AU G U S T
2 0 0 5
The University of Values
Six bonds uniting National University alumni
National University System
A bold new educational model takes shape
A Message from Chancellor Lee
N ational University has been called one of the great modern success stories
in higher education. I believe our success is directly attributable to the
University’s unwavering commitment to its six core values of quality,
access, relevance, accelerated pace, affordability, and community.
Perhaps you were previously unaware of the
University’s core values. Even so, you will
probably recognize one or more of them as
the reason you originally enrolled. It is also
likely that among our core values you will
discover one or more of the reasons that you
were able to earn your degree or credential.
I also believe that within our core values
you will find ample reasons to maintain a
relationship with your alma mater and share
our accomplishments, goals, and visions
with others.
One of the more impressive accomplishments
you will read about in the following pages is
the growth of the National University System.
In the past year, the System has expanded to
include six affiliated institutions. Each
affiliate shares the same values as National
University while offering educational
opportunities to new and growing populations
of learners.
This edition of Vision will offer you a
closer glimpse at the diverse segment
of students and alumni at National
University and the institutions within the
National University System. The remarkable
VISION MAGAZINE • An Annual Magazine • Issue No. 5 • Published by National University • 11355 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla,
CA 92037-1011 • www.nu.edu • For story ideas, please call the Public Relations Department at 858-642-8111.
individuals you read about will exemplify,
in their unique way, the core values we
have shared with you, and which hopefully
you have shared with your family and
community.
In the end, I trust you too will recognize
National University as the University of
Values. My hope is that you will then pass
this magazine on to someone else, having
developed a greater appreciation for the
bonds and benefits that our shared values
bring to alumni, students, staff, and faculty.
I encourage each reader to become a
lifelong partner in advancing our values
across geographic, generational, cultural,
and institutional boundaries. The power
and possibilities of education have never
been greater, or in greater need.
Please enjoy.
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
National University
Board of Trustees
July 2005
Mr. John Bucher, Chair
President,
John Bucher Real Estate Company
Mr. Gerald Czarnecki, Vice Chair
National University adds two new schools and a college,
as well as two new academic centers in Southern California.
Chairman & CEO,
Deltennium Corporation
4
Ms. Jeanne Connelly, Secretary
Senior Vice President,
Government Affairs, Calpine Corporation
Ms. Stacy Allison
contents
07
Chancellor Lee emphasizes the
defining and unifying qualities of
National University’s core values.
4
Vision News Briefs
7
Chancellor Lee Lauds “University of Values”
8
Quality
9
Access
10
Relevance
11
Accelerated Pace
12
Affordability
13
Community
15
The National University System Comes of Age
17
National Polytechnic College of Engineering and Oceaneering
19
Spectrum Pacific Learning Company LLC
21
National University Virtual High School
23
California Medical Institute
25
National University for Center for Human Advancement
27
National University Nevada
29
National University Hawaii
31
Valuing Every Child
33
The Value of Diversity
34
The Value of Exceptional Teachers
36
Valuing Alumni in the Armed Forces
Editor in Chief
Editor
Editorial Assistant
Art Director
Designers
Patricia E. Potter
Hoyt Smith
Robin Jones
Photographer
Copy Editor
Contributing Writers
Mark Dastrup
Hilary Achauer
Harry Brooks
Keith Kanzel
Julie Brossy
John Fretz
Joe Connor
Sarah Weekly
Robin Jones
Patricia Powers
Printing Manager
VISION
MAGAZINE
Robin Long
Hoyt Smith
Professional Speaker, Author
California Medical
Institute will provide a
skilled workforce for the
nation’s fastest-growing
segment of the job market.
23
Mr. Felipe Becerra
Managing Partner,
Creditor Iustus et Remedium, LLP
Hon. Victor Bianchini
Judge of the Superior Court, Retired
U.S. Magistrate Judge, Retired
Mr. Richard Chisholm
Managing Director,
Banc of America Securities
Mr. John Collins
Partner,
Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton, LLP
Mr. Dwight Ellis
President,
Dwight Ellis & Associates Ltd.
Mr. Robert Freelen
Vice President for External Affairs,
Retired, Dickinson College
Ms. Cheryl Kendrick
Community, National Volunteer
Ms. Jacqueline Townsend
Konstanturos
CEO, Townsend Inc.
15 31
With six independent affiliates, the
National University System is emerging as
a revolutionary force in lifelong learning.
Dr. Donald Kripke
Alumni like Summer
Sweeney are motivated to
meet a critical need for
special education teachers.
Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry,
School of Medicine,
University of California San Diego
Dr. Jerry C. Lee (Ex Officio)
Chancellor, National University System
President, National University
Ms. Jean Leonard
Educational Consultant,
JM Leonard & Associates
34
Jaime Escalante’s
brightest student
graduated magna
cum laude from
National University.
Mr. Carlos Rodriguez
Public Affairs and Communications
Consultant, Rodriguez & Company
Ms. Judith Sweet
Senior Vice President for Championships
and Education Services,
National Collegiate Athletic Association
Mr. Thomas Topuzes
President and CEO, Thomas
Topuzes & Associates, LLP
Ms. Doreen Tyburski
President, Business Perspectives, Inc.
Mr. Robert Watkins
Chairman and President,
R.J. Watkins & Company
Mr. Michael Wilkes
CEO, Architects Delawie
Wilkes Rodrigues Barker
3
Vision News Briefs
National University Adds a New
College and Two New Schools
In January 2005, National University
System Chancellor and National University
President Jerry C. Lee announced a major
reorganization of National University’s
liberal arts curricula, including the creation
of a new College of Letters and Sciences
(COLS) and two new schools: the School
of Health and Human Services (SOHHS)
and the School of Media and
Communication (SOMC). Gone is the
School of Arts and Sciences (SOAS).
COLS retains the former SOAS psychology
department and divides the department of
mathematics, sciences, and humanities into
the department of mathematics and science
and the department of humanities while
adding a department of social sciences. The
former SOAS department of nursing forms
the foundation for SOHHS, adding new
departments of community health and
healthcare administration while expanding
degree programs in nursing to meet a
critical nursing shortage. The former SOAS
department of writing and communication
forms the foundation for SOMC, retaining
degree programs in multimedia arts, video
gaming, creative writing, and digital
cinema, while expanding curricula to serve
growth in Internet publishing, broadcasting,
producing, directing, and public relations.
New Campuses Open in Camarillo
and Ontario
National University opened two new
campuses in Southern California in May,
one in Camarillo and another in Ontario.
The Camarillo location will serve students
in North Los Angeles and Ventura Counties,
significantly reducing the commute for
many who have been attending classes in
Sherman Oaks. The Ontario location will
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serve students in East Los Angeles and
West San Bernardino and Riverside
Counties, providing greater convenience to
Camarillo
Ontario
been honored as California Principal of the
Year (Bob Capp in 2003), Los Angeles
Unified School District Teacher of the Year
(Richard Kravchak in 2002), Sacramento
County Teacher of the Year (Chris Hoover
in 2004), Fresno County Teacher of the Year
(Karen Von Felton in 2003), and Orange
County Teacher of the Year (Pauline
Maranian in 2003). In the past 10 years, five
National University alumni have been
named San Diego County Teacher of the
Year (Jessie Johnson in 2002, Ms.
Mongoven and Gualter Moura in 2000,
Belle Johnson Bohn in 1999, and Lillian
Bosworth in 1995).
New Music Weekly. In 2004 they were
voted “Hottest Contemporary Act” at the
National Music Awards, and six of their
singles reached number one on the
Independent Music Charts. Their music
has been described as “an exotic fusion
of western pop melodies with ancient
and modern eastern elements,” and they’ve
been a big hit at USO shows for troops
deployed in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, the
United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.
represent the state later this year at the Miss
Black United States pageant in Atlanta,
Georgia. She is an advocate for juvenile
victims of domestic violence, and also
encourages young African-Americans to
participate in higher education. The 25year-old resident of Elk Grove, California
National University Endowment Among
200 Largest in United States
residents in the Inland Empire. “Bless
National University,” said National
University student Stacey Beamon, whose
commute to classes has been significantly
shortened because of the new centers. She
described the news as “truly uplifting.” The
new additions bring the total number of
civilian and military academic and learning
centers in California to 28.
More Alumni Earn “Teachers of
the Year” Distinctions
National University alumni Amanda Fried
and Anne DiPalermo were recognized last
fall as two of Santa Clara County’s finest
teachers by the Santa Clara County Office of
Education, adding to an impressive legacy
of “Teacher of the Year” titles by School of
Education graduates. National University
alumni have been named National Teacher
of the Year (Sandra L. McBrayer in 1994)
and twice been named California Teacher of
the Year (Ms. McBrayer in 1994 and Jan
Patrick Mongoven in 2000). They have also
National University’s endowment grew by
almost 20 percent in 2004 and currently
ranks among the top 200 largest college
and university endowments in the nation,
according to the National Association of
College and University Business Officers’
(NACUBO) 2004 survey of the nation’s
leading 741 college and university
endowments. With assets of $213.13
million last year, National University’s was
among the top 10 California private college
and university endowments. Endowment
levels positively influence more than seven
in 10 college donors, according to a 2005
poll by the Goldman Sachs Global Markets
Institute.
