I C U F N e w s l e t t e r J a n u a r y 2 0 1 2

& INDEPENDENT

Colleges

Universities o f Florida

ED H. MOORE, PhD , P R E S I D E N T

(850) 681-3188 emoore@icuf.org

B-CU President to Retire

Dr. Trudie Kibbe Reed is stepping down from her role as president of Bethune-Cookman University and has made the decision to enter retirement after seven and a half years of service to the institution. Reed will remain at the University during this transition until a departure date is determined by the board of trustees. During her tenure, Bethune-Cookman achieved university status with the launch of its first master's degree program in transformative leadership, earned its highest enrollment in history, graduated its larg-est class on record, received an A bond rating and improved its physical plant by building several new buildings on campus, which were fully paid for without debt to the university. When Reed arrived at Bethune-Cookman, the endowment was $28 million and has increased to $43 million today. Additionally, the university has received seven accreditations in approximately 18 months, including reaffirmation of accreditation with no recommendations for improvement from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Dr. Trudie Kibbe Reed

Flagler Chancellor Honored

Flagler College Chancellor and Florida State Representative William L. Proctor was honored by Florida State University with two awards for his work both with the students of the State of Florida and in appreciation of eight years of legislative leadership. "Dr. Proctor is a remarkable role model for our students. As an FSU graduate he demonstrates that you can do anything you set your mind to, from Chancellor to highly regarded legislator," said Florida State University President Dr. Eric J. Barron. "Very few individuals in the leg-islature have the depth and breadth of knowledge about higher education of Dr. Proctor, and he has used that knowledge and commitment to help ensure the success of all of Florida's universities and colleges."

William Proctor

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Governor Scott Appoints Moore

Governor Rick Scott announced the appointment of Dr. Edwin H. Moore to the Board of Directors, Workforce Florida Inc. Moore, of Tallahassee, has been the president and chief executive officer of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida since 2003. He previously worked as staff director for the Florida House of Repre-sentatives Policy Committee from 2000 to 2002 and was president and chief executive officer of the James Madison Institute from 2000 to 2002. Moore received his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral de-grees from Florida State University. He succeeds Robert Gidel and his appointed term goes through July 2014.

Dr. Ed Moore

SLU Dedicates Business SchoolSLU Dedicates Business School

Saint Leo University has dedicated the new academic home of the Donald R. Tapia School of Business at its main campus in Pasco County. The school has been named for alumnus Donald Tapia, who donated $4 million toward the construction of the $12 million building; marking the single largest gift in the university’s history. The ultramodern structure is equipped with technology that permits HD video teleconfer-encing with classes in session at Saint Leo University’s other teaching locations in sev-en states. Another point of the building’s distinction is the installation of 70-inch HD LCD multi-touch, multi-user displays in its classrooms. The technology will give students dexterity with the same type of equipment they will find in the corporate world. The technology also permits the faculty to move about the room more and more actively engage with students. The six classrooms, three seminar rooms, and two computer labs are also equipped with graphic-enhanced computers, blu-ray players, document cameras, and wall units for control-ling lighting, window shades, and speakers. The 48,000-square-foot building also houses a state-of-the-art broadcast studio and an execu-tive lecture hall. With the opening of the building for classes this fall, Saint Leo also added a bachelor’s degree in computer science to the program offerings from the Donald R. Tapia School of Business.

Donald R. Tapia School of Business Building

ICUF

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Stetson University SGA students met recently with Stetson alumnus and Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos at the Senate rostrum in Tallahassee. From left are John Kahle, chair of Residential Living for SGA; Alyssa Collins, office manager for SGA; Der-rick Smith, secretary of finance for SGA; Senate President Mike Haridopolos; Jeremy Rill, vice president of SGA; and Aimee Bushway, president of SGA.

Kahle and Collins are ICUF Presidential Fellows.

ICUF Welcomes Presidential Fellows to Tallahasee

A group of ICUF Presidential Fellows traveled to Tallahassee earlier this month to meet with state legislators to let them know how important the Florida Resi-dent Access Grant (FRAG) is to their college education. FRAG provides the much needed, additional funding for books, room and board and living expenses in addition to tuition costs. It can be the deciding factor in whether or not a stu-dent can attend college or join the workforce.

FICF Awards Warner Student UPS Scholarship

Larry Hopson, a senior at Warner University, was selected to receive a $2,400 UPS Scholarship provided through the Florida Independent College Fund. Larry is the son of Larry Hopson, Sr. and Bobbie Hopson of Jackson-ville, Florida, and a 2008 graduate of First Coast Christian High School. He is majoring in Business Administration Management at Warner University, and is currently a part-time Assistant Manager at a local Walgreens in the Lake Wales area.

