New Living Learning Community Will Focus on American Sign Language, Deaf Students

Boasting one of only nine nationally accredited baccalaureate degree programs in American Sign Language and Interpreter Education, Eastern Kentucky University has for many years attracted deaf and hard-of-hearing students as well as those who want to serve and assist them.

Now, students from both groups have another reason to consider the Richmond campus: a residence hall living-learning community devoted to American Sign Language and deaf culture. Beginning this fall, the first two floors of eight-story Walters Hall will house a population comprised largely of deaf students, those who grew up in a deaf culture, and students majoring or minoring in interpreter education, deaf education or deaf studies. It’s the first such living learning community at a Kentucky college or university, according to Nickole Hale, associate director for academic initiatives with University Housing.

“This will give students an inclusive common ground where communication is not an issue,” said Dr. Laurence Hayes, chair of EKU’s Department of American Sign Language and Interpreter Education (ASLIE). “Because one of the outcomes is learning a way of life, it will help build bridges and create strong bonds not only in the residence hall, but all across campus.

“Anytime you can take a language to a larger platform, it’s a great experience for the students, and that experience will generate interest and curiosity about the University, our program and the language.”

The only pre-requisite? Hearing students will need to have completed American Sign Language 102 and demonstrate a basic competency in ASL, as all members of the living learning community will be expected to use ASL in the hallways and other common areas. The new living-learning community will house approximately 40 students on each floor – one floor for males, the other for females. The community will also include computer and language labs and other related services, and will benefit from on-site workshops, seminars and other presentations led by EKU faculty and staff and others.

“It will have a huge impact on recruiting,” Hayes predicted. “It’s a strong selling point.”

Hale noted strong support from ASLIE faculty and staff, half of whom are deaf.

“This living learning community will succeed because they are so interested,” she said. “All our residence hall living learning communities (this will be the University’s 15th) that have strong faculty backing are highly effective.”

EKU’s Interpreter Training Program, established in 1989, is one of approximately 40 such programs nationwide and is one of only nine baccalaureate degree programs nationally accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Interpreter Education. Hayes noted that the program has a 95 percent retention rate, as well as a 95 percent job placement rate.

“There continues to be a growing demand for interpreters,” he said, “so the job market is strong.”

Interpreters find employment in various settings: educational institutions, government, business, and the legal, medical and mental health professions, as well as personal (weddings, funerals, reunions, etc.)

All candidates for national certification as interpreters must hold a bachelor’s degree in the field. Currently, 21 students from a variety of states are pursuing a bachelor’s degree in interpreter education at Eastern, and an additional 275-300 are taking ASL classes, Hayes said.       

EKU’s Department of American Sign Language and Interpreter Education also has an active outreach in-service training program.

For more information about the program, visit www.aslie.eku.edu or call 859-622-4966.

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New Living Learning Community Will Focus on American Sign Language, Deaf Students

Boasting one of only nine nationally accredited baccalaureate degree programs in American Sign Language and Interpreter Education, Eastern Kentucky University has for many years attracted deaf and hard-of-hearing students as well as those who want to serve and assist them.

Now, students from both groups have another reason to consider the Richmond campus: a residence hall living-learning community devoted to American Sign Language and deaf culture. Beginning this fall, the first two floors of eight-story Walters Hall will house a population comprised largely of deaf students, those who grew up in a deaf culture, and students majoring or minoring in interpreter education, deaf education or deaf studies. It’s the first such living learning community at a Kentucky college or university, according to Nickole Hale, associate director for academic initiatives with University Housing.

“This will give students an inclusive common ground where communication is not an issue,” said Dr. Laurence Hayes, chair of EKU’s Department of American Sign Language and Interpreter Education (ASLIE). “Because one of the outcomes is learning a way of life, it will help build bridges and create strong bonds not only in the residence hall, but all across campus.

“Anytime you can take a language to a larger platform, it’s a great experience for the students, and that experience will generate interest and curiosity about the University, our program and the language.”

The only pre-requisite? Hearing students will need to have completed American Sign Language 102 and demonstrate a basic competency in ASL, as all members of the living learning community will be expected to use ASL in the hallways and other common areas. The new living-learning community will house approximately 40 students on each floor – one floor for males, the other for females. The community will also include computer and language labs and other related services, and will benefit from on-site workshops, seminars and other presentations led by EKU faculty and staff and others.

“It will have a huge impact on recruiting,” Hayes predicted. “It’s a strong selling point.”

Hale noted strong support from ASLIE faculty and staff, half of whom are deaf.

“This living learning community will succeed because they are so interested,” she said. “All our residence hall living learning communities (this will be the University’s 15th) that have strong faculty backing are highly effective.”

EKU’s Interpreter Training Program, established in 1989, is one of approximately 40 such programs nationwide and is one of only nine baccalaureate degree programs nationally accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Interpreter Education. Hayes noted that the program has a 95 percent retention rate, as well as a 95 percent job placement rate.

