2 010 PRESIDENT’S RE PORT
“Imprints of Education,” a bronze relief sculpture created by Fisher Stolz, associate professor of art, and Jaci Willis ‘04, MFA ’09, adjunct professor, was selected for the cover of the 2010 President’s Report to illustrate Bradley’s commitment to hands-on education. The original sculpture was installed in the entryway to Harrison Community Learning Center in Peoria. It incorporated handprints from current students and teachers, emphasizing each one’s individuality. In the background, stainless steel rods were used to create arcs that look like ripples, representing the positive impact that the new learning center will have on the surrounding community, just as Bradley has had a positive impact on the world.
Dear Bradley family, Our University has built a reputation on the personalized, customized Bradley Experience students receive. There is no better evidence of that success than our 61,000 accomplished alumni. You’ll be pleased to know that our status was confirmed in 2010 when a team from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools reaffirmed -- through their comprehensive, decennial review -- that Bradley students receive an exceptional hands-on education. I’m confident Lydia Moss Bradley would be proud of the University’s unwavering commitment to students and our continued focus on providing young men and women with the means of living productive and useful lives. That has been our mission for 114 years, and no one does it better. This year’s President’s Report highlights the many ways we provide our students with hands-on experiences–– from providing internship and research opportunities to offering options for community service or national competitions. Our students learn by getting involved and making a difference. This President’s Report also looks at our senior capstone classes that challenge our students to solve the real-life problems of real-life clients. What do such experiences mean for our students? Mechanical engineering major Nathan Petersen ’11 designed a lightweight urban vehicle with his capstone team and enjoyed opportunities “far greater and more extraordinary” than he ever could have imagined. Nathan and his teammates met with Jay Leno at the late night star’s on-campus Homecoming concert and then visited his enormous garage in Los Angeles to view his fleet of vehicles; discussed energy-saving ideas with U.S. Secretary of Transportation and Bradley alumnus Ray LaHood at a Midwestern transportation symposium sponsored by our Institute for Principled Leadership in Public Service; introduced the high-tech vehicle to a group of eighth-graders to interest them in Bradley engineering opportunities; and collaborated with the Foster College of Business Administration to gather consumer insights about the future of fuel-efficient transportation. What wonderful, life-enriching experiences for these talented engineering students.
Having a commitment to high-quality, hands-on education requires a helping hand from our alumni and friends. I have seen firsthand the power of your support. Gifts to Bradley have changed the lives of students, faculty, staff, friends, and alumni. They have created an incredible learning environment that has positioned our students and our institution for unparalleled success. Thanks to your generous support, our Campaign for a Bradley Renaissance is nearing its $150 million goal. Although construction and other activity will continue for some time, 2011 will bring about the conclusion of the historic Renaissance Campaign and allow us to truly celebrate its impact. It’s an exciting time on campus, and we are grateful to all who have made a difference for our University. We can only repay your kindness with our sincere gratitude and a pledge to maintain and improve the Bradley community of which you are an important member. We stand committed to becoming an institution of national distinction, one that provides our students with exceptional educational experiences across a multitude of disciplines. Thanks to your faithful and loyal support, we are on our way. Warm regards, Joanne K. Glasser, President
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Year In Review n C
ampaign
Renaissance Coliseum Dedication of the Renaissance Coliseum
• Dedication of the Renaissance Coliseum On October 15, 2010, more than 1,000 people gathered to dedicate the Renaissance Coliseum, the third construction project in the Renaissance Campaign and the largest construction project in the University’s history. Built on the site of the Robertson Memorial Field House, the $50 million Coliseum
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with a 4,200-seat arena is the home court for women’s basketball and volleyball teams, a unique handson classroom for students, and prime venue for concerts, commencements, and other University functions. It also supports studentathletes with the best facilities and latest equipment to ensure our athletes will be competitive nationally.
