School leaders in today's global economy must be agents of change and committed to instructional excellence, cultural diversity, and collaboration.  The iLEAD Principal Preparation Program at the University of Indianapolis engages candidates in a variety of experiences that prepare them to confront the complex realities of educating students in a rapidly changing world.  Fall 2009 course work began on September 12, 2009 for the three cohort groups in our graduate education leadership program.  Cohort VI will complete the masters degree in education in May, 2010 and will be eligible to pursue an Indiana Building Administrator License.  Cohorts VII and VIII will finish in December 2010 and May 2011.

Our hybrid program currently includes students from throughout Indiana.  Clicking on the attached link will lead to a locator map of the districts represented in the iLEAD masters degree in education/principal leadership program: uindyilead.org  The executive or hybrid program helps you achieve your professional goals in a project-based leadership curriculum with field experiences to research and solve problems.  You interact with clinical faculty, current practitioners, and proven school leaders who possess a wealth of inside knowledge and expertise.  You complete online assignments in collaboration with your cohort group.

Information will be posted throughout this semester about our iLEAD activities and how to apply to join Cohort IX who will begin their classes in June, 2010.  If you have questions or need more details, visit our website at education.uindy.edu/iLEAD and learn more about our dynamic program.  In the next blog, we'll talk more about the iLEAD program and the new mentor cadre roundtable.

The University of Indianapolis, or UIndy, is a comprehensive, independent, student-friendly institution located just minutes from a thriving city center.  Our faculty and staff are committed to helping you become more effective in your daily work with students, to maximize your potential, and to prepare you for leadership.  UIndy is distinguished by highly respected undergraduate programs in teacher education, communications, and the health sciences, nationally ranked graduate programs, and Centers of Excellence focusing on aging studies and education reform.  Personal attention, small, interactive classes, and flexible programming are the rule rather than the exception.

In December 2009, ten Doctor of Physical Therapy students and two faculty members (Renee VanVeld and Stacie Fruth) from the Krannert School of Physical Therapy at the University of Indianapolis will be participating in a service-learning trip to provide medical and educational services to the underserved population of Pommern, Tanzania. The goal is for the participating DPT students to return to the U. S. with a renewed enthusiasm for service, increased creativity for solving problems with few resources, a heightened appreciation for cultural differences, and a newfound appreciation for medical resources in the U. S.

The 2009 trip to Tanzania will incorporate a formal qualitative research study involving students on campus as well as those traveling abroad. DPT students traveling to Africa will apply skills learned in the classroom when they are performing physical therapy services including the evaluation and treatment of musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, integumentary and cardiopulmonary conditions. In addition, students will assist in the rudimentary medical clinic with conditions including malaria, tooth extractions and intestinal worms. Students will conduct well-baby clinics for mothers who travel great distances in order to have their children weighed and vaccinated in order to reverse striking national statistics of infant mortality and malnutrition. Students will also have the opportunity to teach in a local school, assist with local construction projects and participate in cultural sharing.

A qualitative research study is being conducted on the students who are traveling to Tanzania to determine what changes may occur with regards to cultural understanding and appreciation, the level of interest in international service, resource management and personal struggles encountered. Data for the study will be gathered one month before departure, immediately upon returning, six months and one year post trip by students in the Class of 2012 by means of interviews and journal reviews. The students collecting the data will then be studied to determine whether or not participation in the study increases a desire to participate in future studies in international health.

Participating in this project will catapult theses students into a journey focused on international health. KSPT students participating in this experience will take away in experience more than they could ever give to the people of Tanzania. According to Assistant Professor and trip organizer Stacie Fruth, "myself and others I know who have been on similar trips know that, upon returning home, you definitely feel like you received far more than you gave. I guess I can't say that's my goal for these students, but I do hope it happens."

Please be our guest at our next UINDY MBA Open House on August 5, Wednesday at 6 p.m. 

The location is the Marriott Courtyard , 8670 Allisonville Road, Castleton.   The exit closest on 465 is the Allisonville exit.

 

There will be a presentation by Steve Tokar, Director of Graduate Business Programs. This presentation will give you the information you need in making a decision to begin a MBA program. There will also be MBA professors available to answer any questions you might have about our MBA program.