Larry Hopson

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AMU STUDENTS WIN INTERNSHIPS

Roman Samuels and Mary Ladewski, two students from Ave Maria University, earned a 10-week internship in Chicago as a consequence of winning the 2012 Follett Marketing Genius competition. The challenge was to create a national marketing cam-paign promoting the four course material choices (new, used, rental and digital) that students have for the Fall 2012 back-to-school season. The proposal had a maximum $1 million budget and had to limit itself to the existing Follett product line. Based on their proposal and strategy, the "Words Worth Consulting Marketing Team" was able to make it into the Final Three in a competition that in-cluded groups from about 84 other schools. Roman and Mary flew out to Follett's corporate headquarters in Chicago to present their idea in front of Follett's marketing execu-tives. The executives were impressed and se-lected them as winners. During their internship they will implement their marketing proposal in stores across the nation.

Mary Ladewski and Roman Samuels

Embry-Riddle's Eco-Eagle

ERAU Sees Green Skies Ahead

A project at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has offered a glimpse into an electric future for aviation. Over two years, about 200 students from a range of aca-demic disciplines helped create a sleek, hybrid-powered airplane that a core group of about 40 readied in time for a NASA-sponsored competition, the Green Flight Chal-lenge. A thrifty 100-horsepower, four-cylinder engine brings the two-seat Eco Eagle aloft. Once the modified glider reaches cruising altitude, the pilot flips a switch and the broad-winged craft shifts to an even more efficient 40-hp electric system. Flown by alumnus Mikhael Ponso, the plane earned plaudits as one of only four (out of 14) com-petitors from the U.S. and abroad to complete the two-day, 200-mile competition. Aerospace engineering professor Richard "Pat" Anderson, Embry-Riddle's fac-ulty adviser for the project, said his students are "contributing to the greening of aviation" by proving that a plane with a hybrid propulsion system can help blaze a trail for a new generation of ultra-efficient personal aircraft.

Mikhael Ponso

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FSC Students Give Back

Florida Southern College students completed a “Week of Impact” of service to the community, with projects ranging from providing food to the homeless to raising awareness about human trafficking. Sponsored by the FSC Student Government As-sociation, the SGA arranged for an opportunity each day of the week for students to serve others in a coordinated effort. Student organizations, including fraternities and sororities, clubs, and athletic teams participated. Students also participated in a gleaning project by collecting oranges from a pri-vately owned grove. The oranges were picked, bagged and delivered to local home-less shelters and the Baptist Children’s Home. In addition, students spent time helping the local chapter of Campfire USA, improving the grounds of their facilities. Other projects during the week included collecting Gatorade for the Sandwich Ministry, a feeding program for the homeless run by the FSC Campus Ministry; creat-ing Valentine’s Day cards for residents of the Florida Presbyterian Homes; and running a coffeehouse, with the proceeds donated to the International Justice Mission, which raises awareness of the problem of human trafficking.

PBA Student Teachers Receive Grants

Nine student teachers in Palm Beach Atlantic University’s School of Edu-cation and Behavioral Studies have re-ceived grants from Florida Power & Light Company’s NextEra Energy Foundation for classroom equipment to complete ener-gy-related educational projects. The grants range from $500 to $2,500, and the pro-jects will take place in classrooms across Palm Beach County. The student teach-ers, all seniors, will use the grants to pur-chase classroom equipment for projects that will help elementary students explore firsthand how electricity is generated using cleaner, greener methods, like wind and solar power.

Grant Winners from top, left: Ashley Walker, Kerri Murphy, Kristen Scarcella, Kristin Knudsen, Jen Bodemann, Brittany Smith, Ariel Sharpe and Jenny Moote. Not pictured is Deva Naranjo.

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Rollins Education Major Arranges Free Show

Hope Bitzer, a Rollins College senior edu-cation major, who interned in second grade clas-ses her junior and senior year, had first arranged for the second grade classes from Grand Ave-nue and Audubon Park Elementary Schools to be “Skype buddies”. She then arranged a field trip for both classes to meet up with their “Skype buddy” to watch A Nutty Nutcracker Christmas at the Orlando Repertory Theatre. The students have been communicating with each other about books and reading since the beginning of the se-mester. During the show, each student sat with their respective Skype partner. “This was a great experience and it was so much fun to see the kids finally meet in person,” said Bitzer. “I’m a big proponent in using technology in the classroom to enhance the curriculum. When I graduate, I hope to work in an elementary school where I can make a difference in stu-dents’ lives beyond education.”

