More college students than ever are earning credit for what they already know. According to results from a recent 48-institution study of Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) and Adult Student Outcomes, conducted by the Council for Adult Experiential Learning (CAEL), PLA students have better academic outcomes, particularly in terms of graduation rates and persistence, than other adult students. Many PLA students are able to shorten the time it takes to earn a degree.  In this study, 43% of PLA students earned a bachelor's degree, compared to only 15% of non-PLA students.

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College participated in this study to help document what had long been a belief held my many of its faculty and administrators. SMWC students have used PLA methods to document their learning. “Since the 1970s, SMWC students have gained credit toward their degrees through documentation of learning gained outside the classroom.  Many students, especially the adult students, come with so many diverse experiences that have led them to knowledge that they could have learned in a classroom,” said Gwen Hagemeyer, director of the Woods External Degree (WED) Program at SMWC. “PLA is a way for them to feel validated for their knowledge whether it is through a testing option or the portfolio method.  Their portfolios often demonstrate a depth of knowledge that verifies not just the learning but the assimilation of the learning into their jobs and day-to-day activities.”

PLA methods include portfolio assessment, evaluation of corporate and military training by the American Council on Education (ACE), and standardized exams such as College Level Examination Program (CLEP). Earning credit through CLEP tests can be a real time and money saver. CLEP can allow you to obtain college credits by passing specific computer-based tests.  More than 34 CLEP tests are available through SMWC's Learning Resource Center.

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From left to right

Back row: Julia Lopez-Kaley, senior MT major; Amber Finch Leavitt, '09; Tracy Richardson, MT faculty; and Morgan May, MT intern

Front row: Sharon R Boyle, MT faculty; Jennifer Pinson, second degree MT student

The music therapy faculty and a few music therapy students from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College recently attended the Great Lakes Region of the American Music Therapy Association (GLR-AMTA) Conference held March 18-21, 2010, in Indianapolis. SMWC music therapy students attended a student-organized Passages Conference held the first day of the professional conference at IUPUI. Others attended sessions at the professional conference, as well as meetings for the Great Lakes Region of the American Music Therapy Association Students (GLR-AMTAS). Music therapy students who attended include: Jamie Ubalde, Julia Lopez-Kaley, Cathleen Flynn, Gloria Stearns-Bruner, Morgan May and Jennifer Pinson.

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On March 13 and 14, 2010, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College was represented during an Educational Fair held in downtown Beijing, China.  A contracted student recruitment agent from American China Communication Alliance (ACCA) Group was in attendance for SMWC. The College found the recruitment agency with the assistance of Dr. Ningyi Zhang, assistant professor of mathematics and international student coordinator at SMWC. Zhang is a native of China.

“One of our primary strategic goals is to increase international student enrollment. Our efforts are concentrated in China and India, as well as South and Central America.  We are fortunate to have connections with international recruitment agencies, alums from these areas, and friends of the College assisting us with our efforts,” said Art Criss, vice president of enrollment management.

With 28 international students enrolled in the campus-based program in academic year 2009-2010, the College continues to strengthen global recruitment efforts. International students attending SMWC this year represent countries of Japan, Taiwan, China, South Korea, Ireland, Greece, Kosovo, Vietnam and Uganda.

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Written by Jena Thralls, SMWC Journalism Student

What is your ideal college spring break? For some it may be spending the week on a hot beach and simply doing nothing but relaxing. For others it may include working for pay or catching up on work in general.  Not every college student might prefer to spend an entire week serving the community for no pay. During spring break seventeen Saint Mary- of-the Woods College students traveled to New York City where they worked in a soup kitchen to serve the homeless.

                  The severe weather conditions in NYC swarmed the news only days before the group was bound to leave for the trip. Jeff Malloy, Campus Life Director and chaperone of the trip, said that he had been following the weather very closely. “I decided that we were going to get there no matter what. If it got to the point where we were uncomfortable driving we would stop off and stay somewhere.”  To everyone’s surprise, the weather wasn’t too bad. Though there was some snow on the way there, the group was fortunate enough to have just missed the severe storm.  Students said that when they arrived to NYC they were surprised to see how clear all of the roads actually were. “The weather was actually really nice,” Malloy said. The students and chaperones all arrived safely and on time, late Saturday night.

                  All seventeen students slept in a church chapel on floor mats.  All students attended mass on the morning following their arrival.  They were to share one shower for the entire week. Kathleen Flynn, SMWC freshman, said, “I think living like that for a week made us a lot more conscious of everyone around us.” To many it may seem rough to have to share one shower between seventeen girls and sleep on the floor in a sanctuary, but SMWC students said they were lucky. “After serving the homeless and seeing how they live, I think we all realized how lucky we were,” Flynn said.  The Trinity Lutheran Lower Eastside Parish was located by Thompson Square Park on the lower east side of Manhattan. 

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Written by Jade Scott, journalism student at SMWC

Photos:

SMWC Student Brittany Gambill works with one of the male mustangs.