Alumna’s Band Scores Six #1 Hits,
Entertains Troops in Mideast
National University alumna Nikki Nova
is lead vocalist for Liquid Blue, an
internationally acclaimed pop music band
that has recently achieved breakthrough
success. This past January, Nova and her
band members graced the cover of
Rachelle Cain
Nikki Nova
On Liquid Blue’s website, Nova notes that
she graduated from National University in
1999 with a bachelor’s degree in business
administration.
Miss Black California USA Attends
National University in Sacramento
National University student Rachelle Cain
keeps a busy schedule as Miss Black
California USA 2005. She has made more
than 25 speeches and appearances at
numerous community events throughout the
state since earning her title last September.
Cain, who attends classes in Sacramento
and is close to completing her master’s
degree in human resource management, will
was inspired to compete in the Miss Black
California USA pageant by her classmate
and coach, former Miss Oklahoma City
Danisha Bryant. The two met in a
communications class at National
University and quickly became friends.
Together, they spent three months rigorously
preparing, traveling from Sacramento to
Los Angeles almost every weekend. “ I
couldn’t have done it without National’s
flexible schedule,” said Cain.
yield the best DNA samples? Dr. Ismail
Sebetan, who teaches forensic sciences at
National University, recently hosted a
dinner party to determine the answer. Dr.
Sebetan swabbed the leftovers for
evidence, recovering complete profiles of
human DNA from 43 percent of the
samples, and partial profiles from another
33 percent. The best burglar bait: cheese,
carrots, apples, and pizza. Surprisingly,
chocolate proved to be one of the worst
mediums for capturing DNA samples. The
results of Dr. Sebetan’s experiment were
picked up by the Discovery Channel and
mentioned in news clips across the world.
Forensic Science Faculty Member
Identifies Best Burglar Bait
Apparently, many burglars can’t resist
snatching a snack after breaking into a
home. Getting the munchies at the scene of
a crime, however, has its risks. Traces of
saliva on food items may provide enough
DNA to prosecute a suspect. Which foods
5
Chancellor Lee Lauds
“University of Values”
“ Our values are what
most differentiate us
from other institutions.”
– National University System Chancellor
Jerry C. Lee
n preparation for a newspaper article
about National University System
Chancellor and National University
President Jerry C. Lee, a reporter from the
San Diego Union-Tribune attended
Chancellor Lee’s 12th annual address to the
University Assembly last September.
When the article was published a week
later, it praised Chancellor Lee for his
“promotion of civility and values” at
National University. Indeed, at his annual
address, Dr. Lee accentuated the
institution’s core values and framed them
as a defining force.
“Values give us common goals and link
us together,” Chancellor Lee explained.
“They are who we are, and they have
enabled us to create a truly unique
environment.”
In the past few years, National
University has been widely recognized for
clearly and consistently demonstrating a
fundamental commitment to its six core
values: quality, access, relevance,
accelerated pace, affordability, and
community.
From two consecutive Eureka Awards
and an offer of tuition relief to every laidoff teacher in California, to leadership in
cultivating a diverse student body and giving
back to the community, “Our values are what
allow us to nurture deep connections to our
students,” said Chancellor Lee. “Our values
are what most differentiate us from other
institutions.”
Each year at commencement, the
University’s six core values manifest
themselves as powerful bonds that link a
graduating class. Quality reveals itself as
pride, access leads to ascent, and relevance
I
reaps reassurance. Graduates reflect on
their academic journeys and realize that
their goals were reached, for the most part,
in a matter of months. As the dividends of
a college degree start to accrue, alumni
begin to see their education as an
investment, and realize that the benefits
of knowledge and wisdom go far beyond
personal gain, positively impacting the
people and places around them.
National University’s values serve as
foundational pillars, much like those
depicted in the University’s seal. They
provide the institution with strength and
structure, and as Chancellor Lee reminded
the University community, they bear
enormous weight and responsibility. People
routinely turn to National to navigate
through life-changing transitions and to
fulfill long-held dreams that fuel personal,
professional, and societal success. The
University community has the privilege of
guiding the way to brighter and better
futures, which often requires vigilance and
dedication.
“You are the guardians of our values,”
Chancellor Lee said. “And they will remain
uncompromised only as long as we remain
committed to preserving them. Let us
always prove ourselves able stewards of
our values; for we are, after all, the
University of Values.”
The following pages explore the tangible
aspects of National University’s core values,
as well as some of the people, precepts, and
professions that are so highly valued within
the National University community.
San Diego Union-Tribune article recognizes Chancellor Lee’s promotion of civility and values at National University.
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7
The CAPE Award, presented by the California Council on Excellence.
Quality
A
university’s quality can be measured in numerous ways,
from popular rankings to the success of its alumni. One
of the ways in which National University has chosen to
assess itself is through the Baldrige National Quality program’s
education criteria for performance excellence.
The quest began in 2001 when National University System
Chancellor and National University President Jerry C. Lee decided
to apply the Baldrige National Quality program’s education criteria
for performance excellence to National University.
Congress established the Baldrige National Quality Program in
1987. It is administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s
National Institute of Standards and Technology, with assistance
from the American Society for Quality. As a nationally accepted
model of performance excellence, the Baldrige criteria represent
a common language for communication among organizations for
defining and sharing best practices.
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At the statewide level, the California Council on Excellence
annually presents the California Awards for Performance Excellence,
also known as a “Baby Baldrige” or CAPE Award. The
competition process requires a 50-page application and a five-page
organizational profile. Qualifying institutions earn a site visit from
a team of certified Baldrige examiners. National University is a
two-time winner of the award and is just the second universitylevel recipient to earn such distinction.
National University’s staff includes three National Baldrige
examiners and five CAPE examiners. The University’s ultimate
goal is to earn a National Baldrige Award, which entails a visit to
the White House and a presentation from the President of the
United States. It is an ambitious goal, but it provides a clear
indication of this institution’s commitment to its core value of
quality and its clear vision for future success.
Diana Lanane directs the Bishop Union High School choir.
Access
D
iana Lanane moved to Bishop, California 10 years
ago when her husband took a job in the northern
Owens Valley.
The community of less than 5,000 rests beneath the eastern
slope of the Sierra Nevada, about halfway between Death Valley
and Yosemite National Park. Lanane, a trained vocalist who
once sang with the Southern California Choral Society,
is one of several talented musicians in Bishop. There are,
however, few people with music degrees and teaching
credentials who qualify to teach a high school choir class
in this Eastern California town.
Until Lanane applied for a part-time job as a music teacher at
Bishop Union High School, the students went for 10 years without
a choir. It was more than an educational shortcoming for the local
school district. Every holiday season the sounds of yuletide cheer
from local youth fell strangely silent.
This last December, 21 members of the Bishop Union High
School Choir sang at a public tree lighting ceremony sponsored by
the local chamber of commerce. It was an event that couldn’t have
occurred, Lanane said, if it weren’t for National University. With a
degree in music from Cal Lutheran University, she still needed a
teaching credential to form and lead a choir.
Without access to National University’s online credential
program, Lanane says the only other option would have been to
travel up to 200 miles every weekend to attend an extension course
in San Joaquin Valley. Such a long-distance commute wouldn’t
have been possible for the mother of four children.
“Online courses have transformed education in communities
like Bishop,” she added. “It has allowed me to go to work every day
and do something I love, and in this instance it has brought
something very special back to the community of Bishop.”
9
National University nursing student Jill Anderson.
Relevance
I
f universities don’t respond to the current needs of society,
they risk becoming irrelevant.
So said Dr. Martin D. Snyder of the American Association of
University Professors in a past address to National University
administrators and faculty. He may have been preaching to the choir.
Relevance is one of National University’s six core values, and
the institution enjoys a reputation as one of the most responsive in
higher education when it comes to addressing societal needs.
Consider the California nursing crisis. With less than 550
nurses per 100,000 residents, federal data indicates that California
has the second-lowest number of registered nurses per capita in
the United States and will require an estimated 110,000 new
nurses by 2010. Many universities have struggled to respond to
the shortage or are simply not equipped to meet the needs of
today’s nursing students.
“National University certainly responded to my needs,” nursing
student Jill Anderson said. “I already had a bachelor’s degree, and
other nursing programs required me to retake a lot of classes that
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National accepted as prerequisites. National’s nursing program has
a great reputation, it’s accredited, and there was no waiting list
when I applied.”
National University understands that two-thirds of the state’s
nursing students attend school part-time and that they are entering
the profession from many different levels of education and
experience. In 2004, National introduced two new diversified
degree programs leading to registered nurse licensure or
advancement within the nursing profession.
