The University of Toledo and Toledo Public Schools have partnered together to create a new degree initiative called Teach Toledo to recruit and prepare Toledo’s citizens to become Toledo’s teachers.

“The new degree initiative allows us to build on research on what teachers need to be successful in central city schools,” Lynne Hamer, UT professor of educational foundations and leadership in the UT Judith Herb College of Education, said. “First, they need life experience being part of urban neighborhoods. Second, they need to know history and culture that is relevant to their students. Third, they need to understand the complex economic and bureaucratic systems that they will work within.”

Teach Toledo students will receive partial tuition scholarships and earn an Associate of Arts degree with a focus on urban education within two and a half years.  The first class is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2016.

“As a TPS and UT graduate, I know the power of teaching in our city, which is why I believe in Teach Toledo,” TPS Superintendent Dr. Romules Durant said.

At least the first year of college classes will take place at TPS’s Jones Leadership Academy where Teach Toledo students will gain early classroom experience by interacting with the pre-school, middle school and high school students who attend Jones.

“In urban school districts nationwide, children need dedicated teachers who understand their neighborhood and community,” Hamer said.  “We want to grow our own teachers by investing in people of all ages who want to stay in Toledo, including high school students, parents and grandparents. This will build diversity in teaching staff, which will contribute to student success in the classroom.”

Participants in Teach Toledo must be admitted to UT, which requires having a high school diploma or GED.

If Teach Toledo graduates want to pursue a teaching license, they can transition to the UT Judith Herb College of Education to complete a bachelor’s degree.

“Teach Toledo courses have the same requirements as those on campus except that they will be specially designed to focus on issues and knowledge essential to urban teaching,” Hamer said. “These include African and African American history and culture, Latin American and Latino American history and culture, understanding the impact of various levels of government on schooling, understanding economic systems in urban environments, and working for the common good and social welfare.”

UT and TPS have collaborated since 2011 to deliver the UT@TPS program which was designed to make college education more accessible to adults in the Toledo area while building a college-going culture in central city schools.

For more information about how to enroll in Teach Toledo, go to utoledo.edu/education/teachtoledo.

Media Coverage
The Blade (March 20, 2016)

This week the state awarded The University of Toledo two grants to support the College Credit Plus program that allows high school students to earn college credits free of charge.

The $457,720 and $311,608 grants from the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Higher Education provide UT the support to develop programs and pay for high school teachers to earn qualifications needed to teach college courses in their high school classrooms. Teachers can begin taking the courses at UT in March.

“This will fund tuition for a master’s degree for up to 40 high school teachers in Toledo Public Schools and other districts across the state so they will be prepared to teach chemistry, biology or English at the college level,” said Rebecca Schneider, professor and chair of UT’s department of curriculum and instruction in the Judith Herb College of Education. “This makes a college education more accessible and convenient for students.”

The statewide College Credit Plus program gives college-bound 7th through 12th grade students the opportunity to earn high school credit and college credit simultaneously at any Ohio public college or university.

“The program gives students the advantage of starting the transition to college early, while reducing the cost and length of time to receive a bachelor’s degree,” Schneider said. “By credentialing dozens of high school teachers in our area to teach college courses, we are expanding higher education opportunities for more children.”

A total of 911 students enrolled in the College Credit Plus at UT in the fall of 2015. Of those, 401 are TPS students.

UT is one of 19 applicants chosen to receive a portion of $10 million in new grant funding allocated by the Ohio General Assembly as part of the Straight A Fund.

“Providing this funding for teacher credentialing will ultimately allow more students to take advantage of College Credit Plus, which is great news for students and families looking to save potentially thousands on the cost of a college education,” Ohio Department of Higher Education Chancellor John Carey said. “And having more teachers in our high schools with these qualifications helps secure a strong future for the College Credit Plus program.”

“With this grant, more students will be able to take college courses without leaving their high schools,” State Superintendent Dr. Richard A. Ross said. “That allows students to get a jump on their college education in a learning environment that is already familiar to them.”

