M e r e d i t h
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M e r e d i t h
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Model United Nations Provides Unique Opportunities
President Jo Allen and her co-author Margaret Hundleby earned the 2012 Technical and Scientific Communication Award for best original collection of essays in technical or scientific communication from the Conference on College Composition and Communication. The award was for Allen and Hundleby’s book “Assessment in Technical and Professional Communication.”
By Melyssa Allen
M
eredith’s Model United Nations students had two unique learning opportunities during the 2011-12 academic year. During the fall, the College represented the United States in the Southern Regional Model United Nations (SRMUN) and in the spring Meredith participated in the Princeton Interactive Crisis Simulation (PICSim). Representing their own country in the SRMUN added an unusual element for the 18 students on Meredith’s team. “It was important for us to put just as much time and energy, if not more, into becoming experts on our own country, its flaws and perfections, and it can be hard to step back and look objectively at a country when you call it your home,” U.N. Team President English Clemmons said. An additional difference from previous SRMUN events was the role the U.S. delegation plays in the United Nations. “The U.S. is different because not only do
we hold a very significant amount of power at the SRMUN conference, but also it is important for us to be experts on everything that power ability has to offer and everything it has the ability to diminish,” Clemmons said. In 2010, Meredith’s Model U.N. team represented three different countries in SRMUN. Associate Professor of Political Science Jeff Martinson, who advises the team, said representing a large delegation this year is an honor. “The U.S. is always important, because its representatives serve on so many committees,” Martinson said. “To have been chosen means the organizers trusted Meredith’s capabilities.” Eight students took part in the PICSim in February. This was Meredith’s first time participating in PICSim, which involves a specific international crisis. The 2012 event focused on North Africa, and participants represented not one delegation but specific representatives of different nations.
“Everyone was representing a different country which was both more difficult and more exciting,” said Clemmons. “We had more freedom to really delve into our own topics and research different aspects of an entire country, whereas before we had one country and had to stick to the parameters of our own committees.” Clemmons portrayed Director of Algerian Intelligence Mohammed Mediene, while other students were in the roles of agriculture, planning and energy ministers for nations such as Sudan, Morocco and Egypt. Senior Sarah Phillips was portraying Al-Qaida’s finance chief, one of the nonstate actors (NSAs) that were also included in the crisis simulation. Meredith offers a Model U.N. class in the fall, and students can also join the College’s Model U.N. team. The participants are students who are pursuing a variety of majors, including biology, business, English, and religious and ethical studies.
Agreement Simplifies Community College Transfer Process By Melyssa Allen
M
eredith College has become a signatory school on an articulation agreement with the North Carolina Community College System that will make it easier for students to complete four-year degrees at Meredith. Students who complete the Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree at a North Carolina community college will enter Meredith College as juniors. In addition to guaranteed transfer of all eligible credit hours, these students are eligible for additional needbased financial aid, and register early with the junior class. Meredith is also offering scholarships aimed at community college transfers. “The primary benefit for students is the ability to plan and complete their A.A., A.S. or 44-General Education Core Diploma with the clear goal of completing their four-year degree at Meredith College,” said Vice President for Academic Planning Liz Wolfinger. 4
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“The transfer of course work is seamless, the students transfer all eligible courses as work toward meeting the 124 credit requirement of a B.A. or B.S. degree with one of 32 majors.” In recognition of the new agreement, Meredith is offering a new $10,000 scholarship to N.C. community college graduates
who enter in Fall 2012. Community college students have a history of success at Meredith College. In 2010-11, two of the six Academic Achievement Awards, an award for graduating seniors who earned 4.0 GPAs, were given to students with community college credits.
Newsmakers
Assistant Professor of Religious and Ethical Studies Shannon Grimes presented a paper, “Under a Star-Spangled Banner: Politics and Astral Religion in the Roman Empire,” at an international conference on astronomy, myth and culture held at the University of Bristol, England, on October 14-16, 2011.
Meredith College Launches Its Own Teaching Fellows Program By Melyssa Allen
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hen the North Carolina General Assembly voted to phase out funding for the N.C. Teaching Fellows Program, Meredith leaders decided to launch the College’s own version of the scholarship. Like its statewide predecessor, the Meredith College Teaching Fellows Program is designed to attract motivated, high achieving N.C. high school seniors who are interested in teaching. At least 20 students will be in the first class of Meredith Teaching Fellows. The Meredith College Teaching Fellows program continues the College’s legacy of recruiting and educating top students to lead public schools in North Carolina. Meredith has been a Teaching Fellows participant since 1987. “Education has always been one of the crown jewels of Meredith’s curricular offerings,” said Meredith College President Jo Allen. “I am immensely pleased that we are continuing our commitment to the next generation of talented educators.” The Meredith College Teaching Fellows Program will provide selected students with an academic scholarship that is renewable for four years, and special programming related to teaching and
learning in a complex society. The program is open to North Carolina residents and out-of-state students. Meredith Teaching Fellows will benefit from enrichment opportunities including: • Two-year internships in one of the nation’s leading school systems • An Honors core of 15-17 semester hours, including an honors thesis • Seminars on current topics in education • Focus on Excellence cultural and social events Meredith College students who have participated in the N.C. Teaching Fellows Program have been well-prepared for success. Of N.C. Teaching Fellows who have graduated from Meredith College in the last three years, 100% have passed PRAXIS II, and over 95 percent are currently employed or in graduate school. The 2010 North Carolina Teacher of the Year, Jennifer Facciolini, ’98, was a N.C. Teaching Fellow at Meredith College. The 2010 Wake County Public School Teacher of the Year, Elizabeth Loftis Plotkin, ’06, was also a N.C. Teaching Fellow at Meredith College. For more information, visit www.meredith.edu/teachfel.
Associate Professor Mary Jane Lenard and Assistant Professor Bing Yu are the authors of “Do Earnings Management and Audit Quality Influence Over-Investment by Chinese Companies?” in the International Journal of Economics and Finance (Vol. 4, No. 2). This paper was also presented at the 15th annual Financial Reporting and Business Communication Research conference held in Bristol, UK. Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Erin Lindquist was lead author on a correspondence letter published in the October 27, 2011, issue of Nature (Volume 478), titled “Small colleges aided by research networks.” Professor Emeritus David Lynch was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine during a service at Christ Episcopal Church on January 8, 2012. The event honored Lynch on the occasion of his retirement after more than 40 years of service to the church as choirmaster and organist. Professor of Theatre Catherine Rodgers is the 2011 recipient of the North Carolina Theatre Conference Herman Middleton Distinguished Service Award. The award is one of the highest honors given by the NCTC. Rodgers is a past president of the North Carolina Theatre Conference Board of Directors. Assistant Professor of Music Jim Waddelow has been appointed the associate editor of the College Orchestra Director Association Peer Review Journal. Associate Professor of History Greg Vitarbo is the author of “Army of the Sky,” a new book on Russian military aviation. The book, published in 2012 by Peter Lang Publishing Group, covers the development of military aviation from 1904-14 and explores the relationship of modernization and Russian Imperial officer culture. M e redith Ma ga zine / Spring 2012 /
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