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February 2007 A Monthly Update for Faculty and Staff @ Union Institute & University
@ the President’s Desk Dear Fellow Employees: It is quite true, as the amazing Helen Keller observed, that “when we do the best that we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or the life of another.” That is also true in the life of institutions, and in 2007 at Union Institute & University, there is much promise and resolution on the immediate horizon. What we do with that promise is up to us. What difference we make in the lives of our learners and colleagues is up to us. How we resolve the past and what future we build for the university is up to us. 2006 was a year of transformation for the university during which we reviewed and improved many of our academic programs in order to assure a high-quality experience for our learners. As faculty, staff, and administrators, we have rededicated ourselves to continuing assessment and improvements in our university’s services. Much has been accomplished with the reorganization of the doctoral program and the exploration and review of our undergraduate and master's programs. We made the bold decision to divest of building and property ownership in order to assure a viable financial model for the future and to begin the process of creating an endowment. Thanks to your vigilance and hard work, we are well on our way to accomplishing both the academic and financial transformations of the university. It is clear, however, that the uncertainty of the past months has taken a toll on personal and professional relationships across the university. What we need now are boundary-crossers: those individuals who are able to bridge academic program divides, physical location divides, personal divides — real and imagined — and reach out to the whole community around our newly emerging mission, vision, values, and principles. This is the time to be the best that we can, in order to accomplish the miracle of complete recovery from the real challenges of the past. Each one of us is a leader, and often you’ve heard me say that a leader has only two purposes—to tell the truth and to point toward hope. Well, as leaders within Union, each of us must all rally around those two themes—truth and hope. Both take less energy to pursue and result in a much healthier, thriving work environment, not to mention the positive impact on our personal health. Beyond my confidence in the individual people who work at UI&U, what also gives me hope is the clear progress that we have made as an institution in meeting tremendous challenges. The changes in many of our academic programs may have emanated from external influences and demands; however, the changes we chose to make were our own carefully considered ones. We can all take a good deal of pride in our accomplishments and the accolades we are now receiving from those same groups that were questioning our work a few years ago. Having said that, there is no doubt that our unique university will still face challenges, and we are committed to finding both the people and systems to help those learners who truly want to complete their studies at UI&U. That should give us all hope and enthusiasm for the future. Our commitment must extend to all alumni as well, because we are working to protect the integrity of their degrees – and in the process recapture the dream that began more than 40 years ago. In their book, Leaders Who Make a Difference, Burt Nanus and Stephen M. Dobbs identify four directions for leadership to focus. If I might paraphrase their words and direct them to each of us rather than to a body of leadership, I think each of us can visualize our unique role as a boundary-crosser.
For all who participated in the transforming year of 2006, I thank you for your involvement and courage in seeking to be boundary-crossers who have helped the institution immeasurably. And permit me to share a 2007 “To Do” card sent by a friend that lists the following: Start fresh. It strikes me that this is a good “To Do” list for UI&U in 2007, during this year of new opportunities to cross boundaries, restore the dream, and recapture the vision. Warm regards, Roger H. Sublett
This Valentine’s month, we can all use a virtual group hug. A recent e-mail being shared throughout cyberspace suggests that “teachers make every other profession.” It also offers this wonderful little parable that applies to all of us who teach or support the learning process at any level for students of every age, from 7 to 70+. [Editor's note: Thank you to Dr. Connie Krosney, professor in the M.Ed. program at our Montpelier campus, who informs @UI&U that the e-mail story is almost identical to performance poet Taylor Mali’s prize-winning poem, "What Teachers Make."] Thanks for what you make at UI&U, and enjoy! What Teachers Make The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life. One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, “What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?” Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, “You want to know what I make?” She paused for a split-second, then began, “Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could. I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor. I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 without an mp3 player, game cube, or DVD rental.” She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table. “You want to know what I make?” she asked. “I make kids wonder. Bonnie paused one last time, and said, “Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention, because they are ignorant. You want to know what I make?” she asked. “I make a difference.” What do you make?” NOTE: Do you know of a coworker or colleague at UI&U who really “makes a difference” in the lives of others, either at work or out in the community? Someone who does the little things with great skill everyday, someone who devotes time to a cause or to others without fanfare, someone who practices what President Sublett calls “leading from the heart?” Please send your words of kudos to @UI&U so we can shine a light on these not-so-random acts of kindness by our colleagues who make a difference @ the Heart of It.
