Atlanta Christian College Offers CLEP Exams

Atlanta Christian College is pleased to announce that CLEP exams will now be available on the ACC campus, beginning August 1. The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) is a credit-by-examination program, sponsored by the College Board, which gives students the opportunity to earn college credit by earning qualifying scores on exams. CLEP exams are computer-based and administered on the computer in the Enrollment Office at ACC.

Students take CLEP for a variety of reasons. Some use CLEP to shorten the time it takes to earn a college degree, thereby saving money on tuition and fees. Others take CLEP to move on to more advanced courses sooner, complete basic requirements in order to take more electives, or satisfy college requirements.

“The biggest benefit of taking a CLEP test is that it will save students time and money,” said Colleen Ramos, vice president of enrollment management and professional studies at ACC. “These tests also recognize your past experiences and allow you to test your knowledge.”

CLEP exams also offer a low-cost method for earning college credit. At $90 ($70 for the exam plus $20 administration fee), each exam is a fraction of the tuition required for a similar college course. The 90-minute, computer-based exams are offered in more than 34 subjects, ranging from U.S. history to Spanish to college algebra. Students receive their scores immediately upon completion of the exam (except for the English Composition with Essay exam).

Students have the opportunity to prepare for CLEP exams using the CLEP Official Study Guide, which helps students learn more about CLEP exams and decide which CLEP exams to take. It includes sample test questions for all 34 CLEP exams and provides test-taking tips and a list of study resources to help students prepare for the exams. Individual subject guides are also available online on the CLEP web site.

Nearly 3,000 colleges and universities grant credit or advanced standing based on CLEP exam performance. However, it is not necessary to be enrolled in college in order to take a CLEP test.

For more information about CLEP, visit www.collegeboard.com/clep. To schedule an exam, call 404-669-3202 or visit our web site at www.acc.edu/clep.

Clayton State Alumni Association to Sponsor Clayton State Night at Turner Field

Clayton State University alumni and friends, mark your calendars, it’s time for a trip to the ballpark.

The Clayton State Alumni Association will sponsor Clayton State Night at the Atlanta Braves’ Turner Field on Thursday, Sept. 4. First pitch will be 7 p.m., as Atlanta faces off against the Washington Nationals in a National League East Division match-up.

Tickets will be available at a special $6 per person rate, which is half-price off the regular gate price for an Upper Box ticket behind home plate. Dues-paying Alumni Association members will have the opportunity to receive even a better deal and can purchase two tickets for $6.

The Association is also considering reserving a pre-game patio area for attendees to meet and greet before the game if there is enough interest. Tickets are limited, and the Alumni Association asks that alumni and friends to please RSVP as soon as possible.

For more information about purchasing tickets, please contact Clayton State Alumni Relations at (678) 466-4477 or by email gidrowell@clayton.edu.

A unit of the University System of Georgia, Clayton State University is an outstanding comprehensive metropolitan university located 15 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta.

Clayton State University Welcomes New Director for Center for Instructional Development

Clayton State University welcomes Dr. Jill Lane, the new director for the Center for Instruction Development (CID).

“The first thing I plan to do is to find out exactly what the faculty needs are and to meet with all of the deans to find out how CID can support them. Once I have accomplished this, I plan to work with the department to tailor programs to their needs,” says Lane.

Based on faculty demand and a recommendation from the University’s Faculty Development Coordinating Council, CID was established under the Vice President of Academic Affairs in August 1998. The goals of the Center are:

support faculty in the use of software and multimedia tools;
enhance instruction through the development of online courses;
build community among academic support units;
explore new technologies for instruction;
model pedagogical principles.

Prior to her appointment as the director of CID, Lane held the position of research associate/program manager of Course and Curricular Development at Penn State’s Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence.

Lane earned her Doctorate of Education in Instructional Systems from Penn State. She also earned her Master of Education in Computing in Education from Rosemont College.

Lane is a co-recipient of the 2006 Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals Teaching Innovation Award and a co-recipient of the 2005 American Society of Engineering Education Mechanics Division’s Best Paper Award, Best Session Award and Best Overall Presentation Award.

Lane was the invited keynote speaker at the 2007 International Conference on Foreign Language Teaching and Learning in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Her research centers on the sustainability of innovations in education. She has more than 10 years experience working with faculty and teaching assistants on methods to enhance teaching and learning. Lane anticipates that within five years Clayton State’s CID will have more of a prominence at the state and national levels for its support of faculty.