Campus construction, October 2010 • Campaign Update The $150 million Campaign for a Bradley Renaissance is nearing completion. With the Markin Family Student Recreation Center and the Renaissance Coliseum fully realized, progress is being made on the construction of the Hayden-Clark Alumni Center and the renovation and expansion of Westlake Hall. The $12 million Alumni Center will be dedicated on October 15, 2011. Westlake Hall will be expanded six times its original size and will be the premiere classroom facility on campus to prepare future educators and health care professionals. Weezer in concert, September 25, 2010
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Year In Review n F
inancial
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Operating Revenues Other Income 4% Auxiliary 16% Contributions, Government Grants, Contracts, & Investment Returns 18%
Top
Tuition & Fees 62%
Fraternity Gifts
n n n n n
Operating Expenditures Library 3% General Admin. 7%
Instructional & Research 54%
23%
Student Services
9%
Classes by Average Gift
1933 • 50.00%
1953 • $1,207
1939 • 34.38%
1967 • $707
1946 • 33.96%
1940 • $675
1942 • 33.60%
1966 • $616
1947 • 31.94%
1962 • $595
Total
n n n n n n n n
Average
n n n n n n
Number
Pi Kappa Alpha
$341,463
$3,837 89
Sigma Nu
$117,603
$1,059 111
Sigma Chi
$55,718
$502 111
Lamda Chi Alpha
$52,706
$425 124
Delta Upsilon
$48,287
$424 114
Sorority Gifts
Auxiliary
Classes by % of Giving
n n n n n n
Total
n n n n n n n n
Average
n n n n n n n
Number
Chi Omega
$292,597
$2,136 137
Pi Beta Phi
$117,471
$448 262
Gamma Phi Beta
$33,009
$241 137
Sigma Kappa
$20,574
$151 136
Alpha Chi Omega
$11,055
$221 50
Public Service, Information & Fundraising 4%
Financial Indicators Demand
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Freshmen Applications Received 5,503 5,187 5,720 5,932 6,221
Cash & Cash Equivalents
Acceptance Rate
Cash & Investments to Operations 204.0% 231.4% 216.6% 163.4% 172.8%
69.4% 68.8% 67.2% 64.3% 73.5%
Contribution Ratios percentage of current fund revenues
Debt to Equity
Tuition and Fees
60.5% 60.6% 57.7% 59.0% 61.9%
Contributions
2.5% 2.9% 2.6% 1.4% 0.9%
Other Selected Data
Investment Return for Operations
8.3% 8.4% 10.5% 7.0% 6.4%
Full-time Equivalent Enrollment
Auxiliary Income
16.6% 16.7% 15.5% 16.1% 16.6%
Market Value of Investments ($000s) Endowment Funds 208,089 245,507 242,512 172,618 202,044 Annuities & Funds Held in Trust
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Liquidity Indicators 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
10,301 11,462 11,857
9,493 9,759
7,569 11,641 17,901 30,048 13,442
16.4% 34.6% 32.7% 39.4% 35.8%
5,560 5,537 5,508 5,318 5,337
Total University Assets, Net ($000s) 310,331 366,473 386,135 322,356 353,202 Total Gifts ($000s) 10,136 10,736 18,312 16,151 15,880 Copies of the University’s audited 2009-2010 annual financial report and additional information are available from the Office of the Vice President for Business Affairs, 1501 W. Bradley Avenue, Peoria, IL 61625.
Year In Review n P
eople
Glassman • New Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. David Glassman was named Bradley University’s new provost and vice president for academic affairs. He began on July 1, 2010, and oversees 335 full-time and more than 200 part-time faculty members, 34 academic departments, and several
Cross • New Athletic Director Dr. Michael Cross became Bradley’s new athletic director in January 2010. He came to Peoria from Princeton University, where he had been the executive associate director of athletics since July 2006. Cross supervises operations, athletic performance, NCAA compliance, communications, and fundraising for Bradley’s 14 intercollegiate athletic programs. He also serves as a liaison between the Department of Athletics and other divisions of the University and as a member of the president’s cabinet.
additional centers such as Study Abroad, Continuing Education’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, the Pre-Law Center, and the Institute for Principled Leadership in Public Service. The provost is Bradley’s chief academic officer and the University’s second-ranking administrative officer.
Abegg • Passing of a Bradley Icon Bradley’s seventh president, Dr. Martin G. Abegg ’47, HON ’93 passed away April 21, 2010. Dr. Abegg led the University from 1970 to 1992 and spearheaded the Campaign for Bradley, the University’s first major capital campaign in the 1980s, raising more than $31 million. Additional initiatives during his 22-year tenure as president included the introduction of strategic planning and shared governance, and the construction or renovation of 17 campus buildings.
• Honorary Degrees Nancy Brinker, CEO and founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, spoke to more than 800 graduates on May 15, 2010. She is the Goodwill Ambassador for Cancer Control for the World Health Organization, and previously was U.S. Chief of Protocol and Ambassador to Hungary. Raj Soin MSIE ’71, founder and CEO of Soin International and member of the Bradley Board of Trustees, addressed recipients of master’s and doctoral degrees on May 13, 2010. Both speakers were awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. At the mid-term commencement on December 18, 2010, Charley Steiner ’71, play-by-play radio announcer for the Los Angeles Dodgers, addressed graduates and received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. • Alumni Awards Kathleen Buck Holst ’79 was named Bradley’s 2010 Distinguished Alumna and inducted into the Centurion Society at Founder’s Day in October 2010. Additional Centurion inductees included: Kurt Hersher ’51 (posthumously); Laura Herlovich ’79; Nicholas Owens ’67; A.J. Rassi ’65; George Ruebenson ’70; and Henry Thomas ’74. Also receiving awards on Founder’s Day were Aaron Schock ’02 who received the Outstanding Young Graduate Award and Doug Frank HON ’06 who received the Lydia Moss Bradley Award.
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Year In Review n P
rograms
Center for Collaborative Brain Research
• Center for Collaborative Brain Research Three top medical institutions in Illinois (University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, Illinois Neurological Institute, and OSF Saint Francis Medical Center) have joined forces with Bradley’s College of Education and Health Sciences to form the new Center for Collaborative Brain Research. CCBR is dedicated to collaborative, advanced research in the areas of neural feedback and brain imaging.
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• IPL Symposiums U.S. Cabinet members spoke at two symposiums sponsored by the Institute for Principled Leadership in Public Service. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan spoke at the April 21, 2010, symposium, “Transforming Public Education.” U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood ’71 was the keynote speaker at “The Future of Midwest Transportation” symposium held November 10, 2010. • Self-study for Continued Accreditation Bradley completed a self-study review for continued accreditation by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Higher Learning Commission in preparation for the accreditation team’s three-day visit conducted in November. The University conducts a self-study review for continued accreditation every 10 years.
