Wednesday, November 28, 2012

"Don't Be Such a Girl": Exploring Gender Microaggressions - Dec 3rd!


"Don't Be Such a Girl": Exploring Gender Microaggressions
Monday, December 3rd
6PM-8PM
6th Floor Open Space, Steger Student Life Center

Everyone (UC student or not!) is invited to join RAPPORT for our last meeting of 2012!

We'll be exploring the concept of microaggressions through working with sexist & cissexist language and behavior.

Not sure what a microaggression is? Join us! Want to find solidarity around this? Join us! Want to explore handling when we ourselves microaggress others? Join us!


Monday, November 26, 2012

Proposals Sought for Annual UC Diversity Conference - Due Jan 11th!

From UC News:

Diversity Topics Now Accepted for March Conference


The 2013 UC Diversity Conference seeks thought-provoking programs. Early registration has begun.

Date: 10/8/2012 12:00:00 AM
By: Greg Hand
Phone: (513) 556-1822

UC ingot   Planners for the University of Cincinnati Diversity Conference are looking for though-provoking presentations for the March 27 event.


"To make this event great community collaboration, we are seeking thought-provoking interactive workshop presentations and stimulating panel discussions," said Mitchel D. Livingston, UC's Chief Diversity Officer. "We welcome proposals from all interested faculty, students, staff, administrators and area professionals who practice and value being a diversity leader."

The 5th Annual University of Cincinnati Diversity Conference will be held March 27, 2013. 
"This conference is designed to highlight pedagogy, experiential knowledge and innovative practices that encourage individuals and organizations to build vibrant, diverse and inclusive environments," said conference Co-Chair Lisa H. Newman.

Newman said there organizers are planning for four concurrent sessions with eight to 10 presentations with flexible formats that may include more than one presenter.  Each session will be one hour and fifteen minutes in length.
Further details are available at the conference web site.

Early registration for the Diversity Conference at reduced rates is also available though the conference web site.

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Nominations Open for Sigma Xi Young Investigator Awards - Due Jan 21st

From UC News:

Nominations Open for Sigma Xi Young Investigator Awards


Applications are due on Jan. 21, 2013.

Date: 11/8/2012 12:00:00 AM
By: William Connick
Phone: (513) 556-0148

UC ingot   The UC Chapter of Sigma Xi is pleased to accept nominations for the 2013 Sigma Xi Young Investigator Award, the 2012-2013 High School Science/Math Teacher of the Year and the 2013 Sigma Xi Grants-in-aid-of-research for students. 

Details and application/nomination forms are available in the Chapter Programs and Awards section of the website.  

The deadline for all award nominations/applications is Jan. 21, 2013.

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Snapshots and Lessons from the RAPP XXVIII Fall Retreat

Friday, November 9th through Saturday, November 10th, RAPP XXVIII was on their first of three retreats for the year!  We spent the time at Graillville - home to so many RAPP memories - discussing issues of race and racism.
Part of the new RAPP XXVIII hand sign

It's part of a game, by Farooq enjoyed having a roomful of people salute him
RAPPers having fun Saturday afternoon
Small group discussion
End-of-retreat group shot - we're "Bearcating" because we're proud Bearcats!
At the meeting following the retreat, members each shared one thing they learned over retreat weekend.  Here's what folks shared:

Extinct or Passe? New Research Examines the Term "Metrosexual"

From UC News:

Extinct Or Passé? New Research Examines The Term, ‘Metrosexual’


Early findings from a new University of Cincinnati study will be presented at the annual meeting of the American Anthropological Association.

Date: 11/13/2012 12:00:00 AM
By: Dawn Fuller
Phone: (513) 556-1823
Photos By: Dottie Stover

UC ingot   Did the “metrosexual” male die out with the last decade, or has he become the new normal? Erynn Masi de Casanova, a UC assistant professor of sociology, will present her research about the label on Nov. 14, at the 111th annual meeting of the American Anthropological Association in San Francisco.
Erynn Masi de Casanova
Erynn Masi de Casanova


Casanova’s research, based on interviews with men in three major metropolitan cities, found that men in general were taking more interest in a well-groomed appearance and that they felt the term, “metrosexual,” was a stereotype that had run its course. Some men who were interviewed indicated that they preferred dressing up and looking sharp – especially on weekends – even though many American businesses now promote workplace casual dress codes. This was prominently reported in New York.