“Faculty development is something I hold very near and dear to my heart. When the position was offered to me, it was a very easy decision to make. Ultimately, the commitment and emphasis on teaching at Clayton State is what made my decision easy. However, I also choose to come to Clayton State because of the diversity of the faculty, staff, and student body. The diversity here offers so many opportunities to learn from others,” explains Lane.

Now living in McDonough, Ga., Lane moved from Pennsylvania with her three cats. Lane loves gardening and wood working as stress relievers. She also makes furniture in her spare time. Lane looks forward to getting settled in her new home which has a large workshop to accommodate her hobbies.

A unit of the University System of Georgia, Clayton State University is an outstanding comprehensive metropolitan university located 15 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta.

Clayton State to Extend Late Registration Through Saturday, August 16

With the opening of Laker Hall as the first on-campus student housing at Clayton State University, and “move in” dates for the new residence starting on Thursday, Aug. 14 and extending through Sunday, Aug. 17, the University has decided to extend late registration for the fall semester through Saturday, Aug. 16.

All campus offices, with few exceptions, will be open Saturday, Aug. 16 from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

The following dates are important to remember:

Aug. 10 Last day for students to pay tuition and fees without late fee
Aug. 12-16 Late registration for fall term 2008 ($100 late fee)
Aug. 16 Last day for admitted students to register and pay tuition/fees
Aug. 18-21 Drop/Add for students who are enrolled by 5 p.m. on Aug. 16

No new registrations will be allowed after 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 16. Students not paid by 5 p.m. on Aug. 16 will be purged from class rolls immediately following close of registration.

A unit of the University System of Georgia, Clayton State University is an outstanding comprehensive metropolitan university located 15 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta.

Georgia's Standards Get High Marks

Georgia's state curriculum is extremely well-aligned with what colleges and the business world expect high school graduates to know, according to a national report released today.

Achieve Inc., a group seeking to raise academic standards across the nation, reviewed the standards of 16 states to determine if the state's expectations of students aligned with the skills and knowledge needed in college and the work place. With a top score of 3 points, Georgia's English standards scored 2.96 and Georgia's math standards scored 2.79.

"The Achieve report is another validation of the hard work that was done to create clear, rigorous standards for our students," said State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox. "The Georgia Performance Standards are providing our students the core knowledge they need to be successful in the 21st century."

Georgia is one of 33 states engaged in Achieve's "American Diploma Project," which seeks to align state standards with college- and work-ready expectations. It is the result of collaboration between the nation's governor's and business leaders.

"This report underscores the wisdom to put in place a more rigorous curriculum in Georgia's K-12 schools," said University System of Georgia Chancellor Erroll B. Davis. "Higher academic standards in K-12 means more Georgians graduating from high school prepared for college-level work, and in turn, ultimately, more college graduates ready to help Georgia prosper."

Achieve's report, "Out of Many, One: Toward Rigorous Common Core Standards from the Ground Up," reviews the English and Mathematics standards for the 16 states that signed on to the American Diploma Project early on. It rates English standards in eight categories, or "strands," and rates Mathematics standards in five categories. The top possible score is a 3.0 in each area (see chart below).

Georgia has revised its core curriculum into a set of clear, rigorous expectations called the Georgia Performance Standards. The curriculum revision began with the four core subjects of English language arts, mathematics, science and social studies. The Georgia Performance Standards are being phased in over a number of years and teachers are being trained for a full year before the new curriculum is introduced in the classroom.

Additionally, the state has a new set of graduation requirements that were developed collaboratively by educators and leaders from K-12 schools, colleges, universities, technical colleges and the business community. In order to earn a diploma, students who are entering 9th grade in 2008-2009 will have to take four years of mathematics, science and English Language arts and three years of social studies. These students will also have at least seven electives with which to personalize their education, whether that includes more core content, career-preparation classes or pursuit of the arts.

"In today's world, all students need a strong foundation in mathematics, English, science and social studies, no matter what their plans are after school," said Ron Jackson, Commissioner of the Technical College System of Georgia. "If we properly prepare our students in elementary, middle and high school, we are preparing our students for success and creating a strong workforce for the state of Georgia."

