New CEAS Learning Center Provides Students with Collaborative Space

The UC College of Engineering and Applied Science Learning Center, located on the eighth floor of Rhodes Hall, opened its doors at the beginning of Autumn Semester. The new Center provides an academic home for the Department of Engineering Education and first year students. 

Designed to keep students engaged and connected, the center accommodates 175 students and features state-of-the-art wired classrooms, open study areas, mobile tables and chairs, white boards and an inviting social area.

Within the first few weeks of classes, students filled the center on a daily basis, meeting with instructors, other students and tutors. The new space fosters a sense of belonging among students, which is especially important for students living off campus or taking courses outside of the college.

Several UC alumni, including Chicagoans for Cincy! leader, Bob Fealy, were instrumental in raising funds for the Learning Center. Generous support from alumni and donors has helped create a collaborative learning environment for current and future students.

For more information about the center, please click here.

Service-Learning: Pioneering Educational Innovation While Strengthening the Community

When College of Engineering Dean Herman Schneider proposed one of the first experiential learning programs – cooperative education – at UC in 1906, he had no idea that providing students with real-world job experience would become a national educational model. Today, cooperative education is available at thousands of colleges and universities around the globe.

Building on UC’s proud history as a leader in experiential learning, the Department of Professional Practice now offers students the opportunity to be part of the next innovative pedagogy combining education and workplace preparation – service-learning.

How does it work? Quite simply, service-learning combines the real world experience of cooperative education with a focus on serving local non-profit organizations, all within the framework of a class curriculum. Students have built websites, run public relations campaigns, created learning materials and much more.

Examples of previous service-learning clients include:

• Food pantries;
• Elementary, middle and high schools;
• After-school programs;
• Libraries;
• Local, regional and national charities;
• Clients within UC and other universities.

By serving these organizations, students gain perspective into a variety of careers while bolstering UC’s longstanding commitment to community engagement– a cornerstone of the UC2019> Strategic Plan.

Want to participate in service-learning? Simply visit the registrar’s website and look for classes that carry an SL designation in the course description. With more faculty and community partners connecting through the Center for Service-Learning website than ever before, there are options available to students in nearly all majors and disciplines.

Have you participated in service-learning? Weigh in below and tell us about it!

UC Students Faculty and Staff Sing for Pennies

Students, faculty and staff are warming up their vocals and selecting their songs for the first-ever Proudly Pennies Karaoke Night. Perform with fellow students and cheer on faculty and staff as they sing for Pennies Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011 from 4:30pm to 6:30pm in Alumni Hall of the Myers Alumni Center.

Performers include:

• Alan Hagerty and Michael Linger
• Nicole Mayo and Nicole Ausmer, PhD
• Daniel Cummins
• Yolanda Cooper
• Michael Magazine and Edward Winkofsky with students Stephanie Kenning and John Lame
• Jason Heikenfeld, PhD
• Kathy Brown and Kurt Schellinger
• Shintara Carpenter
• Jane Sojka, PhD

A newly formed ensemble called Random Sample will also perform at the event. Random Sample includes the following UC faculty members: Erynn Casanova, PhD, Omotayo Banjo, PhD, Lattisha Bates, PhD, Danielle Bessett, PhD and Corinne Reczek, PhD.

Come and be serenaded by the great, and not-so-great, voices of UC while enjoying delicious appetizers and refreshing beverages. Cost is $10 for faculty, staff and friends and $5 for students. All contributions will count toward the 2011-2012 faculty/staff campaign and support Proudly Pennies, the SDC-led fundraising campaign to raise one billion pennies ($10 million) for UC. Register to attend.

UC Student Spends Senior Year in France

University of Cincinnati photojournalist and French student, Dylan Vincent is doing something many students dream of - studying in France for his entire senior year! Dylan, a photojournalism and French major, is studying in Aix-en-Provence, France. This is the perfect opportunity for Dylan to combine both of his areas of study while traveling and studying the French culture.

l'Arc de triomphe du Carrousel, Paris France

While studying in France, Dylan has take a few trips throughout France. Before traveling to Aix-en-Provence, Dylan had the opportunity to explore Paris, France.
 
"The highlight was definitely stumbling upon la Joconde (Mona Lisa)," Dylan said. "It’s quite small in real life but it was just incredible to see it with my own eyes; not through a camera lens or on TV."

Hors du Musée d’histoire naturelle  d’Aix-en-Provence

Following his excursion of Paris, Dylan took the train to the Aix-en-Provence, and was impressed when he finally reached the city.

"This city is absolutely gorgeous," Dylan exclaimed. "The city is so beautifully constructed and it’s one of those charming European cities that have lots of culture and excitement in the streets."

Most recently, Dylan took a trip to Nice, France over his fall break.

