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Park University eNews - July 2007By - July 16, 2007 - 12:42 pmEmail this article | Printer friendly page | Media Inquiries Featured in this edition:
Park University announced its appointment of the Honorable Kay Barnes, Mayor of Kansas City, Mo., as Distinguished Professor for Public Leadership, effective May 1. In this new role, Mayor Barnes will lead Park's effort to establish a Center for Leadership in Public Affairs and she will teach leadership, communication and public affairs courses in the Hauptmann School for Public Affairs (HSPA). "Park students will have the distinct privilege to learn from a professor who exemplifies the best in public service and servant leadership," said President Beverley Byers-Pevitts, Ph.D., Park University. "Mayor Barnes brings proven leadership to the development of Park's newest Center." The Center for Leadership in Public Affairs will equip learners with the skills to advance leadership for the common good in both local and global arenas, and will develop students' leadership and service abilities to apply to a global business community. The vision and mission of the new Center, including the details regarding its activities, will be established by the Founding Director, the Honorable Kay Barnes, and include:
"The addition of this new Center signifies that Park University will continue to address leadership and its role in public affairs," said Professor Emeritus Jerzy Hauptmann, Ph.D., founding dean of HSPA. As the 54th Mayor of Kansas City, Mo., Mayor Barnes has served the Kansas City community for the past eight years. "I'm excited about this opportunity to immediately become part of the Park University team. Park has a great tradition which began in Northwest Missouri, spread throughout the Midwest and is now recognized as a national leader for Online degree programs," said Honorable Kay Barnes, Mayor, Kansas City, Mo. Announcing the Pirate Virtual Store By popular demand, Park University, in partnership with MBS Direct, has launched the Pirate Virtual Store-the Online source for all Park apparel and gifts, books, software, office supplies and more. Pirate Virtual Store, available at http://megastore.mbsdirect.net/park.htm, provides a secure Online purchasing environment for all customers to use credit cards for payment, and all items can be delivered to a home, business, dormitory or apartment within three days. Missouri Governor Matt Blunt recently appointed Dorla Watkins, Park University's vice president for finance and administration, to serve on his Campus Security Task Force. Gov. Blunt formed the group to evaluate Missouri's campus emergency response plans and ensure close communications between higher education and public safety communities. The members, consisting of 25 professionals from the state of Missouri, will provide a comprehensive report focused on initiatives to improve safety standards and heighten security within buildings and facilities on campuses. The report is due before the fall 2007 semester. Mark James, director of Public Safety and Dr. Robert Stein, Commissioner of Higher Education, will lead the task force. For more information about the Campus Security Task Force, please visit www.gov.mo.gov/. Park University, Sprint and Rave Wireless Announce Pirate Connect Park University students will soon have access to the newest technology available for communication outside the "traditional" classroom. This new partnership with Sprint and Rave Wireless will provide a mobile community that enhances academic experiences and unites students across a "traditional" campus, 43 regional Campus Centers and online distance learners. Rave Wireless, the leading provider of college and university mobile phone programs, will work with Sprint to provide Park University students with mobile phones that come pre-loaded with Rave applications for academics, safety, community-building and special calling plans. In addition, Sprint will extend its custom network in-building solution by offering additional coverage of the Nationwide Sprint PCS Network at the Parkville Campus, giving students the power of continuous access to information nearly anytime. As an innovator in advancing higher education technology, Park will also work with Rave to integrate its existing computing systems into a new mobile platform, giving students 24/7, on-the-go access to administrative and class information on their mobile phones. All Park students will have the option to participate in the mobile phone program that will enhance their learning and help them to stay connected with the University nearly anytime and anywhere for academics, communities and necessary information. "In today's virtual world, Park has excelled at using technology to significantly increase the number of students benefiting from our academic programs through extensive online and distance learning programs," says Sara Freeman, associate chief information officer. "The partnership between Park University, Rave Wireless and Sprint will bring together the expertise of three technology leaders that will result in an unprecedented mobile program that unifies our students and provides enhanced academic opportunities on their preferred devices, regardless of the Park program in which they are enrolled." Park University's mobile phone program will begin rolling out to students during the fall 2007 semester and will include the key components of academic enhancements, enhanced safety features, convenience and connecting with a global mobile community. Commencement Ceremony Honors Military Graduate Park University's Commencement Ceremony for spring 2007 was held on May 12 at the Community of Christ Auditorium in Independence, Mo. and featured a greeting by Brenda Wisniewski, Park University Board of Trustees member, and a Commencement Address by Chancellor of the Metropolitan Community Colleges in Kansas City, Mo., Jackie Snyder, Ph.D. However, this ceremony not only honored those graduates in attendance, but also U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Steven Poole, who was stationed 7,140 miles away in Kuwait. A live video web connection allowed him to receive his diploma with other graduates despite his deployment. To view this video feed, click here: http://www.park.edu/grads/SSgtStevenPoole.aspx Groundbreaking Ceremony Advances New Dorms
