U.S. News & World Report recently recognized three colleges at The University of Toledo as top performers in the nation for students enrolled in online graduate education.

The College of Engineering was No. 18, while the College of Business and Innovation and College of Education ranked 48 and 95, respectively, for their master’s degree categories.

“UT has long been a leader in distance learning, and the recognition by U.S. News and World Report validates the efforts of our faculty and staff,” said Dr. Scott Scarborough, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “We are preparing to take the next steps in high-quality distance learning, and I am looking forward to what the future will bring.”

The ranked degree-granting programs offer classes that are 100 percent online — the federal government standard for qualifying as distance learning programs — not blended programs that combine classroom and online education.

“Programs such as these require that we pay attention to the special needs of each and every student so that the practicing professional derives the value she or he is seeking through this program,” said Dr. Nagi Naganathan, dean of the College of Engineering. “The continued ranking among the top programs in the nation is additional evidence that our College of Engineering is developing and sharing relevant online educational experiences consistent with the needs and aspirations of practicing professionals.

“While such online programs are getting increased attention today, we are proud of the fact that our college set this in motion more than a decade ago,” Naganathan said.

Online courses offer a slew of benefits, including the ability of working students to pursue their education without having to put their jobs on hold.

As the University administration continues to expand opportunities for current and potential students, Dr. Cam Cruickshank, interim vice provost for enrollment management, has been tapped to lead the UTXNet World Campus initiative.

“UTXnet World Campus is a temporary moniker we have assigned to online and blended learning at The University of Toledo,” Cruickshank said. “While some of the details are yet to be worked out, we know that we will be offering high-quality, media rich, interactive courses delivered online and facilitated by the best faculty The University of Toledo has to offer.”

The College of Business and Innovation, the only Ohio business program listed among the top 50 in the rankings, was recognized for the second year in a row.

“This recognition reflects the hard work of the College of Business and Innovation faculty and staff as well as our commitment to be at the forefront of using the latest technology and techniques to deliver high-quality programs,” said Dr. Thomas Sharkey, interim dean of the college.

While technological advances are having impacts on educational practices in a variety of mediums, online courses offered by the Judith Herb College of Education are providing students with experiences to better prepare them for future employment.

“With technology being used so extensively in K-12 education, it is really critical that our students come out understanding how online learning happens at all levels,” said Dr. Virginia Keil, executive associate dean of the Judith Herb College of Education. “Having experienced it firsthand makes our graduates more effective in their own classrooms because they themselves have been students — they see it through the eyes of the instructor and the student.”

For more information contact Haraz N. Ghanbari at 419.530.4137 or Haraz.Ghanbari@utoledo.edu.

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

When Taylor Wilson was 13, he built his first nuclear fusion reactor.

Wilson, a teenage nuclear scientist, will show off his innovations in the first Saturday Morning Science lecture Feb. 2 at 9:30 a.m. in Wolfe Hall Room 1205.

Wilson

Saturday Morning Science is presented by The University of Toledo College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. The annual, free public lecture series is open to students, faculty, staff and curious science lovers of all ages.

“This will provide an opportunity for the UT community and area residents to experience the excitement of scientific discoveries from the individuals who make them and write about them,” said Dr. John Bellizzi, UT assistant professor of chemistry.

During the first lecture, Wilson will present “The Boy Who Played With Fusion.” He built his first nuclear fusion reactor in the garage of his parent’s Arkansas home.

Currently 19, he lives in suburban Reno, Nev., with his parents and carries out research in applied nuclear physics at the University of Nevada-Reno.

During his presentation at UT, Wilson will delve into the technical aspects of nuclear physics and specific applications in nuclear medicine and anti-terrorism.

He is the youngest person to ever create nuclear fusion and the 31st person in the world to do it outside of government or industry.

Since doing so, Wilson has been offered federal funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Energy to further his work regarding an inexpensive new way to build Cherenkov radiation detectors.

Saturday Morning Science lectures will continue Feb. 16, March 16, March 23, April 20 and April 27. Other topics the series will cover include genetics, the psychology of handedness and Antarctic meteorites. The series is directed by Bellizzi and Dr. Joe Schmidt, UT associate professor of chemistry.

To learn more about Saturday Morning Science, contact Bellizzi at 419.530.5926 or john.bellizzi@utoledo.edu or contact Schmidt at joseph.schmidt@utoledo.edu.

David Harris, the leading national authority on racial profiling and a former professor at The University of Toledo College of Law (from 1990 – 2007), will return to Toledo on Jan. 31 to discuss his new book, “Failed Evidence: Why Law Enforcement Resists Science.”

The free, public lecture will be held at noon, Thursday, Jan. 31, in the College’s McQuade Law Auditorium. Harris’s book will be available for purchase and signature.