“I can’t think of anything more relevant than meeting the state’s
healthcare demands,” Nursing Department Chair Nancy Saks,
D.N.Sc., R.N. said “With our accelerated curricula and flexibility
for working students, National University should address the
nursing shortage with the same success it had addressing the
teacher shortage in the mid ‘90s.”
National University undergraduate Amy Attaway.
Accelerated Pace
I
n January 2005, Time magazine featured a cover story on lateblooming twenty-somethings who are taking longer than ever
to graduate from college and complete the transition from
adolescence to adulthood. According to the article, less than a
third of today’s college students are graduating by age 21, and the
percentage of 26-year-olds still living with their parents has nearly
doubled since 1970.
At National University, a commitment to accelerated pace is
encouraging a different trend. Enrollments among traditional
undergraduates between the ages of 18 and 22 reveal students who
are, for the most part, more mature, focused, and ambitious than
their typical college-aged peers. Some of them have chosen
undergraduate programs at National University specifically to
bypass that awkward and often underutilized period between the
ages of 18 and 25.
Students such as 19-year-old Jamie Carson and 18-year-old Amy
Attaway personify National University’s core value of accelerated
pace. Both of them work full-time while living at home. For them,
it is more important to achieve independence by age 21 and gain a
few more years of earning power than it is to coast through early
adulthood amid the social trappings of fraternities, sororities,
dormitory life, and a fractious sequence of internships and
summer jobs.
“I don’t miss the sporting events or parties at all,” said
Jamie, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
“I get that through work and the friends I’ve maintained through
high school.”
“I had to grow up fast,” said Amy, a business major who
graduated early from high school and has been working since
she was 15. “My circumstances are unique. I don’t have the
luxury of taking two or three courses per semester for several
years. I definitely plan on earning my bachelor’s degree by the
time I’m 21, and with National University I’m currently right
on schedule.”
11
The Senger family at home in San Bernardino, California.
Affordability
H
ow does one pay for college? It is a frequently asked
question these days, and something that Karen and
John Senger have pondered since their three daughters
were infants.
The Senger family, which includes several generations of
teachers, has traditionally placed a high value on education.
A college degree was always the goal for the Senger’s daughters.
As their children grew, however, so did the cost of a college
degree. According to the U.S. Department of Education, the
average combined annual cost for undergraduate tuition, fees,
and room and board paid by full-time-equivalent students at fouryear institutions has increased almost 53 percent over the past
10 years.
A 2004 College Board report showed that tuition costs for fouryear public institutions have increased by 10 percent over the past
year alone. With three college-age children seeking a degree,
what did Karen do? She decided to join her daughters, and they
all enrolled at National University. How could they afford
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simultaneous tuition for four? It helps that National’s combined
graduate and undergraduate tuition rate increased by only 3.6
percent per year between 1994 and 2003. The Sengers also
appreciate that their class schedules allowed them to earn while
they learn. It is a powerful reflection of National University’s
commitment to its core value of affordability.
With jobs, grants, affordable tuition, and student loans,
Karen and two of her daughters were able to earn their degrees
simultaneously and graduate together last May, pursuing careers
as teachers in the Inland Empire. Karen’s third daughter recently
completed her junior year at National University. Every member of
the Senger family recognizes the value of their investment
in higher education. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that
individuals with bachelor’s degrees will average $1 million
more in earnings over a lifetime than those with only a high
school education.
National University graduate and community volunteer Ali Haris.
Community
A
li Haris was more than a graduate student pursuing a
master’s degree in software engineering. He was also an
intern at the National University Institute and a member
of the Institute’s University Consultant Corps, engaging in
mutually-beneficial and meaningful community research through
development activities and innovative technology applications.
Working with faculty, community practitioners, students,
and sometimes his entire class, Haris developed the heart of a
philanthropist while preparing the mind of a scientist. The result
was a combination of classroom education and real world skills that
helped to modernize an underserved community’s cumbersome
program management and paper-pencil accountability system.
The beneficiary of Haris’ efforts was the Family Resource
Centers of the National City Collaborative. As a partner with 52
community organizations, the National University Institute allowed
Haris and the University Consultant Corps to work with the centers,
learn their processes, and streamline them with cutting edge
technology. Haris and his colleagues were able to convert
an old system of paperwork and file folders into a web-enabled,
relational database for a one-stop integrated community
services system.
“I learned a lot about computer software, but I learned a lot
about people, too,” Haris said. “Talking with them, communicating
with them, understanding their problems, and meeting their
requirements. It was so rewarding that, even though I’m done with
my schooling, I still send letters to National University offering my
services to the community.”
From the perspective of National University System Chancellor
and National University President Dr. Jerry C. Lee, Haris is a
model National University alumnus.
“It has always been my goal to engage the University and foster
among staff, faculty, students, and alumni the experience of
contributing to something larger than one’s self,” Chancellor Lee
said. “That’s what our core value of community is all about.”
13
The National
University System
Comes of Age
The National University
System now includes six
independent, affiliated
institutions, all of which share
the values and vision that have
served National University
students so well in the past.
uring the past few years, National
University has quietly expanded
into the National University
System. The changes were gradual at first,
but in the past year the System’s growth
has accelerated. As a bold new educational
model takes shape, the progress is becoming
easier to recognize.
By employing new technologies and new
models for learning, the National University
System is breaking down barriers that once
impeded thousands of people from
achieving their educational aspirations. In
an era when the demand for education and
educated individuals is at an all-time high,
the System is also bridging boundaries
to new educational opportunities and
connecting the dots of lifelong learning in
a manner that moves modern learners from
vision to reality in record time.
Since National University was founded
in 1971, the number of Americans going to
college has increased by more than 50
percent. In order to meet that demand, the
total number of degree-granting institutions
throughout the United States has increased
by more than 1,000 in the past 25 years,
according to the National Center for
Education Statistics. There are 600,000
more college students now filling
classrooms and lecture halls than there
were in 1990. The federal government
projects total enrollment for all U.S.
degree-granting institutions to exceed
17.5 million students by the fall of 2010.
The California Postsecondary Education
Commission estimates that undergraduate
demand will grow statewide by 2.83 million
in the next 10 years, representing a 34
D
percent increase. The Commission also
predicts that more than 450,000 students will
be turned away from public colleges and
universities because of space constraints.
At the same time, a lack of vision and
an inability to adjust to rapidly changing
times has resulted in the closing of more
than 250 degree-granting institutions (six
percent of the U.S. total) in the past 15
years. Hundreds more face serious financial
troubles as they struggle to remain
affordable, accessible, and relevant in an
increasingly competitive and ever-shifting
marketplace.
For 34 years, National University has
distinguished itself by making higher
education affordable, accessible, and
relevant to working adults and other
nontraditional students throughout
California. With its expanded scope, the
National University System is introducing
a similar approach to secondary education,
extended learning, vocational training, and
distance learning. The System now
includes six independent, affiliated
institutions, all of which share the values
and vision that have served National
University students so well in the past.
The following pages reveal more about
the System affiliates, including their unique
goals and shared values. Although their
missions differ substantially, they all offer
a common opportunity for knowledge,
self-improvement, personal growth, and
community service. Alumni are encouraged
to support the System’s continued growth as
it educates, enriches, and advances a growing
and increasingly diverse population of
lifelong learners.
The National University System seal.
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15
National Polytechnic College of
Engineering and Oceaneering
xtending beyond California’s 1,100mile coastline is one of its greatest
natural resources – a gateway to an
expansive frontier with limitless
opportunities for the future. Opportunities
for professional advancement, adventure,
and personal growth do not stop at the
shoreline, and neither should educational
opportunities.
National Polytechnic College of
Engineering and Oceaneering (NPCEO)
plays a vital role in opening that frontier and
realizing those opportunities by serving as a
major portal for entry into underwater
exploration through commercial diving
programs. It also provides an accelerated
pathway to topside job opportunities. In fact,
National Polytechnic has expanded its
original course offerings by 500 percent and
now prepares students for work in a number
of essential, related, and expanding
industries on both land and water.
“I loved my education and I would
recommend it to anyone with a sense of
adventure,” said NPCEO graduate Celina
Tarrazas, who earned an Associate of
Science degree in marine technology with
an emphasis in nondestructive testing.
Born and raised in El Paso, Texas,
Tarrazas had always possessed a sense of
wonder and exploration regarding the
ocean and shipping. “My education has me
out in the shipyards, checking everything
metallic on those huge ships. I go into the
engine room to check piping. I check the
hull. I’m always busy, but it’s a great job
and I love it.”
National Polytechnic was originally
founded as the College of Oceaneering
(COO) in 1967 in Wilmington, California.