“There continues to be a growing demand for interpreters,” he said, “so the job market is strong.”

Interpreters find employment in various settings: educational institutions, government, business, and the legal, medical and mental health professions, as well as personal (weddings, funerals, reunions, etc.)

All candidates for national certification as interpreters must hold a bachelor’s degree in the field. Currently, 21 students from a variety of states are pursuing a bachelor’s degree in interpreter education at Eastern, and an additional 275-300 are taking ASL classes, Hayes said.       

EKU’s Department of American Sign Language and Interpreter Education also has an active outreach in-service training program.

For more information about the program, visit www.aslie.eku.edu or call 859-622-4966.

View the original article here

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Community Service Honor Roll

CHENEY, Wash. - Eastern Washington University has been named to the 2013 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).

A total of 690 higher education institutions were named to this year's Honor Roll. The Honor Roll recognizes higher education institutions that reflect the values of exemplary community service and achieve meaningful outcomes in their communities.

Combined, the Honor Roll awardees engaged 3.1 million students in community service for a total of 118 million service hours. That's 2.5 billion dollars in value to communities across the country.

EWU's new Office of Community Engagement connects the campus to the wider community through meaningful, reciprocal partnerships in order to enrich student learning, address critical community needs and foster a culture of civic responsibility and community engagement.

Selection to the Honor Roll is recognition from the highest levels of the federal government of Eastern's commitment to service and civic engagement on your campus and in our nation.

The entire Honor Roll is available at http://www.nationalservice.gov/honorroll/.

####

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Edinboro University to honor two community leaders during Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards Luncheon

01/31/2013

Edinboro University and President Julie E. Wollman will honor two community leaders for their lifetimes of serving others during Edinboro’s 17th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards Luncheon on Friday, February 8.

Jacqueline Brown is being recognized for her service and contributions as the Deputy Chief of the Erie Police Support Service Division, and Bishop Stanley K. Smith, Pastor of  Meadville’s St. John Missionary Full Gospel Church and State Bishop of Pennsylvania of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International, will be honored for his nearly two decades of exemplary community service.

Brown was selected by the University’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards Luncheon  Committee because she dedicated herself to making a difference in the lives of youth and adults. A distinguished woman making history in the City of Erie, Brown accepted the position of Deputy Chief of Police of the Support Services Division of the Erie Bureau of Police in 2001. As an esteemed officer, she supervised police officers in three major detective divisions.

She is known as a present-day “Drum Major” because of her many major contributions advancing justice, and for having demonstrated throughout her career what it takes to improve and empower youth and adults alike by providing mentoring, education and training.

Her initiative and leadership reached out to minorities – men and women – who sought employment opportunities at all levels in the police department and correctional facilities, improving hiring practices at both that continue to this day.

Bishop Smith, who was born in Erie, was selected for the annual King Award because he has dedicated himself to improving the lives of countless others through his initiation of community outreach in myriad ways in Meadville and beyond. His contagious personality and innovative approach are known not only locally, but throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Serving the Meadville community and surrounding counties for nearly two decades, his vision, ministry and guidance initiated local efforts toward Breast Cancer Awareness education and other efforts to address health-related issues.

Among his many initiatives, Bishop  Smith established an annual 5K Run/Walk to benefit those with breast cancer, scholarship awards to encourage women in the “non-traditional” student category to pursue higher education, and the El Shaddai Clothing Outreach Ministry to aid women, infants and children in need.
The award recipients were chosen by Edinboro’s King Awards Luncheon Committee for recognition by the University for their unwavering dedication to social equality, peaceful community activism and education, exemplifying the ideals of the late civil rights leader, King, and for personifying his dream.

The luncheon will be held February 8 from noon to 1:30 p.m. in Edinboro’s Van Houten South Dining Hall.

The University’s intent  in hosting the luncheon and presenting community awards during Black History Month is to help carry on King’s legacy by recognizing and honoring individuals such as Brown and Smith  for keeping King’s “dreams” alive.

As in past annual King lunches at Edinboro University, the Master of Ceremonies, Dr. Kahan Sablo, Vice President for Student Affairs, will help preside over additional award presentations to Edinboro students who have been declared winners in the annual Expressions of Remembrance Contest.

In addition to musical selections from the United Voices of Edinboro, the reading of one of Dr. King’s speeches, essays, or sermons has become a cherished part of this annual celebration. This year’s reading was delivered by Dr. King April 10, 1957, during the St. Louis Freedom Rally in Missouri and has come to be known as his “A Realistic Look at the Question of Progress in the Area of Race Relations” speech.

