“It’s a huge project,”
tion programs, and com-
children diagnosed with
says James Granfield, inter-
munity colleges that train
autism are often at a loss
im dean of the university’s
special education parapro-
about how to address their
School of Education.
fessionals. The compiled
child’s medical, education-
“There is such a need for
information was used to
al, and social needs. Early
this, as people are desper-
write a report for the
intervention is considered
ate for information on how
General Assembly.
the key to helping these
to serve these students.” Autism spectrum
“There is a great need for teachers to have
children. Southern offers a
disorders are developmen-
an understanding of this
master’s degree program
tal disabilities that cause
disability,” says Ruth Eren,
in special education with a
substantial impairments in
associate professor of spe-
concentration in autism
social interaction and com-
cial education. She notes
and other developmental
munication, as well as
that parents of
disabilities.
unusual behaviors and interests, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Many people with these disorders learn in unusual ways, the CDC states. Individuals with a form of autism vary in their learning abilities, from gifted to severely challenged. An estimated three to six of every 1,000 children in the United States have the disorder, according to the Mayo Clinic. State and national statistics show a rise in children with autism during the last two decades. Faculty members at Southern have been hard at work gathering data to develop new teaching methods to improve teacher preparation. Data was collected from numerous sources, including public forums, online surveys regarding teacher educa-
In an ongoing effort to create a
Safe and Secure
Introduced last fall, SCSUALERT
safe learning
conveys important infor-
environment,
mation to members of the
Southern is
campus community in the
installing a
event of an emergency,
siren/public
weather-related closing or
address system this
delay, or other potentially
spring. The equipment,
hazardous situation. The
which is being placed on
system delivers informa-
five buildings — Granoff
tion via text messaging,
Hall, Engleman Hall, Pelz
voice mail, and/or e-mail.
Gymnasium, Brownell
| ALUMNI MAGAZINE | VOL 7 • NO 2
Dr. Cheryl J. Norton, President Megan A. Rock, Vice President for Institutional Advancement STAFF Patrick Dilger, Director of Public Affairs Villia Struyk, Editor Marsha Rabe, Associate Editor Michael Kobylanski, Sports Editor Marylou Conley, ’83, Art Director Isabel Chenoweth, Photographer Thomas Cain, Assistant Photographer Nancy Ronne, Development Editor Charlie Davison, Alumni Notes Editor ALUMNI RELATIONS OFFICE Michelle R. Johnston, Director of Alumni Relations (203) 392-6500 EDITORIAL OFFICE Southern Connecticut State University Office of Public Affairs/ Southern Alumni Magazine 501 Crescent Street New Haven, CT 06515-1355 Telephone (203) 392-6591; fax (203) 392-6597 E-mail address: struykv1@SouthernCT.edu University Web site: www.SouthernCT.edu Printed by Imperial Graphics
“This system will
Hall, and North Campus
complement the variety
Residence Complex —
of communication tools
allows the university to
already available,” says
broadcast an audible
Southern Police Chief
tone, a live message, or a
Joseph Dooley, who
digital recorded message.
Southern
notes that Web
To further enhance
announcements and the
campus security, Southern
WeatherChek telephone
joined the other campus-
line (392-SNOW) are
es of the Connecticut
among the systems also
State University System
in use. For more informa-
to launch SCSUALERT,
tion on SCSUALERT go to
a new Emergency
www.SouthernCT.edu/
Notification System.
scsualert/.
Southern Alumni Magazine is published by the university in cooperation with the SCSU Alumni Association three times a year and distributed free of charge to alumni and friends of the university. Opinions expressed in Southern Alumni Magazine do not necessarily reflect those of the university or of the SCSU Alumni Association.Although the editors have made every reasonable effort to be factually accurate, no responsibility is assumed for errors. Postage paid at New Haven, Conn. Southern Connecticut State University, in compliance with federal laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures. This includes, but is not limited to, admissions, employment, financial aid, and educational services. Spring 2009 | 3