COPS Top Stories - 2013

Florida Ford Next Generation Learning Hub Coaches Bay County School District Academy Teams

Year-long project in Bay County, Florida supports Career Academy Teams to design Project-Based Learning (PBL) Activities for High School Students

Collaboration, team work, communication, and creativity are skills Bay County School District Career Academy Teams included in their project-based learning (PBL) activities during the 2012–2013 academic year. Starting in October of 2012, Dr. Jill White and Jennifer Edge, representing the Florida Ford Next Generation Learning Hub, embarked on a year–long project to coach the academy teams of Bay County School District on the design and implementation of PBL for their students.

“For many of our Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers, this was the first time to participate in professional development that specifically focused on the CTE classroom. Having this opportunity has greatly empowered them to collaborate and design integrated curriculum together and that, in turn, provides great learning opportunities for students,” stated Ann Leonard, CTE Director in Bay County School District.

The outcome of the year–long professional development was for every team to design a PBL activity to be implemented in the 2013–2014 school year. Standard elements that were threaded through each experience were how to work together as a team, how to align curriculum with new state standards, and how to determine when students have mastered content. Each team accomplished the outcomes with success. Leonard has reserved faculty development time in June to allow teams to action plan their designs to launch in the upcoming school year.

Key areas outlined in the monthly PD opportunity are described below.

October’s Focus:

What does a Career Academy look like and sound like?
SWOT Analysis per Career Academy Team

November’s Focus:

Introduction to a guide, developed by the Florida Ford NGL Hub, for Project-Based Learning design

December’s Focus:

Network with business partners and identify ways to incorporate real-world scenarios in their PBL design

February’s Focus:

Facilitated planning time

March’s Focus:

Unpack sample PBL activities
Facilitated planning time

April’s Focus:

How to write a Driving Question (sometimes called an Essential Question)
Finalize PBL design

For more information about the Ford Next Generation Learning Hub at the University of West Florida, or about Integrated Project Based Learning, please contact Jennifer Edge at jedge@uwf.edu.

UWF CORAL Center

The journey to earn a doctoral degree is arduous. It tests the resolve of even the most dedicated graduate students, and demands a significant investment of the student’s time and effort. Thankfully, it is a journey that does not have to be undertaken alone.

The Community Outreach Research and Learning (CORAL) Center, located in Room 112 of Building 86 on the main UWF campus, is the creation of Dr. Carla Thompson, associate professor in the Department of Research & Advanced Studies (RAS) and director of the CORAL Center. Approved by the Florida Board of Governors in 2007, the center replaced the older Educational Research and Development Center (ERDC) that had been inactive since 2002.

“When developing the concept, I felt it needed to be different than the ERDC,” said Dr. Thompson. “I knew that the country was moving towards increasing community engagement.” Most university research centers are designed primarily for the benefit of faculty and research associates. Dr. Thompson wanted to expand the impact of the CORAL Center. “My concept was to integrate graduate students into the community and to do authentic types of research projects with them, so they have hands-on experience before they receive their degree.”

It is this focus on community engagement that really makes the CORAL Center stand out. Agencies like Alzheimer’s Family Services, Independence for the Blind of West Florida, and Pathways for Change have all benefitted from research projects at the center. Typically, the relationships built with these agencies do not end once the research is completed. “The partnership is so gelled that they can just pick up the phone and say, ‘Hey we’ve got something else, are you interested?’ and we will do it.”

Dr. Thompson received over $174,000 through grants and proposals during the 2011-2012 school year, but this amount covers only a small portion of the projects she oversees. “Less than 10% of the projects receive funding through grants or agency contracts. But when someone asks for help on a project, we give it.”

To date, the CORAL Center has worked with over 40 different community agencies, including projects for Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Mobile, and Baldwin county school districts. “We are currently in the final year of a five-year, Title I-funded project with Santa Rosa County, a K-3 reading response to intervention (RtI) project that has been very successful.” Fifteen UWF doctoral students have been involved with the project, which Dr. Thompson describes as a challenge, but a good one for them to be involved in.

