Reflections Magazine Issue #69 - Spring 2009 | Page 7

Campus News Siena Faculty Members Speak at Conferences Last fall, Dr. Sharon McGuire, OP, from the SHU Nursing Department co-presented with colleagues from the states of Washington and Wisconsin at the 136th annual meeting of the American Public Health Association in San Diego. The theme for this meeting, attended by 30,000 public health professionals from all over the world, was “Health Care Without Borders.” The title of Dr. McGuire’s presentation to the Public Health Nursing section was: “Public health nursing and undocumented immigrant populations: Seeing through media hype on ‘illegal’ immigrants, or what’s in a word?” Four faculty members in Siena Heights University’s Distance Learning program presented at a national conference focusing on online education. Their topic, “Retention Techniques for the Remote Student in a Totally Online Course,” was presented at the 10th Annual Pearson eCollege Users Conference in Denver, Colo. According to Jim O’Flynn, SHU’s coordinator of the Distance Learning Program, this is the first time Siena Heights has been asked to present at the conference, which is also called CiTE. SHU’s Gail Ryder, Dr. Jim Sam and Michael Winstrom joined O’Flynn in making the presentation. O’Flynn said the focus of the presentation was how institutions need to anticipate students’ needs in order for them to be successful in an online program. Faculty and courses have to be developed to meet those needs. It also discussed how to monitor the quality of the learning experience, as well as student satisfaction and program viability. Instead of the usual conference format, SHU’s presentation was delivered as an online class, showing a variety of course material alternatives. “eCollege executives have told us that our 98 percent course and 94 percent program retention rates are one of the highest of all their clients,” O’Flynn said of SHU’s online program. Study Tour Visits Dubai Siena Heights University sponsored a study tour to the Middle Eastern country of Dubai from Nov. 22-Nov. 30, 2008. The tour’s focus showcased the accomplishments of creating a world-class city in an unlikely locale. Highlighted were several of the country’s major attractions and projects, including Dubai Chairy City, Dubai University City, Dubai Financial Sector, Healthcare City, Internet and Media Cities, Jumeriah Mosque, Palm Island, property developments, hotels and tourism sites. A secondary purpose of the trip was to dispel the many myths associated with the Arab world. Interviews were conducted with local emiraties and expatriates working and living in Dubai. Those who attended the tour had the experience of interacting with local people. Siena Heights Wins Gift of Life Challenge Siena Heights University had the highest percentage of donor registrants to win this year’s Michigan Gift of Life Campus Challenge. Siena Heights was presented with a traveling trophy (photo above) during its Honors Convocation April 24 that it will display on campus for one year. Siena Heights competed with 17 other Michigan colleges and universities in a lifesaving organ donor drive. The annual Gift of Life Campus Challenge was a six-week contest to see which school could get the most people to sign up on the Michigan Organ Donor Registry. Despite being Siena’s first year competing in the event, SHU registered 12.82 percent of its community members (faculty, staff, students) to take first place. The next closest was Wayne State University’s School of Medicine with 9.17 percent. SHU faculty member Danielle Teunion-Smith ’89 organized the drive on campus. She helped register 144 people, which was the sixth highest total of all the participating institutions, beating out much larger schools such as Western Michigan University (127) and the University of Michigan (38). Theatre Siena Completes Successful Spring Season Exchange Agreement Signed with Yanshan University in China Holocaust Trip Planned Siena Heights University has officially entered into an exchange agreement with Yanshan University in China. This agreement will enable students from Yanshan University to take classes at Siena Heights University at reduced rates and students from Siena Heights University to take discounted classes at Yanshan. The five-year agreement will foster and develop a cooperative relationship between the two universities by means of the exchange of teaching staff/scholars, undergraduate and graduate students, and post-graduate students. 2009-10 Academic Year Marks 90th Anniversary Beginning with the 2009-10 academic year, Siena Heights will celebrate its 90th anniversary. Future issues of Reflections plan to mark this milestone, and we are looking for your input. Do you remember a Siena person, place or event that you would like to share with our readers? We would like to hear from you. Please email Editor Doug Goodnough at [email protected] with your information (please keep wording to 200 words or less) and include pictures if applicable. You can also mail information to this address: Reflections Magazine c/o Doug Goodnough 1247 E. Siena Heights Dr. Adrian, MI 49221 Theatre Siena completed another successful spring season, including performances of William Shakespeare’s classic “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” (photo above) the Tony awardwinning “The Secret Garden” and the Creative Stages’ world premieres of “Beyond the Path” and “Cafeteria Clash.” An 11-day European Holocaust trip is being planned for March 2010. This trip is open to everyone: faculty, students, alums, family members and friends. Any questions, please call Doug Miller ’74 at [phone]. Siena Student Receives Clinton Scholarship Siena Heights University student Rebecca Seitz was one of only 10 in the nation to receive a full tuition Clinton Scholarship to study at the American University of Dubai this spring. Seitz, a junior art major from Lathrup Village, Mich., was chosen by the William Jefferson Clinton Foundation for her academic excellence and leadership abilities. She is a member of Habitat for Humanity and