Thursday, December 17, 2009

UI&U Awarded Salmon Foundation Grant

UNION INSTITUTE & UNIVERSITY RECEIVES GRANT FROM THE SALMON FOUNDATION

Award will fund scholarships for Union’s Bachelor of Arts programs

CINCINNATI – Union Institute & University (UI&U), a private, non-profit university dedicated to educating highly motivated adults with delivery models and curricula that best fit an adult’s multi-faceted life, has received a generous grant from the Salmon Foundation, Inc, of New York. The grant will provide much-needed scholarships for several new and current learners attending the Bachelor of Arts program (ADP), at the university’s academic centers in Montpelier and Brattleboro, Vermont.
Learners in the B.A. program can choose to attend brief residencies at one of the university’s Vermont centers, or to complete coursework entirely online, and the flexible course delivery options have attracted learners from across the country and, recently, new learners from Canada and Hong Kong. With support from the Salmon Foundation and others, many adult learners are able to overcome very real financial obstacles that stand between them and a college degree.
The Salmon grant comes during a very difficult economic situation when many private and family foundations have cut funding priorities or ceased their philanthropic giving altogether. The Salmon Foundation has recognized adult education as a critical priority in today’s society, and UI&U is proud to be recognized by the foundation and partner with them in realization of a shared mission and vision.
“Thanks to support from the Salmon Foundation, my financial responsibilities have become a little bit lighter,” said Pamela White of Braintree, VT, who is enrolled in the weekend residency option at the Montpelier Center. “I have to put the time and energy into my degree, but if it weren’t for the Salmon Foundation, the financial burden could still make it impossible to obtain.”
Grant recipients are chosen by the UI&U Bachelor of Arts program administration, in conjunction with the UI&U Office of Financial Aid. For more information about UI&U’s B.A. programs, visit http://www.myunion.edu/academics/bachelor-of-arts/index.html.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

P&G Executive Joins Union's Board of Trustees


PROCTER & GAMBLE’S SHEKHAR MITRA JOINS UNION INSTITUTE & UNIVERSITY’S BOARD OF TRUSTEES

CINCINNATI, OH – Union Institute & University (UI&U), a private, non-profit university that offers a different approach to adult education through flexible, individualized, and socially relevant undergraduate and graduate degree programs, today announced the appointment of Procter & Gamble executive Dr. Shekhar Mitra to its Board of Trustees.

Dr. Mitra is a member of P&G’s top executive team, the Global Leadership Council, and helped forge important partnerships with several countries and with leading institutions. He was on-ground in China for the start of P&G’s global technical center in Beijing, and in India for the strategic partnership with Government of India’s Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR).

“Dr. Mitra’s effective and creative leadership has played a pivotal role in P&G’s global innovation programs,” said UI&U President, Dr. Roger H. Sublett. “We are honored that he has chosen to share his experience in innovation and leadership as a member of Union’s board.”

Mitra joined P&G in 1984 as a life scientist and moved up the leadership ranks to Senior Vice President of Global R&D. His contributions include leading the creation and development of technology platforms and innovation strategies that have resulted in well-known consumer products including Crest Whitestrips, Olay Regenerist, ProX, and Prilosec.

Mitra has been awarded 25 patents to date in various fields and today he is an invited speaker on topics ranging from innovation approaches to organization development. His passion lies in enabling younger generation of professionals across all cultures, companies, and businesses to achieve their full potential in the field of science and engineering. Consistent with this, he is the founder and President of the first North American Society for Asian Scientists & Engineers (SASE).

In his new role as a trustee of Union Institute & University, Mitra joins 14 national and local trustees including Dr. Virginia Ruehlmann Wiltse, Dr. Dick Aft, and Tom Gilman, all of Cincinnati.
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Thursday, November 19, 2009

Stressed Out? Dr. Sears Can Help.

Director of Union Institute & University’s Center for Clinical Mindfulness and Meditation Offers Tips on How to Handle Stress
Mindfulness is based on ancient meditation practices; Dr. Richard Sears says it can be a powerful tool in managing holiday-related stress and anxiety

CINCINNATI – Stress. It’s all around us. In addition to the ongoing stresses of our lives, recent events are adding even more pressures on us: a worsening economy; job layoffs; pressures of the holidays; and the daylight hours growing shorter, to name a few.

“Ongoing stress has long been known to often lead to more serious difficulties,” says Dr. Richard Sears, psychologist and faculty member of the Doctorate in Psychology program (PsyD) at Union Institute & University, a private, non-profit university headquartered in Walnut Hills. “Links have been established with medical problems, worsening of chronic pain, depression, and anxiety disorders.”

In May, Sears established Union Institute & University’s Center for Clinical Mindfulness and Meditation (CCMM ) to gather information from researchers, therapists, and practitioners so that these methods can be disseminated and further refined. “Mindfulness is one method of paying attention to and wisely working with our thoughts, bodily sensations, and emotions,” says Sears. “Through simple exercises, we eventually come to bring a richer awareness and presence into our daily lives. By stepping outside of our ruminating thoughts, we can develop a broader perspective.”

The CCMM also serves as a resource to the general public. Those interested in mindfulness are invited to visit Sears and the CCMM at UI&U in Walnut Hills. Sears also hosts 8-week mindfulness groups at the center, and its Web site also serves as a resource - where those interested in mindfulness can read articles and find tips on using mindfulness techniques in their everyday lives.

Sears recently posted five tips for reducing stress using the mindful approach on the CCMM Web site. He is also currently registering people for a Mindfulness-based group to start in January. These groups have been shown to help prevent relapses of depression, which can be especially important as the winter season approaches.

For more information about mindfulness and to read Dr. Sears’ tips, visit the Center for Clinical Mindfulness and Meditation website at www.myunion.edu/ccmm. To register or to find information about the 8-week sessions, visit the Web site, email ccmm@myunion.edu, or call 513-487-1196.

5 tips for reducing stress using the mindfulness approach
By Richard Sears, PsyD, MBA, ABPP

1. Take a breath.
Too often, we rush from one thing to another, and barely take time to breathe. Intentionally breathing deeply for a moment disrupts the usual pattern of stress, and refreshes our bodies.

2. Come to your senses.
If you are stuck in your head, worrying and thinking too much, bring yourself back into the physical world for a moment. Feel the physical sensations in your body, smell the air, gaze out the window, listen to some music, taste a cup of tea.

3. Step back.
If you get caught up in what you are doing, mentally pull back and try to gain a wider perspective on the situation. What is the “big picture?”

4. Watch out for judgments.
We are constantly comparing ourselves, which often creates unnecessary stress. Are you being unreasonably harsh on yourself, or creating a standard that is too high?

5. Re-evaluate your priorities.
From time-to-time, ask yourself, “Is what I am doing really all that important?” You may be surprised to discover how often the answer is no. Take some time to think about what is really most important in your life, and muster the courage to disengage from things that take away from your priorities.

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Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Dr. Gene Cohen, Expert on Aging and UI&U Alumnus Dies

Dr. Gene Cohen, 1944-2009


“This is a remarkable time scientifically in the field of aging. Longtime negative myths and stereotypes are being turned upside down, replaced by new findings pointing to those positive changes in the second half of life that occur because of aging, not despite aging. Science regarding aging has become exciting, surprising, positive, and hopeful.” – Dr. Gene Cohen, MD, PhD


It is with great sadness that we announce that Dr. Gene Cohen, a renowned expert on aging and the brain who earned his Ph.D. from Union Institute & University in 1981, passed away Saturday, November 7, 2009, at his home in Kensington, MD after a long battle with prostate cancer.