Projects at the CORAL Center have led to numerous publications, and students have co-authored publications based upon the work they have done. “I strongly encourage the students to co-author, because they have been so heavily involved with the projects,” said Dr. Thompson. In the fall of 2012, Dr. Thompson and RAS announced the inaugural publication of the Journal of Research and Advanced Studies. As the first academic journal at UWF, the journal will afford doctoral students the opportunity to publish their research both during their studies and after they graduate.

The CORAL Center also presents monthly Research and Rigor (R&R) seminars attended by current and former doctoral students, faculty, and members of the community. These events allow researchers to present their findings and discuss the methods they employed. These seminars provide opportunities for collaboration and a sense of camaraderie among COPS students, faculty and alumni.

The center also carries the unique distinction of being an SPSS Certification Site (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, IBM’s software package used for statistical analysis). “That was unheard of until just recently, you have to go through a lot to become a certification site,” said Dr. Thompson. “It took me three years, and it is quite an honor.” Dr. Thompson also conducts SOS (Successfully Operating SPSS) tutorial sessions for faculty who would like to brush up on their skills, as well as workshops on topics such as statistics, publishing, and grant writing.

By involving UWF doctoral students directly with community agencies, the CORAL center multiplies the impact of their work. The students gain authentic learning experiences via real world, applied research projects and the community benefits from the accurate data that is collected.

To find out more about the UWF CORAL Center, please visit uwf.edu/pcl/coral

The Second Annual Argo Invitational Mock Trial Tournament

On January 19 and 20, 2013, mock trial teams from six different universities came together at the University of West Florida (UWF) to participate in the Second Annual Argo Invitational Mock Trial Tournament. Teams from Auburn University, University of Florida, Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State University, and the University of North Alabama joined our UWF team to compete in four different rounds. This year's case was a civil trial involving a wrongful death lawsuit based on a diving accident. Teams prepared both a plaintiff and defense case for the tournament.

Faculty sponsor Dr. Kimberly Tatum is very proud of the UWF team's performance, and was excited about the increase in participation. "This year's tournament was even bigger than last year's inaugural event. It is a great opportunity for our students to improve their case strategies and performance before our regional tournament at the University of Central Florida next month."

The tournament was judged by volunteers from UWF faculty and local legal professionals. "We actually had a real local judge who presided over a couple of the rounds!" said Tatum. The event provided an opportunity to use the mock trial courtroom on the UWF campus, a facility designed to simulate an actual courtroom that is utilized by classes and student groups throughout the university. "It was great to be able to showcase our beautiful campus and great courtroom to other university students and to our local legal community," said Tatum. Having a realistic environment for the tournament gave the proceedings an air of authenticity, and Tatum reported that "the students really enjoyed competing in the courtroom."

The mock trial teams that participated are all part of the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA), founded in 1985 by Dean Richard Calkins of Drake Law School. The AMTA hosts 24 regional tournaments, eight opening round championship tournaments and a national championship tournament each year in February and March. Invitational tournaments, hosted by the team's institutions during the fall and early spring, are held around the country to allow teams to practice and prepare for the AMTA-sanctioned tournaments. The UWF Mock Trial Team will travel to the University of Central Florida for the regional tournament next month.

While all of the nearly 80 students who participated at the 2013 Argo Invitational put forth an admirable effort, it was the Auburn University team that earned top honors this year. Stetson University College of Law graciously sponsored the tournament, and provided an admissions dean at the tournament to speak to students about the law school application process. "We were thrilled to partner with Stetson University College of Law for this event, since Stetson is well-know for its award-winning trial advocacy program," said Tatum.

The UWF Mock Trial Team is open to all current UWF students. For more information, please contact Dr. Kimberly Tatum at ktatum@uwf.edu.

COPS Top Stories - October, 2012

15th Annual U.S.-Japan Social Welfare Symposium

Please join us Thursday, Nov. 1 at 1:00 p.m. for the 15th annual U.S.-Japan Social Welfare Symposium in the UWF Conference Center. This free event is open to the public, and will focus on the role of professional social workers following disasters, and on the role of professional caregivers who work with the elderly.

