Houghton College Participates in Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage

Houghton, NY (Vocus) March 17, 2010

Imagine walking the Civil War battlefields with Ulysses S. Grant. Imagine walking through Revolutionary War sites with George Washington. Imagine walking through Da Vincis studio with him at your side. Thats what we did, explained Robert Van Wicklin 92, Senior Vice President for Advancement at Houghton College. We walked the Civil Rights Movement trail with the people who were there.

From March 5-7, 2010, Houghton College President Shirley A. Mullen 76, Robert Van Wicklin and three Houghton College students Zachary Adams 11, Joseph Chinn 12 and Audrey Kusasira 11 participated in a journey with the Faith and Politics Institute to memorialize the 45 years since Bloody Sunday a tragic and historic event of the Civil Rights Movement. Bloody Sunday occurred on March 7, 1965, when 600 people began a peaceful walk east from Selma, Alabama, to the capital city of Montgomery to bring attention to voting rights. Six city blocks into the march down U.S. Route 80, law enforcement agents attacked the marchers with billy clubs and tear gas.

This year is the tenth Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage a three-day passage through living history designed to demonstrate the powerful role that spirituality and courage have played in shaping the nations history. Rep. John Lewis (D-GA), who led the march on Bloody Sunday, served as the Pilgrimage Chairman. Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS), Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) served as honorary co-chairs.

The Houghton students and administrators, the only institution of higher education represented, joined members of Congress and individuals involved in the Civil Rights Movement including Rev. Fred L. Shuttlesworth, Mrs. Juanita Abernathy, Rep. John Lewis, Rev. Jesse Jackson, C.T. Vivian, Dr. Dorothy Cotton, Ms. Bettie Mae Fikes, Rev. Dr. Bernard Lafayette and Dr. Bob Zellner to study this political movement through first-hand accounts. The memorial pilgrimage began in Birmingham where participants visited the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church a common meeting place for civil rights leaders. The church is remembered for a Sunday morning in September 1963 when a bomb blasted the crowded church and killed four girls in their Sunday school classes.

The pilgrimage continued in Montgomery with a tour of the Rosa Parks Museum constructed on the site of the old Empire Theatre where Parks made her courageous stand in 1955. The delegation then headed to the First Baptist Church. In May 1961, after being beaten at a bus station, John Lewis made his way to the church. A mob surrounded the church trapping hundreds inside. It took federal intervention and the Alabama National Guard to secure the safety of the people inside. During the pilgrimage, many involved in the Civil Rights Movement made remarks, relayed stories and reflected. The historic journey then continued to Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church the church where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. pastored from 1954-1966. At this site, civil rights figures engaged in guided dialogue with pilgrimage participants.

The entire group then traveled to Brown Chapel AME Church in Selma where marchers met 45 years ago to march to Montgomery on the Edmund Pettus Bridge the site of Bloody Sunday. Lewis led the Faith and Politics Institutes delegation on an emotional commemorative march across the bridge, explained Van Wicklin. He made it across safely and was greeted warmly by Alabama police this time.

After walking through history, the Houghton students had a greater appreciation and a better understanding of what the Civil Rights Movement was about. I grew up being sensitive to the issues of race, recalled Zachary Adams, a junior from Wellsboro, Pa., but the trip connected me to this part of history. Id viewed the Civil Rights Movement as something relegated to the past. It was not necessarily something that I had brought into the present. We heard and saw the conflict and conversations that the leaders of the movement had together. Ive gained an appreciation and a connectedness from the little stories that you dont learn in textbooks.

It was the personalization and humanness relayed during the journey that struck junior Audrey Kusasira from Kampala, Uganda. The history was told by the people who had made it. The stories were conveyed by those who were the main characters. The sacrifice and perseverance were found etched in the faces of those heroes. John Lewis carried a backpack, Kusasira remembered. He had an apple and an orange in it. If he was going to jail, he wanted something to eat. He carried a toothbrush and toothpaste. If he was going to jail, he wanted to be able to brush his teeth. He had two books with him because if he was going to jail, he wanted something to read. This trip helped me understand the personalities of the movement and that made it more real.