Hope Bitzer stands with (fr left) Kourt-ney Willis, Kail Patterson, Hope Bitzer, Tyanna Harper and Rebecca Hendricks

FL Tech Flies High with Eight Certifications

Eight members of the Florida Institute of Technology Student Rocket Research Society (SRRS) recently earned certification from the National Association of Rocketry. Seven of the students earned a level one license in high-powered rocket flying. The eighth earned a level two certification for his rocket, which reached 6,000 feet and for AGL above-ground-level flight and recovery. The students designed, built, and suc-

cessfully flew their own rockets. Students earning level one certification were Joe Bussenger; Alan Cruz-Gerena; Kristen Ericson; Brock Hedlund; Gabrielle Leesman; Matt Levy; and David Rollins. Jake Kafphamer earned a level two certification. “We aim to launch the rocket over 150,000 feet and have received significant funding from Northrop Grumman to move forward on the project,” said society presi-dent Joe Bussenge. “We are trying to de-velop a research platform. Using rocket flights for research is a phenomenal meth-od to test extreme environments, capture atmospheric and solar data, and perhaps provide short-time orbit insertion,” said Bussenger. “This means deploying a pay-load section aloft for up to a few minutes to capture data. We hope to show the bene-fits of using a rocket's unique acceleration and flight profile for experiments in micro-G environments.”

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Leading Researcher Joins NSU

Nancy Klimas, M.D., one of the world’s leading researchers and clinicians in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encepahalomyelitis (CFS/ME), a debilitating immune disorder that affects more than one million Americans, recently joined the Nova South-eastern University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine faculty. The disease damages the patient’s immune system and causes symptoms such as extreme fatigue unabated

by sleep, faintness, widespread muscle and joint pain, sore throat, severe headaches, cognitive difficulties, and severe mental and physical exhaustion. “The Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, strategically placed at Nova, will bring together great minds in the field of neu-ro immune disorders.” Klimas said. “It will be a place to coordinate cutting edge thinking and research, train new practitioners, and offer the highest quality clinical care for a hugely underserved population. I am thrilled to partner with NSU in this giant step for-ward in the field of CFS/ME care and research.”

Dr. Nancy Klimas

JU Celebrates 10 Years of Online Nursing Education

Jacksonville University, a U.S. News & World Report-ranked and regionally ac-

credited university, is Celebrating 10 years of providing high-quality education for regis-

tered nurses through its 100% online RN to BSN degree program. From the program’s

inception, the university has been at the forefront of innovation, featuring streaming

video as part of the curriculum.

“Jacksonville University is proud to have been able to offer quality online learn-

ing for RNs for the past decade. We are all committed to continuing to deliver nursing

education with excellence to RNs, regardless of where they live,” says Judith M. Erick-

son, Ph.D., CNS, BC, dean of JU’s School of Nursing. “We have been exceptionally

proud of the growth of both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and look forward to

educating another decade of nurse leaders.”

Hodges Trustee Honored

The Southern Association on Colleges and Schools Commis-sion on Colleges (SACS), honored Hodges University Trustee Dr. Jim Stamper for his many years of service to the accrediting body. He has been a Hodges University Trustee since 2004. Dr. Stamper was recognized for serving on 40 visiting accreditation committees on behalf of SACS, and of those, chaired 29 reaffirmation commit-tees. “Dr. Stamper is an excellent example of the quality and diver-sity of our Board of Trustees and the backgrounds that they bring to serving our institution,” said Terry McMahan, President of Hodg-es. “His work for many fine institutions in the Southeastern region of the United States has brought about improved institutions, which, in turn, has improved the quality of education delivered. We are fortu-nate to have Jim serving on our Board as we prepare for our own reaffirmation of accreditation in 2013.”