Casanova based her presentation, “Is the Metrosexual Extinct?  Men, Dress and Looking Good in Corporate America,” on interviews with 22 men in which the word, “metrosexual,” came up in the conversation. The men were white-collar workers in three major U.S. cities: New York, San Francisco and Cincinnati. 

“I was really interested in finding out how individual men think about social categories, such as metrosexual,” says Casanova. “It’s a word that’s out there, but do men really think about it – does it mean anything to them?”

Casanova says the label was originally coined by British journalist Mark Simpson to describe a single, young (usually heterosexual) man with a high disposable income, who worked in the city. 

“I found out that people had contradictory opinions about what being metrosexual was. Sometimes one person would reveal both negative and positive connotations about the word,” says Casanova. She says the majority of the men referred to the aesthetic aspect of the stereotype – men who were well-dressed and well-groomed.
from Microsoft free image photos

The men also said that the term was being used less and less – that it was likely a buzz-word that was fizzling out, or that now it has just become a label, as more men pay more attention to their appearance. “One of the interviewees said it’s just a new word for who used to be called a ‘pretty boy,’” Casanova says.

Casanova’s interviews also found that the metrosexual moniker opened up a way for heterosexual men to enjoy fashion without being stereotyped as gay, although others considered the term a more polite way of calling someone gay. Some men, says Casanova, saw the interest in fashion as a possible way to bridge gaps between gay and straight men. Some of the heterosexual men interviewed admitted taking fashion advice from gay men.

“As many men confirmed, this bridge seems to be a relatively new – and still somewhat tenuous – development,” Casanova says.

Of the 22 men interviewed, half were from New York, 41 percent were from Cincinnati and nine percent were from San Francisco. The majority of the interviewees identified as white; three identified as African American; one as Indian and one as “Afro-Caribbean.”

The men held a variety of positions in the corporate world, from sales/marketing to finance, recruitment and architecture/design. The average age of the men interviewed was 36. The youngest was 24 and the oldest was 58.

Casanova says the research is part of a larger study that she plans to publish as a book.  

Funding for the current research project was provided by the University of Cincinnati Taft Research Center.

UC’s Department of Sociology in the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences has nationally recognized faculty with award-winning publications and research grants.

Founded in 1902, the American Anthropological Association (AAA) is the world's largest organization of individuals interested in anthropology. 

Friday, November 23, 2012

World AIDS Day Expert Panel Presented by GlobeMed at UC - Nov 30th!

From GlobeMed at UC:

World AIDS Day Expert Panel
Friday, November 30th
4:30PM-6PM
Swift 519

In honor of World AIDS Day (December 1), GlobeMed at UC will be hosting a panel of speakers on Friday, November 30 from 4:30-6PM. 

Featured presenters include Dr. Judith Feinberg of UC Health, David White of Caracole, and Vic Wulsin of SOTENI. 

These leaders in the field of HIV/AIDS care will present their unique experiences and perspectives on HIV/AIDS care here in Cincinnati as well as around the world. 

Open to everyone in the UC community as well as the general public.


Overcoming First Generation Challenges, One Student at a Time

From UC News:

Overcoming First Generation Challenges, One Student at a Time

The Gen-1 Theme House, which opened in 2008, will celebrate a milestone in 2013.
Date: 11/15/2012
By: Tim Russell
Like many faculty and staff around the University of Cincinnati, Judy Mause doesn’t have regular hours. But it’s unlikely you’ll hear her, or any of her colleagues who work in the Gen-1 Theme House, complain about long days.

That’s because helping first-generation college students (those who are the first in their families to attend college) make the successful leap into higher education is right where Mause wants to be – late nights, weekends and all. 
Judy Mause Stock Image



“Everyone involved in the Gen-1 Theme House – (program director) Bob Suess, (program specialist) Christina Black, our resident graduate assistant and of course, the students themselves, work together to make it a success,” she says. “There are many more people both on the Gen-1 side and in the university who make this partnership operate, and that in turn motivates me to work just as hard.”

