Sum-
Dear Colleagues, How Does Our Garden Grow? When I was a little girl, one of my favorite things to do this time of year was help my Grandmother with the family vegetable garden. The smell of freshly tilled dirt, planning what would be planted, and placing just the right number of seeds and correct distance apart in the rows under my grandmother’s watchful eye are all sweet memories. There was the excitement of seeing the first little green buds popping out of the ground. There was also the lessons learned about measuring out just the right amount of water and fertilizer to support plant growth, the patience of waiting for the vegetables to be ready for picking, and the toil of weeding (maybe all of that weeding wasn’t always the fun part of the memory!). As my grandmother and I watched the plants grow, there was always a hopeful expectation of a bountiful
harvest of fresh vegetables to feed our family all year. We have been going through a lot of changes at our University in preparation to meet WASC accreditation standards. My vegetable growing memories remind me of our work in several ways:
Self-assessing our ability to meet WASC standards has been like preparing the soil for planting. You never know when you hit a rock (our weaknesses), the need to fertilize (revising policies), and the straight rows made with the till (the quality and strengths we exhibit). We’ve also had to learn a whole new set of terminology, emphasize a culture of evidence, and write outcomes. I think this is much like planting the seeds. There have been multiple sessions for people to understand the need for changes and how to make those changes work in our current system. Our careful planning to submit our self-study and preparation for our on-campus visits
is similar to when my grandmother would consult her Farmer’s Almanac to learn the best time to plant and how to ward off pests. I can say with confidence I am seeing the budding plants of our efforts. Our WASC self-study gets stronger with each reiteration, we are holding good discussions about strengthening ourselves against the standards, and we’re organizing our evidence to accentuate the excellent educational programs we provide. We have not been letting too much dust gather on our gardening boots! We will continue to grow as we develop new policies and collaboratively work on new processes. We will definitely need to continue to water and fertilize our efforts, but I am confident our harvest will be abundant. When all of our work is finalized, we will be successful and our future secure. Wanda Nitsch President, CAO
CPE and Marketing CPE and Marketing are Making Strides
Lori Hankins, Director of Marketing and CPE, rejoined the USA team over 13 years ago having spent 3 years with the Institute of Graduate Physical Therapy in the early ‘90s. Yes, that’s right, quite a long span of years and she hasn’t changed a bit . :) Lori enjoys golfing, reading, walking and spending time with her husband, son, daughter and friends.
CPE is making great efforts to move forward with new and updated seminar offerings, delivery formats and creative methods to encourage attendance. During the past year, several new seminar offerings have been introduced that include: Upper Limb Soft Tissue Mobilization for Occupational Therapy; Exercise Strategies and Progression for Musculoskeletal Dysfunction; Caregiver Training 1: Assessment and Treat of Dementia; Animal-Assisted Therapy: Improving Treatment Outcomes as well as Equine Assisted Therapy and several new online webinar options on the new ERacer platform. Moving forward to strengthen the Manual Therapy program and expanding beyond to appeal to therapists across the many scopes of practice. In addition, the current calendar ad has been revamped listing all of the continuing education opportunities and incorporating QR codes (scanable codes for smartphones) to link directly to the registrations page and eliminating the outdated mail-in registration form. They can call, logon or scan. It is as easy as that. Now that is progress!
Marketing’s main focus is to drive inquiries for the many degree and non-degree programs that are available. Based on available resources, a plan is developed for each program and monitored for effectiveness. The Team strives to keep continuity and cohesiveness to the USA look. You are most likely asking “what does that mean”. It is very important for the University to keep true to the brand/logo to be displayed in a manner that best represents USA to both the internal and external customers. From website to letterhead, Marketing provides the properly formatted and colored logo in accordance with the USA logo policy. Please give a member of the Marketing Team a call if you would like to request the logo for usage on a University project. They are happy to assist you in the approval process. In addition, great efforts have been directed to incorporating the newly revised USA Mission and Core Values across all University Campuses as well as print and online presence. This conveys to the public who USA is as an institution, as well as its faculty, staff and students. Keep a lookout for highlights of this initiative at a campus location near you soon!
Be sure to visit the USA social sites including Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and LinkedIn! Join in the fun!