Last May, UI&U was honored when Dr. Cohen agreed to serve as the keynote speaker for the UI&U and Academy of Medicine symposium Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: What is Aging After All: Important, Interesting, and Surprising New Findings About the Aging Brain and Behavior.


Dr. Cohen served as director of the Center on Aging, Health, and Humanities at George Washington University. He earned his undergraduate degree at Harvard and his medical degree from Georgetown Medical School. His Union Ph.D. focused on gerontology. He was the author of several books including The Creative Age: Awakening Human Potential in the Second Half of Life, and most recently, The Mature Mind: The Positive Power of the Aging Brain. Dr. Cohen has appeared on Nightline (interviewed by Barbara Walters), the MacNeil/Lehrer Hour, and The Today Show, among other national news broadcasts, and was the creator of many patented games and activities to enhance and improve the aging brain.


Washington Post obituary.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Brattleboro Center Hosts Psy.D. Open House

BRATTLEBORO, VT –Union Institute & University (UI&U) in Brattleboro will host an Open House to introduce prospective learners to its doctoral program in clinical psychology (Psy.D.), from 5:30-7 pm., Thursday, December 10th, at the program’s offices at the Marlboro Graduate Center, 28 Vernon Street, First Floor, Brattleboro, VT.

Consistent with UI&U’s mission, the Psy.D. program integrates social justice into all of its courses and emphasizes multiculturalism in clinical practice. “We train people to become more aware of injustices, such as trauma, abuse, oppression and racism, and prepare them to be active agents of change, both with their clients and the larger social system,” said Dr. William Lax, Dean of the program. Learners are trained to be culturally competent clinicians, able to provide mental health services to individuals, families, groups and organizations. The program also includes an optional emphasis area in family psychology.
The UI&U Psy.D. program integrates face-to-face and online courses to offer flexibility for working adults who need to balance career, family, and other social and civic responsibilities. In addition to the online courses, learners attend two week-long fall and spring Academic Meetings, as well as eight day-long Saturday meetings in Brattleboro once a month for the first three years of the program.

To learn more or to register, call: 800.336.6794 x8408 or email: Admissions.PsyD@myunion.edu. UI&U’s Brattleboro offices are located minutes from Interstate 91 at the juncture of the Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts borders. It is easily accessible throughout the greater New England region. Applications are currently being accepted for the Fall 2010 Brattleboro cohort.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

President Sublett Joins Leadership Board

UNION INSTITUTE & UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT ROGER H. SUBLETT APPOINTED TO THE BOARD OF INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP ASSOCIATION

CINCINNATI – Dr. Roger H. Sublett, President of Union Institute & University, was recently appointed to the board of the International Leadership Association (ILA), a global network for all who practice, study and teach leadership. The ILA promotes a deeper understanding of leadership knowledge and practices for the greater good of individuals and communities worldwide. As part of his role as a board member, Dr. Sublett will take part in the 11th annual ILA Global Conference: Leadership for Transformation, held in Prague, Czech Republic, November 11-14.

As a forum where people can share ideas, research, and practices about leadership, the ILA strives to strengthen ties between those who study and those who practice leadership and fosters effective and ethical leadership in individuals, groups, organizations, and governments in the global community. The organization also generates and disseminates interdisciplinary research and develops new knowledge and practices.
Founded in the 1990s, the ILA has become the largest international and inter-disciplinary membership organization devoted solely to the study and development of leadership. Based at the University of Maryland’s James MacGregor Burns Academy of Leadership, the ILA is one of the few organizations to actively embrace academics, practitioners, consultants, private industry, public leaders, not-for-profit organizations, and students. The association’s international roots can be traced back to 1995 and the Salzburg Seminar on Global Leadership, Concepts, and Challenges held in Austria, co-chaired by Georgia Sorenson and James MacGregor Burns, and attended by scholars and leaders from 50 countries.
To learn more about the ILA visit http://www.ila-net.org/.
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Tuesday, September 22, 2009

UI&U's Sacramento Center Relocates


SACRAMENTO, CA – Drivers in Sacramento are about to become more familiar with Union Institute & University. On October 1, Union Institute & University’s (UI&U) Sacramento Center will begin operating from their new center location at 160 Promenade Circle, Ste #115, in Sacramento. The new location will be marked by lighted signage visible to drivers traveling Interstate 80 to Reno and San Francisco. In addition, from September 21 through October 18,
the Center will be featured on 40 Clear Channel billboards located throughout the Sacramento area.

The move from the Center’s current location, at 2710 Gateway Oaks Drive to the new location in the Sacramento Gateway Shopping Center, was driven by the need to accommodate the Sacramento Center’s steady growth in enrollment and demand for more on-site courses. The Center recently started new a BS program in emergency services management (ESM) and will start on-site courses for the program in the new beginning October 30.

“We’re experiencing a strong growth in enrollment now. Perhaps in part because of the economic situation, we are seeing that more and more adults want to return to college to complete their degrees for greater job security and to advance in their fields,” said Dr. James Rocheleau, dean of the California Centers. Dr. Rocheleau hopes the billboards that feature the tagline, “It Pays to Go Back” will encourage adults to return to school.

Union Institute & University is non-profit, private university headquartered in Cincinnati that offers a different approach to adult education featuring flexible, individualized, and socially relevant undergraduate and graduate degrees, online or through brief residencies. In addition to the Sacramento location, UI&U also has centers in Brattleboro and Montpelier, Vt., Miami, and Los Angeles. The Sacramento Center, however, offers some of the university’s most successful programs. The Center’s criminal justice management program, in particular, accommodates law enforcement officers from across Northern California.

To learn more about UI&U’s Sacramento Center visit: http://www.myunion.edu/about/locations/sacramento/index.html, or contact the Sacramento Center at 800.486.7049.

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Thursday, September 10, 2009

Union Appoints New Board Member

UNION INSTITUTE & UNIVERSITY APPOINTS THE KETTERING FOUNDATION’S MAXINE THOMAS TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Thomas is a Kellogg Foundation National Fellow and Fulbright lecturer

CINCINNATI , OH - Union Institute & University (UI&U), a private, non-profit university that offers a different approach to adult education featuring flexible, individualized, and socially relevant BA, BS, MA, MEd, PhD, EdD and PsyD degrees, online or through brief residencies, today announced the appointment of Maxine Thomas of the Kettering Foundation to the university’s Board of Trustees.

“Maxine Thomas brings a wealth of experience to the board, and her work at the Kettering Foundation emulates Union’s dedication to community involvement and social justice.” said UI&U President Dr. Roger H. Sublett. “Her expertise and talent will prove paramount as Union continues to establish itself as a leader in adult higher education.”

Thomas comes to the board with considerable experience in legal counsel and philanthropy.
She joined the Kettering Foundation (KF) staff in July of 1991 as secretary and general counsel and currently serves as a program officer, directing a number of projects in community leadership. She also leads Kettering work with the American Bar Association and the Ohio Supreme Court and chairs the Kettering Foundation Task Force on China and has served as a member of that task force since 1993.

Before coming to KF, she was an associate dean of the University of Georgia School of Law. She previously served as assistant attorney general for the State of Washington serving in the Office of General Counsel for the University of Washington.