The students also learned that the Civil Rights Movement was and is about more than they had thought. The Civil Rights Movement wasnt about black equality but about dignity and respect for all, Joseph Chinn, a sophomore from Houston, Texas, explained. Martin Luther King Jr. was a man who wanted all people to be equal, to have dignity and respect.

While the experience was shaped by the individuals who were there to tell the stories, the sacrifice of many was also evident. We often talk of the success stories of the Civil Rights Movement, commented President Mullen. During some of the morning reflection times, I was reminded of all of the people who had made decisions prior to the 1960s who didnt live to see their voices come through as a success. Many of lifes greatest moments are made at times of intense risk. It made me appreciate the people who made choices, not knowing if they would succeed.

Adams, who serves as the Student Government Association President, recognizes that the opportunity he was afforded is not to be wasted. Having the members of Congress on the pilgrimage was a tangible expression of how they valued history and the events of the Civil Rights Movement, Adams remarked. Its also recognition of the fact that the Civil Rights Movement isnt over and understanding that there are still issues of injustice in the world. Were now held to a level of responsibility to keep the conversation going.

About Houghton College

Houghton College, founded in 1883, provides an academically challenging, Christ-centered education in the liberal arts and sciences to students from diverse traditions and economic backgrounds and equips them to lead and labor as scholar-servants in a changing world. The college of 1,200 students is located in western New York, just 65 miles from Rochester and Buffalo. For more information, please visit http://www.houghton.edu.

Contact:

Elaine Tooley

Communication Specialist

585.567.9211

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Partnership with Franklin University Offers Kentucky Community and Technical College System Students an Online Bachelors Degree Option

Kentucky (PRWEB) March 26, 2010

Many times, adults who have already attained some college credits find that the pressures of work and family responsibilities make it difficult to continue their education to the bachelors degree level. Now, the Kentucky Community and Technical College System and Franklin University have a way to help make a college education more accessible.

The Kentucky Community and Technical College System has entered into an agreement with Columbus, Ohio-based Franklin University to offer students the opportunity to earn bachelors degrees by combining on-campus courses at one of the following 16 Kentucky Community and Technical College System schools with online courses through Franklin: Ashland Community & Technical College, Big Sandy Community & Technical College, Bluegrass Community & Technical College, Bowling Green Technical College, Elizabethtown Community & Technical College, Gateway Community & Technical College, Hazard Community & Technical College, Henderson Community College, Hopkinsville Community College, Jefferson Community & Technical College, Madisonville Community College, Maysville Community & Technical College, Owensboro Community & Technical College, Somerset Community College, Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College, and West Kentucky Community & Technical College.

A student earns an associates degree and completes bridge courses through the Kentucky Community and Technical College System while simultaneously taking online classes through Franklin University to complete a bachelors degree. Majors are offered in 24 high-demand fields: Accounting; Allied Healthcare Management; Applied Management; Applied Psychology, Business Administration; Business Forensics; Computer Science; eMarketing; Financial Management; Forensic Accounting; Healthcare Information Systems Management; Healthcare Management; Human Resources Management; Information Technology; Interdisciplinary Studies; Management; Management Information Sciences; Marketing; Operations & Supply Chain Management; Organizational Communication; Public Relations; Public Safety Management; Safety, Security & Emergency Management; and Web Development. Franklin University also offers its innovative MBA, M.S. in Computer Science, and M.S. in Marketing & Communication programs online.

Students have responded enthusiastically to the convenient online format and the ability to fit classes into their daily schedules. They have the benefit of belonging to two schools at one time and are able to access Franklins resources in addition to those in the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. Franklins resources include academic advising, a technology help desk, and a library system. Each student also is assigned a Student Services Associate who provides support and guidance by answering questions about transcripts, financial aid, or even how to purchase textbooks.

About Franklin University

Franklin University serves more than 11,000 students annually through its on-campus programs in Columbus, Ohio, and the Community College Alliance. Nearly 270 community colleges in 33 states have teamed with the University to serve students. In addition to offering 27 undergraduate degree programs online, the over 100-year-old university has three masters degree programs, all offered in an online format as well as on campus. In 1999, Franklin was named as one of 15 education organizations nationwide for a U.S. Department of Education pilot project, which ensures that federal financial aid is available to students pursuing college degrees through distance learning.