@ the Water Cooler DO A RAK I had the unfortunate but necessary experience of spending one cold, miserable night this last weekend in an emergency center caring for a loved one. We all have experienced this arduous situation at some time or another. I probably don’t need to remind everyone of the panic, the waiting, the finding-out, the tedium, the exhaustion, while the night wanes on. By morning, my loved one was admitted, and I needed to go home and get some rest. I walked out into the frigid cold and made my way to the parking structure. As I waited for the elevator, an older gentleman walked up to wait also. I recognized him from the emergency center the evening before. I asked him if all was okay. As we ventured up in the elevator, he told me the story of bringing his wife of 53 years in and how hard it was to leave her there in such a weakened condition. I tried to say something comforting but I was so tired I was groping for words when a startled look came across the gentleman’s face. He had suddenly realized that in the haste of getting his wife to the ER he had left his wallet at home. He had no way to get out of the parking garage as he could not buy the token it took to operate the gate. Just looking at the exhausted, exasperated look on his face as he frantically searched other pockets hoping to find his wallet, I understood how fatigued, stressed, and emotionally drained he must have been at that moment, not to mention all through the night. I opened my handbag, pulled out $2, and handed it to him. He looked puzzled. I just said, “From one weary traveler to another.” The elevator door opened before he could say anything, and I stepped out, letting the door close behind me. I suddenly felt more awake and less stressed than I had all night. It felt so good to do something positive in the wake of all the trauma of that evening. I am sure I helped a fellow human being, but in the course I also helped myself. This story is about a random act of kindness. A random act of kindness is a selfless act performed by someone to either help or cheer up a stranger, for no reason other than to make someone’s life a little easier and happier. The second week of February is Random Act of Kindness week. However, there is no need to limit it to a specific week… Do a random act of kindness now. Just think what our lives would be like if each of us could do one RAK during the month of February. What joy we could begin to spread. So I am challenging all of you to get out there. Do a RAK. Pay your fortune forward, and move and inspire others to do the same. And then go one step further and send me your stories so I can share them here in future columns.
@ First Glance Stephen Blake, Security, Vermont College Security, Montpelier Campus, 01/02/2007 Bonnie L. Cramond, Ph.D, Part-Time Faculty, Graduate College, Cohort Ph.D. Program, Cincinnati, 01/02/2007 Kathleen Fryman, B.A., Registration and Records Data Entry Specialist, Registrar's Office, Cincinnati Campus, 01/09/2007 Stephen T. Mergner, Ph.D., Part-Time Faculty, Graduate College, Cohort Ph.D. Program, Cincinnati, 01/02/2007 Karsten H. Piep, Ph.D., Part-Time Faculty, Graduate College, Cohort Ph.D. Program, Cincinnati, 01/02/2007 Robin R. Reed-White, A.A.B., Administrative Assistant, Financial Aid Office, Cincinnati Campus, 01/29/2007 Rebecca M. Roberts, M.S.I.S., Reference Librarian, Gary Library, Vermont College, Montpelier Campus, 01/29/2007 Christopher V. Voparil, Ph.D., Part-Time Faculty, Graduate College, Cohort Ph.D. Program, Cincinnati, 01/02/2007 Kirk H. Williams, M.A.Ed., Associate Dean, College of Undergraduate Studies, Sacramento Academic Center, 01/02/2007
@ Close Up This Month: Communications, Cincinnati Headquarters Campus
Union Institute & University’s Communications Department has a great story to tell — about a unique university that pioneered concepts of adult and distance learning, and the dedicated, visionary, and creative people who choose to study, teach, or work here. It sounds simple, but requires extensive contact and relationship-building both internally — with all university departments, programs, and sites, and all learners, alumni, faculty, staff, and administrators across the country and around the world — and externally — with prospective learners, media, donors, friends, and the general public.. As part of ongoing endeavors to spread the word about Union Institute & University, the Communications Department works directly with President Sublett to assure that all information released in any format is presented accurately and completely; reflects the university’s mission, vision, and values; and achieves proper balance in coverage of the university as a whole. This means using the faces and stories of UI&U learners, faculty, and alumni — real people who represent Union’s global learning community. Department director Carolyn Krause likens the Communications Department to a “hub” of the Union wheel, where spokes from departments, centers, offices, programs, alumni, learners, faculty, and friends interact to promote the university. That work, encompassing a broad array of vehicles, relies on communication and relationships.