To make your impact, click here to support the Gen-1 Theme House.

Mause’s passion for the Gen-1 project grew from UC’s realization of this national epidemic – and a desire to find a real solution.

“Nationally, nearly nine out of ten first-generation college students were walking away without the skills and education they needed to have a better life, yet most of them had debt from student loans and feelings of failure as well,” says Mause.

“Education is the single most important step an individual can take to change their quality of life,” she continues. “What we’re doing is addressing an incredibly complex problem the best way we know how – one student at a time.”

The team’s research-based knowledge of what helped students succeed in college – increased structure like weekday curfews, and access to resources like advisors and tutors – soon began turning heads at UC and around the country.

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Fall 2012 Genderf*ck Drag Show - Nov 30th!

From Colors of Pride:

Fall 2012 Genderf*ck Drag Show
Friday, November 30th
9PM-11PM
Catskeller

Come support Genderbloc and Colors of Pride as we challenge gender roles by f*cking them up! Get there early to get a seat!


CCM Presents Thought-Provoking Drama "The Laramie Project" - Nov 29th-Dec 1st

Via UC News:

CCM Presents Thought-Provoking Drama 'The Laramie Project'


This powerful stage event runs Nov. 29 - Dec. 1 as part of CCM's 2012-13 Studio Series.

Date: 11/16/2012 12:00:00 AM
By: Sara Kissinger
Other Contact: Curt Whitacre
Other Contact Phone: (513) 556-2683
Photos By: Richard E. Hess

UC ingot   
CCM's Studio Series presents 'The Laramie Project' Nov. 29 - Dec. 1, 2012.
CCM's Studio Series presents 'The Laramie Project' Nov. 29 - Dec. 1, 2012.

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) proudly presentsThe Laramie Project as the next installment in this year's Studio Series. Written by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theatre Project, this popular and powerful play runs Nov. 29 – Dec. 1 in UC's Cohen Family Studio Theater. Admission to The Laramie Project is free, but reservations are required.

Directed by Drama Department Chair Richard E. Hess, The Laramie Project brings to life on stage the facts surrounding the death of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student whose brutal murder shocked the country in 1998. Kaufman and members of his theatre company traveled to Laramie, Wyoming, to conduct 200 interviews with the residents of the town. The result is a powerful dramatization of the murder, investigation and subsequent convictions – a sobering look into how hate is born and nurtured in the back streets of a friendly American town.

“This is a snapshot of a not-so-distant time,” Hess explains. “The times we live in prove that we need to keep talking about violence and discrimination. Gender equality, marriage equality – these are issues we live with every day.”

Performance Times
  • 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29
  • 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30
  • 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1
Location
Cohen Family Studio Theater, CCM Village
University of Cincinnati
Purchasing Tickets
Admission to The Laramie Project is free, but reservations are required. Tickets become available at noon on Monday, Nov. 26. Visit the CCM Box Office or call 513-556-4183 to reserve. Limit two tickets per order.

Dedication to Diversity, Communication Brings Recognition to A&S Dean

From UC News:

Dedication to Diversity, Communication Brings Recognition to A&S Dean


The dean of the McMicken College of Arts & Sciences will be honored by the National Communication Association for his exemplary career and service as co-editor of an academic journal.

Date: 11/15/2012 12:00:00 AM
By: Tom Robinette
Phone: (513) 556-8577
Photos By: Jean Assell

UC ingot   When it comes to diversity, Ronald L. Jackson II certainly practices what he preaches.

The dean of the McMicken College of Arts & Sciences has identified diversity as a strategic priority in his first year leading the largest college at the University of Cincinnati. And this week he’ll receive a lifetime distinguished service award from the largest communication association in the United States for exhibiting many estimable personal and professional attributes – including commitment to diversity and concern for others – and for advancing the discipline.
Dean Ronald L. Jackson II will be honored with the National Communication Association’s Robert J. Kibler Memorial Award.