The plenary session begins at 1 p.m., and the program includes a welcome by UWF President Dr. Judy Bense, and greetings by Mr. Hideaki Hirata, Executive Managing Director, Jikei Group of Colleges in Japan. The keynote speaker from Japan, Mr. Tetsuyuki Sawa, director of the Social Welfare Council of Saitama Prefectural Government, will present his talk about the progress and challenges faced after the March 3, 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Keynote speaker from the U.S. is Mr. John Clark, president/CEO of the Council on Aging of West Florida. He will speak about elderly services in America.

A limited number of earpieces for simultaneous translation of Japanese presentations can be reserved in advance by calling the UWF Japan Center at 850-474-3363, or by email at japan@uwf.edu.

COPS Top Stories - September, 2012

RAS Faculty and Students Complete Pilgrimage to Honor Civil Rights Martyr

Dr. Susie Jans-Thomas, Maria Leite and Cathy Kempf

Dr. Susie Jans-Thomas, Research and Advanced Studies (RAS), along with doctoral studies students Maria Leite and Cathy Kempf, attended the annual pilgrimage honoring Jonathan Daniels in Hayneville, Ala. Daniels was a seminarian who spent the summer of 1965 working for voters' rights in Lownes County. Daniels and 14-year-old Ruby Sales were entering the Cash Store when Tom Coleman shouted in anger that the store was closed and fired a shotgun at point-blank range at the two prospective customers. Daniels' quick reflexes allowed him to push Sales out of harm's way; however, Daniels was shot in the chest and died at the scene. The Episcopal Church named Daniels a church martyr and honors him with an annual pilgrimage. Pilgrims come from all over the world to walk the streets of Hayneville in remembrance of the young seminarian who gave his life to protect a young girl

As part of the annual event, an ecumenical prayer service was held in the Hayneville Courthouse commemorating the Civil Rights martyrs of Alabama: Jonathan Daniels, Denise McNail, Carole Robertson, Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Virgil Lamar Ware, Viola Gregg Liuzzo, Jimmy Lee Jackson, Rev. Reeb, Willie Brewster, Sammy Younge, Jr., and "all others known only by God." The Hayneville Courthouse is the only courthouse in the state of Alabama still utilizing a holding cell, pictured here.

The RAS Pilgrims also stopped along Highway 80 to visit the memorial to Viola Gregg Liuzzo and the Interpretive Center run by the National Parks Service commemorating the Freedom March from Selma to Montgomery.

COPS Top Stories - August, 2012

Dr. Glenn Rohrer Honored with Distinguished Alumni Career Award

Dr. Glenn Rohrer, UWF professor and newly appointed project director of the Gulf Region Health Outreach Program, has been selected by the Ohio State University (OSU) College of Social Work Hall of Fame Awards Committee as a recipient of the 2012 Distinguished Alumni Career Award. The award is given for exceptional professional achievements, initiatives, and leadership in the field of social work.

Dr. Rohrer will accept this prestigious award at the 2012 OSU College of Social Work Alumni Hall of Fame Dinner on October 5, 2012, in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Rohrer earned both his Bachelor's and Master's of Social Work degrees from OSU, and is excited to return to his alma mater for the OSU Alumni Reunion-Homecoming Weekend, where he will also visit the Ohio Stadium to cheer on the Buckeyes as they take on the Nebraska Huskers.

Congratulations, Dr. Rohrer!

Visitors from Galway

The College of Professional Studies hosted three visiting teachers from Galway, Ireland as they toured the UWF National Flight Academy (NFA) training classroom, the USS Argo. The teachers are here in Pensacola chaperoning 12 Irish middle and high school students that are participating in the Aviation in Residence (AIR) program at the Ambition, the $40 million, 100,000+ square foot facility featuring 30 networked flight simulators housed on the Naval Air Station.

Kate Murray, Patrick Clancy, and Maeve Clancy toured the USS Argo, where the inaugural NFA teacher training sessions occurred last week. The group also visited the Pickens Technology Suite at UWF, where Dr. Wanda Wade presented her work with Bug-in-Ear technology, a system utilizing readily-available devices to facilitate remote monitoring and feedback to student teachers in real time.

