The School for Adult Learning at the University of Indianapolis announces its revised process allowing students to earn college credit for their lifetime of learning experiences. 

What is a Prior Learning Assessment Portfolio?  A Prior Learning Assessment is a formal written communication presented by the student to the University requesting credit for extra-collegiate, college-level learning. A portfolio consists of multiple components. Each component plays a role in demonstratitng mastery of learning objectives. Each portfolio must make its case by identifying learning clearly and succinctly, with suporting documentation and other evidence, that will demonstrate you have sufficiently mastered the credit being requested. The use of portfolios in degree completion has been around for over 40 years.

Is it right for you?  If you are a student who has nontraditional learning that meets the necessary criteria, you may be eligible to seek academic credit through the portfolio process. Credit is granted for learnng, not experience! The Prior Learning Assessment portfolio process provides you with an opportunity to earn credit for learning outside the confines of a traditional classroom. If you have developed college level knowledge, skills, and abilities as a result of:  work experience, formal corporate training, operating your own business, working with a volunteer or community organization, seminars, or license: you may want to use this option to earn college credit. Completing a PLA portfolio is an economical way to accelerate your degree while also receiving recognition of your life's accomplishments!

What are the benefits? As a returning adult you recognize that a basic requirement for career placement is the attainment of- at minimum- a bachelor's degree. By the year 2018, 63% of the total job openings in the US will require some level of post-secondary (college) education (http:www.9.georgetown.edu/grad/gpi/hpi/cew/pdfs/FullReport). No matter whether you bring with you transfer credits or none at all, the use of prior learning assessment has been statistically documented to give you an advantage in several important ways.

To get started, meet with the PLA Coordinator in the School for Adult Learning. The Coordinator will explain the process and the cost.

To learn more about this process, contact:  Kathy L. Simpher, MTS, Master Certified PLA Coordinator

ksimpher@uindy.edu or 317.788.3393. School for Adult Learning, Esch Hall 103, University of Indianapolis

 

Assistant Professor, William Essman, Ph.D. has been teaching in the School of Sciences at the University of Indianapolis since 1999. Dr. Essman earned his Ph.D. in biological psychology from the University of Michigan. He then completed a post-doctoral fellowship in psychopharmacology at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School, Department of Psychiatry. From 1996 to 1998 he joined the clinical psychology respecialization program at the University of Massachusetts specializing in health psychology and behavioral medicine. He completed his internship in behavioral medicine at the University of Mississippi. His clinical and research interests include behavioral medicine and health psychology, psychopharmacology and behavioral pharmacology, and personality and health. Dr. Essman teaches at both the graduate and undergraduate level courses such as: Biological Bases of Behavior, Health Psychology, Advanced Psychopathology and Special Topics classes in Addictions. 

Away from campus Dr. Essman enjoys golf, photography and reading. In addition, he loves gadgets, especially flashlights, clocks, watches and pens.  If you need a unique gadget or tool for a task, I'm sure Dr. Essman probably has it.   

To learn more about Dr. Essman, the other faculty, or the programs offered by the School of Psychological Science, please visit our web pages. 

Dr. Nicole Taylor is an assistant professor in the School of Psychological Sciences at the University of Indianapolis. She received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Toledo in 1999, and has been at UIndy since 2000. Dr. Taylor's clinical and research interests include topics such as coping with illness, training and supervision issues in graduate clinical psychology, women's issues, psychology and primary care, factors related to medical compliance and non-compliance, behavioral health and prevention, psychoeducational assessment, ADHD assessment, and psychotherapy treatment outcome in psychology training clinics. Dr. Taylor teaches at both the graduate and undergraduate level, and covers such courses as Life Span Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Tests and Measurements, Theories of Counseling, Foundation Skills of Psychotherapy, Supervision and Management, Ethics, Professional and Legal Issues, and Clinical Assessment. 

In addition to her busy teaching schedule, Dr. Taylor is the Director of the Psychological Services Center (PSC) at UIndy. The PSC offers comprehensive evaluation and therapy services to individuals, families and organizations, both children and adults. Licensed clinical faculty and advanced graduate students working under their supervision provide services.     

Away from campus Dr. Taylor spends time with her partner and their three young children. They take as many family trips as possible and really enjoy their many trips to Disney World.

To learn more about Dr. Taylor and the other faculty at the University of Indianapolis, visit our web pages. 