In 1988, Thomas was a Fulbright lecturer at Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan and has served on the Fulbright Association Board from 1991 to 2000. She was made a Kellogg Foundation National Fellow in 1985, and was admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1995. She served as project director for Kellogg grants for Community Leadership in Health Issues (1996-1999), and for African-American Males Project (1995-1996). She received her B.A in English from the University of Washington, and her J.D. degree from the University of Washington School of Law. Thomas is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association, the Ohio Women’s Bar Association, and the American Bar Association.

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Tuesday, September 1, 2009

BS in Leadership Now Accepting New Learners

Dr. Carolyn Turner, Dean of Cincinnati Undergraduate Studies, serves as the program’s chair

CINCINNATI – As part of Union Institute & University’s ongoing efforts to provide relevant, timely degree options to adult learners, the university today announced the launch of the Bachelor of Science in Leadership program. The new multi-disciplinary program is tailored toward the learner’s chosen career path.

Dr. Carolyn Turner, dean of Undergraduate Studies at the Cincinnati Center, is serving as the program’s chair. “Learners will work with faculty who will help them design and follow a degree plan that suits their chosen profession. It is an ideal program for those in business, the arts, information technology, health professions, culinary studies, and in non-profit management,” said Dr. Turner. “The leadership major is really for anyone who wants to make lasting change in their professions. Learners will learn how to articulate a perspective on power in the world and forge their own place in the global community,” said Dr. Turner.

Learners will apply, analyze, and evaluate a variety of concepts and theories of leadership to their own professional practice experiences; discuss and evaluate effective management and leadership behaviors and their implications in professional practice; and describe the connections between ethics and leadership. In addition, they will learn to apply ethical principles to issues in their chosen practice; deepen understanding of the complexity of leadership and how to enhance their capacity to be effective leaders in their chosen field; and identify, assess, lead, and manage change in the professional environment.

For more information on the BS in Leadership program, contact Victor Gray, BS enrollment counselor at 800.486.3116, ext 1241 or victor.gray@myunion.edu.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Union Announces New ESM Major

New program prepares leaders in rapidly growing field

CINCINNATI – Union Institute & University (UI&U), a private, non-profit university headquartered in Cincinnati with centers in Sacramento and Los Angeles, Miami, and Montpelier and Brattleboro, VT, today announced the launch of the Bachelor of Science in Emergency Services Management (ESM) program. The new ESM major is ideal for both those already in a career related to emergency services or disaster response, and those seeking to join a rapidly growing field.

Jobs in emergency services have grown since the September 11 terrorist attacks and Hurricane Katrina. According the recent careerbuilder.com article, “Seven emerging jobs poised for growth,” jobs in emergency services are estimated to grow by 7-13 percent in the upcoming years. “Our world is changing; it is critical to have trained and degreed professionals managing the various crises that occur,”” said Dr. James Rocheleau, dean of UI&U’s California Centers. “Despite the economic outlook, the field of emergency services continues to grow,” he said.

UI&U’s emergency services management program prepares graduates for careers in emergency services industries where a high level of understanding in organizational dynamics and interpersonal skills are required. Graduates of the program will be able to solve administrative problems, fine-tune strategic plans, enhance human resource potential, increase productivity, and address internal organizational issues. “We are essentially preparing learners for leadership roles within the field of emergency service,” said Dr. Rocheleau.

Learners in the ESM program have several degree completion options. They can attend on-ground classes that meet face-to-face five times in an eight-week session or select a distance learning option and earn eight credits in eight weeks. Learners may also be able to transfer credits from other regionally accredited colleges and universities and request credit for knowledge gained outside the classroom through work or professional experience. Law enforcement officers and firefighters may be able to apply credits earned in their training towards their ESM degree requirements.

For more information on the new Emergency Services Management program contact Fatemeh Fazely, faculty advisor, at fatemeh.fazely@myunion.edu or 800-486-3116, ext. 1511.


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UI&U Florida Center Commencement August 30

UNION INSTITUTE & UNVERSITY AUGUST 30 COMMENCEMENT TO HONOR FLORIDA CENTER GRADUATES AND LONG-TIME DEAN DR. MARIE BOGAT

Many are the first in their families to graduate from college;
New Trustee Louis Albert Jolivert to confer degrees

NORTH MIAMI BEACH - Learners from Union Institute & University’s (UI&U) Florida Center located in North Miami Beach will convene at the Miami Airport Hilton on August 30 to participate in Union Institute & University’s Florida commencement ceremonies. The new graduates have earned undergraduate or graduate degrees from the private, non-profit university that provides higher education opportunities for working adult learners. Many are the first in their families to earn a college degree.

Dr. Marie Bogat, former dean of the Florida Center and a leader in international education will serve as the commencement’s keynote speaker and will be awarded the Presidential Medal for her exemplary service to the UI&U community. In addition, UI&U new board member and Miami resident Louis Albert Jolivert will confer the degrees, and graduate Jenell Atlas, a lieutenant with the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, will represent her fellow learners with a speech on their behalf.

Dr. Bogat taught high school students in New York before accepting a Smith-Mundt Act of Congress grant to teach in Haiti in 1958. After a 30-year career in overseas education, she retired from Union School in Port-au-Prince as its superintendent and moved to Miami, where she joined the faculty of the UI&U Florida Center in 1994. She was named dean of the center in 2000. Under her leadership, the Florida Center forged strong relationships with Miami’s Haitian and Latino communities and became one of the leading universities in South Florida for educators

“My biggest inspiration is our yearly graduation, when our graduates cross the stage and their families jump up with their cameras and shout their names. Those kinds of things are the spontaneous beauty of an educational experience, and I cling to those things,” said Dr. Bogat.

UI&U is headquartered in Cincinnati, and has centers in Montpelier and Brattleboro, VT, and Sacramento and Los Angeles, CA, in addition to the Florida Center in North Miami Beach.
The August 30 Florida Center Commencement will take place at 1 p.m., at the Miami Airport Hilton, 5101 Blue Lagoon Dr., Miami. For more information contact Angela Byles at angela.byles@myunion.edu or at 305-653-7141.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Union Makes Diverse Education's Top 100 List

UNION INSTITUTE & UNIVERSITY MAKES DIVERSE ISSUES IN HIGHER EDUCATION’S LIST OF TOP 100 DEGREE PRODUCERS


CINCINNATI – Union Institute & University (UI&U), a private, non-profit university headquartered in Cincinnati, was recognized for its high percentage of minority graduates in Diverse Issues in Higher Education’s Top 100 Degree Producers list, published in the July 23, 2009 issue. UI&U ranked 55th on the list of the nation’s Top 100 Graduate Degree Producers in recognition of its high percentage of African-Americans who graduated from the university’s Ed.D., Ph.D., and Psy.D. programs during the 2007-2008 year. The university also ranked 21st in the nation in the list of undergraduate education programs for its percentage of African-American graduates, and 48th for all minorities.

“Union has always fostered diversity among our learners, faculty, our trustees, and our administration,” said UI&U president, Dr. Roger H. Sublett. “This list is an indication and validation of our efforts and reflects our adherence to our mission and principles of social justice. From its founding 45 years ago, Union has always been dedicated to diversity, and we work hard every day to ensure that people from all backgrounds have an opportunity to attend Union.”

