Looking Ahead as SNL turns 40

After many months of work and effort on the part of faculty, staff and students, SNL has completed crafting its five-year strategic plan and looks to its 40th anniversary celebration for 2012.

SNL’s vision statement reads: Employers and the public will perceive School for New Learning graduates to be lifelong learners of the highest quality, disciplined thinkers and critically engaged citizens, competent and versatile in their ability to synthesize ideas for applied use as they address the challenges and engage the opportunities of contemporary adult life. SNL’s renewed core purpose is to nurture curiosity, reflective judgment and a lifelong passion for learning— equipping global citizens to address the challenges and engage the opportunities of contemporary work, community and personal adult life.

Our four strategic goals are:

• To achieve strategic growth in the Midwest while maintaining our national reputation as a quality provider of undergraduate and graduate degree programs for adults.
• To provide the highest-quality educational experience for adult learners.
• To expand and efficiently use financial resources dedicated to SNL’s strategic growth and development.
• To restructure and simplify SNL’s governance, management and administrative systems to best achieve growth and quality. We will be working hard in the coming years to achieve these goals. Additionally, throughout the next year, SNL representatives will visit adult programs in other colleges and universities across the country to gather ideas and best practices that will inform our curricular and new program development and help us improve current programs.

 

Stay tuned for information about our 40th anniversary activities and celebrations.

Meet SNL Online Alum Kristi Laakkonen

Kristi Laakkonen

Kristi is a Summer 2011 SNL graduate from the Chicago area with a focus area in leadership and management.

What field do you currently work in?

I currently work as an Account Manager in the Payroll/HRIS industry.

How did your education at SNL impact your current job?

The way I view my position, my company and my clients is different. The knowledge and skills I gained—specifically through courses that focused on critical thinking, conflict resolution and leadership—have impacted how I handle and prioritize issues, how I interact with my team and internal departments, and how I analyze my clients’ needs. I know that my communication skills have been strengthened and my experience at SNL has helped me to be more strategic in my vision and decision making—personally and professionally.

What do you love about your job?

In my current position, I assist my clients with their payroll and HR questions, programs and initiatives. I really enjoy analyzing their needs, issues or concerns and providing solutions. Most of all, I love the relationships that I am able to form with my clients and the internal associates I interact with.

What advice to you have for current students taking online classes?

Don’t be frightened of online classes. Yes, you will need to be disciplined—but isn’t that true for most things in life? They offer wonderful flexibility and the experience can be as good if not better than a classroom setting. Since I was able to work according to my work/family schedule (sometime even starting at 10pm and working to midnight or waking up early to log in at 5am), online classes made it possible for me to complete my degree. I have been very happy with the interaction with my professors and also formed many, many wonderful long-term relationships with classmates.

Looking back as a student, is there anything you would have done differently?

I would have started at SNL much, much sooner and I would have found a professional advisor when I started the program or shortly after since they are an integral part of the experience. Otherwise, the entire journey was very rewarding and the professors and advisors have been wonderful to work with.

Your School for New Learning experience helped you by:

• Developing confidence in myself that I can accomplish by goals and belief that I can do anything I set my mind to.
• Making Academic Advisors available that truly care and are so passionate about the student’s success.
• Providing comprehensive courses that would provide an excellent education in a flexible format that made it possible for me to attend classes and earn my degree from a respected university. As a result, I can advance my career.
• Giving me the opportunity to be an example for my high school age son— showing him that education is essential and possible no matter your age or circumstance.

New SNL Online Faculty Teaching in Winter 2012

Dr. Gregory Caicco is a former Jesuit who worked on the South Side of Chicago and with refugees in Guatemala. Before, he practiced as a professional architect in Toronto after earning a professional B.Arch. in Ottawa. Afterwards he did his graduate work in philosophy as well as the history, theory and philosophy of architecture/art earning an M.Phil. at Cambridge University in England, and M.A. in philosophy at Loyola University Chicago, and a Ph.D. at McGill University. Dr. Caicco taught history, theory and ethics of architecture at McGill and at Arizona State University where he held the Lincoln Chair of Ethics in Architecture and Environmental Design from 2000-04. He has published widely, including the 2008 book Architecture, Ethics and the Personhood of Place. He is currently working on a monograph concerning the architectural ethics of Saint Francis of Assisi in the Italian 13th c. Gregory will be teaching IN 307 Advanced Elective Seminar – Italian Renaissance.

Mark Enenbach has been a member of the SNL Part Time faculty since 1988. He is Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for The Community Economic Development Association. He received his M.A. in Urban Planning from Loyola University. Mark will be teaching China Money, Power, and the 21st Century.

