SOU will simulate a wildfire disaster April 20th

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WHAT: Wild Fire Disaster Drill at SOU. Testing: Residence hall evacuation, Student Health Center evacuation, and the partnership of SOU and the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).
WHY: Ashland is at risk for wildfires and SOU borders the wild land urban interface. The University understands the importance of being prepared for a wildfire, working with partner agencies and practicing evacuation plans.
WHEN: Wednesday, April 20th the drill begins at 1:00 p.m. Evacuations start at 2:00 p.m.
WHERE: Cascade Complex Residence Halls and McNeal gymnasium.

WHO: SOU staff, students, Ashland Fire and Rescue, and Ashland CERT

PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES: Media will be able to follow a CERT evacuation team, interview students that are evacuating and observe SOU’s Crisis Management Team coordinating the University’s response.
MEETING TIME & PLACE:1:45p.m. in the drop off area next to the Hannon Library and Churchill, access via Indiana Street. Look for Margueritte Hickman of the Ashland Fire Department for assistance.

More information: Heather Freiheit, 541-552-8152(w), 541-301-6733(c)
 

SOU’s ‘On Being Human’ Theme Continues with Spring Term Presentations

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(Ashland, Ore.) – Southern Oregon University continues discussing this year’s campus theme, “On Being Human,” with more than a dozen spring term presentations. The featured speaker is Dr. Nel Noddings, Emerita Professor of Education at Stanford University, and the author of 17 books and more than 200 articles and chapters on various topics ranging from the ethics of care to mathematical problem solving. Read more

Russian Educator to talk about “Russia in Transition” at SOU

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(Ashland, Ore) Professor Nina Kazakova, a visiting Fullbright Scholar at Southern Oregon University, will discuss “Russia in Transition: An Insider’s Perspective” Thursday, April 14, from 4-5 p.m. in the Meese Room of SOU’s Hannon Library. The talk is free and open to the public. A reception follows the presentation. Read more

More SOU Students Choose “Alternative” Spring Break This Year

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(Ashland, Ore.) Community service as a spring break activity is becoming more popular at Southern Oregon University. For the 2011 break, March 12-27, 40 SOU students will be doing volunteer work in four destinations, up from 32 students who went to three destinations last year. Read more

SOU Theatre Students Recognized for Stage Management

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(Ashland, Ore.) Mary Hunter, Director of the Yale School of Drama Master in Fine Arts (MFA) program in Stage Management, has notified Southern Oregon University (SOU) student Robert Chikar that he will be one of four students in the nation accepted into the program this year. Read more

SOU’s MBA Program Stands Out in National Exam

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(Ashland, Ore.) Masters in Business Administration (MBA) students at Southern Oregon University ranked in the top 25% on the MBA Major Field Test (MFT) administered recently at 130 universities in the United States.  Of the 16 SOU MBA students who took the test, three scored in the highest percentile rank category (95%) and two students scored in the 90th percentile rank. Read more

Blair Moody Appointed New SOU Foundation Board President

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Moody continues his 24-year involvement with SOU as new Board president
(Ashland, Ore) The Southern Oregon University Foundation has appointed Blair Moody of Medford, Ore. as the new Foundation Board President after two years as the board’s vice president. A Certified Forester and Fellow in the Society of American Foresters, Moody is employed with the Medford District of the Bureau of Land Management and Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.
“I have the fortune to work with a great cross section of community volunteers who care about students, education and their community,” Moody said. “As trustees of the board, we value our university and the students who attend SOU. Serving these future leaders serves our community.”
Moody’s officers are Dan Thorndike of Medford, Ore. as vice president, Geoffrey Cutler of Medford, Ore. as treasurer and Sue Kupillas of Medford, Ore. as secretary. Read more

President Mary Cullinan to Receive Prestigious Leadership Award

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The Council for the Advancement and Support of Education praises Cullinan for leading SOU through four years of painful yet inspirational transformation
(Ashland, Ore.) – The Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District VIII has named SOU President Mary Cullinan the recipient of its 2011 Leadership Award. President Cullinan will receive the award at the District VIII conference in Vancouver, BC, February 25. District VIII is the largest of CASE’s eight North American districts geographically, encompassing the western Canadian provinces and territories in addition to Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana in the Pacific Northwest. Read more

National Survey Tracks Five Straight Years of Academic Progress at SOU

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National Survey of Student Engagement shows SOU students are more academically engaged than students at other campuses
(Ashland, Ore.) – If you’re a first year student at Southern Oregon University, it’s likely that, compared to students at other four-year colleges and universities, you write more, work more with other students on projects, and make more class presentations. You’re also more likely to read more books on your own for academic enrichment/enjoyment, attend more artistic events, vote in local and national elections and discuss assignments with professors than students at comparable four-year colleges and universities.
Those are just some of the highlights from the 2010 National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). SOU is one of 564 colleges and universities that participated in the survey in 2010. More than 35 percent of last year’s SOU first year students and seniors completed the NSSE questionnaire.
NSSE measures five key areas of student engagement; level of academic challenge, active and collaborative learning, student-faculty interaction, enriching educational experiences and supportive campus environment. Scores are then compared with similar institutions as well as with all campuses that participated. SOU first-year students perform as well or better than peer institutions in all five of the benchmark areas. SOU seniors performed as well or better in three of the benchmark areas. Read more

SOU Foundation Announces Ruhl Learning Fellowship Recipients

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Two students receive in-state tuition and fee scholarships for 2010-11

(Ashland, Ore) The Southern Oregon University Foundation announced Senior Sarah Stednitz of Morro Bay, Calif. and Junior Robin Kigel of Talent, Ore. as the 2010-11 Robert Ruhl Learning Fellowship recipients. The fellowship provides full in-state tuition and fees to students demonstrating academic merit through a year-long research project.
Stednitz, a biomedical and psychology double major, proposed a study on the side effects of haloperidol on those with psychological disorders. “This fellowship will allow me to get the most out of my education and relieve me of significant debt burden,” she said.
Kigel, a history and political science double major, will use the fellowship to examine groups that provided social services throughout American history. “The rigors of my coursework and previous research prepared me to conduct this project,” she said.
More than 30 students applied for the scholarship. The two students were chosen by the SOU Foundation Board Selection Committee.
Both students were highly recommended by supervising professors. “Sarah’s (Stednitz) curiosity, intellectual skill, and work ethic make her a superb candidate for graduate school and ultimately research in neuroscience,” said Dr. Chris Oswald, biology professor.
Robin (Kigel) is exceptionally well prepared to undertake the kind of research envisioned by the Ruhl Fellowship,” said Dr. Dustin Walcher, history Professor.
The Robert Ruhl Learning Fellowship will be available next year on SOU’s online financial aid site, SOSA. For more information on SOU financial aid, call Enrollment Services at 541.552.6600.