In each of Diverse Issues in Higher Education’s Top 100 lists, data is collected by the National Center for Education Statistics from all U.S. postsecondary institutions. The data is part of the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data Set (IPEDS). The preliminary data the magazine uses is complete and accurate for those institutions included in the analysis, which represent the vast majority of U.S. four-year colleges and universities.

Since its founding in 1984, Diverse Issues In Higher Education (formerly Black Issues In Higher Education) has been America's premier news source for information concerning vitally important issues affecting minorities and education. The magazine received the 2002 Folio award as the best education publication in America.
To view the complete list, visit: http://www.diverseeducation.com/top09/top100listing.html

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Union Launches Online M.Ed. Program

New M.Ed. program furthers UI&U’s mission to create positive change in communities through emphasis on social justice

WALNUT HILLS – Union Institute & University (UI&U), a private, non-profit university headquartered in Walnut Hills, dedicated to meeting the needs of the working adult learner, today announced the launch of the Online Master of Education (M.Ed. Online) program. The new program targets educational leaders seeking to enhance their credentials and make meaningful, positive change within their institutions, all while maintaining their commitments to family, community, and career. It is consistent with UI&U’s vision to provide higher education opportunities that engage, enlighten, and empower individuals in their pursuit of a lifetime of learning and service.

Union’s M.Ed. Online program emphasizes the strong connection between social justice and education issues, with a goal to promote the development of educators who are leaders and reformers, improving schools and communities, and to enliven, strengthen, and challenge practicing educators.

“Teachers play an increasingly critical role in our communities,” said Dr. Arlene Sacks, director of the program. “The M.Ed. online option is a great opportunity for educators who see themselves as leaders and who wish to make an impact in educational reform and policy. The online delivery is geared to those who are currently engaged in their own communities and need flexible, transportable, anytime/anywhere instruction.”

Learners can complete their studies totally online, without disrupting career, family, or community commitments. The new, non-licensure online M.Ed. curriculum is in keeping with UI&U’s two low-residency M.Ed. licensure options in Vermont and Florida, and all are ideal for those seeking careers as education administrators, higher education faculty members, and leaders of non-profit organizations. The M.Ed. 36-credit hour online program can be completed in 12 months. Up to six transfer credits may apply.

Union is now enrolling learners for terms that begin August 31, 2009; January 4, 2010; and May 3, 2010. For more information contact Michelle Flick, M.Ed. Online enrollment counselor at michelle.flick@myunion.edu or 1-800-486-3116 ext. 1225.

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Tuesday, July 7, 2009

UI&U Launches Center for Clinical Mindfulness

UNION INSTITUTE & UNIVERSITY LAUNCHES CENTER FOR CLINICAL MINDFULNESS AND MEDITATION

New center demonstrates UI&U’s commitment to cutting-edge research and practice


CINCINNATI - Union Institute & University (UI&U) today announced the launch of the Union Institute & University Center for Clinical Mindfulness and Meditation (CCMM), a resource for mental health professionals, researchers, and the general public. Maintained by the university’s doctoral program in clinical psychology (PsyD), the CCMM will serve the needs of clinicians, scholars, and other interested individuals, and demonstrates UI&U’s leadership and commitment to cutting-edge research and practice to both the professional community and to prospective learners. “This is a very exciting time in the field of psychology,” said Richard Sears, PsyD, MBA, ABPP, a psychologist and a core faculty member of the PsyD program, who will serve as director of the new center. “Although mindfulness and meditation are ancient practices, research on their clinical applications is a rapidly growing field within the scientific community. The new center will provide an excellent forum through which professionals and the public can share information, link resources, and provide networking opportunities.”

Sears is also forming an advisory board from within UI&U, other colleges and universities, and from the professional community.Mindfulness is a rapidly growing area of research and practice in the field of psychology and mental health. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) are cutting-edge, evidence-based psychotherapeutic treatments using mindfulness.

Basically, mindfulness involves systematically training to pay attention and work wisely with thoughts and emotions. It has a wide variety of applications, from helping business professionals to be more effective and find a happier work-life balance, to dealing with severe chronic pain, stress, anxiety, and depression. The use of mindfulness has been popularized by Jon Kabat-Zinn and others through such books as Wherever You Go, There You Are, The Mindful Way through Depression, and Mindfulness at Work.

The center will post news, articles, resources, and links on its Web site. Future plans for the center may also include sponsoring workshops and meetings, creating a book and video library, and assisting in the creation of a peer-reviewed journal. In addition to his clinical work as a psychologist, Sears has been studying and practicing mindfulness and meditation for over 20 years. He has traveled in India and Nepal, and has studied with a variety of Eastern teachers, including the Dalai Lama. He has a fifth degree black belt, and continues to practice martial arts with To Shin Do founder Stephen K. Hayes, the first American to learn the art of ninjutsu. To learn more about Union Institute & University’s Center for Clinical Mindfulness and Meditation visit the website at www.myunion.edu/ccmm, or contact Dr. Richard Sears at richard.sears@myunion.edu.


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Tuesday, June 30, 2009

California Commencement July 19

UNION INSTITUTE & UNVERSITY JULY 19 COMMENCEMENT TO HONOR GRADUATES FROM ACROSS CALIFORNIA

Dr. Hanmin Liu, president of San Francisco-based Wildflowers to deliver keynote;
fallen officer to receive posthumous degree

SACRAMENTO, CA – Learners from across California will converge at the Lionsgate Garden Pavilion July 19, in McClellan, CA, to participate in Union Institute & University’s California Commencement. The new graduates, ages 24-63, are learners from UI&U’s Los Angeles and Sacramento Centers who have earned undergraduate or graduate degrees from the private, non-profit university that provides higher education opportunities for adult learners.

Dr. Hanmin Liu will deliver a keynote address that focuses on living a life dedicated to service and community activism. His Francisco-based Wildflowers Institute, an organization he founded in 1997, believes the best way to address social problems is to help communities identify and leverage existing social and cultural assets to empower the community to take ownership of a direction and a culture that are aligned with its economy.

Dr. Liu, a UI&U Board of Trustee member, is himself a graduate of UI&U, having earned his Ph.D. from the university in 1978. He is also a former admissions counselor, who brought an innovative approach to his work as Union recruited learners on the West Coast. “Union gave me the space fundamental in the development of my life as a social activist,” said Dr. Liu. “I’m very grateful for this. It is still a platform that I grow from and it really exemplified the work I’m doing now.”

The university will also bestow a posthumous degree to the family of fallen Oakland Police Officer Mark Dunakin. Officer Dunakin was just a few months away from earning his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice management from UI&U’s Sacramento Center when he and three fellow officers were fatally shot in the line of duty in March. His degree will be presented to the Dunakin family by UI&U President Dr. Roger H. Sublett.

“Sergeant Dunakin is an inspiration to the entire Union community by living Union’s mission to give back to the community in a life of service,” said Dr. Sublett. “We are honored to celebrate his life and his graduation alongside his family and fellow learners.”

UI&U, a private, non-profit university that provides higher education opportunities for adults, is headquartered in Cincinnati, and has centers in Vermont and Miami, as well as Sacramento and Los Angeles. The July 19 commencement will take place at 11 a.m., at the Lionsgate Garden Pavilion, 3410 Westover St., McClellan.

For more information contact Tahlya Cox at Tahlya.cox@myunionedu or at 800.486.7049.

