Category Archives: Academy

Book Trust Welcomes Nationally Recognized Literacy Experts to Academic Advisory Board

Nell Duke, Linda Gambrell, and others join Academic Advisory Board

Denver, CO, Mar-21-2017 — /EPR EDUCATION NEWS/ — National literacy nonprofit Book Trust announces the establishment of an Academic Advisory Board, formed to ensure that ongoing enhancements and expansion of its national literacy program are informed by the latest research and best practices in literacy education. Members of the Book Trust Advisory Board include several nationally recognized leaders in the field.

“We are honored and delighted to welcome these esteemed literacy experts to our Academic Advisory Board,” said Book Trust CEO Amy Friedman. “Benefitting from the collective experience and wisdom of this panel is going to have an enormously positive effect on our ability to continually refine and improve our program. Our collaboration will ensure that Book Trust is an evidence-based model, designed to produce positive reading outcomes for kids.”

Book Trust Advisory Board members include Nell Duke, Professor in Literacy, Language and Culture and and in the Combined Program in Education and Psychology, the University of Michigan, KaiLonnie Dunsmore, Principal Research Scientist, NROC at the University of Chicago, Linda Gambrell, Distinguished Professor of Education, Clemson University, Ernest Morrell, Macy Professor of English Education and Director of the Institute for Urban and Minority Education, Teachers College, Columbia University, D. Ray Ruetzel, Dean College of Education, University of Wyoming, and facilitator Darren Cambridge, President of Cambridge Learning Group.

“Collectively, these experts bring innovative and research-based thinking to the core components of the Book Trust program: Choice, Celebration and Consistency,” adds Book Trust Board Chair Ron Lowy. “Our mutual goal is to create engaged independent readers, and this advisory team will bring considerable knowledge to bear on that mission.”

Members of the advisory group will convene twice a year and will also be available informally as needed to make recommendations to the Book Trust team. Each member will serve a one-year, renewable term.

“Book Trust’s program is innovative and robust, and as they continue to expand nationally, folding the latest research into their program strategy will help them continue to deliver impact and value to students. I am pleased to be invited to help in this role,” says Nell Duke, whose work focuses on early literacy development, particularly among children living in poverty.

About Book Trust
Book Trust is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower children from low-income families to choose and own books, inspiring a passion for reading that leads to cultivating increased literacy skills and life-long learning. Book Trust currently serves 50,000 students in 19 U.S. states. Since 2001, Book Trust has facilitated over 6 million book choices, and placed them in the hands of students in need.

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CONTACT BOOK TRUST:
Amy Friedman, CEO
720.459.6491
afriedman@booktrust.org
www.booktrust.org

ASPIRA of PA Continues its Rapid Expansion and Growth

It’s hard to believe that just five years ago ASPIRA, Inc. of Pennsylvania (ASPIRA of PA) was a relatively small community-based organization with less than 100 employees and an operating budget around $2 million. Today, ASPIRA of PA has over 750 employees and a budget that exceeds $58 million. In the past five years, ASPIRA of PA has emerged as a leader in education reform and a trailblazer among North Philadelphia charter schools. In addition to becoming a charter management organization in 2008, ASPIRA of PA has also expanded the scope of its enrichment programs and greatly increased the number of students served by its programs and schools. Take a look at the following figures to learn more about ASPIRA of PA’s recent growth and accomplishments.

Since 2008 ASPIRA of PA has:

•  Expanded from 1 charter school to 5 charter schools, including 2 traditional charter schools, 2 turnaround schools, and 1 cyber school.

•  Grown from serving about 550 students to over 4,000 students.

•  Increased its real-estate assets and property management from a 30,000 sq. ft. building to over 1 million sq. ft. in facilities.

•  Expanded from serving 5 grades to a complete PreK – 12 th grade, cradle to college/career model.

•  More than doubled the number of enrichment programs it provides.

ASPIRA of PA plans to continue its growth and expansion in the coming year through new initiatives like a Community Technology Center and a district-wide science fair for all five ASPIRA schools.

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“UNDROPPABLE” High School Tour MA, CT, NYC, PA, MI, IL, IA, KS, OH

‘Undroppable’ Announces High School Election Tour The ‘Undroppable’ producing team of Scooter Braun, Adam McKay, Jason Pollock, and Sharon Chang today announced their upcoming Undroppable Election Tour, beginning in Los Angeles on October 24 and going through Election Day.

