SHAWNEE STATE UNIVERSITY ::

News Releases

:: Media Advisory

:: News Releases

:: Public Service Announcements

:: Sports Report

:: Submit Item

:: This Month's Calendar

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 4, 2001

Contact:
Terry Hapney, Director of Communications
Office: (740) 355-2112; FAX: (740) 355-2179
E-mail: thapney@shawnee.edu

SSU’s 5K Bear Run/Walk May 10

Shawnee State University’s Division of Student Affairs presents its sixth annual spring Shawnee State University 5K Bear Run/Walk at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 10, on the SSU campus.

The run/walk is open to all interested runners and walkers. The entry fee is $10 for those who register by May 9 and $12 for those who register the day of the event. There is no entry fee for students (SSU, elementary, and secondary); SSU faculty, staff, and their families; or the Golden Bears.

Larry Mangus, vice president for student affairs and director of the event, says all area elementary, middle, and high school students are invited to participate free of charge if they pre-register.

“Waiving the entry fee is our way to involve local students in a campus activity. They really have a great time,” he said. “Registration forms have been sent to all area schools.”

Mangus added that the course starts and ends on the SSU campus.

“It’s a very fast, flat, out and back course down historic Front Street and along the Ohio River,” he said.

All participants will receive a custom-designed T-shirt and are eligible for more than 140 medals in a wide range of age categories including:

· First four men and women SSU students, faculty/staff, and SSU alumni finishers

· “Most mature” male and female

· “Youngest” male and female

· “Middle of the pack”

Three medals will be awarded in each age category with the exception of the 8-24 age groups from which four finishers will receive awards. Special SSU windbreakers will be awarded to students, alumni, faculty/staff, and overall winners.

According to Mangus, the 2000 fall Bear Run had a record 388 finishers.

“The run records in the 5K course for men and women respectively are Brian Putman of Chillicothe with a time of 15:15 in 1998 and Nina DiTraglia of Portsmouth with a time of 19:31 in 1999,” he said.

For additional information or to obtain registration forms call (740) 355-2280.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 2, 2001

Contact:
Terry Hapney, Director of Communications
Office: (740) 355-2112; FAX: (740) 355-2179
E-mail: thapney@shawnee.edu

Interdisciplinary Geriatric Rehabilitation
Workshop To Be Held May 18-19 at SSU

Never before has society experienced people aging with both better health and increased productivity in later life. Because of this, the Office of University Outreach Services at Shawnee State University is holding a professional development workshop, focusing on Interdisciplinary Geriatric Rehabilitation, May 18 and 19 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Room 250 of the Health Sciences Building on the SSU campus in Portsmouth.

The workshop is provided by the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC), an organization that has earned an international reputation for excellence in patient care. It will examine the philosophy and goals of geriatric rehabilitation and implications for rehab outcomes. Expert faculty will present research-based strategies and innovative interventions to be implemented by clinicians to enhance the lives of older adults.

Ginnie Moore, director of the Office of University Outreach Services, says people come not only from around the country but from around the world to benefit from RIC’s expertise.

“RIC has been named the #1 rehabilitation hospital in the United States for the 10^th year in a row by U.S. News and World Report. Through the SSU Department of Occupational Therapy, the Physical Therapist Assistant Program, and University Outreach Services, RIC will bring their workshop to the Shawnee State University campus,” she said.

Instructors for the workshop include:

· Kristen L. Easton, Ph.D., CRRN-A, CS, the Community Health Education director at Porter Memorial Hospital and assistant professor at Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana, where she teaches rehabilitation nursing and gerontology. She is author of Gerontological Rehabilitation Nursing;

· Melissa Hampton, BS, PT, a senior physical therapist who has worked in the inpatient, outpatient, and seating and positioning treatment areas at the RIC;

· Kathleen Sherrell, RN, MSN, PsyD, a research associate at the Buehler Center on Aging and associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern University Medical School.

Continuing education credits will be given to:

· Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants: The Ohio Physical Therapy Association has approved this workshop for 12.5 clock hours of continuing education credits.

· Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants: Application has been made to The Ohio Occupational Therapy Board for 12.5 contact hours of continuing education credit; approval is pending.

· The RIC will grant continuing education credit hours for the following professionals who successfully complete the two-day program:

o Nurses: 15 contact hours

o Speech-Language Pathologists: 1.2 CEUs

o Social Workers: 12 CEUs

o Psychologists: 12.5 continuing education credit hours.

Moore added that SSU is fortunate to have the prestigious Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago as its partner.