Friday, June 19, 2009

POET MARTIN ESPADA VISITS UI&U

POET MARTIN ESPADA TO VISIT UNION INSTITUTE & UNIVERSITY AS PART OF PHD RESIDENCY

CINCINNATI – Union Institute & University (UI&U), a private, non-profit university headquartered in Walnut Hills, is honored to announce that poet Martin Espada will serve as artist-in-residence at the upcoming PhD in interdisciplinary studies residency. Espada will deliver a keynote address titled "The Republic of Poetry: A Keynote Reading," at 5 p.m., Tuesday, July 7, at the Kingsgate Marriott Conference Center. The event is free and open to the public. Reservation are required.

Called “the Latino poet of his generation,” Espada has published sixteen books in all as a poet, editor, essayist and translator, including two collections of poems last year. The Republic of Poetry, a collection of poems published by Norton in 2006, received the Paterson Award for Sustained Literary Achievement and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Another collection, Imagine the Angels of Bread (Norton, 1996), won an American Book Award and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award.

Espada has received numerous awards and fellowships, including the National Hispanic Cultural Center Literary Award, two NEA Fellowships, the PEN/Revson Fellowship and a Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship. His poems have appeared in the The New Yorker, The New York Times Book Review, Harper’s, The Nation and The Best American Poetry. A former tenant lawyer, Espada is now a professor in the Department of English at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, where he teaches creative writing and the work of Pablo Neruda.

UI&U’s Ph.D. in interdisciplinary studies is one of the most innovative among other doctorate programs in the county. The learners come together as members of cohorts that are formed based on the program’s three areas of concentration; ethical and creative leadership, public policy and social issues, and humanities and society.

Espada’s address is open to the public, however, reservations are required and seating is limited. To reserve a seat contact Jonathan Eskridge, academic residency advisor, 513-487-1199 or at jeskridge@myunion.edu.

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Union Institute & University is a private, accredited university that has, since 1964, redefined higher education by placing learners at the center of their own education. Union serves more than 2000, self-motivated, socially conscious adults in rigorous faculty- mentored programs without interrupting professional, family, and community commitments. UI&U offers individualized programs of study leading to the baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees. In addition to its distance learning programs, academic centers are located in Cincinnati (OH), Los Angeles and Sacramento (CA), Miami (FL), and in Montpelier and Brattleboro (VT).
www.myunion.edu / 440 E. McMillan St., Cincinnati, OH 45206-1925 / 513.861.6400 / 800.486.3116 / TDD 513.861.9968

UI&U JOINS YELLOW RIBBON PROGRAM

UNION INSTITUTE & UNIVERSITY WILL PARTICIPATE IN NEW PROGRAM FOR VETERANS
Eligible Veterans Could Attend UI&U Tuition-Free Through Yellow Ribbon Program

CINCINNATI – Union Institute & University (UI&U), a non-profit, private university that provides higher education opportunities for busy adults, is proud to announce its participation in the federal government’s Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) Yellow Ribbon Program. Beginning, August 1, the Walnut Hills-based university will provide generous tuition assistance for master’s and doctoral degree seeking learners that qualify for education assistance under the Yellow Ribbon Program of the Post 9/11 GI Bill.

As a participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program, UI&U will work with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to fund tuition costs above the highest in-state undergraduate tuition rate. The partnership will allow UI&U’s graduate programs’ tuition and fees to be matched by the federal government and will result in free tuition and fees for eligible veterans. It also allows for the benefit to be transferable to a spouse or dependant.

“We are very proud to be a part of this important effort and to have the opportunity to reward those who have dedicated their lives to serving others,” said Dr. Roger H. Sublett, President of UI&U. “Union strives to make higher education accessible to everyone, and in being a part of this great program, we are one step closer to making this happen.”

Veterans with active duty service after September 10, 2001 may be eligible for yellow ribbon benefits if:
They are entitled to the maximum benefit rate (based on service requirements)
Serve a period of at least 90 aggregate days
Serve a period of at least 30 days and receive a disability discharge
Individuals are eligible while on active duty after serving a period of 90 days

Please note: UI&U can award Yellow Ribbon benefits to the first 10 eligible veterans who apply.
For more information contact Lew Rita Moore, Registrar, at lewrita.moore@myunion.edu or 513-487-1105, visit the GI Bill Web site at http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_BILL_Info/CH33/Yellow_ribbon.htm.

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Wednesday, June 3, 2009

M.Ed. Program Brings Top Educator to Vermont

SUPERINTENDENT WILLIAM J. MATHIS TO SPEAK AT UNION INSTITUTE & UNIVERSITY
Mathis is Executive Director of the Education and the Public Interest Center
at the University of Colorado, Boulder

MONTPELIER, VT - William J. Mathis, Executive Director of the Education and the Public Interest Center at the University of Colorado, Boulder will deliver a keynote address as part of Union Institute & University’s Master of Education summer residency. The address will be from 6:30-8:15 p.m., July 11, in the College Hall Chapel at UI&U’s Vermont Academic Center and is free and open to the public.
In his presentation, titled “Edges, Challenges, and Visions,” Mathis will consider competing visions of education held by different sectors of society; address obstacles, primarily of adequacy and equity, that educators encounter as they navigate ridgelines toward the summits of these visions; and explore the potential effects of decisions that could topple educators from the ridges, sending them sliding down one face of the edge or the other. Emphasis will be placed on recent education policy statements of President Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan.
Mathis has served as superintendent of schools for the Rutland Northeast Supervisory Union in Brandon, VT and has taught education finance and law at the University of Vermont. He has published extensively on the cost of adequacy, the No Child Left Behind Act, and about policy issues. He is a former state superintendent of the year and national superintendent of the year finalist.

For more information contact Shelley Matz at 802-828-8810 or email Shelley.matz@tui.edu.

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BRATTLEBORO CENTER OFFERS CLEP TESTING

UNION INSTITUTE & UNIVERSITY’S BRATTLEBORO CENTER NOW ONE OF THREE CLEP AND DANTES NATIONAL TEST CENTERS IN VERMONT
Tests can help learners earn degrees faster

BRATTLEBORO, VT – The Brattleboro Academic Center at Union Institute & University (UI&U), a non-profit private university that offers undergraduate and graduate programs designed for the adult learner, is now certified to administer the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) test, designed to accelerate a learner’s degree completion.

Learners take CLEP tests for a variety of reasons. Some use the computer-based tests to shorten the time it takes to earn a college degree, thereby saving money on tuition and fees. Others take them to move on to more advanced courses sooner, complete basic requirements in order to take more electives, or satisfy college requirements. Tests are available in several subjects in disciplines including composition and literature, science and mathematics, foreign languages, business, and history and social sciences.

“By offering these tests, we are furthering our mission to help adult learners in earning a bachelor’s degree through programs that are both accelerated and affordable,” said Dr. Gregory Stewart, Vice President of Enrollment Management for UI&U.

The tests are open to the public, however, registration is required. CLEP tests are $70 per test. In addition, UI&U charges a $14 administrative fee. Members of the military pay no administrative fee for CLEP testing.

For more information or to register for testing contact Robert Wubbenhorst, Assistant Director/Admissions, Brattleboro Center at 802.257.9411 ext.8914 or at Robert.wubbenhorst@myunion.edu.