Past Edinboro University Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award recipients include: Pearl Jeffries, Gregory Myers, Harold C. Shields, Mother Mary Beth Kennedy, Sonya Arrington, Howard Horton, Cathy Hutchinson, Judge  Stephanie Domitrovich, Homer Smith, John Horan, The Rev. John Foster, Mary Alice Brown, Bruce Morton Wright, The Rev. Dr. Eugene Schoolfield, Bishop Dwane Brock, Mildred Horton, Erie County Judge George Levin, Francine G. McNairy, Bishop Jesse Gavin, Elmore “Cootie” Harris, James Drane, Charles Faulkerson, Rubye Jenkins-Husband, Dorothy Smith-Frazier, Esther Bush,  Gary Horton, The Rev. Herlies Murphy, The Rev. Jesse McFarland, The Rev. Acquanetta Osborne, Melvin Witherspoon, Gertrude Barber, Bishop William Clark, R. Benjamin Wiley, Reuben Butler, Celestine Bell Davis, Vincent Jenco, Larry Meredith, Fred Williams, The Rev. Charles Mock, Umeme Sababu, Susan Wellman, Eron DeLeon Soto, Ronald Steele, and Bobby Harrison.

The annual luncheon was created in 1997 to celebrate King’s legacy and to honor northwestern Pennsylvania citizens who embody King’s spirit, philosophy, and teachings.
(Note to news directors and assigning editors: Coverage is encouraged; photo and interview opportunities will be available prior to the event at a reception for previous award winners, and immediately preceding and following the luncheon. Photo and video opportunities will be available throughout the luncheon.)

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Goshen College to host community fair to showcase new spaces and award-winning radio station

Open House: Goshen College Community Fair
Date and time: Sunday, March 24, 2-4 p.m.
Location: Goshen College Union Building
Cost: Free and open to the public

Goshen residents will have an opportunity to explore renovated spaces at Goshen College, experience a live broadcast of 91.1 The Globe and win prizes, including an iPad mini, during a community fair and open house on Sunday, March 24 from 2 to 4 p.m.

Visitors can explore the newly renovated Union Building space, which includes a new Welcome Center, the recently established Center for Intercultural and International Education, and 91.1 The Globe’s revamped radio station. The family friendly event will also feature student musicians and performers, face painting, student and faculty artwork and complimentary food.

Guests will also have the chance to register for a number of giveaways in addition to an iPad mini, such as Performing Arts Series tickets, a college cabin rental, passes to the college’s Recreation-Fitness Center, a Music Together class for children, student artwork and tickets for upcoming student musical and theater performances.

Goshen College’s student-run, award-winning radio station, 91.1 The Globe, will broadcast live from the lobby of the Union building, and guests will have the opportunity to meet the DJs and experience the radio station in operation. The Globe was just awarded “Best College Radio Station in the Nation” for the second time in three years by the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System, and was named “Radio School of the Year” in Indiana for the last two years by the Indiana Association of School Broadcasters.

In 2012, the Union Building underwent a renovation that transformed the west half of the old gym into new office spaces, a conference room, reception area and renovated bathrooms. The project was funded by the Lilly Endowment, which in 2006 granted $12.5 million to Goshen College to establish the Center for Intercultural Teaching and Learning (CITL), now known as the Center for Intercultural and International Education (CIIE). CIIE encompasses what was once the Multicultural Affairs Office, CITL, and the International Education and Study-Service Term (SST) programs.

“Although the emphasis is on the remodeled spaces in the Union Building, we really hope this event will attract folks who are not familiar with Goshen College or just curious to know more about this community asset,” said Jim Caskey, vice president for institutional advancement at Goshen College.

View the event poster 

Categories: Campus Events, GC News, Visitors

Tags: Union Open House

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University Community, Public Can Meet, Hear from Presidential Finalists at Forums, Receptions

The three finalists in the search to select Eastern Kentucky University’s 12th president will visit the Richmond campus March 24-28 and April 1-3 for a series of tours, meetings and public forums.

The agenda includes an open forum and open reception at which members of the University community and general public are invited to meet and hear from each candidate. A brief introduction of each candidate will be followed by a short presentation, and a question-and-answer session.

The schedule of open forums and receptions follows:

·         Dr. Michael T. Benson, Monday, March 25, Open Forum, 3-4 p.m., Brock Auditorium, and Open Reception, 6:15-7:30 p.m., EKU Center for the Arts.

·         Dr. Gregg Lassen, Wednesday, March 27, Open Forum, 3-4 p.m., Brock Auditorium, and Open Reception, 6:15-7:30 p.m., EKU Center for the Arts.

·         Dr. Alan T. Shao, Tuesday, April 2, Open Forum, 3-4 p.m., Brock Auditorium, and Open Reception, 6:15-7:30 p.m., EKU Center for the Arts.

For those unable to attend, each open forum will be streamed live and accessible from a link on the EKU home page (www.eku.edu).

Biographies of each finalist and a full itinerary of their visits are available at presidentialsearch.eku.edu/finalists. Feedback is sought by the Presidential Search and Screening Committee, and forms will be available at each event and online at presidentialsearch.eku.edu/finalists.