Harris

With almost 300 DNA-based exonerations over two decades, there is now abundant data about the basic things that go wrong in eyewitness identifications, in suspect interrogations, and in forensic science. In his new book, Harris points out that the science concerning these issues is rigorous, well documented, and replicated. Yet, with the exception of DNA, law enforcement has not embraced this science. Most often, it has actively resisted science. Harris’s lecture will explore why.

“I have known David Harris for over 20 years, and he has had insightful things to say about any issue he studies,” said Daniel J. Steinbock, dean of the College of Law. “The use, misuse, or non-use of scientific evidence goes directly to the accuracy of the criminal process, and I look forward to Professor Harris’s diagnosis of the problem and prescriptions for its solution.”

David Harris, currently a professor of law at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, studies, writes, and teaches about police behavior and regulation, law enforcement, and national security issues and the law.

His 2002 book, Profiles in Injustice: Why Racial Profiling Cannot Work, and his scholarly articles in the field of traffic stops of minority motorists and stops and frisks have influenced the national debate on profiling and related topics. His 2005 book, Good Cops: The Case for Preventive Policing, uses case studies from around the country to show that citizens can be safe from criminals and terrorists without sacrificing their civil rights if law enforcement uses strategies based on prevention.

Harris also writes and comments frequently in the media on police practices, racial profiling, and other criminal justice and national security issues. He has appeared on The Today Show, Dateline NBC, National Public Radio, and has been interviewed by the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Los Angeles Times, among many others.

Harris received an LL.M. from Georgetown University Graduate School of Law, a law degree from Yale Law School, and a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University.

Click here to download a photo of Harris.

Media Coverage
The Blade (Jan. 28, 2013)
The Independent Collegian (Jan. 30, 2013)

Political activist, motivational speaker and author Kevin Powell will be the keynote speaker at The University of Toledo’s 29th Annual Conference for Aspiring Minority Youth Saturday, Jan. 26.

The free, public conference will take place from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the Student Union Auditorium. This year’s theme is “The Bigger Picture: Understanding Your Role in the Global Community.”

Powell

Powell will address the general session, which will be followed by a breakout session for parents and educators titled “Parents’ Guide to Bully Prevention and Intervention” that will provide parents with insight on how to recognize if their child is being bullied or bullying others, provide strategies for dealing with bullying issues, discuss the rise of technological bullying, and share ways of monitoring and guiding their child’s online behavior.

A concurrent student session titled “The Bigger Picture: Understanding Your Role in the Global Community” will discuss opportunities to become involved with the arts in the local community, inspire exploration of creativity and imagination, and highlight the many artistic resources available in the area. A second student concurrent session titled “Excelling Into Law: Seeking Law as a Career” will be presented by Toledo’s Thurgood Marshall Law Association and explore the field as a career choice.

Powell is the author of 11 books, including his newest title, Barack Obama, Ronald Reagan and The Ghost of Dr. King: Blogs and Essays, a collection that examines American leadership, politics and social issues like gender violence, immigration and equality for all Americans. An autobiography, The Education of Kevin Powell: A Boy’s Journey Into Manhood, is expected to be out this spring. Additionally, Powell has written for numerous publications, including The Washington Post, Newsweek, Essence, Ebony, Esquire, Rolling Stone and Vibe.

As a leader, Powell has worked on a range of concerns, including voter registration, Hurricane Katrina relief, education, the environment, eradicating poverty, and supply and resource support for post-earthquake Haiti. He also is co-founder of a new national organization, BK Nation, which will focus on education, job creation and small business development, civic engagement, and health and wellness.

“My life-calling is to be a servant for the people, period,” Powell said. “Money, fame, status, personal achievements and all that means very little to me when pain and suffering are still real on this planet. I am interested in the powerless becoming powerful.”

“Recognized for his sociopolitical influence, Kevin 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 politics, violence and socioeconomics will make him an outstanding speaker for this conference.”

The conference is sponsored by Toledo Excel and the UT Joint Committee.

For more information visit www.utoledo.edu/success/excel or call 419.530.3820.

UT Medical Center continues to learn from patients andfamilies as it works to centralize all cancer care into one location and consolidate the amount of time required into fewer, better coordinated visits.

As the Eleanor N. Dana Cancer Center finalizes its preparations for the Monday, Feb. 4, grand opening, UTMC will host a public open house for media, patients, UT employees and members of the community TODAY (Friday, Jan. 25) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the center on Health Science Campus. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will begin at 10 a.m.

“At so many hospitals, patients have to drive all over the campus and return on multiple days for individual appointments because that is what is convenient for the hospital. We’ve put the patient at the center of our treatment efforts,” said Allen Seifert, administrative director of the center.

At the Dana Cancer Center, care coordinators guide patients through all steps of their care from the initial physical examination through their treatment program. Treatment plans are developed working with surgical, medical and radiation oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, primary carephysicians, oncology nursing staff and social workers.