The Groundbreaking Ceremony for Copley II, the new student housing for the Parkville campus, was held May 11, 2007. The ceremony was held adjacent to the current Copley Hall on the west side of campus and a reception followed. Participants in the event were Rebekah Rose, PSGA president, Betty Knight, Platte County presiding commissioner, Brenda Wisniewski, Park University Board of Trustees, Chair, Beverley Byers-Pevitts, Ph.D., President of Park University, Dr.Robert C. Burns, Park University Board of Trustees, Secretary and Chair for Student Services, Kathy Dusenbery, Mayor of Parkville, and Rodrigo Neri, RHC president and resident advisor. Global Future Program Takes Students to D.C. From Feb. 18-21, Park University students traveled to Washington D.C. for the World Trade Center's Global Future program. During their four days, the students visited a variety of offices and sites including the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center, the U.S. Capitol, Supreme Court, USAID, National Press Club, International Spy Museum, and Arlington National Cemetery. Highlights of the program included meeting Park University Fort Myer faculty and staff and visiting the White House, where some students were able to see U.S. President George W. Bush. Global Future, sponsored by Park University and the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, is a free program open to Kansas City area college students that introduces the students to the world of international business. During six to eight sessions spread out over the academic year, students learn from presentations from KC-area international business experts as well as academic presentations from international business faculty from many area universities. The Washington D.C. trip is an optional part of this program. Park Model U.N. Team Goes to New York The Park University Model United Nations team participated in the National Model United Nations (NMUN) in New York on March 19-24. The Park team was a combined team of 20, including 14 delegates from the Parkville Campus, four from the El Paso Campus and two from the Washington D.C. Campuses. Salam Lazkani and Simona Cibotaru led the Park team in representing Armenia on nine different UN committees and Greece on the Security Council. The National Model United Nations is the world's largest collegiate conference with more than 4,000 students participating from colleges and universities from 37 different countries. Model United Nations put students into the roles of diplomats in addressing the same major global issues that face the real United Nations. Delegates must do a great amount of preparation prior to attending the conference learning about the country they will represent and the specific issues they will be addressing in their committee. At the conference the students develop their skills in public speaking, consensus building, and diplomacy in working with other delegates to developing resolutions to effectively address these critical global problems. James Pasley, Ph.D., associate professor of political science, is the faculty advisor, along with Art Rodriquez, library manager and faculty coordinator, from El Paso and Marijane Peplow, assistant professor of humanities, from Washington D.C.
Park history became a bit more real on May 19, 2007, when over 70 descendents of Park University icon, Spencer Cave, gathered in Thompson Commons to celebrate the legacy of their ancestor and the milestone birthday of one of his granddaughters, Mary Johnson. Timothy Westcott, Ph.D., assistant professor of history and chair, department of social sciences; history majors, Brett Ferguson, Ryan Wagner, Wendi Reinwald, Hana Thornton, Shelia Madonia, and Courtney Culp, '07; and Carolyn Elwess, '71, archivist, organized and hosted the event. Cave, best known as the school's groundskeeper and informal student advisor, devoted seven decades of service to Park University. His legacy is now honored by the Spencer Cave Back History Month Lecture Series, which is hosted each February at Park. Travels to China Promote New Programs On March 20-30, 2007, President of Park University Beverley Byers-Pevitts, Ph.D., Robert Pevitts, Ph.D., executive director of the youth music conservatory, Olga Ganzen, M.P.A. '99, Ph.D., international education assistant professor and director of international education and study abroad, and Park University Board of Trustees member, Benny Lee, visited Beijing Normal University, Capital University of Economics and Business, and Central University of Finance and Economics to discuss future partnerships. Other visits included the United States Embassy of Beijing, Central Conservatory of Music, China Conservatory of Music, Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and Beijing Municipal Commission of Education.
Alumni News
Alumni Weekend 2007, held June 14 through 17, kicked off with a with a two-man golf scramble at Tiffany Greens Golf Club. In the evening, President Byers-Pevitts, Ph.D., hosted the Class of 1957's Golden Reunion Dinner in the University White House garden and the "Early 60s Classes" and their friends held a get-together in the McCoy Meetin' House. Other events included an evening at Liberty Memorial, The National World War I Museum, campus tours, class reunions and photos, awards banquet and dance, and a Sunday morning chapel service. The 2007 Park University Alumni Association awards were presented on Saturday. In the morning during the Alumni Association's Annual Meeting, the Marlowe Sherwood Memorial Service Award was presented to Francis C. "Pete" Campbell, '78, recognizing his outstanding service to his community. Campbell is the first alumni from a military campus center to be recognized with an Alumni Association award. At the same ceremony Daley Walker, retired professor of mathematics, received the 2007 Torchlighter Award and made an honorary alumnus, recognizing his 43 years of service to Park. Park University announced the creation of the Pirate Club, the school's first-ever booster organization for its athletic programs. Three Park Baseball Players Earn NAIA All-America Scholar-Athlete Honors Click here for full story: Pirates Fall in National Tournament Final to California Baptist, 3-0 For more information, click here: 2007 NAIA Region IV Golf Championships Final Results http://www.parkathletics.com/wgolf/park_00600.shtml Immele, Betz Named NAIA All-America Scholar-Athletes http://www.parkathletics.com/wsoftball/park_00611.shtml "In the News" Kansas City Star Features Fossil Dig at Park University A feature by Linda Man described the plant fossil dig at Deer Park, which was geared towards metro area children ages 7 to 14, and detailed the educational opportunities afforded to children interested in science. Click here to read full story: http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=11A0A26BED2338B8&p_docnum=23 Course Offerings for Deployed Soldiers The Belleville News-Democrat featured a story about Park's unique Online courses that make obtaining a college degree a reality for many active duty soldiers. MCC, Park University Begin Student Transfer Program The Kansas City Business Journal described the agreement signed by Park University and the Metropolitan Community Colleges which will enable students to make an easy transition from MCC to Park. Click here for original story: http://kansascity.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2007/06/18/daily25.html?t=printable Business Intelligence (BI) Software Helps Park University Maintain Enrollment Data An EdTech Magazine article titled, The Michelangelos of Data, featured Associate Chief Information Officer of IT, Sara Freeman, and described the BI systems utilized by Park University. Click here to view full article: http://www.edtechmag.com/higher/may-june-2007/the-michelangelos-of-data.html Upcoming Events
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