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Community Service Honor Roll

CHENEY, Wash. - Eastern Washington University has been named to the 2013 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).

A total of 690 higher education institutions were named to this year's Honor Roll. The Honor Roll recognizes higher education institutions that reflect the values of exemplary community service and achieve meaningful outcomes in their communities.

Combined, the Honor Roll awardees engaged 3.1 million students in community service for a total of 118 million service hours. That's 2.5 billion dollars in value to communities across the country.

EWU's new Office of Community Engagement connects the campus to the wider community through meaningful, reciprocal partnerships in order to enrich student learning, address critical community needs and foster a culture of civic responsibility and community engagement.

Selection to the Honor Roll is recognition from the highest levels of the federal government of Eastern's commitment to service and civic engagement on your campus and in our nation.

The entire Honor Roll is available at http://www.nationalservice.gov/honorroll/.

####

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Grande Ronde Community, EOU Women’s choirs perform

March 11, 2013
LA GRANDE, Ore. (EOU) - The Grande Ronde Community Choir and EOU Women’s Choir will perform in concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 12 in McKenzie Theatre in Loso Hall.

The performance culminates the musical activities of the Community Choir for the 2012-13 year and is the final concert of winter term for the Women’s Choir. J. Michael Frasier directs both groups with the assistance of accompanists Dr. Mio Aoike and Lanetta Paul.

Folkal Point, a group directed by Duane Boyer, EOU instructor, will also make a guest appearance for the event. Folkal Point is a 13-member eclectic folk group featuring students on fiddles, penny whistle, guitars, acoustic bass, mandolin, banjo and cajon (drum box). They will perform four pieces: the Irish tune ”Marie’s Wedding,” “Ashokan Farewell,” done as a fiddle trio, the Bob Dylan tune “You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go” and a song entitled “Friend Til the End.” 

A variety of other folksong based or multicultural inspired pieces will be highlighted for the portion of the program featuring the 24-voice Women’s Choir. An instrumental ensemble will accompany the singers on “Riversong,” a Celtic inspired piece, and “Adiemus,” from the film “Avatar.” Also being performed are two songs of celebration from South Africa, with djembe accompaniment provided by Luke McKern, EOU instructor, and the Canadian folksong “Savory, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme.”

A musical set celebrating the 150th anniversary of the signing of The Emancipation Proclamation by Abraham Lincoln will conclude the concert, with the 54-voice Community Choir performing “The Homecoming” based on a 19th century hymn with text from a poem written by Lincoln. 

The Community Choir will also perform two African-American pieces: the Escape Spiritual “Keep Your Lamps” and the Freedom Spiritual, “Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel.” The set closes with two Civil War pieces that include audience participation, “Workin’ For The Dawn Of Peace” and “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”

Admission to the concert is free. Donations will be accepted at the door with proceeds benefiting future music ensemble projects. 

For more information contact Frasier at 541-962-3463.

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Edinboro University to honor two community leaders during Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards Luncheon

01/31/2013

Edinboro University and President Julie E. Wollman will honor two community leaders for their lifetimes of serving others during Edinboro’s 17th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards Luncheon on Friday, February 8.

Jacqueline Brown is being recognized for her service and contributions as the Deputy Chief of the Erie Police Support Service Division, and Bishop Stanley K. Smith, Pastor of  Meadville’s St. John Missionary Full Gospel Church and State Bishop of Pennsylvania of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International, will be honored for his nearly two decades of exemplary community service.

Brown was selected by the University’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards Luncheon  Committee because she dedicated herself to making a difference in the lives of youth and adults. A distinguished woman making history in the City of Erie, Brown accepted the position of Deputy Chief of Police of the Support Services Division of the Erie Bureau of Police in 2001. As an esteemed officer, she supervised police officers in three major detective divisions.

She is known as a present-day “Drum Major” because of her many major contributions advancing justice, and for having demonstrated throughout her career what it takes to improve and empower youth and adults alike by providing mentoring, education and training.

Her initiative and leadership reached out to minorities – men and women – who sought employment opportunities at all levels in the police department and correctional facilities, improving hiring practices at both that continue to this day.

Bishop Smith, who was born in Erie, was selected for the annual King Award because he has dedicated himself to improving the lives of countless others through his initiation of community outreach in myriad ways in Meadville and beyond. His contagious personality and innovative approach are known not only locally, but throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Serving the Meadville community and surrounding counties for nearly two decades, his vision, ministry and guidance initiated local efforts toward Breast Cancer Awareness education and other efforts to address health-related issues.

Among his many initiatives, Bishop  Smith established an annual 5K Run/Walk to benefit those with breast cancer, scholarship awards to encourage women in the “non-traditional” student category to pursue higher education, and the El Shaddai Clothing Outreach Ministry to aid women, infants and children in need.
The award recipients were chosen by Edinboro’s King Awards Luncheon Committee for recognition by the University for their unwavering dedication to social equality, peaceful community activism and education, exemplifying the ideals of the late civil rights leader, King, and for personifying his dream.