Filmmaker Jason Pollock, the creator of ‘Undroppable,’ will be touring 14 high schools in 10 states for the final two weeks leading up to Election Day. His hour- long presentation to students in auditoriums and gymnasiums across the country is comprised of a speech, ‘Undroppable’ videos clips, as well as a panel discussion with local and state leaders.

“The main message of this tour is that education is important,” said Pollock. “Most high school students can’t vote this year, but they need to know what’s going on just as much as everyone else.”

The ‘Undroppable’ team will continue their social media campaign on Youtube, Twitter, Tumblr, and Facebook throughout the upcoming tour. The campaign has already been featured in Time Magazine and USA Today. ‘Undroppable’ has also received tweets from pop star Justin Bieber, as well as U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan.

“Our team is very proud of how quickly ‘Undroppable’ has grown. Regardless of who is in office, education is vitally important” said Scooter Braun, who represents pop stars including Justin Bieber, Carly Rae Jepsen, The Wanted, Cody Simpson, and Gangnam Style creator, Psy.

The ‘Undroppable’ Election Tour is a non-partisan event and will be filmed for an upcoming feature documentary that Pollock is currently directing and writing. The film is scheduled to be completed mid-2013.

“Education is such an important issue in this election cycle. This tour is a perfect way to keep this topic in the public eye as much as possible. Pollock’s energy and devotion to this project have been incredible,” said Adam McKay, writer and director of such hit films as Anchorman, Step Brothers, and The Other Guys.

‘Undroppable’ has also partnered with the Get Schooled Foundation in order to film in five high schools that are a part of the Get Schooled network. Get Schooled is affiliated with MTV-Viacom and the Gates Foundation. This month, Get Schooled launched their attendance challenge in 200+ schools nationwide.

UNDROPPABLE TOUR SCHEDULE

Oct 24th – La Causa Youthbuild Charter School, Los Angeles, CA
October 26th – New Bedford High School, New Bedford, MA
October 27th – Bridgeport High Schools, Bridgeport, CT
October 28th – NYC PRESS DAY
October 29th – Palumbo Academy, Philadelphia, PA
October 30th – Edsel Ford High School, Dearborn, MI
Dearborn Magnet High School
Truman High School, Taylor, MI
October 31st – Starr Commonwealth School, Albion, MI
Bloomingdale High School, Bloomingdale, MI
November 1st – Collins Academy. Chicago, IL
November 2nd – East High School, Des Moines, IA
November 3rd – Highland Park High School,Topeka, KS
November 5th – Dohn Community High School, Cincinnati, OH
November 6th – ELECTION DAY, Cincinnati, OH

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Fall Festival Brings Together Holly Springs School and Big Cat Wildlife Sanctuary

The New School Montessori Center is hosting its second annual festival Friday, October 26, at its location on Sunset Lake Road, Holly Springs. Scheduled from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., admission is $5 for adults over 18, or $12 for children ages 2 to 17. Admission is free for children two and under. Free parking is available.

The theme of this year’s festival is big cats. In light of the theme, the New School’s “To the Rescue” festival is partnering with the big cat rescue and wildlife sanctuary organization, Carolina Tiger Rescue. The annual fundraiser will donate a portion of the festival proceeds to Carolina Tiger Rescue. The festival will feature an exhibit by the rescue organization, with an emphasis on conservation of these charismatic and majestic animals.

Why big cats? Children of all ages are fascinated by them and big cats are among the world’s most endangered species. The New School’s Program Director, Julie Schroer, emphasizes how the festival theme connects with the school’s mission. “We strive to foster a love of nature and a sense of individual and global responsibility in our children. Teaching them about global issues such as endangered big cats and empowering children with the knowledge they need to have an impact is an essential part of their development,” she said.

In addition to the Carolina Tiger Rescue exhibit, each class will present the results of its research into their selected big cat at the school’s booth at the festival. But at its heart, the festival is a celebration of the wonder and beauty of our natural world. “While big cat conservation is an important topic,” said Ms. Schroer, “It’s important to have a positive message to encourage interest in these beautiful creatures, so we want to celebrate big cats as part of our fall festival.” Indeed, the event will have a carnival atmosphere with live music, a magician, vendor booths, monster slides, a festival dinner, a bake sale and raffle.

Besides admission fees to help their worthy cause, the school has enjoyed sponsorship from local businesses. “The festival is a great opportunity for local businesses to show that they care not only about our community, but about the wider world as well,” Ms. Schroer said. “We are so excited by this partnership with Carolina Tiger Rescue. Every one can play their part, this is not just about the school, but about our community and its role in making a difference to create a world that is better for our children and for the wild animals that excite and inspire them.”

