IUPUC Home

Unsubscribe

In this issue...		Alumni Association bike ride raises more than $8,000 IUPUC neurobiologist named to board, speaks in Indy Director of Admissions elected to statewide post IU School of Nursing at IUPUC focuses BSN demand Assistant professor of mathematics education published Vice Chancellor contributes chapter to book IUPUC Library passes milestone 2007 First Lego League Qualifying Tournament award winners Upcoming IUPUC events

		Alumni Association bike ride raises more than $8,000 This year’s annual Possum Trot Bicycle Boogie, an IUPUC Alumni Association event, raised more than $8,000 for IUPUC scholarships. There were 310 riders and more than 50 volunteers at the event. Riders represented 73 cities and towns and four states – including California. The Alumni Association has a limited supply of short sleeve Possum Trot t-shirts available for $15 each, and all proceeds will go to the scholarship fund. For more information, please call 812-314-8632 or e-mail ljreuter@iupuc.edu.

		IUPUC neurobiologist named to board, speaks in Indy Dr. James Clack, associate professor of biology at IUPUC, has been appointed to the Editorial Board of the Journal of College Biology Teaching, the official publication of the Association of College and University Biology Educators. He also spoke recently at a seminar hosted by the Department of Biology at IUPUI. His presentation was titled “Just-in-Time Transduction: G Protein Inventory Effects on Visual Transduction and Adaptation.” Clack earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from Indiana University and his doctorate in neurobiology from Purdue University.

		Director of Admissions elected to statewide post Susie Blizard, IUPUC director of Admissions, was elected second vice president of the Indiana Association of Collegiate Registrar and Admissions Officers. Her four-year term on the executive committee will begin as second vice president, progress to first vice president, then transition to president before serving as immediate past president. She will serve the general membership and attend annual professional state and regional conferences representing IACRAC and IUPUC. Blizard earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Ball State University.

		IU School of Nursing at IUPUC focuses on BSN demand In an effort to meet the region’s growing demand for more highly qualified nurses, the IU School of Nursing at IUPUC will focus on the development and expansion of its BSN programs and phase out its LPN to ASN program in 2008. The LPN to ASN Mobility Option class admitted in February 2008 will be the final cohort of LPN to ASN students at IUPUC. The last cohort will begin the LPN to ASN transition program in May 2008 and will be scheduled to graduate in May 2009. The change will allow IUPUC to focus on the development and expansion of its RN to BSN Mobility Option. Debra Harmon, division head of the IU School of Nursing at IUPUC, said, “Increasingly, health care providers in our region are achieving or are pursuing ‘magnet’ status. Their certifications depend upon having a pool of more highly trained nurses, and that higher level of training is best provided by a bachelor’s-level education.” “This transition,” she added, “is a response to employers’ needs, but it also ensures better employability for our local nurses.” IUPUC Vice Chancellor Jay Howard said, “Suspension of the LPN to ASN program will allow us to shift necessary resources to expand our RN to BSN mobility program, thus meeting the professional development needs of the many registered nurses who live and practice in the southeast central Indiana region.” Last year, IUPUC and Ivy Tech Community College created a unique agreement that provides nursing students a seamless transition from Ivy Tech’s ASN program to IUPUC’s BSN program. Howard said that partnership will continue to grow. “This fall, we nearly doubled our number of students working on their BSN locally as a direct result of our collaboration with Ivy Tech,” Howard said. “Ivy Tech in Columbus has agreed to expand its ASN program to serve the approximately 40 students who enroll in the IUPUC program annually,” he added, “and we’re confident that many of those students will continue their education and further their careers by transitioning to the BSN program at IUPUC.” Dr. Marion E. Broome, university dean of the Indiana University School of Nursing, said that collaboration will continue. “The IU School of Nursing remains committed to providing high quality nursing education programs in the Columbus community and to collaborating with Ivy Tech to provide seamless articulation between the ASN and BSN programs that exist on the campuses of these two institutions.” Each year, IUPUC serves approximately 200 students studying to begin or advance their careers in nursing. More than 95 percent of IUPUC graduates remain in the southeast central Indiana after completing their education.

		Assistant professor of mathematics education published Dr. Crystal Walcott, assistant professor of mathematics education, has co-written “Using your inner voice to guide instruction.” The article has been accepted for publication in the journal Teaching Children Mathematics. She also co-wrote a paper included as part of the Proceedings of the Ninth International Conference of Mathematics Education in a Global Community, published by the University of North Carolina Charlotte. That paper was titled “The growth of the dynamic figural concept: Sense-making strategies applied to conceptions of shape.” Walcott earned her bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of North Dakota before earning her master’s degree in Information Science and her doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction, Mathematics Education, both from Indiana University.