The luncheon will be held February 8 from noon to 1:30 p.m. in Edinboro’s Van Houten South Dining Hall.

The University’s intent  in hosting the luncheon and presenting community awards during Black History Month is to help carry on King’s legacy by recognizing and honoring individuals such as Brown and Smith  for keeping King’s “dreams” alive.

As in past annual King lunches at Edinboro University, the Master of Ceremonies, Dr. Kahan Sablo, Vice President for Student Affairs, will help preside over additional award presentations to Edinboro students who have been declared winners in the annual Expressions of Remembrance Contest.

In addition to musical selections from the United Voices of Edinboro, the reading of one of Dr. King’s speeches, essays, or sermons has become a cherished part of this annual celebration. This year’s reading was delivered by Dr. King April 10, 1957, during the St. Louis Freedom Rally in Missouri and has come to be known as his “A Realistic Look at the Question of Progress in the Area of Race Relations” speech.

Past Edinboro University Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award recipients include: Pearl Jeffries, Gregory Myers, Harold C. Shields, Mother Mary Beth Kennedy, Sonya Arrington, Howard Horton, Cathy Hutchinson, Judge  Stephanie Domitrovich, Homer Smith, John Horan, The Rev. John Foster, Mary Alice Brown, Bruce Morton Wright, The Rev. Dr. Eugene Schoolfield, Bishop Dwane Brock, Mildred Horton, Erie County Judge George Levin, Francine G. McNairy, Bishop Jesse Gavin, Elmore “Cootie” Harris, James Drane, Charles Faulkerson, Rubye Jenkins-Husband, Dorothy Smith-Frazier, Esther Bush,  Gary Horton, The Rev. Herlies Murphy, The Rev. Jesse McFarland, The Rev. Acquanetta Osborne, Melvin Witherspoon, Gertrude Barber, Bishop William Clark, R. Benjamin Wiley, Reuben Butler, Celestine Bell Davis, Vincent Jenco, Larry Meredith, Fred Williams, The Rev. Charles Mock, Umeme Sababu, Susan Wellman, Eron DeLeon Soto, Ronald Steele, and Bobby Harrison.

The annual luncheon was created in 1997 to celebrate King’s legacy and to honor northwestern Pennsylvania citizens who embody King’s spirit, philosophy, and teachings.
(Note to news directors and assigning editors: Coverage is encouraged; photo and interview opportunities will be available prior to the event at a reception for previous award winners, and immediately preceding and following the luncheon. Photo and video opportunities will be available throughout the luncheon.)

View the original article here

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Latest Community Indicators Project

SPOKANE, Wash. - The launch of the new Kootenai County Indicators website marks the seventh Community Indicators project created by Eastern Washington University's Institute for Public Policy and Economic Analysis.

Like other such websites, Kootenai County Indicators (www.kootenaitrends.org) offers a variety of information designed to help create a healthy, vibrant community by making data available in eight key categories for the Northern Idaho community: people, economic vitality, education, environment, health, housing, transportation, public safety and recreation and tourism.

Under its Community Indicators Initiative, the institute has created similar websites for nine other counties around the state of Washington. Each website serves as sort of a data bank that provides analytical information on relevant community topics.

Patrick Jones, the director of the Institute for Public Policy and Economic Analysis, pointed out that by providing relevant data in an easy-to-navigate website, the project seeks to help private and public decision-making and policy on the local level. "This website will give communities in Kootenai County a way to assess how they are doing in key quality of life areas," said Jones, who worked with community leaders from around Kootenai County to determine what data should be published.

This project is funded by a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). SBA's funding should not be construed as an endorsement of any products, opinions or services. All SBA-funded projects are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. The Kootenai project is also funded by the Inland Northwest Community Foundation.

The Institute has co-developed and currently manages seven Community Indicators Projects, including the Community Indicators Initiative of Spokane, Walla Walla Trends, Chelan Douglas Trends, Northeast Washington Trends and Grant County Trends.

The website was developed in collaboration with the EWU's Center for Digital Media and Design, utilizing the fourth generation of student teams and graphic designers.

For more information about the project, contact Patrick Jones at 509.358.2266, or visit www.communityindicators.ewu.edu.

For more details on the Kootenai County website, visit www.kootentaicountyindicators.org or www.kootenaitrends.org.

####

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New Living Learning Community Will Focus on American Sign Language, Deaf Students

Boasting one of only nine nationally accredited baccalaureate degree programs in American Sign Language and Interpreter Education, Eastern Kentucky University has for many years attracted deaf and hard-of-hearing students as well as those who want to serve and assist them.