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Center for Scholastic Inquiry Offers Cost-Free Research Publication to Conference Presenters

The Center for Scholastic Inquiry announced promotional pricing for its upcoming international academic research conference and peer-reviewed academic journals. Professionals and practitioners in the fields of education, business and behavioral sciences who present their academic or action research at CSI’s Scottsdale conference are able to publish the research in one of the company’s refereed journals at no cost.

When behavioral science, education and business practitioners and professionals register to attend and present their research at the Center for Scholastic Inquiry’s InternationalAcademic Research Conference, CSI will waive all submission review and preprocess fees for their corresponding paper to be published. This is a $475.00 savings for those who take advantage of the offer.

“This offer makes presenting and publishing academic and action research achievable and very cost effective,” said Dr. Tanya Yerigan, CEO of the Center for Scholastic Inquiry, “By packaging our conference and publication offering together, we make meaningful professional development manageable for our attendees,”

The academic research conference will be held in Scottsdale, Arizona, on April 17, 18 and 19. Attendees can join the conference eve reception, attend the two-day keynote address, and present and hear contemporary research of interest to them during multi-format breakout sessions in four tracks: multidisciplinary, education, behavioral sciences and business. The keynote topic is leadership and will provide action principles and strategies applicable in any education, business or behavioral science field. Read more about full conference details.

Education, behavioral science and business professionals who register for the conference by October 3, 2012, will be eligible for this promotional offer. In addition to cost-free publishing, attendees will promote scholarly research, advance best practice and elevate their professional authority and expertise. Promotion details are available.

Professionals and practitioners interested in attending or presenting can learn more about the conference by visiting CSI’s website (www.csiresearch.com) or contacting the company.

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The Center for Scholastic Inquiry International Academic Research Conference Call for Papers Now Open

The Center for Scholastic Inquiry is pleased to announce its inaugural academic research conference on April 17-19, 2013, in Scottsdale, Arizona. The conference highlights academic research in education, business and behavioral sciences to support superior, break through scholarship and establish a platform to recognize and celebrate luminaries, pioneers and practitioners in the professions of education, business and behavioral sciences.

The conference, which is being held at a luxury desert resort, will be preceded by a conference-eve reception followed by three days of education, business and behavioral sciences track breakout sessions, morning keynote addresses, and networking gatherings. This inquiry-focused conference, centered on leading edge academic research, is a stimulating and dynamic event aimed at identifying and advancing best practice and promising innovative methods.

The conference call for papers is now open and will close March 15, 2013. Individuals are encouraged to submit proposals that focus on landmark scientific findings, promotion of best practice, advancement of evidence-based practice, ground-breaking research, revolutionary theory or innovative technique in the fields of education, business or behavioral sciences. Guidelines for submissions are available for review.
Early registration for conference attendance is currently open.  Standard registration for conference attendance begins November 1, 2012.  Individuals are welcome to review conference details or take advantage of early registration rates.

About the Center for Scholastic Inquiry
The Center for Scholastic Inquiry was established to provide education, business and behavioral science professionals with a scholarly forum for exploring and sharing the latest academic research in their respective fields.

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Screenwise Acting School Announces Upcoming Short Courses In Sydney

Screenwise, the Sydney TV & Film Acting School that boasts Spartacus Blood and Sand star Andy Whitfield and Legend Of The Seeker star Tabrett Bethell amongst it’s alumni, announces several upcoming short courses from Beginners through to Advanced acting levels.

One of their most popular short courses is the Screen Acting for Beginners which is tutored by experienced actor Philip Holder. This six week acting course, which commences on 5th of July 2012, covers Screen Acting Basics including improvisation, interpretation and scene analysis.

Should students wish to continue with their acting studies, there is a six week Screen Acting Intermediate course tutored by Screen and Stage Actor, Alan Flower. Like Screen Acting for Beginners, this six week course runs one class per week over six weeks and covers ‘The Unique You’ – Reacting – Not acting, with focus on listening as the key. The Australian film and television industry on the whole is looking for unique personalities who can set the screen alight. This intermediate acting course focuses on methods that will help actors present in auditions and on set in a relaxed, focused, and charismatic way.

There are also two six week Screen Acting Advanced workshops commencing in July: TheScreen Test Audition Workshop, tutored by Actress and Author, Rhondda Findleton (Blood Brothers, Crownies, East West 101), commences on 18th of July 2012. Always getting a call back, but never getting the role? So close and yet so far? The Screen Test Audition Workshop is for those actors who need to perfect their audition technique.