• Minor/Concentration in Internal Auditing Bradley has added a minor and a concentration in internal auditing. This offering made Bradley the first university in Illinois to offer a minor of this kind. The minor is open to students with any major in the Foster College of Business Administration, except accounting majors, who have the option of a concentration in internal auditing. • Dietetics Internship In fall 2010, Bradley began an accredited dietetics internship program in which students receive a graduate certificate. All dietetics majors must complete a program such as this before they can become registered dietitians. Students gain practical experience and earn 13 hours of transferrable graduate credit.
New Interactive Media
• Accelerated Nursing Program Bradley now offers a 15-month accelerated nursing program to students with a bachelor’s degree in a discipline other than nursing who have completed 34 hours of prerequisite courses. • M.S. in Nursing Education In spring 2010, the Department of Nursing launched the Master of Science in nursing education program, along with a master’s certificate in nursing education. The master’s certificate allows those already holding a Master of Science in nursing to take 14 semester hours of education to become nursing educators. Undergrads can now apply to enroll in a program during their junior year, which allows them to earn their bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the same time, completing both in five years. Students have the choice of a master’s in nursing administration or nursing education. • New Technology Concentrations and Minors The Department of Interactive Media began offering concentrations in Animations and Visual Effects, Game Design, and Web and Application Design. The programs emphasize digital animation, sound design, computer graphics and programming, virtual world building, and advanced interactive media scripting.
The Department of Interactive Media faculty teamed up with the Department of Computer Science and Information Systems (CSIS) faculty to create cross-curricular classes. CSIS students are now able to complete a concentration in computer game technology. Undergraduates from both departments will have the option to minor in each other’s program.
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Year In Review n R
ecognition
5th MVC Title • Best Colleges The U.S. News & World Report’s annual publication, “America’s Best Colleges 2011,” ranked Bradley among the top universities for the 12th consecutive year. The University ranked first in the U.S. News rankings among master’s level universities in Illinois and sixth overall among Midwest universities that offer a full-range
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of undergraduate and master’s programs. For the second consecutive year, Bradley was named as one of the top 15 schools in the nation for encouraging students to conduct career-related internships. • One of the Best Released in August 2010, The Princeton Review’s 2011 annual college guide, “The Best 373 Colleges,” named Bradley one of the nation’s best institutions for undergraduate education.
• Best Value Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine placed Bradley on its “Best Values in Private Colleges 2010-11” report. Bradley ranked 56th in the nation and third in the state based on its academic quality and affordable cost. • National Case Competition Three-peat Bradley’s MBA student team won first place in the Society for the Advancement of Management’s Case MBA Competition for the third consecutive year.
relationship and involvement in the progress of the University. The Turners established the Turner Center for Entrepreneurship in 2002 with a $1.5 million gift and a $3 million unrestricted gift to the Campaign for a Bradley Renaissance. • Departmental Excellence The Center for Orientation and Advisement received The William Rainey Harper Award for Departmental Excellence. • Highest Faculty Honors Dr. Kyle Dzapo became the newest of seven Caterpillar Professors at Bradley. Caterpillar Professorships were renewed for three other faculty members: Dr. Robert Fuller and Dr. Kevin Stein have been Caterpillar professors since 2000, and Dr. Allen Huffcutt earned the distinction in 2005. The renewal process occurs every five years.
Forensic Champions • Forensic Champions The Bradley Speech Team reclaimed the 2010 American Forensic Association (AFA) Tournament championship. In addition to winning the overall sweepstakes with 443 points, several members won individual competitions. • President’s Award Robert ’77, MBA ’78, and Carolyn Turner received the 2010 President’s Award that recognizes leadership among leaders. The award is given to the donor or donors who set an example for others by their continued
• Teaching Excellence Dr. Kris Maillacheruvu, associate professor of civil engineering and construction, was awarded the Putnam Award for Teaching Excellence.
• Professional Excellence Dr. Jean Jost, professor of English, received the Samuel Rothberg Professional Excellence Award. • Public Service Dr. Amir Al-Khafaji, chairman of Bradley’s Department of Civil Engineering and Construction, received the Frances C. Mergen Award for Public Service. • 5th MVC Title for Soccer After defeating Drake (1-0) and No. 11-ranked Creighton (3-2), the Braves advanced to the final day of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament championship. They beat SIU-Edwardsville (4-3) for the Valley title and received an invitation to the NCAA tournament. • Women’s Basketball Bradley’s women’s basketball team was selected to play in the inaugural Women’s Basketball Invitational. The team won its first-round game, the first post-season victory in our program’s history.