"Nice, like you would probably assume, is nice. It’s absolutely gorgeous and in my opinion, the epitome of the Côte d’Azur lifestyle," Dylan said. It’s right on the Mediterranean and the city itself is gorgeous. The weather was also amazing. If I were in Cincinnati right now, I’d probably be freezing and wearing layers."

Nice, France

Continue to follow Dylan's study abroad experience in France by reading his blog C'est chouette la vie  (It's a great life).

The opinions expressed by featured persons, blog contributors, and comment providers on this blog are theirs alone and do not reflect the opinion or policy of the University of Cincinnati, the University of Cincinnati Foundation or the University of Cincinnati Alumni  Association.  Materials, stories, content and activities linked to from this blog (embedded or otherwise) are not endorsed by nor are the responsibility of UC, UCF or UCAA.

Chicago Hosts Summer Send-Off Events

Going to a college over five hours away can be scary for an 18-year olds who has never had to live on their own.  This is why a Summer Send-Off event is held every year, so incoming UC students from the Chicago area can meet one another before fall classes start.  In a school of over 41,000 students it is nice to know a familiar face.

This year there were two Summer Send Off events held.  The events were the same, just at two different places and two different times, so incoming students from the Chicago area and their parents had the best chance of attending.  The first gathering was held on Thursday, July 28 at the home of UC alumnus Jeff Hopkins.  The second was Saturday, July 30, at the home of Bob and Kathleen Kaska (Kathleen and her daughter are UC alumni and her son is a current student at UC).

The gatherings were not only a chance for incoming students and parents to meet other families, they also helped the students learn a little about what to expect when they get to Cincinnati.  They were able to talk to alumni and current students as well as feast on Graeter’s Ice Cream, from the famous Cincinnati establishment.  There was also a raffle held for the incoming students where a few lucky winners walked away with UC Bookstore Gift Certificates and other great prizes.

Chicago is a hidden jewel when it comes to UC supporters who take care of their own, and organizing this Summer Send Off event is a great example.  There are over 4,000 UC alumni in the Chicago area, yet fewer than 20 students from the Chicago area will be freshmen at the University of Cincinnati.  Congratulations to the incoming class of 2011; the next few years will be ones that you never forget!

2011 UC Relay for Life raises more than $124,000!

UC kicked off its ninth annual Relay for Life late Friday, April 30, with 1,865 participants crowding on to McMicken Commons.  This year's Relay featured an "Around the World" theme with each participating team representing a different culture.  Together, the 165 teams raised more than $124,000 for the American Cancer Society.

One Relay participant, Courtney Divincenzo, a third year Pre-Law major, explained why she decided to be active with Relay for Life.

"I, like many others, have been affected in some way by cancer," says Divincenzo.  "This past summer my grandfather passed away from cancer. This year I relayed for him.  In the past I have relayed for my Aunt and friends who had passed away from cancer and those family and friends who have overcome cancer and are now survivors."  When asked what her favorite part of Relay is, there is no hesitation for Divicenzo. "The Luminaria Ceremony; I feel that this part of the event brings everyone together who has been affected by cancer and shows that we are not alone in the struggles that come along with cancer."

Why do you support Relay for Life at UC or in your city? Tell us what motivates you!

ROAR Invites YOU to Tour UC's Campus




ROAR President Ravi Grandhi gives prospective students an
insider's perspective on life as a college student at UC.

 Ahh, spring. The air is fresh and mild, the birds are singing, and myriads of spring flowers are emerging from their winter slumber. It’s a relaxing time of year for the most part – unless you’re a high school senior still trying to decide between colleges for next fall!

Fortunately, the admissions office at the University of Cincinnati is used to this oft-faced conundrum and has a variety of resources for those still on the fence. And one of their most useful resources may be the ROAR campus tour group, a devoted group of UC students who, as a whole, give more than 1,500 tours to prospective students, parents, and even alumni who want to take in the revamped campus each year.

Ravi Grandhi, ROAR’s current president, just completed his undergraduate degree in Biology at UC this month, and is currently pursuing an MBA in Operations Management from UC’s College of Business. A tour guide for the better part of four years, Ravi describes the value of ROAR to students curious about more than purely academics. “The admissions officers and staff may be able to answer specific questions concerning the university, but the tour guides are able to show students what life is really like as a college student at UC."

Fellow tour guide Rod Gerardo shares Ravi's passion. “School spirit has a lot of different meanings, but to me, it's giving a tour of campus and showing people how great UC is. Through ROAR, I can do that every week.”

Haven’t been to campus in a while or want to show off your old stomping grounds to a graduating senior? Let ROAR's students show you what you've been missing since you last visited!

Contact ROAR’s Advisor, Ryan Harder, to schedule a tour during your next visit to Cincinnati. Or, just visit UC's YouTube Channel to get a virtual tour of various parts of campus. Tours of MainStreet and Nippert Stadium are featured right here!