It is one of only a few institutions of its
kind in the world, providing associate of
science degrees and certification programs,
educating more than 7,000 students, and
E
graduating close to 300 entry-level diving
professionals per year in the fields of
hyperbaric medical technology,
nondestructive testing, underwater welding,
and marine technologies. The Wilmingtonbased institution was acquired by National
University in February of 2002. A new
campus was opened in San Diego in the
summer of 2002 to complement the Los
Angeles Harbor facility and meet a
growing demand for its graduates. Another
campus was added this year in Oahu, Hawaii,
to offer commercial diving programs.
A nonprofit institution, National
Polytechnic is now organized into three
divisions: the College of Oceaneering,
Extended Learning, and Engineering
Technology. National Polytechnic is
accredited by the Accrediting Commission
for Community and Junior Colleges of the
Western Association of Schools and
Colleges (WASC).
In 2004, recognizing the growing
demands of the marine technology field, the
College of Oceaneering was approved by
the Accrediting Commission for Community
and Junior Colleges of WASC to offer an
Associate of Science degree in engineering
technology. In addition, it acquired the
assets of the Advanced College of
Technology and was approved to offer
certificate programs in computer systems,
information systems, and database systems
technologies; network administration and
engineering; mass communications and
wireless communications; and fiber optic
training. Prior to the asset acquisition, the
Advanced College of Technology was a
for-profit institution accredited by the
Accrediting Commission of Career Schools
and Colleges of Technology. Recognizing its
expanding programs, the college changed its
name in 2004 to National Polytechnic
College of Engineering and Oceaneering.
Among National Polytechnic’s wide
range of degree programs are Associate
of Science degrees in marine technology,
engineering technology, hyperbaric
technology, and respiratory therapy. In
addition, it offers certificate programs in
commercial diving, hyperbaric technology,
mass communications technology,
information systems technology, network
administration and engineering, database
systems technology, applications
development technology, and network
security technology. National Polytechnic
is an authorized training and certification
facility for 3M Fiber Optics, Alcoa
Fujikura Fiber Optic Fusion Splicing,
American Health Association, American
Red Cross, Microsoft IT Academy,
Building Industry Consultative Services
International (BiCSi), Hubbell Premise
Wiring, Leviton Telecom, Lucent
Technologies, National Registry of
Emergency Medical Technicians
(NREMT), National Board of Diving and
Hyperbaric Medicine Technology
(NBDHMT), Trade Relations Readjustment
Act, and the Workforce Investment Act.
National Polytechnic contributes to
homeland security by offering custom
courses for public safety agencies that help
to defend and protect our nation’s ports,
shipping, and underwater infrastructure.
“The great thing about an education at
National Poly is that it isn’t limited to the
oceans or working underwater,” Terrazas
added. “But with the well-rounded
curricula they offer, one can always expand
out in that direction.”
A commercial diving student at National Polytechnic College of Engineering and Oceaneering.
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Spectrum Pacific
Learning Company LLC
T
en years ago online learning was
virtually unheard of. Today it is
becoming an accepted and essential
educational component for colleges and
universities throughout the world, and
looks to be a mainstream fixture for
education in the 21st century.
The 2004 Sloan Survey of Online
Learning reported that more than 1.9
million students were studying online in
the fall of 2003, and that schools expected
the number of online students to grow by
almost 25 percent to over 2.6 million by
the fall of 2004. In fact, the growth rate for
online enrollments far exceeds the overall
rate of growth for the entire student
population in higher education. The Sloan
Survey also reported that a majority of
academic leaders believe that online
learning quality is already equal to or
superior to face-to-face instruction.
In addition to revolutionizing the
education landscape, the Internet has also
changed the way organizations do business,
and online learning has become an essential
part of most companies’ operations. It
currently plays a vital role in employee
training, customer service and education,
and marketing and public relations efforts.
By supplementing the desk, podium, and
chalkboard with a keyboard, mouse, and
computer screen, literally hundreds of
thousands of students have been able to
gain access to virtual classrooms.
Thousands of employees have been able
to train at their work stations. Online
education has provided unprecedented
opportunities to rural residents, stay-athome parents, and frequent travelers who
may sometimes be far from a classroom
but always close to a CPU. It has saved
organizations millions of dollars in travel
costs and lost productivity while improving
communications with clients and customers.
To keep pace with the phenomenal
growth of online learning, both in school and
in the workplace, the National University
System established Spectrum Pacific
Learning Company LLC (SPL) as a forprofit online course development and support
company in 2002. National University, a
pioneer in web-based curricula in the late
1990s, increased its online enrollments from
30 students per month to more than 3,500
students per month between fiscal years 1999
and 2003. The University was managing a
model online component and realized that it
had something valuable to package and sell
to a rapidly expanding market.
SPL’s e-learning model is the foundation
for National University’s current offering
of 38 accredited online degree programs
and more than 300 online courses. While
continuing to support National University
and other National University System
affiliates, such as National University
Virtual High School, SPL has developed a
growing niche in the field of e-learning and
is building partnerships with corporations,
government entities, and academic
institutions. A sample list of external clients
include Saybrook University, United States
Institute for Corporate Education, Streuver
Bros. Eccles and Rouse, Imperial Valley
College, INVESTools, Yahoo!, and
Overture. SPL is currently one of only six
certified Blackboard ™ training providers in
the United States. Blackboard is a leading
provider of Internet infrastructure software
for e-Education.
SPL’s unique qualifications in online
course development and support, combined
with its capacity as an e-learning resource
and its ability to bundle services or offer a
la carte solutions, give it a strong
advantage over the competition. To date,
SPL has delivered close to 1,800 online
courses and SPL staff have worked with
more than 1,000 online faculty/trainers
and over 500 participants in e-learning
workshops and presentations.
SPL is an innovative organization that
understands and anticipates where learner
needs are heading, representing the latest
advancements in e-learning consulting,
content design and delivery, multimedia
design, hosting, 24/7 technical support,
student advising, e-learning training, and
customer service. It provides course
development and conversion to the online
format, faculty training in online
instruction, portal administration for
National University, and training and
program development services for other
affiliates. Its core competency is helping
clients design effective e-learning that
engages the three most common learning
styles: auditory, kinesthetic, and visual. The
most common types of learning programs
are orientation, education, and training.
SPL’s qualified and well-trained staff
members are able to assess which of these
programs its clients are addressing, and
then develop a project plan to deliver a
customized learning product that will meet
or exceed established goals.
As online learning expands, SPL aims to
serve an increasing number of businesses,
including global online service providers
and others who seek consulting on the
latest trends in the fast-moving e-learning
industry. From small institutions looking to
launch their first online courses, to large
corporations developing comprehensive
online training programs, SPL is helping its
clients to improve the effectiveness of their
e-learning delivery.
Spectrum Pacific Learning Company LLC is the foundation for the 38 degree programs and more than 300 courses offered online by National University.
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National University
Virtual High School
In the 2004/2005 school year,
more than one million students
will take virtual high school
classes from over 100 programs
nationwide.
W
ith online learning firmly
established and growing
dramatically in higher
education, it has subsequently captured the
interest of high school administrators,
teachers, parents, and students as a viable
teaching format. As one of the preeminent
pioneers in online learning, National
University has now set the stage to make
online learning more accessible to high
school students.
Founded by the National University
System in June 2003, National University
Virtual High School (NUVHS) is an
independent, nonprofit secondary school
committed to meeting the divergent
educational needs of young adults in a
flexible and innovative format. The
interactive curricula, which ranges from
advanced placement courses to core subject
areas at all grade levels, can supplement
current high school coursework or lead to a
high school degree. Technical support is
available on a 24/7 basis, enabling students
to increase access to learning and
complement their busy schedules from
home. It also provides an affordable option
to schools and school districts that would
like to supplement their course offerings.
The instructor-led online courses at
NUVHS provide an engaging learning
environment, utilizing multi-dimensional
technology and synchronous and
asynchronous communication platforms.
Subjects include a full spectrum of courses
in language arts, social science,
mathematics, science, and technology, all
taught by certified teachers who are
specially trained to provide high quality
online instruction. All courses are designed
to meet or exceed California and national
content standards for public schools.
NUVHS students work at their own
pace and schedule. Course evaluations
reveal the formation of strong bonds
between online teacher and student.
“My instructor responded to my questions
completely and clearly and in a short
amount of time,” one student claimed.
Another student shared equal praise for
her teacher, stating, “He was an awesome
instructor. I don’t believe he could have
done more to make this a better course.”
Tenth grade siblings Kayla and Craig
Weisman of San Diego took their first-ever
online course with NUVHS by enrolling in
an algebra class last year. They are two of
more than one million students who are
estimated to have taken virtual high school
classes in the 2004/2005 school year from
over 100 programs nationwide. As more
students and parents discover the benefits,
those numbers are expected to increase.
Kayla and Craig’s mother, Sudie Weisman,
said online high school classes were a very
positive experience for her and her children.
“I feel like the staff there has bent over
backwards to try to accommodate my kids,
and that’s a great feeling,” she added.