President’s Award
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Hands-on Education In 1897, Mrs. Lydia Moss Bradley set the educational parameters for Bradley Polytechnic Institute. It was to become an institution that taught the useful arts and sciences to prepare students for productive lives. And, so it did. Parson’s School of Horology was purchased and moved from La Porte, Indiana, to give students hands-on experience repairing watches. By 1899, instruction was offered in biology, chemistry, food work, sewing, English, German, French, Latin, Greek, history, manual arts, drawing, mathematics, and physics. Teacher training and automotive and vocational schools were also part of Bradley’s heritage as early educators worked to achieve a balance between vocational training and cultural and traditional academic offerings. Today, watch repair is no longer offered and manual arts are not part of the curriculum, but hands-on educational opportunities abound throughout the University’s five colleges. It’s what is known as the Bradley Experience. It’s what prepares Bradley students for productive and useful lives. It’s what makes Bradley, Bradley.
www.bradley.edu/go/presreport
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Extending education beyond the classroom
Hands-on
research 12
Robots, stem cells, and video games may not seem to have much in common, but current student and faculty collaborative research provides the thread that ties these topics and so many others together at Bradley University. On any given day, students and faculty researchers huddle in laboratories working tirelessly to keep stem cells alive in their search for answers that hopefully will help patients of heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, and ovarian cancer. They pore over data as they analyze the aggressive behavior of an online video game’s worldwide players. They brainstorm ways to improve robots they hope will help shatter the walls of children with autism. Long woven into the University’s essence, faculty research and creative production became one of three initiatives in its Special Emphasis of 1990. Ten years later, the focus on faculty and student collaborative research kicked into high gear as Bradley introduced “Building a Foundation for Student-Faculty Creative Collaboration” in 2000. Since then, more than $1 million has supported student and faculty research collaborations and creative productions. Research has been disseminated at scholarly events and through exhibitions like the Student Scholarship Exposition, which has showcased the work of more than 1,500 students since 2001. “Bradley University is committed to nurturing the multifaceted development of students and considers student-faculty collaboration to be firmly embedded into the institution’s fiber,” said Kim Willis, interim director of the Office of Teaching Excellence and Faculty Development. Scholarly activity takes “the form of students working with faculty members on research in the sciences, scholarship in the humanities, creative production in the fine arts, practica in engineering, consulting in business, action research in education, and many more forms,” said Dr. Kelly McConnaughay, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences associate dean.
“Research extends student learning beyond the classroom, and into the very heart of a discipline,” McConnaughay said. It engages students in high-level learning. Students who conduct research have “higher graduation rates, higher matriculation rates into postbaccalaureate degree programs, higher job placement rates, and higher satisfaction in their collegiate and post-collegiate pursuits.” Collaborative research is a mutually beneficial relationship for students and faculty. Biology professor Dr. Craig Cady and his students continue stem cell research in collaboration with other researchers in three areas: Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative diseases, ovarian cancer, and heart disease. Student researchers benefit from their hands-on experience in Cady’s lab. “The work my students are doing would not be done by undergraduates at large universities. They are very lucky to work with human stem cells, work with ovarian cancer cells,” said Cady. The research biology major Nicole Zapata ’12 is participating in will take her far. “When she gets to graduate school, she can jump right in,” Cady said. “It can open up opportunities for me as an undergraduate,” said Zapata, who spends her free time on research. Highly motivated to become a researcher, Zapata decided to attend Bradley because she felt she had a better chance at working in a lab.
Opposite page: Swathy Sreekumar ’12 works in Dr. Craig Cady’s biology lab. Top: Supriya Thota MS ’12 (left) and Aniket Karmarkar ’11 observe the next generation of socially assistive robots. Bottom: From left, Dr. Christos Nikolopoulos of computer science, Curt Boirum MSME ’12, and Dr. Deitra Kuester of teacher education work together to find ways robots can improve others’ lives.
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“Students are my hands,” Cady said. “My undergraduates do my research. I couldn’t do research without them. It’s really a collaboration with them.” Since 2008, Dr. Deitra A. Kuester, assistant professor of special education; Dr. Christos Nikolopoulos, professor of computer science and information systems; and computer science, mechanical engineering, and special education undergraduate and graduate students have been developing the fifth-generation of socially assistive robots. They hope their robots will be a social agent to assist children with autism develop simple skills such as greeting someone and joining peers. Nikolopoulos and Kuester agree that research exposes students to the real world in working with people who have different skill sets and gives students hands-on experience that enables them to see the relevance of what they are doing. Aniket Karmarkar ’11, a computer science undergraduate researcher, said the robot research has
benefited the team because different people bring varying perspectives on how to improve the robot. Psychology professor Dr. David Schmitt mentors students such as psychology honors senior Steven Malm ’11, who focused on aggressive behavior of subscribers to the online game “World of Warcraft.” Malm agreed working in research as an undergrad benefited him when applying to graduate school. “This whole experience has given me really quality experience in identifying questions, creating my hypothesis, writing a coherent introduction to a research proposal and executing it, and following through with the data analysis.” Schmitt said mentoring Malm benefits him because it “is a way for me to get out of my normal research lab and work on a project with a highly motivated, highly intelligent student.” Working together, these student and faculty researchers are convinced answers will be discovered to many difficult problems.
“Students are my hands. My undergraduates do my research. I couldn’t do research without them. It’s really a collaboration with them.”
Dr. Craig Cady
Students showcase their work at Bradley’s Student Scholarship Exposition, which is held annually in the spring.