Jackson recently was chosen as this year’s recipient of the National Communication Association’s (NCA) Robert J. Kibler Memorial Award. Jackson will receive the award during NCA’s 98th annual convention to be held Nov. 15-18 in Orlando, Fla. The NCA promotes the importance of communication in public and private life and its ability to improve the quality of human life and relationships, and to solve human problems.

The NCA’s Kibler award was created in 1978 to honor Kibler, a professor of communication at Florida State University. The award was designed to recognize qualities epitomized by Kibler, such as dedication to excellence, commitment to the profession, concern for others, vision of what could be, acceptance of diversity and forthrightness.

“It is always great to be recognized by one's peers,” Jackson says. “Having this kind of award shows that the field of communication recognizes there are challenges ahead but that there is important work toward addressing those challenges. The famous civil rights activist Eldridge Cleaver once stated, ‘If you are not a part of the solution, then you are a part of the problem.’ I am proud to be a part of the solution.”

Jackson and Kent Ono of the University of Utah also will be recognized by the NCA for concluding their co-editorship of the NCA's Critical Studies in Media Communication journal. Jackson says his work on the journal helped him further appreciate the interdisciplinary nature of the field of communication and the importance of understanding media in today’s increasingly technology-connected society.

“Clearly, the world in which we live practically inundates us with all kinds of media. This environment continues to grow as a result of the proliferation of handheld devices,” Jackson says. “Therefore, we have to understand the nature of media if we are ever to understand the evolution of society. That is the case in the United States and throughout the entire world.”

Jackson is one of the leading communication and identity scholars in the nation. His research examines how theories of identity relate to intercultural and gender communication, and he is nationally recognized for having developed a model known as the Black Masculine Identity Theory. 

This summer, he released a book, “Communicating Marginalized Masculinities,” that was co-edited with Jamie Moshin of Marietta College and published by Routledge. Jackson hopes readers will gain an understanding of how masculinities can at times be marginalized and at other times be privileged.   

“I think the presumption is that all men have privilege all the time and everywhere they go,” he says. “There are several factors that contribute to the marginalization of men such as issues related to sexuality, socioeconomic status, race, physicality and family background.”

Jackson also was recently announced as the keynote speaker for the fifth annual University of Cincinnati Diversity Conference on March 27. His topic will be "What It Means and When We All Matter: A Mandate for Diversity Excellence."

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

"Don't Be Such a Girl": Exploring Gender Microaggressions - Dec 3rd!

"Don't Be Such a Girl": Exploring Gender Microaggressions
Monday, December 3rd
6PM-8PM
6th Floor Open Space, Steger Student Life Center

Everyone (UC student or not!) is invited to join RAPPORT for our last meeting of 2012!

We'll be exploring the concept of microaggressions through working with sexist & cissexist language and behavior.

Not sure what a microaggression is? Join us! Want to find solidarity around this? Join us! Want to explore handling when we ourselves microaggress others? Join us!



Married Schmarried - Nov 26th!

From Sexy Cincinnati:

Married Schmarried
Monday, November 26th
6PM-8PM
Rohs Street Cafe

An uncensored discussion of human sexuality with married couples. 
Couple #1: 45 yrs married, Tantra Coaches, grand/parents with an exciting sex life!
Couple #2: 23 yrs married, 2 kids, polyamorous.



Mongolians, Nigerians and Fashion: Faculty Present Research at National Anthropology Meeting

From UC News:

Mongolia, Nigerians and Fashion: Faculty Present Research at National Anthropology Meeting


Members of UC’s Anthropology Department will present research papers at this week’s American Anthropological Association annual meeting.

Date: 11/15/2012 12:00:00 AM
By: Tom Robinette
Phone: (513) 556-8577

UC ingot   Three University of Cincinnati faculty members from the Department of Anthropology will present research papers among more than 5,000 of their peers at the American Anthropological Association’s 111th annual meeting.

Founded in 1902, the association boasts membership exceeding 10,000. Its mission is to promote the science of anthropology and encourage collaboration among other anthropological organizations and scientists at the local, regional and national levels. This week’s meeting will be held in San Francisco with the theme "Borders and Crossings."

