Bryant Connection - June 2011

The Bryant Connection is published three

times a year, in January, June, and Septem-

ber for the Alumni-Admission Connection

members of Bryant University. Send

comments on this newsletter or Alumni-

Admission Connection activity to Rebecca

Eriksen, Senior Assistant Director for

Events and Volunteers, Bryant University

Office of Admission, 1150 Douglas Pike,

Smithfield, RI 02917, 401-232-6957,

800-622-7001 or [email protected].

Alumni-Admission Connection

The Character of Success

Bryant University

Office of Admission

1150 Douglas Pike

Smithfield RI 02917

Phone: 401-232-6100

Toll Free: 800-622-7001

[email protected]

admission.bryant.edu

Bryant applies innovation to teaching

In an effort to offer alternatives to the

traditional teaching model of textbooks

and lectures, Bryant University has estab-

lished the Center of Innovation in Teaching

with the aim of creating programming that

provides opportunities for more experien-

tial and engaging learning, connecting

students with faculty and staff early in

their Bryant careers. Other goals include

peaking students’ intellectual curiosity,

and helping first-year students make the

transition to college learning effectively.

Trustee Professor of Manage-

ment Michael A. Roberto,

D.B.A. is heading a steering

committee consisting of fac-

ulty and staff representing

both academic and cocurricu-

lar facets of the university. “A

known predictor of academic

success is the establishment

of one-on-one relationships

with faculty and staff, so the center’s aim

is to create experiences from which these

relationships are a natural outcome,” says

Roberto.

With an initial focus on first-year students,

the center plans to launch several different

experiments each year. While these may be

purely academic, cocurricular aspects are

sought as well. One plan calls for a three-

day experiential learning experience with

no class but which involves small teams of

students, faculty, staff and possibly alumni

to address or solve some problem or issue.

Each team would be charged with produc-

ing an end product – not merely a Power-

Point presentation, as many standard class

assignments call for – but a prototype,

such as a model, an actual advertisement,

etc.

The center will also initiate a Dinner &

Discourse Series hosted by more than one

faculty member in one of their homes.

Following the meal, attendees will discuss

a major issue/challenge of the day identi-

fied and developed earlier by

faculty and staff.

Another initiative targets fac-

ulty members and involves a

series of thought-provoking

speakers to explore innovative

concepts in teaching. The

group has already hosted Saul

Kaplan, founder of the Business

Innovation Factory, an inde-

pendent, non-profit organization whose

mission is to enable business model and

system level innovation in areas of high

social impact including education. Another

presenter was Dave Ager, a Harvard soci-

ology professor, who described some of

the innovation being applied to teaching at

that institution.

Based on a curriculum that already in-

volves much real-life learning, this is one of

several fronts on which Bryant is now

poised to break new ground in teaching

and learning.

4

Join us for…

SUMMER SEND-OFFS

Welcome New Students to the Bryant Community

Northern New Jersey

Wednesday, August 3

Dan Wystepek 401-232-6109

Port Jefferson, New York

Wednesday, August 10

Katie McAtee 401-232-6023

Hartford/Springfield Area


Kristy Almeida-Neveu 401-232-6417 · Chris Horn 401-232-6973

Puerto Rico

Sunday, August 21

Priscilla Alicea 401-232-6715

A Newsletter for Members of the Alumni-Admission Connection

Volume 11, Issue 2, June 2011 Bryant adopts test-optional admission policy

After much research and discussion, we are very pleased to announce

that Bryant University has adopted a test-optional admission policy

beginning with applications submitted in fall 2011, for students enter-

ing in fall 2012.

As an institution committed to developing the student as a whole, this

was a natural progression in our admission process as it gives students

more opportunities to demonstrate their strengths and talents. While

we recognize that standardized tests accurately measure aptitude for

many students, there are many whose talents are not measured by

such tests. Students who feel their standardized test scores are not an

accurate representation of their academic achievement or talent will

now have the option of completing two to three short essay questions

in place of submitting their test scores to Bryant.

