Stellar Invention
An Eastern University (PA) physical science professor has invented a new astronomy software program that will be used by professional and amateur astronomers worldwide. The invention—Binary Maker 3—is used to study binary stars, or “double stars,” which compose more than two-thirds of all the stars in our galaxy. Developed by Professor David Bradstreet in conjunction with David Steelman of Solipsys Corporation, Binary Maker 3 includes 3D plotting and accurate light output reproduction; and is a significant revision of Binary Maker 2, the software’s previous version (that is already used worldwide). Through allowing users to immediately compare observations with theory, the software’s added contribution to the field of astronomy is already leading to important advances in measuring the scale and composition of the universe.

Celebrating Achievements
Illinois Wesleyan University and Swarthmore College (PA) recently received awards for exceptional campus architecture. Illinois Wesleyan’s Hansen Student Center received a Facility Design Award from the Association of College Unions International, recognizing the Student Center’s excellence in design that supports campus community and student learning. Swarthmore’s new science center received a “green design” award from the U.S. Green Building Council. The award recognizes high standards in the science center’s sustainable, environment-friendly design, which includes such features as eco-friendly building materials, reliance on natural lighting, and labs designed for paperless note taking.
     Ten CIC institutions—Bellarmine University (KY), Chapman University (CA), Hartwick College (NY), Lynchburg College (VA), North Central College (IL), Rollins College (FL), Scripps College (CA), Spring Hill College (AL), Williams College (MA), and York College of Pennsylvania—were among a group of colleges and universities named as winners of the 2005 CASE Wealth ID Awards for Educational Fund Raising. The awards recognize superior fundraising programs in two general categories—Overall Performance and Overall Improvement—and are based on such criteria as total fundraising growth, overall program breadth, pattern of donor growth, and type of institution.
     A Mount Holyoke College (MA) professor of psychology and education, Becky Wai-Ling Packard, was awarded a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. The award—given each year to the nation’s top young scientists, or “the Albert Einsteins and Marie Curies of tomorrow”—was presented to Packard and other awardees during a White House ceremony.

New Institute
Pace University (NY) announced the establishment of an Institute for American Irish Studies. The Institute—to be headquartered at Pace’s Midtown campus—will have a three-pronged goal: to enrich the cultural and community exchanges between American-Irish and Americans of other cultural/ethnic backgrounds; to document the ongoing experience and achievements of American-Irish; and to broaden awareness about the important role of American-Irish in America. The University intends the Institute to be a first step in creating a broader move towards migration and immigration studies.

	For the second year straight, Cedarville University (OH) claimed the championship title in Solar Splash 2005, the world championship of intercollegiate solar boating. The Cedarville team competed against 18 other top-ranked teams to win the title—and received the highest score ever at a Solar Splash competition. Photo courtesy of Cedarville University.

Creating Partnerships
Several CIC campuses have enhanced their academic effectiveness by creating new partnerships with other institutions both at home or abroad. Carroll College (MT) has partnered with Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University in Jakarta, Indonesia. The partnership provides for exchanges of faculty, staff, and students, as well as research cooperation. California Lutheran University has partnered with the Lutheran University of India in Chennai. The partnership will allow Indian students to complete various undergraduate degrees at CLU and allow study abroad opportunities for CLU students in India. Cedarville University (OH) has joined with Handong Global University of Pohang, South Korea to create an academic mission-oriented exchange, which may include new student exchange programs, a sharing of scholarly Christian publications, joint research and publishing activities, and various projects focusing on the different social, legal, political, and cultural aspects of Asia–U.S. relations.
     Tiffin University (OH) and Heidelberg College (OH) have jointly created a new academic program that allows students to pursue a bachelor of criminal justice degree in forensic science. The program will link the criminal justice courses offered by Tiffin with the scientific/laboratory courses offered by Heidelberg. Hastings College (NE) has partnered with two other Nebraska colleges—Creighton University Medical Center-Mary Lanning Campus (Omaha) and Central Community College—to add the disciplines of nursing, radiology, and agribusiness to the 61 majors already offered at Hastings.
     In addition, three CIC institutions in Pennsylvania—King’s College, College Misericordia, and Wilkes University—have established the Language Institute, designed to enhance foreign language study for students at all three campuses. The Institute will also provide language study for the surrounding community, as well as foster multicultural activities and events.

Announcing New Programs
Numerous CIC schools have expanded their academic offerings with new degree programs. Bay Path College (MA) announced an MBA in entrepreneurial thinking and innovative practices; Wofford College (SC) created a multidisciplinary program in African/African-American studies; Bethel College (IN) added a master of education degree with four program options—literacy, school leadership, generalist, and school administrator; Union University (TN) launched a doctor of education degree in educational leadership; and Prescott College (AZ) established a doctor of philosophy in education.
     In addition, Illinois Wesleyan University launched a major in environmental studies; Mercyhurst College (PA) created a wetlands science program; and Bethel University (MN) inaugurated several degrees: BA majors in communication studies and human resource management, and an MBA program. Franklin Pierce College (NH) will launch several new degrees: MBAs in new business development and leadership and health practice management, a master of education, and a doctor of physical therapy. Saint Leo University (FL) created two MA degrees in teaching and pastoral studies. And Robert Morris University (PA) will offer a BS in competitive intelligence systems.
     Kansas City Art Institute (MO) announced a new Community Arts and Service-Learning Program that will begin this fall. The certificate program encompasses a rigorous 15-hour academic curriculum that requires students to complete a service-learning internship and four courses: “The Artist’s Role in Society,” “Collaborative Art Practices,” and two studio courses. The program’s philosophy is that students learn most when they combine classroom or studio time with real-world community experience.
     Finally, Shenandoah University (VA) created the Global Citizenship Project, a new study-abroad program available for all undergraduate and graduate students, as well as university employees. The objective of the program is for participants to explore what it means to be a global citizen. This year’s program has allowed travel to countries such as Costa Rica, India, Mali, the Netherlands, and Taiwan.

