I N D E P E N D E N T C o l l e g e s & U n i v e r s i t i e s of F l o r i d a

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1 I N D E P E N D E N T C o l l e g e s & U n i v e r s i t i e s of F l o r i d a ED H. MOORE, PhD, P R E S I D E N T (850) emoore@icuf.org I C U F N e w s l e t t e r F e b r u a r y CCC CHOOSES FIFTH PRESIDENT The Board of Directors of Clearwater Christian College elected Dr. John F. (Jack) Klem as the fifth president of Clearwater Christian College. He will replace Dr. Richard Stratton, who leaves the college after ten years of faithful service. Following in the footsteps of Dr. Stratton, Dr. Klem will lead the college into the next phase of the development of CCC. The CCC family looks forward to continuing to grow the relationship between students, family, staff and the new presidential family. HODGES ANNOUNCES SUCCESSION PLAN Hodges University has announced that Terry P. McMahan, President, will retire and that Dr. Jeanette Brock, currently Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs for the University, will succeed him as President. This leadership succession plan is scheduled to be implemented on July 1, Dr. Brock has been in higher education for more than 30 years, half of which has been serving in her current position with Hodges University. President McMahan has provided guidance to the institution for more than 20 years. Upon his retirement, he will become the first President Emeritus for Hodges, assisting with donor support, advancement and community relations. Dr. John Klem Dr. Jeanette Brock Saint Leo President Kirk and Tampa Bay Business Hall of Fame Chairman, Geoff Simon SLU PRESIDENT NAMED TO HALL OF FAME Saint Leo University is proud to announce that University President Arthur F. Kirk, Jr., has been inducted into the 2012 Tampa Bay Business Hall of Fame. Dr. Kirk is one of four highly recommended and proven business leaders from the six-county Tampa Bay area selected for the honor. The sponsor, the Florida Council on Economic Education, created the Hall of Fame 25 years ago to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the community through their business and civic achievements, and by serving as lifelong role models of integrity and high ideals.

2 ROLLINS STUDENT WINS SERVICE AWARD Florida Campus Compact (FL CC), a service learning and civic education organization, recently awarded the 2011 Excellence in Service Award to Lucas Hernandez, a junior at Rollins College majoring in International Relations. Fulltime students at any FL CC member school who demonstrated commitment and dedication to their community were eligible for this award. Each applicant was expected to engage in activities that benefitted their campus and community, addressed social, political, or economic issues, and demonstrated leadership for social change and/or civic engagement. Hernandez s history with service is extensive and impressive, helping groups such as Habitat for Humanity, Help for the Homeless, NEXT STEP and traveling to Nepal to restore a classroom with local students. While engaged in many projects, Hernan- Lucas Hernandez dez s passion lies with fighting homelessness. Having success with his efforts, Hernandez states that he has noticed a complexity in the progression of his service and has developed an understanding of his role in the community. Hernandez s life of service is inspired by the quote Volunteering will change your life, but your life will truly be changed when service becomes a lifestyle. WARNER STUDENTS PERFORM WEEKEND OF SERVICE The Student Life Department of Warner University took a group of students to North Carolina for a weekend of service, spiritual growth, and fellowship. The students and staff served the community working on projects spearheaded by the First Church of God in Morganton, NC. Projects included the repair of a metal roof and assisting multiple families with clean-up following tornadoes that had swept the area two weeks earlier. The students also participated in a personal spiritual retreat as well. After ski time on the slopes and much needed rest, the group enjoyed sharing in worship. A part of the Warner experience is exposing students to the call to serve others; an experience we hope will continue throughout their lifetimes.

