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College of Saint Mary
Crestview Village to Dedicate Library for CSM’s Education Department Omaha, Neb. – Crestview Village will recognize College of Saint Mary’s Education Department on Wednesday, Nov. 30 with the dedication of a library in its honor. The dedication will take place during the Crestview Village Network Center’s Open House from 4-6 p.m. “College of Saint Mary started donating books to our facility over five years ago, today the library is used every single day by at least 30 kids,” said Debra Kaufman, Crestview Resident Services Coordinator. “College of Saint Mary literally made the library for us. We did not purchase one book; our entire inventory came from College of Saint Mary.” The College of Saint Mary Teacher Education library now contains over 1,000 books ranging from beginner to higher level reading. The new center provides a significant increase in space for family use, including the only library available in Mercy Housing units in the region (Nebraska, Arizona, Colorado and Missouri). “Working with children in tutoring situations, we realized they were not reading at grade level,” said Dr. Dee Acklie, Associate Professor of Education at CSM. “It is difficult to read at grade level without access to books, which motivated us to get involved.” Crestview Village is an extension of Mercy Housing which offers affordable family housing in the Omaha area. Located at 7300 Edna Ct. in La Vista, NE, Crestview Village houses 154 family units. Mercy Housing is a national nonprofit organization that acquires and develops program-enriched, affordable housing projects for a variety of low-income populations including families, seniors and people with special needs. Over the past five years the library occupied a small bedroom within one family unit. “We could not be as effective as we are if not for the library and the dedicated students from CSM,” concluded Kaufman. “Our kids now experience little to no reduction of skills throughout the summer, when students typically lose reading skills. The local school principal attributed this directly to the access to books in our library.”
Campus Activities Board Earns Two Awards at APCA Convention Omaha, Neb. – College of Saint Mary’s Campus Activities Board (CAB) earned high praise at the Midwest Regional Conference of the Association for Promotion of Campus Activities (APCA) in Iowa City, Iowa over the weekend of Oct. 29-30. Competing against 32 other schools, CAB claimed first place recognition in two of the four graphic design categories during the conference. CAB co-presidents Maryann Forsell ’14 (Biology) and Gracelyn Garniss ’14 (Occupational Therapy) accepted the first place trophy in the novelty item and webpage categories. CAB’s winning submission in the novelty item category was a teal plastic cup listing CAB’s events for the year. The organization’s second award was for CAB’s Facebook page. This is the second year that CSM has attended the Midwest Regional APCA Conference, earning two third place trophies in 2010-11. “After placing third in two categories last year, we set a goal to take first in at least one category this year,” said Jenny Wittstock, College of Saint Mary’s Director of Student Leadership & Organizations. “I am immensely proud of this organization. To see their hard work recognized is particularly gratifying.” College of Saint Mary, founded in Omaha in 1923, is the region's only Catholic college for women. With over 1,000 students, CSM is dedicated to the education of women in an environment that calls forth potential and fosters leadership. For more information on CSM, visit www.csm.edu.
Omaha, Neb. – College of Saint Mary (CSM) and eleven other Nebraska colleges and universities are founding members of the new Nebraska Campus Compact, an affiliate of a national organization that promotes service-learning and civic engagement among college students. The 12 founding members of Nebraska Campus Compact are College of St. Mary, Doane College, Hastings College, Nebraska Methodist College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Peru State College, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Nebraska at Kearney, University of Nebraska Medical Center, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Wayne State College and Western Nebraska Community College. The Nebraska compact links and supports Nebraska institutions’ efforts to promote service-learning and civic engagement. CSM was honored for its rich history of promoting service-learning and civic engagement by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) this summer. CSM was the only university in Nebraska to be admitted to the President’s Higher Education Service Honor Roll, which is overseen by the CNCS and the Department of Education. In 2010, the CSM community gave 12,250 hours in service. CSM also was recognized with the Nebraska First Lady’s Outstanding Community Partnership in Education Service Award. “Service-learning is an integral part of our Mission,” said CSM President Dr. Maryanne Stevens, RSM. “It is woven throughout our curriculum and embraced by our community.” Nebraska is the 35th state to affiliate with the national Campus Compact, a national nonprofit organization committed to promoting and integrating service-learning, civic engagement, and community service into campus and academic life. Nearly 1,200 universities and colleges, representing 6 million students, are associated with Campus Compact through state coalitions such as this one. UNL is the institutional host for the Nebraska Campus Compact. A council composed of the campus CEO of each member institution governs the group; UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman chairs the council. “We are pleased to serve as host institution for the Nebraska Campus Compact and we look forward to working in full partnership with institutions around the state,” Perlman said. “The 12 charter institutions are coming together to share insights and ideas that will benefit all their students as we work together to reinforce and further the concepts of civic engagement and service learning.” Juan Franco, UNL’s vice chancellor for student affairs, is the interim executive director of the Nebraska Campus Compact. “I am delighted by this set of charter institutions, which have committed to make a difference in the state of Nebraska,” Franco said. “Together we form a powerful force in providing the state with educated, civically engaged citizens.” Campus Compact’s national president Maureen Curley expressed her enthusiasm for the newest state members. "We are so excited that the Nebraska Campus Compact is now official and that it already enjoys the support and engagement of so many wonderful institutions in the state,” Curley said. “We look forward to all that they will be able to accomplish in partnership with their member presidents.” Campus Compact is an independent not-for-profit organization that offers grants, programming, resources and information to help its members promote civic engagement. Campus Compact is more than 25 years old and more than 20 million students have participated; students at Campus Compact institutions provide over $5.7 billion in service in local communities each year. Nebraska member institutions will benefit from Campus Compact’s approach that combines research, policy work, fundraising and training for faculty and students. Franco said the national organization has particular expertise in helping faculty develop and integrate service-learning and civic engagement opportunities into curricula. Campus Compact helps its members share ideas and best practices and leverage funding opportunities. Civic engagement is loosely defined as connecting classroom learning with the opportunity to make a difference in the quality of life in a community. A key aspect of developing a sense of civic engagement is mentored service-learning, where students are guided into deeply reflecting on their experiences so as to understand and apply classroom knowledge to real world problems. “Nebraska Campus Compact fits well with the Nebraska culture of service and helping others,” Franco said. “It helps us to enhance civic engagement opportunities for our students.” Linda Major, assistant to the vice chancellor for student affairs, said activities enhancing student engagement have several benefits: students who are engaged in projects tend to exhibit fewer negative behaviors, such as alcohol or drug abuse. They also tend to have higher retention rates. Potential students are interested in service activities, she said, and employers highly prize graduates with service-learning credentials. The first project undertaken by NCC is an AmeriCorps project under which 36 students from the 12 institutions will work either in after-school projects for at-risk youth or participate in Volunteer Income Tax Assistance programs in local communities in exchange for stipends. The project is funded by ServeNebraska, the Nebraska Volunteer Service Commission.
U.S. News & World Report Recognizes College of Saint Mary as a Top Tier Regional University Omaha, Neb. – College of Saint Mary (CSM) was recognized by US News & World Report with a top tier ranking for Master’s Colleges and Universities in the Midwest region for 2011. CSM was ranked 81st of 146 Midwest regional universities, Creighton was the top ranked university in the Midwest region. This marks the first time that CSM has been designated as a Regional University as it was classified as a Regional College in the past. The new classification is due to a change in the Basic Classification established by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching’s. The Carnegie classification has been the basis of the Best Colleges sorting system since US News & World Report’s first ranking was published in 1983. In 2010, CSM ranked 44th of 95 baccalaureate colleges in the Midwest region. “College of Saint Mary is proud to take its place as a regional university offering undergraduate and graduate degrees,” said Dr. Maryanne Stevens, RSM, College of Saint Mary president. “Our hope is to continue to grow as a campus for women who strive to fully embrace their talents and excel in their professions.”
CSM recognized with three Educational Advertising Awards College of Saint Mary (CSM) is pleased to announce it has received three Educational Advertising Awards from the Higher Education Marketing Report. The Educational Advertising Awards is the largest educational advertising awards competition in the country. This year, over 2,500 entries were submitted from more than 1,000 colleges, universities and secondary schools from all fifty states and several foreign countries. CSM received the following awards: A GOLD Award in the category of Radio Advertising/Series for the “Bloom” campaign; A MERIT Award in the category of Television Advertising/Series for the “Bloom” campaign; and a GOLD Award in the category of Total Advertising Campaign for the “Bloom” campaign. The “Bloom” campaign is an overall marketing campaign launched by the University with the assistance of Redstone Communications – an advertising and marketing agency in Omaha, Neb. The campaign includes television commercials, radio commercials, outdoor billboards & bus benches, online advertising, and a variety of print advertising.
