Newsletter - Stratford University

The Stratford University Times
News of the Falls Church Campus - January 2016
Newsletter Office: Room 209, 2nd Floor South, Editor: John Thieman
STRATFORD UNIVERSITY ALL-CAMPUS CHRISTMAS RETREAT 2015
Dr. Shurtz explains SACS Accreditation progress and new
educational initiatives.
Benoit Cossart identifies
motivational techniques and
principles of attitude for success.
Falls Church Ornament Contest Entry.
Lobby Christmas tree greets
participants.
Dinner for recognitions and awards.
BENOIT COSSART SPEAKS TO CAMPUS BUSINESS STUDENTS
Mr. Cossart, Stratford University ’ s Chief Operating Officer, was the
guest speaker at a recent assembly of students, faculty and alumni at the
Falls Church Campus. His topic dealt with the organizational impacts on corporations undergoing mergers and acquisitions and the successes and failures of global companies and organizational leadership. The audience was
grouped into different corporations whose “ officers ” presented prepared
statements of management policy dealing with historic global management
decisions.
Students were invited to assume various corporate leadership positions as
they determined the direction of global companies undergoing mergers and acquisitions. He noted important considerations such as: increasing the value of the
merchandize by improving the value of the brand name, the need to capture the
market while keeping the existing employees and the operation of the newly acquired plants expanding, and compliance with the oversight powers of federal
agencies.
He left his audience with the practical advice that if business expansion is planned for the global market,
there should be no unnecessary delays preventing it from beginning as soon as possible.
THE STORY CONTINUES . . .
It was just a few weeks ago that a new group of international students arrived
in this country to continue their education at Stratford University. This newsletter
carried a picture of their class at the computers in the Learning Resource Center
under the guidance of their instructor Professor Afraa Al Bahrani who commented,
“ L earning can be a real challenge to students since some have been in this
country for only several days and are not familiar with the teaching methods of
higher education. I understand their feelings, because just a few years ago, as an
international student myself, I had the same experiences. ”
Eight weeks after the beginning of her
class, Professor Al Bahrani remarked, ” I
am very proud to share these pictures of
students ’ class work and activities with
the newsletter. The class members have
demonstrated their competence to design a
survey, obtain participant feedback, collect
data, code it, organize it, present their findings. answer questions from the participants and share constructive
feedback. ”
The story is far from over, for the students are involved in writing the next successful chapter. After all,
isn ’ t this what education is all about?
Career Services
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CONSULTING VISITS THE CAMPUS
www.collaborateconsulting.com
The visiting company is a cloud-based team collaboration platform offering unified messaging, document
sharing, and task management in a single, easy-to-use
app to iPhones, android and the Web. It has recently
been acquired by CISCO and expanding in the area.
Computer Information Systems
INFORMATIONS SYSTEMS CLASS MAKES FINAL PRESENATIONS
The final requirement for students of Dr. Sheb Bishop who are completing their
studies in Computer Information Systems is the presentation of their Capstone proMSIS CAPSTONE
November 10, Thursday jects. One day is set aside for this activity which is designed to display student
recognition, analysis and proposed solutions to problems particular to their field of
specialty. Listed below are the names of the presenters and topics each team discussed before their peers, other instructors, evaluators and prospective employers:
1. Stratford University Housing Application
Team Members: Shilpa Fichadia, Shyam Sunder Mantri,
Arun Babu Bolishetti, Saketh Gollanapalli.
2. Stratford University Student Walk-In System
Team Members: Dipen Vinodkumar Patel,
Shruthi Garlapati, Punya Reddy Kakkunoor, Srivalli Devineni.
3. Stratford A-Z
Team Members: Vineetha Atmakur, Anirud Kumar Sampath Kumar,
Ramesh Varma Penemetcha, Naga Raju Raghavapurapu.
4. Community Building Event Application
Team Members: Kamatch Thilak, Falak Himanshubhai
Vachharajani, Gaurang Patel, Nihar Sanjaykumar Patel.
5. Course Recommendation Software
Team Members: Bala Murali Krishna Voleti, Yuan Yuan,
Soudeepya Chinni, Sreedhar Sriramula.
6. Tutor-Now Application
Team Members: Ankita FNU, Fahmida M. Mitu,
Aishwarya Reehl.
7. Stratford News Letter Editing Tool
Team Members: Chirag Amrutiya,
Gajarami Reddy Bommi Reddy, Anudeep Reddy Kakulavaram.
8. Design & Development of Website for B&B Graphic Design
Team Members: Bharadwaja Sharma Ghali, Praveen Varma Valivarthi, Krishnamanasa Naraharisetti, Sri Vallabha Teja Gulla.
Nursing
NURSING HELP IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE
To a Nursing School visitor, the room labeled “ 30DRN ” could be a puzzle.
