(Ashland, Ore.) —Students attending Southern Oregon University have long had the option of pursuing a minor or concentration in creative writing. Beginning this fall, creative writing will be a major course of study as well, after the Higher Education Coordinating Commission approved a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing degree at SOU during its August meeting.
The creative writing minor and concentration had previously been within the Department of English and Writing, but a recent academic restructuring at SOU placed creative writing as part of a newly created creative arts program under the purview of the Oregon Center for the Arts at Southern Oregon University. “This restructuring provided the perfect opportunity to expand the role of creative writing within the University and offer students a vibrant, interdisciplinary experience that explores contemporary creative writing practice and theory,” according to Dr. Susan Walsh, SOU’s provost and vice president of academic and student affairs. “We feel strongly that this program will contribute to our region’s identity as an arts-based, culturally inclusive location.”
Based on recent polling and expressed interest by students, program faculty and administration are confident that more than 40 students will enter the program this fall. “Through an increased presence and active outreach and promotion, we anticipate that the program will attract a great deal of increased interest over the next few years,” Dr. Walsh said. “We expect the enrollment numbers to continue to increase over the next five years by 10-15 students per year.”
The creative writing minor and concentration will remain available to students who wish to pursue their interest in creative writing while majoring in another field of study.
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About Southern Oregon University
Southern Oregon University provides outstanding student experiences, valued degrees, and successful graduates. SOU is known for excellence in faculty, intellectual creativity and rigor, quality and innovation in connected learning programs, and the educational benefits of its unique geographic location. SOU was the first university in Oregon—and one of the first in the nation—to offset 100 percent of its energy use with clean, renewable power, and it is the first university in the nation to balance 100% of its water consumption. Visit sou.edu.

(Ashland, Ore.) —Fans attending Southern Oregon University home football games this fall can expect an even more fun experience than in previous years: a sports band. Raider Band director, Travis Moddison, has already begun recruiting students.
“The first home game is scheduled for September 12, so we need to have our members identified and begin rehearsals before classes start in the fall,” Moddison said.
Moddison, who is an alumnus of SOU, envisions a band that will bring another level of excitement to the experience of attending an SOU athletic event. “The intent of this band is to entertain the fans, promote school spirit, provide momentum to our sports teams, and have fun,” he said.
Although fans can expect to hear some familiar sports band music, the Raider Band will not be a typical marching band. “We are excited about making something unique at SOU. The environment of creativity and excellent leadership is the basis for building a program that serves the community in a variety of ways,” Moddison said.
Although bringing more excitement and fun to events on campus at SOU is among the primary goals of the band, it is expected to be a tool in recruiting and retaining students as well. “We know from national studies and our own internal data that students who are engaged in extracurricular activities on campus persist at higher rates than students who aren’t involved in such activities,” according to SOU President Roy Saigo. “They retain at higher rates and are more likely to graduate.”
The Raider Band is expected to be made up of up to 30 students, many of whom may not have attended SOU if not for the opportunity to participate in the sports band.
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About Southern Oregon University
Southern Oregon University provides outstanding student experiences, valued degrees, and successful graduates. SOU is known for excellence in faculty, intellectual creativity and rigor, quality and innovation in connected learning programs, and the educational benefits of its unique geographic location. SOU was the first university in Oregon—and one of the first in the nation—to offset 100 percent of its energy use with clean, renewable power, and it is the first university in the nation to balance 100% of its water consumption. Visit sou.edu.

(Ashland, Ore.) — The Schneider Children’s Center at Southern Oregon University (SOU) will remain open after an agreement was reached between SOU and the Oregon Child Development Coalition (OCDC).
Through the partnership, an as-yet-to-be-determined number of seats at the center will be reserved for children who meet the age and income eligibility requirements of the Oregon Department of Health and Human Services Early Head Start program and are identified by OCDC. Current SOU students will maintain priority for enrolling their children in the center’s other available spaces, with SOU employees and members of the community having access to any remaining spaces. It is possible that many SOU students may qualify for Early Head Start, making their child care even more affordable.
Under the agreement, the center will provide full-day services Monday-Friday for 48 weeks per calendar year. Staff-to-child ratios must comply with Head Start Performance Standards, which require at least one teacher for every four children and a maximum group size of eight for infants and toddlers. Preschool ratios will remain at one teacher for every 10 children and a maximum group size of 20.
“The primary concern of both SOU and OCDC is that preschool children in our community be given the tools they need to master success in school, and that parents and guardians—including SOU students—have access to support services,” said SOU President Roy Saigo. “This agreement accomplishes both goals.”
“This agreement is possible through our new Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership program, the purpose of which is to raise the quality of child care for infants and toddlers in communities throughout the state,” according to OCDC Executive Director Donalda Dodson. “We are thrilled to be a leader in the Early Head Start-Child Care partnership model; innovative solutions like this SOU/OCDC partnership are critical for the future of Oregon’s families and communities.”
With the agreement now finalized, the Schneider Children’s Center is scheduled to reopen Sept. 15. Parents and guardians—both SOU students and members of the community—are encouraged to visit www.souchildcare.com for more information. To enroll children at Schneider Children’s Center, click on “Enroll Now.”
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About Southern Oregon University
Southern Oregon University provides outstanding student experiences, valued degrees, and successful graduates. SOU is known for excellence in faculty, intellectual creativity and rigor, quality and innovation in connected learning programs, and the educational benefits of its unique geographic location. SOU was the first university in Oregon—and one of the first in the nation—to offset 100 percent of its energy use with clean, renewable power, and it is the first university in the nation to balance 100% of its water consumption. Visit sou.edu.
About OCDC
Oregon Child Development Coalition improves the lives of children and families by providing early childhood education, care and advocacy with unique and supportive services to enhance family growth and community success. OCDC is one of the nation’s largest providers of Migrant and Seasonal Head Start, Early Head Start, Pre-Kindergarten programs and the Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership model, serving over 4,000 low-income Oregon families.