 

The University of Indianapolis offers a MBA program that is highly accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). We also have the honor of being accredited under the Baldrige Quality Standard of the ACBSP. Our MBA curriculum combines the latest business theory with the latest business practices in our foundational courses. MBA students are also offered optional majors in the areas of finance, organizational leadership, international business, marketing, technology management and global supply chain management. 

 

We offer a choice of evening on-campus classes, a Saturday Executive MBA, an international business travel study option and convenient northside locations to attend the program.

 

If you would like to learn more about the program, rsvp for an open house, request an informational packet or inquire about the application process, please contact myself, Melissa Newman via email newmanma@uindy.edu or call 317-788-6206.

 

The most recent issue of Governing magazine includes an article by John Buntin titled "Seniors and the City," which reviews the concept of the naturally occurring retirement community (NORC).

Buntin's article gives considerable space to the history of NORCs -- from the coining of the term by urban planning professor Michael Hunt to the insight and vision of NORC pioneer Fredda Vladeck in New York City. Buntin also shines a light on Indiana's NORC efforts, including the innovative approach taken by the University of Indianapolis Center for Aging & Community (CAC).

Funded by the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration Division on Aging and working with Indiana's first NORC, Elder-Friendly Communities, CAC worked to establish five NORCs throughout the state in urban, suburban and rural settings.

To read the Governing magazine article, click here.

To learn more about CAC's NORC program, Communities for Life, click here or contact CFL Project Director LaNita Garmany at (317) 791-5941 or garmanyl at uindy dot edu.

PT study finds fitness benefit in dance games

Dr. Tony Bennett, Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction, visited the University of Indianapolis EDUC 605 (Using Data to Build High Performing Learning Cultures) class in the iLEAD principal leadership program on Saturday, March 21st.  Dr. Bennett's presentation was an excellent opportunity for students in our graduate education program to hear his reflections on his first months in office and ask questions to enhance their ability to develop sustainable plans for increasing student achievement.  Cohort VI includes 23 students who began their masters degree in education/licensure course work in September, 2008 in an executive-style program with personal attention and small class sizes.

During his conversation with Cohort VI, Dr. Bennett reviewed his goals for student achievement and his focus on student needs.  He expressed strong support for the value of mentors in graduate education programs, citing the impact experienced administrators had on his skill developmdent.  Dr. Bennett emphasized his continuing efforts to create "multiple pathways to do the job," a concept which resonates with UIndy's varied options for a rewarding masters degree in education and certification opportunities.   

Cohort VI students were enthusiastic about the chance to interact with Indiana's educational leader.  Following the presentation, Dr. Bennett toured the School of Education department and visited with seniors participating in the Kappa Delta Pi Candidate Practice Interview Day for our teacher education program.  He also greeted State Board members for the Indiana Council for Exceptional Children who were meeting at the University of Indianapolis on March 21st.   All of these activities reflect the UIndy focus in our teacher education and our principal preparation programs on providing interactive experiences for personal growth to help you become more effective in your daily work with students, to maximize your potential, and 
increase your leadership skills.  

If you have questions or need more details, please visit our web site at http://education.uindy.edu/iLEAD, or contact Chemain Arens, School of Education Graduate Programs, at (317) 788-6098.

Some things never change. But others will not stay the same no matter how hard we wish or work to make it so. At the recent Annual Meeting of the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE) in San Antonio, much focus was on two issues that are currently running wild like a Texas steer on a rampage – the global economic crisis and the demand for the use of technology in the delivery of education.

At the AGHE conference, there were hundreds of academics and students in attendance representing colleges and universities from around the country. I made it a point to attend a variety of meetings, presentations and discussions on different topics related to aging issues. Almost every session that I attended included questions and concerns from participants about the effects of the economic downturn on our academic programs and also how the demand for online learning options is forcing changes in the way we plan and conduct our courses.

These are difficult times we are facing and there is great uncertainty about what the future holds. When we dwell on the uncertainties we may feel powerless. However, there are always opportunities that manifest in the midst of hardship. Lessons from history have taught us that to effectively address the issues and move forward beyond the difficulties requires creative thinking and innovation.