Now, students from both groups have another reason to consider the Richmond campus: a residence hall living-learning community devoted to American Sign Language and deaf culture. Beginning this fall, the first two floors of eight-story Walters Hall will house a population comprised largely of deaf students, those who grew up in a deaf culture, and students majoring or minoring in interpreter education, deaf education or deaf studies. It’s the first such living learning community at a Kentucky college or university, according to Nickole Hale, associate director for academic initiatives with University Housing.

“This will give students an inclusive common ground where communication is not an issue,” said Dr. Laurence Hayes, chair of EKU’s Department of American Sign Language and Interpreter Education (ASLIE). “Because one of the outcomes is learning a way of life, it will help build bridges and create strong bonds not only in the residence hall, but all across campus.

“Anytime you can take a language to a larger platform, it’s a great experience for the students, and that experience will generate interest and curiosity about the University, our program and the language.”

The only pre-requisite? Hearing students will need to have completed American Sign Language 102 and demonstrate a basic competency in ASL, as all members of the living learning community will be expected to use ASL in the hallways and other common areas. The new living-learning community will house approximately 40 students on each floor – one floor for males, the other for females. The community will also include computer and language labs and other related services, and will benefit from on-site workshops, seminars and other presentations led by EKU faculty and staff and others.

“It will have a huge impact on recruiting,” Hayes predicted. “It’s a strong selling point.”

Hale noted strong support from ASLIE faculty and staff, half of whom are deaf.

“This living learning community will succeed because they are so interested,” she said. “All our residence hall living learning communities (this will be the University’s 15th) that have strong faculty backing are highly effective.”

EKU’s Interpreter Training Program, established in 1989, is one of approximately 40 such programs nationwide and is one of only nine baccalaureate degree programs nationally accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Interpreter Education. Hayes noted that the program has a 95 percent retention rate, as well as a 95 percent job placement rate.

“There continues to be a growing demand for interpreters,” he said, “so the job market is strong.”

Interpreters find employment in various settings: educational institutions, government, business, and the legal, medical and mental health professions, as well as personal (weddings, funerals, reunions, etc.)

All candidates for national certification as interpreters must hold a bachelor’s degree in the field. Currently, 21 students from a variety of states are pursuing a bachelor’s degree in interpreter education at Eastern, and an additional 275-300 are taking ASL classes, Hayes said.       

EKU’s Department of American Sign Language and Interpreter Education also has an active outreach in-service training program.

For more information about the program, visit www.aslie.eku.edu or call 859-622-4966.

View the original article here

Read More

Latest Community Indicators Project

SPOKANE, Wash. - The launch of the new Kootenai County Indicators website marks the seventh Community Indicators project created by Eastern Washington University's Institute for Public Policy and Economic Analysis.

Like other such websites, Kootenai County Indicators (www.kootenaitrends.org) offers a variety of information designed to help create a healthy, vibrant community by making data available in eight key categories for the Northern Idaho community: people, economic vitality, education, environment, health, housing, transportation, public safety and recreation and tourism.

Under its Community Indicators Initiative, the institute has created similar websites for nine other counties around the state of Washington. Each website serves as sort of a data bank that provides analytical information on relevant community topics.

Patrick Jones, the director of the Institute for Public Policy and Economic Analysis, pointed out that by providing relevant data in an easy-to-navigate website, the project seeks to help private and public decision-making and policy on the local level. "This website will give communities in Kootenai County a way to assess how they are doing in key quality of life areas," said Jones, who worked with community leaders from around Kootenai County to determine what data should be published.

This project is funded by a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). SBA's funding should not be construed as an endorsement of any products, opinions or services. All SBA-funded projects are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. The Kootenai project is also funded by the Inland Northwest Community Foundation.

The Institute has co-developed and currently manages seven Community Indicators Projects, including the Community Indicators Initiative of Spokane, Walla Walla Trends, Chelan Douglas Trends, Northeast Washington Trends and Grant County Trends.

The website was developed in collaboration with the EWU's Center for Digital Media and Design, utilizing the fourth generation of student teams and graphic designers.

For more information about the project, contact Patrick Jones at 509.358.2266, or visit www.communityindicators.ewu.edu.

For more details on the Kootenai County website, visit www.kootentaicountyindicators.org or www.kootenaitrends.org.

####

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Grande Ronde Community Choir ramps up for winter term

January 4, 2013

EOU photo by Andrew Murray / Community Choir rehearsals begin Jan. 10 for March concert celebrating 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation.

LA GRANDE, Ore. (EOU) ? The Grande Ronde Community Choir will hold its first rehearsal of winter term from 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 10 in Loso Hall, Room 123.

Registration is at 6:30 p.m. and the chorus is open to singers of all ages and abilities. There is a $20 fee per term to participate and the money is used to help defray operational costs of the choir.

“Anyone who likes to sing and wishes to be a part of an outstanding community group is encouraged to join,” said J. Michael Frasier, choir director and music educator. “We strive to include a balance of fun, social interaction and quality music-making into our rehearsals and performances.”