To learn more about UT’s College Credit Plus program, go to utoledo.edu/admission/dualcredit/.

Media Coverage
13 ABC (Dec. 17, 2015)
The Blade (Dec. 18, 2015)
WTOL 11 (Dec. 22, 2015)
WTOL 11 (Jan. 8, 2016)

Christi Paul, anchor of CNN New Day Weekends and HLN’s Daily Share, will address graduates at The University of Toledo’s fall commencement 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 19 in Savage Arena.

The UT graduate and Bellevue-native, who also will receive an honorary degree during the ceremony, will address more than 2,000 candidates for degrees, including 138 doctoral candidates, 556 master’s candidates and 1,372 bachelor’s candidates.

This marks the first University of Toledo commencement for President Sharon L. Gaber.

Christi Paul

“From her time at UT to her successful career at CNN, Christi Paul has devoted her life to thoughtful curiosity, learning, and helping others with the power of information,” Gaber said. “She has been at the forefront of many major news stories of our time. The award-winning journalist and advocate for women and children is an inspiring voice who will offer a passionate message to our graduates and guests.”

The national journalist graduated from UT in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication degree with a focus on broadcast journalism.

“I’m humbled and honored to give the commencement speech and so grateful to UT, the professors who helped me grow, the staff who guided me to solid internships, and the friends I made along the way,” Paul said. “I will always credit UT for giving me my springboard into the journalism arena.”

Paul has covered many high-profile events throughout her distinguished career, including President Barack Obama’s second inauguration, Hurricane Sandy, and the Casey Anthony murder trial. She was in the anchor chair walking heartbroken viewers through the early hours of the tragic shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School and Virginia Tech.

Prior to joining CNN and HLN in 2003, Paul worked as an anchor and reporter in Phoenix, Ariz., and Boise, Idaho. The Idaho Press Club honored Paul for her series about a brave four-year-old girl who underwent a five-organ transplant. Paul began her career at WDTV in Clarksburg, W.Va.

The wife and mother of three also is passionate about helping children. Along with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Paul is co-founder of the “Find Our Children” series that airs on HLN. Viewers have helped bring home 35 missing kids as a result of the news profile segments. The center honored Paul in 2012 with its prestigious Hope Award for her efforts to make the world a safer place for children.

Paul serves on the National Advisory Council for the One Love Foundation, which works with teens to help end dating violence. Paul also serves on the Advisory Board for When Georgia Smiled that helps victims of domestic violence and sexual assault find healing, safety and joy.

UT recognized Paul in 2006 as an Outstanding Alumna of the former College of Arts and Sciences.

The fall commencement ceremony will recognize graduates from the Colleges of Adult and Lifelong Learning, Business and Innovation, Communication and the Arts, Judith Herb College of Education, Health Sciences, Languages, Literature and Social Sciences, Medicine and Life Sciences; Natural Sciences and Mathematics; Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences; and Social Justice and Human Service.

Other college specific commencement ceremonies taking place are:

• College of Engineering: graduate commencement 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17; undergraduate commencement 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19. Both ceremonies will be held in Nitschke Auditorium.

• College of Nursing: 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18 in Nitschke Auditorium.

For more information, visit utoledo.edu/commencement.

Media Coverage
The Blade (Dec. 19, 2015)
The Blade (Dec. 20, 2015)

The University of Toledo Peace Education Initiative is bringing more than 30 local organizations together to discuss the urban revitalization of Toledo and the surrounding region.

The Community Dialogue and Public Forum on Urban Revitalization Through the Lenses of Peace and Justice will take place 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 29, at the Frederick Douglass Community Association, 1001 Indiana Ave. Lunch, coffee and snacks will be provided at the free, public event.

The day will kick off with a facilitated dialogue, where an analysis of problems and ideas for transforming the city’s urban issues will be discussed. Topics to be addressed during the day-long event include economic justice, peace education, ecological justice and social justice.

