James J. O’Connor to speak at Saint Xavier University Winter Commencement

Retired chairman and chief executive officer of Unicom to receive
Doctor of Public Service, honoris causa

Chicago (Dec. 19, 2007) James J. O’Connor will speak at the Saint Xavier University Winter Commencement on Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008 in the Shannon Center. During the ceremony, O’Connor will receive a Doctor of Public Service, honoris causa, in recognition of his extraordinary record of service.

Shannon Center doors will open at 1:30 p.m. with the procession beginning at 2:10 p.m. The Commencement ceremony will begin at 2:30 p.m.

O’Connor is the retired chairman and chief executive officer of Unicom Corporation and its subsidiary, Commonwealth Edison Company. He is currently director of the following companies: Armstrong World Industries Inc., Corning Incorporated (Lead Director), Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation (Lead Director). He previously served as director of Bell and Howell, Borg-Warner, Esmark, Everen Securities, First Chicago Corporation, Tribune Company and Trizec Properties.

A native Chicagoan, O’Connor continues to provide leadership to numerous civic and nonprofit organizations. His extraordinary service includes: past president of Catholic Charities; life trustee and past chairman of the board of The Field Museum of Natural History; a director and past chairman of the Chicago Urban League; former chairman of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce; a trustee of The Adler Planetarium, the Chicago Symphony and the Lyric Opera and the Museum of Science and Industry; and Northwestern University.

O’Connor was elected to the Chicago Business Hall of Fame in 1987, named Lincoln Laureate in 1993, and received the Daniel Burnham Award from the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce in 1994. He is a recipient of three honorary degrees and more than 65 local and national awards, including the Shield of Saint Xavier. A chair of Decision and Game Sciences at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University was established in his name in 2001.

O’Connor earned his bachelor of science in economics in 1958 from Holy Cross College and his master’s in business administration from Harvard University in 1960. He spent the next three years in active duty with the United States Air Force, assigned to the Office of Special Investigations in Washington, D.C. He attended Georgetown Law and earned his juris doctor in 1963.

O’Connor served on the Board of Trustees for Saint Xavier University from 1979 to 1995. His distinguished service to and generous support of Saint Xavier University are exemplary. The SXU Board of Trustees elected him a life trustee in 2005.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact: Joe Moore
773-298-3937 or jmoore@sxu.edu

NLN designation for Saint Xavier School of Nursing appears in Advance for Nurses

The professional magazine Advance for Nurses noted the Saint Xavier School of Nursing's recent designation as a Center for Excellence by the National League for Nursing. The story included a photo of SXU nursing student Marta Druzbacka (above).

Saint Xavier University professor suggests environmental causes as worthy holiday donations

Read SXU biology professor Christopher Appelt’s Southtownstar Dec. 17 column about giving to environmental causes during the holiday season.

SXU’s Merwick Academy begins spring registration Jan. 14

Chicago– Registration for elementary and high school tutoring sessions at Saint Xavier University’s Merwick Academy will be Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. from Jan. 14 to Jan. 28.

The one-hour classes meet one day a week for 12 weeks Monday through Thursday or on Saturdays. Sessions run Jan. 28 through April 14, with no classes on Thursday, March 20 and Saturday, March 22 due to the Easter holiday. Those dates will be made up on April 24 and 26.

Registration will be from Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. Jan. 14 through Jan. 28 at the Merwick Academy, located in The United Methodist Church of Mount
Greenwood, 11000 S. St. Louis Ave., Chicago.

Elementary classes focus on reading, math, language arts and writing, study skills, introductory Spanish, and Catholic high school test preparation. High school classes focus on history, literature, Spanish, biology, chemistry, geometry, algebra I and II and study skills. Classes are $250 per student with a $50 nonrefundable deposit required at time of registration.

Founded 51 years ago, the Merwick Academy allows students of different cultures, ethnic backgrounds and abilities to interact in the learning process. The academy works with parents, teachers, counselors and administrators to meet the needs of individual students.

For more information, please contact The Merwick Academy at (773) 298-3181.

SXU announces Public Administration concentration at Orland Park Campus

Offered by the School for Continuing and Professional Studies

Chicago – Saint Xavier University has approved the addition of the Public Administration concentration to the Professional Studies major, which is offered by the School for Continuing and Professional Studies exclusively at the Orland Park Campus for adult transfer students.