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Hands-on internships Stepping into the professional world For the second consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report has named Bradley as one of the top 15 schools in the nation for encouraging students to conduct career-related internships. Ninety-one percent of Bradley students participate in internships, practicums, and other opportunities in and out of the classroom that boost their potential as they enter the job market. More than 800 Bradley students have participated in internships during the 2010-11 school year, and the scope of internship opportunities is as diverse as the students themselves. Internships involving engineering projects at Caterpillar Inc. and John Deere, event management at the Peoria Civic Center, children’s book publishing at Simon & Schuster in New York, website management at National Geographic, and many others help students achieve their dreams by offering career-related experience while they’re still in school. These opportunities don’t just happen; they are crafted. Bradley’s Smith Career Center personnel focus on every aspect of the job search, whether it’s an internship or a fulltime job after graduation. “We’re a clearinghouse to prepare students for these experiences,” said Jane Casanova Linnenburger MA ’79, executive director of the Smith Career Center. Workshops on resume writing, interviewing, cover letters, and similar
sessions; job fairs; and “prep parties” help students prepare to apply for internships. A listing of internship openings, customized by college, is updated weekly. Internships mutually benefit students and employers. “Employers use internships as pipelines for future hires,” said Sharon St. Germain, director of the Marjorie and Bill Springer Center for Excellence in Internships. Caterpillar, Enterprise, Con Agra, John Deere, and Hamilton-Sunstrand are among the companies that have a long history of hiring Bradley students for internships and full-time careers. Merging theory and the real world Five hundred Bradley students, most of them engineering majors, have participated in the Bradley University/ Caterpillar Student Practicum Program since the company and Bradley signed a joint agreement creating the program 18 years ago. It began with 10 engineering students and grew to 30 by the end of the first year. Since then, students majoring in engineering, business, science, math, and other concentrations have participated. Practicum students are submerged in the Caterpillar culture and are assigned to specific projects that average 800 hours. Students are integral to the success of the project. Practicum students earn $16 to $26 per hour, a salary that
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recognizes the contributions these students are making. “The richness of the program moves students to a different level,” said Egon Wolff, retired Caterpillar executive and Bradley adjunct professor. “Practicums allow students to apply the theory they’ve learned in the classroom to a real-world situation. It’s exciting for me to see the maturity and growth that develop in these young people. Follow-ups with professors show students’ levels of performance in the classroom also improve.” From the classroom to the classroom One of the most common forms of work placement is a semester of student teaching during the senior year. At Bradley, however, education majors are exposed to the classroom throughout their college careers. Students gradually assume more responsibility in the classroom, starting with observation as freshmen and sophomores, novice teaching as juniors, and finally student teaching as seniors. “There’s nothing quite like standing in front of living, breathing middle school and high school students, who question and challenge and pass notes and throw pencils. And that’s on their good days,” said Jacqueline Koch Kelly ’07, who holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and is on track to graduate with a second bachelor’s degree in English secondary education in 2012. “Having been in several classrooms and having taught several lessons, I feel better prepared to develop a classroom atmosphere full of respect, creativity, and learning.”
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Representatives from Caterpillar Inc. meet with students at a recent job fair sponsored by the Smith Career Center.
Internships are integral to academic program A new dietetics internship program at Bradley gives graduate students exposure to a variety of dietetics settings as they earn a post-baccalaureate graduate certificate. The academic program includes rotations at medical, community, and food service sites ranging from Bradley’s own student center cafeteria and HyVee supermarket to Bel-Wood Nursing Home and OSF’s Joslin Diabetes Center. Two groups of five students spend one semester at area medical sites and one semester at food service and community nutrition sites on campus and in the area. Students deal with a variety of dietetics-related issues as they rotate through the locations. At the Heartland Community Clinic, they help patients learn to control diabetes, while at a local school, they teach children about healthy snacks. Dietetic internship programs are offered nationwide, each with a specialized focus. Bradley’s program is focused on wellness. Allison Tallyn enrolled in Bradley’s dietetics internship program after graduating from the University of CaliforniaDavis. Tallyn, who aspires to have a career as a weight-loss counselor, designed a weight-loss class for residents of BelWood Nursing Home in Peoria.
Photo Courtesy of the Chicago Auto Show
She also enjoyed the challenge of working at Peoria’s Cancer Center for Healthy Living. “We were immersed in the center,” said Tallyn. “We helped patients learn how to eat if they are nauseous and how to deal with their symptoms while managing their diets.” Interning at a major event Thanks to the quality of Bradley’s academic program coupled with the efforts of communication professor Dr. Ron Koperski, Bradley communication students have an exclusive opportunity to intern during media preview week at the Chicago Auto Show. For the past nine years, students have gained insight as they help produce a major real-world event, the largest auto show in North America. “With such a big event, there isn’t always an hour to get your thoughts together and press on with a strategic plan, so a lot of little details had to be worked out almost immediately,” said Caitlyn Stoeckley ’11, one of seven chosen to intern at the 2011 show. “I’m so glad I was part of such a talented and professional group of Bradley students who had the opportunity to work with the Chicago Automobile Trade Association,” she said. Internships represent a vast range of opportunities that blend students’ academic education with practical experience that allows them to lead the useful, productive lives envisioned by founder Lydia Moss Bradley.
“Employers use internships as pipelines for future hires.” Sharon St. Germain, Smith Career Center
Lauren Fog ’11 is a student-teacher in a fourth-grade class at St. Mark Grade School in Peoria.