Kayla said that she benefited from
taking an algebra class online, and that the
new medium actually helped her to master
what she initially considered to be one of
her weaker subjects. “I like the pace, and
I like having constant access to my teachers
and getting feedback right away,” she said.
Traditionally, most high school students
take multiple courses in 18-week semesters.
At NUVHS, students can take a full
semester course in just eight weeks or
a full year in two semesters during the
summer. This accelerated approach, which
is similar to the intensive format unique
to National University, allows high school
students to focus on a few subjects at
a time while still covering the required
curricula. Course lengths and term starts are
flexible to accommodate partnerships with
charter schools and traditional high schools.
NUVHS is providing a critical bridge
from secondary to higher education as
more colleges and universities embrace
online learning. According to the 2004
Sloan Survey of Online Learning, more
than 2.6 million college and university
students have already taken an online
course. The growth of online enrollment in
higher education last year was projected at
almost 25 percent. A majority of academic
leaders believe that online learning quality
is already equal to or superior to face-toface instruction. Clearly, the experience of
taking online classes in high school will
provide numerous advantages to college
freshmen and sophomores in the semesters
and school years to come.
By combining engaging course content
with personalized instruction, NUVHS
is addressing the needs of a younger
generation to prepare for rapidly emerging
and evolving educational technologies.
It also provides generous scholarships
and reduced rates for National University
graduates and their dependents.
National University Virtual High School students work at their own pace and schedule.
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California Medical Institute
hen it comes to employment
opportunities, allied health
services offer some of the best
growth potential in the job market.
According to the U.S. Department of
Labor, health services will account for 3.5
million new wage and salary jobs by 2012,
more than in any other industry. In fact, 10
of today’s 20 fastest-growing occupations
are in the healthcare industry.
Many allied health occupations apply
cutting edge technology to extend
longevity while improving the quality of
life. Much of the increasing demand for
these services is driven by aging baby
boomers, longer life spans, increased use
of medication, and managed care. As these
factors combine to expand the population
of elderly Americans, educational
institutions will have to respond accordingly
to avert an acute shortage of skilled
healthcare professionals in the near future.
In response to these critical circumstances,
National University System established the
California Medical Institute (CMI) in 2004.
The Institute recognizes that in order to
address growing demands, it will have to
accommodate healthcare workers from
various educational backgrounds. Some will
study for entry-level positions, while others
will build upon present experience in the
healthcare industry by seeking additional or
continuing education. Therefore, CMI is
committed to providing excellent education
and training for both individuals seeking to
join the healthcare workforce and
individuals seeking to obtain continuing
education credit within their fields.
“We couldn’t ignore the need for such
programs, or the tremendous opportunities
we have to address such a need,” said
National University System Chancellor
Jerry C. Lee. “This new affiliate will play a
vital role in education at a critical time for
W
California and the rest of the nation.”
With emphasis on the same core values
of quality, access, relevance, accelerated
pace, affordability, and community that
have served to distinguish National
University, CMI will offer programs
leading to certification and associate’s
degrees as well as continuing education
programs to health professionals seeking
to stay abreast of current developments
within their field.
CMI’s immediate priority has been to
develop curricula, secure facilities,
resources, and faculty, and seek provisional
accreditation from the appropriate
governing bodies. It is already offering
several programs in conjunction with
National University’s Division of Extended
Learning. Most of these programs can be
completed in as few as 36 quarter units.
They include the following:
• Pharmacy Technician
Certificate Program
• Medical Billing, Coding, and
Administration Certificate Program
• Alcohol and Drug Counselor
Certificate Program
• Orthopedic Technician
Certificate Program
In conjunction with the Division of
Extended Learning, CMI is also offering
the following online continuing education
programs for mental health professionals:
• Law and Ethics for Psychology
Professionals
• Assessing and Treating Domestic
Violence
• Chemical Dependency: Diagnosis and
Treatment
• Child Abuse: Identifying and Reporting
Human Sexuality
CMI’s diagnostic imagery programs, also
offered through the Division of Extended
Learning, provide telecommunications and
online courses leading to certificates for
hospital personnel in fields such as cardiac
stress testing, cardiovascular angiography,
pulmonary function testing, and vascular
ultrasound.
With support from System affiliate
National Polytechnic College of
Engineering and Oceaneering, CMI will
produce Associate of Science degree
programs in respiratory therapy. The
Institute’s programs may serve as stepping
stones to a Bachelor of Science degree in
allied health offered through National
University’s School of Health and Human
Services. Future program offerings under
consideration include those preparing
geriatric care managers and breast cancer
care managers. CMI also aspires to deliver
onsite certificate programs with academic
and lab components, meeting all necessary
accreditation standards, state regulations,
funding, and course development
requirements. These programs will include
curricula for dental hygienists, as well as
nursing and physical therapy assistants.
By responding to the needs of an aging
population with the best elements of
education and technology, CMI will have
a strong presence in a health science
education market that is predicted to grow
between nine to 10 percent annually. As a
National University System affiliate, CMI’s
competitive advantage should result in
strong student demand for healthcare
education programs, serving a robust labor
market that will provide graduates with
solid job placement opportunities.
The California Medical Institute was established to address a critical need for skilled healthcare professionals.
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National University Center
for Human Advancement
W
hen disabilities keep people
from learning or earning,
educators and employers can be
incorporated as key partners in overcoming
such challenges. Similarly, with proper
commitment and vision, a university can
assist entire communities to progress and
realize their full potential. When individuals
or communities have a level playing field,
confidence improves, and performance
typically excels beyond the norm and
advances the boundaries of expectation
and achievement.
That is the vision of the National
University Center for Human Advancement
(NUCHA). This National University System
affiliate was established in 2003 to improve
the quality of life for underserved children and
adults regionally, nationally, and globally by
addressing educational and related health
disparities; utilize National University System
resources at the local level as an interactive
and compassionate neighbor; and continually
raise the bar and strive for an ever greater
impact in one’s chosen field or endeavor.
One of NUCHA’s primary goals is to
apply online and distance education and
telehealth technology to underserved
populations, both domestically and abroad
in developing countries. Through these
cost-effective and cutting-edge solutions,
NUCHA aims to simultaneously mitigate
education and healthcare challenges among
populations cited by the U.S. Department
of Education, U.S. Public Health Services,
United Nations, UNICEF, World Bank,
World Health Organization, and civil
society organizations. The foundational
belief is that good health and community
wellness will foster lifelong learning,
which in turn will improve the overall
health of the community.
Expertise in distance education and
personnel preparation puts the National
University System in an excellent position
to deliver lifelong learning opportunities to
persons who face some of the greatest
challenges accessing quality education and
healthcare service delivery. Through
partnerships with non-governmental
organizations, agencies, and institutions,
NUCHA is preparing to build social and
human capital to a level that will contribute
significantly to the reduction of poverty,
the enhancement of literacy, access to
healthcare, and other societal challenges
on community and global levels.
NUCHA is also home to leading
community-based organizations including
the Institute for Persons Who are Hard of
Hearing or Deaf (IHHD). Formed in 2002,
IHHD serves to enhance the education and
quality of life for the 28 million persons
with hearing loss or deafness in the United
States and children and adults with hearing
loss or deafness worldwide. IHHD’s
educational certificate programs are geared
to the needs of a diverse and multicultural
audience and offer educators, professionals,
and persons with hearing loss or deafness
online learning opportunities that reach
beyond traditional educational and
geographic boundaries to gain cutting-edge
knowledge about preferred clinical,
educational, and vocational practices,
plus leadership and career enhancement
programs. IHHD’s certificate programs seek
to maximize the potential of online and
distance learning by incorporating
interactive discussions, assigning interactive
projects and readings, and forming mentor
and peer networks. The ultimate outcome is
to enhance, sustain, and in some cases
lengthen earning ability in the workplace for
the 28 million persons impacted by hearing
loss or deafness.
The National University Institute for
Community Research and Civic
Entrepreneurship (NUI) was established in
2001 as a System-wide, academically
oriented and practitioner-based organization
that enhances the University’s role as a full
community partner. NUI’s mission is to
become a leader in community-based
research, a contributor to civic and social
entrepreneurship, and a valued resource
for applied community technology and
collaborative community building.
Currently, NUI is engaged in a number
of innovative programs and projects ranging
from the National City Collaborative/Family
Resource Center Relational Database for a
one-stop, integrated community services
data system to the web-based, multilingual,
real-time Market Simulator for new venture
learning environments. NUI also provides
professional development programs onsite
and online to over 200 AmeriCorps
Education Fellows and Independent Charter
School teachers serving over 20,000 at-risk
youth statewide. This approach aims to
apply the intellectual capital and brainpower
of a modern university toward tangible and
practical solutions at the neighborhood level.
The National University Institute for
Wellness and Peak Performance was
established to engage in research and the
dissemination of information regarding peak
performance ideologies and methodologies
related to health, competition, education,
and organizational issues. The Institute,
employing the information and intellectual
resources of the National University System,
is poised to make a significant contribution
to the field of performance excellence.