Please share this information with prospective students you meet. You

can tell them if they are satisfied with their test scores and believe the

scores are indicative of their academic potential, they should submit

them with their other credentials. However, if a student has a strong

academic record, but does not feel their test results are a good indica-

tor of their academic potential, they can choose not to submit them,

and instead, submit answers to several essay questions.

The process for students who submit test scores and those who do not

will be very similar. The difference is students choosing to apply test-

optional will respond to several short essay questions. When students

submit their applications to Bryant (using either the Common Applica-

tion or the Universal College Application and supplements), they will

indicate on the supplement if they would like to be considered test-

optional. Once Bryant receives the application, students selecting test-

optional will be sent a link to the essay questions required to complete

the test-optional application. We strongly recommend that students

carefully consider this choice; once they have submitted their applica-

tion, they will be unable to change to the other option.

Bryant has a well-rounded and holistic application review. The factors

in an admission decision include overall high school academic record,

recommendations, co-curricular activities, community involvement,

writing ability and other achievements along with personal character

and integrity. While the high school transcript will continue to be the

most important part of application evaluation, we strongly believe that

by allowing the individual student to decide how best to present their

academic potential, the test-optional alternative allows us to consider

students’ strengths that may be demonstrated in areas other than test

scores.

More detailed information about the policy and answers to Frequently

Asked Questions can be found at http://admission.bryant.edu/

testoptional. If a student has any questions about applying test-

optional to Bryant, please have them contact the Office of Admission

at (800) 622-7001 or [email protected], or contact their admis-

sion counselor directly.

Please join AAC for another great year! It’s summer again (finally!) and time for our annual AAC member-

ship renewal.

The role our AAC members play in Bryant’s recruitment process is

priceless. By sharing your student and post-graduation experi-

ences with prospective students and their families, you are provid-

ing them with valuable information in their college search proc-

ess. The time you devote to keeping current on admission, aca-

demic, cocurricular and athletic information, attending on- and

off-campus events, making phone calls, conducting interviews,

and generally being Bryant representatives in your community is

appreciated by the students, their families and all of us here on

campus.

Please look for the 2011-2012 Membership Renewal Form and

postage-paid envelope enclosed with this newsletter. If you are

able to continue your participation during the upcoming academic

year, please indicate at the top of the form. Then review your

personal information and make any needed changes.

Of course, if work and/or family obligations make it difficult for

you to participate, we understand; just check the “Sorry!” box

and we’ll remove you from our database.

Notice that we are asking your preferred method to receive

this newsletter: hard copy via mail or electronically. Please

indicate by checking the appropriate box.

Also, if we don’t hear from you by July 22, we will assume you

are no longer able to participate, and will remove your name from

membership. All renewing members will receive an updated 2011-

2012 AAC manual and directory along with the September news-

letter.

Know someone interested in joining AAC?

Give them this URL:

www.bryant.edu/aac

They can complete the

Online Personal Contact Form

and we’ll make them a member before you can say

“Bryant Bulldogs.”

http://admission.bryant.edu/testoptional


mailto:[email protected]

Ambassador Angle

Unlike most students, Nicole was well acquainted with Bryant before she began her college search. The sister of Meghan Hittinbouh{m ’07, she h{d wisiued {nd su{yed owernithu { nvm-ber of times before she had to think seriously about where she would go to college. Attracted by the positive role Bryant has pl{yed in her sisuer’s c{reer, Nicole {lso knex Bry{nu offers { CIS major along with the opportunity to minor in marketing and psychology. Through her visits she had also learned that she liked Bry{nu’s {umosphere {nd uhovthu uhe size x{s rithu – big enough to offer all she needed but small enough that she would be able to develop significant relationships on campus.

