4
THE NEWS RMU Partners With Cardinal Stritch for
New Doctoral Program By Lindsay Dahl
RMU GIVES BLOOD By Richard Connolly On Tuesday October 16th, the RMU Chicago campus teamed up with the American Red Cross to host an incredibly successful blood drive. The event, which was held on the first floor throughout the day's afternoon, was planned by some of RMU's own students as part of an ICenter project. Merrean Rosario, who just completed her Associate's Degree in Medical Assisting, headed up the blood drive as part of the ICenter project during the summer 2 semester. The purpose of the project was to create a health message for an audience in society, and what better way to get society involved than with a blood drive? Rosario had anxiously waited months for the drive to finally happen after the summer project, and on the day of the event she confidently took charge. Between handling details like advertising the event, ensuring the preregistered donors were able to give blood during the time they signed up for, and checking in on how people who had already donated were feeling – Rosario ran the show. Now pursuing her Bachelor’s degree, she eventually wants to enroll in graduate school for her Master’s. Medical school is her ultimate goal, but right now she is concentrating on obtain-
ing certain certifications needed to get a job in the field. Rosario is thankful for her experience so far at RMU, as it helped prepare her for things like organizing the blood drive alongside the American Red Cross. “Robert Morris had certainly prepared me for this event by teaching us the basics on how to be professional in any possible scenario,” says Rosario, “Our courses taught us how to manage a business, and take on the responsibilities that go along with it.” Donating blood is a simple act that nearly anyone can do, that has tremendously positive outcomes. One pint of blood is taken from each donor, and each pint of blood can save up to three lives. Organizers had aimed for a goal of 25 units of blood by the end of the day, but exceeded their own expectations and collected a total of 31. At the end of the day, a sizable group of people actually had to be turned away because of time restrictions and a lack of available supplies to take any more donations. Even with a busy schedule between school and work, Rosario hopes to organize another drive during the winter or spring semesters to give more people a chance to donate; so be on the lookout for more opportunities during the upcoming months to help save a life (or three) by giving blood. v
About a year ago Robert Morris began down the path to offering a Doctorate program for Higher Education. Cardinal Stritch University, from Milwaukee, Wisc., approached RMU to join forces and bring a doctorate program to Chicago. While the doctorate is offered by Cardinal Stritch University, RMU serves as the location of classes and the majority of students are from Robert Morris. Three professors rotate teaching these daylong classes on Saturday from 9-5. The total cost of the program is about $38,000 and is three years long. Each
... the doctorate is offered by Cardinal Stritch University, RMU serves as the location of classes of the three years has a topic: the first is leadership, the second is learning, and the last is service. The program is set up as a rigid cohort system, similar to the other programs at RMU. Currently there is one cohort that has just started its first year and another that is in its second year. Now in its second year, the initial cohort includes people of all different backgrounds but the majority of them are from RMU’s staff with a single faculty member. Nancy Donahoe, Director of Public Relations, is one of the program’s students who looking to move into teaching. The Dean for the Institute of Technology, Basim Khartabil, is another student; he hopes that through the completion of this degree he can connect leadership theory with practice. Then there is Stefanie Caldwell, Dean of Career Development, who is looking to reach a
few short and long term goals with her higher education. There is also a mother and daughter team, Kerry and Betsy Malm. aKerry has been with RMU for 23 years and is the assistant to the President of the University. Her Daughter, Betsy, has been with the university for 12 years and is the Dean of Admissions. The youngest student in the cohort is Sara O’Neal, Director of Education for Orland Park, Bensenville and Schaumburg, values education and is interested in student support and retention. The only faculty member Robert Tenuta, a Management professor is looking to grow and become a better teacher and increase his career potential; he has noticed a change in his teaching style and classroom delivery since beginning the program. There are students from other places including Nichole Gross, Principal at East Main’s Mark Twain School Dist. 63, Cory Rajek, Lutheran Pastor from Mount Calvary in Janesville WI, and Mary Woods, an instructor at Roosevelt University. Despite their unique backgrounds they all have one thing in common they love the program. One of the instructors, Dr. Peter Jonas, has his doctorate in history and was, in part, responsible for starting this program at RMU. Dr. Jonas, professor in the Doctoral Leadership Department, has been at Stritch for 31 years. Faculty in the Doctoral Leadership Department collaborated with administrators of RMU to bring the doctorate program to Chicago. The plan is to continue building the program at Robert Morris University and the collaboration with Cardinal Stritch University. With only one year after this one, these faulty and staff turned students now face the daunting task of completing their dissertations, which is five chapters long. v