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Pearson, Fayetteville Technical Community College Prepare to Serve Additional Military, Civilian Personnel and Families

Fayetteville, NC (PRWEB) March 30, 2010

Like many community colleges across the US, Fayetteville Technical Community College has seen a spike in enrollments due to the recession. But Fayetteville also faces other, unique challenges: The community is home to Fort Bragg, whose residents have coped with multiple military deployments over the past decade.

And now, Fayetteville is preparing for an influx of 40,000 additional military and civilian personnel and their families beginning in March 2011, the result of the US Department of Defense Base Realignment & Closure Commission's (BRAC) decision to relocate the US Army Reserve Command to Fort Bragg from Georgia.

In anticipation of these changes, nearly 100 community and education leaders came together recently for a summit to discuss issues impacting the region as a result of the population increases, including managing the expected growth in community college enrollments and proven solutions that improve student success in hybrid and online learning environments. The summit was sponsored by Pearson Learning Solutions, a business unit of Pearson, a global leader in education, technology and services.

"As we prepare to welcome thousands of new residents to our region, we must focus on the enormous impact they will have on our education system," said Barbara Tansey, Vice President of Academics and Student Services at Fayetteville Technical Community College. "We have been working diligently with the BRAC Regional Task Force to determine how the expected population growth will affect the region's community colleges, and we are grateful to Pearson for convening the summit as part of our ongoing efforts."

"Community colleges are the pillars of local communities across the US," said Don Kilburn, CEO of Pearson Learning Solutions. "We continue to work in partnership with North Carolina's colleges to arm them with the technology and tools they'll need to successfully manage increasing enrollments and promote their students' success in hybrid and online learning environments."

The summit included presentations and facilitated discussions about topics such as strategies to improve achievement and retention; using technology and customized solutions to personalize learning and enhance student engagement; and best practices and resources to enhance courseware and course design.

The keynote address was presented by Carolyn Jarmon of the National Center for Academic Transformation (NCAT). Ms. Jarmon is widely published on the topics of effective delivery of student services and distance education and is a sought-after consultant by institutions and corporations interested in learning in distributed environments.

Pearson provides complete, customizable online courses in many disciplines including allied health, business, criminal justice, and education, plus a full suite of custom media options for the classroom. Pearson's courseware services and library offerings are powered by best practices in instructional design and crafted by a team of course writers, subject matter experts and technologists.

About Pearson Learning Solutions

Pearson Learning Solutions (PLS) is a business unit within Pearson, a global leader in education, technology and services. As an education partner and consultant to higher education institutions, PLS is committed to designing total, client-driven education solutions. We are a team of world-class education experts, instructional designers, curriculum development experts, education course writers, development editors and experienced textbook publishers. We tailor solutions to each institution's individual needs whether that is for off-the-shelf online, in the classroom or blended courses or fully customized curriculum development. We also provide a wide range of tools to help students, faculty and institutions succeed.

About Fayetteville Technical Community College

Fayetteville Technical Community College was established in 1961 and serves over 34,000 students annually by providing 150 affordable occupational, technical, general education, college transfer, and continuing education programs to meet students' needs and desires as well as the community.

About National Center of Academic Transformation

The National Center for Academic Transformation (NCAT) is an independent, not-for-profit organization that provides leadership in using information technology to redesign learning environments to produce better learning outcomes for students at a reduced cost to the institution. For more information, visit the NCAT website http://www.thencat.org/index.html.

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SNAGABOOK.COM HELPS COLLEGE STUDENTS NATIONWIDE BUY AND SELL TEXTBOOKS

(PRWEB) December 15, 2002

As the cost of college tuition continues to rise, one of the largest complaints of college students everywhere is the expense of textbooks. Every semester, students find themselves paying exorbitant amounts for books, then never getting their money’s worth when they venture to sell them back.

Snagabook.com provides a convenient and hassle-free way to help students save time and money when it comes to buying and selling textbooks. Its online presence provides the ultimate in convenience because students can order or post textbooks 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

With value for buyers and sellers alike in mind, Snagabook.com lets students set a price when they post a book, for a better return when selling and a fairer price for buyers when purchasing.

