Reflections Magazine Issue #77 - Fall 2012 | Page 6

Campus News

Kusisto Accepted Into
Geriatric Nursing
Excellence Group

SHU’s McNair Program
Receives Funding for
Five More Years

Siena heights Nursing faculty member Kelli Kusisto
was accepted as a year-long
participant into the University of Minnesota Hartford
Center of Geriatric Nursing
Excellence. She attended
a week-long immersion with other nursing
faculty from across the country, sharing integration of geriatric content into baccalaureate
nursing education. All faculty have regular
interactions electronically across the academic
year to share best practices in their courses.

Siena Heights University announced it has
received funding for the U.S. Department of
Education’s Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate
Achievement Program. Dr. Patricia Wallace,
Ph.D., director of SHU’s McNair Scholars Program, said Siena Heights has been funded
for five years. The institution
will receive $246,000 in
grant money per year.
“This grant prepares lowincome, first-generation
and minority students
for doctoral studies
through involvement
in research and other
scholarly activities,”
said Dr. Wallace of SHU’s
McNair Program, which has
been on the SHU Adrian
campus since 1992.

Scholars Reach
Great Heights
Siena Heights Named a
“Great College to Work
For” by the Chronicle
of Higher Education
Siena Heights University is one of the best
colleges in the nation to work for, according
to a new survey by The Chronicle of Higher
Education. The results, released in The Chronicle’s fifth annual report on The Academic
Workplace, are based on a survey of more than
46,000 employees at 294 colleges and universities. In all, only 103 of the 294 institutions
achieved “Great College to Work For” recognition
for specific best practices and policies. In
addition, Siena Heights was only one of two
institutions in Michigan to be placed on the
Honor Roll, with the University of Michigan
being the other. Only 42 institutions nationwide
earned this special recognition for being “the
best of the best.” Those that make the Honor
Roll are cited most often across all recognition
categories. Siena Heights won honors in five
categories this year:
•
•
•
•
•

Collaborative governance
Confidence in senior leadership
Respect and appreciation
Supervisor or department chair relationship
Work/life balance

Great Colleges to Work For is one of the largest
and most respected workplace-recognition
programs in the country.

6

Reflections Fall ’12

“We are excited to continue helping students
go on to graduate school!” Siena Heights’
McNair Program enables scholars from both
SHU and Adrian College to receive a yearly
stipend, attend graduate school fairs, visit
graduate school programs, prepare for and
take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
and complete admissions and financial aid
applications for graduate school. In addition,
students are assigned faculty mentors to help
with research projects.

SHU Admissions and
Nursing Announce New
Direct Admit Program
Siena Heights University recently announced
a new SHU Nursing Direct Admit program for
those high school students who are interested
in a career in nursing. SHU has established
admission criteria for students to directly enter
the SHU Nursing Program. Students who have
an ACT score of 24 or higher and a B grade
or above in high school science courses will
be considered for the Direct Admit program.
Students will also need to complete a successful
drug screening and background check before
admission to the nursing major. “Siena Nursing
facilitates students to develop excellent clinical reasoning skills through application and
analysis of nursing knowledge,” said SHU
Director of Nursing Dr. Sue Idczak. “A high
school graduate with an ACT of 24 or higher
is typically a good critical thinker. I know high
school students have many choices of where
to attend nursing school.”

“The state of Michigan is fortunate to have
excellent nursing education opportunities.
Siena Nursing wants to direct admit students
who are good thinkers! With an ACT of 24 or
higher, a student can have a seat in the Siena
Nursing program if he or she earns As and Bs
here at Siena.” In addition, SHU Nursing is a
second admit program, meaning students
must apply at the start of their sophomore
year of college to be accepted into the nursing
program. Students must have a minimum
cumulat