“Differences: The Unique Ways I Define Me” is the theme of The University of Toledo’s celebration of Black History Month.

“The Black History Month events and programs serve to honor, celebrate, educate and embrace our students, faculty and staff,” said Sabina Elizondo-Serratos, associate director of the UT Office of Student Involvement. “We encourage everyone to get involved by attending any or all of the programs planned for Black History Month.”

Ritter Planetarium will pay tribute to Black History Month with a show during February called “Follow the Drinking Gourd,” which will take place Saturdays at 1 p.m. The cost is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and children 4 through 12, and free for children 3 and younger. This historical program shows how slaves used the stars to find their way North to freedom.

Other events include a Speak Your Mind Poetry Slam on Monday, Feb. 6, a Soul Food Luncheon hosted by the Black Student Union on Wednesday, Feb. 8, a Student African-American Brotherhood Professional Image Seminar on Thursday, Feb. 16 and the Lost Textbook Heroes discussion Monday, Feb. 20 about influential African Americans who are less known in history.

The 43rd annual Black Student Union Fashion Show also will take place at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24. The scholarship event will focus on “Sankofa,” which means looking to the past to know the future in the Akan language of Ghana. Cost is $12.

Click here for a full list of events at The University of Toledo for Black History Month.

Media Coverage
The Blade (Feb. 1, 2012)

In an issue devoted to identifying the “Best Schools for Public Service,” the National Jurist Magazine has named The University of Toledo College of Law a top school for preparing law students for criminal law practice.

The UT College of Law was recognized as one of the top 20 schools in the UnitedStates for preparing students for prosecutor and public defender positions. The National Jurist looked at employment data, curriculum, standard of living, and loan forgiveness programs in evaluating schools. Top law schools for government, public interest, state and local clerkships, and federal clerkships also were honored.

“We are delighted to be recognized for the prosecutor and other criminal practice training opportunities that we make available,” said Daniel J. Steinbock, dean of the UT College of Law. “This education has opened doors for many of our graduates into prosecutor and public defender jobs.”

Last summer, the College of Law Reinberger Honors Program in Prosecution awarded$30,000 to six students — $5,000 stipends to each — to enable recipients to spend eight weeks prosecuting criminal cases in jurisdictions of their choice. Students also have the option to participate in the Criminal Law Practice Program, which places them with prosecutors’ offices where they conduct victim interviews, plea negotiations and trials.

In addition, the College of Law offers a public service commendation, a criminal law certificate of concentration and a juris doctor/master of arts in criminal justice joint degree program.

Read the full article in the January issue of the National Jurist online at www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cypress/nationaljurist0112/#/0.

For more information contact Rachel Phipps, assistant to the dean for communications in the UT College of Law, at 419.530.2628 or rachel.phipps@utoledo.edu.

Media Coverage
The Independent Collegian (Feb. 2, 2012)
The Independent Collegian (Nov. 13, 2013)

The UT Hockey Club will host a “Winterfest” outdoor game on Saturday modeled after the National Hockey League’s Winter Classic.

The game against the Xavier University Musketeers will take place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28 at Ottawa Park. Tickets are $3 for students and $5 for the public.

The UT Hockey Club also will accept canned food donations to benefit the Cherry Street Mission. Each can of food donated will be worth $1 off the price of tickets for the game.

The hockey team, which plays home games at Tam-O-Shanter in Sylvania, is 14-7 for the season after a 7-4 win Jan. 24 against the Adrian College Black Team.

For more information visit www.utoledohockey.com.

Johnson

What: The UT Conference for Aspiring Minority Youth, “Today’s Planning — Tomorrow’s Success,” aims to inspire young people to make decisions with long term consequences in mind to positively impact their futures. The conference includes a session for parents about their role in serving as guides and counselors and a student session to raise awareness about how their decisions today will impact their futures.

When and Where: 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28 in the Student Union Auditorium on the UT Main Campus.

Who: Jeff Johnson, social activist, journalist and author, will be the keynote speaker. Johnson is an MSNBC correspondent, commentator on the “Tom Joyner Morning Show,” and author of Everything I’m Not Made Me Everything I Am.

Full release:
Youth advocate, social activist, political commentator, award-winning journalist and author Jeff Johnson will be the keynote speaker at The University of Toledo’s 28th Annual Conference for Aspiring Minority Youth Saturday, Jan. 28.