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Union Institute & University is a private, non-profit, accredited university that has, since 1964, redefined higher education by placing learners at the center of their own education. Union serves more than 2,000, self-motivated, socially conscious adults in rigorous faculty- mentored programs without interrupting professional, family, and community commitments. UI&U offers individualized programs of study leading to the baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees. In addition to its distance learning programs, academic centers are located in Cincinnati (OH), Los Angeles and Sacramento (CA), Miami (FL), and in Montpelier and the Brattleboro Center (VT).
http://www.myunion.edu/ / 440 E. McMillan St., Cincinnati, OH 45206-1925 / 513.861.6400 / 800.486.3116 / TDD 513.861.9968

Portland Info Session & Artist Talk June 15

UNION INSTITUTE TO HOST INFO SESSION AND ARTIST TALK WITH PORTLAND ARTIST LUCINDA BLISS JUNE 15

MONTPELIER, VT. – Union Institute & University (UI&U), a non-profit private university that offers undergraduate and graduate programs designed for the adult learner, will host a talk with faculty member Lucinda Bliss, followed by a general info session to answer questions about the university’s programs, from 5:30-8 p.m., Monday, June 15, at the Holiday Inn by the Bay, 88 Spring Street, Portland, ME.

Bliss, a Portland-based artist, will discuss her recent work and share images of drawings and artist’s books from the exhibit, Wonderland (March, ’09, Whitney Art Works). She will present her work in the context of collaboration and dialogue and will elaborate on what she finds to be a necessary balance between isolated creative immersion and work that evolves out of dialogue with other artists and thinkers. Work from collaborative projects done with artist Rebecca FitzPatrick and with poet/essayist Alison Hawthorne Deming will be presented.

Union Institute & University’s programs are rooted in learning through dialogue, and Bliss’s presentation will segue into a discussion about the generative and empowering nature of teaching and learning.

For more information contact Rachel Keach, assistant director of admissions for UI&U’s Vermont Academic Center, at 802-828-8510 or at http://www.blogger.com/rachel.keach@myunion.edu.

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Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Expert To Present at Psy.D. Meeting

DR. ERNA OLAFSON, CINCINNATI-BASED EXPERT IN CHILDHOOD TRAUMA AND TREATMENT, TO PRESENT AT UNION INSTITUTE & UNIVERSITY’S PSY.D. PROGRAM

CINCINNATI – Union Institute & University’s doctoral program in clinical psychology (Psy. D.) will hold its next semi-annual Academic Meeting May 12-17 in Cincinnati. The meeting will feature a presentation by Dr. Erna Olafson, a Cincinnati-based psychologist and expert in child abuse and neglect.

“We are excited to feature Dr. Olafson at this year's meeting. Not only is she a skilled practitioner and a well-trained scientist, but she is also a person who betters the world by improving local and national responses to abused children,” said Dr. William Lax, dean and director of the Psy.D. program. “Practice, science and social justice - these are the three cornerstones of the program, and we thought Dr. Olafson's work would resonate especially well with our learners.”

Dr. Olafson is an associate professor of clinical psychiatry and pediatrics at Cincinnati’s Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. She is the director of the program on child abuse forensic and treatment training within the Childhood Trust, and director of training for the Trauma Treatment Training Center at the CCHMC. She also serves as director of the Forensic Training Institute.

Union’s Psy.D. program is administered through the university’s Brattleboro and Cincinnati Centers, and participants from both New England and the Ohio region will attend the upcoming meeting. Many are actively involved in clinical practice, including work with sex offenders and their victims.

The UI&U Psy.D. program integrates face-to-face and online courses offering flexibility for working adults who need to balance career, family, and other social and civic responsibilities. In addition to the online courses, learners attend two week-long fall and spring Academic Meetings, as well as eight day-long Saturday meetings in Brattleboro for the first three years of the program.

For more information about the Psy.D. program, visit www.myunion.edu/psyd or contact Diane Robinson at diane.robinson@myunion.edu or call 800-336-6794, ext. 8408.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Union Announces National Commencement Speaker

NATIONAL HISPANIC LEADER JUANA BORDAS TO DELIVER KEYNOTE
AT UNION INSTITUTE & UNIVERSITY’S NATIONAL COMMENCEMENT

Bordas is a founder of Mi Casa Women's Center - recognized as a national model for women's empowerment

CINCINNATI – Union Institute & University (UI&U), a private, non-profit university headquartered in Walnut Hills, is honored to announce that Juana Bordas, a nationally-recognized leader in the Hispanic community, will deliver the keynote address at UI&U’s national commencement ceremony to be held October 17 in Cincinnati.

Bordas is the president of the Denver-based organization Mestiza Leadership International and served as vice president of the board of the Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership. She was also a former faculty member for the Center for Creative Leadership, where she taught in the Leadership Development Program (LDP) - the most highly utilized executive program in the world.

“Juana emulates Union’s mission and vision as a leader in the Hispanic community. She is a creative and passionate leader who continues to play a pivotal role in the lives of Hispanics in this country. It is my hope that each of our graduates will apply that same passion and creativity to make change in their own communities,” said UI&U President Dr. Roger H. Sublett.

A founder of Mi Casa Women's Center, Bordas also served as its executive director. Today, Mi Casa is recognized as a national model for women's empowerment. In addition, she is founding president/CEO of the National Hispana Leadership Institute, the only program in America that prepares Latinas for national leadership. In 2000, she founded The Circle of Latina Leadership to train "the next generation of Latina Leaders."

Bordas was initiated into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame and honored as a Wise Woman by the National Center for Women's Policy Studies. Recently, she served as advisor to Harvard's Hispanic Journal on Public Policy and the Kellogg National Fellows Program. A former Peace Corps volunteer, she received the Franklin Williams Award from the U.S. Peace Corps for her lifelong commitment to advancing communities of color and the Leadership Legacy Award from Spellman College's Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement. In addition, she has assisted a number of Fortune 500 companies in achieving greater diversity. This includes Coors Brewing Company, Chevron, Dial Corporation, and Texas Instruments. Bordas has also assisted government agencies, airports, and nonprofits enhance their leadership capacity and groom the potential of their growing diversity.

Her first book, Salsa, Soul, and Spirit: Leadership for a Multicultural Age has received compelling endorsements from experts in the leadership field and from Latino, Black, and American Indian leaders and won the 2008 International Latino Book Award for best business/leadership book. Juana has three grown daughters and four grandsons.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Earth Day Celebration in Montpelier

UNION INSTITUTE & UNIVERSITY'S MONTPELIER CENTER TO HONOR EARTH DAY
SATURDAY, APRIL 18th

MONTPELIER – Union Institute & University (UI&U) will honor Earth Day, April 18, with a day of events, including workshops and film presentations, at the university’s Montpelier Center on College Hill.

Throughout the day, the B.A. graduating class of June 2009 will hold a raffle, with many prizes including gift certificates from local businesses, artwork, a baby quilt, and more. The raffle is the graduating class community service project and all proceeds will go to Prevent Child Abuse Vermont.

Events Schedule:

1:30 – 2:30 p.m.: B.A. faculty member Susan Sawyer will offer a Montpelier spring tree walk close to campus. Participants should meet at Stone Science Hall, 62 Ridge St.
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. B.A. faculty member Sharyn Layfield will conduct a Tai Chi/Yoga session in Noble Reading Room in Noble Hall, College Street. Wear loose clothing and bring a towel and/or mat.
2:50 – 3:50 p.m., B.A. faculty member Lucinda Bliss will offer a drawing workshop in Stone Science Hall, Room 202. Participants will experiment with charcoal, pencil, and watercolor. The subject will be a still life with some fun but challenging characteristics! Materials will be provided.
7 p.m. Viewing of the film, Everything’s Cool, a “toxic comedy” about global warming, will be shown in Noble Lounge in Noble Hall on College Street B.A. faculty will facilitate a discussion after the film.