The program will be offered beginning fall 2008 and is designed for candidates who have earned an Associate of Arts (A.A.) or Science (A.S.) or the equivalent. This is an accelerated program allowing students to complete their area of concentration and six hours in the general education curriculum in as little as 18 months.

Highlights of the program include technology-enhanced instruction, an 18-month accelerated schedule (including breaks), eight-week class sessions (two days per week), instructional material and syllabi provided at the start of the program, academic advising/educational program planning, career counseling workshops/seminars and practical and user friendly assessment with a web portfolio.

“This program is designed to meet the needs of busy professionals who prefer flexible learning options,” said Leslie M. Petty, Ed.D., dean of Saint Xavier University’s School for Continuing and Professional Studies and chief campus officer of the Orland Park campus.
For more information about the program, please call (708) 802-6200.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact Joe Moore
773-298-3937 or jmoore@sxu.edu

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Saint Xavier University and Saint Margaret of Scotland School partner for progress

Chicago (Dec. 13, 2007) – Saint Xavier University and Saint Margaret of Scotland School enjoy a special relationship. Under the direction of SXU’s Catholic Elementary School Initiative funded by Richard H. Driehaus, faculty, staff, and administration of both schools collaborate in a program dedicated to enriching the educational experience.

The initiative includes an expansive list of interactions. Faculty from SXU’s Graham School of Business are working with administrators at St. Margaret to review budget and fiscal procedures and to establish strategic plans for marketing and development. Faculty from the SXU’s School of Education have been working with St. Margaret of Scotland faculty in a comprehensive program of professional development.

On Nov. 30, 67 St. Margaret fourth and fifth graders enjoyed a field trip focused on health and fitness sponsored by the SXU School of Nursing and the University’s athletic facility, the Shannon Center. The students enjoyed working with nursing students and listening to the heartbeat of the electronic mannequin used for simulated practice.

At the Shannon Center, where the games stressed the connection between fitness, healthy eating and the fun of participating in physical activities, SXU students responded to questions. The field trip also included a tour of the campus so that students saw first hand the excitement and diversity of campus life. Fifth grade teacher Mrs. Leyden said, “Our partnership has opened many doors for our students. The interaction with our students will not be forgotten.”
That evening, 200 St. Margaret students and parents attended a family reading night at the school.

One parent commented: “It was great for the family to come together and spend time learning new activities to do at home.”

Research shows that students who formulate goals for college and careers by junior high school are more successful because they avoid decisions in high school that can complicate furthering their education. The field trips are designed to promote college as a goal and establish relationships between students of both schools.

“A true partnership involves respect for the contributions of both partners,” said SXU School of Education Dean Beverly Gulley. “The partnership between Saint Xavier University and St. Margaret of Scotland School recognizes that meaningful improvement in education combines the foundation of research and theory with the wisdom of practice. Lessons learned through the initiative can be applied to other schools and direct pedagogical research. But perhaps the most significant effects of the partnership will be seen in years to come as the faculty and students from both schools use their experiences to chart better lives for themselves and their communities.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION:Contact Joe Moore773-298-3937 or jmoore@sxu.edu

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SXU Graham School of Management professor teaches bioterrorism preparedness from across country

James Hagen, Ph.D., webcasts to Idaho, New Jersey and around Illinois



Chicago (Dec. 13, 2007) –James Hagen, Ph.D., fights on the front lines of the global war on terror—and sometimes he does it while working from home.

The Saint Xavier University professor recently delivered a lecture from his home office via webcast on “Leadership in Long Term Care Communities During Bioterrorism or Other Emergency/Disaster Situations” to participants across several states.

Attendees in New Jersey, Idaho and Illinois learned how to organize a command structure in the long term care environment and how leadership qualities must differ from those needed during calmer times. Hagen presented strategies for fostering leadership, as well as an examination of the vital role communication plays in disaster management.

Using a leading provider of live Web-conferencing and eLearning, Hagen directly interacted with students, manipulated Power Point slides, and used video resources when needed.
“This is such a good example of the powerful new technologies becoming more readily available to academic communities around the country,” Hagen said. “As threats become more global, so will our solutions.”

