New Programs Starting This Fall Columbus State continues to expand its slate of online and graduate programs. This fall, CSU introduces three master’s degree programs (a Master of Education in teacher leadership and a Master of Public Safety Administration and a Master of Education in Special Education), new online bachelor’s degrees in communication, criminal justice and in nursing, and an Education Specialist in Educational Leadership. The M.Ed. program is designed for certified educators who want to keep teaching while extending their influence beyond their classrooms. It aims to help teachers improve their knowledge and skills in teaching their own content areas as well as in leadership, allowing them to develop the expertise to lead other educators to improve teaching and learning across all subject areas and grade levels. Like its on-campus programs, CSU’s online RN-to-BSN, M.Ed. in special education and Ed.S. in educational leadership are fully accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges. In addition, the RN-to-BSN is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, and the Ed.S. in educational leadership and the M.Ed. in special education are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. The Ed.S. in educational leadership has also been designated as a performancebased leadership program by the Georgia Public Standards Commission, and the M.Ed. in special education has been recognized by the Council for Exceptional Children. The Master of Public Safety Administration program in CSU’s Command College is designed for law enforcement and other public safety professionals. See related stories, Pages 8-9.
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CSU’s Leadership Institute Unveils Whitewater Leadership Experience CSU’s Leadership Institute now offers an experiential, results-driven, learningoriented river trip incorporating teamwork, communication and trust — leadership concerns more often addressed in a classroom setting. The whitewater offering is the latest addition to a full slate of leadership development experiences the university offers, said Eva Cooper, director of leadership and business development for CSU’s Leadership Institute. “We are looking for ways that organizational team members can get out of the office, have a bit of fun, but also learn more about how they can operate more effectively on a day-to-day basis,” Cooper said. “These experiences can be tailored to a company’s Eva Cooper needs to address a full slate of issues.” Find out more about the Leadership Institute and its wide array of experiential leadership development opportunities at http://ColumbusState.edu/leadership.
CSU Tennis Standout Paola Cigui Reaches No. 1 National Ranking CSU tennis star Paola Cigui became the first tennis player in Columbus State’s history to be ranked No. 1 in the nation. Cigui, a native of Trieste, Italy, completed her ascension to the top of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Division II Poll as the organization released its final regular season rankings in May. In nine matches this year, she went 7-0 with two unfinished contests. Despite being under the weather the day before becoming the No. 2 player in the country, Cigui bested then-No. 1 Annie Hwang, giving Hwang her first career loss. Hwang finished the 2012 and 2011 seasons as the No. 1 ranked player in the country. For more on CSU’s athletics teams and players, visit http://CSUCougars.com.
Focus on Columbus State University
Paola Cigui
Fall 2013