The Center for Human Advancement’s primary goal is to apply online and distance education to underserved populations.
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National University Nevada
A
s the National University System
takes shape, its core value of
relevance is becoming a visible
and unifying theme among various System
affiliates. Nowhere is this ability to respond
to critical regional demands more evident
than in America’s fastest-growing state.
National University System Chancellor
Dr. Jerry C. Lee launched National
University Nevada in 2004 to help
Southern Nevada communities such as
Las Vegas and Henderson keep pace with
dramatically expanding populations by
addressing some of their most important
higher education needs.
“By locating in Nevada, we are meeting
several critical needs for educated
professionals in one of the nation’s fastestgrowing regions,” Chancellor Lee said.
“We aspire to serve Nevadans in the same
manner and with the same quality that
we have served Californians for the past
15 years.”
Nevada currently leads the nation in
population growth, accommodating more
than 250 new residents per day, or close to
90,500 per year. Almost 80 percent of this
growth is situated in Southern Nevada’s
Clark County, a veritable 21st century
boomtown.
In Clark County, public school
enrollment is expanding at a rate of about
12,000 students per year, or about 1,000 per
month. The Clark County School District
operates one of the nation’s largest school
construction and modernization programs,
totaling close to $3.5 billion in projects
over 10 years. Finding the teachers to staff
88 new schools is one of Clark County’s
greatest challenges. The district, which
employs over 30,500 people, must
aggressively recruit on the national level
to hire at least 1,500 teachers a year.
Regional sources for teacher education are
currently unable to meet such a high
demand on their own.
Over the past three years, the Nevada
Hospital Association has worked to support
four new hospitals in the Las Vegas area
and numerous other hospital expansion
projects to meet the region’s healthcare
needs. Even with the completion of three
new hospitals in 2003, Clark County, with
2.1 hospital beds per 1,000 people,
remained below the national average of 3.4
beds per 1,000. And then there is the
question of who will staff all of these
facilities. With 520 nurses per 100,000
people, Nevada currently has one of the
lowest ratios of nurses to population in the
country. The national average is 782 nurses
per 100,000.
When it comes to higher education,
Clark County is openly welcoming
assistance from multiple sources. County
officials agree that it will require a
partnership between public and private
institutions to provide the educated
workforce necessary to maintain and grow
a large community, and that is why
National University Nevada and Chancellor
Lee were so warmly welcomed there.
“Dr. Lee is a true visionary,” said Bob
Cooper, economic development manager of
the City of Henderson. “Looking at our
current landscape, he recognizes the area’s
potential to become a thriving hub beyond
the gaming and hospitality industries – and
he’s taking steps to develop our future.
Having National University come to
Nevada is a home run for our region.”
National University Nevada opened a
state-of-the-art educational facility at the
Siena Office Park in Henderson in May.
As with the 29 other National University
campuses in California and Hawaii,
National University Nevada’s 11,400
square-foot Henderson campus features
a dazzling array of computer, distance
learning, and multimedia-equipped
classrooms, all within a new, easy-to-access
location. Up to 4,000 students per year will
now enjoy access to higher education
and lifelong learning through a unique,
evening-based, one-class-per-month format
at National University Nevada’s Henderson
campus.
The Western Association of Schools and
Colleges recently approved 11 onsite
programs for National University Nevada,
an important first step in offering a
Bachelor of Arts degree in early childhood
education; a Master of Education degree in
cross-cultural teaching; a Master of Science
degree in educational administration; a
Master of Science degree in educational
technology; a Master of Science degree in
school counseling; a Master of Science
degree in school psychology; a Master of
Science degree in special education; an
Associate of Science degree in nursing;
and a Bachelor of Science degree in
nursing in Nevada.
There are also plans to secure approval
for single-subject and multiple-subject
teaching credential programs and the
Nevada Department of Education is
currently reviewing selected education
programs.
The Nevada Commission on
Postsecondary Education has granted
provisional status to five business programs
and an allied health certificate program,
and the goal is to earn full licensure for
those programs in 2006. Additionally,
National University Nevada is submitting
a feasibility proposal to the Nevada State
Board of Nursing to offer nursing programs
in Nevada. A site visit this year could lead
to preliminary approval by the end of the
year and enrollments in 2006.
National University Nevada opened in May 2004.
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National University Hawaii
H
awaii serves as a major hub,
connecting the diverse cultures
and commerce of numerous
Pacific Rim nations while bridging U.S.
interests and efforts in Asia and Australia.
Being a state of islands, it is physically
isolated from the mainland and even
divided itself by formidable geographic
barriers.
National University Hawaii opened in
Honolulu in 2004 with a vision that the
National University System’s unique approach
to education and lifelong learning would help
students overcome geographic barriers and
other challenges to access, while addressing
Hawaii’s growing needs for a well-educated
workforce and helping retain more of its
college graduates.
Federal data indicates that Hawaii’s
residents face critical barriers in regard
to college affordability and access.
Consequently, over the past few years,
Hawaii has had among the steepest declines
in the nation in the percentage of first-time,
full-time college students earning their
bachelor’s degrees within six years of
enrolling in college. More college students
are currently leaving Hawaii to attend
college than are enrolling in college within
the state, leading to concerns over “brain
drain,” or the decline of college educated
citizens with local connections and cultural
ties to Hawaii.
If the residents of Hawaii could enjoy
greater access to higher education and
lifelong learning, then they would benefit
from broader career choices, opportunities,
and job advancement while building upon
lifelong community networks and
contributing to the regional economy as
teachers, healthcare workers, business
persons, and entrepreneurs. The time and
conditions were ripe for the National
University System’s leadership to expand
its market and introduce its values to a new
set of students.
“We are committed to providing the
people of Hawaii with innovative and
relevant programs that fulfill the unique
needs of the community,” National
University System Chancellor Dr. Jerry C.
Lee said, upon visiting National University
Hawaii and meeting with alumni and the
community. “We believe that the
educational resources and capabilities of
the National University System will
complement Hawaii’s existing resources.”
One of the National University System’s
first priorities was to establish Hawaii as a
center of excellence for commercial diving
by introducing the National Polytechnic
College of Engineering and Oceaneering
(NPCEO) in Oahu. NPCEO’s College of
Oceaneering division is already established
in Honolulu, and is enrolling students in
its commercial diving program. Twelve
students started classes in April, and
more students are signed up for a program
beginning in June. The College of
Oceaneering’s weekend classes are proving
popular with students in the armed services
and those who are working full-time while
they study.
As with California, Nevada, and other
states, Hawaii is currently facing a growing
demand for healthcare workers. According
to a January 10, 2005 article in the
Honolulu Advertiser titled “Healthcare
Industry Hot For Job Seekers,” the
healthcare industry in Hawaii is “only
expected to expand further, as interest in
alternative medicine, prevention, wellness,
and palliative care continue to grow.” In
response, National University Hawaii’s
Division of Extended Learning is offering
allied health certificate programs beginning
in June. These programs will prepare
students for careers as medical billing
and coding administrators, pharmacy
technicians, and alcohol and drug
counselors. Future allied health programs
will provide fast tracks into burgeoning job
markets and insure that Hawaii’s citizens
enjoy quality healthcare from welleducated professionals.
August marks the beginning of a Master
of Arts in teaching program in Hawaii.
The State Department of Education has
endorsed the program, which will be
offered to teachers with bachelor’s
degrees who wish to apply professional
development credits toward a master’s
degree. This program also meets a key
need for the state. In its 2004 State Report
Card on Higher Education, the National
Center for Public Policy and Higher
Education cited several challenges for
Hawaii, including the fact that only one
quarter of high school students are taught
by qualified teachers; that Hawaii’s eighth
graders require significant improvement on
national assessments in math, science,
writing, and reading; and that only small
portions of 11th and 12th graders take and
score well on advanced placement tests and
college entrance exams.
Centrally located in Honolulu, with
easy access and ample parking, National
University Hawaii’s modern facility
mirrors all the technology and amenities
that are standard in California’s academic
centers. Onsite programs are available to
neighboring islands via distance learning
technology, along with 30 online degree
programs. As plans for the campus and
degree programs grow, National University
Hawaii aims to foster long-term
relationships within the community through
various outreach projects that will address
some of the Aloha State’s greatest
educational challenges. Additionally, it
is actively exploring complementary
organizations for potential partnership
endeavors. The enormous potential for
National University Hawaii to serve the
educational needs of residents in the mid
Pacific bodes well for the future of the
National University System.
National University Hawaii is centrally located in Honolulu.
28
VISION
MAGAZINE
29
Valuing Every Child
“ Our personal vision is what
directs us. Our commitment to
that vision is what motivates us.
Always keep your vision in the
forefront of your mind. If we
know where we are going, it’s
easier when we get knocked
down to pick ourselves back up
and get on track.”