Superintendent Cox, Chancellor Davis and Commissioner Jackson serve together on the Alliance of Education Agency Heads. The Alliance brings together the leaders of Georgia's seven education agencies to collaborate on initiatives that will improve educational opportunities, from pre-K to Ph. D.

The other members of the Alliance are Jennifer Rippner Buck, Executive Director of the Governor's Office of Student Achievement; Tim Connell, President of the Georgia Student Finance Commission, Kelly Henson, Executive Secretary of the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, and Holly Robinson, Commissioner of the Department of Early Care and Learning. The Alliance also includes representatives from the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. Learn more about the Alliance at www.gaeducationalliance.org.

GEORGIA'S ENGLISH STANDARDS
Strand Score (out of 3.0)
Language 3.00
Communication 3.00
Writing 3.00
Research 3.00
Logic 3.00
Informational Text 2.67
Media 3.00
Literature 3.00
TOTAL AVERAGE 2.96

GEORGIA'S MATHEMATICS STANDARDS
Strand Score (out of 3.0)

Number Sense and Numeracy Operations 2.63
Algebra 2.92
Geometry 2.89
Data Interpretation, Statistics & Probability 2.50
Mathematical Reasoning 3.00
TOTAL AVERAGE 2.79

Clayton State Welcomes New Dean for College of Arts and Sciences

Clayton State University welcomes the new dean for the College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Nasser Momayezi.

Momayezi comes to Clayton State from Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) located in Laredo, Tx. He began teaching at TAMIU in 1995 as an associate professor of political science. While at TAMIU, Momayezi held positions as the department chair, associate dean and was promoted to dean for the College of Arts and Sciences in 2002.

“Moving to a new city and starting a new job can be quite stressful,” says Momayezi, “But people here at Clayton State; especially my colleagues in the College of Arts and Sciences, have made us feel at home. We truly appreciate this wonderful Southern hospitality. I am very excited about my new job and I foresee a wonderful bright future for this college and university.”

During his tenure, Momayezi hopes to see the College of Arts and Sciences offer new programs and degrees, as well as a new science building which would be a vehicle to offer more degrees in science fields. He also emphasized the importance of giving faculty as much support as possible so they can become tenured faculty with excellence in both teaching and research.

His primary research and teaching contributions include international relations, Middle Eastern politics, American Constitutional law, and Texas politics. He has more than 40 publications and most recently was the primary author of the third edition of Texas Politics: Individuals Making a Difference.

Momayezi received his PhD in political science from Texas Tech University. In 2003, he also earned a University Management Development Program (MDP) certificate from the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University.

He received a Master Teacher Award in teaching excellence presented by the University of Texas at Austin in1993 and also honored in 2003 as a Texas A&M University System Regents Professor.

Momayezi has served vice president and president of the Texas Association of the Deans of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He also served as a senior fellow at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

“Clayton State University’s College of Arts and Sciences has an excellent cadre of faculty with impeccable credentials. I will work closely with this dedicated faculty to move this college to the next level of excellence,” says Momayezi.

Momayezi is married with two children who are 12 and six years old. After living in Texas for more then two decades, he and his family now reside in Smyrna, Ga.

A unit of the University System of Georgia, Clayton State University is an outstanding comprehensive metropolitan university located 15 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta.

Clayton State Adds Dr. Lila Roberts, Dean of the College of Information and Mathematical Sciences

Clayton State University welcomes Dr. Lila F. Roberts, new dean of the University’s College of Information and Mathematical Sciences (CIMS). Roberts officially starts her duties this fall semester.

CIMS houses the University’s undergraduate Information Technology degree programs and the institution’s Mathematics degree program – a pairing that Roberts calls “unique” in the University System of Georgia.

“The organizational structure of the CIMS is unique in the University System and this organization presents both exciting potential and interesting challenges,” she says. “I [am] impressed with the talent and potential in both departments, the prospect of expanding and developing new programs and the enthusiasm and supportive nature of this administration.”

The fact that CIMS houses IT and mathematics under the same roof intrigues Roberts, and she hopes to foster a sense of community among CIMS’ faculty and students as well as extend the collaborative spirit of the college into other disciplines.