July 17, 2015, KLAMATH FALLS, OR. – Oregon Institute of Technology (Oregon Tech) and Southern Oregon University (SOU) have signed an agreement to offer a joint academic program that will prepare professionals to help children and families dealing with social and emotional issues. The Memorandum of Understanding, signed by Oregon Tech Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Brad Burda and SOU Provost and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs Susan Walsh, maps a collaborative Masters of Education Degree (M.Ed.) program with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
The agreement between the universities helps meet the growing demand for well-qualified professionals to provide services for families and individuals with ASD and other social/emotional conditions needing intensive behavioral interventions. This new partnership between Oregon Tech and SOU recognizes the demand for certified behavior analysts by providing Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) approved coursework for national certification and/or licensure in Oregon.
Oregon recently passed an Autism Insurance Reform bill (SB 365) which provides relief to Oregon families by establishing requirements for state-regulated health plans to approve and manage autism treatment, including ABA therapy and ensuring that treatment will be provided by well-qualified professionals. This law establishes requirements for coverage of applied behavior analysis for treatment of autism spectrum disorders by health benefit plans, health care service contractors, Public Employees’ Benefit Board and Oregon Educators Benefit Board.
In response to this bill, in fall of 2013 Oregon Tech launched additional graduate coursework in ABA to train students to meet the upcoming demand for qualified professionals. Oregon Tech’s courses are designed to provide the rigorous training in ABA that prepare professionals working in the field of autism to be ready to meet the need for well-qualified, credentialed providers.
As the bill begins to take effect throughout this year and next, Oregon Tech and SOU’s unique collaboration provides students with the opportunity to receive a Master’s Degree in Education from SOU and a Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from Oregon Tech. With the graduate certificate in ABA and requisite supervised practicum, graduates will meet eligibility requirements to take the national exam to become a certified behavior analyst. Coupled with the training and skills offered by SOU’s Autism Spectrum Disorder Specialist Program, graduates of the program will be prepared to work in a variety of settings and with a variety of clients.
“This partnership with Southern Oregon University allows us to serve both of our student populations even better, while also creating relationships among faculty and staff from both universities that will hopefully lead to even more collaborative projects,” Oregon Tech Provost Brad Burda said.
“We are very pleased to once again be working with Oregon Tech on a collaborative program that will aid not only students of both institutions, but our local communities and all of Oregon as well,” said SOU Provost Susan Walsh. “There is a great need throughout the state for educators who are highly trained in applied behavior analysis for treatment of autism spectrum disorders, and this will help fill that need.”
The program will serve professionals working in education or human service settings who desire a master’s degree and the BCBA credential and background in ASD; and educators looking to increase their skills to work with students with ASD and other social/emotional issues. Courses will be taught by faculty at both institutions and will be delivered in a hybrid format, allowing students both face-to-face and online modalities. The program is anticipated to start this fall.
For more information, contact Dr. Maria Lynn Kessler, Professor of Applied Psychology at Oregon Tech at marialynn.kessler@oit.edu or Dr. Gregg Gassman, Professor of Special Education programs SOU at gassmang@sou.edu.

About Oregon Tech
Founded in Klamath Falls in 1947, Oregon Institute of Technology is the only public institute of technology in the Pacific Northwest. Oregon Tech provides degree programs in engineering and health technologies, management, communication, and applied sciences that prepare students to be effective participants in their professional, public, and international communities through hands-on learning. Oregon Tech has a full-service, residential campus in Klamath Falls and an urban, industry-focused campus in Wilsonville. Visit www.oit.edu to learn more about Oregon Institute of Technology.
About SOU
Southern Oregon University provides outstanding student experiences, valued degrees, and successful graduates. SOU is known for excellence in faculty, intellectual creativity and rigor, quality and innovation in connected learning programs, and the educational benefits of its unique geographic location. SOU was the first university in Oregon—and one of the first in the nation—to offset 100 percent of its energy use with clean, renewable power, and it is the first university in the nation to balance 100 percent of its water consumption. Visit sou.edu.