In the Aging Studies program at the University of Indianapolis Center for Aging & Community (CAC), we’re working to incorporate technologies such as Skype, SnapKast and various other Web 2.0 technologies into our undergraduate and graduate certificate programs and our graduate degree programs, all of which have always been delivered in an online format via Blackboard.

By facing the challenges before us and working together to make improvements, we can become empowered and create positive changes that make a difference. Change happens whether we want it to or not and every day we grow older – it just happens naturally, but getting better with age happens on purpose.


Tamara Wolske, MS
Academic Program Director

Are you passionate about improving student achievement?  Do you have the vision and drive it takes to create a school environment that values and supports learning for all students?  Take your teaching career to the next level and become an educational leader!  Bottom line?  When you have completed the iLEAD principal leadership program, you will have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to serve as a change agent in your school and your community.  Learn more about this graduate education program at http://education.uindy.edu/iLEAD.

We are now recruiting for 2009 summer and fall cohorts.  To apply for the iLEAD masters degree in education/principal leadership program, submit a dossier, which should include the items listed below to Chemain Arens in the School of Education at the University of Indianapolis, 1400 East Hanna Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46227.  Contact Chemain at carens@uindy.edu or (317) 788-6098.  Interviews will be conducted with a select number of prospective candidates after an initial review of their dossier is complete.  Online application documents may be found at http://education.uindy.edu/ilead/forms.php.  Here’s what you’ll need:

1.       Completed application with writing sample

2.       Official post-secondary transcripts

3.       Vita or resume

4.       At least three (3) letters of recommendation

5.       Agreement from your school corporation for release time to complete required field experiences

6.       Interview with the University of Indianapolis iLEAD coordinators

 

Our newest graduate education leadership community, Cohort VII, will begin their program Saturday, May 16, 2009.  Cohort VIII will start Saturday, September 12, 2009.  The iLEAD principal leadership courses are offered so that candidates can complete their program of study in 18 months in an executive-style format.  Cohort VII will finish in December, 2010 and Cohort VIII in May, 2011.  Learn more about how iLEAD can help you achieve your professional goals in a graduate education program at a college with personal attention, the University of Indianapolis.

Maybe you have always wanted a college degree and life got in the way. Or, perhaps the current economy has you thinking about a degree. Dr. Patricia Jefferson, Dean of the School for Adult Learning at the Universtiy of Indianapolis has some guidance for you.

First, You CAN finish a college degree in a reasonable period of time.  Many adults fear that scheduling courses around family and work obligations means it will take them a decade or longer to finish a bachelor's degree program.  That doesn't have to be the case.  The University of Indianapolis has accelerated classes for adult learners that will get you there in just a few years - perhaps sooner, if you have transfer credit.  

Your life experiences ARE important.  You may not have taken formal college courses, but the knowledge and skills you've gained on the job or while raising a family can translate into course credit.  Don't undervalue what you've learned in your lifetime.

Some people-even those closest to you- may not believe in you.  There is support for you in college- from advisors and professors, to writing and math labs.  At the  University of Indianapolis, you get help brushing up on rusty skills; there's even a free "Topics in Math" class to prepare you for your first math class.

Don't assume you can't afford college.  There is state and federal financial aid out there, as well as sources of scholarship money.  The university will help you navigate the system, which is confusing to college applicants of any age.

You can expect to earn a lot more money in your lifetime with a college degree than without one.  In fact, whlie no job is recession-proof, individuals with high school diplomas are more vulnerable to reductions in workforce than those with college degrees.

Our summer classes begin May 4th.  You have time to begin classes this summer.   Call Laurie at 317-788-3393  or email her at sal@uindy.edu to find out more about our accelerated degree program for adults.

I just had the great opportunity to attend the Combined Sections Meeting (CSM) through the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) in Las Vegas, NV. It was 3 full days of lectures, research presentations, vendors in the exhibit hall, meetings, award ceremonies, and reuniting with old colleagues, professors, and friends. The Krannert School of Physical Therapy was very well represented with a majority of our faculty attending (some were presenting and/or were award recepients), about 7 of our student's research projects were presented, and over 25 students from all three year's of graduate classes were there!