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Putting all the pieces together From the first introductory class in their major, students begin preparing for their senior capstone class. In the colleges of Engineering, Business, Communications and Fine Arts, the senior capstone course is the culmination of all the students have learned about their chosen academic major. For some, involvement in a capstone course means selecting their best creative work for display at their senior art exhibition or senior music recital. For others, participation means accepting the challenges of designing and building a robot that can follow commands from the Internet, developing an international strategic plan, or finding the solution on how to assemble a Boeing F-15 aircraft in a new location. In each case, it is an opportunity to put all the pieces together before graduation. The Foster College of Business Administration’s Senior Consulting Project program has been part of the cur-
HANDS-ON C la s s e s
Samantha Parker ’11 works on her senior thesis exhibition titled “The Fabric of Li,” which included works in installation and painting.
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Above right: Nathan Petersen ’11 test drives his senior design lightweight urban vehicle.
“The experience gained from working on my senior project has been priceless…” Nathan Petersen ’11 Mechanical Engineering
riculum for more than 20 years and is the largest in the United States. With the assistance of the Turner Center for Entrepreneurship, over 60 student projects are identified each year. Small teams of four to five students majoring in business-related disciplines (management, accounting, management information systems, marketing, economics, and finance) are brought together to consult for a local firm. The groups work directly with business owners and executive level managers to develop solutions to many business-related problems. Projects range from conducting marketing research and feasibility studies to developing strategic plans, growth strategies, marketing plans, and public relations programs. Projects last a full semester and culminate in presentations of recommendations developed by the student groups for their clients. All seniors in the College of Engineering and Technology are required to complete a capstone course in their respective departments. In industrial engineering and manufacturing, projects are one semester long and involve real clients with real, time-sensitive challenges. Clients pay a participation fee and any incurred expenses. In tandem with their capstone course, seniors take their required, second technical writing class that hones their writing skills for a professional report that is submitted to their client at the time of their formal presentations. Mechanical engineering students devote an entire year to their senior design class with such clients as Caterpillar, John Deere, and theme parks. According to Dr. Rich Johnson, dean of the College of Engineering and Technology, “By the end of their senior year, students know how to design it, build it, fix it under pressure with not enough people, not enough money, not enough time, and still deliver the goods.”
One project tackled by a group of mechanical engineering students recently included designing and building a lightweight urban vehicle. Jesse Maberry ’65, retired chief executive officer of Aurora Bearing Co., funded the project. According to mechanical engineering major Nathan Petersen ’11, “The experience gained from working on my senior project has been priceless and very similar to what can be expected out in industry. I have had the opportunity to really get to know my fellow classmates and to fight in the trenches with them. I am better prepared for whatever is to come after graduation because of this project alone.” All public relations majors in the Slane College of Communciations and Fine Arts participate in the Ebeling PR-ize established by Chuck Ebeling ’66 in 2004. This senior capstone competition challenges seniors to design and implement a public relations campaign centered on a key social issue. The fall 2010 semester’s winning team, PilotPR, developed a partnership between the Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, a Peoria not-for-profit medical center, and Grayboy Motorsports, a Peoria Heights retailer. The campaign, titled “Helmet Safety Awareness in the Local Community: Your Choice,” included media coverage, a helmet safety awareness event complete with helmet giveaway, and the combined support of local medical experts and generous donors. In congratulating PilotPR and presenting them a monetary award, Ebeling emphasized the positive impacts this capstone class brings semester after semester. “If anyone has cause to wonder if tomorrow’s professional communicators can make a positive difference in society, this program proves that they can, and already do. Everyone this program touches is a winner.”
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Community
Offering a helping hand
Hands-on As a commuter student from Peoria, Kelsi Johnson ’14 wondered how she’d make lasting friendships when she didn’t live on campus. As someone new to the area, Annie Azriel ’11 of Vernon Hills wondered how she’d experience the entire Peoria community without getting trapped inside the “Bradley bubble.” Both found what they were looking for – and more – when they joined Fellows, an organization dedicated to service on campus and throughout the Peoria area. The two represent the many Bradley students who use their free time for service and volunteer projects. “As a freshman, Fellows connected me with older members who did so many amazing things in their classes, in their communities, and with their organizations,” said Azriel, now a senior. “It gave me role models and ideas of classes, organizations, and agencies that I wanted to take, get involved with, or help.” During the 2009-2010 school year, Bradley students spent more than 46,500 hours volunteering and performing service projects. Their efforts also raised more than $186,000 for more than 65 local charities. The service projects benefit those who need extra care and support in the Peoria area. But Bradley students benefit from volunteering, too, said Katherine McGinn, interim director of the Lewis J. Burger Center for Student Leadership and Public Service. “Bradley students are able to truly impact the world around them,” she said. “Our students are learning to recognize the existing needs within their community and 20
are working hard to meet these needs and improve the lives of others. Students are continuously developing leadership skills and enhancing their sense of citizenship through public service.“ Students say the rewards are boundless. “I have learned to work with so many different cultures, races, and groups of people,” Azriel said. “I have had to put my preconceived notions in the back of my head and just learn from my experiences.” Azriel said her most rewarding experiences come when she volunteers with the Crisis Hotline through the Mental Health Association. Each time she volunteers, she spends about 20 minutes on the phone with people going through various crises – from thoughts of suicide to needing help with a difficult friend. “I know that at the end of the conversation I have made a difference in this person’s life for the day,” she said. “As a social work major, the training and experience that I have gotten from this volunteer opportunity has been amazing.” And the Fellows don’t represent the only group doing service projects. Fraternities and sororities, the Activities Council, the Edge campus radio station, hall councils, and social work classes are among the many organizations making a difference on campus and in the community. Each group finds creative ways to raise money and serve others. Fundraisers include BU Dance Marathon, a 24-hour event where students take pledges to dance for the entire day and night that benefits the Children’s Hospital of Il-
linois. Bradley’s Habitat for Humanity chapter raises money during Shack-a-thon, where various student organizations build cardboard houses and buildings on the quad. Entry fees from each organization are used to help build a home for a family in need in the Peoria area. Alpha Chi Omega offers a dodge ball tournament to benefit the Peoria Domestic Abuse Shelter. Last year, the entire Bradley community – including students, faculty, and staff – donated more than 6,300 articles of clothing, 2,500 cans of food, and 1,200 pints of blood. That type of giving teaches students to continue volunteering even after they graduate and leave campus.