Screen Acting Advanced with Director Dan Krige (West, Redd Inc) commences on 2nd of July 2012. Dan will give students an opportunity to explore monologue and scene work together with the technical requirements for acting on screen.

For young adults from 12 to 16 years, Screenwise offers a three day School Holiday Presenter’s Workshop tutored by actor/presenter, Di Smith (The Great Outdoors) which commences on 3rd of July 2012. In this Presenting Workshop, teens will explore confidence, spontaneity and personality on camera. They will learn to write and produce their own material and perform on camera and record their work to DVD.

Screenwise also offers young adult actors, from 12 to 16 years, the Screenteens Workshop on Saturday mornings from 9.30am to 11.30am during school terms. Past Screenteen students, like Ashleigh Cummings (Puberty Blues, Tomorrow When The World began), have auditioned and appeared in some of Australia’s leading film and TV series such as Home and Away, All Saints, The December Boys, H2O and Blue Water High. Thanks to referrals from Screenwise, many of the students are now represented by some of Sydney’s top Acting Agencies.

In industry related news, former Screenwise student Ashleigh Cummings’ star is quickly on the rise in the local and international Film and TV Industry. Ashleigh who starred in the feature film Tomorrow When The World Began and the ABC’s Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, is now the star of the much anticipated television series, Puberty Blues.

One of their most popular short courses is the Screen Acting for Beginners which is tutored by experienced actor Philip Holder. This six week acting course, which commences on 5th of July 2012, covers Screen Acting Basics including improvisation, interpretation and scene analysis.

Should students wish to continue with their acting studies, there is a six week Screen Acting Intermediate course tutored by Screen and Stage Actor, Alan Flower. Like Screen Acting for Beginners, this six week course runs one class per week over six weeks and covers ‘The Unique You’ – Reacting – Not acting, with focus on listening as the key. The Australian film and television industry on the whole is looking for unique personalities who can set the screen alight. This intermediate acting course focuses on methods that will help actors present in auditions and on set in a relaxed, focused, and charismatic way.

There are also two six week Screen Acting Advanced workshops commencing in July: The Screen Test Audition Workshop, tutored by Actress and Author, Rhondda Findleton (Blood Brothers, Crownies, East West 101), commences on 18th of July 2012. Always getting a call back, but never getting the role? So close and yet so far? The Screen Test Audition Workshop is for those actors who need to perfect their audition technique.

Screen Acting Advanced with Director Dan Krige (West, Redd Inc) commences on 2nd of July 2012. Dan will give students an opportunity to explore monologue and scene work together with the technical requirements for acting on screen.

For young adults from 12 to 16 years, Screenwise offers a three day School Holiday Presenter’s Workshop tutored by actor/presenter, Di Smith (The Great Outdoors) which commences on 3rd of July 2012. In this Presenting Workshop, teens will explore confidence, spontaneity and personality on camera. They will learn to write and produce their own material and perform on camera and record their work to DVD.

Screenwise also offers young adult actors, from 12 to 16 years, the Screenteens Workshop on Saturday mornings from 9.30am to 11.30am during school terms. Past Screenteen students, like Ashleigh Cummings (Puberty Blues, Tomorrow When The World began), have auditioned and appeared in some of Australia’s leading film and TV series such as Home and Away, All Saints, The December Boys, H2O and Blue Water High. Thanks to referrals from Screenwise, many of the students are now represented by some of Sydney’s top Acting Agencies.

In industry related news, former Screenwise student Ashleigh Cummings’ star is quickly on the rise in the local and international Film and TV Industry. Ashleigh who starred in the feature film Tomorrow When The World Began and the ABC’s Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, is now the star of the much anticipated television series, Puberty Blues.

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Complete University Guide 2013 ranks Lancaster University ninth in the UK

The Complete University Guide for 2013 has finished its research into the best universities in the UK and on 24th April 2012 released the new University League Table, in which Lancaster University ranks in ninth place.

By coming in ninth position Lancaster University is now grouped with the top universities in the UK alongside many prestigious higher education institutions. This leading group has Cambridge University in first place, with the rest of the top 10 including, in order of rank, the London School of Economics, Oxford University, the Imperial College of London, Durham University, the University of St Andrews, the University of Warwick, University College London, Lancaster University and the University of Bath.

A total of nine attributes were used to measure the University League Table’s rankings, including student satisfaction, research funding, entry standards, the ratio of students to staff, academic services spending, overall quality of student facilities, degree results, graduate prospects, and levels of degree completion.

