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The Board Bulletin is a twice monthly publication for the Board of Trustees that highlights
Ramapo College of New Jersey news and achievements.
April 11, 2012
Film Students Document Sundance
Members of the Screenwriters' Society Club of Ramapo College recently traveled
to the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
While at the festival, the five students, John Curcio, Sam Klein, Joe Skarzynski,
Jesse Taylor, and Evan Weiman filmed every minute of their experience. They
plan to develop a short film about their unique adventure.
Curcio told the local newspaper, The Park Record, about the trip. "We thought it
was unrealistic, but the school went for it. We're a small school with an even
smaller program. We just wanted to share something we love with the school."
The Club's trip was partially financed by the College, by the students' personal
funds, and by a fundraising effort through KickStarter.com.
Research from the Universities of
Manchester and Liverpool Lauds
Ramapo's Spirit
Source: Collider.com
Professor Anthony T. Padovano recently represented Ramapo College at a MultiFaith Spaces conference held at the University of Manchester. The Religion and
Society Foundation awarded a $1.25 million grant to the universities to conduct a
three year study on multi-faith centers and to host an international conference.
The research team visited 210 sites in ten countries throughout Europe and North
America, including Ramapo College.
As part of the conference, Dr. Padovano presented on the philosophical and
theological foundation for multi-faith centers. Padovano noted that Ramapo
College was cited often during the conference. The Salameno Spirituality Center
was one of the few centers identified that was constructed, from the outset, with
such a facility in mind and also that was architecturally stunning and set in an
aesthetically attractive natural environment.
The research team unveiled a large exhibit including a set of wooden panels,
photos, and text depicting their research. Of the 14,000 photos taken by the
research team, only 32 were selected to be posted on the exhibit and three of the
32 were of the Salameno Spirtuality Center and Padovano Peace Pavilion. Over
the coming year, the exhibit will travel to ten countries for viewing.
Locally and Nationally, Colleges are
Crumbling
Salameno Spirituality Center
On Sunday, April 8, The Star-Ledger published an op-ed by President Mercer. In
it, President Mercer noted, "Annually, New Jersey’s colleges and universities send
37,000 newly minted graduates into the world. They leave behind aging campuses
that years of financial disinvestment have left with outdated buildings in need of
repair, and significant debt incurred in building and repairing facilities to meet the
demand for seats. Twenty-four years have passed since New Jersey last provided
general obligation-backed capital funding."
Read the full op-ed here.
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Two days later, Inside Higher Ed published, "The Other Debt Crisis: Public
Universities Will Take on More Debt as States Decrease Spending on Capital
Projects."
IHE writer Kevin Kiley wrote, "In general, per-student state appropriations have
declined in most states for about a decade, both for general education expenses
and capital and maintenance projects. The decline accelerated in 2009, when
most states cut higher education spending to cope with decreased revenue and
increased entitlement costs and were unwilling to increase taxes to maintain
former spending levels."
Kiley went on, echoing Dr. Mercer's sentiments, "Disinvestment couldn’t come at a
less opportune time, facilities officials say. Most buildings have a lifespan of about
50 years before they must undergo significant renovations. And since many public
university buildings were built in the 1960s, they’re coming due for renovation this
decade."
Source: LizaRosenberg.com
Read the full Inside Higher Ed article here.
SSHS Bridges The Gap
The Ramapo College Teacher Education Department and School of Social
Science and Human Services hosted the 2012 Conference of the Council for
Exceptional Children (CEC) on Friday, March 30.
Bridging the Gap: Special Education Meets General Education drew educators
and administrators from across the region. The Conference prominently featured
Ramapo faculty, staff, alumni, and students.
Emily Abbey, Professor of Developmental Psychology, and student Theresa
Glinbizz presented "Toward Inclusion: Exploring Strategies for Reducing Social
Rejection in Students with Special Needs."
Barbara Wexler, Transition and Career Development Coordinator, and Ramona
Kopacz, Learning Disabilities Specialist, presented "Lifelong Transition Skills:
College and Beyond."
In addition, "Using Literature to Reduce Bullying in Your Inclusion Classroom" was
presented by Julie Norflus-Good and Anne DeGroot, Assistant Professors of
Teacher Education.
Students Danielle Hulbert and Alexa Rodson presented "Geometry Measurements
with Legos So that All Can Learn." They were joined by alumnus Jacqueline
Ostrander who presented "Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
and Autism: Implementing Early and Effective Communication Strategies."
The Conference included other notable education leaders, CEC scholarship
awards, and the presentation of the NJCEC Teacher of the Year Award.
Real Roadrunner: Elizabeth De Smet
'12
Undergraduate student Elizabeth De Smet, who presented a poster at the October
2011 COPLAC Northeast Regional Undergraduate Research Conference, was
recently awarded a graduate student fellowship to attend the Joint Meeting of the
Marine Operations Specialty Symposium 2012 and the 3rd International
Symposium on Molecular Systematics of Bryophytes.
The fellowship is for graduate students and receiving the award is especially
significant because Ms. De Smet is an undergraduate due to graduate this May.
She has been invited to make an oral presentation based on a research project
that she and, faculty mentor, Professor Eric Karlin, have been exploring.
De Smet commented, "Research has taught me more than you could expect from
a college education. Working with Dr. Karlin has given me initiative and the
lessons to better understand not only what I would like to research but also the
integrity and drive with which it must be carried through. Receiving this fellowship
is a great honor and a pleasantly unexpected surprise."
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The Graduate Student Fellowship allows a special opportunity to all bryophytefocused graduate students to gain training in integrating genomic and systematic
research. This training is supported by National Science Foundation funding and
will cover student housing, registration costs, and breakfast and lunches. Students
receiving this funding are required to attend the entire meeting (June 14-23), and
are encouraged to participate in all workshops, talks, and graduate student
sessions.
Elizabeth De Smet '12
Contact Details
Brittany A. Goldstein, Special Assistant to the President
(201)684-7609, bwillia1@ramapo.edu
Have you visited the President's Post lately?
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