Search Results

Rocket Kids, a new internship program housed in the University of Toledo’s Judith Herb College of Education, sent more than 20 college students to U.S. military bases in Europe, where interns ran summer camps for the children of deployed U.S. service men and women. The program allows students, most of whom were education majors, to implement the activities and skills they had been learning in their classes. Sam Simpson, who spent the summer in Vicenza, Italy, said one of his favorite memories was “building a deep connection with the kids and knowing I left an impression on them.” Rocket Kids interns were provided with plane tickets, room and board, and a $2,000 stipend to cover food and other necessities. Students covered the cost of uniforms, tuition—$500 for 15 credit hours—an intensive background check, and the cost of CPR and First Aid training. When the Rocket Kids interns weren’t at summer camp, they were able to explore the surrounding areas to their heart’s content. Popular destinations included Paris, Amsterdam, and Berlin. Rocket Kids is hoping to increase its number of interns threefold for the summer of 2024. Interested students should visit utoledo.edu/studentaffairs/rocketkids/ for more information or to fill out the interest form.

Members of the UToledo branch of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and their supporters picketed outside of University Hall on Sept. 27 to express their concerns with financial decisions being made at UT. In the budget approved this summer, more than $16 million was cut from the budgets of the University’s various colleges. The group claims the cuts have endangered the academic mission of the University and warned of the impact of future cuts. “We are making the community, first off, aware of what’s going on at their university,” Tim Brakel, AAUP President, said. “There have been so many cuts over the years that literally colleges and departments are bare bones right now. There is no place to cut other than people.” The informational picket was approved by 90 percent of AAUP members present at a meeting earlier in September. Members cite simultaneous cuts to programs and faculty and increases to administration as one of the University’s transgressions. Organizers said the event was an informational picket, not a strike or demonstration. UT officials have said more than 80 percent of the academic budget is for employee compensation. In an e-mail to its members, the UT-AAUP Executive Board indicated “This picketing is to save the UT academic mission for our students.” “It’s not just professors that are being affected by this,” said Go Holsinger, who says he feels the effects of budget cuts both in the Religious Studies minor and in their layoff from the University over the summer. “There’s definitely not enough people out here, I feel like students don’t realize how important it is,” Go said. “There would be nothing here without us ... we should have the experience and the education that we deserve, and we need to fight for it.” The AAUP is concerned how future cuts to the colleges would impact program and degree offerings. Officials have indicated they have not yet set a budget reduction target for next year.

Located just inside the south doors of Carlson Library, the University Libraries South Gallery has a full slate of shows this school year. Opened in 2022, during its inaugural year the gallery’s programming was dedicated to the university’s sesquicentennial celebration. This year organizers have planned six different exhibits. The UToledo Employee Art Exhibition, a juried show of works by UToledo faculty and staff, is on display until Oct. 27. It features the works of 14 artists from various colleges and departments at the University including the University Libraries, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Department of Disability Studies, Career Services, Honors, Department of Biological Sciences, Facilities, and the Department of Art. Upcoming shows include the Art Student Showcase from Nov. 6 to Dec. 8. In January, the “Art Weber Retrospective” will feature the work of Art Weber, Director of Photography at the Toledo Metroparks. His work has been featured in the UToledo Press book “Richness & Rarity.”