All events are free and open to the public. Raffle tickets will be available for sale on Saturday, April 18 ($1 per ticket, or six for $5). For more information, contact Suzanne Desch, B.A. program, 802-828-8884.

Homeless in Cincinnati Symposium May 1

UNION INSTITUTE & UNIVERSITY TO HOST SYMPOSIUM ON THE HOMELESS IN CINCINNATI ON MAY 1
Daylong event features experts on issues facing community and individuals

CINCINNATI – Union Institute & University (UI&U) today announced their Spring 2009 Symposium titled “The State of the Homeless in Cincinnati.” The daylong event is open to the public and will be held Friday, May 1 at the university’s headquarters in Walnut Hills. The event features presentations and discussions led by area experts and advocates, including Ohio Congressman Steve Driehaus; Josh Spring, executive director of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless; and Wayde Smith Sr., executive director of Superjobs.

This important symposium is part of the ongoing efforts by UI&U to provide socially relevant programs to the entire community. “Through its learners, alumni, and faculty, Union’s emphasis has always been on finding creative and lasting solutions to the issues that affect our communities,” said UI&U President Dr. Roger H. Sublett. “The state of the homeless is a topic that demands our attention and given our location in the heart of the city, we believe we have not only an opportunity – but an obligation to initiate dialogue and work collaboratively and creatively to find solutions and make change.”

UI&U faculty Bari Kraus, MSW, will facilitate the event that brings together more than 12 local experts in several areas relevant to the homeless community, including legal issues, housing, employment, and mental health. Among the presenters is Deborah Brundidge, MSW, counseling team coordinator for the Drop Inn Shelter, who will begin the discussions with a presentation titled, “The Overall Consequences of Poverty.” Dr. Larry Preston, dean of UI&U’s Ph.D. in interdisciplinary studies program will co-present “The Role of Government” with Rep. Driehaus, and Mary Burke, executive director of the Over-the-Rhine Housing Community, will address housing services for the homeless.

The event will take place May 1, from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., at Union Institute & University, 440 East McMillan Street, Walnut Hills. The event is open to the public however, seating is limited. Reservations required by April 24. Parking and admission is free. Boxed lunches will be available for $10 per person. To reserve a seat, please contact Juanita Johnson at 513-487-1163 or email: Juanita.johnson@myunion.edu.

Friday, March 13, 2009

MA Psych Open House - Brattleboro, VT

UNION INSTITUTE & UNIVERSITY TO HOST OPEN HOUSE FOR MASTERS OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY AND COUNSELING MARCH 28

BRATTLEBORO, VT - Union Institute & University (UI&U) will host an open house for those interested in learning more about the university’s M.A. in Psychology & Counseling, from 9 a.m.- noon, Saturday, March 28, at UI&U’s Brattleboro Academic Center. Faculty and staff will be available to discuss the program. A continental breakfast will be served.

The mission of the Master of Arts (M.A.) with Concentrations in Psychology and Counseling program is to educate future psychologists and counselor practitioners to identify and treat psychological problems and issues in a variety of clinical, educational, and workplace settings.

The program is designed specifically to offer the traditional courses and supervised internship experiences that are increasingly required by state and national agencies and credentialing bodies. Working with a team of faculty advisors who hold doctoral degrees and possess relevant practitioner experience, learners engage in critical inquiry, thoroughly examine and interact with the literature, theory, and research, and pursue and share the results of applied research.

Learners who graduate from the counseling psychology or clinical mental health counseling tracks meet course work requirements for national certification by the National Board for Certified Counselors GSA-NCC as a counselor and are eligible to sit for the national exam while in their final term.

For more information contact the Brattleboro Center at brattleborocenter@myunion.edu, or call 802-257-9411. Reservations for the event are not required, but recommended.
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Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Union Now Offers CLEP & DANTES Testing

Tests can help learners earn degrees faster

CINCINNATI, OH – Union Institute & University (UI&U), a non-profit private university that offers undergraduate and graduate programs designed for the adult learner, is now certified to administer the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) and DANTES Tests, both designed to accelerate a learner’s degree completion.

Learners take CLEP and DANTES tests for a variety of reasons. Some use the computer-based tests to shorten the time it takes to earn a college degree, thereby saving money on tuition and fees. Others take them to move on to more advanced courses sooner, complete basic requirements in order to take more electives, or satisfy college requirements. Tests are available in several subjects in disciplines including composition and literature, science and mathematics, foreign languages, business, and history and social sciences.

“By offering these tests, we are furthering our mission to help adult learners in earning a bachelor’s degree through programs that are both accelerated and affordable,” said Dr. Gregory Stewart, Vice President of Enrollment Management for UI&U.

Union administers CLEP and DANTES tests at their Walnut Hills location every Tuesday and Thursday of each month and one Saturday each month. The tests are open to the public, however, registration is required. CLEP tests are $70 per test and DANTES are $80 per test, in addition, UI&U charges a $14 administrative fee. Members of the military are eligible to take DANTES tests free of charge, and pay no administrative fee for CLEP testing. The university offers free, off-street parking and at-the-door entry to the testing center. This will save the public time reaching the testing center.

Tests are administered 9 a.m.-4 p.m. by appointment. Upcoming Test Dates are as follows:

March 2009 April 2009

Tuesday, March 10, 17, 24, and 31 Tuesday, April 7, 14, 31, and 28
Thursday, March 5, 12, 19, and 26 Thursday, April 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30
Saturday, March 14 and 28 Saturday, April 11 and 25

To register contact UI&U’s College of Undergraduate Studies at 513-487-1163, or Juanita Johnson at Juanita.johnson@myunion.edu.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Montpelier Celebrates Women's History Month

MONTPELIER, VT. - Union Institute & University (UI&U) will host a public discussion for Women’s History Month as well as an Open House for those interested in learning more about the university’s Bachelor of Arts degree on March 7, at the Montpelier Center, 62 Ridge Street.

In keeping with the university’s mission to promote social justice, and in honor of Women’s History Month, the Center will feature a talk by UI&U faculty, Dr. Linda Gray, titled Women’s History by the Numbers. The presentation, from 1:15-2:30 p.m., will examine the changes in women's roles in America, and the observable effects of those changes. The public is invited to bring stories to share.

Dr. Gray chairs the historical, social, and cultural studies concentration in university’s BA program. She served on the Vermont Governor’s Commission on Women from 1988-1996, and was a Fulbright Scholar in Ukraine from 2007-2008. Her research focuses on restoring lost or ignored narratives in the historical canon, in particular, those of native Americans and women.

UI&U faculty Sharyn Layfield will present a workshop open to the public entitled, Hot Tips for College Writing, from 3-4 p.m. Another talk includes Dialogues on Practice, from 1:15-2:45, by UI&U faculty, Amy Grillo Angell (open to UI&U alumni and local educators).

Rachel Keach says the Saturday event is a great way for potential learners to see UI&U’s mission in action. “This is an excellent opportunity for anyone interested in our programs to meet and talk to faculty and staff, and see what we are all about.”