“We are excited about bringing this level of quality education to our area so that medical professionals in our region do not have to travel to gain the training and education they need for their professional development.”

Christine Raber, co-chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy (OT) at SSU and assistant professor of occupational therapy, said the OT department developed the RIC continuing education series with the Physical Therapy Assistant Program in an attempt to bring high quality continuing education to the south-central Ohio region.

“We feel it is very important for our programs to support area clinicians in life-long learning, and the RIC courses have been wonderful opportunities to obtain high quality continuing education without the expense of travel,” she said. “It also offers a great chance for networking with area clinicians, which is extremely important given the constant changes occurring in health care, particularly in long-term care. This workshop will be a great skill builder for all health care providers working with older adults in our area communities.”

Moore said that the cost to attend the workshop is $299 per person for registrations received on or before May 4. After that time it is $349 per person.

“A generous donation made to the University by William J. and Patricia J. Richards enables us to offer this workshop to area professionals at this affordable price,” she said.

For more information about the workshop, call (740) 355-2281 or toll free (866) 672-8778.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 9, 2001

Contact:
Terry Hapney, Director of Communications
Office: (740) 355-2112; FAX: (740) 355-2179
E-mail: thapney@shawnee.edu

SSU To Hold Showcase
Highlighting Master’s and Doctoral Degrees

The Shawnee State University Graduate Center Showcase, highlighting master’s and doctoral degree programs offered on the University’s campus in Portsmouth, will be Thursday, May 17 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Micklethwaite Banquet Room in the University Center on the campus of SSU.

Dr. Margaret Christensen, director of the SSU Graduate Center, says the Showcase is a great opportunity for area residents who are interested in pursuing graduate degrees to see what the Graduate Center has to offer the south-central Ohio region.

“Representatives from all universities that are currently offering graduate degree programs at SSU and those who hope to offer programs here will be available for prospective students to meet with them and discuss the programs,” she said.

Current and future master’s degree programs offered by the Graduate Center include degrees in education, intervention specialist, business, environmental science, safety technology, and health services administration. Proposed doctorates include a Ph.D. in education in curricular and instructional studies and an Ed.D. in educational administration.

“Prospective students will also have an opportunity to express their interest in other graduate programs that could possibly be offered on the SSU campus in the future,” Christensen said.

The SSU Graduate Center, established in July 1999, coordinates graduate programs with other institutions and provides these programs on the SSU campus. The other universities teach courses in the evenings, on weekends, and via the Internet and interactive video, allowing working professionals to continue working and complete graduate degrees at the same time.

Current partner universities are the University of Akron, Morehead State University, the University of Findlay, the University of Rio Grande, Marshall University, and Central Michigan University.

For more information about the SSU Graduate Center or the Graduate Center Showcase, call (740) 355-2177 or send an e-mail message to graduate_center@shawnee.edu.

# # #

Marcus C. Bruce

Distinguished Lecturer To Discuss
Henry Ossawa Tanner's Art

May 24

The Jane M.G. Foster Distinguished Lecture Series at Shawnee State University presents Professor Marcus C. Bruce, associate professor of religion and chair of interdisciplinary programs at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, as the final distinguished lecturer of the academic year, Thursday, May 24 at 7:30 p.m. in the Flohr Lecture Hall in the Clark Memorial Library. Bruce’s presentation will be “Imagining Liberty: Henry Ossawa Tanner, France, and the Lessons of Art.”

Dr. Jerry G. Holt, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at SSU, said the aim of this lecture is to introduce audiences to the work of a little known African American painter, Henry Ossawa Tanner, whose work was recently chosen for the permanent art collection at the White House.
“Professor Bruce’s presentation examines and discusses a number of Tanner’s paintings in which the theme of education plays a very prominent role,” Holt said.

According to Bruce, in a series of works often referred to as “The Lessons,” Tanner (1859-1937) used brush and canvas to articulate his ideas on education, culture, race, family, and spirituality.

“The result was a complex vision that Tanner shared with missionary like zeal. This lecture focuses on Tanner’s role as painter and pedagogue,” Bruce said.

The lecture is free and open to the public. For additional information, call (740) 355-2554.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 24, 2001

Contact:
Terry Hapney, Director of Communications
Office: (740) 355-2112; FAX: (740) 355-2179
E-mail: thapney@shawnee.edu

SSU Pre-Med Senior Wins
Excellence In Research Award

Eric Elliott, a pre-med student at Shawnee State University, gives his award-winning presentation at the recent Tri-Beta Biological Honor Society meeting held at Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio.