James Kimsey earned his M.S. in Music Technology from Indiana University-Purdue School of Engineering Technology (IUPUI), and his B.A. in Telecommunications from Indiana University, where he also studied Audio Engineering and Jazz Improvisation. Jim has worked extensively as a professional musician and has instructed in guitar and piano since 1981. He has also been a video/audio producer for over 25 years.

Nancy Morgan has an MA in Teaching English as a Second Language from Teachers College, Columbia University, NY, and an MA in International Relations from the University of Chicago. She has written and produced educational video programming for students and instructors, K-12 and Higher Education, on a range of topics. She has been and online instructional designer for the past 5 years and has also taught online courses. Nancy will be teaching HC 239 Globalization: Winners, Losers, and Social Justice.

Scott Murdoch has been teaching Biology since 1997. He holds a Masters Degree in Environmental Biology and is currently an Associate Professor and Department Chair of Biological Sciences at Moraine Valley Community College. His interests lie in many areas of Biology including Botany, Zoology, Ecology, and Human Anatomy and Physiology. He is also the co-director of MVCC’s Nature Study Area, a 40 acre prairie restoration site on campus. In his spare time Scott likes to hike, run, camp, garden, laugh, and watch children play. Scott will be teaching SW341 Ecology of Personal Life.

Regina Spellers Sims holds a Ph.D. in Intercultural and Organizational Communication from Arizona State University. She also has an MBA from University of Bridgeport. She is president/CEO of Eagles Soar Consulting, LLC which provides training, writing, curriculum development, and research services. Her teaching and research focuses on gender/girlhood studies, multicultural intergroup relations, business, and hair/body politics. Her award winning publications include a co-edited volume, book chapters, journal and magazine articles, and web based study guides.

Derise Tolliver Atta is a licensed psychologist, is a member of the SNL Resident Faculty and Director, SNL Tangaza
Project. She earned her doctorate from Duke University. Her professional and research interests include African-centered psychology, spirituality, cultural issues in psychology and education, and HIV/AIDS. Derise will be teaching LL 205 Foundations of Adult Learning.

Important Dates for Winter Quarter 2012

• January 3: Winter Classes begin
• January 9: Last day to add classes to
  winter quarter
• January 16: last day to drop classes
  with no penalty
• January 17: Grades of “W” assigned
  for classes dropped on or after this
  day.
• February 20: Last day to withdraw
  from winter quarter classes
• March 19: Winter Quarter ends

Congratulations to Dr. Regina Spellers Sims

Congratulations to Dr. Regina Spellers Sims and Dr. Kimberly R. Moffitt, on the selection of their co-edited volume, Blackberries and Redbones: Critical Articulations of Black Hair/Body Politics in Africana Communities (Hampton Press, 2010) for the 2011 National Communication Association’s (NCA), African American Communication and Culture Division (AACCDD) and Black Caucus (BC) “Outstanding Book of the Year Award.” The decision was made by peer review. The awards committee felt that their work represented a superior level of scholarship and promises to make a significant contribution to Africana communication scholarship.

Incomplete Boot Camp

Are you a student with an incomplete grade on your transcript? Do you need help and motivation to complete necessary courses to obtain a bachelor’s degree? Then the Incomplete Boot Camp is for you! This program offers an academic atmosphere, writing assistance, library services and support from faculty and staff in finishing incomplete coursework.

Upcoming Incomplete Boot Camps: (Location: Lewis Center, Rm 1308, 25 E. Jackson Blvd.)

• Thursday, December 8, 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM
• Saturday, December 10, 9 AM – 1 PM

To Register email snlsa@depaul.edu and include dates(s) you would like to attend and a copy of your incomplete grade contract. Please register at least three days prior to the session.

$10,000 Challenge to DePaul Students

Do you have a revolutionary business idea to help lift Haitian people out of poverty? Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has challenged DePaul students to create social businesses that put  at least 10 Haitians living in poverty to work, and promised funding from his Grameen Creative Lab of up to $10,000 to launch one or more winning ideas.

Muhammad Yunus and DePaul students

DePaul has accepted the challenge and launched the Social Venture Business Plan competition. The contest challenges DePaul students to develop a plan for a business that will employ at least 10 workers living in poverty in Haiti with sufficient wages to support their families and pay for their children’s educations. Plans are due by May 15, 2012.

For contest guidelines and more for information please visit the Haiti Initiatives website.

