Crow’s Nest — November 2, 2020
Park University Makes Post-Thanksgiving Plans for Fall 2020 Semester
On Friday, Oct. 9, Jayme Uden, Ed.D., associate vice president and dean of students, sent out a message to Park University students announcing the University’s plans for the Fall 2020 semester following the Thanksgiving holiday break due to the coronavirus pandemic. Recognizing that Thanksgiving travel could increase the risk of COVID-19 spread on Park’s campuses across the country, and, out of an abundance of caution, the University will move to fully remote learning during the final two weeks of the 2020 Fall Semester / Fall II term (weeks of November 30 and December 7). What this means is that if you are enrolled in a course that meets face-to-face, your scheduled class meetings will instead take place via Zoom and your final exam, if applicable, will take place via Canvas. You will not be required to come to campus to complete courses or final exams. Read more about the University’s plans at park.edu/news/fall-2020-post-thanksgiving-plans.
Four Park Military Students Receive “Help A Hero” Scholarships from VFW, Sport Clips
Four Park University students who serve in the U.S. military have been recognized as recipients of scholarships from the Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation through the Sport Clips “Help A Hero” scholarship program. The scholarships assist with tuition and fees for the Fall 2020 semester. Park students honored are:
• Katie Bennett, senior management/healthcare major and active duty U.S. Air Force, $2,250
• Bryan Frazier, senior construction management major and U.S. Air Force Reservist, $5,000
• Tyler Jackson, pursuing Master of Education degree in organizational leadership and adult learning, and U.S. Army Reservist, $5,000
• Sean Sexton, senior geography major and active duty U.S. Navy, $3,250
“Help A Hero” scholarships are awarded twice a year to help cover the cost of tuition and fees. Scholarship applications are being accepted through Sunday, November 15, for the Spring 2021 semester at vfw.org/scholarship.
Academic Affairs Announces Faculty Development Endowment Grants
Park University’s Office of Academic Affairs has announced the recipients of Park’s Faculty Development Endowment Grants. This internal grant program funds projects that help faculty members stay current in their fields, enhance their teaching practice and/or advance their research agendas. Approximately $30,000 was available in funding this year. Projects funded for the 2020-21 academic year are:
• Dmitry Gimon, Ph.D., associate professor of information systems and business analytics, will create a set of specialized student success resources for students enrolled in Park’s data-related graduate programs on foundational topics such as coding, data storage, text analysis and analytical thinking.
• Mike Swoboda, D.H.Sc., assistant professor of fitness and wellness, will launch a research project on athlete performance injury to contribute to the field of sport performance, kinetics and kinematics.
• Guillermo Tonsmann, Ph.D., associate professor of computer science, will complete a series of five-week online courses through Massachusetts Institute of Technology on quantum computing to enhance his teaching.
Fort Leonard Wood Campus Announces Graduates
Park University announces its graduates from the University’s Fort Leonard Wood (Mo.) Campus. These graduates were scheduled to participate in a commencement ceremony on Oct. 9 at Nutter Field House on base, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, the event was held virtually on Oct. 23.
Park University Recognizes Employees with 2020 Longevity Awards
Park University has honored full-time staff and faculty who reached milestone service anniversaries between Aug. 2, 2019, and Aug. 1, 2020. Forty-two employees were recognized, combining for 460 years of service to Park. Two employees received special recognition — Debra Sheffer, associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and professor of history, and Linda Waxse, counselor and coordinator of the Counseling Center, both with 30 years of service. View the entire list of those recognized at park.edu/news/longevity-awards-2020. In addition, the University recognized 174 adjunct faculty who celebrated a milestone anniversary for consecutive years of teaching at least one class for Park, 40 of whom received 20-year service pins.
University to Host Analysis of Presidential Election on Nov. 4
University to Host Analysis of Presidential Election on Nov. 4The day after the U.S. presidential election, two members of Park University’s Department of History, Political Science and Interdisciplinary Studies faculty will discuss the results, if known, and the significance of the outcome. On Wednesday, Nov. 4, Matt Harris, Ph.D., and Jack Adam MacLennan, Ph.D., both assistant professors of political science, will present “The Day After: 2020 General Election Analysis.” The event, which will begin at 1 p.m. in the Jenkin and Barbara David Theater within Alumni Hall on the University’s Parkville Campus, will cover not only the presidential election, but also key Senate and House of Representative races across the country. In September, the duo discussed the importance of the election for both domestic and international politics as part of the University’s annual Constitution Day event. In-person attendance at the event will be limited to 40 Park University students by invitation only due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, the event will be streamed live via the University’s video portal at park.edu/2020election.