“One way we might do that is to develop a concentration area in Computational Sciences, which would have a multi-disciplinary focus so students can experience how important mathematics and computing are in a variety of settings. Mathematical biology and bioinformatics are ‘hot’ areas of research… building such programs will help us to cross college boundaries…”

Roberts is also committed to community outreach and hopes that Clayton State can nourish existing partnerships with local school systems and establish new ones.

Addressing the need for strong mathematics skills before students reach the college level, Roberts says, “Outreach by Clayton State University Mathematics faculty is critical to the region in terms of improving elementary, middle school and high school student preparation in mathematics. One way our faculty is reaching this population of students is by providing content enhancement to teachers in the surrounding counties.”

On the home front, Roberts will also encourage the development of the proposed Master of Science in Teaching (MAT) in Mathematics and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with an emphasis on game design and development.

A native of rural western North Carolina, Roberts holds a B.S. in Mathematics Education from North Carolina State University and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Computational and Applied Mathematics from Old Dominion University. Prior to her appointment as dean of the College of Information and Mathematical Sciences, Roberts served as chair of the Department of Mathematics at Georgia College & State University from 2003 to 2008.

Roberts and her husband, Dr. Lonnie Roberts, recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. They currently live in Fayetteville and have two feline children, who, according to Roberts, “allow us to live in their home.” Woody is a four-year-old Seal Point Siamese and Lucy is a four-year-old Tortie Siamese. Both animals are rescues.

And if you’re wondering whether the CIMS dean spends time with technology when she’s off the clock, Roberts is a self-proclaimed technology junkie. Want proof? She owns seven iPods.

“If something has a computer chip, I’m interested in it.”

Always education minded, Roberts enjoys developing strategies for using technological innovations to enhance learning. Roberts’ project Demos with Positive Impact, funded by the National Science Foundation, won the 2008 MERLOT Award for Exemplary Learning Materials. She is currently developing a website that makes Demos with Positive Impact web pages and multimedia materials accessible to students and instructors who have low hearing or vision.

To learn more about Roberts, email lilaroberts@clayton.edu.

A unit of the University System of Georgia, Clayton State University is an outstanding comprehensive metropolitan university located 15 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta.

Tift College of Education Programs Expand Throughout State

Tift College of Education is expanding several programs, including the graduate program. The College’s Master of Education degree with a concentration in early childhood education, which is currently offered on the Atlanta campus, also will be available at the Douglas County and Henry County Regional Academic Centers beginning this fall.

The M.Ed. program for teachers consists of 10 classes designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of certified teachers while also providing teachers with the opportunity to upgrade their teaching certificate to a master’s level (T-5). Classes are arranged in cohort groups that will start each fall.

As a twist, the master’s level early childhood education program in Douglas and Henry Counties will be a hybrid program, with learning occurring in the classroom and in an online environment. Each program will have the same objectives and offer the same courses, though the Atlanta program will continue to meet all classes face to face.

The College also offers M.Ed. degrees in middle grades education, reading, secondary education and educational leadership, as well as a Collaborative Educator program.

In addition to the Master of Education degree program, other Tift College of Education programs are expanding their borders. The College introduced the Early Care and Education program at the Henry County Regional Academic Center in McDonough in fall 2006 with an inaugural class of 21 students. Although only a year and a half old, the program—which currently enrolls 85 students — is opening its doors to new communities. In addition to the Henry County Center, students interested in the program can now enroll at the Douglas County Regional Academic Center in Lithia Springs and at the Atlanta campus.

This Bachelor of Science in Education degree, with a major in early care and education, is designed for individuals who wish to be certified to teach children from birth to five years of age. Graduates of the early care and education program are qualified for administrative, certified teaching, or social service positions with child care centers, Head Start programs, pre-kindergarten programs, social services agencies, and other facilities designed for the care and development of young children.

Plans are also underway to expand the educational leadership program to the Savannah campus beginning fall 2008, making Tift College of Education the third of Mercer’s schools and colleges to offer programs in Savannah. The program will join the four-year doctor of medicine program offered by the School of Medicine and the Professional Master of Business Administration degree offered by the Stetson School of Business and Economics.

Information about all Tift College of Education programs can be found at http://www.mercer.edu/education.

Upcoming Events at Clayton State University

Clayton State University will dedicate its first on-campus student housing, Laker Hall, on Tuesday, Aug. 12 at 10 a.m.

