President Rita Rice Morris will make a major announcement regarding Shawnee State University’s new capital and endowment campaign at 10 a.m. on January 25 in the President’s Conference Room.
            The “Poised for Tomorrow” campaign is, by far, the largest fundraising effort in the history of the Portsmouth region, with a substantial portion of the campaign goal already achieved during the “quiet phase” of the campaign.
            More details of the Poised for Tomorrow capital and endowment campaign will be released at the announcement, which will be attended by faculty, staff, students, and members of the community associated with the campaign.

            Thirty local singers will lend their voices to the new governor when a special choir comprising members of the Shawnee State University Choir, the SSU Vocal Ensemble, and the SSU Community Choir performs at the inauguration of Governor-elect Ted Strickland, on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007.
            The SSU Choir and the SSU Vocal Ensemble are led by Stan Workman, the SSU Community Choir by Shirley Crothers-Marley. The inauguration committee selected these groups because they capture the spirit of Scioto County, the area in which Strickland was born.
            Workman and Crothers-Marley worked together to select compositions that would be politically meaningful to the audience. Among the selections are “Ballad Hymn of the Republic,” “Exsultate Justi” by John Williams, “With One Dream,” a dedication piece written after 9/11, and “O Make Our Hearts to Blossom.”
            The choir is scheduled to perform at 10:45 a.m. in the rotunda of the statehouse, with the inauguration taking place at 11:30 a.m. on the Ohio Statehouse West Lawn. The inauguration is free and open to the public.
Crothers-Marley said participating in the inauguration is an extraordinary honor for the group and the SSU music department, and will provide great publicity for the university. Overall, she said, the group is “anticipating and looking forward to a really nice day and glad that they are going to be a part of it.”

            Learning doesn’t stop when summer starts. Shawnee State University will offer high school students a way to learn and have fun during summer 2007.
            SSU has received an $82,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Education’s Office of Exceptional Children for the Summer Honors Institute for Gifted Students. The institute, scheduled for July 15-27, is geared toward Ohio’s high school students entering their sophomore or junior year.
            “The program allows the students to become exposed to the college setting and also creates a fun environment that is conducive for learning," said Keenan Perry MS, ATC, LAT, NASM-PES, senior instructor of athletic training.
            Classes for the 2007 institute include:
            Law & Order with Karen Crummie
            Acting for the Camera with Jim Hayes
            Black & White Photography with Jennifer Daniel
            Creative Writing Workshop with Dr. Michael Powell and Dale Powell
            Mysteries of the Ancient World with Mark Crummie
            Emergency Medical Technology with Bill Turner
            Veterinary Medicine with Gail Counts
            Game Programming & Simulation with Paul Yost
            Sports Medicine & Exercise Science with Keenan Perry
            “The institute is designed to give extra enrichment classes with things that challenge the students,” said Cathy Mullins, grant writer and the manager of the 2006 institute.
            In addition to coming to class, participants take part in social activities, which in previous years have included bowling, movies and a volleyball tournament. Mullins said SSU is expecting 150 students for this year’s institute.
            The funding has become a more competitive since its inception, Mullins said. The grant covers salaries for instructors and resident assistants, teaching materials, food, field trips, and the use of labs. There are a limited number of scholarships available for students, based on the financial information given on the back of the applications, Mullins said.
            Mullins said the motivation is partly to keep gifted students here in Ohio and to show them what we have on our campuses.
            “We have had the largest or second largest program in the state since its inception, even though we are the smallest university offering the program,” Mullins said. “Students love coming here and parents enjoy sending their kids here. They feel safe.”
             Held at 14 colleges and universities in 2006, the honors program continues to introduce college life to high school students.
            “One girl I had in my workshop in 2004 when she was a sophomore in high school emailed me last quarter and said that because of her positive experience at SSU, she plans on enrolling here next fall,” said Michael Powell, Ph.D., assistant professor of English and humanities and coordinator of developmental English.
            For more information, contact Ginnie Moore at (740) 351-3281.

(Article by Samantha Willis, communications specialist)

            Shawnee State University’s Business and Industry Training Center and Advantage Skilled Care is hosting an in-service luncheon on Jan. 24 to equip participants with a better understanding of civil, criminal, employment laws, and professional liability.
            Participants will learn how to manage their individual risks and how to establish and maintain professional boundaries. The seminar will also focus on practical approaches to reducing legal risk through better documentation.
            Brenda Covert, manager of business and industry training said, “All health care professionals who document patient care will find this seminar especially valuable. Among those who should attend are counselors, nurses, clinical staff and other health care providers in all practice settings including hospitals, clinics, physician offices, home care, long-term care, and case management.”
            LaTonia Denise Wright, R.N., B.S.N, J.D. will be giving the lecture. Wright has over 10 years of experience in advising health care organizations and professionals in licensure and legal matters. She has been published in many local, state and national journals and resources.
            “Advantage Skilled Care, LLC is pleased to have someone with expertise in both the clinical and legal field of health care,” said Kathy Pierron, owner of Advantage Skilled Care, LLC.
            Social workers, R.N.s , and L.P.N.s are eligible for continuing education credits. The State of Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board will provide two Social Work hours. The Ohio Nurses Association will provide two R.N. and L.P.N. contact hours. Certificates of attendance will also be provided for all who complete the in-service.
            Covert said, “This unique seminar is packed with valuable guidelines and insights that will help health care professionals deal realistically, practically, and effectively with the legal dilemmas they face in today’s health care arena.”
            The seminar will be held from 12p.m. to 2p.m. in the University Center, Micklethwaithe Banquet Hall at SSU. The in-service and lunch is free. There is a fee of $15 for those who wish to receive C.E.U.s. The deadline for registration is Jan. 19. For more information contact Brenda Covert at (740)351-3171 or at 866-672-8778.