Appointments are planned back to back as patients move from one treatment or diagnostic specialist to the next all according to the treatment plan developed beforehand with the patient and the team of caregivers.

“Each patient is evaluated for possible participation in several ongoing clinical trials,” said Norma Tomlinson, UTMC interim executive director. “Our national status as an academic medical center means that patients treated in the Dana Cancer Center will have early access to the latest and most promising solutions to their cancer. At UTMC, world-renowned researchers and clinicians work together to enhance care for patients who become resistant to standard therapies.”

“In addition to being the first in the region to focus on university-based cancer care for the convenience of the patient, UTMC is continuing its tradition as an innovator in cutting-edge cancer care technology,” said Dr. Jeffrey Gold, chancellor and executive vice president for biosciences and health affairs, and dean of the College of Medicine and Life Sciences, referencing one of the most advanced radiation delivery systems available.

Currently, the Dana Cancer Center is the only facilitylocally to offer the TrueBeamTM Varian Linear Accelerator, which enables more precise radiation delivery at a 50 percent faster rate than all conventional systems. This means treatment is shorter, more deadly to cancer cells, and less damaging to surrounding healthy tissue. Seifert also emphasized the center’s commitment to cancer care that goes beyond technology and physicians.

“We’re offering complementary and integrative therapies and specialized exercise classes that are all geared toward the wellness factors that are important for the treatment of cancer,” Seifert said. “Yes, we have the most advanced technology, but we also have massage and aromatherapy sessions available. Cancer is a disease that affects whole families and it affects body, mind and spirit. We’re working very hard to address all of these components in our treatments.”

Other offerings will include:

• Cancer support group meetings and public education sessions;
• Genetic counseling;
• Chemotherapy treatment rooms with Internet, TV, Wi-Fi and other amenities;
• On-site advanced mammogram, ultrasound, X-ray and PET/CTservices;
• Easy access to lab for blood draws;
• Mind and body therapy/services and patient support — patient navigation assistance through the facility, nutrition therapy, survivorshipcare, palliative care, pastoral care, and financial counseling and social services; and
• Holistic Care Center.

Media Coverage
13 ABC, WTOL 11 and WNWO (Jan. 25, 2013)
The Blade (Jan. 25, 2013)
The Independent Collegian (Jan. 30, 2013)

The Toledo men’s basketball program will hold its third annual “Tie One On” event Saturday, Jan. 26, vs. Bowling Green at 7 p.m. in Savage Arena.

All proceeds from the event will benefit The University of Toledo Medical Center’s Dana Cancer Center in support of prostate cancer care.

Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk and his coaching staff will sport bow ties during the game as a show of support.

“This is our third year for Tie One On and it has rapidly become a signature community event,” said Lawrence J. Burns, vice president for external affairs. “We’ve been thrilled to see everyone throw their support behind this cause and embrace the bow tie.”

Rocket fans are invited to join the fun, too. For $100, individuals will receive a ticket to the game, a UT basketball bow tie and a commemorative photo by signing up through utoledo.edu/tieoneon. Students can purchase the same package at a discounted rate of $20 with a coupon, which can be obtained by calling 419.530.1273.

A new feature will be added for this year’s game with the Rockets donning retro jerseys that will be auctioned off prior to the contest. Individuals can bid on the uniforms until Thursday, Jan. 24, with bidding starting at $100 and increasing in $25 increments at utoledo.edu/tieoneon.

In addition, Yark Automotive, local Kroger stores and the Rocket Shop are selling bow tie cutouts for the event with proceeds being donated to the cause. Yark also is making a donation to “Tie One On” for every vehicle purchased by a UT employee, student or graduate during January.

Media Coverage
The Independent Collegian (Jan. 23, 2013)
WTOL 11, 13 ABC, FOX Toledo and WNWO (Jan. 30, 2013)
The Blade (Feb. 16, 2013)

David Brandon, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at the University of Michigan and former CEO of Domino’s Pizza, will be the featured speaker at The KeyBank Global Leaders Forum, presented by The University ofToledo College of Business and Innovation (COBI). The theme is “Leading Change in a Chaotic Environment.”

Brandon

The presentation will be held at 8 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 1, at the hotel on The University of Toledo Health Science Campus. The theme is “Leading Change in a Chaotic Environment.” The program is free, but seating is limited and registration is required.

“The KeyBank Global Leaders Forum provides a wonderful opportunity for our local business owners and leaders to hear from someone like Mr. Brandon, who has been a strong leader in both business and educational arenas,” states Jim Hoffman, KeyBank president. “It’s part of our vision at KeyBank to help our community, and our businesses, thrive.”