However to the enrolled future nurses, it is very important. Driven by the philosophy that when a student begins his studies, the school takes on a supporting role
to help them finish, this special room becomes a reminder that thirty days in preparation is available for the Nursing Board ( NCLEX ) exam. The room is also used
to help students with questions, tutoring, and one-on-one instruction. Instructor
Sue Gardella is pictured using the room as she helps students with individual medication calculations.
SCHOOL OF NURSING SERVES THE COMMUNITY
by Robin Revels-Fitzhugh MA, RN
On Saturday, December 5, 2015, the Stratford University Department of Nursing took part in a health fair sponsored by Northern Virginia Family Service at the
Ebenezer Presbyterian Church in Woodbridge, Virginia. The health fair reached
out to a community whose residents:
have not been to a doctor in the last year,
rate their health or mental health as “ fair ” or “ poor, ”
have a hard time finding providers and services
have trouble understanding health care information and insurance.
Students performed blood pressure and BMI screenings, mini mental health screenings, and provided preventative health education. All who stopped by were given health passports and wallet size medical records,
water, granola bars, and apples. Pictured in Row One L to R are: Monica Bray, Maire Hernandez, and Dr.
Schiavone.
Row Two: Professor Fitzhugh, Naima Jacobs, Bonnie Albares and Michelle Bell.
GRADUATING NURSING STUDENTS RECEIVE PINS
The following nursing students were honored at a special
December ceremony and received their nursing pins and certificates for completing their nursing studies. Pictured from left
to right are: Tillie Pease, Theresa Okoro and Gabriela Castro.
Professor Sameh Ghareeb presented Theresa with the Faculty Award and a recognition award for Academic Achievement.
To the left below, Nursing Director Dr. Deborah Schiavone is pictured with Gabriela Castro and Theresa
Okoro. On the right, Professor Sue Gardella is pictured with Tillie Pease.
Student Services
COME TO THE CHRISTMAS PARTY
The invitation was extended and the students responded to
share in the spirit of the Christmas Season. There was XBOX
simulated World Cup soccer competition for those seeking the
thrill of controlling the field play of World Class players and
challenging someone to a friendly.
A Photo Booth gave the students many props and special
moments with friends for a Photo Op. Everyone brought a camera and there were
many group pictures that will be remembered.
Special selections of holiday foods was provided under the guidance of Chef Ricardo Willis and
served by Student Services ‘ Aerin Gilbert, Azra
Khan and Tamika Brown who insured everyone
was fed.
ANNUAL CHRISTMAS GIFT EXCHANGE
Good food
Sing along music
Enjoying campus fellowship
Greetings from
Drs. Panas and Resto
Discussing an exchange
Dr. Shurtz explains the rules
Describing a gift
Easy to use gift
Surprise package
THE THINGS A TEACHER WILL DO!
Two German students, Jennifer Schneider on the left and Franka Neumann on the
right, join Instructor Alice Conway in the center to contribute their share of Christmas
Spirit at the Ritz Carlton Pentagon City Hotel this past December. They were completing the class expectancies as AuPair students in their Stratford Event Management
Survey Course.
The AuPair program gives exchange students the opportunity to learn the culture of
this country, assist in the home of their sponsoring family and study part-time.
SPECIAL THANKS TO THE CULINARY STAFF AND STUDENTS
The following notes were submitted in praise of the Chefs, and work of the Culinary Department Staff.
From Senior Admissions Representative Wenners Ballard, II
I would like to extend a special "thank you" to Chef Ricardo Willis for his volunteer efforts with the Safeway Feast of Sharing event on November 25th at the Washington Convention. Safeway's Feast of Sharing
provided full Thanksgiving meals to needy families in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, and Ricardo
and his class was on-hand to assist with preparing food for 5,000 residents.
From Director of Nursing Deborah Schiavone , Faculty and Graduating Students
Many thanks to the FC Culinary team. You each in your own way took special care to make the nurse
pinning ceremony very special. Noree – you manage three campuses beautifully. You said that you and
your team will handle things and you did. It was fabulous. The campus is so fortunate to have people like
each of you. You set the table for excellence. Many thanks to Chef Hathaway, Chef Carey, Chef Corsino,
Chef Willis!
LEARNING RESOURCE CENTER OFFERS ONE-TO-ONE CONSULTATIONS
All students who are enrolled in the school to advance in their career from the associate level through the
advanced doctoral level, have a unique opportunity awaiting them in the Library. “ All that needs to be
done, ” explained Head Librarian David Lemmons, “ is to e-mail a request addressed to: libraryfc@stratford.edu. The student will be contacted by either myself, Amber Glen-Thomas or Victoria Rossetti. We will create a personal assistance program to address and resolve the student ’ s needs.” David
reports that the new service has already been used a number of times with very satisfactory results.
Give it a try!