Faculty, Staff, Student News
Jeanette Prenger, ’09, chair of Park University’s Board of Trustees, was honored by Enterprising Women magazine with a Top 20 in 2020 Award during a special virtual event recognizing 20 past recipients of the publication’s Women of the Year Award, Oct. 19-20. Prenger was an Enterprising Women of the Year Award recipient in 2013.
Jolene Lampton, Ph.D., professor of accounting, authored an article on “Core Values are Organizational Pillars” that was published on the Strategic Finance website on Oct. 1. Lampton also appeared on an Institute of Management Accountants podcast on Oct. 20 discussing Global Ethics Day. In addition, Lampton co-authored the article “Customer Service in the Digital Age” which was published on Oct. 31 in CSM.
A group of Park University students, faculty, staff and alumni presented a virtual session on “Student Perspectives – Programming Voice Controlled Devices” on Oct. 9 as part of the VOICE Summit. The presentation included a discussion of learning experiences in programming voice controlled devices and the future of voice technology. Participants included members of the Alexa Programming Club, Jay Canty, ’20, Wen Hsin, Ph.D., professor of computer science, and Zac Jarrard, information technology services project manager.
Jack MacLennan, Ph.D., assistant professor of political science, served as the moderator of a virtual discussion on “Foreign Policy Issues in the 2020 Election: Military and Diplomacy” as part of the International Relations Council’s Choices election issues series on Oct. 6.
Tami Radohl, Ph.D., associate professor of social work, co-authored the article “Participation in Social Work Membership Organizations: Opportunities and Challenges in a Changing Society” which was published Oct. 11 in the Journal of Policy Practice and Research.
In addition, Radohl and Ashley Phillips, MSW ’18, co-authored the article “The Field Education Experience in a Privatized Foster Care System” which was published Oct. 19 in Social Work Education – The International Journal.
Erik Bergrud, associate vice president for university engagement, has been tabbed to be a part of the broadcast announcing team for the Major Arena Soccer League’s 2020 All-Star game on Dec. 5 in Independence, Mo. This will be the first professional indoor soccer all-star game since the 2001-02 season.
Nicolas Miceli, Ph.D., associate professor of management/human resources, and Hank Roehrich, Ph.D., associate professor of management/marketing (and his wife, Julie Grabanski, Ph.D.), presented their co-authored refereed paper, “A Combination Team and Problem-Based Learning Approach for Fulfilling Student Needs” at the Marketing Management Association’s virtual fall conference on Oct. 29. The paper, along with Roehrich’s paper “Cultivating an Engaging and Not Stifling Online Learning Environment” are published in the conference proceedings. Roehrich also served as a session chair and panel chair during the conference.
Park in the News
Matt Harris, Ph.D., assistant professor of political science, was interviewed for stories that aired on KMBZ-FM in Kansas City on Oct. 6 and on WDAF-TV in Kansas City on Oct. 8, both related to Missouri Amendment 3, also known as the Redistricting Process and Criteria, Lobbying and Campaign Finance Amendment (2020).
Harris was also interviewed by KSHB-TV in Kansas City on Oct. 22 for a story related to a debate between the candidates in the Kansas 3rd District House of Representatives race.
In addition, Harris was interviewed for stories that aired Oct. 28 on KMBZ-FM and KMOX-AM in St. Louis related to polling probabilities from poll aggregators and how these may impact elections.
Kay Barnes, senior director of university engagement, provided comments for a story on “Kansas City’s Long Road to Women’s Suffrage” that appeared on the Flatland (Kansas City PBS’ digital magazine) website on Oct. 8. Barnes’ comments appear in the “Civic Housekeepers” portion of the article.