Sponsored by Toledo Excel and the UT Joint Committee, the conference will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Student Union Auditorium. This year’s theme is “Today’s Planning — Tomorrow’s Success.”

“Recognized for his sociopolitical influence, Jeff has earned a reputation as a positive force among youth and young adults,” said David Young, director of the Office of Excellence and the Toledo Excel Program. “His commitment to fostering broad-based communication about issues related to race, politics, popular culture and socioeconomics will make him an outstanding speaker for this conference.”

Johnson is a commentator on the nationally syndicated “Tom Joyner Morning Show,” which tackles issues on politics, entertainment and social policy. The MSNBC correspondent is senior adviser for Media and Youth Outreach for People for the American Way, and national director of the Youth and College Division of the NAACP. In addition, hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons appointed Johnson vice president of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network. In 2009, Johnson’s book, Everything I’m Not Made Me Everything I Am, was published.

“The goal of the conference is to give parents and students methods for making short-term decisions with long-term consequences in mind,” Young said. “We hope to encourage students to use foresight in their day-to-day decision making and equip them with the necessary tools to make positive choices personally, educationally and career-wise.”

After the general session with Johnson, there will be breakout session for parents. The parents’ session will provide the tools needed to put together an action plan that will propel children into a bright future and assist adults in understanding the critical role they play in serving as guides and counselors in decision making as their children develop into responsible young adults. Parent session presenters will include Talmadge J. Thomas, senior pastor of Mt. Zion Church, and Teresa Quinn, principal of Ella P. Stewart Academy for Girls, both from Toledo.

A concurrent students’ session titled “One Moment From Greatness: Decisions Equal Destiny” will feature Coach George Rice III, CEO and head coach of Triple Threat Enterprises, based in Washington, D.C. Rice will encourage students to think beyond the present and understand their daily decisions have a major impact in long-term planning. He also will stress the value of patience and forethought in the decision-making process and encourage students to seek the advice ofparents, teachers, mentors and peers when faced with difficult choices.

Make a reservation for the free, public conference at www.utoledo.edu/utlc/excel or by calling 419.530.3820.

Jacobs

American manufacturing played a starring role in President Barrack Obama’s State of the Union speech last night. And it was his mention of Toledo that showed he understands that northwest Ohio and the rest of the Rust Belt have galvanized a resurgent message about advanced manufacturing and its relevance to U.S. industry and American higher education, according to the president of The University of Toledo.

Providing examples of the need for increased manufacturing, Obama pointed to new trade deans: “Soon, there will be millions of new customers for American goods in Panama, Colombia, and South Korea,” he said. “Soon, there will be new cars on the streets of Seoul imported from Detroit, and Toledo, and Chicago.”

“It is clear to me that President Obama understands the essential role new manufacturing and the Midwest work ethic will play in the coming years and decades to strengthen and modernize this nation,” said UT President Lloyd Jacobs, who also serves as a member of the steering committee of the Council on Competitiveness.

“Manufacturing today is every bit as high-tech as you would find in Silicon Valley and it is this combination of advanced materials design and development, supply chain expertise, decades of manufacturing experience and entrepreneurial support that will make Toledo and the corridor from Buffalo to Detroit a global headquarters for a 21st century movement,” Jacobs said.

The Council on Competitiveness – composed of the CEOs of major American corporations; presidents of the nation’s top universities including UT, colleges and community colleges; and leaders of labor unions whose membership extends nationwide – recently came together to compile manufacturing recommendations in areport titled “MAKE: An American Manufacturing Movement.”

“Universities – especially this University – are at the very center of the innovation and advancements needed to transform this region and to transform an industry to meet the needs of a global economy,” Jacobs said. “UT students in business, engineering and logistics will be the next generation of leaders for the new manufacturing industry, and I’m very excited that the president understands this city’s place in that movement.”

Media Coverage
13 ABC (Jan. 26, 2012)
The Blade (Jan. 28, 2012)

Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Jim Petro and Nancy Petro, co-authors of False Justice — Eight Myths That Convict the Innocent, will speak as the spring lecturers in The University of Toledo College of Law’s Distinguished Speaker Series.

The free, public event will be held Tuesday, Jan. 24, from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Law Center Auditorium.