“Every fraternity and sorority at Bradley views service as a core value of the organization, and it is the goal of every chapter to instill a lifelong commitment to service within each member,” said Jesse Koch, associate director of fraternity and sorority life. “As fraternities and sororities, we are able to rally a sizeable force of service-minded individuals to make a lasting impact within our community.” Johnson said she expanded her understanding of other people’s lives and how important it is to help others. “While doing volunteering and service projects, I have learned that everyone’s lives aren’t as good as mine,” the freshman said. “Some people are not as fortunate as others. There are a lot of people who need help from others to live their lives.” Her favorite project thus far has been stuffing holiday stockings for overseas soldiers. The project was especially meaningful because her longtime boyfriend serves in the U.S. Air Force. “This experience helped me understand that there are many soldiers who go through the holidays without their families,” Johnson said. “I believe that more people need to find a way to give back to our soldiers who fight for our freedom.” Johnson adds that volunteering also allows her to perfect her time-management skills as she juggles classes, extracurricular activities, and her service projects. In addition to learning about the Peoria community, developing communication skills, and gaining empathy for others, Bradley students say volunteering just makes them feel better about themselves. “Anyone who volunteers should feel good about themselves,” Johnson said.
“I have learned to work with so many different cultures, races, and groups of people.” Annie Azriel ’11
Opposite page: A Bradley student constructs a shack on the Olin Quad to raise money for Habitat for Humanity during the annual Shack-a-thon event. Top: Shaving your head is part of the St. Baldrick’s Day fundraising event for childhood cancer research. Bottom: A Bradley student participates in the annual blood drive in memory of Bradley tennis player Megan Fong ’02 who lost her battle to leukemia in 2002.
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Taking Bradley to the nationals
Hands-on
COMPETITION
Leadership, teamwork, perseverance, discipline. These are just a few of the qualities Bradley students develop as they participate in competitions across the nation. From athletic to academic competitions, Bradley students build a name for the University while growing and learning as individuals. Bradley’s outstanding speech team has built a national dynasty, with a long tradition of winning both the National Forensic Association and the American Forensic Association tournaments. Since 1978, the Bradley Speech Team has won 37 AFA and NFA national championships. Speech team members place upon themselves an expectation to extend that winning tradition. “That’s a strength, but it’s also a lot of pressure.” said Dan Smith, director of forensics. It’s a pressure the Bradley speech team embraces. Becky Suhr ’11, president of the speech team and a history and religious studies major, said speech team members gain instant respect from competitors at tournaments. They also reap benefits as individuals. “Being on the speech team helps with interpersonal communication and confidence,” Suhr said. She also has learned to balance school, team commitments, and a social life. Most speech team members have a part-time job, travel every other weekend with the team, practice with coaches and peers 15 hours a week, and are involved in Greek organizations and honoraries. That’s all on top of carrying a full load of classes. “These students are certainly getting the most out of their Bradley Experience,” Smith said. Sporting success Student-athletes in Bradley’s 14 intercollegiate athletic programs compete nationally in Division 1. Last fall, the soccer team captured its fifth Missouri Valley Conference championship title and advanced to the NCAA tournament. The women’s basketball team was selected to play in the inaugural Women’s Basketball Invitational (WBI) in 2010 and won its first-round game.