Brian Shawver, associate provost for teaching and learning, was interviewed for a story that aired on WDAF-TV in Kansas City on Oct. 13 related to the announcement that 150 students were caught cheating on online exams at the University of Missouri. The story also aired in nearly 40 TV markets across the country.
The Park University International Center for Music’s Stanislav and Friends event on Sept. 17 at the Boulevard Drive-In in Kansas City, Kan., was featured in a two-page spread in the Oct. 17 edition of The Independent, Kansas City’s journal of society.
Jayme Uden, Ed.D., associate vice president and dean of students, appeared in a live interview on KSHB-TV on Oct. 19 to discuss Park University’s decision to go fully online after the Thanksgiving break due to an expected uptick in coronavirus cases.
Park University’s Parkville Campus academic and commercial underground spaces were highlighted in a story that appeared on the Flatland (Kansas City PBS’ digital magazine) website on Oct. 19. The article included comments from Erik Bergrud, associate vice president of university engagement.
A story about Lt. Col. Kevin Black, MACL ’14, being promoted to colonel appeared on the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service website on Oct. 26. Black, 3rd Infantry Division director of training and operations at Fort Stewart, Ga., was one of just 14 lieutenant colonels selected by the Army Talent Management process to receive a brevet promotion, which allows a junior grade officer to serve one grade higher, wear the rank and be pad at the higher grade when assigned to a critical position.
A story about ghosts on Park University’s Parkville Campus that was produced in 1989 by KMBC-TV in Kansas City was revived from the archives and posted on the television station’s website on Oct. 27.
Park University received the following rankings:
• EduRef.net ranked Park No. 11 on its “2021 Most Affordable Online Colleges for Supply Chain Management Degrees” list.
• BachelorsDegreeCenter.org ranked Park No. 17 on its “25 Best Bachelor’s in Political Science Programs for 2021” list.
• Learn.org ranked Park No. 34 on its “Best Bachelor’s in Business Management Degrees Online” list
• MasterDegreeGuide.com ranked Park No. 41 on its “Best Affordable Online Master’s in Management Information Systems” list.
Upcoming Events
(All events are Central time)
• Through November 20 — Megan Frazer Art Exhibit, Campanella Gallery (Norrington Center)
• November 4 — “The Day After: 2020 General Election Analysis” with Dr. Matt Harris and Dr. Jack Adam MacLennan, 1 p.m., David Theater (Alumni Hall) and Virtual
• November 11 — Veterans Day Holiday (All University offices closed nationwide; Parkville and Gilbert daytime classes cancelled; Fall II classes held as scheduled)
• November 13 — Board of Trustees Meeting
• November 20 — International Center for Music Concert: ICM Orchestra, 7:30 p.m., Virtual
• November 26-27 — Thanksgiving Holiday (All University offices closed nationwide; Parkville and Gilbert daytime classes cancelled; Fall II classes held as scheduled)
• December 2-31 — Senior Art Students Art Exhibit, Campanella Gallery (Norrington Center)
• December 11 — International Student Sash Ceremony, 5 p.m., Virtual
• December 12 — All University December Commencement, Noon, Virtual
• December 12 — International Center for Music Concert: Boston Trio, 1900 Building, Mission Woods, Kan.
• December 24-25 — Christmas Holiday (All University offices closed)
• January 1 — New Year’s Day Holiday (All University offices closed)
The following events are cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic:
• November 14 — Defense Supply Center Columbus (Ohio) Campus Commencement
• November 15 — Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (Ohio) Campus Commencement
• November 15 — Mountain Home (Idaho) Air Force Base Campus Commencement
• December 4 — Little Rock (Ark.) Air Force Base Campus Commencement
• December 5 — Goodfellow Air Force Base (Texas) Campus / Lackland Air Force Base (Texas) Campus / Randolph Air Force Base (Texas) Campus Commencement
• December 11 — Ellen Finley Earhart Department of Nursing Pinning Ceremony
• December 19 — Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (Ariz.) Campus Commencement
• January 30 — El Paso (Texas) Campus / Fort Bliss (Texas) Campus / Holloman Air Force Base (N.M.) Campus Commencement
Note: When these events are rescheduled (if applicable), they will be updated in the University’s online calendar. To view a comprehensive schedule for all events, including athletics and student life, visit park.edu/calendars/park-events-calendar.