Jim Stamper

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Jersey Retired at STU

The St. Thomas baseball program started the 2012 sea-son in style with LSU Head Baseball Coach Paul Mainieri on hand for the retiring of his No. 1 jersey, which the coach wore in his six seasons as coach of the Bobcats. Sacrificing a Tigers baseball practice back in Baton

Rouge to return to St. Thomas, Coach Mainieri was on a whirl-

wind schedule on opening night for the Bobcats. The 2009

NCAA National Coach of the Year spoke to the team in the

baseball clubhouse, accepted his Hall of Fame ring, received a

framed No. 1 jersey, and witnessed his jersey unveiled on the

left field wall, all before throwing the ceremonial first pitch of

the 2012 season. Coach Mainieri &

Current STU coach

UT RECEIVES GRANT FOR GENETICS RESEARCH

University of Tampa associate professor of biology, Rebecca Bellone, has re-ceived a $3,200 grant from TriLink BioTechnolo-gies to facilitate research on the genetics of the “tiger eye” in pure Puerto Rican Paso Fino hors-es. Most horses have brown eyes, while the “tiger eye” iris color is a yellow-orange shade that is unique to this breed of horse and is a favorable trait. Bellone hopes to identify a causative muta-tion or associated marker that could be used as a DNA test for horse breeders to predict the trait. The grant will fund primers that will be used in DNA sequencing reactions to find the mutation. Under the supervision of Bellone, the re-search is being conducted by a UT undergradu-ate student, Elizabeth Kowalski. A senior biochemistry student and recipient of two University of Tampa Department of Biology summer research fellowships, Kowalski has presented some of her findings already at two international conferences, and has one published abstract. The results of her work funded by this grant will also be pre-sented at conferences and submitted for publication.

Senior Elizabeth Kowalski

SLU Accreditation Reaffirmed

Saint Leo University received reaffirmation of its accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) for the next 10 years. Saint Leo University President Arthur F. Kirk, Jr., congratulated faculty, staff, and students on the shared accomplishment. “We have worked as a community, guided by our Catholic Benedictine values, to provide our students with an effective model for life and leadership in a challenging world. The reaffirmation from SACSCOC validates our efforts. I am grateful to everyone for their good work and shared sense of responsibility to ensure a quality education consistent with our mission. Saint Leo Uni-versity is an institution of which we are all proud.”

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Barry Awarded Success University Grant

The Counseling Department in Barry University’s Adrian Dominican School of Education (ADSOE) has been awarded a $22,428 grant for Success University, a pro-gram of the Miami Beach Service Partnership to impact youth and families in accord-ance with The Children’s Trust and City of Miami Beach. The Success University pro-gram offers a variety of programming to reduce truancy and prepare youth and families for success. The primary goal of the program is to address the root causes of exces-sive absences among middle and high school students, while providing support for families that are experiencing the negative influences of community stress factors.

Nova Receives Major Gift

Steven M. Mariano, Chairman & CEO of Patriot National Insurance Group, an-nounced the launch of the Patriot Health Initiative, a program which will provide Nova Southeastern University’s College of Dental Medicine with up to $450,000 of funding to support its efforts to provide dental programming targeting underserved populations of Greater Fort Lauderdale. “This gift to NSU underscores our commitment to give back to the community that has given us so much,” said Mariano. “These kinds of collabora-tions for the greater public good demonstrate how our system is supposed to work.”

The College of Dental Medicine will use the gift to support community program-ming. Plans to expand hours of existing programs and establish new programs that target traditionally underserved segments of the community are all being considered.

Eckerd Mourns Death of Professor

Clark H. Bouwman, founding faculty member of Florida Presbyterian - now Eckerd - College, died Tuesday, Feb. 7, at the age of 92. The last remaining founding faculty member to finish his career at the College, Bouwman served as professor and dean at Florida Presbyterian College from its first classes in 1960 until his retirement 23 years later. He also served as dean of academic services and director of international educa-tion.

During the opening celebration of the College's 50th Anniversary in February 2008, Bouwman was one of a select group of men about whom President Eastman said, "These are the men who made a college of transcendent purpose and compelling vision out of hope and faith, sandspurs and palmet-to. Those of us who came after came, mostly, because we were moths to the flame of the light of that vision."

Clark H. Bouwman

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Ave Maria University· Barry University

Beacon College· Bethune-Cookman University· Clearwater Christian College

Eckerd College· Edward Waters College· Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Flagler College· Florida College· Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences Florida Institute of Technology· Florida Memorial University

Florida Southern College· Hodges University· Jacksonville University

Lynn University· Nova Southeastern University· Palm Beach Atlantic University

Ringling College of Art and Design· Rollins College· Saint Leo University

St. Thomas University· Southeastern University· Stetson University

The University of Tampa· University of Miami

Warner University· Webber International University

Melissa Armstrong is responsible for the content, layout and visual formatting of the

ICUF News Report. Please email comments and suggested news items to marmstrong@icuf.org.

of Independent Colleges

and Universities

Florida

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