Eye on Ukraine
Keeping the ‘I’ in Interdisciplinary While
colleges and universities gen-
erally offer a wide array of majors,
sometimes students wish to pursue a career path in which established majors just don’t quite meet their needs. In an effort to better serve the needs of students, Southern is offering a bachelor’s degree program in interdisciplinary studies that began last fall. The program enables students to design their own programs of study and pursue educational and career goals that are both personally interesting and professionally relevant, according to Ilene Crawford, director of the interdisciplinary program. She says one of the advantages to this program is that it offers students the flexibility they might need to better prepare them for their future. The B.A. degree in interdisciplinary studies will combine two, 18-credit concentrations, while the B.S. degree will combine three such concentrations. Students can also design their own concentration with the help of their academic advisor. For example, a student who initially opts to participate in Southern’s nursing program may become interested in other career paths in the healthcare field. That student may benefit from a B.A. degree that combines concentrations in public health and a science. Similarly, if a student is interested in becoming a science writer, they can combine concentrations in public policy, professional writing and science to obtain a B.S. degree. If a student wants to become a photojournalist, they can combine concentrations in geography, photography and journalism. Students interested in becoming self-supporting artists may combine concentrations in business, music and communications. “We believe these degree options reflect Southern’s commitment to exemplary undergraduate education in the liberal arts and professional disciplines,” Crawford says. “In short, we want students to use the flexibility of these degree programs to pursue selfdefined interests and to develop themselves into rigorous, innovative and independent problem solvers who will be competitive in a global economy.” For further information about the program, contact the Academic Advising Center at (203) 392-5367.
Panelists gather for the recent university forum, ‘Crisis in Ukraine: What Happened and What’s Next?’ The program examined the latest developments in Ukraine, the effect on the United States and Europe, and the potential consequences to the relationship between the United States and Russia. About 250 people attended the event, including more than 100 high school students from four schools. Standing (from left) are: Chris Velardi, news anchor for
WTNH, moderator; Kevin Buterbaugh, SCSU professor of political science; Greg Adams, SCSU chairman of the Sociology Department; and Matthew Schmidt, assistant professor of political science and national security at the University of New Haven. Sitting (from left) are: Patricia Olney, SCSU professor of political science; Krystyna Gorniak-Kocikowska, SCSU professor of philosophy; and Costel Calin, SCSU assistant professor of political science.
TOPPING OFF
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The 1,500th and final steel beam for the structure of the Academic and Laboratory Science Building swings into place after a March 25 ‘Topping Off’ ceremony adjacent to the construction site. The building is scheduled for completion in spring 2015.
SouthernBrief ly
After a national search, SCSU’s director of international education position has beenrecently filled James Barber, director of community engagement, with the the appointment of Erin E. Heidkamp. received Rev. Dr. Edwin R. Edmonds Humanitarian th Heidkamp has as West interim director Award at the 28served annual Haven Black of Coalition international education January Scholarship Awards Dinner.since Edmonds, who2012 passed away in a member of the SCSU sociology and2007, as anwas associate coordinator in the Officefaculty for decades and was instrumental in gaining of International Programs from April 2010approval to for the university’s Bachelor of Science in Social Work January 2012. During her time as interim director, degree program. The father of state Rep. Toni Walker, a Heidkamp has coordinated the merger of three longtime New Haven minister and Board of Education branches of international education at Southern: chairman, Edmonds was one of the founders of the study abroad and reciprocal exchange programs national United Church of Christ Commission for Racial (formerly the Office International Justice in 1967, and a of leading advocate Programs); against racism J-1 visa andinclusion risk management (formerly and for full of all people in the housed life of the in Sponsored Research) and of his church. Barber Programs received theand award in recognition matriculated international student services longtime service to the community. (formerly International Student Services). During The Social Work Department recently learned that its B.S.W. her tenure, student study abroad participation and M.S.W. programs have been reaccredited. At its has increased by 25 percent, faculty-led spring October 2013 meeting, the Commission on Accreditation break and summer abroadforprograms (COA) reviewed the study applications the baccalaureate have increased by 40 percent the number and master’s degree social workand programs, and voted of reaffirm reciprocal universities has to bothexchange programs’partner accreditation for eight years, increased by 40 percent. Heidkamp earned her
ending in October 2021. The COA site visitors stated in their report: “Because of the energy and commitment of the chair, as well as a dedicated faculty (the department) has been able to maintain a high quality of education despite cutbacks.” The university community was saddened to learn of the passing of Madan Nangia, associate professor emeritus of management, who died March 4 in Bridgeport at the age of 82. Nangia taught in the School of Business from 1986 to 2009. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to: Professor Madan Nangia Scholarship, c/o SCSU Foundation, 501 Crescent St., New Haven, CT 06515. Art professor Mia Brownell has had three of her paintings selected for a two-year installation in Hong Kong through the Art in Embassy Program. She also has a solo show – “Delightful Delicious Disgusting: Ten-Year Survey 2003-2013” -- at the Juniata College Museum of Art in Huntingdon, Penn., from April 10-Sept. 13. Brownell’s work is also part of a group show, “Peristalsis,” at the gallery Air Circulation in Brooklyn, N.Y., through May
11, and an exhibit at Friesen Gallery in Sun Valley, Idaho, opening May 24. In addition, one of Brownell’s paintings, “Still Life with Prosthetic Group,” has been acquired by the Hunterdon Museum of Art, and another, “Still Life with Lost Migration,” is featured on the volume #26 cover of Post Road Magazine. Brownell has also received a Connecticut State University Research Grant to conduct research in Colmar, Basel and Zurich. Southern’s annual Relay For Life will be held beginning April 26 at 3 p.m. through April 27 at 9 a.m. on Jess Dow Field. Relay For Life is a fundraising event for the American Cancer Society (ACS) hosted at Southern by Colleges Against Cancer, a student organization affiliated with ACS. Teams camp out overnight, and team members take turns walking or running around the track. Each team is asked to have at least one participant on the track at all times, and team members have sponsors who have pledged to donate money to Relay for Life on their behalf. This year’s theme is “Superheroes.” Learn more on Twitter @scsu_Relay4Life and on Facebook at www. facebook.com/SCSURelay4Life. To join, go to www. relayforlife.org/scsu.
SouthernLife • april 2014
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