Hagen is the architect and director of the SXU Graham School of Management Disaster Preparedness and Management Certificate Program currently offered on Saint Xavier’s main campus and at its Loop location at the Chicago Bar Association.

His lecture was part of a collaborative effort between the Idaho Bioterrorism Awareness and Preparedness Program (IBAPP - http://www.isu.edu/irh/IBAPP/), Idaho State University Institute of Rural Health, and Mather Lifeways Corporation of Illinois. The web-based system provided a dynamic, speaker-controlled interface to conduct an interactive session using face-to-face communications. Hagen was able to manipulate and draw on Power Point slides, be seen by participants, be made aware of agreement or disagreement with points made, use video resources and directly interact with participants, just as if he were in the classroom.

IBAPP was launched to provide bioterrorism and emergency preparedness training to Idaho's healthcare workforce, employing cutting-edge distance-learning methodologies. Trainings include recognition and management of bioterrorist, all hazards and natural disaster emergency events.

For more information about the Saint Xavier University Disaster Preparedness and Management Certificate Program please visit http://www.sxu.edu/gsm/grcert_dpm.asp or call (773) 298-3050.


FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES:
Contact Joe Moore
773-298-3937 or jmoore@sxu.edu

"Doctor is in the House" visits SXU School of Nursing

On his WVON 1690 AM weekly radio show, The Doctor is in the House, Director of Chicago Public Health Dr. Terry Mason thanked School of Nursing Interim Dean Kay Thurn, Psy.D., R.N. for his recent visit to the Saint Xavier University campus to discuss enhancing the collaborative agreement between the SXU School of Nursing and the City of Chicago, as well as providing educational opportunities for continuing education for nurses.

Among the School of Nursing’s many initiatives, it operates the Saint Xavier University Health Center, a nurse practitioner-staffed primary care facility, which accommodated 5,860 patient visits last year. More than 60 percent of patients were members from the surrounding community.

Below is the transcript of Dr. Mason’s remarks:

I want to say a word of thanks to Kay Thurn, who is the Interim Dean of Nursing at Saint Xavier University.

About a week ago, Dean Thurn was my gracious host out at Saint Xavier, over near 103rd and Pulaski.

As you may know, Saint Xavier has a very long and proud history of educating nurses in Chicago.

And as you might imagine, with a Health Department as large as ours, we’re always looking for nurses with lots of energy and expertise.

So hopefully, as we move forward, we can strengthen our relationship and collaborate to help make our city a healthier place.

And if you’re a young person (man or woman) considering a career in nursing----or in other areas of study---I encourage you to check out Saint Xavier University by going online to www.sxu.edu. That’s www.sxu.edu.

Saint Xavier Graham School of Management Disaster Preparedness Program approved for Homeland Security Defense Education Consortium

Chicago--The Homeland Security Defense Education Consortium (HSDEC) has granted membership to the SXU Graham School of Management Disaster Preparedness and Management (DPM) Certificate Program.

The HSDEC is a network of teaching and research institutions focused on promoting education, research and cooperation supporting the homeland security/defense mission.

“We look forward to the exciting opportunities offered by this new affiliation. Recent events, such as Katrina, 9/11, the increasing number and severity of natural disasters, and the rising threat of terrorism, have emphasized the need for greater and more cohesive relationships between sectors of government in order for an optimal response to occur,” said program architect and director James Hagen, Ph.D. “The Graham School of Management’s coordinated sequence of graduate courses provides both breadth and depth to prepare for management of growing threats and newly evolving hazards.”

Hagen, creator and coordinator of the DPM Certificate Program, attended the recent HSDEC conference, titled “Threats at Our Threshold,” held at the United States Army War College (USAWC) in Carlisle, Penn. An international group of speakers presented topics such as Domestic Radicalization, Renewed Concerns for Nuclear and Biological Attacks, and Homeland Defense and Security in the Americas. The meeting was hosted by the USAWC’s Center for Strategic Leadership, George Washington’s Homeland Security Policy Institute, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and the Heritage Foundation.