                 The holidays may be over, but it is never too late to think of others by giving the gift of life. Shawnee State University will hold a blood drive on Wednesday, Jan. 17, from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. in the James A. Rhodes Athletic Center. 69 units of blood were received during the fall quarter, setting the new goal for winter quarter at 75 units. Every donor will be given an SSU blue fleece scarf, just in time for the cold winter months ahead.
            For students living on campus, the resident adviser who has the most students give blood will earn a pizza party.
            According to the Red Cross website, at least one out of every ten people, or one patient every two seconds, require a blood transfusion. Just one unit of blood can help save the lives of many people. The web site also expresses the concern that all blood types are currently needed.
            Amy Richardson, Coordinator of Community Service at SSU, said students who have never donated before can anticipate a worry-free experience.
            “Expect the Red Cross to be very helpful and comforting, as well as the Shawnee Volunteers to be as helpful and encouraging as possible,” she said.
            Students can not give blood if they have had a tattoo in the past year, and they must wait eight weeks in-between donations. The Red Cross will test iron, and the student has to weigh at least 110 pounds.
            Walk-ins are acceptable, but to cut waiting time, students can visit www.redcrosslife.org and schedule an appointment. For additional information, contact Amy Richardson at arichardson@shawnee.edu or call at (740) 351-3662.

            Jim Settle, Ph.D., has been named the new vice president of student affairs at Shawnee State University. Settle will be leaving his position as the director of Residence Life at Texas State University to replace Larry Mangus, Ph.D., who is retiring at the end of January. He starts his new position February 15th.
            “I am very excited about the opportunities at SSU. From my interview, I know there is a dedicated group of student affairs staff, a great student body, and leadership that is committed to the education of the whole student,” Settle said. “I was drawn to SSU by the strong commitment to a diverse student body, strong academic programs and the recent growth of the institution.”
            As director of Residence Life at Texas State University, Settle oversaw the programming facilities, finances and services of a comprehensive residential housing operation with more than 40 buildings that provide a variety of housing for nearly 7,000 students.
            At Texas State Settle focused on retention initiatives for new students, particularly first-generation and minority students. He assumed an active role on campus by participating in numerous committees including the Equity and Access Committee, the University Retention Council and the Campus Master Planning Committee and Implementation groups.
            Before serving as the director of Residence Life at Texas State University Settle was director and associate director of Residence Life at Southeast Missouri State University and assistant director, Residential Programs at Tufts University. He also served as the area director of the Gorham Campus at the University of Southern Maine.
            “I plan to work closely and collaboratively with students, faculty and staff to enrich the living and learning experience of our students,” Settle said. “Dr. Mangus has built a great team of experienced and well-qualified professionals, and I look forward to getting to know them better, and to working with Dr. Mangus to make sure we have a smooth transition.”
            Settle earned his doctorate in Higher Education from the University of Missouri as well as a Chancellor’s Post-Graduate Certification in Institutional Research. He received a master’s degree in College Student Personnel from Bowling Green State University and a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Chemistry from Pittsburg State University, where he received the “Outstanding Senior Award.”
            Settle has been an adjunct professor at the University of Texas-Austin teaching, “Social Cultural Context of Education.” The course design provides higher education, superintendent, and community college program doctoral students with an understanding of social and cultural variables in the educational enterprise. He also served as an instructor for the College of Education,
Texas State University; the College of Education, Southeast Missouri State University; instructor, Center for Academic Options, College of Arts and Sciences, Bowling Green State University and an instructor for the College of Education, Pittsburg State University.
            Despite his busy schedule, Settle has always played an active role in the communities he has lived in serving as chairman of the Board of Directors for the Alamo City Men’s Chorale and as a member of the City of San Marcos Beautification Commission.
            “I am a great supporter of city leadership programs like Leadership Portsmouth, and I expect to be involved with a variety of other community organizations that will help me meet the community and contribute to the community,” Settle said. “I am interested in the arts and in social service organizations, and I hope to find some ways to get involved quickly.”
 

To:        Shawnee State University Campus Community                          

From:    UIS

Date:     1/19/2007

Re:        Identity Theft Awareness Campaign

Shawnee State University joins Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Awareness Campaign; “AVOID ID THEFT – Deter, Detect, Defend”     

Identity theft occurs when someone uses another person’s information without their permission to commit fraud or other crimes.  Identity theft is a serious crime affecting some 10 million Americans each year, according to Federal Trade Commission estimates.

Awareness is among the most powerful tools in the fight against identity theft.  The more you know about how to protect your information and the information of others you come in contact with, the harder it is for identity thieves to commit their crimes.   

While you can't entirely control whether or not you will become a victim, there are steps you can take to minimize your risk.  During the month of January, the university will join the Federal Trade Commission’s efforts to promote awareness of identity theft and educate people on the ways to minimize risk.  

As a part of this campaign, you will receive a copy of the Federal Trade Commission’s brochure “Fighting Back Against Identity Theft” with your paycheck or direct deposit voucher this month.  Additionally, we have posted the FTC’s educational video that provides an overview of identity theft and outlines the steps consumers can take on our web site at http://www.shawnee.edu/uis/identity_theft.html.  We hope you will take the time to review these materials and consider the importance of the information they contain. 

We also suggest you visit our web site at http://www.shawnee.edu/uis/identity_theft.html  to learn more about what you can do to protect your identity.  Shawnee State University is taking a variety of steps to reduce the risk of identity theft on our campus but we need everyone’s help in order to be successful!