Frasier is assisted by Lanetta Paul, accompanist, and Jonathan Davidson, graduate assistant. The choir meets every Thursday night throughout the term and will perform March 12, with a concert program celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation signed into law in 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln.

Music will include “The Homecoming,” by Joseph M. Martin with text by Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Young, “Workin’ For The Dawn Of Peace,” a setting of Civil War Songs and “Battle Hymn Of The Republic,” one of the most famous songs of the era.

The escape spiritual “Keep Your Lamps” arranged by Andre Thomas, and a religious freedom spiritual often quoted at Emancipation Proclamation remembrances, “Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel,” also present a view of the times from the perspective of slaves.

For more information contact Frasier at 541-910-1149 (cell), 541-962-3463 (work), e-mail mfrasier@eou.edu, or connect with the Grande Ronde Community Choir on Facebook.

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Community Education Courses for January-June Announced

Eastern Kentucky University’s Division of Continuing Education and Outreach will offer more than 80 community education courses from January through June.

In addition to courses on the Richmond campus, the lineup includes nine basket-weaving classes in Corbin, two classes in Lancaster (in beaded jewelry and digital photography), and as a wide range of instructor-facilitated on-line courses through a partnership with Ed2Go (www.ed2go.com/eku).

EKU community education classes meet a wide variety of needs and interests among all ages and skill levels. Courses are scheduled in arts and crafts, cooking, computers, music and dance, personal growth, and recreation and exercise. Many of the classes meet only once, while others meet over a period of several weeks. Most of the Richmond campus classes are held in the Perkins Building, on Kit Carson Drive, where public parking spaces are plentiful. Other Richmond classes are held elsewhere on campus or in the community. The Corbin classes are held at EKU’s Corbin campus, and the Lancaster classes at the EKU Lancaster Higher Education Center on the Court Square.

Pre-registration is urged for all classes. To register, for more information or to obtain a brochure, call 859-622-1228, or, toll free, 877-358-6742 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays, or visit www.ceo.eku.edu/communityeducation to see the entire catalog and/or enroll online. EKU’s Community Education Office is located in Room 229 of the Perkins Building.

Individuals age 65 or older are entitled to enroll in any Community Education class for only a $5 processing fee, thanks to the O’Donnell Scholarship. The scholarship does not, however, cover textbooks, class supplies, trips or tours.

Computer training courses cover many popular software programs, such as Microsoft Office, as well as courses in Computer Basics, Geocaching, Basic Video Editing and Videography, Facebook and Twitter.

Also, several computer science camps for youth are scheduled in June: Robotics, Japanese Animation, Java Programming, Dino Story Creation, Computer Forensics, Creative Scrapbook, Computer Game Design, Architecture Design, and more.

Music classes are Guitar and Musikgarten with My Little Melody.

Five “Healthy Living” classes are on tap: Healthy Tips from a Health Coach, Skin Care, Green Home Cleaning, and Taking Care of Your Body the Chinese Way (Food Cures and Herbs and Tea).

Dozens of arts and crafts courses are scheduled. They include numerous basketweaving and bake shop options, as well as courses on hair bows, crochet necklace and headband, hand-carved dough bowls, beaded jewelry, beginning sewing, among others. Also, Nelle’s Summer Sewing and Cooking Camp for ages 9-13 will be offered June 24-28.

Recreation and exercise classes run the gamut of activities, age requirements and skills. They include Exercise for Adults with Chronic Conditions, Body Recall and Body Recall Lite, Karate for All Ages, Yoga, Zumba, Adult and Junior Tennis Clinics, plus the usual array of children’s and adult swimming lessons, as well as Aqua Zumba, Aqua Fit, and lifeguard training. Several dance classes are also scheduled: Parent and Me Dance, Twos in Tutus Dance, Ballet/Creative Dance, Ballet/Hip Hop, Beginning Social Dance, and Intermediate Social Dance.

EKU also continues to offer a wide array of workforce education courses.

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Madison Co. to Host Fifth Southern Growth Policies Board Community Forum Feb. 1

Madison County will host its fifth Southern Growth Policies Board (SGPB) Community Forum on Friday, Feb. 1.

The event, titled “Madison County: Looking toward the Future,” will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Perkins Building on the campus of Eastern Kentucky University.

The community forum, facilitated by the EKU Facilitation Center and Southern Growth, is part of an ongoing effort with the SGPB to assist Richmond, Berea and Madison County with the development and implementation of a comprehensive economic development plan. It is open to members of Richmond and Berea Chambers of Commerce and selected local high school student leaders.