The McMicken College of Arts & Sciences faculty members and their presentations are:

“Men Like Mountains: Labor, Land, and the Politics of Recognition in Mongolia’s Franchise State”
Daniel Murphy, assistant professor of anthropology; Nov. 15

“Using Respondent-Driven Sampling to Detect Self-Employed Nigerian Immigrants: Methodological and Theoretical Opportunities and Challenges”
Leila Rodriguez, assistant professor of anthropology; Nov. 17

“Models, Measurement, and Mediation in the New York Fashion Industry”
Stephanie Sadre-Orafai, assistant professor of anthropology; Nov. 17

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

New UC Education Faculty Member Honored with National Award

From UC News:

New UC Education Faculty Member Honored With National Award

Sarah Stitzlein is honored this month for her book that examines the role of citizenship and political activism in education.
Date: 11/9/2012
By: Dawn Fuller
Phone: (513) 556-1823
A new faculty member in the UC College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH) is also a national award-winning author. Sarah Stitzlein, a UC associate professor of education, received the American Educational Studies Association (AESA) Critics Choice Award for her book, “Teaching for Dissent: Citizenship Education and Political Activism.” Stitzlein received the award earlier this month at the association’s national conference in Seattle.
Sarah Stitzlein
Sarah Stitzlein


The AESA is a society of professionals dedicated to teaching and research in relation to the philosophy, history, sociology, anthropology, politics and economics of education. Each year, a committee of AESA members selects a number of titles it regards as outstanding books that may be of interest to those in educational studies.

These books are designated as AESA Critics’ Choice Award winners and are displayed prominently at the annual meeting. 

Stitzlein’s book, published by Paradigm Publishers, is a reference for K-12 teachers as well as professionals who work in politics-related education. The book examines building students into critical-thinking citizens and political activists, and also reveals what Stitzlein calls some alarming trends in education that are stifling the voices of both teachers and students.

“One of the chapters examines limitations on free expression among teachers and children, after the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act in 2002,” explains Stitzlein.

“Teachers were questioning the heavy use of tests and how that was changing their teaching, and as a result, some of them were fired for asking questions. The chapter examines what happens when teachers work in a climate in which they can’t speak up to share their professional judgment about the quality of teaching in their schools, and how that idea trickles down to students to be obedient and passive and silent.”

Stitzlein’s writes that in some of the nation’s most economically-challenged, high-minority schools, there are policies calling for silent classrooms, silent hallways and silent lunchrooms. “The belief is that this will raise test scores and narrow the achievement gap, but it eliminates the development of critical thinking and interest among the children,” says Stitzlein. “It becomes a very rote way of learning, and this is happening in some of the country’s touted charter schools as well.”

In contrast, Stitzlein says that children in more well-to-do, primarily white districts are taking part in classroom activities meant to develop them into critical thinkers and political activists.

The book also holds ideas for teachers on developing lessons about these issues, and also recommends sources for teaching materials. “This is especially going to come up in social studies and history classrooms, but also in science classrooms,” says Stitzlein. “Those topics would involve global warming or insemination of an egg – topics that can become quite controversial in regard to political understandings.”

Stitzlein joined the UC faculty this fall and comes from the University of New Hampshire in Durham. She earned her PhD in philosophy of education from the University of Illinois.

Stitzlein says one of the reasons she was interested in joining the CECH faculty was because they were looking for an educational theorist. “UC traditionally had a practitioner-applied program, and as part of building their national presence and improving the quality of teaching, they were looking for someone who was well-trained in theory to supplement their research and practice. That spoke a lot to me about the quality of education that UC provides for its students in education,” says Stitzlein.

“Also, CECH is nationally recognized for its strong urban mission and approach to social justice education. Our urban partnerships with K-12 schools are well-established and respected, and are getting national recognition for the quality of interaction between the university and its K-12 partners,” says Stitzlein.

UC’s College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services has been dedicated to excellence in education for more than a century. With more than 38,000 alumni, close to 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students and more than 350 faculty and staff, the college prepares students to work in diverse communities, provides continual professional development and fosters education leadership at the local, state, national and international levels. 