An Ambassador for all four years, Nicole has worked in the Admission Events Office since her sophomore year. She has belonged to the Association of Computing Machinery, a club for CIS majors, and participated in Relay for Life.

During the spring semester of her junior year, Nicole participated in an internship at FM Global, a leading commercial property insurance company headquartered in Johnston, RI. This experi-ence confirmed her career choice and gave her a post-graduation job goal: to work for FM Global. The company works to protect assets and minimize the potential for losses for its clients worldwide through a unique combination of engineering, underwriting and claims. The company conducts research and deploys on-the-ground engineers to ensure its policies and services directly support risk management processes and objec-tives.

Dvrint her inuernship, Nicole xorked on uhe comp{ny’s Win-dows 7 deployment, helping employees around the globe con-vert to Windows 7. She provided training materials for end-users including a database of over 500 videos and articles avail-able company-wide, which were made available in an IT Refer-ence Center. The IT Reference Center allowed users to query training material that was more specific to their company appli-cations than would be available through a public search engine. She also contributed to a manual for trainers worldwide to use with local employees.

After what seemed like a long wait during the first part of her senior year, the interview process for a post-graduation position evolved rather quickly and in February, Nicole received the call she had been hoping for. On May 31, she will return to FM Global, this time as a Quality Assurance Specialist. She will be the liaison between project developers and business analysts and will be on track to advance to either of those positions. As a QAS, Nicole will monitor performance of quality control systems to ensure effectiveness and efficiency between business ana-lysts, who work with clients on their needs, and developers, who provide the end product.

Best of luck, Nicole!

New College of Business dean

Michael R. Cooper, Ph.D., most recently the dean of Rutgers Business School, is

the new dean of Bryant University's College of Business. Cooper's appointment

was effective this May.

"I look forward to the vision Michael Cooper will bring to the

University's College of Business," said Vice President for

Academic Affairs José-Marie Griffiths. "His distinguished

record of success - not only in academia but as a senior

executive in the corporate world - will help the University

reach the ambitious strategic goals we have set for ourselves

in the coming decade."

"Bryant University is on an exciting trajectory. I am honored

to have been selected to lead the College of Business, and I look forward to

working with Bryant's faculty, administrators, students and alumni to build upon

the strong foundation that exists," Cooper said.

Cooper, who joined Rutgers Business School (RBS) as dean in May 2007, has 25

years of leadership experience in senior executive positions in international mar-

ket research, marketing services, management consulting and technology compa-

nies.

As dean of RBS, Cooper managed faculty and programs across two main cam-

puses (Newark and New Brunswick), three international campuses (Shanghai,

Beijing and Singapore), and multiple satellite locations. He initiated new pro-

grams that increased the school's success in recruitment and placement of gradu-

ates. RBS is recognized as one of the top three business schools in the New York

Tri-State Region, and is the highest-ranked business school in New Jersey.

Other hallmarks of Cooper's leadership at RBS include creation of the Urban

Entrepreneurship and Economic Development Center and the Ethics Leadership

Institute, and development of corporate relationships with partners around the

world.

From 1989 to 1999, Cooper served as chair, president and chief executive offi-

cer of Opinion Research Corporation (ORC), which he took public on the

NASDAQ. Prior to ORC, he was president of Hay Research for Management for

10 years and senior partner of the Hay Group.

Cooper earned a doctorate in industrial and organizational psychology from The

Ohio State University. He served as a psychologist in the U.S. Army Medical

Service Corps from 1972 to 1974.

3

Nicole Higginbotham

Class of 2011

Major: CIS Minor: Marketing & Psychology

2

Thank you for your help!

When looking at the unfamiliar, there is nothing like hearing from

someone who has been there; we often refer to it as “the voice of ex-

perience.” And that is just what you are for our prospective students.

Your voices add a dimension to our message that would be missing

without you. Even if you do not participate in a specific event or activ-

ity, being an advocate in your community is a vital extension of our

recruitment effort. So please accept our heartfelt thanks for all you

have done in your role as an AAC member.