Eric Elliott of Peebles, a senior majoring in pre-med at Shawnee State University, won the Frank G. Brooks Award for Excellence in Student Research at the recent regional meeting of Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society at Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio. The title of his presentation was “FimN expression varies in strains of Bordetella bronchiseptica.”

Through his research, Elliott has developed new methods to determine amounts of fimbrial protein on Bordetella bronchiseptica. Fimbrial proteins may be responsible for attachment of bacteria to mammals causing kennel cough in dogs and atrophic rhinitis in pigs, among other infections.

Although the local SSU chapter of Beta Beta Beta is less than a year old, it received awards and recognition for having the most chapter members at the convention and for traveling the furthest distance.

Dr. Eugene H. Burns, assistant professor of biological sciences at SSU and advisor of the University’s Xi Upsilon Chapter of Tri-Beta, said that winning this award is a major accomplishment for Elliott and for the Department of Natural Sciences at SSU.

“This award and the one for having the most delegates at a regional convention acknowledges that SSU is a leader in undergraduate research in biology. Our students, because of the dedication of the many Natural Sciences faculty leading student research projects, receive an excellent background in scientific methods and techniques that will prepare them for graduate or professional schools,” Burns said.

Burns stated that Elliott is applying to medical school and that he is certain Elliott will make an excellent medical student and future physician.

“I am proud of Eric's accomplishment and look forward to the continued success of all SSU students in undergraduate research projects,” Burns said.

In all, 14 students and four faculty members from SSU attended the Northeast District Four Convention, encompassing the states of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois. Others from SSU presenting were Nathan Bennington (Portsmouth) on “Legionella is susceptible to Ag2+ and Cu+ ions in solution;” Terry Hinds, Jr. (Portsmouth), on “The Wetlands Reduce Fecal Coliform Levels in the Olentangy River;” and Justin Smith (Piketon) and Kelly Moos (Otway) on “Denervated catfish chemoreceptors do not degenerate.”

Bennington is doing his research under the tutelage of Dr. Tim Cassity, a microbiologist at SOMC. Elliott and Hinds are working with Burns. Dr. Scott Oliver, anatomy and physiology professor at SSU, provides guidance for Smith and Moos.

Representing the local chapter at Heidelberg, but not presenting, were Carrie Burbage (Cincinnati), Mariasa Higgins (Portsmouth), Jennifer Hoying (Sidney), Matthew Jennings (Portsmouth), Angela Kelly (Minford), Tricia Reed (Waverly), Jay Shoemaker (Peebles), Jamie Sibole (Waverly), and Angel and Gary Sparks (Portsmouth). Faculty members attending were Burns, Dr. Robert Deal, Professor Sibylle Herrmann, and Oliver.

Gary Gemmer, professor of physical science and chair of the Department of Natural Sciences at SSU, said his department has a dedicated group of faculty members who are interested in providing meaningful research and learning experiences for their students.

“While this was the ‘first’ Tri-Beta convention for SSU since the inception of the chapter, our students did quite well. This speaks well for the students as well as the faculty,” Gemmer said. “Gene Burns was instrumental in creating the local Tri-Beta chapter and our students have responded well to this opportunity.”

Dr. Jerry G. Holt, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at SSU, said Eric Elliott is a great example of the kind of student Shawnee State University produces.

"And Dr. Burns, who was directly responsible for bringing Tri-Beta to our campus, is a superb mentor. My congratulations to both of them--and to the entire Department of Natural Sciences," he said.

Tri-Beta is a national biology honor society for undergraduate students with more than 406 chapters and 162,000 members across the country and in Puerto Rico. The three goals of the society are to promote scholarship in the biological sciences, to promote the dissemination of biological knowledge, and to encourage research. In order to be inducted as a regular member of Tri-Beta, students must be majors in the biological sciences, have taken three biology courses (one at the upper level), and have a 3.0 GPA in biology.

Burns said that one of the goals of Tri-Beta is to promote undergraduate student research.

“This is done through publication of a quarterly research journal, BIOS and awarding research grants to students. Because SSU was not installed as a chapter until October and research grant applications were due in September, we did not have any students apply for research grants this year, but should have some apply next year,” he said.

Tri-Beta will be inducting new members on Sunday, June 3 at 2 p.m. in the Flohr Lecture Hall in the Clark Memorial Library on the SSU campus. The event is open to the public.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 31, 2001

Contact:
Terry Hapney, Director of Communications
Office: (740) 355-2112; FAX: (740) 355-2179
E-mail: thapney@shawnee.edu

State Supplement Funding
Returned to Shawnee State University

Students, faculty, staff, and administrators at Ohio’s youngest four-year university are breathing a sigh of relief today after the majority of Shawnee State University’s Special Supplement funding that was being reduced by the Ohio Legislature was returned to the institution’s budget over the next couple of years.