A colt is born in the SMWC stables.

For the fourth year in a row the Equine program at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods has once again taken in mustangs as a part of an adoption program.  As well, for the first time ever, a colt was born early last Thursday morning at SMWC's barn.

Partnering with the BLM (Bureau Land Management) the Equine program has taken in four mustangs in attempt to get them a suitable home.  With two males and two females, the students at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College are given the chance to take a Handling and Training class as a part of their Equine studies.

“We really like to expose the students to horses that haven't been domesticated.  Most of the mustangs that we get here have not even had human contact before the girls start working with them,” said Angie McMillin, stable manager at SMWC.

The students that are in the Handling and Training class are expected to train the mustangs by the end of the school year.  Since all four of the mustangs arrived on campus only two weeks ago, they only have about 10 weeks to accomplish their goals.  The training starts with the task of just being able to touch the mustang.  While that task may not seem complicated, there is always a certain level of danger when it comes to working with wild animals.

“There is a danger when entering this class and the students are aware of that before they even sign up.  Most of these animals have never had human contact before and they have a mind of their own, so of course there are going to be some bruises at the end of each day,” said McMillin.

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The Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board has granted approval to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College for it's institutional proposal to host a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence from Kenya or Uganda for a semester. The proposal, submitted by Dr. Dottie King, vice president for Academic Affairs, supports the expansion of SMWC international programs. The success of SMWC's application was largely due to support from departments across campus, the White Violet Center, and from a number of partners in Vigo County, including Sony DADC, Ivy Tech Community College, Indiana State University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Boral Bricks, the Green Valley Alliance, and Mayor Duke Bennett.

The Fulbright residency poses opportunities for a rich exchange of talent, knowledge, and experience that involves students, faculty and staff of the College, the Sisters of Providence, and the community. The Scholar-in-Residence will bring international perspectives of environmental sustainability to two courses co-taught with SMWC faculty. The Scholar will also participate in presentations on and off campus and assist in developing SMWC international programs, including English as a second language and study abroad. Currently the College maintains partnerships for international exchange with China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, England, and Ireland. 

The Fulbright agency expects to match SMWC's request with a qualified Scholar for fall 2010 or spring 2011 semester. Since its establishment in 1946, the Fulbright Program has operated in over 130 countries worldwide, providing international exchange opportunities for almost 300,000 participants to study, teach, and conduct research. 

On Thursday, March 18, 2010, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College distance students of the Woods External Degree (WED) program and the Graduate Studies program will be on campus for their Ring Day Ceremony rehearsal. Before rehearsal, between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m., they have been invited by President David G. Behrs to join him in his office to celebrate their achievements.

“We are very proud of our WED and Graduate students and their achievements! Earning the opportunity to wear the SMWC Onyx Ring is very important to all of our students - campus and distance,” said President David G. Behrs. “While our distance and graduate students are on campus for rehearsal, I wanted to invite them to come by my office and to allow me to celebrate with them. Just because they're not on campus, I want them to know they're important to us and we are celebrating with them during this exciting time in their college journey.”

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Photo

Front Row: (L-R)
Morgyn Purdy,
Allison Kralovansky,
Charlynn Turner,
Abigail Paul, and
Katie Sidell.
Back Row: (L-R)
Sarah Kniesly,
Brittany Gambill, and Meagan Ryan.

Not pictured:
Heather Vaughn,
Natalya Brechlin, Elizabeth Burgess, and Ashley Bruner.

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Photos by Shauna Lampley:
Reception: The Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Art Gallery hosted a reception for the Twelfth Annual SMWC High School Women’s Art Competition on Sunday, February 21, 2010. Many of the participants, along with families, friends, and art teachers, attended the reception, where awards were presented.

First Place: Azucena Monge, a sophomore at Fountain Central High School, was awarded first place for her ink drawing entitled “Amor Inmortal (Immortal Love).”

Top Ten: Among the top ten winners attending the reception were (Left to Right) Amy Brown of Fountain Central High School, Taylor Keiser of Northview High School (third place), Savannah Klinge of South Vermillion High School, Ayla Walter of Terre Haute North High School, Caitlin Pickens of South Vermillion High School, Shelby Porter (second place) of North Vermillion High School, and Azucena Monge of Fountain Central High School (first place).

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The Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) Art Gallery's next exhibition will feature the work of seniors Hannah Goldman and Amy Watkins. The exhibition will be on display from March 10th through March 31st. An opening reception will take place on Wednesday, March 10th, from 5 to 7 p.m.

Goldman, whose body of work is entitled At Second Glance, is a graphic design major from Birdseye, IN. Watkins, whose body of work is entitled Lost in Reverie, is a graphic design and studio art double major from Syracuse, IN.

The SMWC Art Gallery is located in Hulman Hall, room 132. Admission is free and open to the public. Regular Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, noon to 4 p.m. For more information, contact Rebecca Mollenhauer, Gallery Director, by phone at 812-535-5265 or by email at artgallery@smwc.edu.