A trio of distinguished UToledo alums were honored at the 2023 Homecoming Gala last month. The UToledo Alumi Association presented the Gold T, Blue T, and Outstanding Young Alum Award. The Gold T is awarded to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to their field and has been of service to the University, community, or nation. Martino Harmon was honored this year for dedicating his career to improving college students’ well-being. He has made an impact at institutions including Iowa State University, Cincinnati State Community College, and UToledo. He is the vice president for student life at the University of Michigan. Harmon helped transform UM’s approach to holistically addressing student health and well-being, leading to the formation of a collective impact group and the signing of the international Okanagan Charter for health-promoting universities. His career in higher education began when he returned to UToledo after a nine-year stint in professional sales. At UT his leadership roles included interim assistant dean of students, director of the African-American student enrichment office, and progressive leadership positions in admissions that culminated in his appointment as director of first-year admissions. The Daniel J. Saevig Blue T is awarded in recognition of an individual’s outstanding service to the UToledo Alumni Association and the University through committee and community involvement. This year’s recipient is Barbara Floyd, who served UToledo for 31 years as the University archivist and director in the Ward M. Canaday Center for Special Collections. Upon retirement in 2017, she was granted the title of Professor Emerita of Library Administration. As the University archivist, she collected and preserved the University’s rare books, manuscripts and archives. She worked to expand the center’s collections to include the historical records of many Toledo corporations and organized more than 20 exhibitions that interpreted the center’s collections for the general public. Many exhibits received national awards. Floyd is a frequent speaker to local community groups on Toledo history. She has also authored numerous monographs and peer-reviewed articles on aspects of Toledo history, including her most recent book, “An Institution for the Promoting of Knowledge: The University of Toledo at 150.” The Edward H. Schmidt Outstanding Young Alum Award is presented to a UT grad under the age of 35 in recognition of outstanding achievement in their field. This year’s recipient was Joel Whitcomb. A senior in high school on Sept. 11, 2001, Whitcomb felt called to serve his country and enlisted in the United States Navy shortly after. He would go on to serve around the world until he was honorably discharged in 2006. At UT, Whitcomb was a founding member of the UToledo Student Veterans of America and would later serve as president. He has served on the advisory board of the UToledo Military Service Center, Heroes in Action and Task Force 20. Additionally, he has also volunteered countless hours with Operation Enduring Warrior, Wreaths Across America, Honor Flight and The Cherry Street Mission. An Eagle Scout, Whitcomb has led fundraising activities that raised thousands of dollars for the Boy Scouts of America through their Friends of Scouting program.

Scott Molitor, a member of the UToledo faculty since 2000, was named interim provost in September. Molitor, who had most recently served as interim vice provost for academic affairs and acting dean of the College of Graduate Studies, replaced Risa Dickson, who was appointed interim provost in July 2022. He will lead the Division of Academic Affairs as interim provost and executive vice president for academic affairs while the University continues its search for a permanent chief academic officer. Molitor joined the College of Engineering as an assistant professor in the Department of Bioengineering in 2000. He served as senior associate dean for academic affairs, associate dean of undergraduate studies, and undergraduate program director. He represented the college on Faculty Senate for nine years. He joined the Office of the Provost staff in 2022. Molitor earned his Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Johns Hopkins University and bachelor’s degree in engineering science from the University of Michigan. He completed postdoctoral fellowships at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. Molitor has announced a pair of additions to the provost’s office. Mary Humphrys, associate professor in the Department of Applied Organizational Technology in the John B. and Lillian E. Neff College of Business and Innovation, will serve as acting vice provost for academic affairs. Dan Hammel, professor in the Department of Geography and Planning in the College of Arts and Letters, has accepted the position of acting vice provost for graduate affairs. The pair are assuming the responsibilities previously held by Molitor. In a release announcing the changes, Molitor said: “Mary brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the position and will be instrumental assisting during this transitional period … And Dan’s vast experience and expertise related to graduate students and programs will ensure the continued success of graduate affairs.” Humphrys joined the UT faculty in 1989 and during her tenure has served as a department chair on two separate occasions for a total of 13 years. In addition, she has served as president of Faculty Senate, the faculty representative on the Ohio Faculty Council and on the UT Board of Trustees Trusteeship and Governance Committee and the Academic and Student Affairs Committee. Most recently, Humphrys has been a special assistant to the provost for adult and transfer maintaining ongoing partnerships with community colleges, fostering new collaborations and ensuring transfer student success. Hammel has been a faculty member at UT since 2005. During his career he has served as associate dean in the College of Arts and Letters where he oversaw graduate programs. He also has held department chair and graduate program director roles. Hammel currently serves as the College of Arts and Letters social sciences representative on the University Research Council.

