Loyola’s Sellinger School of Business Introduces Loyola Business Institute

Loyola University Maryland’s Sellinger School of Business and Management has established the Loyola Business Institute, a five-week program that provides liberal arts, sciences and social sciences majors with the fundamental business knowledge and skills necessary for any career.

This business immersion experience will combine classroom work and hands-on interactions with members of the business community in Baltimore. It is open to undergraduate students in good academic standing at any university and recent college graduates. Upon completion of the program, which takes place May 22 through June 24 on Loyola’s Evergreen campus, students will earn six college credit hours.

Through integrated coursework, an emphasis on principled leadership and the opportunity to practice decision-making in settings that simulate real-world business situations, students will be more prepared for careers, whether they work in for-profit businesses, nonprofit organizations or government agencies. The coursework will be enriched by activities that allow students to interact with business professionals and observe the application of skills and knowledge presented in the classroom.

The application deadline is April 1. For more information and the application, visit www.loyola.edu/business-institute or call 410-617-2681.

MUIH and The Institute for Functional Medicine Sign Formal Collaboration Agreement

Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH) and The Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM), a nonprofit organization advancing Functional Medicine as the standard of care for all patients, have announced a new collaboration. The agreement allows certified IFM practitioners an opportunity to earn up to nine credits of advanced standing in MUIH’s Doctor of Clinical Nutrition program.

The program, one of only a few degrees of its kind in the nation, blends cutting edge science with traditional wisdom and is designed to fill the tremendous and increasing demand for nutritionists who can work at all levels of the health care continuum and who will assume leadership roles in the field. Graduates of this program will be prepared to work as a vital part of multidisciplinary health care teams in a number of wellness settings.

Both MUIH and IFM seek to address the underlying causes of disease rather than just treat symptoms and are committed to a whole-person, patient-centered approach to health care. This agreement offers a unique opportunity for practitioners interested in functional medicine to learn from two leading institutions in the field while completing a doctoral degree.

Applications from qualified individuals will be accepted immediately for the September 2016 class of the MUIH Doctor of Clinical Nutrition. Information about all academic programs at MUIH can be found at http://muih.edu/academics.

Howard County Public School System Names Principal and Teacher of the Year

The Howard County Public School System announced its 2016 Principal and Teacher of the Year. Bonnie Branch Middle School Principal Cher Jones and Centennial High School Biology teacher Shalonda Holt were awarded the honors, respectively.

Both will serve as the Howard County nominees for the Washington Post Principal and Teacher of the Year. Holt additionally will be the Howard County nominee for Maryland State Teacher of the Year.

“I am so impressed by Cher and Shalonda. They contribute in such a powerful way to preparing their students for the future,” said HCPSS Superintendent Renee Foose. “I am extremely pleased that these two exceptional educators and leaders are being recognized in this way. They are great examples of the character and dedication found in our school system.”

Cher Jones has been the principal of Bonnie Branch Middle School since 2012. She has served the Howard County Public School System for more than 26 years as a special education teacher, assistant principal and principal.

Jones is being recognized for using innovation and collaboration to create a supportive and positive atmosphere in her school community that addresses the needs of a diverse student population. She has created an environment where staff, students and parents work together to improve the quality of instructional programs.

Shalonda Holt has taught biology at Centennial High School for nine years. She has had a powerful impact on administrators, fellow teachers and her students.

Centennial High School Assistant Principal Tracy Scaltz called Holt “one of the most talented teachers and compassionate individuals I have ever met.”

Described as “a hard-working, tender-hearted and determined teacher” by one of her students, Holt is being honored for her motivation to create a safe and nurturing environment for her students.

AACC Joins National Consortium to Improve Minority Male Success

Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) has joined the Minority Male Community College Collaborative (M2C3) National Consortium on College Men of Color, the first national association organized specifically to advance success of minority male students. Participation in the M2C3 Consortium will enhance the college’s commitment to improving the success of historically underrepresented and underserved students, including men of color.

Despite programs designed to enhance outcomes for men of color, only 17% of black men and 15% of Latino men in the United States earn a certificate, degree or transfer from a community college to a four-year institution in six years. Figures for men from other ethnic groups, such as Native American or Southeast Asian, also indicate a great need for improvement.