For more information about Saint Xavier’s Disaster Preparedness certificate program, please visit: http://www.sxu.edu/gsm/grcert_dpm.asp or call (773) 298-3050.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact Joe Moore
773-298-3937 or jmoore@sxu.edu


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Founders’ Day celebrates service, liberal arts at Saint Xavier University

Photos: Judith A. Dwyer with Founders' Day individuals honored for service: Michael Flahive, Ph.D. (upper left); Margaret Lepore(lower right); Joanna Beituni (lower left).

Chicago (Dec. 4, 2007)--Saint Xavier University celebrated its founders, the Sisters of Mercy, during its annual Founders’ Day ceremonies on Monday, Dec. 3, 2007. A special feature of this year’s observance was a presentation in McDonough Chapel by Sister Mary Aquin O’Neill, R.S.M., Ph.D. on “Mercy: The Fifth Cardinal Virtue.”

Assistant Professor of Biology Christopher Appelt gave a presentation titled “Geckos and Glass Ceilings” in which he discussed the burgeoning field of bio-mimicry and the vast, untapped technologies to be developed from studying nature.

Saint Xavier Choir Director Jan E. Bickel, D.M.A., discussed and then led the University Chamber singers through W.A. Mozart’s Dixit Dominus, K. 193, vocalized in Latin.

Founders’ Day is a celebration that highlights Mother Frances Xavier Warde, R.S.M., for whom the University is named. It spotlights service by outstanding members of the University community and the University’s commitment to the liberal arts and sciences. Saint Xavier honored three individuals Monday for exemplary service: Communications major Joanna Beituni, senior, of Oak Lawn, received the Mother Paulita Morris, R.S.M., Service Award for Students. Margaret Lepore, of Crestwood, office manager in the School of Nursing, received the Sister Isidore Perrigo, R.S.M., Service Award for Staff. Michael Flahive, Ph.D., of Valparaiso, Ind., professor of communication disorders and graduate program director in the College of Arts and Sciences received the Saint Xavier University Award for Faculty.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:Contact Joe Moore773-298-3937 or jmoore@sxu.edu

Saint Xavier University School of Education holds retreat

Chicago (Dec. 4, 2007) –On Friday Nov. 9, 2007, the faculty, staff and administration of the Saint Xavier University School of Education attended their annual fall retreat, held at the Orland Park campus. The retreat was organized by a committee led by School of Education Dean Beverly Gully.

Keynote speakers, pictured above from left to right, were Barbara Eason-Watkins, chief education officer for the Chicago Public Schools, SXU School of Education Dean Beverly Gulley and Clara Jennings, dean of the School of Education at DePaul University.

The theme of the retreat and other School of Education activities was “The Professionalism of Teaching, Administration and Counseling.” The retreat examined how to prepare teachers, administrators and counselors for the environments in which they will be working and how the preparation can be grounded in tradition, theory and best practice. Speakers addressed how education programs contribute to the success of graduates.

“The day combined listening to gifted practitioners and collaborating in strategic planning for the School of Education,” Dean Gully said. “To see the commitment to students and to the profession of education of our speakers and our retreat participants was inspiring.”

An outstanding group of speakers provided context for discussion and data-driven decision making. The panel of educators, pictured from left to right, included: Kay Dugan, curriculum and technology director, District 109; Jason Edgecombe assistant superintendent for human resources, Oak Park and River Forest High School; Kathleen Gordon Davis, Art Dept. chair, Mother McAuley High School; Richard Stamm, teacher, Community Youth Development Institute, Chicago; Erik Tenglin, teacher, Union Elementary School, Harwood Heights; and Ardeen Hoke (not pictured), principal, Northeast School, Evergreen Park.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact Joe Moore
(773) 298-3937 or jmoore@sxu.edu

SXU Guitar Ensemble at Butler Reception Room Saturday, Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m.

Chicago (Dec. 4, 2007) – Join the Saint Xavier University Guitar Ensemble for a concert at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 8 in the Butler Reception Room of the Warde Academic Center at 3700 W. 103rd St., Chicago, Ill. 60655.

Under the direction of SXU Assistant Professor Frederick Miller, M.M., the ensemble will perform works by John Dowland, J.S. Bach, W.A. Mozart, Claude Debussy and Andrew York.

The concert is open to the public. Admission is $6 for adults and $5 for seniors and visiting students. Admission is free for all SXU students, faculty and staff with a valid University ID. For more information, please contact the Saint Xavier University music department at (773) 298-3421.

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