Apart from gaining high scores overall, Lancaster University also achieved exceptional results for its individual dress subjects. Social work came in first place, art and design in second, linguistics in third, drama, dance and cinema in fifth, biological science, geography and environmental science all ranked eighth, and accounting and finance, business studies, general engineering and social policy placed ninth.

All universities were judged on four attributes for degree subjects, which were – student satisfaction, research (including doctoral and postgraduate research), entry standards and graduate prospects.

Lancaster University has recently ranked highly in a number of publications. For instance, the university was ranked ninth in The Times Good University Guide 2012 and seventh out of 120 UK universities in The Guardian’s University Guide 2012. Also, the UK Government’s latest Assessment of Research in 2008 revealed that more than 90 per cent of Lancaster University’s research work can be classed as world leading and that the University has some of the best research subjects in the UK.

Of the University’s latest achievement in the University League Table Professor Mark E. Smith, the Vice-Chancellor of Lancaster University, said: “Lancaster University is consistently highly ranked in the UK league tables and is established as a world player in research and teaching, which is reflected in our rising global league table position.

“Students who come to Lancaster can be confident of receiving a first class education at an internationally diverse campus.”

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Student Accommodation At Lancaster University Ranks Second In The UK

Following the annual Times Higher Education Student Experience survey, Lancaster University’s student accommodation has been ranked second in the whole of the UK.

The Times Higher Education Student Experience survey was conducted by the University of Cambridge and a total of 105 different universities were ranked. All universities were scored on 21 attributes, such as the overall quality of lectures, social life, facilities, the student’s union and many others. For each attribute universities were scored out of seven by its own students, with the total for every university being calculated from these results.

191 students from Lancaster University participated the university’s scoring this year and the university ranked at number 19 for the second year running. The university has received its greatest accolade in recent years, now being set in joint second place for the best student accommodation in the UK, alongside the University of Dundee and the University of Oxford.

And it’s easy to see why the university’s students chose such a high score for its accommodation, as the students’ halls of residence is of a much higher quality than many others in the UK. Students living there can benefit from eco-friendly and energy-efficient technologies that encourage them to live more sustainably, which is a key skill they can then take into later life.

For example, students can refer to real-time energy monitors to keep energy wastage at a minimum. The halls have also been fitted with roof-mounted thermal solar panels that preheat hot water, Passive Infra-Red (PIR) units to control lighting in the halls, and high-end insulation.

“It’s not like a first-year halls of residence,” said Hilary Simmons, the Head of Colleges and Student Life at Lancaster University. “You have this huge vibrancy of second- and third-years organising lots of activities and social events. Keeping these smaller communities within the overall huge university community is really important to us.”

Lancaster University has pioneered an Eco-Residences model that has received much recognition and many awards since its creation. The university uses this model for around 12 per cent of its accommodation stock, which is one of the many reasons why its students are so pleased with their housing.

To find out more about Lancaster University, visit www.lancs.ac.uk now.

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Howard University Online Executive MBA Launches New Website

Howard University’s School of Business is excited to announce the launch of its new website for the Online Executive MBA: executivemba.howard.edu. The site features robust content about this distinguished degree, including information about admission requirements, online learning, frequently asked questions about earning an Executive MBA, Howard University’s legacy and tradition, and tuition and financial aid.

The Howard University Online Executive MBA combines Howard’s heritage with the prestige of the School of Business. The convenient online Howard Executive MBA is designed to provide accessible management education to those who work full-time but also have the desire and drive to obtain an executive graduate degree. The program provides a comprehensive understanding of the industry and prepares individuals to strategically think and act from the perspective of senior leadership.

Bookmark the website and check back for periodic updates on networking opportunities, current student profiles, informational videos and program
announcements.

Interested in speaking with an enrollment advisor now about this program? Contact us today at 1-877- 398-3053.

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Inaugural Online Executive MBA Class Begins at Howard University

Howard University announces the start of the inaugural class for its new online degree – the online Executive MBA program. The inaugural class which includes executives and administrators started formal academic training this week after students completed an online orientation session in December. Students in the program will gain a comprehensive understanding of business, and learn to strategically think and act from the perspective of senior leadership.

Drawing upon the legacy of one of America’s top business schools and the nation’s preeminent historically black college, this distinguished program equips mid-career professionals and emerging leaders with the skills and perspective to lead in global business.

“Emerging business leaders from across the nation will attend their first class online as students of Howard University this week,” said Barron H. Harvey, Ph.D., Dean of the School of Business. “We are excited to be the catalyst for this historic milestone at the University.