– Stacy Allison, the first U.S. woman
to reach the peak of Mt. Everest,
National University Commencement,
June 13, 2004
t was circle time for the fourth, fifth,
and sixth graders in Summer Sweeney’s
special education class at Discovery
Charter Elementary School in Chula Vista,
California. Alicia, a slight nine-year-old with
big brown eyes, hesitated only a moment
when asked to name the season. “Summer!”
she sang out.
“Very good, Alicia,” Sweeney said. Alicia
was diagnosed with autism and until
recently was usually silent in class. Sweeney
spent many hours teaching Alicia the few
words she uses, and many more hours
encouraging her to use those words.
Helping students like Alicia acquire
such basic skills is one of the numerous
challenges that special education teachers
face, and one of the many small triumphs
that keep them going, said Sweeney, who
earned her Master of Arts in teaching at
National University. Sweeney has taught
special education for eight years.
Special education is a profession that
requires a tremendous amount of patience,
persistence, determination, and dedication.
Each day tests a teacher’s abilities and
commitment to their job: a suddenly angry
boy who starts bumping into other students;
an introverted girl who resists efforts to
I
help her communicate; a child who finds a
simple lesson almost impossible. A special
education teacher often celebrates small
victories and must constantly accentuate
the positive.
“I really love my job,” Sweeney said.
“Sometimes you don’t realize a student is
working on a skill. And then you turn
around and they’ve learned something new.”
For a teacher like Sweeney, who
combines persistence with a clear sense of
direction, the frequent minor rewards of her
profession far outweigh the major hurdles of
overcoming moderate to severe disabilities.
She starts and ends each day empowered by
the knowledge that her work enables many
students to grow beyond their disabilities,
progress educationally, and live fulfilling,
independent lives.
“What motivates me? Looking to my
students’ future and knowing I can make
a difference that will last a lifetime,”
Sweeney said. “I know that may sound trite,
but it really is true. I also know that I’m
really needed.”
Indeed, it isn’t just students, but school
districts and entire communities that depend
on highly motivated and uniquely suited
professionals such as Summer Sweeney.
Currently, credentialed special education
teachers are in urgent demand throughout
the state.
Qualified special education teachers have
been in chronic short supply since the
Federal Education for all Handicapped
Children Act of 1975 (now called the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act),
according to Dr. Jane Duckett, chair of
National University’s Department of
Specialized Programs. The federal law
mandated that public schools provide an
education to students with disabilities, but
despite advances in the field of special
education, the supply of qualified teachers
has not kept pace with demand. At the same
time, heightened public awareness of
disabilities has led to increased diagnoses of
children with special needs, such as attention
deficit and hyperactivity disorder.
Since the mid 1990s, special education
students statewide have grown by almost 23
percent – from approximately 550,000 to
more than 675,000 – according to the Center
for the Future of Teaching and Learning.
That accounts for about 10 percent of
kindergarten through 12th grade enrollment
in California public schools.
The California Department of Education
estimates that 13 percent of the state’s
special education teachers are not fully
credentialed. National University is playing
a vital leadership role in closing this gap.
Data from the California Commission on
Teacher Credentialing reveals that since
2000, National has prepared more
credentialed special education teachers than
any other college or university in the state.
The 392 candidates it recommended for
special education credentials between July 1,
2002, and June 30, 2003, represent 16
percent of the 2,480 special education
credentials granted in California during that
academic year. Currently, 2,500 students are
enrolled in some level of the university’s
two-tiered training for state credentialing in
special educational instruction, as well as in
a master’s degree program in the field.
About 90 percent of the students enrolled
in National’s special education programs are
already employed in classroom teaching.
Students have the option of choosing night
classes at a nearby academic center or taking
nearly all classes online through the Internet.
“That makes all the difference,” said
Sweeney, who was a working teacher herself
when she pursued her master’s degree.
“Summer is exemplary of the graduates
we produce,” Dr. Duckett said. “She is a
consummate professional with endless
patience, a clear passion for her profession,
and a vision for her students. I am proud of
the commitment and contributions that she
and other special education teachers bring to
class on a daily basis.”
National University alumna Summer Sweeney and her students at Discovery Charter Elementary School.
30
VISION
MAGAZINE
31
The Value of Diversity
ne may be hard-pressed to improve
upon the comment made by
Andrew Young, former U.S.
Ambassador to the United Nations and
National University’s 2001 commencement
speaker, when he said, “I decided that this
is the most beautiful class that I have seen
in a long, long time. Not only because
California is a place of beautiful people but
because the diversity of that beauty
reminds me of a wonderful flower garden
of God’s humanity.” In 2000,
commencement keynote speaker William
Bennett may have matched Young’s
eloquence with three simple words. As the
former U.S. Secretary of Education
accompanied National University President
Jerry C. Lee in the procession through the
main hall, Bennett glanced at the faces in
the audience and proclaimed, “This is
America.”
While most students share a common
intellectual curiosity and an eagerness to
learn, the breadth of their style and
circumstances, backgrounds, and individual
beliefs, gender, age, and physical features
generally defies any one-size-fits-all
description. By mirroring the rich social,
ethnic, geographic, and cultural diversity
of California, National University’s student
body has become an educational asset unto
itself, exposing people to a wealth of ideas
and perspectives while building the
foundations for global classrooms of
the future.
Black Issues in Higher Education
concurs, ranking National University
among the nation’s top 10 colleges and
universities granting master’s degrees in
all disciplines combined to minorities.
According to Hispanic Outlook in Higher
Education’s “Top 100 Schools” report for
2004, National University ranks first in
California and third in the nation in
granting master’s degrees to Hispanics.
O
It has ranked first among California
colleges and universities and among the top
five nationally in that category for five
consecutive years.
From commencement speakers to leading
publications within higher education,
National University is consistently praised for
the scope of its diversity. Numerous studies
within the past decade indicate that students
learn from and value such differences.
Almost 90 percent of Americans believe
that it is important to have students of
different races, cultures, and backgrounds
in higher education and that diversity is
important to the quality of higher
education, according to data released in
2000 by the Business Higher Education
Forum – a collaboration between the
American Council on Education and the
National Alliance of Business.
“That was certainly my experience,”
said Leticia Ortega, a teacher in the Los
Angeles community of Huntington Park
who earned her master’s degree in
education from National University last
year. “Living and working in a city like
Los Angeles, where you engage with
people from every walk of life on a
daily basis, it helps to become familiar
with different cultures in a learning
environment.”
Three other research studies by the
American Council on Education and the
American Association of University
Professors provide further evidence of the
benefits diversity brings to the campus and
the classroom. These studies reveal that a
majority of students and faculty in multiracial/multi-ethnic classrooms agree that
the experience brings a broader range of
ideas and perspectives; that it generates
more complex thinking among all students;
and that it has a positive impact on students’
cognitive and personal development.
Nearly 70 percent of faculty members
surveyed in one of the studies said that a
diverse student body is either important or
extremely important at their institutions.
National University’s diverse student
body didn’t result from affirmative action
programs; rather it is a reflection of the
institution’s commitment to its core value
of access. There is a pervasive belief at
National that everyone with the desire to
expand their horizons should find an open
door to higher education and enjoy an
opportunity to learn. It is a belief that
begins at the top.
National University System Chancellor
Jerry C. Lee was recently recognized for
his continuous efforts to make higher
education more accessible to a diverse
group of Californians when he was
presented with the 2004 Visionary Award
for diversity by LEAD San Diego, Inc.,
an organization that promotes and fosters
community leadership.
By embracing diversity in the
classroom, Chancellor Lee has also set a
much broader vision for National University
in the international community, according
to Thomas Green, Ph.D., Dean of the
University’s School of Business and
Management.
“Diversity isn’t just a local issue, it’s a
global issue,” Green said. “When the
Chancellor talks about values such as access,
relevance, and community, he really sees the
bigger picture. He appreciates the
connectivity that higher learning brings to
different nations and how the classroom of
the future will transcend political, cultural,
and geographic boundaries. That’s exactly
the direction that business has been taking
for several years now.”
National University graduates reflect the rich ethnic and cultural diversity of California’s population.
32
VISION
MAGAZINE
33
The Value of
Exceptional Teachers
Greg Rusu was one of
Jaime Escalante’s brightest
students at Garfield High School.
National University graduate and Dell, Inc. executive Greg Rusu.
ew professionals can match the ability of an exceptional
teacher to positively redirect and reshape people’s lives.
This story is about an inner-city high school math teacher
and an adjunct computer science instructor in Silicon Valley who
guided a troubled youth from the barrios of East Los Angeles to
the corporate headquarters of Dell, Inc. in Austin, Texas.
Many are familiar with the accomplishments of Jaime
Escalante. He helped hundreds of inner city students at East Los
Angeles’ Garfield High School to excel in calculus and algebra. An
unprecedented number of Escalante’s pupils went on to pass the
Advanced Placement calculus exam, an accomplishment that
inspired the 1988 film Stand and Deliver. The ensuing fame
provided additional opportunities for the now famous math teacher
to inspire others, including a keynote address at National
University’s Sacramento commencement ceremony in 1999.