A recent change to federal financial aid laws requires all courses to be part of a student’s declared program of study in order to be funded by federal financial aid programs. The Course Program of Study (CPOS) is a mandatory requirement set by the U.S. Department of Education, and went into effect this semester, according to the UToledo Office of Student Financial Aid. Federal financial aid includes an array of programs, ranging from Pell Grants to Work Study options. Federal financial aid will still cover declared majors, minors, concentrations, or aid-eligible certificates. Electives also contribute to a degree and are therefore still considered for federal financial aid. Students can still enroll in courses that aren’t a part of their program, assuming they still meet requirements for any non-federal financial aid they receive. According to Scott Molitor, Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, the program is intended to help students graduate with their degrees faster and avoid increasing student loan debt and other costs. The degree audit system, accessible via myUT, is a key resource for students to check if their courses contribute towards their program of study. In the case of any issues, students will be notified by email by the Office of Student Financial Aid. Students should keep in touch with their advisors to ensure their courses contribute to their program of study and reach out to Rocket Solution Central with any questions.

The collegiate experience is more than just classes, labs, and research. A key aspect of college life is community, with clubs, fraternities, sororities, and other student organizations offering individuals of different backgrounds the opportunity to get together. The University of Toledo is no exception, with the school proudly boasting more than 400 active clubs and organizations. For both new and established students looking to become more involved on campus, the Involvement Network, commonly referred to as Invonet, is a handy portal to campus organizations. Invonet is a UToledo website campus organizations use to promote events and recruit new members. The main page list all the events being offered on campus in the near future while a sub-menu titled “Organizations” allows students to scroll and sort through all available campus organizations. UToledo organizations offer loads of services to students, and those services are the main draw for many of them. The International Student Association which manages many of of the school’s cultural organizations. For those students looking to go Greek, fraternity and sorority rush events are held throughout the year. There are also many other common interest groups active on campus, from the Hot Chocolate Club to BASH, just about anything to fit your niche. Looking for something more administrative? Organizations like Campus Activities and Programming or Student Government allow students to make change across campus. With more than 400 groups across campus, one would hope there is a place for everyone, but if there isn’t, the University has a streamlined process for starting a new student organization. Each year, from Sept. 1 to Oct. 31 and again from Jan. 1 to June 1, any student in good standing, along with six of their friends can create their own student organization. To get started, you need to come up with a unique organization that isn’t active on campus. Two of your members need to be trained as President and Treasurer. You will also have to submit your organization’s mission statement and constitution to Invonet. For more information on how you can get involved on campus, visit the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership, on first floor of the Student Union around the corner from Frogtown Cafe and across from the Student Lounge/Game Room.

Title IX, a federal program through which victims of sexual misconduct can receive guidance and advocacy, is hosting their annual Purple Ribbon Campaign all throughout October in Centennial Mall. The goal of the campaign is to bring awareness, share knowledge, and start conversations about domestic violence. The stories are from Bethany House, a Toledo-area shelter for those escaping domestic violence situations. For “Empty Place at the Table,” which takes place throughout October, Title IX partners with Residence Life and Bethany House to share stories of those who lost their lives to domestic violence by displaying it at empty tables throughout dining spaces on campus. Title IX has made it clear they not only focus on reported misconducts, but prevention as well. Keeping a solid presence on campus helps them with that goal. “When we aren’t silent about things, there’s less room for sexual misconduct to go unaddressed,” Title IX Compliance Manger Brittany Kupresanin said. Title IX tables outside The Eatery in the Student Union every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Title IX’s Instagram will feature an informational post on domestic violence every day throughout the month of October. Their office is located in Snyder Memorial room 1120. To report a concern, visit utoledo.edu, scroll to the bottom, and click “report a concern.” Victims choose how their reporting process will affect them and any parties involved. A formal grievance process, including an investigation and hearings, is used to dictate if a Title IX policy has been violated. Informal resolutions, on the other hand, have no disciplinary action taken and therefore will not appear on any disciplinary record. In the case a student does not feel comfortable filing a complaint, Title IX can still provide supportive measures. Confidential resources (will not share information with Title IX) include YWCA Rape Crisis Center, 1-866-557-7273; Bethany House, 419-727-4948; the University Counseling Center, 419-530-2426; and Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center, 419-251-3268.

