EDUCATION HIGHLIGHTS - The University of Akron

Education Highlights
2010 – 2011
Published by the College of Education
The University of Akron
» DEAN’S OFFICE
Dean
Dr. Mark D. Shermis
Associate Dean
Dr. Sajit Zachariah
Assistant Dean, Student Services
Dr. Evonn Welton
Director, Assessment and Accreditation
Dr. Karen Herrington
Director, Graduate Outreach Programs
Barbara Jenkins
Director, Student Teaching and
Field Experience
Pam Spinner
Coordinator, Certification/Licensure
Dr. Jaci Wilbanks
» DEPARTMENTS
Counseling
Dr. Karin Jordan
Curricular and Instructional Studies
Dr. Bridgie Ford
Educational Foundations and Leadership
Dr. Susan Olson
Sport Science Wellness Education
Dr. Victor Pinheiro
For more information, contact:
The University of Akron
College of Education
Dean’s Office
Akron, OH 44325-4201
Phone: 330-972-7680
Fax: 330-972-5636
www.uakron.edu/education
» EDITOR
Jessica Petersen
Susan Olson
2010 QUICK FACTS
COE leads the way
with UA’s first fully
online degree program
The University of Akron made obtaining a top-notch college
education flexible, affordable and convenient when it offered
its first fully online degree program in fall 2010. The program,
a 30- to 36-credit M.S. in Postsecondary Technical Education
through the College of Education, prepares students for
jobs training adults in business and educational settings. The
online program appeals to busy professionals, those balancing
family obligations and those who live far away.
“The average student in our technical education program is
older than 40 and works full time while pursuing a master’s
degree part time,” says Susan Olson, chair of UA’s Department
of Educational Foundations and Leadership. “An online degree
program is exactly what these students want and need.”
CONTENTS
1 Dean’s Message
2 Accreditations
3 COE Speaker Series
4 STEM Grant Initiatives
5 Woodrow Wilson Ohio Teaching Fellowship Program
6 Students and Technology
7 New Grants
8 Student Success
9 Sport Science and Wellness Education Update
10 Dean’s Dozen
11 Global Student Perspective
12 Faculty Recognition
14 Robert A. Dubick Memorial Scholarship
15 COE Alumni Board
15 Recognition of Donors
» Total enrollment for fall 2010 was 2,820, an 8.6 percent increase over 2009.
» Total number of degrees and certificates awarded in 2010 was 706, a 9.1 percent
increase over the last year.
» 372 graduate degrees were awarded, a 9 percent increase.
» The COE has the highest number of graduate students at UA with 1,326.
» There were 382 teacher candidates recommended for initial teacher licensure
in 2010, a 1.8 percent increase over the last year.
» The COE, in collaboration with several campus partners, garnered $3,945,041
in grants from July 2010 – February 2011.
DEAN’S MESSAGE
Zook Hall,
The College of Education
COE E D U C A T I O N H I G H L I G H T S 2010 – 2011
As a STEM-intensive (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)
institution, The University of Akron has invested considerable
time, energy and money in a variety of STEM initiatives. And even
though the College of Education is not technically considered a
STEM discipline, we have much going on in the STEM area.
The college has been a full partner in the
development of the National Inventors Hall
of Fame (NIHF) School that was launched
in the fall of 2009 in conjunction with
Akron Public Schools (APS). Our faculty and
administrators formulated plans for the
school, helped to create the curriculum
and participated in the selection of the
school’s teachers. Read more inside
regarding a large grant that UA secured
to reproduce the STEM school model
across Ohio.
The college is currently involved in designing
the plans for an APS STEMM (the extra “M”
is for Medicine) high school that would
open in fall 2012. The proposed STEMM high
school, which would be located at Central
Hower, adjacent to the north side of campus,
represents an opportunity for high school
students to take early college courses
and participate in college-lab internships
since the plans include establishing UA labs
at the site.
Finally, we are in the midst of designing a
STEM Academy that would be a focal point
for all COE math and science education
initiatives, in addition to its work in training
future STEM educators at the elementary
and secondary levels. I am proud of our
contributions in these areas and of all the
people who make them happen.
I hope that you enjoy reading about the
many accomplishments of the past year in
this issue of Education Highlights.
Regards,
Mark D. Shermis, Ph.D.
Dean
1