Wednesday morning at 2:15 a.m., the House/Senate Conference Committee accepted the House version of the budget regarding SSU's Special Supplement. According to Dr. James P. Chapman, president of Shawnee State University, the Committee, in effect, returned the reduction to the final House version.

“This added $1,794,657 to the House version of the Supplement for the biennium. This reduces SSU’s Supplement from $2,824,000 to $2,272,000 for each year of the biennium. Representative John Carey (R-Wellston) made the motion and it was seconded by Senator Doug White (R-Manchester),” he said.

Chapman stated that he was pleased that the Senate returned to the final House bill.

“I appreciate what Representative Carey, Senator White, and the House and Senate leadership have done for SSU. If they had not introduced and voted in favor of this, it never would have happened,” Chapman said. “We also appreciate what Representative (Bill) Ogg and Senator (Mike) Shoemaker have done from the beginning to help us get the funding re-instated.”

Beginning in 1987, SSU was given a special recurring supplement reaching over $4.7 million as recently as 1995. This supplement was intended to enable Shawnee State University to develop new programs and to keep tuition below the statewide average until the university increased in strength and size.

About six years ago, according to Chapman, the institution was asked to begin a process that gradually would reduce this supplement.

“The supplement has been reduced in amounts as much as $400,000 per year since then. Those reductions have been in recurring dollars, that is, they have been removed from our base. We have reduced the amount given us by nearly $1.95 million in six years,” he said. “We have been reducing our supplement on a regular basis and have been good stewards of the money.”

Chapman pointed out that Shawnee State University serves an area with some of the highest unemployment in the state.

“The University is in an area that continues to lose jobs and businesses. There is a very low college going rate in the area, even compared to the low rate in the state of Ohio. The purpose of the Supplement is to keep tuition low and make college an attractive alternative for students to enroll. These students are needed to develop an educated workforce that could improve the economy in the region and enhance the quality of life,” he said. “We are seeing our students graduate and become well-accepted members of the local healthcare, education, and business communities.”

Tuition at Shawnee State University is now $3,162 per year for instructional and general fees--the lowest of all four-year institutions in the state. SSU’s tuition is $1,577 less than the average tuition of the other four-year institutions.

“In fact, the Special Supplement ($2,824,000), the Access Challenge money SSU receives ($1,220,491), combined with the tuition from our in-state students generates an amount almost exactly equal to what it would take to move our tuition rate to the average tuition rate for the state. In other words we are funded at exactly the right level to allow Shawnee State University to function at the same level as an institution that charged the hypothetical average in-state rate of $4,739,” Chapman said. “The proposed cuts in the Supplement Fund would have left our institution inadequately funded and would have forced us to increase dramatically our tuition. It could have been devastating to the entire institution.”

Chapman mentioned that the University needs to continue to reduce its reliance on the Special Supplement.

“The way to do that is by continued growth at the University. That’s our plan. We just need to have a little more time to pay it back,” he said. “I think that everyone understood that and that’s the reason we were able to get this relief.”

The thing that Chapman enjoyed the most about his numerous trips and stays in Columbus was seeing the southern Ohio legislators come together for the good of this area.

“We just don’t have, because of our numbers, a lot of representation like the bigger cities have. It seemed like every other legislator I saw in Columbus was from Cleveland. There are a lot of people from that area,” he said. “But our people came together for us and I think that’s what is key.”

James E. McCollum, executive director of the Inter-University Council of Ohio (IUC--Columbus), a voluntary educational association of Ohio’s 13 public universities and two freestanding medical colleges that facilitates the development of common interest and concern of its members and assists in sustaining and improving the quality of public higher education, said Chapman “met with key legislators and staff throughout the Budget Bill process and attended committee and conference deliberations through the night and into the early morning hours when necessary."

"Like a tested soldier, Jim Chapman fought hard in the legislative trenches to save SSU's special supplement from a dramatic reduction,” McCollum said.

Chapman said this news makes a big difference to everyone at SSU.

“It helps us to formulate our budget plans and keep moving forward. I want to thank all of the people who participated and helped us.”

# # #

NEWS CONFERENCE

Shawnee State University is holding a joint news conference with Representative Bill Ogg and Senator Mike Shoemaker on Monday, May 7, 2001 beginning at 8:00 AM. The news conference will be held in front of Massie Hall.

The backup rain location will be the Selby Lobby, Vern Riffe Center for the Arts.