Since opening its doors in Fall 2022, the Center for Advocacy and Student Experience (CASE) has continued to work hard to “ensure that every student has exactly what they need on campus,” according to Sara Clark, assistant dean of student experience and belonging. The CASE is committed to supporting the academic and personal successes of UToledo students, faculty, and family. The office consists of several areas of support within the Division of Student Affairs and partners with services across the University to provide resources and support for members of the UToledo community. The center’s office is in Thompson Student Union room 2518. It is intended to serve as a first line of contact for UToledo students and faculty in need. The office is staffed by employees from the Office of Student Advocacy and Support, the Division of Student Affairs, and the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards. In an effort to create a “culture of belonging,” the Division of Student Affairs has appointed two assistant deans to oversee campus resources. Clark is responsible for student advocacy and support, student conduct, multicultural student success, career services, and the Center for International Studies and Programs. Demond Pryor, the assistant dean for engagement and success, is responsible for student involvement and leadership, operations for the Student Union and Recreation Center, Upward Bound, and Toledo Excel. According to Clark, in addition to CASE’s efforts on campus, the center is also working to strengthen connections with local Toledo resources to provide students with opportunities beyond the UToledo Campus. CASE is intended to be a hub for all student concerns and to provide convenient access to a variety of resources for students and staff. The center coordinates meetings with other campus offices in advance to a student’s arrival, and uses a five touch point system to ensure students in need are connected with at least five resources, on or off campus, to assist with their situation. The CASE office provides many resources for students in need. The office addresses academic issues and concerns, mental health crises, academic grievances, situations of sexual misconduct, withdrawal from the university, and other immediate emergencies. With the appropriate documentation, if a student were to have a death in their family or a mental health emergency, CASE could notify all of their instructors of the situation, ask for the student to be excused from class for a period of time, and request instructors allow the student to make up any missed coursework. The decision to grant any requests, such as an extension on missed classwork, is solely the instructors decision. The Center also oversees the Rocket Fuel Food Pantry. The pantry is in SU 2514 and is available for all current UToledo students. Within the CASE’s first academic year, 4,000 students battling food insecurity have utilized the pantry. Faculty are often the first to notice when a student needs help, and in these situations, the CASE can help. Faculty concerned about a student can initiate a wellness check through the CASE office. Upon assessment of the concern, a member of CASE can attempt to contact the student and determine if a long-term follow-up is needed. The CASE website offers tips on how faculty can support students, but in the instance a staff member is unsure how to help a student, they can submit a “Rocket Care Report” through the CASE office to provide outreach and support to a student in need. Last year, during the Center’s first academic year, 520 Care Reports were made to help Rockets in need. “We are trying to impact the community in two ways: through direct service to the students and by providing services and support to our faculty and staff members in the classroom,” Clark said. The CASE Team is also available to present information to faculty, staff, and students who may benefit from the office resources. For more information, contact the office at 419-530-HELP (4357) or email CASE@utoledo.edu If parents or family members are concerned about their Rocket, they too can contact the CASE office to offer consultation, resources, and outreach for their student.

Before attending the University of Toledo, she was a Production Assistant in Cleveland. While working with various news stations in Ohio, she reported on missing persons. According to Elyse Chengery’s bio, her stories helped the police find 350 missing people. Today, she covers everything from sports to investigative stories. Elyse Chengery is an evening anchor who has worked for NBC and Fox affiliates as well as iHeartMedia. Chengery, a former student at the University of Toledo, will be the commencement speaker on Saturday, May 6th at 9:00AM and 1:00PM. Both Undergraduate ceremonies will be held in the Savage Arena. During her time at Toledo, she worked as an anchor and reporter for an NBC affiliate. Chengery has worked at multiple NBC and Fox affiliates since attending the University of Toledo, from Washington, DC to Michigan to Cape Coral, Florida. The 9:00AM ceremony is for the College of Arts and Letters, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, College of Nursing and College of Health and Human Services. Students should arrive by 8:15 AM to line up for the ceremony. The 1:00 PM ceremony is for John B. and Lillian E Neff College of Business, Judith Herb College of Education, College of Engineering and University College. Students should arrive at the Savage Arena by 12:15 PM.