Lisa Elwood, Ph.D. has been teaching graduate level courses at the University of Indianapolis School of Psychological Sciences since the fall of 2011. Dr. Elwood received her Ph.D. from the University of Arkansas in 2008 specializing in clinical psychology. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Center for Trauma Recovery at the University of Missouri in Saint Louis prior to joining UIndy. Dr. Elwood's research interests include risk and vulnerability factors for PTSD, cognitive behavioral treatments for PTSD, non-fear emotional reactions to trauma, and secondary trauma outcomes. Her clinical interests include cognitive behavioral therapy, PTSD, cognitive processing therapy, anxiety disorders and clinical training.  

In addition to a busy teaching schedule including Foundation Skills of Psychotherapy, Clinical Interviewing, Statistics and Research Methods I, Ethics, Professional Standards and Legal Issues and Trauma and PTSD, Dr. Elwood is the Director of Clinical Training and is the MA Program Coordinator. As the Director of Clinical Training Dr. Elwood oversees and coordinates all practicum and internship activities in the graduate psychology programs. Working closely with the Dean and the Director of Graduate Programs it is her responsibility to ensure the establishment and effective functioning of the clinical training process.  

If you would like to learn more about the School of Psychological Sciences faculty or the University of Indianapolis, please visit our web site.   

Meet Debbie Warman, Ph.D, HSPP, ABPP from the School of Psychological Sciences at the University of Indianapolis. Dr. Warman earned her Ph.D. from the University of Memphis and completed a postdoctoral fellowship focusing on cognitive-behavioral therapy at the University of Pennsylvania under the guidance of Dr. Aaron Beck. Dr. Warman is board certified in cognitive and behavioral psychotherapy and a Diplomate and Fellow: Certified Cognitive Therapist, Academy of Cognitive Therapy. Dr. Warman's research focuses on schizophrenia, specifically reasoning biases for individuals with delusions or delusion-like thinking. Dr. Warman has been teaching at the University of Indianapolis since 2003 in graduate level classes such as Cognitive and Cognitive Behavioral Approaches to Treatment, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Schizophrenia. Outside of her research and teaching Dr. Warman enjoys spending time with her family, especially sons Nate and Ethan.  

Learn more about Dr. Warman, other faculty members and the School of Psychological Sciences by visiting our web pages. 

 

The Univeristy of Indianapolis School of Nursing is consistenly considered among the top Indiana nursing  schools.

The school has recently added a new accreditation to its graduate degrees, with its master's degree program in Nurse-Midwifery earning a 10-year renewal of its initial approval from the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education. 

Learn more about the accredidation and the Nurse-Midwifery masters program at UIndy News.

 

The University of Indianapolis Institute for Leadership and Professional Development invites you to the first presentation in the Leadership Development Series for 2012.  Tom Richardson, a professional business coach, certified mental performance consultant, longtime high school football coach, and Indiana's first "Mind of a Champion Coach" presents this timely seminar, Performance Intelligence: Power of the Mind on January 10, 2012, from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at UIndy. Learn how to perform your best when it matters by applying sports psychology to business and achieve positive results.

This half-day seminar will propel you to success in 2012. The cost is just $59.  Send three or more and save 10%.  This program includes instruction, workbook, networking and certificate of completion.  Space is limited.  To register call 317-788-3442 or email maym@uindy.edu.  For more information, visit the SAL website, www.sal.uindy.edu/ilpd.php. 

The focus of the doctoral degree in psychology and the psychology master's degree is to train students for the general, integrative practice of clinical psychology.  Students develop capacities for thinking in a systematic and disciplined manner about clinical cases, theories, assessment, diagnosis, case conceptualization, intervention, problem solving and ethics.  They learn to translate basic psychological science into clinical practice, judiciously consider various sources of data and weigh evidence from multiple sources, evaluate and modify beliefs based on evidence, be outcome-oriented and consider alternative viewpoints and perspectives.  Scientific inquiry and research are viewed as improving critical thinking, and in the doctoral program the foundations of research design and statistics are well enough in place to permit professional activity in these areas.

The faculty believe that graduate education is most effective when the relationship between students and faculty is characterized by mutual respect, responsibility, and dedication to excellence.  The graduate programs are founded on a deep and abiding respect for diversity in individuals, the ethical practice of psychology, and a commitment to service to others.  These foundation themes are reflected in the selection of students, the coursework and training experiences offered, and the faculty who serve as role models and mentors. 