Consisting of 42 credit hours, the online Executive MBA program is designed to be completed in about 18 months . The online format is designed to deliver a robust management education that is accessible to professionals who desire to work full-time while completing their degree.

The prestigious Howard School of Business is accredited by AACSB International and has been ranked among the top U.S. Business Schools by Bloomberg BusinessWeek. ThePrinceton Review has consistently ranked Howard’s MBA program as the top business program (#1) for the “Greatest Opportunity for Minority Students.” As a result, business professionals will receive instruction from the world-class Howard School of Business faculty, and join a distinguished, global network of the top emerging executives from around the world.

For more information about future academic terms and how to apply for this online MBA program, visit us at http://executivemba.howard.edu.

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New York City PE And Health Professionals Support The Inclusion Of Physical Education And Health Education As ‘Core Academic Subjects’

Perhaps in response to a package of five Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) bills introduced on September 15 the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP) has scheduled a ‘mark up’ of ESEA reauthorization language for Tuesday, October 18. This means the full Committee will meet to offer and vote on amendments and then vote the bill out of Committee.

“The introduction of legislative language will certainly help to direct the discussion of what issues and language should be included in any ESEA reauthorization package and could fuel discussion during the Oct. HELP Committee‘mark up’. We expect our legislators to support the bill that will improve current status of physical education and health education. I want to mention that most New York City public schools administrators have very positive perceptions of physical education. Research paper ‘Principals’ Physical Education Perception in New York City Public Schools’ (Howard Z. Zeng, Brooklyn College) published in the Supplement to Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport (March 2011) reflects that principals truly view physical education as an academic discipline. They also agree that without PE, our students will not be fully developed. Parents’ perceptions of physical education are positive as well. According to a 2002 study by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), 84% of parents had a positive perception of physical education in general, and 81% of parents believed that daily PE should be mandatory. Additionally, research has shown that 79.3% of parents revealed that their child’s physical education grade was as important as grades earned in academics (James, Griffin and France, 2005),” said Srecko Mavrek, President of Exercise Science/Sports Medicine Section of the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (NYS AHPERD).

Many New York State PE and health professionals have contacted their federal legislators – to work to finalize the language. In their letters to Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles E. Schumer, they urge them to support the inclusion of physical education and health education as ‘core academic subjects’ during the ESEA reauthorization process. A copy of the letter was sent to the U.S. Congressman Jose E. Serrano. This important recognition would have a significant impact on students’ educational outcomes and help them to develop healthy and active lifestyles.

Both quality physical education and health education are critical components of educating the whole child, helping students to become health literate, understand the benefits of a physically active lifestyle, model and practice healthful behaviors, and adopt a lifelong commitment to healthy living. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) 2006 School Health Policies and Programs Study (SHPPS), only 6.4% of elementary schools, 20.6% of middle schools and 35% of high schools required instruction in all 14 essential health topics. In fact, most students receive only about 4 hours per year of health education. At a time when one-third of our nation’s children are overweight or obese, we must take advantage of every strategy to encourage schools to provide quality physical education, which increases physical competence, physical activity participation and health-related fitness. Moreover, a recent CDC recent report provides evidence that physical education and physical activity can help improve academic achievement, including grades and standardized test scores. It also positively affects cognitive skills and behavior, and enhances concentration and memory.

“Accordingly, New York City PE and health professionals strongly urge their federal legislators to support the inclusion of physical education and health education as‘core subjects’ during the ESEA reauthorization process to improve both the health and academic achievement of our nation’s youth,” said Mavrek.

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Surge of Interest in Dissertation Editing and Proofreading

Over the summer there has been a surge of interest in the dissertation proofreading and editing services offered by the academic editing service proofreading.co.uk. Operations Director Rory O’Farrell reports record numbers of final-year undergraduates, Master’s and PhD students bringing their theses and dissertations to the company. “We have the best-qualified editors in the business,” stated O’Farrell, “and the word gets round. Top quality students want a PhD-qualified editor to look after their work and bring it up to the best it can be, and we can offer that service. These students use our proof reading and editing service, they’re happy with the high standard of work they receive, and naturally they tell their friends. We’re getting a massive amount of business now from word-of-mouth recommendations.”

The company, based in central London, finds that a large proportion of its academic work is done for clients who have English as a second language. In many cases, these students have been advised by their supervisors to have their dissertation proofread or edited to iron out remaining language problems so that the quality of the actual research can shine through, and that has brought them to proofreading.co.uk.