Toledo Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson and Lucas County Commissioner Tina Skeldon Wozniak will give opening remarks. Toledo Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Romules Durant will participate in a panel discussion at 1 p.m. called “Pursuing Urban Revitalization with Justice and Peace” with other community leaders.

“The particular organizations we’re partnering with have either a mission or perspective through which they approach their work in communities that incorporates peace and justice,” said Dr. Tony Jenkins, director of the UT Peace Education Initiative.

Other organizations partnering with the UT Peace Education Initiative will offer workshops and information about their work throughout the event.

The UT Peace Education Initiative, located in the Judith Herb College of Education, was established to help the University become a global leader in peace education. Through a variety of programming and research in peace education and peace studies, UT is working to promote understanding both in the local community and globally. The University offers a graduate certificate in peace education.

“Peace education, in a nutshell, is education about and for peace,” Jenkins said. “The two sides of the coin are learning that helps bring critical issues related to peace, conflict and violence into the curriculum, but more than that, it’s about how we prepare and nurture students to become critically engaged citizens who are able to create a better world for themselves and future generations. It’s not just learning about peace, but also capacitating students to resolve differences nonviolently.”

To RSVP, contact 419.530.2552 or info@i-i-p-e.org. For more information, visit utoledo.edu/education/peace/peace_events.html.

Media Coverage
Bridges (July 26, 2015)
NBC 24 and WTOL 11 (July 29, 2015)
The Blade (July 30, 2015)

A nationally renowned leader will address The University of Toledo graduates at the fall commencement ceremony Saturday, Dec. 20 in Savage Arena at 10 a.m.

Mike Thaman, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Owens Corning, will address the graduates from the colleges of Health Sciences, Adult and Lifelong Learning, Social Justice and Human Services, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Business and Innovation, Communication and the Arts, Languages, Literature and Social Sciences and the Judith Herb College of Education.

“Mike Thaman’s vision and leadership are truly aligned with the University’s commitment to best equip our students with the knowledge and guidance that will help them succeed,” said Dr. Nagi Naganathan, interim president.

There are 2,252 candidates for degrees including 113 doctoral candidates, 594 master’s candidates and 1,461 bachelor’s candidates. The remaining 84 candidates are for education specialist, graduate certificates or associate’s degrees. The ceremony will be broadcast live on video.utoledo.edu.

In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be rescheduled for Sunday, Dec. 21 at 10 a.m. in Savage Arena.

Thaman has held positions in manufacturing, corporate development and international business since joining Owens Corning, a world leader in building materials and composite systems, in 1992.

He has held numerous positions including vice president and president of the Engineered Pipe Systems business, headquartered in Brussels, Belgium; vice president and president of Owen’s Corning’s Exterior Systems Business; and senior vice president and chief financial officer.

A longtime corporate strategist and leader, Thaman emphasizes a human-emphasized approach in helping American businesses thrive.

When he accepted a company leadership award from the National Safety Council earlier this year, he focused on the human-rights aspect of company safety. “For more than 75 years, Owens Corning has understood the importance of having engaged, productive employees who arrive home to their families and friends, without incident, the same way they left.”

Prior to joining Owens Corning, Thaman spent six years as a strategy consultant at Mercer Management Consulting, where he was a vice president in the New York office. He serves as director of Florida Power & Light Co., Owens Corning Fabricating Solutions and Advanced Glassfiber Yarns LLC. For NextEra Energy Inc., Thaman served as an independent director for more than 10 years and as its lead director until this year. He served as a director of AGY Holding Corp., and as director of Florida Power & Light Group, Inc.

Thaman earned a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering and computer science from Princeton University.

Other commencement ceremonies taking place include:

• College of Engineering: graduate commencement 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18; undergraduate commencement 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20. Both ceremonies held in Nitschke Auditorium.
• College of Nursing: 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19 in Nitschke Auditorium.

For more information, visit utoledo.edu/commencement.

Media Coverage
The Blade (Dec. 13, 2014)
The Blade (Dec. 21, 2014)