Park University Family Night at the "K" set for Sept. 16
Students, faculty and staff (and their immediate families) are invited to join colleagues and classmates on Tuesday, Sept. 16, at Kansas City’s Kauffman Stadium for the Seattle Mariners-Kansas City Royals baseball game as we celebrate "Park University Family Night at the 'K'."
More information will come soon, but tickets for the game will be a nicely discounted cost of $10 each. A tailgating event is being planned; and Park University President Beverley Byers-Pevitts, Ph.D., will throw out the first pitch. Everyone is encouraged to wear Park University apparel as we will be sitting in the lower level near Park's huge sign in right field.
More details will come soon. So please save the date -- Tuesday, Sept. 16 (game starts at 7:10 p.m.). We hope you will join us to enjoy an evening of baseball under the stars with the Park University family.
Park University Online programs ranked a "best buy"
A number of Park University distance learning and Online programs were recently ranked "best buys" by the national editorial review team from :GetEducated.com."
Four concentrations within Park's Master of Public Affairs program -- public management, nonprofit and community services management, disaster and emergency management, and management of information systems -- were ranked fourth. Park was ranked only behind the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, Troy University and the University of Texas system.
In addition, Park's Master of Business Administration program was ranked 11th in distance learning and Online M.B.A.s. The University was also ranked 23rd for its Online bachelor degrees for business and management. Park received an honorable mention for its bachelor of science criminal justice administration Online program and its bachelor of science social psychology Online program.
The "best buy" designation indicates that the program has been reviewed and judged to offer a high quality distance degree to a national audience at tuition rates well below the national average.
Visit www.geteducated.com and go to the "Online Degree Rankings" to view the rankings and for more information.
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| Dr. Virginia Brackett |
Brackett appointed as Park rep to Missouri Campus Compact
Virginia Brackett, Ph.D., assistant professor of English and director of the Honors Program, was recently appointed as the new Park University campus representative for the Missouri Campus Compact. The MCC is a statewide coalition of 38 university and college presidents dedicated to "helping students develop the values and skills of civic participation through involvement in public service." The Compact seeks to achieve its goals primarily by providing resources to faculty and students to advance service-learning and civic engagement on Missouri campuses.
Brackett will regularly distribute bulletins regarding grant opportunities through the Compact for which all faculty may apply, or faculty may visit http://missouricompact.missouristate.edu/default.htm for information. Service learning information for use by all Park faculty may be found at www.park.edu/honors/service_learning. This site contains forms, a list of local service learning partners and a link to a collection of hundreds of sample course syllabi.
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| Jon Young |
Theatre professor had a busy summer
Jon Young, assistant professor of theatre, recently completed a hectic summer. The highlight was spending two weeks, July 20 through Aug. 3, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Young was one of eight scenic and eight costume designers who had the opportunity to work with designers Ming Cho Lee and Linda Cho in collaboration with eight resident directors. The rigorous master class focused on the designer/director relationship by exploring project work selected from Shakespeare, the Greeks and opera.
Young will display his work from this intensive session in the David Theatre lobby in late September, coinciding with the Park University production of Suburbia.
The following week, Young spent seven days in New York City doing research and viewing 10 theatre productions. Young researched scenic designers at the Billy Rose Theatre Collection housed at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. In addition, he attended a variety of Broadway and off-Broadway productions.
Student receives scholarship from International Trade Council
Amiran Gelashvili, a junior majoring in business administration/international business, was selected by the International Trade Council of Greater Kansas City to receive its 2008 Seven Pillars Consulting Scholarship. Gelashvili will be recognized during the ITCGKC meeting on Sept. 17.
The $1,200 scholarship is open to students involved in the general field of international studies or international business, who are junior, senior or graduate students of a college or university within a 150-mile radius of Kansas City. The ITCGKC is a professional organization dedicated to furthering international trade. Its members represent leading manufacturing, financial and service organizations involved in international commerce.
Aitken presents paper at research conference
Joan Aitken, Ed.D., professor of communication arts, presented a paper at the third annual Interdisciplinary Network for Group Research conference, July 17 in Kansas City, Mo. Aitken's paper was titled "A Content Analysis of Communication Purposes in an Online Support Group for Parents."