		Vice Chancellor contributes chapter to book IUPUC Vice Chancellor Jay Howard has contributed a chapter to the new book “The Message in the Music: Studying Contemporary Praise & Worship” (Abingdon Press 2007). The collection of essays examines the top 77 most frequently sung praise and worship tunes from 1989 to 2005. In the first seven chapters, authors in a variety of academic disciplines analyze the lyric content of the songs investigating topics such as representations of the Trinity, romance, and expressions of pain and suffering. The final three chapters look at the musical styles of the 77 songs. Dr. Howard’s chapter, titled “Let the Weak Say I Am Strong: Contemporary Worship Music and God’s Concern for Righteousness and Social Justice,” is a sociological analysis of the depictions of justice and righteousness in the song lyrics. He noted, “This is the first academic examination of contemporary worship music which has exploded in popularity over the past 15 years. The book is intended to be helpful to academics who study religion in contemporary society as well as to worship leaders and music ministers.” Howard graduated with high distinction from Indiana University South Bend, receiving his bachelor’s degree in sociology. He earned both his master’s and doctoral degrees in sociology from Notre Dame. Click here to order the book....

		IUPUC Library passes milestone In October, the IUPUC Library welcomed its 250,000th visitor since opening in July 2005. Steven Schmidt, librarian, said the library is averaging approximately 10,000 visitors per month, but noted that October was its busiest month on record with 16,792 visits. Overall, 62 percent of the library’s circulation is checked out to students, split almost equally between IUPUC and Ivy Tech students. Faculty and staff account for 30 percent of checkouts, with IUPUC faculty checking out most of those items. Slightly less than 10 percent of the library’s total circulation is for people who are not affiliated with campus, including members of the community (six percent), people borrowing materials through other libraries (three percent), and area high school students (one percent).

		2007 First Lego League Qualifying Tournament award winners The second annual FIRST Lego League Columbus Qualifying Tournament was held at the Columbus Learning Center on Saturday, November 17. Almost 500 competitors and spectators were at the energy-themed tournament organized by Dr. Kate Baird, IUPUC assistant professor of science education, and Dr. Joe Fuehne, Purdue College of Technology assistant professor of mechanical engineering technology. FIRST is an organization that designs programs to motivate youth to pursue careers in science, technology, and engineering. This year’s competition included 21 teams, more than double the count at last year’s event. The Lego competition consisted of four parts: a power puzzle challenge, a project presentation of an energy survey of a public building, robotics programming and design, and teamwork. The teams also performed skits on how to use energy efficiently. NanoIrish of St. Bartholomew School in Columbus won first place with seven other teams also qualifying for the state tournament December 8 at IPFW. Winners from state tournaments move on to the world tournament in Atlanta. For more information about FIRST Lego League, visit www.firstlegoleague.org. Individuals or teams interested in participating in next year’s event or a preparatory camp next summer may e-mail kabaird@iupuc.edu. Bob Parker Spirit Award 1. Robojoes, Taylorsville Elementary School, Columbus 2. Atomic Mustangs, Southside Elementary School, Columbus IUPUC Project Award 1. Lego My Energy, Mt Healthy Elementary School, Columbus 2. JURK’s, Jasper High School, Jasper 3. Bengal Bots, Greendale Middle School, Lawrenceburg Purdue College of Technology Design Award 1. NanoIrish, St Bartholomew School, Columbus 2. Westfield 4336, Westfield Washington Public Library, Westfield 3. Power Pirates, Parkside Elementary School, Columbus Columbus Evening Kiwanis Teamwork Award 1. Electric Eels, L. Frances Smith Elementary, Columbus 2. Westfield 6301, Westfield Public Library, Westfield 3. Solar Sonics, L. Frances Smith Elementary, Columbus Center for Teaching and Learning Challenge Award 1. Stanley Sun Suckers, Fishers 2. Scottsburg Middle School, Scottsburg 3. P3, Jasper High School, Jasper Brands Robust Design Award 1. Geek Squad, Center Grove Middle School North, Greenwood 2. Wire Twisting Fools, Jasper High School, Jasper 3. Robotic Special Forces, Elizabethtown Taylor Brothers Construction Programming Award 1. Cyber Cats, Jasper High School, Jasper 2. Force Masters, Jasper High School, Jasper 3. Hydraulics, Jasper High School, Jasper Al Furllani Against All Odds Award 1. KC Techno Team, kidscommons childrens museum, Columbus Columbus Qualifying Tournament Director Awards 1. NanoIrish, St Bartholomew School, Columbus 2. Stanley Sun Suckers, Fishers 3. Electric Eels, L. Frances Smith Elementary, Columbus In addition to the awards from the day’s event, eight teams qualified to move onto the state level competing at Indiana University Purdue University-Fort Wayne (IPFW) on December 8: NanoIrish, St Bartholomew School, Columbus Stanley Sun Suckers, Fishers Electric Eels, L. Frances Smith Elementary, Columbus Lego My Energy, Mt Healthy Elementary School, Columbus Cyber Cats, Jasper High School, Jasper Geek Squad, Center Grove Middle School North, Greenwood Robojoes, Taylorsville Elementary School, Columbus Scottsburg Middle School, Scottsburg

		Upcoming IUPUC events IUPUC Funtastic Fridays This is an informal yet interactive program for prospective students to learn more about IUPUC through a student panel, guided tour, presentation about degree programs, and mini-workshop on financial aid and scholarships. The $50 application fee is waived for high school seniors who apply at these sessions. High school students are encouraged to join the games, gifts, food, and fun! November 30, 10-11:30 a.m. IUPUC, CC Building, Room 165 December 7, 10-11:30 a.m. IUPUC, CC Building, Room 165 Contact information: 812-348-7311 or admissions@iupuc.edu