“The University of Toledo College of Business and Innovation is extremely pleased to again partner with KeyBank to present another Global Leaders Forum,” notes Dr. Thomas Sharkey, COBI interim dean.

“Mr. Brandon’s business acumen and management skills across several venues make him a superb choice to speak to the Toledo regional business community about leadership in these challenging times.”

Prior to joining the UM athletic department in March 2010, Brandon served as chairman and chief executive officer of Ann Arbor-based Domino’s Pizza, Inc. for 11 years, leading the company to the largest IPO of a restaurant company in history. He continues to serve as non-executive chairman at Domino’s. He also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Herman Miller, DTE Energy and Kaydon Corporation.

KeyBank and COBI presented the first Global Leaders Forum in 2008, which featured former secretary of the U.S. Treasury Department John Snow. The Global Leadership Forum was created to bring noteworthy speakers to address the Toledo community, and to provide an environment for regional business leaders to talk about contemporary issues, discuss current leadership topics and explore trends.

During his visit, Brandon will also participate in a private discussion with several UT business students.

To register for this free forum, go to utoledo.edu/business/keybankforum.

Media Coverage
The Blade (Feb. 2, 2013)
The Blade (Feb. 2, 2013)

As The University of Toledo Medical Center continues its effort to improve patient care and minimize patient wait times and delays, hospital leaders will cut the ribbon on two new operating rooms at 12:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 24.

Media note: Due to the sensitive location inside UTMC’s OR suite, please try to meet in UTMC’s lobby between 12:15 and 12:20 p.m. and media will travel together to the site of ribbon cutting.

One of the new operating rooms features a hybrid capability enabling minimally invasive and conventional vascular procedures combined with a more agile, state-of-the-art 3-D imaging system.

UTMC officials say the addition of the 2 operating rooms – bringing the total to 14 – will enable as many as 1,600 more operations each year and will decrease the amount of time it takes for patients to receive treatment.

Media Coverage
13 ABC, WTOL and WNWO (Jan. 24, 2013)

Jen Sorgenfrei                                                                                               Meghan Cunningham
419-936-2408                                                                                              419-530-2410
jennifer.sorgenfrei@toledo.oh.gov                                                                  meghan.cunningham@utoledo.edu

City, University team to host annual MLK Unity Celebration 

Mayor, UT President join to recognize Dr. King, encourage community turn-out

Toledo Mayor Michael P. Bell and Dr. Lloyd Jacobs, president of The University of Toledo will join together at a press conference at 11 a.m. on Friday, January 18th in the mayor’s office at One Government Centerto preview the 2013 Unity Celebration.

This year’s celebration marks the 12th annual event and will bring the community together around the theme “Make a Way.”

“We are grateful that the spirit of Dr. King’s life lives on at The University of Toledo and in the great city of Toledo,” UT President Lloyd Jacobs said. “It is an indomitable spirit, a righteous spirit, but it will not live alone. It is for us — for you, for me, for our children — to nurture and foster so it continues to live and so that someday soon his dream may be fully realized”

Keynote speaker John Barfield will speak on entrepreneurship and tell his story of making a way not only for himself, but by giving back to others in his community. The celebration will also include performances from the Toledo Youth Choir and the Interfaith Mass Choir. Non-perishable food donations will be collected for the MLK Kitchen for the Poor, and a free community lunch will be provided following the official ceremonies.

“Dr. King devoted his life to making a way in the community for those without opportunity,” said Mayor Bell. “It is our job as elected officials, community leaders and clergy to continue to make a way in our community so that all in Toledo can thrive. We do this by remembering the words and the work of Dr. King and putting them to action in our daily efforts.”

The 2013 Unity Celebration will begin at 9 a.m. on Monday, January 21st in Savage Arena on the campus of The University of Toledo. WGTE Public Television will broadcast the event live and will re-air the program later in the day. Ceremonies will conclude by 11 a.m.

Media Coverage
The Blade (Jan. 17, 2013)
The Blade (Jan. 19, 2013)
The Blade (Jan. 21, 2013)
The Blade (Jan. 22, 2013)
13 ABC, WNWO and WTOL 11 (Jan. 22, 2013)

What: The University of Toledo Medical Center will celebrate being recognized for outstanding quality improvement initiatives from Press Ganey, the health industry’s recognized leader in health-care performance, with a special trophy unveiling. UTMC was one of only nine awardees this year out of the 170 facilities that submitted information about quality improvement initiatives.

When and where: 10 a.m. Tomorrow (Friday, Jan. 18) in The University of Toledo Medical Center lobby.

Who: Remarks will be made by Norma Tomlinson, interim executive director of the UT Medical Center, Jeffrey P. Gold, chancellor and executive vice president for biosciences and health affairs, and dean of the College of Medicine and Life Sciences, and Scott Scarborough, provost and executive president for academic affairs.