The spring college fair season saw 12 AAC members representing

Bryant at 13 college fairs:

In February, Ryan Hansen ’08 spoke to prospective transfer students

and their families at our Transfer Information Session. Then, Kyle

Kadish ’01 spoke to 62 students at our April Bryant 101 information

session.

During the last push before the common reply date of May 1, 19 AAC

members, along with many faculty members and current Student Am-

bassadors, called admitted students to offer their congratulations,

answer questions, and share their Bryant experiences. They are:

We wrapped up our annual event calendar in May with an Admitted

Transfer Student Dinner, attended by Ryan Hansen ’08.

Our deep appreciation goes out to all of you.

Mark your calendar for these alumni events!

HOMECOMING

Friday, September 23—Sunday, September 25

Bryant Football vs. Wagner College

Sponsored by Regional Area Networks:

Gerry Berard ’80

Steven Cowen ’69

David Crosby ’05

Beth Feresten ’89

Mark Giganti ’88

Brenda Kahler ’00

Stephanie Kirk ’10

James Magee ’88

Kim McGraw ’01

Mike Motschwiller ’88

Wilberte Paul ’07

Dave Suaviso ’96

Nickie Archambault ’10

Jack Bergersen ’07

Steve Berman ’68

Michael Boyd ’92

Lloyd Cahoon ’66

Michael Connor ’87

Ryan Daley ’08

Joe Emma ’90

Michael Gargiulo ’08

Jeffery Gates ’99

Mark Giganti ’88

Megan Hatt ’99

Wendy Hildreth ’02

Allyson Lagassé ’10

Bruce Reirden ’76

Kristen Soule ’09

Alicia Townsend ’10

Bryan Wojtowicz ’08

Alan Zuckerman ’80

FALL OPEN HOUSE

Saturday, October 22

(more details in the September Connection)

Soho Spanish Wine Tasting

July 14 · 6:00PM 8:00PM ET

Eyeball NYC, 187 Lafayette Street, 2nd Floor

WaterFire and Chinese Culture Reception

July 16 · 7:30PM 9:30PM ET

Steeple Street, Providence

The Hartford Club Patio

July 20 · 6:00PM 8:00PM ET

The Hartford Club, 46 Prospect Street, Hartford, CT

Dog Park Outing

August 10 · 6:00PM 8:00PM ET

Peters Park, 1277 Washington Street, South End/Boston

Rock Cats Baseball and BBQ


New Britain Rock Cats Stadium at Willow Brook Park

Newport International Polo


Newport International Polo at Glen Farm

715 East Main Road (Route 138), Portsmouth, RI

Check online at www.bryant.edu/alumnievents for all the details, and more events in your area.

Also see SUMMER SEND-OFFS on Page 4.

Ambassador Angle

Unlike most students, Nicole was well acquainted with Bryant before she began her college search. The sister of Meghan Hittinbouh{m ’07, she h{d wisiued {nd su{yed owernithu { nvm-ber of times before she had to think seriously about where she would go to college. Attracted by the positive role Bryant has pl{yed in her sisuer’s c{reer, Nicole {lso knex Bry{nu offers { CIS major along with the opportunity to minor in marketing and psychology. Through her visits she had also learned that she liked Bry{nu’s {umosphere {nd uhovthu uhe size x{s rithu – big enough to offer all she needed but small enough that she would be able to develop significant relationships on campus.

An Ambassador for all four years, Nicole has worked in the Admission Events Office since her sophomore year. She has belonged to the Association of Computing Machinery, a club for CIS majors, and participated in Relay for Life.

During the spring semester of her junior year, Nicole participated in an internship at FM Global, a leading commercial property insurance company headquartered in Johnston, RI. This experi-ence confirmed her career choice and gave her a post-graduation job goal: to work for FM Global. The company works to protect assets and minimize the potential for losses for its clients worldwide through a unique combination of engineering, underwriting and claims. The company conducts research and deploys on-the-ground engineers to ensure its policies and services directly support risk management processes and objec-tives.