Jim and Nancy Petro

The Petros will discuss False Justice and their work to outline a pattern of myths and misconceptions that they believe permeate most American beliefs about the legal system. False Justice tracks the development of DNA testing over the last decade and uses detailed case studies to examine both the legal and political intricacies that have made the new science a controversial addition to traditional law enforcement procedures.

The couple was recognized for their work on False Justice with a 2011 Constitutional Commentary Award at Georgetown University School of Law.

Having served previously as auditor of the state of Ohio and as its attorney general, Jim Petro was appointed chancellor of the University System of Ohio in 2011. An attorney for 38 years, he is a graduate of Denison University and Case Western Reserve University School of Law.

A graduate of Denison University, Nancy Petro’s career has focused on communications and business management. She is vice chair of theOhio State University Hospital Board, trustee of Ohio Right to Life, and a member of Trinity United Methodist Church.

Longer bios are available at http://law.utoledo.edu/news/speakers/petro12.htm.

More information, including full-length reviews, testimonials and links to articles about False Justice, is available at www.falsejustice.com.

For more information contact Rachel Phipps, assistant to the dean for communications in the UT College of Law, at 419.530.2628 or rachel.phipps@utoledo.edu.

The new Student Health and Wellness Center on Health Science Campus gives students access to a variety of health services conveniently in a space just for them.

The center will be celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday, Jan. 13, at 2 p.m. in the lower level of the Ruppert Health Center in Suite 0013.

“Any student would like to feel accommodated,” said Cara Elmer, a member of the Medical Student Council who worked to set up the center. “Medical students have busy schedules and long study hours, so they need a quick and helpful service readily available.”

In the past, students on Health Science Campus would receive services at the Ruppert Health Center with the general public. The new Student Health and Wellness Center allows them access to a number of services, such as immunizations, travel health, and nutrition and behavior health, in a medical office just for them.

“The services provided to the students won’t change; they’ll still get the great care they receive now from our UT physicians,” said Rick Waugh, supervisor for the center. “We’re simply moving it to a brand-new, beautiful facility centered around our students’ health and wellness. We are committed to providing quality services, including protecting confidentiality and other patient rights.”

The facility includes two exam rooms and a behavioral health room. Additional services, such as lab work and radiology services, will be available through referrals to specialty clinics. The center will accept medical insurance, including the Aetna plans available to UT students.

“Students are the most important part of The University of Toledo, and it was important to provide them with a place to go on Health Science Campus where their health issues could be addressed appropriately,” said Dr. Jeffrey P. Gold, chancellor, executive vice president for biosciences and health affairs, and dean of the College of Medicine and Life Sciences. “The wellness center will provide students with services they need with additional privacy and convenience.”

Feedback about the Student Health and Wellness Center is encouraged by the Medical Student Council to ensure student needs have been met and they were seen in a timely manner, Elmer said.

Call 419.383.3777 to make an appoint at the Student Health and Wellness Center.

Equality. Unconditional love. Respect. Faith. Peace. These are a few things that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood for and believed in.

The iconic activist will be remembered at the 11th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Celebration “Stand!” at 9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 16 in Savage Arena.

Offering words of inspiration will be UT President Lloyd Jacobs, Toledo Mayor Michael P. Bell, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur and area students. Hari Jones, curator of the African-AmericanCivil War Museum, will give the keynote address.

The Toledo Interfaith Mass Choir and a choir featuring area youth will give performances. And the 2012 MLK Scholarship recipients also will be recognized.

A free community luncheon will follow the ceremony, which will be carried live on Fox Toledo 36.

“It is appropriate for community and elected leaders, as well as representatives from religious, business, educational, social, youth, international and community organizations, to stand united at this special event,” Jacobs said. “It is a time to come together to reflect and look to a brighter future of unity andservice.”

“Each year this program evolves a little more and demonstrates to the community, through Dr. King’s teachings from the past, the importance of collaboration and cooperation in order to move us forward,” Bell said. “Together, with our partners at The University of Toledo, we will continue to work for the ideals he fought for — unity, social justice, education and peace.”

All attendees of the Unity Celebration, which is open to the public, are asked to bring a canned good that will be donated to the MLK Kitchen for the Poor, 650 Vance St. in downtown Toledo.