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“It’s rewarding to be able to give back to Bradley in this way.” Simon Sarraff ‘06, 2006 National Collegiate Sales Competition winner
Bradley senior men’s basketball player Dodie Dunson ‘11 was selected as one of 10 finalists for the 2011 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award in basketball. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character, and competition. “These competitions bring a sense of pride and a sense of affirmation that they are elite athletes,” said Bobby Parker, associate athletic director for communications. Mary Goldkamp ’11 believes learning time management was her biggest challenge as a student-athlete. She juggles a demanding schedule as a nursing major and as a member of the cross country and track teams. “My college experience is different from most students, but it’s a choice I made,” she said. “I have been able to travel and compete coast-to-coast, and I love it. If I had to do it over, I would do it the same way.” Preparing for the real world Bradley students also compete in events related directly to their majors and career aspirations. The mock trial team, MBA Case Competition, and National Collegiate Sales Competition all place students in hypothetical situations designed to prepare them for the real world. The American Mock Trial Association runs competitions nationwide, and Bradley’s team participates in several Midwest events, including the nation’s largest event at Loras College. According to Maria Vertuno, team adviser and director of the Pre-Law Center, “Students hone public speaking skills and learn about the law process, including the rules of
evidence and how to use them. They must use critical thinking skills to determine which witnesses to call and in what order, just as a team of lawyers would do.” Bradley MBA teams have made an impressive mark on the Society for the Advancement of Management’s MBA Case Competition. For three consecutive years, they have come home with first place, the only university to do so. “Students apply the tools they learn in the classroom to a real example versus a case study,” said Dr. Laurence Weinzimmer ’83, MBA ’85, professor of business management and administration. Students assume the role of consultants for a company and conduct surveys, then do a comparative analysis and a financial analysis. They make presentations in front of industry experts and receive feedback. The National Collegiate Sales Competition at Kennesaw State University in Georgia hosts contestants from more than 60 universities nationwide. Bradley has competed every year since 2005 and has finished in the top six four times. Simon Sarraff ’06 took first place his senior year. “When people ask about my undergrad experience, this competition is the number one thing I reflect upon.” He said preparing for the event was like boot camp. He credits marketing professor Dr. Mark Johlke for his success, saying, “We were nervous, but practice made us comfortable with our ability. We learned confidence.” “While it’s great for the individual to win an award, it’s also great to represent the University,” Sarraff said. “It’s rewarding to be able to give back to Bradley in this way.”
Opposite page, above: Brian Billings ‘14 defends the Bradley goal at a soccer match. The Bradley soccer team captured its fifth conference championship title and advanced to the NCAA tournament last fall. Above: Kojo Fletcher ‘14, Milton Kho ‘14, and Emily Meacham ’13, from left, members of Bradley’s Mock Trial Team, practice in a Peoria County courtroom. Left: Cecil Blutcher ‘13, Becky Suhr ‘11, and Junior Ocasio ‘13 are members of the highly acclaimed Bradley Speech Team. Since 1978, the team has claimed 37 national forensic championships. 23
Board of Trustees Officers Mr. Michel A. McCord, Chairman Chairman/Chief Executive Officer Illinois Mutual Life Insurance Company Peoria, IL Mr. Keith L. Alm, ’65 Vice Chairman Chairman O-Sage Power Equipment LLC Kansas City, MO Ms. Cheryl D. Corley, ’76 Secretary Midwest Reporter National Public Radio Chicago, IL Trustees Mr. Wayne E. Baum ’60 Retired Chairman of the Board CORE Construction Services Morton, IL Mr. Carl M. Birkelbach ’62 Chairman/Chief Executive Officer Birkelbach Investment Securities Inc. Chicago, IL Mr. Calvin G. Butler Jr. ’91 Senior Vice President, Human Resources Exelon Chicago, IL Mr. Robert J. Clanin ’66 Retired Chief Financial Officer United Parcel Service of America, Inc. Alpharetta, GA
Mr. Michael N. Cullinan President R.A. Cullinan & Sons, Inc. Tremont, IL
Mr. Rex K. Linder ’69 Senior Partner Heyl, Royster, Voelker & Allen Peoria, IL
Mr. Douglas S. Stewart MBA ’79 Regional President PNC Peoria, IL
Joanne K. Glasser, Esq. President Bradley University Peoria, IL
Mr. Judson C. Mitchell ’66 Retired Vice President, Human Resources Adjunct Professor DePaul University Governors State University Chicago, IL University Park, IL
Mr. Robert E. Turner ’77, MBA ’78 Chairman/ Chief Investment Officer Turner Investment Partners, Inc. Berwyn, PA
Ms. Georgina E. Heard-Labonne ’74 Associate Director Illinois Department of Transportation Chicago, IL Mr. William P. Heidrich Partner, Hackmeyer-Heidrich Real Estate President, Oakriver Foundation Peoria, IL Mrs. Joan L. Janssen ’69 Community Volunteer Peoria, IL Mr. Wayne G. Klasing ’64 Retired President/ Chief Executive Officer Klasing Industries, Inc. Joliet, IL Mr. Michael A. Landwirth Chairman/Principal Wald/Land Corporation Peoria, IL Mr. Richard P. Lavin Group President Caterpillar Inc. Peoria, IL
Mr. Harry L. Puterbaugh President Leisy Brewing Company Peoria Heights, IL Mr. David P. Ransburg Retired Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer L.R. Nelson Corporation Peoria, IL
Mr. Philip Wilmington ’79 Chairman STC Capital Bancshares Corporation St. Charles, IL Honorary Trustees Mr. David R. Markin ’53, HON ’06 Retired Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer Checker Motors Corp. Kalamazoo, MI
Mr. Gerald L. Shaheen ’66, MBA ’68 Retired Group President Caterpillar Inc. Peoria, IL
The Honorable Robert H. Michel ’48, HON ’81 Hogan Lovells US LLP Columbia Square Washington, DC
Mr. Mel Smith ’65 President Investment Concepts, Inc. Chicago, IL
General John M. Shalikashvili, ’58, HON ’84 Retired General, USA Steilacoom, WA
Mr. Rajesh K. Soin, MS ’71 Chairman/Chief Executive Officer Soin International Dayton, OH