There’s also a demand for dissertation proofreading and editing from students who have English as their first language but are dyslexic, and again the University will often recommend that the students have their proofreading professionally done by a well-qualified editor.

“And of course, there are many, many people out there who just want another pair of eyes!” says O’Farrell. “When you’ve been working on a thesis or a dissertation for a long time, you simply don’t see the typos and grammar mistakes because you’re too close to the work. Your brain plays tricks on you and reads what should be there. Our editors completely understand that, and our dissertation proofreading is meticulously done to ensure that all those little errors are picked up and corrected. Nobody takes as much care with dissertation proofreading and language editing as we do, and that’s why clients come back to us time and time again.”

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The ICMA Centre Ranked 2nd For Employability By The Times Good University Guide

The ICMA Centre has been ranked 2nd for employability by The Times Good University Guide 2011*. This ranking demonstrates the emphasis the Centre places on producing graduates with skills and knowledge of real value to institutions in the financial markets.

Dr Adrian Bell, School Director of Teacher and Learning, said: “We are delighted with our position in the rankings. This reflects the Centre’s excellent links with leading financial institutions in the City, our practical application of finance theory through the use of our extensive dealing room facilities and our dedicated careers service.”

The ICMA Centre’s dedicated Career Development Unit is available to both undergraduate and postgraduate students. The Unit, staffed by industry professionals, not only provide advise on writing CVs, producing effective applications and helping students to find internships but also arrange networking events with alumni and financial institutions.

Martyn Drage, Career Development Manager at the Centre, said: “We have long recognised the importance of career development and have integrated specialist career management assistance into the undergraduate degree with the Career Management Skills module as well as supplementary presentations and workshops led by industry professionals and recruiters. The service we offer adds real value to students and it’s great to see that this is reflected in the rankings for the Centre.”

ICMA Centre BSc alumnus, Gurjit Kaur, said: “I don’t believe I would have learnt nearly as much about the recruitment process, the investment banking industry or even about myself and my suitability to various career paths if it hadn’t been for the Career Management Skills seminars, careers committee meetings and individual careers advisory sessions.”

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Henley Business School Partners With The FT To Offer Free Place On Advanced Management Programme

Henley Business School is working with the FT to offer the chance to win a free place on its Advanced Management Programme (AMP), the value of which is £15,995.

This 3-week course can be taken in one go or over three separate weeks during a year at the business school. As well as the course itself, the bursary that is available to FT readers and visitors to FT.com includes all residential costs and meals on the Henley campus.

Henley’s Advanced Management Programme prepares and develops senior managers to lead in an increasingly uncertain, ambiguous and changing world. It is a challenging learning experience that allies the essential practical and conceptual skills of an MBA with the necessary capabilities to drive and engage people in ways that unlock their potential and leads to better business results. It is an essential building block for those recently appointed to, or about to step up to, an executive leadership role. Full details on the programme can be found at www.henley.com/amp.

Previous AMP participant Tony Short, Vice President Europe, Middle East Africa, Dresser Wayne commented on the programme,

“As I was moving into a new role within the organisation I wanted to develop some extra skills around mergers and acquisitions, fine tuning my strategic thinking. Although I have close links through friends with other business schools it was the name and reputation of Henley which swung it for me. More than anything else it was the construction of the course, the combination of practical experience with learning experience.”

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The ICMA Centre Announces Promotion For Dr Adrian Bell

Dr Bell will be promoted to Professor on 1 October this year. Dr Bell, who has been with the ICMA Centre since 1994, has been instrumental in the development of both the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in his role as School Director of Teaching and Learning. He also developed the distance-learning option for the ICMA Centre’s suite of Masters in Finance degrees with the Centre’s New Media Solutions Manager – the first distance learning Masters in Finance degrees in the UK delivered using e-lectures.

Professor John Board, Director of the Centre commented: “This is excellent news both for Dr Bell and for the Centre. It is very well deserved and recognizes the significant contribution Dr Bell has made to the development of the Centre.”

Dr Bell’s primary research interest is in the history of finance and he is currently working on a major project funded by the ESRC with Professor Chris Brooks (Chair in Finance) which will investigate the early and innovative use of credit finance by a succession of English medieval monarchs. This three-year project, which ends this year, is detailed on the ICMA website and builds upon the work the same team carried out during 2004/5 for another ESRC project entitled “Modern Finance in the Middle Ages? Advance Contracts for the Supply of Wool”. For outputs, interested parties can visit the UK Data Archive, study number 5325, at www.data-archive.ac.uk.