To combat this achievement gap, the M2C3 Consortium facilitates an exchange of ideas between community colleges across the nation on how best to serve men of color in educational institutions. Community colleges convene to share their efforts and learn about new strategies for enhancing the success of men of color.

“This innovative group of college leaders will be instrumental in implementing cutting-edge practices and policies to address the achievement gap facing underrepresented men,” said Dr. J. Luke Wood, co-director of M2C3.

As an M2C3 member, AACC will utilize the following.

  • Access to M2C3 webinars on men on color
  • Access to the M2C3 virtual discussion board
  • Participation in information-sharing on promising practices with other community colleges
  • Participation in an annual working group meeting hosted in San Diego, Calif.

Through working with M2C3, AACC can enhance professional development for faculty and staff, enable informed interventions for current programs serving men of color and inspire new initiatives addressing challenges facing these men.

Launched in February 2015, the M2C3 already has seen much success in information-sharing between community colleges. An average of more than 1,000 consortium members participates in each webinar. For information, visit http://interwork.sdsu.edu/sp/m2c3.

“It is inspiring to see educators collaborate and openly share innovative ideas for serving men of color,” said Frank Harris, III, co-director of M2C3. “We look forward to the future of M2C3 and the future success of men of color.”

Community College Students Advocate for College Affordability in Annapolis

Community college students from counties at the farthest reaches of the state assembled in Annapolis on the morning of Feb. 10 to rally and meet with their elected representatives to advocate for strong state support of community colleges. Several years of state funding cuts to Maryland’s community colleges have driven tuition increases and caused mounting student debt.

“Community colleges are the largest workforce educator in the state,” said Dr. Bernie Sadusky, executive director of the Maryland Association of Community Colleges (MACC). “Strong state funding is critical to our mission of preparing Maryland’s workforce for the skilled jobs of the future.”

A recent report by Georgetown University states that skilled jobs, those requiring education and training beyond high school, will make up 65% of all jobs in the economy by 2020. At current rates of postsecondary enrollment, Maryland’s skilled labor force is projected to fall short of meeting the needs of its labor market. Currently, there are 138,000 unfilled jobs in Maryland; much of the training and skills required for these open positions could be obtained at a community college.

Next Century Donates $50K to Special Operations Warrior Foundation

Next Century Corporation, a software company founded in 2002, has donated $50,000 to Special Operations Warrior Foundation, a nonprofit organization helping children of fallen special operations team members. It is among Next Century’s largest single donations in its 14-year history.

In announcing the gift, Next Century CEO John McBeth said, “It is our great privilege to provide technology support to the men and women on the front lines of keeping our country safe. We believe that the best way to express our thankfulness is to support an organization dedicated to helping the children and families of men and women who have given their all to protect others and make the world a better, safer place.”

Special Operations Warrior Foundation President and Vice Admiral, USN, Ret., Joe MacGuire, said, “Thank you to the staff and board members for the thoughtfulness and extremely generous support to our foundation and the brave Americans we serve. We are honored to have your sustained support.”

Founded in 1980, the Special Operations Warrior Foundation (www.specialops.org) provides counseling and full scholarships for continuing education for children of fallen special operations team members. It also offers financial assistance to families of severely wounded and hospitalized special operations service members. To date, it has awarded scholarships to more than 1,000 children — survivors of more than 900 Special Operations heroes who died in service.

HCC Celebrates Diversity Week With Events March 7–12

In celebration of the diversity of its community of students and employees, Howard Community College (HCC) is holding a weeklong series of events open to the public March 7–12. Organized by the college’s Diversity Committee, Diversity Week promotes conversation, exchange and increased awareness of the unique talents and contributions of all people in a global community.

The event will kick off on Monday, March 7, from 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m., at Duncan Hall (DH), Room 100, with introductory remarks by HCC Athletic Director Diane Schumacher and a keynote presentation by Dr. Georita Frierson, associate professor and director of clinical training in the Department of Psychology at Rowan University. They will take a closer look at the visible and invisible attributes that define personal diversity. Cake and light refreshments will be served following the event.

Special events being held for the rest of the week include the 2010 documentary “Orchids: My Intersex Adventure”; the presentation “Baltimore and Beyond: A Fresh Look at Social Justice Concerns across the Nation”; the movie “Half the Sky,” with a discussion to follow; and many other events.

More about diversity at Howard Community College and complete list of events is available online at howardcc.edu/about-us/leadership/diversity.