored in these categories this year:

· Job satisfaction
· Tenure clarity and process
· Collaborative governance
· Teaching environment
· Facilities, workspaces, and security
· Respect and appreciation

The survey results are based on a two-part assessment process: an institutional audit that captured demographics and workplace policies from each institution, and a survey administered to faculty, administrators, and professional support staff. The primary factor in deciding whether an institution received recognition was the employee feedback.

To administer the survey and analyze the results, The Chronicle worked with ModernThink LLC, a strategic human capital consulting firm that has conducted numerous “Best Places to Work” programs, surveying hundreds of thousands of employees nationwide.

Spalding University is one of twenty-eight universities and colleges in the Commonwealth of Kentucky offering professional teacher/education preparation programs. The Kentucky legislature passed legislation (16 KAR 3:050) in April 2008 requiring all universities to “sunset” their principal preparation programs by December 2011 and to redesign their principals preparation programs around new guidelines outlined in the legislation. The redesign guidelines were a product of the Kentucky Cohesive Leadership System Principal Preparation Continuum which served as new regulations adapted by EPSB.

Given the changing expectations and responsibilities of the principal, the College of Education needed a more collaborative approach in principal preparation with local school districts in order to provide school leaders with current research practices, course content and field experiences tied to leadership standards, and a continuous assessment system which ensured leadership competency throughout the program. Dr. Beverly Keepers, Dean of the College of Education says, “At the heart of the College of Education’s redesigned program is the belief that an effective principal is one who can increase student achievement by guiding and supporting teachers while capably managing the school organization.”

The program redesign team was led by Dr. Barna, Director of the Principal Preparation program, Dr. Takona, Associate Dean, and Dr. Beverly Keepers, Dean, along with Dr. Lynne Wheat, Jefferson County Public School’s Director of Administrative Recruitment and Development. They mobilized a program redesign team that included university faculty, school teachers, principals from the local public and parochial schools, and other school district personnel to develop a unique research-based and comprehensive program envisioned to ensure that every child achieves academic excellence, develops critical thinking skills, and develops his or her potential and thus close the achievement gap.

In approving Spalding University’s redesigned Principal Preparation Program, Dr. Phil Rogers, Executive Director of the EPSB Board recognized the University as having taken the lead in the state-wide initiative to offer redesign principal program. In a formal letter to Dr. Keepers in recognition of Spalding University achievement in offering a redesign of an existing principal program, Dr. Marilyn Troup, Director of Educator Preparation, congratulated the University stating:

The EPSB would like to commend and congratulate Spalding University for being the first university to actually redesign an existing principal program. The partnership, collaboration, co-delivery, and mentoring process provide the foundation that separates the previous principal programs from the new redesigned principal program. We trust that the implementation of this proposal will provide districts with instructional leaders for the 21st Century Schools.

The College of Education is currently accepting applicants for the Principal Preparation program fall 2010 cohort. Interested applicants should contact Dr. Eric Barna, Director of the Principal Preparation program at ebarna@spalding.edu, or at 585-9911 x 2028. Scholarships for qualifying applicants are available for the fall cohort.