“Forum participants will be joining other Madison Countians who are optimistic about the future of our county,” said Marc Whitt, associate vice president for public relations at EKU, who once again is coordinating this year’s Forum. “The Madison County Economic Development Plan Project Leadership Team and Southern Growth are seeking input on topics such as workforce readiness, education, entrepreneurship, industrial and retail development, tourism, arts and quality of life issues, healthcare, agribusiness, the Madison Airport, Blue Grass Army Depot and other relevant topics of interest to our citizens.”

The format for the community forum will feature small group interaction expanding to a facilitated, room-wide presentation of ideas. The lunch will feature a moderated panel discussion involving local industrial human resources managers.

The Southern Grown Policies Board (www.southern.org) is a regional public policy think tank representing 14 Southern states that develops and advances visionary economic development policies.

For more information, or to register, contact the Richmond Chamber of Commerce at 859-623-1720, or register online at www.richmondchamber.com/events/eventdetail.aspx?EventID=2564, or visit the Berea Chamber of Commerce at www.bereachamber.com. The registration fee of $10 includes lunch.

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University Employees Serve Local Community

Faculty and staff singing and making music with students at Orange County Academy in Bithlo, Florida, during a service day.

Located just 23 miles from the center of Orlando lies the small town of Bithlo, described by some as a “forgotten community.” Despite its central location, the town has numerous problems that affect the population’s education, safety, and health.

On August 29, Adventist University of Health Sciences pooled resources and partnered with United Global Outreach, the organization heading the Bithlo transformation effort, to assist a community that has been overlooked for too long.

David Tao, curriculum development coordinator, painting a room in the Bithlo food pantry on August 29.

The University’s faculty and staff, a team of about 220, rolled up their sleeves and served Bithlo in four main areas: they refurbished a food pantry; facilitated classes at Orange County Academy; assisted with programs at Head Start, an organization for vulnerable children aged 2 to 5; and landscaped a charity processing building.

Daphne Nelson, one of the coordinators of the local food pantry, says the help came at just the right time.

“We have inspection coming up and we were wondering how we would get the building up to speed,” Nelson says. “It is a God-send that you were able to do this.”

The benefits of the service day stretched beyond those in Bithlo, says Tia Hughes, chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy and service day coordinator. It was also a hands-on opportunity to implement the beliefs the University is built on.

“The mission of our University is to educate others to serve in the healing ministry of Christ,” Hughes says. “Service days like the one in Bithlo allow our team, in some small way, to model that to our students.”

Ruby Gutierrez, director of community engagement, says the end goal of the transformation effort is to see Bithlo become a self-sufficient and healthy community and this service day was just the beginning of a long relationship with the community.

During this school year about 200 students will teach health and nutrition classes, other students will travel twice weekly to tutor students, and in celebration of the University’s 20th anniversary, students, faculty, and staff will participate in 20 service projects in Bithlo.

“I can’t think of any better example for our students as to what service learning is about,” Gutierrez says. “To really get involved and become aware of the issues people in their own backyard are facing, realizing they can be part of the solution.”

-by Sarah Crowder

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University Employees Serve Local Community

Faculty and staff singing and making music with students at Orange County Academy in Bithlo, Florida, during a service day.

Located just 23 miles from the center of Orlando lies the small town of Bithlo, described by some as a “forgotten community.” Despite its central location, the town has numerous problems that affect the population’s education, safety, and health.

On August 29, Adventist University of Health Sciences pooled resources and partnered with United Global Outreach, the organization heading the Bithlo transformation effort, to assist a community that has been overlooked for too long.

David Tao, curriculum development coordinator, painting a room in the Bithlo food pantry on August 29.

The University’s faculty and staff, a team of about 220, rolled up their sleeves and served Bithlo in four main areas: they refurbished a food pantry; facilitated classes at Orange County Academy; assisted with programs at Head Start, an organization for vulnerable children aged 2 to 5; and landscaped a charity processing building.

Daphne Nelson, one of the coordinators of the local food pantry, says the help came at just the right time.

“We have inspection coming up and we were wondering how we would get the building up to speed,” Nelson says. “It is a God-send that you were able to do this.”

The benefits of the service day stretched beyond those in Bithlo, says Tia Hughes, chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy and service day coordinator. It was also a hands-on opportunity to implement the beliefs the University is built on.

“The mission of our University is to educate others to serve in the healing ministry of Christ,” Hughes says. “Service days like the one in Bithlo allow our team, in some small way, to model that to our students.”

Ruby Gutierrez, director of community engagement, says the end goal of the transformation effort is to see Bithlo become a self-sufficient and healthy community and this service day was just the beginning of a long relationship with the community.

During this school year about 200 students will teach health and nutrition classes, other students will travel twice weekly to tutor students, and in celebration of the University’s 20th anniversary, students, faculty, and staff will participate in 20 service projects in Bithlo.

“I can’t think of any better example for our students as to what service learning is about,” Gutierrez says. “To really get involved and become aware of the issues people in their own backyard are facing, realizing they can be part of the solution.”

-by Sarah Crowder

View the original article here

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