The five-person Communications staff uses their diverse expertise, creativity, and skills to bring UI&U’s story to life: Carolyn Krause, director of communications and executive assistant to the president, ext. 1165 Carolyn came to Union as the publications manager, but over the years, her job grew to include commencement and other special events as needed, as well as her recent promotion as executive assistant to the president. Always multi-tasking, Carolyn also serves on a number of committees, including the President’s Council, the Strategic Planning Committee, and the Retention Committee, in addition to the newly created Communication, Admissions, Retention, and Engagement – CARE Committee, whose role is to identify language that fully describes Union’s unique position in higher education today. Currently pursuing a master’s degree in strategic communication and leadership, she has little spare time, but enjoys traveling in the U.S. and abroad to take in the arts scene with her painter husband Kim Krause, is mother to two tall boys, practices Pilates, and is an avid reader. You can find her every Sunday morning walking the 5.5 mile trail at Lunken Airfield. James Foster, webmaster, ext. 1112 James has been Union’s Webmaster since 2001, and moved from Computer Services to the Communications Department in 2006. He’s responsible for our Web site’s design and functionality, creating and ensuring a professional, current, and active window to the outside world. Because the Web site is the university’s most used method of disseminating information, James works diligently and collaboratively with people from across the university to design and implement Web pages that not only attract, but inform our constituents. James has been on the front line in a war, traveled around the world (twice), lived in Europe for a number of years, played rhythm guitar in a band, has published two books, several articles, is only separated from Kevin Bacon by one degree, lived in a monastery as a Buddhist monk, and currently serves as Director and Abbot of a Buddhist Temple when he isn’t reading The Cat in the Hat to his two year old son. Sara Litwiller, web editor/writer, ext. 1166 Sara came to UI&U in 2003 as a College of Undergraduate Studies adjunct and began working as a web editor/writer in the Communication Department in 2005. She is responsible for all UI&U Web content and navigation, working closely with university departments/offices on new and current Web projects. Sara also prepares news articles and press releases for Web and print media, manages the forms directory, and teaches writing, research, and literature courses. In between work and saving the world from semi-colon misuse, Sara enjoys wandering through used bookstores, and is currently editing her own written collection of essays that discusses the impact of spirituality on platonic, familial, and romantic relationships. She can also beat you at a friendly game of pool and welcomes all random gifts of chocolate. Karen Lonero, administrative assistant, ext. 1181 Karen joined UI&U’s Communications Department in 2002. Eager commencers-to-be at the Florida and California regionals and the national commencement in Cincinnati rely on Karen to coordinate myriad details including event registration, regalia orders, criteria for participation, timetables and tickets, and gentle reassurance. She also coordinates business card orders for all UI&U staff and faculty; enters text and gathers photos and permission releases for Network Cross Currents; and assists department director Carolyn Krause. Karen keeps the department stocked with all supplies, her co-workers well-fed and faithful to their deadlines, and her cubicle decorated – and animated – for every holiday known to humanity. Mary Beth Orth, writer/editor, ext. 1161 For more than 16 years, Mary Beth has written about countless UI&U alumni, learners, and faculty in Network magazine, now in archives, and the online “Cross Currents” and “Open Book.” She collaborates with other staff and departments to provide ideas and information, written copy, or editing for announcements, media releases, letters, advertising copy, and more. She also prepares commendations, writes scripts for commencements and other special events, and researches various databases to compile and produce projects such as UI&U Celebrates Notable Alumni during Black History Month. Even after hours, thanks to her uncanny “Sixth Sense,” Mary Beth “sees Union people…,” spotting learners or alumni in the news or on the Web, even if they aren’t identified as such. The perennial and herb garden around her cottage is her escape.