International Activities Focus on the Middle East
Interest in the study of Islam and relations with the Middle East is clearly on the rise, as evidenced by the many CIC institutions engaged in activities focused on this region. Benedictine University (IL) is one of three U.S. universities participating in a new international leadership program funded by the U.S. Department of State. The Study of the U.S. Institute allows 21 high school student-leaders from the Middle East to reside on U.S. campuses while partaking in a rigorous six-week study of leadership skills, public service, and citizen involvement. The program is part of the State Department’s Middle East Partnership Initiative, a presidential initiative founded to support economic, political, and educational reform efforts in the Middle East.
     In addition, Swarthmore College (PA)—along with Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges—received a $670,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to assist the three institutions in establishing the Tri-College Islamic/Middle Eastern Studies Initiative. The Initiative will foster new opportunities for Tri-College study abroad and faculty development in Islamic and Middle Eastern studies.
     Calvin College (MI) will participate in a wide-ranging study of Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. Funded by the Norwegian Research Council, the four-year, $2.6 million study of the Levant region involves an international team of scientists and academics, and aims to gain a better understanding of the region as a hotbed for “global moments”—moments that have dramatically influenced global thinking during current and historical times. And the University of Indianapolis (IN) is hosting the first group of students from its Mar Elias Campus in Israel, most of them traveling abroad for the very first time. Nearly 50 Christian and Muslim Arab students, accompanied by five faculty members and their families, participate in a seven-week schedule of coursework, field trips, guest speakers, and special activities.

Campaign Completions
Several CIC schools successfully reached the financial goals of their current campaigns: California Lutheran University recently completed its Now Is the Time campaign, the largest fundraising effort in the university’s history. The campaign raised $93 million to be used for new facilities construction, new programs, endowed professorships, and scholarships. Seattle Pacific University (WA) also completed its largest fundraising campaign yet—a $55 million campaign that raised funds for new science facilities, lectures, conferences, faculty research, endowment, and scholarships. Saint Michael’s College (VT) completed its seven-year fundraising campaign, Visions: A Campaign for the Saint Michael’s Student, which raised funds for endowment, institutional operations, and building projects. And McKendree College (IL) completed its five-year $25 million fundraising campaign, Heritage, Heart, & Hope: The Campaign for McKendree College. The funds will be used to build a performing arts center and aquatic center, enhance campus technology, and add more endowed chairs and scholarships.

	Emory & Henry College (VA) President Thomas Morris completed a 366-mile hike of the Appalachian Trail to raise money for the College’s Outdoor Leadership Program. President Morris raised more than $100,000 in pledges for completing his hike. Photo courtesy of Emory & Henry College.

Announcing Gifts and Grants
Three CIC schools have announced record-breaking gifts. Loras College (IA) received a gift likely worth $15 million or more, the largest gift in the College’s 166-year history, from alumnus J. Paul and Frances Breitbach. The gift will be used to fund various Catholic courses of study and establish a Center for Catholicism in Corporate America. The College of St. Catherine (MN) received the largest corporate gift in its history—a $1 million gift from 3M, one of the world’s leading technology companies. The gift goes towards the College’s Leadership in Mind campaign and will fund various science and technology initiatives. And Doane College (NE) has received its largest-ever gift—a $5 million building pledge from an anonymous donor. The pledge will be used for the construction of a health and wellness facility, the Teacher Education/Hixson Lied Art Building.
     Other CIC schools have received impressive grants and gifts. Rhodes College (TN) received nearly $5 million from the Robert and Ruby Priddy Charitable Trust. The gift will be used to enhance the college’s fine arts curriculum. The Sage Colleges (NY) received two grants—$2.5 million in New York state funding to help advance Sage’s science and technology programs; and $1 million from an unnamed philanthropist to create 100 $10,000 scholarships for students that dual major with a nursing plus another bachelor’s degree. Emerson College (MA) received a $2 million gift from anonymous donors to endow a chair in screenwriting. And Berry College (GA) received $1 million from the Atlanta-based Goizueta Foundation to support a program for minority teacher-education students and to fund scholarships for Hispanic/Latino students.
     Other smaller grants have enabled institutions to undertake important projects. Lenoir-Rhyne College (NC), for example, received a grant from the Charles A. Cannon Charitable Trusts for new software that will be used for deaf and hearing-impaired students. And University of Findlay (OH) received a hazmat training grant from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. The grant—which goes to the University’s School of Environmental and Emergency Management—will be used to help train firefighters and other emergency response personnel on topics like: basic hazard and risk techniques, procedures for containing chemical spills, and training for responding to rail car disasters.

Changing Names, Adding Campuses
Three CIC institutions have recently changed their status from college to university: Huntington University (IN), Southeastern University (FL), and Saint Martin’s University (WA).
     Lewis University (IL) will open an additional campus location for the fall 2005 term. Located nearby, the additional campus will provide more than 8,000 square feet of new space featuring six classrooms, a conference room, a lounge, and a computer lab.

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Last updated: August 2005
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