Open House participants are encouraged to register from 12:45-1:15 at the Montpelier Center. Faculty and staff will be on-hand to discuss flexible B.A. options at a reception from 2:30 -3:30 p.m. in the Stone Lounge. Preregistration is suggested for the discussions by contacting Rachel Keach, assistant director of admissions, at Rachel.keach@myunion.edu, or at 802.828.8510.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Vermont Educator to Speak at UI&U in Montpelier

EDUCATOR BONNIE JOHNSON-ATEN TO PRESENT KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT UNION INSTITUTE & UNIVERSITY’S M.ED. RESIDENCY
Johnson-Aten empowers teachers and students to become leaders within the school

MONTPELIER, VT – Bonnie Johnson-Aten, a leading Burlington-based educator, will present the keynote address, “Opening Possibilities in Education: Ideas, Imagination, and Integration,” at Union Institute & University’s Masters of Education residency, at 5 p.m., Saturday, February 21, at The Chapel, Old College Hall, on the Vermont College Campus.

A 2003 graduate of UI&U's M.Ed. program and a 1999 graduate of UVM's Snelling Institute for School Leadership, Johnson-Aten is currently principal of Edmunds Middle School in Burlington, VT. For her talk, she will present a synthesis of personal experience and educational research as she explores the role of multicultural education in “opening possibilities” for all students. “She leads, in part, by creating a positive school climate and empowering both teachers and students to become leaders within the school,” said Dr. Perry Thomas, faculty chair of UI&U M.Ed program.

The vision of the UI&U M.Ed program is to provide a culture of inquiry, a center for renewal, and a community of educators. Learners think critically about models of education, reflect on practice, engage in meaningful dialogue, work collaboratively, and explore questions of personal concern and social significance. Its goals are to foster the development of educators who are inquirers, reformers, and leaders; to advance theory and practice in education; and to promote real school reform.
Johnson-Aten’s keynote address is free and open to the public. For information contact Dr. Elizabeth Perry Thomas at Elizabeth.thomas@myunion.edu, or call (802) 828-8587.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Upcoming Seminar: Aging & The Brain

MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL: WHAT IS AGING AFTER ALL?
SEMINAR TO OFFER IMPORTANT NEW FINDINGS ABOUT
THE AGING BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR
Dr. Gene Cohen, world-renowned expert on aging, to keynote the event

CINCINNATI – Union Institute & University (UI&U) and the Academy of Medicine have partnered to present, Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: What is Aging After All: Important, Interesting, and Surprising New Findings About the Aging Brain and Behavior, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Saturday, May 9, at the Duke Energy Center. The event will open with remarks by former Olympian and award-winning talk show host Julie Isphording, and feature keynote speaker Dr. Gene Cohen, MD, PhD, author, and director of the Center on Aging, Health, and Humanities at George Washington University.

Dr. Cohen is a graduate of Cincinnati’s Union Institute & University, Harvard College, and Georgetown University School of Medicine. The first editor-in-chief of The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, he is the author of several books including The Creative Age: Awakening Human Potential in the Second Half of Life, and most recently, The Mature Mind: The Positive Power of the Aging Brain. Dr. Cohen has appeared on Nightline (interviewed by Barbara Walters), the MacNeil/Lehrer Hour, and The Today Show, among other national news broadcasts.

“This is a remarkable time scientifically in the field of aging. Longtime negative myths and stereotypes are being turned upside down, replaced by new findings pointing to those positive changes in the second half of life that occur because of aging, not despite aging,” said Dr. Cohen. “Science regarding aging has become exciting, surprising, positive, and hopeful.” In addition to his keynote address, Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: What is Aging After All? Positive Brain and Behavior Changes Because of Aging, Not Despite It, he will conclude the seminar with a presentation titled Brain Fitness: Exercises for the Brain.

Prominent Cincinnati-based experts on aging will speak at the event - including Cathy Creger Rosenbaum, PharmD, who will offer advice on nutrition, brain health, and guarding your memory, and Dr. Michael Keys of Linder Center of Hope, who will discuss depression in late life. Julie Isphording will discuss the importance of being active mentally and physically throughout your life.

The event is presented with the generous support of The Helen Steiner Rice Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation.

The daylong event is open to the public. Cost: Academy of Medicine members and health professionals, $75; non-Academy member physicians, $150; non-healthcare professionals, $40; senior discount (55 years or older), $35; family/groups of 4 or more, $30 per person. Cost includes lunch, educational materials, and educational credits for those paying physician/health professional rate. For information or to register contact The Academy of Medicine, (513) 421-7010, or visit www.academyofmedicine.org.

UI&U Launches New Web Site

UNION INSTITUTE & UNIVERSITY LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE
www.myunion.edu designed to change your thinking about higher education;
reflects recent changes at UI&U

Cincinnati, OH – Union Institute & University (UI&U), today launched its newly designed Web site, www.myunion.edu. Under the banner, “Change Your Thinking,” the innovative new Web site showcases the university’s wide array of undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degree offerings, and provides access to other university services, including financial aid, courses for visiting learners and non-credit lifelong learning courses.

Union President Dr. Roger Sublett said the new Web site is timely, considering the competitive market and the university’s recent launch of three innovative doctoral programs, the expansion of UI&U's undergraduate majors, and the success of UI&U’s Master of Arts Online program, one of the university’s most popular degree programs. In addition, the university has renewed its focus on customer service and accelerated degree completion. “In these difficult economic times, working adults are looking for ways to integrate their lives with their learning, as well as make themselves more attractive to their current or prospective employer,” said Dr. Sublett. “Whether they are seeking to further their professional development, returning to complete an unfinished degree, or fulfilling a lifetime goal, Union Institute & University provides affordable and accessible options for degree-seeking adults. Our new Web site will help drive our mission and vision.”

Designed by Cincinnati-based advertising agency, the Creative Department, myunion.edu provides simple and intuitive navigation for prospective learners to quickly find the program that best fits their location, their schedule, and their learning style. Steve Deiters, partner and creative director at the Creative Department, said most adults have preconceived notions of how college is supposed to work, “They think, “‘I can't afford to go back to college,’ or ‘I don't have the time to take off work,’” said Deiters. We found a creative way to communicate how Union Institute & University very uniquely challenges the conventional learning process. It's time to change your thinking – about your own education.”

The site highlights selected current students and alumni and describes how Union changed their thinking – about their education and their lives. According to UI&U’s Web manager Mark Stevens, the site reflects the best Union has to offer – and in an intuitive and informative method. “Information about Union’s degree programs are only two clicks away,” Stevens said. “Detailed information about financial aid and the online ‘anytime’ application is available on every page.”

The original “university without walls,” UI&U was founded in 1964 as an accredited private, non-profit institution of higher learning where working adults have the opportunity to pursue a degree regardless of where they live and work. By providing academic programs that are flexible, affordable, customizable, and empowering, UI&U provides degree paths for professional adults to advance their careers without interrupting professional, family, or community commitments.

Founded in 1992, the Creative Department is an award-winning ad agency that has built business by breathing life into brands and framing communications in compelling ways Рwhether traditional, interactive, or guerrilla. Their portfolio includes advertising campaigns for clients including The BMW Store and Schmitt Șhne Reisling, Web site launches for Silkflowers and i-wireless, as well as local initiatives with Busken Bakery, the Fine Arts Fund, and several divisions of Procter & Gamble. For more information, please visit www.creativedepartment.com.