As a student, these experiences are very important to me. Not only am I catching up on the most recent evidence-based practice, learning about specific treatment techniques, and hearing about topics not addressed in our classes, I also get to network with vendors, other professionals, and even meet some of the therapists that wrote our textbooks! The most important thing to me this year was having the opportunity to present my research at such a big convention and watching my classmates do the same. No telling the next time that opportunity will present itself again.

The only bad thing I have to say about CSM was that there were a record-number of PTs in attendence so that I didn't get to attend all the lectures I wanted to. The fire marshalls actually ordered the doors to be shut for many lectures, and they weren't letting another single person enter the room! I am thankful for events like CSM that allow me to advance myself professionally and still have fun doing it! I can't wait to attend CSM in San Diego next year (this time as a PT and not a student!)

-Barb Davies, SPT
University of Indianapolis

The study of psychology  includes  understanding the relationship between brain functioning and behavior and cognition, including learning and memory. Some psychologists  study personality and social relationships, while some focus their studies on how we change as we age, or on organizations, families, or clinical conditions.

Many students major in psychology to prepare for a master's degree in psychology or a doctoral degree in psychology. Some psychology students seek  graduate training in social work, occupational or physical therapy, or similar fields. Others use their knowledge to help them become more effective nurses, managers, marketing professionals, or teachers. 

The University of Indianapolis offers small class sizes at a faith-based college that allows for personal interaction and discussion with professors.  With insightful research experiences, the University of Indianapolis helps prepare you for graduate school or employment after graduation. For more information or earning a degree in psychology, visit psych.uindy.edu. For more information about the graduate degree programs at UIndy, visit www.uindy.edu. 

Take your teaching career to the next level and become an educational leader!   Complete the innovative 18-month iLEAD principal leadership program at the University of Indianapolis.  This Master of Arts in Educational Leadership (Masters degree in education) is designed for elementary, middle, and high school teachers who seek careers as building-level principals, department heads, and other academic leaders.  Unlike traditional graduate education programs and teacher education programs, iLEAD classes meet on select Saturdays in an executive style format for 18 months.

The executive or hybrid program will help you achieve your professional goals in a project-based principal leadership program with field experiences to research and solve problems.  You will interact with clinical faculty in the graduate education program, current practitioners, and proven school leaders who possess a wealth of inside knowledge and expertise.  You will complete dynamic on line assignments in collaboration with your cohort group.

You will receive your Masters degree in education and prepare for licensure.  If you already hold a masters degree (MA in education), you will complete 24 credit hours of coursework and be prepared to take the Indiana Building Administrator License exam.  If you have questions or need more details, please visit our web site at education.uindy.edu/iLEAD, or contact Chemain Arens, School of Education Graduate Programs, at (317) 788-6098.

 

 

 

Our first class of the Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship at the University of Indianapolis will begin in the summer or 2009 with school-based experiences from day one.  UIndy Fellows will be immersed in classrooms, and these clinical experiences will be closely linked with the project-based curriculum in their graduate education program.   

The Woodrow Wilson Indiana Teaching Fellowship at the University of Indianapolis leads to a Master of Arts in Teaching degree which will prepare you to become a mathematics, life science, or chemistry teacher at the middle and high school levels.  UIndy is one of four Indiana universities participating in the launch of this graduate education program through the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation.  The Fellowship is open to college seniors, graduates, and career changers who:

• Have completed or are completing a math or science major as undergraduates, or who have significant work experience in math- and science-related fields
• Graduate in the top 10 percent of their class, and/or demonstrate strong potential through professional accomplishments
• Are interested in teaching in a high-need school in Indiana
• Are willing to reside in Indiana while completing their masters degree in education and three–year teaching commitment.

The fellowship in our graduate education program does not require previous coursework in education nor prior teaching experience.  UIndy Woodrow Wilson Fellows will become teacher-leaders for 21^st century urban schools and will be prepared to lead their own classroom, with mentoring, during the second semester of the program.  Applicants must apply to the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation by December 15^th of each year to begin graduate studies in the following summer.  For more information, visit the Fellowship’s website at www.woodrow.org, our web site at education.uindy.edu/teachingfellowship/index.php, or contact Dr. Jen Drake at jdrake@uindy.edu.