Snagabook.com essentially works for the student. It emails them when someone is interested in the book and securely transfers the money from buyer to seller. Students pay nothing to post books. All sellers have to do is put the book in the mail when Snagabook.com alerts them that the transaction has been completed.

With two bachelor degrees and a medical doctorate, Vince Montes, founder and general manager of Snagabook.com, recalls his college book buying experiences as less than ideal. “I always felt like the bookstores were ripping me off, but chalked it up to the price I had to pay for an education,” said Montes. He created Snagabook.com to eliminate that feeling, allowing students to help each other.

Snagabook.com also features a comprehensive student resources section, with links to other Web sites pertinent to college students. This portal serves as a convenient, one-stop clearinghouse for information about grants, scholarships, jobs, housing, and more.

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In addition to providing great values for students wishing to buy or sell textbooks, Snagabook.com also offers visitors a chance to win a laptop computer, or other great prizes. Anyone is eligible to sign up for the sweepstakes and can register at the site.

Snagabook.com is dedicated to assisting college students and focuses only on collegiate-level textbooks. Based in Gilbert, Arizona, the company was created with students in mind to help sellers profitably sell unwanted textbooks and help buyers purchase textbooks at discounted prices.

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Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Selects EBSCO Discovery Service

Ipswich, MA (Vocus) October 6, 2010

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine has selected EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS) from EBSCO Publishing. The decision was made to answer key questions that a researcher faces when using a premium content collection from a library such as: Where to start? What's the best resource? How many unique "silos" of information do I need to search? EBSCO Discovery Service is designed to harvest metadata from both internal (library) and external (database vendors) sources, and creates a pre-indexed service of unprecedented size and speedreducing silos and providing everything the researcher needs in one place.

Executive Director of Library & Educational Information Systems at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Etheldra Templeton, says students and faculty want fast, comprehensive searches that will mine the full range of the librarys licensed resources. With discovery, users get a simple, Google-like search of all our quality electronic and print content. The robust metadata assures targeted, relevant search results and the pre-indexing from discovery assures fast retrieval.

Templeton says EDS allows users to take advantage of its collection and find the valuable content only available in a library collection. The library buys high quality, peer-reviewed and vetted information resourcesfar better than what an open Web search will findbut the sheer numbers of collections, vendors, and interfaces pose a problem for users. With EDS, we are able to provide one search box that exposes our collection to the user.

Another important factor for Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine was the availability of a mobile interface with EBSCO Discovery Service. Having mobile access allows the library to provide its growing number of smart phone users with easy access, helping the college serve its users anywhere, anytime.

The Base Index for EBSCO Discovery Service forms the foundation upon which each EDS subscribing library builds out its custom collection. Beginning with the Base Index, each institution extends the reach of EDS by adding appropriate resources including its catalog, institutional repositories, EBSCOhost and other databases, and additional content sources to which it subscribes. It is this combination that allows a single, comprehensive, custom solution for discovering the value of any librarys collection.

The EDS Base Index is comprised of metadata from the worlds foremost information providers. At present, the EDS Base Index represents content from approximately 20,000 providers in addition to metadata from another 70,000 book publishers. Although constantly growing, today the EDS Base Index provides metadata for nearly 50,000 magazines & journals, approximately 825,000 CDs & DVDs, nearly six million books, more than 100 million newspaper articles, more than 20,000 conference proceedings and hundreds of thousands of additional information sources from various source-types.

EBSCO Discovery Service creates a unified, customized index of an institutions information resources, and an easy, yet powerful means of accessing all of that content from a single search boxsearching made even more powerful because of the quality of metadata and depth and breadth of coverage.

About EBSCO Publishing

EBSCO Publishing is the worlds premier database aggregator, offering a suite of more than 300 full-text and secondary research databases. Through a library of tens of thousands of full-text journals, magazines, books, monographs, reports and various other publication types from renowned publishers, EBSCO serves the content needs of all researchers (Academic, Medical, K-12, Public Library, Corporate, Government, etc.). The companys product lines include proprietary databases such as Academic Search, Business Source