Dvrint her inuernship, Nicole xorked on uhe comp{ny’s Win-dows 7 deployment, helping employees around the globe con-vert to Windows 7. She provided training materials for end-users including a database of over 500 videos and articles avail-able company-wide, which were made available in an IT Refer-ence Center. The IT Reference Center allowed users to query training material that was more specific to their company appli-cations than would be available through a public search engine. She also contributed to a manual for trainers worldwide to use with local employees.

After what seemed like a long wait during the first part of her senior year, the interview process for a post-graduation position evolved rather quickly and in February, Nicole received the call she had been hoping for. On May 31, she will return to FM Global, this time as a Quality Assurance Specialist. She will be the liaison between project developers and business analysts and will be on track to advance to either of those positions. As a QAS, Nicole will monitor performance of quality control systems to ensure effectiveness and efficiency between business ana-lysts, who work with clients on their needs, and developers, who provide the end product.

Best of luck, Nicole!

New College of Business dean

Michael R. Cooper, Ph.D., most recently the dean of Rutgers Business School, is

the new dean of Bryant University's College of Business. Cooper's appointment

was effective this May.

"I look forward to the vision Michael Cooper will bring to the

University's College of Business," said Vice President for

Academic Affairs José-Marie Griffiths. "His distinguished

record of success - not only in academia but as a senior

executive in the corporate world - will help the University

reach the ambitious strategic goals we have set for ourselves

in the coming decade."

"Bryant University is on an exciting trajectory. I am honored

to have been selected to lead the College of Business, and I look forward to

working with Bryant's faculty, administrators, students and alumni to build upon

the strong foundation that exists," Cooper said.

Cooper, who joined Rutgers Business School (RBS) as dean in May 2007, has 25

years of leadership experience in senior executive positions in international mar-

ket research, marketing services, management consulting and technology compa-

nies.

As dean of RBS, Cooper managed faculty and programs across two main cam-

puses (Newark and New Brunswick), three international campuses (Shanghai,

Beijing and Singapore), and multiple satellite locations. He initiated new pro-

grams that increased the school's success in recruitment and placement of gradu-

ates. RBS is recognized as one of the top three business schools in the New York

Tri-State Region, and is the highest-ranked business school in New Jersey.

Other hallmarks of Cooper's leadership at RBS include creation of the Urban

Entrepreneurship and Economic Development Center and the Ethics Leadership

Institute, and development of corporate relationships with partners around the

world.

From 1989 to 1999, Cooper served as chair, president and chief executive offi-

cer of Opinion Research Corporation (ORC), which he took public on the

NASDAQ. Prior to ORC, he was president of Hay Research for Management for

10 years and senior partner of the Hay Group.

Cooper earned a doctorate in industrial and organizational psychology from The

Ohio State University. He served as a psychologist in the U.S. Army Medical

Service Corps from 1972 to 1974.

3

Nicole Higginbotham

Class of 2011

Major: CIS Minor: Marketing & Psychology










Smithfield, RI 02917, 401-232-6957,




Bryant University

Office of Admission

1150 Douglas Pike

Smithfield RI 02917

Phone: 401-232-6100

Toll Free: 800-622-7001

[email protected]




























Roberto.















etc.







faculty and staff.
















that institution.





and learning.

4

Join us for…

SUMMER SEND-OFFS


Northern New Jersey

Wednesday, August 3








Puerto Rico

Sunday, August 21


A Newsletter for Members of the Alumni-Admission Connection

Volume 11, Issue 2, June 2011 Bryant adopts test-optional admission policy

After much research and discussion, we are very pleased to announce

that Bryant University has adopted a test-optional admission policy

beginning with applications submitted in fall 2011, for students enter-

ing in fall 2012.