The University of Indianapolis, or UIndy is a comprehensive, independent, student-friendly institution located just minutes from a thriving city center.  Our faculty and staff are committed to helping you become more effective in your daily work with students, to maximize your potential, and to prepare you for leadership.  UIndy is distinguished by highly respected undergraduate programs in teacher education, communications, and the health sciences, nationally ranked graduate programs, and Centers of Excellence focusing on aging studies and education reform.   Personal attention, small, interactive classes, and flexible programming are the rule rather than the exception. 

 

 

     Our graduate education programs are known for their leading-edge curricula, strong relationships with Indiana schools, small classes, and personal attention from supportive, experienced faculty and mentors.  Today's blog describes the Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction, a program designed to advance the knowledge and skills of classroom teachers.

     With an emphasis on best practices, the MA in Curriculum and Instruction courses provide opportunities for candidates to reflect on their own learning and teaching in their graduate education program.  Candidates can choose from a variety of electives in education---as well as arts and sciences---to complete their graduate studies and meet their own needs and those of their students.  The 36-credit hour masters degree in education curriculum may also include additional licensure in Exceptional Needs (Mild Intervention) through graduate-level courses as part of the degree program.  For more details, you can visit our web site at education.uindy.edu/ci/, or contact Donna Stephenson, Teacher Education Program, at (317) 788-4917. 

Take your teaching career to the next level in our graduate education program in Curriculum and Instruction! 

Welcome to the University of Indianapolis School of Education Graduate Programs blog!  Our graduate education programs are known for their leading-edge curricula, strong relationships with Indiana schools, small classes, and personal attention from supportive, experienced faculty and mentors.  We want to tell you about options for a rewarding masters degree in education experience and also about certification opportunities.  In this blog, we'll have information about our Master of Arts in Educational Leadership, iLEAD.  We'll follow up later with a review of three other graduate education programs:  Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction; Master of Arts in Teaching; Woodrow Wilson Indiana Teaching Fellowship.

The Master of Arts in Educational Leadership equips new leaders with the knowledge and skills needed to confront the complex realities of today's schools.  ILEAD (Inspiring Leadership for Educational Excellence and Equity through Application and Academic Development) is a cohort program that offers a rich mix of practice and experience in the areas of curriculum, instruction, and school leadership.  Classes meet on selected Saturdays in an executive style format for 18 months.  This principal leadership program provides a variety of field-based experiences to integrate theory and practice.  On completion of the required 36 hours of coursework, individuals will be recommended for licensure in Indiana as building-level administrators after achieving qualifying scores on the ETS School Leaders License Assessment (SLLA) exam.  Those candidates who already hold a masters degree in education may enroll in iLEAD and pursue a license as a building-level administrator, which requires 24 credit hours.  For more details, please visit our web site at education.uindy.edu/iLEAD, or contact Chemain Arens, School of Education Graduate Programs at (317) 788-6098.

The University of Indianapolis, or UIndy, is a comprehensive, independent, student-friendly institution located just minutes from a thriving city center.  Our faculty and staff are committed to helping you become more effective in your daily work with students, to maximize your potential, and to prepare you for leadership.  UIndy is distinguished by highly respected undergraduate programs in teacher education, communications, and the health sciences, nationally ranked graduate programs, and Centers of Excellence, focusing on aging studies and education reform.  Personal attention, small, interactive classes, and flexible programming are the rule rather than the exception. 

 
 

UIndy is happy to head into February with a lot to add to the arts in Indianapolis.

A new piece by UIndy's own John Berners, assistant professor of music, will premiere tonight in the Faculty Artist Series concert Telemann to Berners on Period Instruments. His piece, “Moon-rays on Marin,” features a baroque flute and two modern flutes. Other pieces in the program will feature period instruments, such as the fortepiano.

Also adding to the variety of culture in Indianapolis, artist Henk Pander, whose work is currently on display in UIndy's Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Gallery, will give an artist lecture tonight at 7 p.m.

Check out our arts site to find out about other UIndy events that enhance the arts in Indianapolis.