After defeating No. 5 seed Iowa State 80-73 in the first round of the NCAA tournament, the No. 12 seed UToledo women’s basketball team fell to No. 4 seed Tennessee 47-94 in the second round, ending the Rockets’ shot at a national title. The 2022-23 season was one of the most successful in UToledo history, with the Rockets chalking up 29 wins, tying a school record. The team enjoyed a record-setting 17-game winning streak and easily claimed their second consecutive Midwest Athletic Conference (MAC) title by defeating perennial rivals the Bowling Green State University Falcons 62-56 in the final game of the regular season on Mar. 4 and 73-58 in the MAC Championship game Mar. 11. Quinesha Lockett, number 5, helped lead the Rockets on their winning ways and was named MAC Player of the Year. Rockets head coach Tricia Cullop was named MAC Coach of the Year.

“Before coming to America, I knew guns were entrenched in American Culture,” said Yash Shingan, a fourth-year student at the University of Toledo. What took Shingan by surprise was when he went to Walmart for the first time and saw guns in the Walmart. “It was so casual.” Shingan, a Media Communications major, went on to explain, “I knew people liked to carry guns, but I didn’t realize how common it was.” Shingan is originally from India and came to the United States for college. Discussing gun culture, Shingan gave his perspective on gun culture in India, “even some gang members [in India] do not have guns. They just use knives.” Shingan talked about “how rare guns are. We do not even see them.” “I found it surprising that school kids were worried about guns,” said Ruchita Kulkarni, a sophomore at the University of Toledo. Kulkarni grew up in India. After the shooting in February at Michigan State University, Kulkarni was more nervous than ever about being on campus. “[the shooting] felt wild to me.” Kulkarni was scared and decided to confide in her roommate. Her roommate responded with “that cars have the same statistics” when compared with gun violence. “Still safer than in America,” was a running joke used by Kulkarni’s family in India when comparing violence to other countries. Neither Shingan nor Kulkarni were friends with anyone who owned a gun. Both only heard about guns in the context of the shootings in their time here. Kulkarni stated that, “guns [and the topic of guns] makes me feel uneasy.” Shingan had the opinion that “assault weapons have no place in civil society.” Mai Mang is a student at the University who is from Vietnam. Mang has “been here for four years and in Vietnam we can’t have firearms.” Mang went to high school in America, and did not pay too much attention to guns and gun violence until she started attending college. “It seems that there is more gun violence now and it is scary.” “I thought people had to go through training to get a gun,” Mang explained. She went on to talk about gun culture in Vietnam and how “there are no guns, period. The only people who have guns are criminals. Why do you need a gun just to walk around?” Like most Americans, Mang went through training for school shootings while in high school. During one of her first drills, she had thought there was an active shooter on campus. “I texted my mom ‘I am going to die’.” Mang was asked if she was friends with anyone pro-gun, “No. While I understand the second amendment has a place in American life, you shouldn’t have the ability to kill others.” Tram Nguyen, a junior from Vietnam, first came to America in 2016. When talking about guns in America Nguyen explained, “I don’t remember my first mass shooting since I have been in America.” Nguyen, a biology major, talked about how, “There was a false alarm scenario when I was in High School in South Carolina.” The whole school went into lockdown and all Nguyen could think was, “is this normal?” The first family to host Nguyen owned guns. “It took me by surprise. He [the dad] talked about how they were necessary.” Explaining that if someone broke into the house, he needed to protect Nguyen and his family. “There should be more mental health advocacy. It is too easy to get a gun.”