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November 2007 The Faculty, Staff and Student Newspaper of the University of Richmond

News briefs and announcements

Davis United World College Scholars Program awards $1 million gift

Davis United World College Scholars Program, a philanthropic organization that promotes international understanding on American campuses, has awarded the University an unsolicited contribution of $1 million.

The program provides scholarships for students from around the world to study at more than 75 American colleges and universities. The unexpected $1 million gift recognizes Richmond’s high level of involvement and is in addition to the program’s annual commitment to the University. Richmond supports 25 international students each year as part of the Davis program.

In a letter to President Edward Ayers, Davis United World Colleges praised the University’s work as a partner and included a check for $1 million. Ayers, a strong advocate of international education, said “This generous and unexpected gift validates Richmond’s commitment to international education. When top students from abroad come to our campus, everyone benefits, our American students no less than our visiting students.”

Newsweek magazine recently named Richmond as the hottest college in the nation for international studies in its annual college guide. Currently, international students represent more than 70 countries on Richmond’s campus. Betsy Curtler, assistant vice president for foundation, corporate and government relations, said that Davis United World College students not only excel academically, but also “become deeply involved in a wide range of academic and social activities with other Richmond students.”
           
CAPS earns accreditation

University of Richmond Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) has earned accreditation by the International Association of Counseling Services Inc., the primary accrediting agency for university and college counseling centers in non-medical settings.  

Richmond’s counseling center is one of only six such campus centers in Virginia and 169 worldwide to earn the accreditation.

“It is clear that your center offers an effective and comprehensive program of services that make a vital contribution to the quality of student and campus life,” said Richard Yates, vice chair of the accrediting board, announcing the credential.

The board cited CAPS’ strong clinical and support staff, broad range of services, positive relationships with other campus departments and strong outreach program as strengths.

Peter LeViness, CAPS director, said the accreditation process took more than a year and included responding to 30 pages of questions, submitting supporting documents and hosting a campus visit.

Medal of Honor recipient is Jepson Leader-in-Residence

Leo K. Thorsness, retired U.S. Air Force colonel, Medal of Honor recipient and POW, will serve as leader-in-residence for the 2007–08 academic year at the Jepson School of Leadership Studies. Thorsness was a pilot during the Vietnam War, and in 1967, was shot down over North Vietnam. He spent six years in the “Hanoi Hilton,” a prisoner-of-war camp, and returned home when the war ended in 1973. On Oct. 15, 1973, President Richard Nixon presented him with the Congressional Medal of Honor, America’s highest award for military heroism. Visit jepson.richmond.edu for opportunities to hear Col. Thorsness speak. To be added to the invitation list for leader-in-residence events, e-mail Jepson@richmond.edu with the subject line Thorsness. For more information, visit jepson.richmond.edu/leader/2007.htm.

Open enrollment for University employees scheduled during November

Open Enrollment is the time each November when full-time employees are given the opportunity to enroll in or make changes to their health insurance, dental insurance, Colonial short term disability and Legal Resources. It is also the time to re-enroll or enroll for the first time in one of the University’s Flexible Spending Accounts.  Open Enrollment will be held this year from Nov. 5–16.              

Open Enrollment packets were distributed in October. The packets included information regarding a new voluntary life insurance plan, a new tobacco cessation program, enhanced life and long term disability plans as well as information regarding health and dental benefits and much more being offering in 2008.
Human Resources has scheduled the following benefits fairs for employees to meet representatives of all benefit providers: 

For questions or more information, contact Human Resource Services at 289-8877.

Proposals for Weinstein Fellows program due Nov. 30

Students and faculty are invited to submit research proposals that contribute to interdisciplinary collaboration in the Weinstein Hall disciplines—journalism, political science, rhetoric and communication studies, and sociology and anthropology.

Come up with a topic, make sure at least one Weinstein professor is on board, recruit one other professor from another discipline on campus, get together a few students and you’re off! Students and faculty will conduct research in the summer of 2008, produce a paper or presentation about their work the following fall along with a series of brown bag discussions, and ultimately create and teach a new course based on their project the following spring.

Visit as.richmond.edu/socialsciences/WeinsteinFellows.htm for more information or to download an application, which is due Nov. 30.

Weinstein Series has begun
The School of Arts & Sciences’ Weinstein Series has launched a conversation on classroom experiences at Richmond and the impact of pluralism on teaching and scholarship. The series, “Pluralism and Pedagogies,” invites faculty and students to engage in panel discussions and online conversations about the changing definition and influence of pluralism in academic fields and its impact, theoretical and experiential, on pedagogical approaches. The first panel discussion was held in October. Another, on Nov. 8, will include students from Weinstein Hall disciplines who will discuss pluralism and teaching from their perspectives. Two internal electronic discussion forums—one for faculty and one for students—will allow people from across campus to comment and reflect on teaching, learning and the increasingly diverse and global educational environment. A final panel discussion will be held March 20. For more information, contact Susan Johnson at sjohns25@richmond.edu.

Rhetoric & Reality webcasts

Faculty, staff and students who miss the lectures (or want to hear the talk again) in the Rhetoric & Reality series can view webcasts of the oncampus events at jepson.richmond.edu.  

Chapel Guild plans house tour

The University of Richmond Chapel Guild will hold its biennial Christmas House Tour of five homes Dec. 6 from 10 a.m.—4 p.m. Ticket sales are limited to 500 guests and include lunch at Jepson Alumni Center. Money raised from the tour supports Cannon Memorial Chapel and the chaplain’s office. Tickets are $30 and may be purchased by calling Debbie Barkley at (804) 288-2118 or the Chaplaincy Office at 289-8500.