Stitzlein also received the AESA Critics Choice Award in 2008 for her first book, “Breaking Bad Habits: Transforming Race and Gender in Schools.”

Peace Corps Presentation: "Expressions, Impressions, Espressos" - Nov 26th!

From UC International:

Peace Corps Presentation:  “Expressions, Impressions, Espressos”

Come listen to current Master of Community Planning student Sergio Munda share his Peace Corps experience in Albania on Monday, Nov. 26th at 5:00 p.m. in 3410 Aronoff (the DAAP building)


Nominations Sought for Who's Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges Award - Due Jan 18th!


It is again time to begin nominating students for the prestigious Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges Award.
 
Nominations for inclusion in this year’s volume of the publication are now being accepted in the Office of Student Activities & Leadership Development.  In order to be eligible for selection, students must complete a Personal Profile Questionnaire, have a faculty or staff member complete a Nominee Recommendation form, and be expecting to receive a Bachelor’s or Graduate level degree by December 2013.
 
Selection is based on the following criteria:
·         Academic achievement
·         Participation and leadership in academic and co-curricular activities
·         Service to the university
·         Potential for future achievements
 
Groups or individuals may make nominations and students may nominate themselves.  All nominees must return the attached application packet no later than Friday, January 18, 2013.  It is recommended that applications are typed and submitted electronically to Nicole Mayo at nicole.mayo@uc.edu.  Additional applications can be found at www.uc.edu/sald.
 
If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for your assistance with this award nomination process.
 
Nicole K. Mayo, MEd | Director, Student Activities and Leadership Development


Monday, November 19, 2012

Forum on Race & the War on Drugs - Dec 4th!


I am pleased to announce that my class on the History of the Civil Rights Movement will host a forum on Race and the War on Drugs. The forum is open to the University of Cincinnati community and to the general public. It will take place on Dec. 4, from 3:30 to 5 pm in McMicken Hall, room 43.
 
Our keynote speaker will be David A. Singleton, Executive Director of the Ohio Justice and Policy Center. The OJPC is a Cincinnati based non-profit law office that works for the state-wide reform of the criminal justice system including through eliminating racial disparities in it.
 
To help put our discussion in a broad prospective, Prof. Isaac Campos-Costero, of the UC Department of History will provided historic context on the war on drugs. Prof. Campos-Costero is the author of a number of articles examining this issue in the United States and Latin America as well as his recent book, Home Grown: Marijuana and the Origins of Mexico’s War on Drugs(Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2012)
 
Dean Ronald Jackson of the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences will open the forum with welcoming remarks and an introduction of the speakers.
 
Students in the class will have prepared for the forum by reading and discussing, The New Jim Crow : Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness (New York: New Press, 2010), by Michelle Alexander.
 
We look forward to having you join us for what promises to be a lively and informative discussion.
 
Prof. Fritz Casey-Leininger, Ph.D.
Educator Assistant Professor
Director of Public History Internships

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Dean Jackson to Headline Diversity Conference

From UC News:

Dean Jackson To Headline Diversity Conference


With the keynote speaker scheduled, organizers of the 5th annual UC Diversity Conference now seek presenters and attendance.

Date: 11/5/2012 12:00:00 AM
By: Greg Hand
Phone: (513) 556-1822

UC ingot   Ronald L. Jackson II, dean of UC's McMicken College of Arts & Sciences will be the keynote speakerfor the 5th Annual University of Cincinnati Diversity Conference on March 27, 2013. Jackson's topic will be "What it means and when we all matter: A mandate for diversity excellence." 

Ronald L. Jackson II
Ronald L. Jackson II

Author of ten books and dozens of other academic publications, Jackson is one of the leading communication and identity scholars in the nation. His research examines how theories of identity relate to intercultural and gender communication. In his teaching and research, he explores how and why people negotiate and define themselves as they do. Additionally, Jackson's research includes empirical, conceptual, and critical approaches to the study of masculinity, identity negotiation, Whiteness, and Afrocentricity. He is nationally recognized for having developed a model known as the Black Masculine Identity Theory.   