Diwali the “Festival of Lights”

The DePaul Indian Student Association (DISA) and School for New Learning invites you to celebrate Diwali “Festival of Lights.” Come and experience the “Festival of Lights” on Friday, October 28th, 2011 from 4 pm-8 pm in the Concourse level of DePaul Center. The evening will feature a live performance by FunkaDesi, dance lessons by Bollywood Groove, and the DePaul Argentine Tango Club.

The Center to Advance Education for Adults

Brandy Agerbeck, CAEA Graphic Facilitator

Since 2007, the School for New Learning has hosted a series of programs, conversations and conferences for adult learning practitioners across sectors via the Center to Advance Education for Adults. CAEA began with an initial generous grant from SNL alum Trish Parson and the Mason Parson Family Foundation with continued support from The Bertram L. Scott/Elizabeth A. Fender and the Mason Parson Family Foundation and other university,
community and business sponsors.

Recent programs have focused on current issues in adult learning, including: global diversity and inclusion, adult transitions in life and work, emerging technology, learning trends, research and practice. Programs have featured diverse speakers with a wide range of provocative perspectives, including Consuls Generals from many nations, Andres Tapia, Elliot Masie, Margaret Wheatley, Dr. Roosevelt Thomas, and many others. Many events are live-streamed so you can participate over the internet. CAEA also hosts regular book discussions in collaboration with Chicagoland Learning Leaders and community conversations on burning issues in adult learning and development.

Center director, Pamela Meyer, invites all current students and alumni who are interested in the field of adult learning to participate in the CAEA community, “Our mission is ‘to create community among adult learning practitioners across sectors to exchange ideas and inspire imaginative strategies for learning in diverse settings.’ If you are looking for a place to connect with creative, thoughtful practitioners and enjoy the support of a growing community of practice, this is the place for you.”

Ways You Can Participate:
Join our mailing list: For announcements about upcoming programs and learning opportunities.

Join our network:
Join our network: Meet other learning professionals, view videos or recent programs, and join online discussion forums.

Attend a Program:
Many of our programs are free and all are open to anyone interested in adult learning practice. For a current list of upcoming programs visit the CAEA website or call (312) 362-6508.

Meet Megan Stemm-Wade

Megan Stemm-Wade

What is your job title and what are your primary responsibilities at SNL?

My title is Instructional Technology Consultant, part of Faculty Instructional Technology Services (FITS) I’m basically a liaison to SNL to provide instructional design and Desire2Learn support. I am responsible for course design and revision, D2L training, and ongoing support of courses in D2L, for both SNL Online and SNL faculty.

How did your education at SNL impact your current job?

I know I would not have my current position had I not gone back to SNL to complete my BA. My focus area was Communication & Culture, and I took all the courses I could involving writing, media, and cultural studies. My SNL experience sharpened my professional writing skills, and helped build my professional confidence. It also created a network of DePaul friends and mentors. Once I graduated (in ’08), DePaul was one of the first places I looked for employment, as I felt so nurtured and stimulated by the environment here. Happily, FITS (then IDD), needed content developers (writers!) to work in the Blackboard learning management system, and my career in Instructional Design began.

Looking back as a student, is there anything you would have done differently?

SNL was actually an opportunity for me to look back on my previous experiences as a student and to basically do EVERYTHING differently. I worked very hard during my time at SNL to achieve some personal goals that I had not reached in my earlier college career. I really feel I had the best possible time as student in SNL. If I changed one thing, it might be to establish a relationship with my wonderful faculty and professional mentors Renee Gilbert-Levin and Kate Johnson sooner in the process. I worked pretty independently for my first few quarters, and when I did reach out to Renee and Kate, their guidance was amazingly supportive and helped me really sharpen my focus.

What advice do you have for current SNL Online students?

Believe in yourself. Absolutely believe in yourself. You can do this. Keep track of your competencies; keep on top of your assignments. Never give up because completing your degree is so worth it. Set goals for yourself and celebrate when you achieve them. Learn from what didn’t go as expected when you don’t. Above all, go to commencement! It will be a shining day in your life.

The School for New Learning experience helped me by:

Changing my life. Creating my own Individualized Focus Area allowed me to take my degree path very personally and very seriously. I became a more focused, more motivated student at SNL, and was encouraged to achieve my personal best. I was exposed to media studies, through great courses taught by Dorothy Balabanos, Gary Fox, and Warren Scheideman, which opened up a new path for my life. I’m very proud of my work at SNL and thrilled at the doors that have opened because of my education. Before SNL, I never thought I’d complete my Bachelor’s degree, and now I’m getting my Master’s in Media and Cinema Studies. I am so proud every day!