3 FLAGLER STUDENTS WANT TO HELP VETS Flagler College's Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team is working on a project to change the lives of disabled combat vets by landing a veteran-made product on the shelves of every Walmart store. SIFE has teamed up with Jacksonville's Veterans Farm, an organization that helps disabled combat veterans get back into society through the use of horticulture therapy. The farm grows Datil peppers and blueberries that carry the Veterans Farm label. SIFE's goal is to win Walmart's "Get on the Shelf" contest. The competition lets the public vote on products not carried by Walmart. Three winners will be able to sell on Walmart.com, and the grand prize winner could end up on actual shelves of stores. "Our mission is to win that Walmart competition," said SIFE adviser Barry Sand. "If we do, it will bring jobs to war veterans all over the country." The farm teaches disabled combat veterans skills to help them overcome their physical and mental barriers while also getting jobs. It was started by Sgt. Adam Burke, an OIF/OEF combat veteran and Purple Heart recipient who was wounded in battle during a 15-month tour in Iraq. "When I returned I noticed that many of my fellow veterans were finding it tougher coming home than leaving for combat," Burke said. "With more and more vets returning home, the problem is only growing. With this in Sgt. Adam Burke mind, I started Veterans Farm." PBAU SURPASSES STATE, NATIONAL AVERAGES The 2011 graduating class of Palm Beach Atlantic University s Lloyd L. Gregory School of Pharmacy achieved the highest passing rate in the state on the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination, a first in the school s history. In addition, the school s percent pass rate on the NAPLEX was higher than both the state and national averages, which were and respectively. This outcome is the result of the intelligence and hard work of the class of 2011, said Dr. Mary Ferrill, dean of the Gregory School of Pharmacy. We also feel that the results can be attributed to the new curriculum and the dedication of the faculty and staff. On the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MJPE), the 2011 graduating class s pass rate of was second in the state. It also was higher than the state average of

4 NSU RESEARCHERS TRANSPLANT CORAL In a delicate operation at sea, healthy staghorn coral were transplanted to a threatened reef off the Broward County coast by researchers at Nova Southeastern University s Oceanographic Center and its internal National Coral Reef Institute (NCRI). This is the northernmost location on the planet for transplanted staghorn corals, said Abby Renegar, a researcher and doctoral student at Nova Southeastern University s Oceanographic Center. Staghorn corals previously have been transplanted in the Florida Keys, Southeast Florida, and other tropical locations around the world. This is the first time corals grown in an onland nursery have been transplanted in Broward County. With coral reefs worldwide facing degradation due to pollution, overfishing, climate change and development, the transplant of healthy corals back to the reef is an important project for restoring damaged reefs. Coral reefs serve as nurseries where young fish hide from predators and attract thousands of tourists annually. STU SHARES THE DREAM Recognized for its mission of developing leaders for the past fifty years, St. Thomas University is launching a unique corporate work-study program for its students who are high school graduates of the Cristo Rey Network. Cristo Rey is a national coalition of 24 Catholic college prep schools for urban students facing limited educational options. They are known as schools that work. The Cristo Rey educational model is a win-win for all. Each Cristo Rey high school student, upon entering as a freshman and for each year thereafter, must work at least one day a week for a business or non-profit entity. Employers pay for student labor and their remuneration goes directly to the high school. Their earned income supports approximately 60% of the actual cost of their education. In 2011, the earned income of Cristo Rey students totaled $32,500,000, with all proceeds directed towards funding the cost of their own tuition. These students have a paid-for and vested interest in their success. UT AGAIN NAMED TO PRESIDENT S HONOR ROLL For the fifth year in a row The University of Tampa has been named to the President s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for distinguished community service. The award recognizes UT as a leader among institutions of higher education for its support of volunteering, service-learning and civic engagement, and highlights its work engaging students, faculty and staff in meaningful service that achieves measurable results in the community. In its application, UT focused on the development of the Service-Learning Committee, the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, two alternative spring break trips (environmental conservation at Zion National Park, and the migrant worker population in Apopka, FL) and a curricular service-learning project at Glazer Children s Museum.