Yoga, dancing classes offered to University community
Vinyasa yoga, which involves a flowing series of postures that focus on breath, alignment, strength and flexibility, will be offered on Mondays and Wednesdays Classes began on Aug. 25 and continue for eight weeks. Suitable for all levels of fitness, the challenging and creative sequencing of this yoga class will refresh your body and mind. The class, which will meet from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on the first floor of Dearing Hall on the Parkville Campus, is free to Park faculty, staff and students. Participants are asked to wear comfortable or loose-fitting clothing and to bring a soft blanket or mat.
In addition, would you like to learn how to dance? Faculty, staff and students can sign up for a weekly series of free Latin, ballroom and swing dance lessons on Thursdays beginning Sept. 4. Lessons will be held from 6:45 to 8:15 p.m. in Dearing Hall, with open dance time from 8:15 to 9:30 p.m. Bring a partner or come alone. Participation in the lessons is not required to attend the open dance time.
To register for these classes, contact Brian Ciolek, community wellness coordinator, at bciolek@park.edu.
Cycling race to race by Parkville Campus
The Tour of Missouri cycling race will once again ride past the Parkville Campus. On Monday, Sept. 8, the Kansas City area will host the first leg of the race, which will feature a number of the top cyclists from around the world.
The cyclists are scheduled to ride past the main entrance of the Parkville Campus between 2:45 and 3:10 p.m. that afternoon. All Park University faculty, staff and students are encouraged (with permission of your supervisor/instructor) to watch the race as the University's entrance is scheduled to again be a "Sprint Line" finish as they head toward the Country Club Plaza.
Those individuals who received a yellow "It's a great day to be a Pirate" t-shirt last year are encouraged to wear them this year (or wear your favorite Park University apparel), and special giveaways will be distributed while supplies last.
Come out and cheer on these top international cyclists as they begin their pursuit of a tour of the Show-Me-State.
Park In The News
The Platte County (Mo.) edition of The Kansas City Star on Aug. 20 included a story and photos about the opening of the Copley Quad residential hall and ribbon cutting. .
Green tip of the week
If the backcountry lures you out of workday pumps, then your trail shoes won't look fresh for long. So why insist on kicks made with never-used materials, which can bloat the environmental footprint of your escape to nature? Outfitters now offer designs made with more recycled content (and in some cases, less material overall). Far from the conspicuously virtuous shoes of old, these options blend right in with their cool-but-not-so-green counterparts. For more information and additional tips to lead a "green life," visit http://sierraclub.typepad.com/greenlife.
Upcoming Events
• William Grant Nabore Piano Master Classes -- August 28-29 and September 1-2, 2-6 p.m., Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel
• Labor Day -- September 1 (Parkville offices closed and no daytime classes; Fall I classes held)
• Tour of Missouri Cycling Race -- September 8
• Kanako Ito Violin Recital with pianist Lolita Lisovskaya -- September 14, 3 p.m., Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel
• Park University Family Night at the “K” -- September 16, Kauffman Stadium
• Opening Convocation -- September 17, 11 a.m., Breckon Sports Center
• "Concert Careers Today" Lecture with Maria Guralnik -- September 17, 1 p.m., Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel
• International Center for Civic Engagement Event--A Chain Reaction: Nuclear Weapons, Policy and People -- September 18, 7 p.m., Kansas City Public Library (Central Library), 14 W. 10th St., Kansas City, Mo.
• International Talk Like A Pirate Day -- September 19
• International Center for Civic Engagement Event--A Chain Reaction: Nuclear Weapons, Policy and People -- September 19, 11 a.m., Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel
• subUrbia performance -- September 26-27 & October 2-4, 8 p.m., David Theatre
• School of Business and Management Dean's Distinguished Executive Lecture Series, featuring Peter deSilva -- September 29, 4 p.m., Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel
• Harvest Fest Week -- September 29-October 4, Parkville Campus
• CETL Colleague to Colleague Professional Enhancement Series -- October 1, noon, McCoy Meetin' House
• Ethnic Poetry Reading Series with Victoria Chang -- October 2, 6:30 p.m., Kansas City Public Library Central Branch
• Fall I ends; Fall Break begins -- October 12
• Art@Park -- October 11-12, English Landing Park, Parkville, Mo.
• Melanie Lowrance Art Exhibit -- October 13-November 21, Campanella Gallery
Note: To view a comprehensive schedule for all events, including athletics, visit www.park.edu/calendar/parkville.html.
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