The University has scheduled a series of events for Unity Week in conjunction with the celebration that include volunteer opportunities, a Student Organization Fair, a Unity Vigil and more.

The event is organized by Unity Celebration committee co-chairs Dr. Shanda Gore, UT associate vice president for equity, diversity and community engagement, and Bill Stewart, special assistant to the mayor, and is hosted by the city of Toledo, the Board of Community Relations Inc. and the University.

For more information, contact Stewart at 419.245.1154 or the UT Office of Special Events at 419.530.2200.

Media Coverage
The Independent Collegian (Jan. 12, 2012)
The Blade (Jan. 13, 2012)
The Blade (Jan. 16, 2012)
The Blade (Jan. 17, 2012)
13 ABC, WTOL 11, WNWO and FOX Toledo (Jan. 17, 2012)

The University of Toledo is seeking public comments about the University in preparation for its comprehensive evaluation visit Feb. 27-29, 2012, by a site team representing the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

UT has been accredited by the HLC since 1922. The former Medical College of Ohio/Medical University of Ohio had been accredited since 1980.

The upcoming site visit will establish UT’s continued accreditation, based on its ability to meet five criteria established by the HLC.

As part of this evaluation, the public is invited to submit third-party comments regarding UT to:
Public Comment on The University of Toledo
The Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, IL 60604-1411

Comments also may be submitted electronically to: ncahlc.org/information-for-the-public/third-party-comment.html.

Comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of UT as a whole or to its academic programs. They must be submitted in writing and signed; they will not be treated as confidential. Comments should include the name, address and telephone number of the person providing the feedback.

Feedback must be received by Jan. 27, 2012, to be considered for the upcoming evaluation. The HLC cannot guarantee comments received after that date will be included in UT’s continuing accreditation process.

UT has been engaged in an intensive self-evaluation process since fall 2009 in preparation for the Feb. 27-29 site visit. A comprehensive self study report gleaned from more than 18 months of research, evaluation and feedback from the University community is available at utoledo.edu/accreditation/pdf/selfstudy.pdf.

The self study report addresses UT’s compliance with HLC criteria, which include: mission and integrity; planning for the future; student learning and effective teaching; acquisition, discovery and application of knowledge, and engagement and service.

“The University of Toledo is an institution that is here to serve. Our commitment is to make life better for future generations throughteaching, research and patient care,” UT President Lloyd Jacobs said. “The accreditation process is extremely valuable because it gives us the opportunity to ask ourselves how we can serve our students, our patients and our other customers better.”

Accreditation by the HLC is connected to educational quality, financial aid, ability to transfer academic credits, post-college career opportunities, and academic and research funding, among other considerations. Only accredited institutions may receive federal funds for higher education. In addition, some institutions accept transfer credits only from accredited universities, and some graduate schools accept only students with degrees from accredited schools.

For more information about the accreditation process at UT, contact the HLC Self Study Office at

Media Coverage
The Independent Collegian (Feb. 23, 2012)

Two programs at Ritter Planetarium this month will showcase the new Spitz SciDome XD projector that covers the entire hemisphere of the 40-foot dome with more than 6.5 million pixels.

“One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure” will be shown Saturdays, Jan. 14-28, at 1 p.m.

Tag along with Big Bird and Elmo and their friend from China, Hu Hu Zhu, as they learn about the Big Dipper, the North Star, the sun and the moon. (The characters will be on screen only and not physically in attendance.)

“IBEX: Search for the Edge of the Solar System” will be shown Fridays, Jan. 13 through 27, at 7:30 p.m.

Produced by the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, this program follows the creation of NASA’s Interstellar Boundary Explorer, which scientists are using to investigate the boundary between our solar system and interstellar space.

Weather permitting, you can also catch a glimpse of the planet Jupiter at the Brooks Observatory after the Friday evening programs. The planetarium’s smaller telescope will be used to look at the sun following the Saturday afternoon shows.

Admission is $6 for adults and $5 for children 4 through 12, seniors, and UT students and employees.

For more information, call Ritter Planetarium at 419.530.2650 or its 24-hour information hotline at 419.530.4037.

Media Coverage
WTOL 11 (Jan. 11, 2012)
The Blade (Jan. 12, 2012)
The Blade (Jan. 19, 2012)
The Independent Collegian (Jan. 19, 2012)
The Blade (Jan. 26, 2012)