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Henley Business School Appoints Professor Board, ICMA Centre Director, As Its New Dean

Henley Business School has announced that Professor John Board will become its new dean from 1 October 2010.

Professor Board is currently director of the ICMA Centre – the business school for financial markets at Henley Business School.

Professor Board is an outstanding academic in his own right with a strong track record in research, his expertise is sought in a number of areas including market regulation, transparency, derivatives and emerging markets.

Over the past five years, Professor Board has helped to build the ICMA Centre into one of the largest specialist education finance schools in Europe, with an international reputation for undergraduate, postgraduate (including eight Finance Masters) and executive education.

He has also been instrumental in the development of a range of specialist finance degrees including the MSc Capital Markets, Regulation and Compliance and the MSc Investment Banking and Islamic finance, which were both firsts in the UK.

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Henley Business School and Lane4 Develop Business Coaching Programme

New research from Henley Business School and the performance development consultancy Lane4 has highlighted how team coaching is being used successfully to improve business performance – but also how much further it has to go.

The survey, ‘Coaching Teams At Work: Embryonic Yet Powerful’, reveals that almost half of the organisations surveyed (45%) use both individual and team coaching and there are some glowing endorsements of the impact it has. The top benefit is increased employee engagement at 28%. Other benefits include improved trust within the team (22%), increased productivity (19%) and more effective and innovative solutions (18%).

However, more than half the organisations surveyed don’t use team coaching, for four main reasons: managers haven’t had any training in team coaching (32%), managers don’t understand the benefits of team coaching (31%), managers don’t feel confident coaching their teams (25%) and some feel their teams object to being coached (13%).

Dr Patricia Bossons, director of the Henley Centre for Coaching & Facilitation, said that this can be overcome: “Managers sometimes perceive coaching to be something done by people outside the business to people inside the business – just as in sports’ coaching where the coach is not normally a player as well. In business however, managers are now required to be player-coaches – a role many have not received training for – this is something we need to address if the obvious benefits of team coaching are to be more widely felt.”

To address these issues and make the powerful benefits of team coaching in a business context more accessible Henley Business School and Lane4 have developed, and will deliver, a new programme, Coaching High Performance Teams, from October 2010. The partnership will leverage the two organisations’ combined academic rigour and experience of coaching teams in a business environment as well as Lane4’s heritage in Olympic sport and expertise in performance psychology.

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The University of Florida Launches Online Master of Arts in Art Education

The University of Florida (UF) College of Fine Arts announces the new online Master of Arts in Art Education degree program online with classes to begin this month.

UF’s online Master’s in Art Education program develops art educators, artists, and art advocates who are uniquely positioned to thrive in varied modern learning environments as transformative art educators. The program’s unique curriculum emphasizes the development of teaching techniques alongside studio courses that challenge students to develop their art, learn new art making techniques, and methods of instruction. Through the program, students discover and explore ways that digital technologies can be used to deliver impactful art learning experiences.

The program’s online format delivers a robust educational experience that is flexible and accessible for working professionals who need to work while completing their degree.

“Our students will be engaged in a high-tech, high-touch educational environment, with rich studio experiences in traditional and digital media. Without compromising the traditional humanity of art making, our graduates will empower students to express themselves in ways not possible before,” said Professor Craig Roland of the University of Florida.

In addition to the traditional curriculum, the online Masters in Art Education program offers the Educator Preparation Institute (EPI) Track, which prepares individuals to receive teaching certification in Florida’s public schools. For more information, please visit the program’s new website at http://www.education.arts.ufl.edu.

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Henley Business School Reveals Ideal Leadership Qualities

Henley Business School has released a collaborative paper from five leading academics who offer their individual perspectives on the emerging task for business leaders in particular.

Henley Business School Reveals Ideal Leadership Qualities

This second series of essays, following on from the 2009 ‘Henley Manifesto’ on leadership, focuses specifically on the emerging leadership task, post-recession. The series was written independently by five academics; Professor Chris Bones, Dean of Henley Business School, Professor Dominic Swords, Professor John Board, Director of the ICMA Centre, Professor Brian Scott-Quinn and Professor Peter Hawkins, Professor of Leadership.

There are several common themes that emerge from each writer’s contribution to the paper. One of these themes is the belief that there will be a renewed emphasis on sincere, genuine, transparent, values-based leadership should This means the leader needs to empathise with values that reflect the priorities of all the stakeholders; employees, shareholders, community and society at large.

There should be a collaborative nature to leadership with the recognition that one person does not and should not hold all the answers or power. There is a need for robust governance and this should be backed by corporate structures that enforce that governance.

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