Customer Service Initiatives Ready to Roll Out, Aug. 1

Clayton State’s Customer Service Team is preparing to roll out two new customer service initiatives for the University, one involving providing information (Ask Me!) and the other looking for customer feedback (Tell Us!).

The Customer Service Team is set for the Aug. 1 rollout of a program that will ask for information – a standardized customer service feedback form. “Tell Us!” customer service feedback forms will be available in 10 to 12 boxes around campus.

This program is a new tool to measure to how successful Customer Service is at Clayton State, and is in keeping with the governor’s customer service initiative, which mandates a measurement function in customer service plans.

The “Ask Me!” program is a partnership between the Customer Service Team, the Department of Campus Life and the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority that will help welcome newcomers to the University in the week before the start of fall semester classes. Featuring welcome tents and student volunteers wearing bright orange T-shirts, “Ask Me!” will start three to four days prior to the start of classes on Monday, Aug. 18.

In addition to the welcome tents, other orange-clad student volunteers will act as weekday “floaters” around campus, answering questions and generally helping point people in the right direction(s). Depending on the number of student volunteers – many of whom will come from the Honors Program – the bright orange floaters will start floating on Wednesday, Aug. 13 or Thursday, Aug. 14.

Clayton State to Dedicate Laker Hall, Aug. 12

Clayton State University will dedicate its first on-campus housing, Laker Hall, on Tuesday, Aug. 12 with a grand opening and ribbon cutting starting at 10 a.m.

The ribbon cutting, hosted by Clayton State President Dr. Thomas K. Harden and the CSU Foundation Real Estate I LLC, will be held in the lobby of Laker Hall, which is located on the north side of Clayton State Boulevard. A reception and tours of Laker Hall will immediate follow the ceremony. Media representatives wishing to attend the event should contact the Clayton State Office of University Relations.

In addition to signifying a true paradigm shift in the history of Clayton State University, Laker Hall is also the largest building on campus, at 178,000 square feet, and features 451 beds in 108 units on four floors. Laker Hall is a public/private venture, funded by a bond project with the Development Authority of Clayton County the issuing agency. Owned by CSU Foundation Real Estate I LLC, Laker Hall is leased to the University System of Georgia with the lease payments coming from housing rental.

School of Graduate Studies Holding Open House, Aug. 12

The Clayton State University School of Graduate Studies will be holding its next monthly informational Open House on Tuesday, Aug. 12 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in room 201 of the University’s Harry S. Downs Center.

The Open House will give prospective graduate students a chance to learn more about the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies, Master of Business Administration, Master of Health Administration, and Master of Science in Nursing. The Clayton State School of Graduate Studies regularly holds open houses on the second Tuesday evening of each month.

Clayton State Premiere, Aug. 14 – Aug. 17

Clayton State’s welcoming its first class of residential students, Clayton State University Premiere, will take place Aug. 14 to Aug. 17 with several activities and events planned.
“This will be an historic time at the University with the opening of the first-ever on campus housing,” says Dr. Brian Haynes, vice president for Student Affairs. “We are encouraging students, faculty and staff to participate in the many activities associated with this occasion.”
“Operation Move-in” will begin in the morning of Thursday, Aug. 14 with students moving into their rooms. Several additional activities and events are being planned and will be released shortly for the four-day span by the Premiere Committee and the Office of Residence Life.

2008 Welcome Week, Aug. 18-22

As a way to welcome Clayton State University’s new and returning students to campus, the Department of Campus Life is scheduling Welcome Week 2008 for Aug. 18 through Aug. 22.

The theme for this year’s Welcome Week is E3: Explore. Experience. Excel. The mission of Welcome Week is to provide events, programs and information for students that will enhance their chances of excelling in and outside of the classroom. The week will feature several events and programs that will make new and returning students’ college transition and experience memorable and productive.

Third Annual New Student Convocation & Reception, Aug. 26

The Third Annual New Student Convocation will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 26 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. This ceremony will inspire, motivate and officially welcome new students to Clayton State University. Per faculty feedback regarding last year’s program, we will return to academic regalia for this year’s event. Please allow eight-10 weeks for turnaround time if you plan to order or rent regalia. Please contact the University Bookstore or Linda Campbell at LindaCampbell@Clayton.edu for additional ordering information.