Escalante’s former students have testified about the profound
impact a math teacher can have on a student’s life. One of the
brightest was National University alumnus Greg Rusu. He earned
the top score in the Advanced Placement calculus exam in both his
junior and senior years at Garfield High School.
Greg’s father was an Eastern European scientist who was exiled
from Romania to the United States in the 1970s. As a young
F
34
VISION
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Romanian in a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood, Rusu had
difficulty adjusting to his new surroundings. “Kids teased me
mercilessly,” he recalled. “I ended up getting into fights two or
three times per week.”
Rusu’s mother intervened with school counselors, who appealed
to the sixth grader’s keen interest in math and science. They
enrolled him in a magnet program, taking computer classes at
Garfield. The computer department chair gave Greg a thick book,
and said “Read this, then come back and tell me what you’ve
learned.” Soon the 11-year-old was writing computer programming.
His computer acumen helped Rusu qualify for Garfield’s
magnet program later as a high school student. “That’s when I met
Jaime Escalante,” he said. “Some of us [magnet students] began
to visit his class and watch Jaime in awe, and he would ask us,
‘Are you going to stand there and do nothing, or are you going
to learn something?’
“I ended up taking a summer school course with him, during
which I completed an entire year’s worth of math courses. The guy
would spend half an hour teaching, and about three-and-a-half
hours drilling us. He created a game show-type atmosphere in
class, which completely captured the students’ interest and fed
their enthusiasm. Jaime made learning interactive. There was no
“ He was able to captivate us
in spite of our eight-plus-hourper-day jobs. He made the
material real and was able to
tie it to our own individual
experiences.”
– Graduate Greg Rusu of National University
describes instructor David Elliott
way you could fall asleep or grow
disinterested. You just couldn’t do it.”
“Escalante had a way of really making
all his students feel special. He gave me a
sense of confidence. I knew that just by
taking his courses and doing the drills I
could reach a level of performance that I
hadn’t previously thought possible. Those
of us who weren’t jocks were able to feel
the high that a champion athlete feels.
That really stuck with me, particularly in
a neighborhood where self esteem was
at a premium.”
His phenomenal achievement in high
school math ultimately earned Rusu a
scholarship to Harvey Mudd College. But
the bright young undergrad eventually
suspended his studies to work in the
booming computer business. He landed a
job in Silicon Valley, where he met his
future wife. It’s a familiar story for many
alumni. Higher education is deferred to
work and family as an ambitious young
person advances in his or her career, falls
in love, and gets married.
As Rusu rose within his industry, his
employers kept telling him, “You need a
college degree to move up.” Although he
aspired to return to Harvey Mudd, such a
move would have been unacceptably
disruptive to his professional and family
plans. A fellow employee was attending
National University, which was just down
the freeway. Her situation was similar. “We
were both trying to get back to school amid
life’s other challenges,” Rusu recalled.
Rusu certainly could have attended any
number of prominent universities, but he
chose National University San Jose,
returning to higher education with more
maturity, experience, and focus. He
eventually earned a bachelor’s degree in
computer science, graduating magna cum
laude, was promoted and later offered a
position with Advanced Micro Device
(AMD) in its microprocessor division.
“I was with the cream of the crop in their
advanced architecture lab.”
While he attended National University,
Rusu was captivated by David E. Elliott,
who taught computer science courses as an
adjunct faculty member. “That guy was
absolutely brilliant,” Rusu said. “I learned
so much from that guy, it’s not even funny.”
Standing in front of his class in wellworn jeans, a polo shirt, and sneakers, the
former project manager for Hewlett
Packard’s computer language development
laboratory made a mild first impression.
With a calm voice and confident demeanor,
however, Elliot assured everybody that
they would be writing their own computer
software within four weeks.
“By the second week, halfway through
the course, we were all referring to David
as a ‘guru’ during break time,” Rusu said.
“If the Silicon Valley was a hub of religion,
we regarded David as a high priest.
Himself a founder, veteran, and practitioner
of so many technologies in the area we
were all using, there was no doubt he was
able to captivate us in spite of our eightplus-hour-per-day jobs. He made the
material real and was able to tie it to our
own individual experiences.”
If the mathematical equations that
Escalante drilled into his young student all
those years ago laid the foundation for
academic achievement, Elliott’s expertise,
guidance, and encouragement provided the
cornerstone for outstanding achievement
within the computer industry. His gift was
strengthening Rusu’s intellectual confidence
and fortifying within him a passion for
National University’s philosophy of
lifelong learning.
The talents of a high school math
teacher and an adjunct computer science
instructor made a huge difference in Rusu’s
life, enhancing his performance and
accomplishments to a remarkable level.
Today he is a product marketing manager
for Dell, Inc., working at the company’s
corporate headquarters in Austin, Texas.
He is also enrolled in the Executive MBA
program at Duke University.
“As an instructor, I always hope that
I’m planting the seeds of imagination and
showing my students to think creatively
and outside the box,” said Elliott, who still
teaches undergraduate computer science
classes for National University in San Jose.
“Apparently, I’ve had a positive impact. It is
very rewarding to hear of Greg’s success.”
35
NATIONAL
UNIVERSITY
INSTITUTE FOR
WELLNESS AND
PEAK PERFORMANCE
Dedicated to improving performance excellence
and studying the effect of peak performance on
health, competition, education, and business.
National University students from left to right: Capt. Young K. Park, USMC; YN2 Jacqueline Wade, USN; TSgt Eric Gunn, USAF; SFCE7 Olga Elliott, USA.
Mindfulness and Peak
Performance—Touch the
Ground, Touch the Sky
Valuing Alumni in the Armed Forces
I
36
VISION
MAGAZINE
Case in point: National University student Andre Fervil, who
rolled into Baghdad with the First Tank Battalion of the First
Marine Division in the Spring of 2003. When the chief warrant
officer returned from Iraq in July, he said goodbye to his wife and
children two nights a week and returned to class to complete his
master’s degree. That may seem like a minor sacrifice, but not to
the Marine, who explained, “When you’re thousands of miles from
your family getting shot at every day, you realize that every
moment is precious.” In many ways, those last few months of class
away from home were the hardest, he admitted. Chief Warrant
Officer Fervil graduated in May 2004.
As a proud recipient of the Ray Ehrensberger Award, granted
by the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education
Commission on Military Education and Training in recognition
of “Institutional Excellence in Military Education,” National
University wishes to salute this very special group of students and
alumni, especially considering the added demands they and their
families face as they protect and defend our country and its ideals.
The latest news in health and
wellness with informative, useful
information about health and
fitness, nutrition, work and life
balance, and stress reduction.
Peak Performance
E-Newsletter
Work smarter, not harder, improve
your athletic performance, and get
more out of every day by using
peak performance to improve
both your professional and
personal life.
Fo r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n
visit WWW.NUSYSTEM.ORG
® National University 2005
n the uncertain weeks after September 11, 2001, Shannon
Hough-Duncan, a 24-year-old secretary in the Army Reserves,
was on standby for active duty. If her orders came, she was
packed and prepared to deploy within 48 hours. Any day, she might
find herself dressed in combat fatigues, en route to the Middle East.
On this particular evening, however, she was in civilian clothes,
attending a course at National University after a full day’s work.
“I could go to class tonight and get called up tomorrow, then regret
not spending my last night at home with my family,” she noted. Such
are the thoughts of many students in the military. They balance
multiple commitments as employees, students, soldiers, sailors,
airmen, and Marines. On any given day, they could be contributing
to their company’s bottom line, investing in their families’ future, or
heading into harm’s way to defend their fellow Americans.
“Few can fully appreciate the burdens these students carry,”
said Douglas R. Barr, associate regional dean of National
University’s Military Base Program and a 30-year Marine
Corps veteran. “During wartime, even the smallest sacrifices
become magnified.”
This book includes an easy-tofollow eight-week course with
specific practices to help bring
a sense of calm, reduce stress,
and promote a general feeling
of well-being.
Wellness E-Newsletter
The Center for Peak Performance was
established to engage in the research and the
dissemination of information regarding peak
performance ideologies and methodologies
related to health, competition, education, and
organizational issues. The Center, employing
the information and intellectual resources of
the National University System, is poised to
make a significant contribution to the field of
performance excellence.
Published by the National University Press
The
National
University
System
The National University System is an
alliance of independent, not-for-profit
institutions, which are uniquely aligned
to provide the broadest possible access
to learning opportunities, for diverse
populations of students and
organizations.
™
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and Oceaneering
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Engineering Technology
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Revolutionizing Education
National University Center for Human Advancement
Institute for Persons Who Are Hard of
Hearing or Deaf
National University Institute for Community
Research and Civic Entrepreneurship
National University Institute for Wellness
and Peak Performance
www.nusystem.org
© National University 2005