Meet the Teams From Hello to your Door – Switchboard and Shipping Suzanne Privette is the Corporate Receptionist at the FL Campus and has been with the University for 14 years. She loves spending time with her three granddaughters and enjoys anything to do with the history of the Space Program. After she retires, she plans to drive the tour bus at Cape Kennedy. Chris Kiamil, now in his third year with USA, is the Materials Coordinator. He is responsible for shipping on the Florida Campus and printing of the Seminar Manuals and materials utilized on all the campuses. He enjoys bowling and also plays golf but his favorite game, that he no longer plays, is Rugby (football without the padding). Some of you may already know this, but he has a part-time evening job conducting ghost tours in ‘old town’ St . Augustine. He has had some strange things happen on these tours, just visit his office and see the pictures that he has or ask him about the hand print on his arm!
Women on a Registration Mission Ouida Howell is Assistant Director of Continuing Professional Education – Certification and has been with USA for over 3 years. She always has a smile on her face and a song to sing. She enjoys reading, following the latest court cases and spending time with her husband and newly driving teenage son.
Derek Schmidt has been the Bulk Mail Coordinator/Office Assistant for over 6 months. He spends his leisure time riding his motorcycle and practicing his unicycle. In the 7 years Derek has been unicycling, he has cycled well over 1,000 miles!
Newly married, Shannon Cornelison, is the Assistant Director of Continuing Professional Education-Registrations. She has worked at the university for over 2 years and loves living in St Augustine, FL. During her free time, she enjoys attending local concerts and taking her dog to the beach. The newest addition to the CPE department, Galaxyna FloresBanda is the Registration Coordinator with a new addition of her own on the way. In the 2 months she has been with the company she’s managed to rearrange her desk 3 times and is constantly coming up with new ways to organize her organization. In her spare time this mommy of almost 3 likes to take impromptu trips to the grocery store and pretend she’s on vacation in Hawaii. From Print to Social Media – Marketing has it Covered Kelly Kuecker, Marketing Manager, has been with the university for over 5 years. She is currently finishing up her Master’s degree online from Eastern Michigan University. When she is not busy studying ,Kelly spends her time helping both her mother and father’s local businesses, reading, finding new television series to get hooked on and satisfying her online shopping addiction. She is also a lover of throwing themed parties and spending too much time constantly redecorating her home. Kay Saghir, Internet Marketing Manager, and has been with USA for over 1.5 years. She enjoys photography, traveling, long days at the beach, and making gourmet pasta with fresh herbs and vegetables from her garden.
Welcome!
Vanessa Mendoza and Amy Hinchman Clin Ed Associates
Linda Breitenbach , Accounting; Greg Trott, IT; and Miguel Becerra, Wellness and Facilities.
Elizabeth Michaud Clin Ed Associate
Cortnie Pierce DPT Admin Assistant
Stephanie Castro DPT Office Assistant Larry Mengelkoch, Faculty DPT; Tina Hoffman, Clin Ed Assoc; Laurie Shimko, ACCE; Galaxyna Banda-Flores, CPE Registration Coordinator; Chris Hancock, Wellness Coordinator; Chris Hankins, IT Help Desk Tech
Meet our Board of Directors: Ray Johnson, Brook Ellis, Joe Taylor, Betty Sundburg, Catherine Patla, Stanley Paris and Alan Paris.
USA’s Wellness Centers have been awarded the Bronze Level Healthiest Companies Award by the First Coast Worksite Wellness Council (FCWWC) and the Jacksonville, FL Mayor’s Council on Fitness & Well-Being. Awards were presented during the FCWWC’s 5th Annual Conference and Luncheon on May 15, 2013. USA’s Ricky W. Willis, DPT, Director of Wellness attended the luncheon and accepted the award on behalf of the university. USA is honored to be recognized for our efforts in providing an environment that promotes and facilitates a healthy and productive lifestyle for all of our students, faculty and staff. In April, the USA Wellness Centers were also recognized as a Gold Level Recipient of the American Heart Association’s Fit-Friendly Worksites Recognition program. The Fit-Friendly Worksites program is a catalyst for positive change. Worksites throughout the nation can be part of the initiative by making the health and wellness of their employees a priority. The University of St. Augustine was recognized as a Gold Level Fit-Friendly Worksite by the American Heart Association’s My Heart. My Life. initiative for: Offering employees physical activity support. Providing/increasing healthy eating options at the worksite. Promoting a wellness culture. Implementing at least nine criteria as outlined by the American Heart Association in the areas of physical activity, nutrition and culture.
“We are extremely honored and excited to be recognized by the American Heart Association’s My Heart. My Life. initiative as a Gold Level Fit-Friendly Worksite,” said Ricky Willis, Wellness Director. “Physical activity and employee wellness are very important priorities here at the University.” For more information on the Fit-Friendly Worksites initiative, or to find out what you can do to incorporate more physical activity into your day, stop by your campus Wellness Center.