The Institute for Leadership and Professional Development at the University of Indianapolis invites you to the first presentation of our 2011 Leadership Development Series.  Tommy B. Richardson, a professional coach, certified mental performance consultant and coach, longtime high school football coach, and Indiana's first "Mind of a Champion Master Coach", presents this timely seminar, Performance Intelligence: Power of the Mind.  Learn how to use your mind to achieve positive results.  Tommy will give you the tools you need to achieve your goals.  Learn how to perform your best when it matters by applying sports psychology to business.  Richardson uses the five principles of Performance Intelligence to give you the competitive edge.

This seminar will be held on UIndy's conveniently located campus Thursday, January 13, 2011, from 8:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. The cost is just $59 per person and includes networking, 3.5 hours of instruction, workbook, and certificate of completion. Ask about our 10% discount.  This half-day seminar will propel you to success. You will leave the session ready to meet the challenges of the new year. 

Registration is limited to the first 30.  To register contact maym@uindy.edu or call 317-788-3442.  This is the program you need to make 2011 a great year.


 

National Midwifery Week is being held across the country next week, October 3-9.  The midwifery faculty and students at University of Indianapolis are promoting its annual Blankets for Babies® Campaign to celebrate.

As part of their commitment to be "With women, for a lifetime®," are you aware that midwives are involved in more than just childbirth?  Nurse-Midwives are here to help empower women to take charge of their health and their lives.

For more information, visit the American College of Nurse-Midwives' Web site at www.midwife.org or Barb Winningham, Coordinator, Nurse-Midwifery Track at bwinningham@uindy.edu or 788-3327.

A "good" personal statement is a very important element in your file when applying to the graduate programs in the School of Psychological Sciences at the University of Indianapolis or any other graduate program.  Your personal statement should tell the reviewer why you are applying to the program and why you feel the school you are applying to is a good fit for you.  Your personal statement should tell the reader a lot about who you are and what your goals are.  The reviewer needs to know about your work ethic and your ability to persevere to achieve your goals.  Basically, you are "selling" yourself to the admission committee. 

Some schools may have word limits for your personal statement.  Be sure to read the rules and adhere strictly to those limits.  If no maximum word count is stated, the statement can be as long or as short as you feel necessary to tell your story.  The School of Psychological Sciences at the University of Indianapolis does not specify a limit. 

While this next point may seem obvious, many personal statements are received with numerous spelling and grammar errors.  By all means, spell and grammar check your document carefully.  Spelling and grammar errors can blemish an otherwise excellent application file.  It is always a good idea to have one or more people look over your document before you submit it. 

Welcome to the School of Nursing blog! In this discussion, we want to talk about the fantastic opportunities in nursing, and the options to join the nursing profession at the University of Indianapolis—known as UINDY.

Nursing is a GREAT career choice!

First, did you know that nursing is one of the top 5 career choices that is reported to have the best prospects for job hunters?

 

Second, did you know there is a nursing shortage? While other careers are facing layoffs, nursing is considered to be one of the few jobs that will be hiring for at least the next 30 years. While nobody can promise absolute job security in this world, nursing is a career choice that carries a very low probability of its graduates ever facing a poor job market.

 

UINDY has multiple ways you can become a nurse.

First, we have a traditional bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree. This is a 4 year program. For the first year, students take pre-requisite and general education core courses (required of every student seeking a college degree). For example, our first year students take Anatomy and Physiology, Chemistry, English Composition, Math, Speech, and a variety of other courses to fill their schedules. In their sophomore year, they start their clinical nursing courses, including having experiences with real patients in hospitals. They complete their nursing courses and any other requirements in their Junior and Senior year.

 

Second, we have an Accelerated Nursing Program. In this program, people who have a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field have the opportunity to complete both their Bachelor’s and Masters degrees in nursing in about 3 years. We call this the AMP program for Accelerated Masters Program. During the first year, students take prerequisite science courses and complete three nursing courses. A typical student in the AMP program will take Anatomy, Microbiology, Nutrition, and a second level psychology course the first semester. The second semester the student will take Physiology, Chemistry (if it has not already been taken as part of the first degree), Pharmacology, Nursing Research and any other pre-requisites still needed. In May, the students start their clinical nursing courses, and receive their bachelor’s degree in nursing at the end of the following summer. Then they complete their masters courses in another year. That means in three years—less time than it would take them to get a traditional BSN degree—the AMP students have two degrees!

 

Third, we offer an RN-to-BSN degree for ASN nurses who wish to complete their BSN degree. The courses in this program are offered mostly in the afternoons and evenings to accommodate working nurses.

 

We hope that you will contact the school of nursing if you are interested in pursuing one of these avenues into the nursing profession. Nursing is the hardest job you will ever love.