At the University of Indianapolis you can expect to find excellent academic advising by professors in your field. A critical element of any education—and in a teacher education program in particular—is gaining experience in a real-world setting. The  School of Education will offer you extensive opportunities to work with children and youth as a part of your four-year preparation sequence.

During your senior year at UIndy, student teaching will give you an opportunity to practice, in a real classroom setting, the theories, methods, and techniques you have learned. These experiences vary in length, focus, and location. While student teaching, University faculty who visit you on-site will provide extensive conferencing, seminars, opportunities for reflection, and an ongoing assessment of your abilities to teach.

The faculty in the Department of Teacher Education have teaching experience in K-12 schools and maintain close ties to schools. Though they actively pursue scholarly interests (presenting papers in local, state, and national venues and writing journal articles), they nonetheless maintain a firm commitment to teaching and active involvement in schools. You’ll find the faculty to be both qualified and highly accessible.

Whatever education degree you pursue—whether elementary, secondary, all-grade, or even a master's degree in education—you won’t be lost in a crowd. If you're looking for colleges with personal attention and a university with small classes, come check out the University of Indianapolis.

If you're looking for financial aid in Indiana, you may be eligible for some of the scholarships and grants that are offered at the University of Indianapolis.

The Frank O'Bannon Grant (formerly the Indiana Higher Education Award) and Freedom of Choice Grant offers assistance to eligible full-time Indiana resident students attending public, proprietary, or private institutions.

The Indiana State Part-time Grant is awarded to eligible part-time undergraduate students who are committed to furthering their education and show financial need. 

The scholars program Twenty-First Century offers a scholarship that is awarded to high school students who meet scholarship guidelines and are enrolling as full-time undergraduates.

These three Indiana scholarships and grants are based on financial need, though additional Indiana college financial aid may be available. The annual amount of each scholarship and grant varies. Don’t forget to have your FAFSA and University of Indianapolis aid application turned in by March 10!

UIndy's Kellogg Writers Series features five writers this year. The first, Diane Glancy, is scheduled for tomorrow evening, Oct. 1, at 7:30 p.m. Glancy, a professor at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn., has written a number of novels, books and collections of poetry, many of which focus on Native Americans.

This year's series also features the following writers:

• Kevin Young on Oct. 29
• Richard Rodriguez on Nov. 1
• Brock Clarke on Feb. 5
• Leslie Heywood on April 2

Find more information on our Arts site and then be sure to check out these accomplished writers!

The University of Indianapolis is a private university in Indiana, and ranked among the best universities in the Midwest. It offers undergraduate, master's and doctoral programs, as well as accelerated degree programs for adult learners seeking a bachelor's degree through Indiana night classes, or for students wishing to complete and Indianapolis MBA program through Saturday classes. The arts thrive at UIndy; in addition to offering majors in theatre, art and music, the university is home to numerous art galleries and one of the finest concert performance halls in the Midwest.

Secure your Future! Earn a UINDY MBA.

The University of Indianapolis MBA program will host an Open House on Wednesday, October 22nd at Ritz Charles in Carmel and on Thursday October 23rd at Steirwalt Alumni Alumni House on the UIndy campus.  This is a great opportunity to meet our professors, explore the different curriculum options and to ask questions in a relaxed setting.

The Open House will be held from 5:30 - 7:00pm, with a social from 5:30pm to 6:00pm and a brief presentation at 6:00pm followed by a question and answer session.

Please visit our website for more information: http://mba.uindy.edu/openhse.php

REGISTRATION REQUESTED

Please RSVP to: mba@uindy.edu or 788-3340.

The University of Indianapolis is located just 10 minutes from downtown Indianapolis.  Directions and maps can be found at http://www.uindy.edu/maps/

The University of Indianapolis is a private university in Indiana, and ranked among the best universities in the Midwest. It offers a range of undergraduate, master’s and doctoral programs, and in the School of Business accelerated degree programs for students wishing to complete an Indianapolis MBA program through Saturday classes. The University also offers a non-accelerated MBA program with evening classes in Indianapolis, an MBA program tailored for nurses, as well as MBA programs on site in area businesses. The entrepreneurial approach of the School of Business has created what is perhaps the most innovative MBA in Indianapolis.