Check out the FL Obstacle Course!
Dr. Chris Ingstad, CA DPT and 157 faculty and students volunteered at the L’Etupe du California cycling event. As a result, they raised $2,000.00 to be donated to the Challenged Athletes Foundation on behalf of USA. We have a relay team that is going to swim the English Channel between Aug 29 and Sept 4th . This is the second team from USA to swim. The first was in 2009 and was successful in 15 hrs, 22 min. Our team consists of: Dr. Rob Stanborough, faculty, Dr. Amanda Grant, faculty, Lab Assistant, Meredith Hermeston, current 3rd term student, Erica Cromwell, alumni, Jennifer Jenkins, alumni and Joshua Stoufflet, alumni Dr. Catherine Patla ran two marathons this year successfully: New Orleans in February and Big Sur, CA in April. USA’s TX campus faculty member Suzanne Trotter, TX DPT is volunteering at Potter's House in Guatemala City. Potter’s House is located next to the city dump where 11000 people work scavenging for treasures to sell in order to support their families. USA FL Campus March of Dimes, March for Babies, Team University of St. Augustine was given the “Best New Team” certificate award for the 3 mile walking event which was in April . Team University of St. Augustine included Kay Saghir, Callie Allison, Liz Brown, and Cris Clark . Dr. Margaret Wicinski, FLEX Florida campus received her OCS credentials. On April 11-13, 2013, Dr. Thomas Werner, TX DPT was an invited speaker to an Austin TX Research & Practice Session sponsored by Fielding Graduate University, Santa Barbara, CA. During the 3-day session, Dr. Werner led two 3-hr sessions on "Improving your Academic Writing" and one 4-hr session on "What is Theory: How to Read and Construct Theoretical Explanations in the Social Sciences." In addition, Fielding asked Werner to also work one-on-one with three doctoral students in creating more sound research designs for their ethnographic and phenomenological dissertation studies in the hopes of completing their PhD’s by the close of 2013. Dr. Elizabeth Ardolino, TX DPT, received a grant in collaboration with 2 other researchers for $300,000 from the Neilsen Foundation. We are developing a pediatric version of the Neuromuscular Recovery Scale, to measure functional recovery in children after spinal cord injury. She also gave a presentation at the ASIA (American Spinal Injury Association) annual meeting in Chicago in May. The presentation was on the development, usage, and psychometric properties of the Neuromuscular Recovery Scale (NRS). The EdD and DHSc programs have enrolled 10 students into Introduction to Doctoral Studies for the summer term, 8 new accepted students and 2 with applications pending. There is a total of 41 students accepted between the two programs (5/1/13) and a total of 42 registrations have been accepted for courses offered SU13 term. TX Campus held a fundraiser bake sale to help the Oklahoma tornado victims and raised over $300. Construction on the new Surgical Site, Classroom, Reception area and offices on the St. Augustine campus is complete. Faculty, staff and students were invited to an open house on Thursday, May 23 rd.
Barbara O’Connor, Online Admin. Assistant, in Sedona, AZ David Peay, College Rep and Amanda Grant, Faculty in Portland ME
Rhonda James, Financial Aid Director, At Kahuna Valley Beach, Oahu, HI
Leslie Schneider, Human Resources, Brandywine Falls, OH
Cindy Kingry, FL DPT Sr. AA Cane Garden Bay, Tortola, B.V.I.
Alan Paris, CDO Mud Run, Miami, FL
Dean Reynolds, Barbara O'Connor, Banyan McGowen, Laura Sanders, Lindsay Rosenfeld, Sherry Free, Greg Trott, Ana Busuego at JAM in Orlando, FL
Nikki Martin, Human Resources at Stonehenge
The Campus Connection is a publication of USA for the employees. If you want to contribute information or photos to be published in the next edition, contact Leslie Schneider at lschneider@usa.edu. All items submitted are edited at the discretion of the university.
Renovations = Progress!
The FL Campus Administration Building has had some major transformations the past few months. Leslie Schneider was given the job to organize and make it happen. She contributes the success for all the projects to a great team consisting of Stan Burgoyne, Ron Mennare and Derek Schmitt who helped dismantle and reassemble all the offices, Ricky Alegria and Mark Clevinger from IT who made sure all the departments were back up and running those Monday mornings, and all the great staff in CPE/Marketing, Student Services, Accounting and Clin Ed who packed and unpacked to make it a smooth process! Take a look at all the changes!
CPE/Marketing
Accounting
Student Services
Main Lobby
Clin Ed
The new pavilion on the FL Campus
Employee Events