CSM launches new Business Degree Program To help students meet the ever-changing needs of the business world, College of Saint Mary (CSM) has launched a new degree program – CSM Business, a degree in Analytics and Strategic Communication. Working with the region’s top employers, CSM created this new program to offer the skills and knowledge needed in today’s business environment. “The dynamics in business today require our students to possess skills that will equip them for success in an environment that continues to change exponentially,” said Jean Bartman, partner/managing director with RSM McGladrey, Inc. “I believe the ‘Analytics and Strategic Communications’ Business Degree at CSM will give graduates a competitive edge as the business community seeks employees with above average analytical, communication and leadership skills.” CSM Business, a degree in Analytics and Strategic Communication, aims to develop skills in critical thinking, problem solving using quantitative and qualitative analysis and communication for the business environment. Using real-world applications, students will learn from today’s business leaders through hands-on experience via job shadowing, internships and business plans. “The progressive course sequence and engaged advising of this program promotes in-depth, reflective decision making and career exploration,” said Dr. Donna Ehrlich, director of the program. “From the very first semester, students immerse themselves in a learning environment focused on building their expertise and real world experience.” Courses in the new business program will begin with the fall 2011 semester, and students already enrolled in the business program at CSM will be able to transition into the new track. For more information on the program, visit www.csm.edu/Business.
College of Saint Mary completes successful $25 million capital campaign College of Saint Mary (CSM) is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of its $25 million, five-year Campaign for CSM. Started in 2004 to support the continued growth of the University, Campaign for CSM was the largest campaign ever launched in the school’s history. Chaired by Terry Kroeger, CEO & publisher of the Omaha World-Herald, the Campaign raised $25,110,302 for the University. Since its inception, the Campaign has brought big changes to the CSM campus by providing critical resources in three principal areas: campus and facility improvements, endowment building and growth of the annual scholarship fund. Campus and facility improvements from the Campaign include: the transformation of the Campus Park inclusive of a new main entrance at 7000 Mercy Road, removal of the dated smokestack on 72nd Street and extensive landscape enhancements (2006); the addition of the Hixson-Lied Student Commons, complete with a coffee/snack shop for students (2007); the modernization of Walsh Hall, the oldest and largest classroom/office building on campus (2007); and the renovation of Math and Science Hall, including significant additions of science equipment and a cadaver lab (2008). In addition to the many capital improvements, 15 new endowed scholarship funds have been established to offer financial assistance to students. These scholarships help offset the costs of tuition, fees, books, room and board to women pursuing higher education at CSM. The scope of the Campaign has also increased awareness of the importance of annual giving among alumnae and donors. The number of CSM alumnae giving back has increased from 16 to 21% during the Campaign. “The success of Campaign for CSM exemplifies the high-level of commitment that many have made to CSM and our mission,” said Dr. Maryanne Stevens, RSM, president of College of Saint Mary. “The effort has allowed College of Saint Mary to assume its rightful place in the higher education landscape of the region.” Regarding the question of what will be the University’s next fundraising challenge, CSM will continue to raise money for scholarships to ensure affordability for students – and the next capital challenge will be to raise funds to build a residence hall for single mothers who desire to live on campus with their children as part of CSM’s Mothers Living and Learning program.
US News & World recognizes CSM for racial diversity & single-mother residential option In addition to climbing in the ranks from #38 to #33 among baccalaureate colleges in the Midwest region, College of Saint Mary (CSM) was recognized by US News & World Report in the category of racial diversity – coming in at number five among baccalaureate colleges in the Midwest region. This academic year, CSM expects more than 20% of its student body to be women of color. “Racial diversity is critical to a good education today given the multicultural nature of our region and community,” said Joe Szejk, vice president for enrollment and marketing at CSM. “Understanding the lens through which those of another race or culture see the world can only help our efforts in making the world a better place for all.” Additionally, CSM’s innovative residential option for single mothers and their children, the Mothers Living & Learning program, is featured in an article in the September 2009 issue of US News & World Report. The program is for women who have up to two children (under the age of 10 by the mother's graduation year), are dedicated to continuing their education, and are seeking community living opportunities that recognize they are parents as well as college students. “We are very pleased that College of Saint Mary is being recognized for the unique experience it offers women and the role it plays in helping students succeed throughout their four years on campus and for the rest of their lives,” said Dr. Maryanne Stevens, RSM, president of College of Saint Mary. “As a university, we strive to encourage our students to be leaders in their communities, discover their potential, and fully embrace their gifts and talents.”
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