As an institution committed to developing the student as a whole, this

was a natural progression in our admission process as it gives students

more opportunities to demonstrate their strengths and talents. While

we recognize that standardized tests accurately measure aptitude for

many students, there are many whose talents are not measured by

such tests. Students who feel their standardized test scores are not an

accurate representation of their academic achievement or talent will

now have the option of completing two to three short essay questions

in place of submitting their test scores to Bryant.

Please share this information with prospective students you meet. You

can tell them if they are satisfied with their test scores and believe the

scores are indicative of their academic potential, they should submit

them with their other credentials. However, if a student has a strong

academic record, but does not feel their test results are a good indica-

tor of their academic potential, they can choose not to submit them,

and instead, submit answers to several essay questions.

The process for students who submit test scores and those who do not

will be very similar. The difference is students choosing to apply test-

optional will respond to several short essay questions. When students

submit their applications to Bryant (using either the Common Applica-

tion or the Universal College Application and supplements), they will

indicate on the supplement if they would like to be considered test-

optional. Once Bryant receives the application, students selecting test-

optional will be sent a link to the essay questions required to complete

the test-optional application. We strongly recommend that students

carefully consider this choice; once they have submitted their applica-

tion, they will be unable to change to the other option.

Bryant has a well-rounded and holistic application review. The factors

in an admission decision include overall high school academic record,

recommendations, co-curricular activities, community involvement,

writing ability and other achievements along with personal character

and integrity. While the high school transcript will continue to be the

most important part of application evaluation, we strongly believe that

by allowing the individual student to decide how best to present their

academic potential, the test-optional alternative allows us to consider

students’ strengths that may be demonstrated in areas other than test

scores.

More detailed information about the policy and answers to Frequently

Asked Questions can be found at http://admission.bryant.edu/

testoptional. If a student has any questions about applying test-

optional to Bryant, please have them contact the Office of Admission

at (800) 622-7001 or [email protected], or contact their admis-

sion counselor directly.

Please join AAC for another great year! It’s summer again (finally!) and time for our annual AAC member-

ship renewal.

The role our AAC members play in Bryant’s recruitment process is

priceless. By sharing your student and post-graduation experi-

ences with prospective students and their families, you are provid-

ing them with valuable information in their college search proc-

ess. The time you devote to keeping current on admission, aca-

demic, cocurricular and athletic information, attending on- and

off-campus events, making phone calls, conducting interviews,

and generally being Bryant representatives in your community is

appreciated by the students, their families and all of us here on

campus.

Please look for the 2011-2012 Membership Renewal Form and

postage-paid envelope enclosed with this newsletter. If you are

able to continue your participation during the upcoming academic

year, please indicate at the top of the form. Then review your

personal information and make any needed changes.

Of course, if work and/or family obligations make it difficult for

you to participate, we understand; just check the “Sorry!” box

and we’ll remove you from our database.

Notice that we are asking your preferred method to receive

this newsletter: hard copy via mail or electronically. Please

indicate by checking the appropriate box.

Also, if we don’t hear from you by July 22, we will assume you

are no longer able to participate, and will remove your name from

membership. All renewing members will receive an updated 2011-

2012 AAC manual and directory along with the September news-

letter.

Know someone interested in joining AAC?

Give them this URL:

www.bryant.edu/aac

They can complete the

Online Personal Contact Form

and we’ll make them a member before you can say

“Bryant Bulldogs.”










Smithfield, RI 02917, 401-232-6957,




Bryant University

Office of Admission

1150 Douglas Pike

Smithfield RI 02917

Phone: 401-232-6100

Toll Free: 800-622-7001

[email protected]




























Roberto.















etc.







faculty and staff.
















that institution.





and learning.

4

Join us for…

SUMMER SEND-OFFS


Northern New Jersey

Wednesday, August 3








Puerto Rico

Sunday, August 21




mailto:[email protected]

Documents

Bryant Connection - June 2011