"Once an aspiring Darwin T. Turner Scholar Dean Jackson has become a true leader and is now championing diversity as a strategic priority in his first year," said Conference Co-Chair Lisa Newman. "It is wonderful to have a scholar of Dr. Jackson's stature on our campus willing to share his research and promote excellence in diversity understanding at our  5th Annual Diversity Conference."

The UC community is invited to participate as a conference presenter or participant in the5th Annual University of Cincinnati Diversity Conference on Wednesday, March 27, 2013 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The conference is designed to highlight pedagogy, experiential knowledge and innovative practices that encourage individuals and organizations to build vibrant, diverse and inclusive environments.  To make this event a great community collaboration, organizers are seeking thought-provoking interactive workshop presentations and stimulating panel discussions. Proposals are sought from all interested faculty, students, staff, administrators and area professionals who practice and value being a diversity leader.

"Our new on-line system shows that registrations and proposals are coming in steadily," Newman said. "Faculty, students and staff are invited to join us by participating as a conference presenter or participant in the 5th Annual University of Cincinnati Diversity Conference on Wednesday, March 27."

Mortar Board Honor Society Seeking Nominations - Due Dec 5th!


Since 1918 Mortar Board has been the premier national honor society on campuses that recognizes junior and senior college students for their exemplary scholarship, leadership, and service. For more information about the national organization, please visit www.mortarboard.org.
 
Mortar Board is currently accepting nominations for our UC Chapter. Students should meet the following criteria:
 
*   Attained Junior or Pre-Junior Standing
*   Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above
*   Exemplary scholarship, leadership and service records
*   Commitment to involvement in Mortar Board activities throughout the 2013-2014 academic year
 
Please email tyler.w.stevens@gmail.com to nominate a student. The student will then be invited to submit the attached application. You may also forward the application to the student(s) you nominate.
 
Applications are due Wednesday, December 5, 2012 at 5:00pm.

UC Update from President Ono

From UC President Dr. Santa Ono: 
Dear UC Community,
In the weeks since the Board of Trustees unanimously appointed me as the University of Cincinnati’s 28th President, I have been touched by the outpouring of good wishes. This is a very special time for me professionally and personally, and I remain thankful that my parents, my wife Wendy, and my two daughters, Juliana, 14, and Sarah, 8, were at my side to share in the announcement events last month.
Students first
UC has a long and successful history of providing a transformative educational experience for our students. I take that responsibility very seriously, and students must always remain at the center of our decisions. Last June, we awarded over 8,760 degrees – a 24-year record. This fall, our enrollment of 42,000 remains close to last year’s record-breaker, and the caliber of our incoming freshman class is higher than ever.
Having opened the new Veteran’s Center earlier this month, we strive to better serve those students who have in turn given so much in service to our nation. UC also has added pioneering new certificate programs in innovation and service learning, as well as a new Office of Undergraduate Research, Scholarly Activity and Creative Practice. Our new UC Forward program of interdisciplinary studio courses tackling real-world problems has expanded its offerings and appointed a full-time director. All of this makes our university’s renowned offerings in real-world education even stronger for our students and puts us closer to our goal of providing 100% of UC graduates with real-world experience before they reach Commencement.
World-class research, innovation
UC faculty continue to make a profound difference in lives all around the world. The American Heart Association awarded Joseph Broderick, our Albert Barnes Voorheis Chair of Neurology, its Clinical Research Prize “for exemplary contributions to advances in stroke treatment … that have changed medical practice as we know it.” Pompeii archaeologist Steven Ellis won the prestigious Rome Prize. Criminal Justice Professor Robin Engel provided consultation on gang violence to the Prime Minister of England while her colleagues in the criminal justice department provided expertise to governments in Scotland and Singapore.
We are raising the bar on research and innovation with our newly-established UC Research Institute (UCRI), a new Technology Commercialization Accelerator and expanded investments in faculty entrepreneurship. In addition, a $3.7 million award from the National Science Foundation will allow UC to become a national model for recruitment, retention and advancement of female faculty in the STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering, math and medicine). This remains a critical need as already one-third of our STEM faculty at UC are nearing retirement age, and we must take steps to prepare the next generation.
Building on our momentum
One of my first priorities is assembling the leadership team to keep our trajectory rising. I have appointed both Ryan Hays and William Ball to permanent positions. The search for a Provost has begun, and in the interim we have tremendous leadership from Lawrence Johnson, long-time dean of the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services. We will systematically look at other interim positions to solidify a plan for filling those as appropriate.
UC stands at the brink of a new era of progress as our UC2019 momentum moves us forward to even greater prominence as a major research university and one of the finest institutions of student learning in our nation. The UC2019 Academic Master Plan, developed under my leadership as Provost and unveiled in May, has gained a strong foothold with an initial long-term investment of $10 million for student and faculty initiatives as well as services that support our academic mission.
Steps to place UC on a path to even greater excellence have already begun. We are mobilizing committees and task forces to focus on “three pillars” critically important to our future: our financial success, our research enterprise, and alumni and donor relations. A 20-member Task Force called 1UC is focusing on the latter and will provide advice on taking our alumni and donor efforts to the next level.
More reasons for Bearcat Pride
The coming months promise even more excitement and opportunities for Bearcat pride as we expect to reach and even surpass our Proudly Cincinnati campaign goal of $1 billion, the largest fundraising goal in UC history. When we do hit the $1 billion mark, we will join an elite set of only 1% of public universities who have reached such a goal in a single campaign.
We also expect great news in the months ahead when our soon-to-be-released NCAA academic performance rate data will show our student-athletes collectively achieving at all-time bests. We are also coming off one of our greatest years of competitive success, based on our highest-ever finish in the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Directors’ Cup, which is an aggregate ranking of on-field and on-court performance for every intercollegiate athletic program.
Sharing our UC pride remains one of my favorite activities. I draw energy from meeting with the university’s greatest achievement – our alumni – and I have begun to visit with our graduates all across the nation. I look forward to completing a 10-city tour within my first year in office.
I promise you that I will work tirelessly to make our Bearcat Nation proud. As Thanksgiving Day approaches on Thursday, I remain profoundly grateful to work at such a great university, and I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.
Go Bearcats!
Santa J. Ono
Santa J. Ono
President