5 STETSON HOSTS DARFUR GENOCIDE SURVIVOR Darfur genocide survivor and human rights activist Niemat Ahmadi spoke at a free public event hosted by Stetson s STAND, Student Anti-Genocide Coalition, at Stetson Unoversity. A native of North Darfur, Ahmadi is the director of global partnerships for United to End Genocide. She has worked with NGOs in the fields of emergency response, development, women s empowerment, hunger and technology and, in the United States, on policy advocacy on genocide and mass atrocities. She served as an advisor at the seventh round of inter-sudanese Darfur peace talks in Nigeria. In her position, she promotes collaboration between the coalition and the Darfuri Diaspora within the United States and abroad. She shared her Niemat Ahmadi story about escaping death in Sudan, and the stories of others to promote genocide education and to educate American people about the long-standing crises in Sudan. NSU AND FIU DRAFT LONG-TERM RESPONSE PLAN Nova Southeastern University (NSU) and Florida International University (FIU) researchers have drafted a plan to best prepare South Florida for an oil spill off the coast of Cuba. The proximity of intended Cuban oil drilling and production puts the U.S. coastal zone at risk from Florida to the Carolinas and northward. Oil from a spill would quickly enter the Gulf Stream and reach Florida's shores in hours or days with potentially devastating effects on the densely populated South Florida coastline and its coastal ecosystems. South Florida's accounts for 3.4 million jobs and 45 percent of the $587 billion contribution to Florida's GDP generated by coastal and ocean economic activity. The sustainability plan calls for a partnership between the U.S. Coast Guard, other federal agencies, and a consortium of South Florida academic institutions, including Nova Southeastern University s Oceanographic Center, Florida International University, other schools, and private industry. LYNN RECEIVES $500,000 GIFT At a recent board of trustees meeting, President Kevin M. Ross announced that Chairwoman Christine E. Lynn has made a gift of $500,000 to the university. This is the first gift in honor of the celebration of Lynn University s upcoming 50th anniversary, Mrs. Lynn, who has been a longtime and generous benefactor to the university, commented, It s been thrilling for me to watch Lynn s growth. Year after year, it just keeps getting better and better. I am proud to be a part of that process..i look forward to a wonderful year of celebrating all the university has accomplished over these last five decades. Christine Lynn

6 FSC s CAMPUS DESIGNATED HISTORIC LANDMARK Florida Southern College s internationally renowned Frank Lloyd Wright campus has been designated a National Historic Landmark District by the National Park Service of the U.S. Department of the Interior. The Florida Southern College Historic District, known as Wright s Child of the Sun Campus, is the world s largest single-site collection of the work of iconic American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The College joins 42 other sites in Florida previously designated National Historic Landmarks. FSC President Anne B. Kerr said the designation marked an important moment in the history of the College. Today, nearly 75 years after Wright began work on his educational masterpiece, the west campus at Florida Southern College continues to provide a marvelous educational environment for our students and faculty and has become one of the nation s most significant and most visited cultural tourist destinations. BARRY PROFESSOR ASSISTS IN POLIO ERADICATION Dr. Sandra L. Roberts, assistant professor of Business Administration in Barry s School of Adult and Continuing Education, will travel to India to help immunize millions of children against polio. The trip is part of Rotary International s global effort to end polio worldwide. Roberts will join Rotary members from nine countries as they travel to India to immunize children against polio a crippling disease that still paralyzes and sometimes kills children in parts of the world. Until polio is eradicated worldwide, every child remains at risk, said Roberts, past president of the Miami Shores Rotary Club. Although polio is 99 percent eliminated, the final 1 percent is the most difficult. We must continue our efforts until all children are protected against the tragic consequences of this disease. Dr. Sandra Roberts FL Tech Explores Coral Survivals Florida Institute of Technology researchers are taking an historical approach to predict the extinction risk of reefbuilding corals. Corals are highly sensitive to climate change. Their risk of extinction is increasing at an unprecedented rate as the oceans continue to warm. Led by Robert van Woesik, professor of biological sciences, the scientists are examining past events to gain insight into how these corals today may fare through climate change. We found strong relationships between past regional extinction events and modern coral vulnerability, sug- Robert van Woesik gesting that extinction events are not merely chance events but depend on the biological characteristics of the coral species. Our historical approach improves the accuracy of extinction-risk assessment, said van Woesik.

7 Independent Colleges of and Universities Florida SS PP OT OT LL II GG HH T T on this month s Preferred Vendor The Learning House, Inc. 333 Guthrie Street, Suite 200 Louisville, Kentucky The Learning House, Inc., an online education solutions partner, helps schools develop and grow high quality online degree programs. Learning House offers a no upfront cost model that enables institutions to achieve online education success. Learning House s solution includes course development, marketing, enrollment management support, learning management systems, faculty training, 24/7 support, and consulting. mbornhauser@learninghouse.com Ave Maria University Barry University Beacon College Bethune-Cookman University Clearwater Christian College Eckerd College Edward Waters College Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Flagler College Florida College Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences Florida Institute of Technology Florida Memorial University Florida Southern College Hodges University Jacksonville University Lynn University Nova Southeastern University Palm Beach Atlantic University Ringling College of Art and Design Rollins College Saint Leo University St. Thomas University Southeastern University Stetson University The University of Tampa University of Miami Warner University Webber International University Melissa Armstrong is responsible for the content, layout and visual formatting of the ICUF News Report. Please comments and suggested news items to marmstrong@icuf.org.