Letter from the Dean
Dear Colleagues:
The comments that you shared with us regarding the first issue of the College’s e-newsletter have been very positive. Our thanks go to Chris Driscoll for developing the format and to Kate Szumanski for gathering and writing the newsletter. Your comments are appreciated. It is our hope to continue to bring to your attention news and information that you can use in a format that is user friendly.
In the July 2005 issue, you will read about the Sophomore Research Seminar that recently was approved by the Liberal Arts and Sciences Curriculum Committee. The approval of this seminar solidifies the College’s commitment to providing our students with an educational experience that emphasizes rigorous reading, thoughtful writing, and intelligent discourse.
I would also like to take this time to thank all department chairs and program directors for preparing and submitting their annual reports. These reports detail, among other things, what steps have been taken to fulfill the goals of the academic strategic plan, Transforming Minds and Hearts. In addition to continuing the College’s commitment to excellence in teaching, faculty have published 30 books and have edited 19 during the 2004-2005 academic year. Faculty have also written 199 published articles and have presented 339 papers at conferences both nationally and internationally. An increase in grant activity should also be noted; faculty have applied for 176 grants. Please join me in celebrating the excellent scholarship being conducted by members of the College’s faculty.
I hope you enjoy reading this issue of the e-newsletter. Your comments and suggestions are welcome. Please direct them to Kate Szumanski at
kathryn.szumanski@villanova.edu.
Have a safe and enjoyable summer.
Sincerely,
Kail C. Ellis, O.S.A., Ph.D.
Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Sophomore Research Seminar Approved by Curriculum Committee
The Liberal Arts and Science Curriculum Committee has approved the proposal for a Research Seminar requirement. This requirement will be effective with the incoming class, which matriculates in 2006, i.e., the class of 2010.
The precise procedures for implementing this policy will be refined during the fall 2005 semester; however, based on previous discussions that have taken place at Strategic Planning Committee (SPC) and Curriculum Committee meetings, the following guidelines are somewhat fixed:
- The default option for Arts majors is that they will take this research seminar in their sophomore year. Assuming 600 such majors, with seminars capped at 20 students, means that the College will offer approximately 15 sections of the research seminar per semester. The College will ask the humanities and social sciences faculty to volunteer to teach these seminars. The preexisting model for these seminars is the upper division Honors seminars currently offered in the Honors Program. These seminars enroll students with a mix of backgrounds for the seminars; some students are majors in the field that the seminar represents, and others take the course because they are interested in the material. In either case, a major research project will be expected of every student.
- For most Science majors, the default model will be that students’ departmental faculty will designate which course(s) in their major fulfill this research requirement, and it will not necessarily be a sophomore level course. Departments will submit their recommendations (and actually, most already have done so) to the Curriculum Committee.
For more information on the sciences, please contact Bob Curry or Fritz Hartmann, members of the Curriculum Committee. For the humanities and social sciences, please contact Jack Doody at
john.doody@villanova.edu for further details.
Two A&S Graduates Awarded Alumni Medals
Thomas L. Kelly ’65, founder of Greensboro Dreamers, in Greensboro, N.C., received a St. Thomas of Villanova Alumni Medal during Alumni Reunion Weekend held in June. The Greensboro Dreamers provides a comprehensive long-term (16-year) educational support program for a class of 54 children with an assured opportunity for further education beyond high school through tuition assistance.
William P. Loftus ’85, co-founder, president, and CEO of Gestalt LLC located in King of Prussia, Pa., also received a medal. Gestalt is a leading provider of collaborative technology for government and Fortune 500 companies.
Christy Hansen ’97, a NASA flight engineer, received the Young Alumni Medal. Hansen majored in comprehensive science and minored in physics and Women’s Studies.
Dr. Gaile M. Pohlhaus Honored at Catholic Theological Society of America Convention
Dr. Gaile M. Pohlhaus (Theology and Religious Studies) received the 2005 Ann O’Hara Graff Award at the Catholic Theological Society of America Convention on Thursday, June 9.
University Style Guide Takes Guesswork Out of Publication Production
After a University-wide effort lasting nearly a year, the University's Style Guide was completed and formally distributed in fall 2003. The Style Guide was developed in order to assist faculty and staff to effectively and consistently use the University’s logo and associated typestyle, colors, etc., in the production of printed and digital communication pieces. Today, most academic and non-academic areas embrace these guidelines enthusiastically.
The Style Guide is a concise reference piece and is part of a larger technical guide, which can be found in PDF format on the Communication and Public Affairs Web site at
http://www.publicrelations.villanova.edu/logo/.
As we begin the ’05-06 academic year, it is important to remember that as your area begins production of new or revised items, it should adopt the guidelines as suggested in the Style Guide.
For more information, please contact Kate Szumanski at
kathryn.szumanski@villanova.edu.