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Let the Learning Begin with Lynda.com - UCIT Introduces Latest UC-Licensed Learning Technology

From UC News:

Let the Learning Begin with Lynda.com


UC Information Technologies (UCIT) is pleased to introduce the latest UC-licensed learning technology, Lynda.com, an online video training library. 

Date: 11/8/2012 12:00:00 AM
By: Emily Baute
Phone: (513) 556-4519

UC ingot  
The University of Cincinnati's Information Technologies (UCIT) is pleased to introduce Lynda.com, the latest UC-licensed learning technology. With their 6+2 username and password, all currently registered students, faculty and staff have full access to Lynda.com’s collection of more than 1,400 software, career development and technology training videos.

This dynamic service offers viewers the latest tips, tools and techniques from industry experts in business, digital media, design and development—including software from vendors and technologies like Adobe Autodesk, Apple, Blackboard, Facebook, Google, HTML, IBM-SPSS, Java, Microsoft, Open-Source, Twitter, Web-development and many others. Lynda.com also provides tutorials on design, project management, photography and other business needs.

“On behalf of UCIT, I would like to thank our partners and colleagues in the McMicken College of Arts & Sciences; the Carl H. Lindner College of Business; the College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning; the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services; the College of Nursing; UC Blue Ash College; and UC Libraries for their encouragement, guidance and participation in the first year of our Lynda.com partnership,” said Interim Vice President for Information Technology and CIO Nelson C. Vincent. “Their collaboration proved critical in bringing this service to our students, faculty and staff.”

With the addition of Lynda.com to its list of services, UCIT aims to meet the need of students, faculty and staff to learn or re-learn how to use software they need for their academic programs, their jobs and their careers. If you have any questions, feedback about the service, or are interested in hosting a UCIT Lynda.com workshop for your college or department, please contact Emily.Baute@uc.edu.

For more information and to begin using the service, visit UC’s Lynda.com portal at www.uc.edu/Lynda