The program will provide an opportunity for students to connect with their faculty, staff and classmates. Faculty support at last year’s event was phenomenal. Approximately 140 faculty and staff and 240 students were in attendance for the program. Your continued support and assistance is greatly needed and appreciated.

For additional information, contact Celena Milner at (678) 466-5443 or via e-mail at CelenaMilner@clayton.edu.

NARA Records Administration Conference, Sept. 9

The Southeast Region of the National Archives and Records Administration Director of Records Management is developing a regional version of NARA's national Records Administration Conference (RACO), which is held annually in Washington, DC.

The Southeast region event will take place at The Fox Theatre in Atlanta on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008, and will consist of a keynote address by the Archivist's (of the United States) lawyer on challenges associated with the management of ephemeral electronic records, plus several sessions relating to disaster preparedness and response, collaborative records management tools such as Web 2.0, records management training, and implementation of Records Management Applications.

A buffet lunch and docent-conducted tours will round out the event. All interested faculty and students within Atlanta's academic community are invited. More information will be forthcoming in Campus Review and Laker Lines.

Daniel Pyle to Open 2008/2009 Spivey Hall Season, Sept. 13

Dr. Daniel Pyle, adjunct instructor of Music Appreciation and Harpsichord for the Department of Music, and music director/organist for The Church of Our Savior in Atlanta, will open the 2008/2009 Spivey Hall season on Saturday, Sept. 13, with an organ recital presented by the Department of Music

The free concert, which begins at 7:30 p.m., will feature music of Northern Germany and Scandinavia by Baroque master Dieterich Buxtehude and Commotio by 20th-century Danish composer Carl Nielsen.

A unit of the University System of Georgia, Clayton State University is an outstanding comprehensive metropolitan university located 15 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta.

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West Georgia to Hold Commencement Saturday

The University of West Georgia summer commencement will be held in the Campus Center Gymnasium at 9 a.m., noon and 3 p.m. Undergraduates from the College of Arts and Sciences will be awarded degrees at the 9 a.m. ceremony. The noon ceremony will feature undergraduates receiving their degrees from the Richards College of Business. At 3 p.m., students earning their degrees from the College of Education and the Graduate School will receive their diploma.

Yong Suh, a graduate of the UWG Honors College and Advanced Academy of Georgia, will speak at the 9 a.m. ceremony. Suh is currently a healthcare analyst focusing on pharmaceutical and biotechnology investments at Noonday Asset Management, a global multi-strategy hedge fund.

As an undergraduate student at UWG, Suh was one of only four undergraduates in the nation selected to serve as a National Institutes of Health research fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Francis Collins, then the director of the Human Genome Project. Following his graduation from UWG in 2001, he worked in Collins’ lab researching the genetics of type 2 diabetes.
Before embarking on a career in finance, Suh was a Marshall Scholar at Oxford University and the only Marshall Scholarship recipient in UWG’s history. He completed two master’s degrees at Oxford in less than two years, graduating with a M.Sc. in research in pharmacology and an MBA the age of 23.

Dr. David H. Hovey will speak at the noon ceremony. Hovey served as dean of the Richards College of Business at UWG from 1984 to 1999 and as professor of management until his retirement this summer.

During his years as dean, the RCOB achieved accreditation of its graduate programs and separate accreditation of accounting undergraduate and graduate programs from the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSBI). Hovey also established the Small Business Development Center on campus and helped create a consortium to offer Georgia’s first online MBA degree. Other programs initiated during his tenure include the International Banking and Finance Study Abroad Program, the annual Economic Forecast Breakfast and the Merryl and Hardy McCalman Executive Roundtable.
Hovey was also instrumental in securing the donation from the Roy Richards family that led to the college’s naming as the “Richards” College of Business. Beginning this fall, he will continue his university service by teaching part time in the RCOB.

Dr. Brent M. Snow will be the commencement speaker for the 3 p.m. ceremony. Snow is the associate vice president for Academic Affairs, a professor of counseling and educational psychology at UWG and has served as the chair of the Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology for 16 years.