@ Attention
Part-time doctoral program faculty member Alice Baldwin-Jones, standing far right in red and gray, provides personal attention to a roomful of eager Cohort Ph.D. learners during the January academic residency at The Vernon Manor. Cohort Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies Continues to Grow On January 5-13, 2007 the Graduate College held its bi-annual academic residency for the Cohort Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies. Since the program's inception in July 2006, many faculty, administrators, and staff have been hard at work preparing for the event. This term, the residency took place at the Vernon Manor, where we welcomed back our returning inaugural cohort, as well as the incoming second cohort for their Initial Academic Residency (IAR). During the residency, learners became familiar with the goals and expectations of the Cohort Ph.D., began their seminars for the term, participated in an academic conference day, took enrichment trips to the Freedom Center and the Art Museum, and built academic community within and across cohorts. The next academic residency is set for July 6-14, 2007 in Cincinnati. To learn more about this exciting addition to UI&U’s stellar degree offerings, please see the extensive new Cohort Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies Program Web pages that detail the history/mission, values and goals, program overview, and much more, including photos of learners, staff, and faculty at various residency events. [Thanks to Robin Selzer, Ph.D., Director of Academic Program Development, Graduate College, and Jonathan Eskridge, Program Assistant, Ph.D. - Cohort Based, for contributing this news.] @ The News Stand
Web Update As we all know, February is Black History Month, a time to recognize and appreciate the rich contributions of African-Americans around the nation and across the world. To bring a UI&U perspective to this global celebration, the Communication Department has created a new UI&U Black History Month Web page. If you haven’t already, please take time to peruse this year’s sampling of UI&U alumni who use the knowledge and creativity they honed as scholar-practitioners to bring black history to life each February through special academic or creative events on their campuses, in their communities, or via Web sites. Included are musician and Motown Historical Museum inductee Leonard Clyde King Jr. (B.A. 2006); professor and creative writer Linda Beatrice Brown (Ph.D. 1980), author of Crossing Over Jordan; and Collette Fournier (M.F.A. 2003) and her photography exhibition, Amistad: From Mystic Seaport to Halifax, Nova Scotia. You may also revisit 2006’s UI&U Black History Month Celebration for an entire month’s worth of alumni accomplishments. Also available are three new library research database trials, specifically chosen by the Gary Library staff for Black History Month: Black Drama, Black Thought and Culture, and Black Women Writers. In order to explore and evaluate the immense resources in each database, you will need to enter your UI&U log-in ID and password. Each database trial will be available until February 28, at which time the library will review feedback and evaluations of each to determine subscription status.
@ Union this Month 2/2/07 - 2/11/07 2/23/07 - 3/3/07
@ Our Best A Perfect Storm 
Most often it’s the university’s Montpelier or Brattleboro centers that boast the most postcard - picturesque images, especially in colorful autumn and snowy winter. This past week, at least, the Cincinnati headquarters became a crystal campus after an ice storm and sub-freezing temperatures glazed the historic buildings and landscape.
@ Your Service Deadline for submissions for the March issue: |
2/2/07 - 2/11/07 2/23/07 - 3/3/07
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Straight talk and timely information from President Roger Sublett
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