Snow and faculty in the counseling and educational psychology department earned recognition as pioneers and national leaders in school counseling reform in 2002 by the Education Trust, a nonprofit educational organization based in Washington, D.C. Under his leadership, the department was also one of only six university departments in the United States to gain funding from the Wallace-Reader’s Digest Fund to transform graduate-level training programs in school counseling. The $450,000 grant is the largest private grant in UWG’s history.
Approximately 500 students will graduate with a degree this summer. For more information, visit the university website at westga.edu.

College Scholarship Helps Students with Asthma

(ARA) – Even as the class of 2008 enjoys the milestones of their senior year, many are already well into their preparations for college. Scholarships are an important way for some students to help fund a college education, though identifying available awards can be daunting. However, if you are one of the many high school students affected by asthma, there’s a special option for you.

Applications are now being accepted for Schering-Plough’s “Will to Win” college scholarship program, which recognizes high school seniors with asthma who are pursuing higher education.

“Every day, teenagers overcome the challenges of living with asthma and achieve great things,” says Mike Tringale, director of external affairs at the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. “The ‘Will to Win’ Scholarship Program recognizes these young asthma patients who are dedicated to properly managing their disease and have not let the condition impede their ability to excel.”

Scholarships of $5,000 will be awarded to two high school seniors in each of five categories: performing arts; visual arts; community service; athletics and science. Each applicant must demonstrate outstanding performance and a documented track record of achievement in one of these categories. Applicants must also have received at least one separate award related to their category.

All high school seniors with asthma who will graduate in 2008 and hold a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale are eligible to apply. All scholarship winners will be required to supply documentation of U.S. citizenship, acceptance to an accredited college and enrollment in college in the fall 2008 semester.

For additional information, applications and entry rules, please visit the Web site www.schering-ploughwilltowin.com or call (800) SCHERING.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Early-Life Nutrition May Be Associated With Adult Intellectual Functioning

• Adults who had improved nutrition in early childhood may score better on intellectual tests.
• Poor nutrition during childhood is associated with poor cognitive performance in adulthood.

Adults who had improved nutrition in early childhood may score better on intellectual tests, regardless of the number of years they attended school, according to a report in the July issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

"Schooling is a key component of the development of literacy, reading comprehension and cognitive functioning, and thus of human capital," says Aryeh D. Stein, PhD, MPH, an associate professor of global health at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health.

Research also suggests that poor nutrition in early life is associated with poor performance on cognitive (thinking, learning and memory) tests in adulthood.

"Therefore, both nutrition and early-childhood intellectual enrichment are likely to be important determinants of intellectual functioning in adulthood," Stein says.

Between 1969 and 1977, Guatemalan children in four villages participated in a trial of nutritional supplementation. Through the trial, some were exposed to atole--a protein-rich enhanced nutritional supplement--while others were exposed to fresco, a sugar-sweetened beverage. Stein and colleagues analyzed data from intellectual testing and interviews conducted between 2002 and 2004, when 1,448 surviving participants (68.4 percent) were an average of 32 years old.

Individuals exposed to atole between birth and age 24 months scored higher on intellectual tests of reading comprehension and cognitive functioning in adulthood than those not exposed to atole or who were exposed to it at other ages. This association remained significant when the researchers controlled for other factors associated with intellectual functioning, including years of schooling.

"Nutrition in early life is associated with markers of child development in this population, and exposure to atole for most of the first three years of life was associated with an increase of 0.4 years in attained schooling, with the association being stronger for females (1.2 years of schooling)," Stein says.

Thus, schooling might be in the causal pathway between early childhood nutrition and adult intellectual functioning, says Stein. The data, which suggest an effect of exposure to an enhanced nutritional intervention in early life that is independent of any effect of schooling, provide additional evidence in support of intervention strategies that link early investments in children to continued investments in early-life nutrition and in schooling.

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In addition to Stein, study authors were Meng Wang, MS, Ann DiGirolamo, PhD, Usha Ramakrishnan, PhD, Kathryn Yount, PhD, and Reynaldo Martorell, PhD, all of the Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University; and Ruben Grajeda, MD, and Manuel Ramirez-Zea, MD, PhD of the Unit of Public Policies, Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama.

This study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health and from the National Science Foundation. The National Institutes of Health, the Thrasher Fund and the Nestle Foundation have funded the work of the INCAP Longitudinal Study since its inception. Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, financial disclosures, funding and support, etc.

Reference: Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2008;162[7]:612-618