The visitors discussed their experiences with UWF School of Education faculty, and both parties expressed an eagerness to develop a deeper partnership that would provide many opportunities, possibly including student teacher exchanges and technology training. "This is just the beginning of our relationship," said Murray, "we are opening new doors to advancing education."

To see more photos of the visitors from Galway and the USS Argo, please visit and "Like" the College of Professional Studies Facebook page!

COPS Top Stories - July, 2012

Dr. Bill Evans in New Zealand

Dr. Bill Evans, director of the School of Education, talked about his experiences in New Zealand during his Fulbright Scholarship trip at the latest COPS Teaching Forum held Friday, July 20 at the College of Professional Studies.

As part of his duties as a Fulbright Scholar, Dr. Evans worked closely with faculty from the University of Canterbury on developing a mutually beneficial partnership with UWF that will serve to build international relationships and improve programs at both institutions.

Dr. Evans spoke at length about the current state of the education system in New Zealand, how it compares to the system here in the US, and how each can learn from the other's strengths. The presentation also documented the reconstruction efforts in Christchurch following the devastating earthquake in 2011.

The COPS Teaching Fora take place several times each semester and highlight the innovative techniques, technologies, and immersive experiences that are developed and utilized by our outstanding faculty here in the College of Professional Studies at UWF. Be sure to look for announcements of upcoming events and RSVP information in the COPS Weekly Newsletter!

COPS Top Stories - May, 2012

BUILDING 70 EARNS LEEDS GOLD RATING

The Department of Applied Science, Technology and Administration (ASTA) is proud to announce that the Building 70 Renovation Project has been awarded the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold rating. The LEED Rating System helps building owners and operators measure operations, improvements and maintenance on a consistent scale, with the goal of maximizing operational efficiency while minimizing environmental impacts.

The Building 70 Renovation Project consisted of a comprehensive interior and exterior renovation of the building, originally constructed in 1975, resulting in a complete transformation of both the function and aesthetics of the building. To achieve gold for a renovation is quite an achievement.

The Facilities Development and Operations organization worked many hours with DAG Architecture, the Building Construction Faculty, adjuncts, and the contractor to truly meet the intent of a LEED building. The educational aspect of this accomplishment will benefit the Construction curriculum tremendously.

The Department of Applied Science, Technology and Administration would like to thank the following for their many hours of dedication that made this accomplishment possible:

Architectural and Engineering Services
DAG Architecture
Peter Brown Construction
Building Energy Sciences — Andy Heitman

DR. WILLIAM EVANS AWARDED FULBRIGHT FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDY IN NEW ZEALAND

Dr. Bill Evans, Director of the School of Education, recently completed a Fulbright scholarship that included a six-week visit to the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. He was awarded the Fulbright after a rigorous application process that took several years.

While in New Zealand this spring, Dr. Evans worked with teacher education faculty there at the University of Canterbury and at Massey University on program development and policy implementation. While there are many similarities between the public school systems in the U.S. and in New Zealand, he noted that the biggest difference is that New Zealand is still working on how best to address the needs of students in the lowest quartile in the public schools.

Dr. Evans shared some of the recent projects that he has worked on across the world with developing school curricula and partnerships, including the recent partnerships that the UWF School of Education established with Brentwood and Ferry Pass Elementary Schools. As a result of the Fulbright, Dr. Evans hopes that UWF faculty and students will be able to work with faculty in New Zealand on future collaborations that include research, curriculum development, and study abroad opportunities. Dr. Evans has authored several books on policy development and implementation and has traveled extensively to assist countries around the world in improving their education systems.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: MICHAEL GILBERT

Michael Gilbert is recently retired from the United States Air Force, but you won’t find him relaxing and enjoying life in the slow lane here in Pensacola. Instead, he has returned to academics at the College of Professional Studies (COPS) at UWF to complete the education he started 28 years ago at the University of Southern Nevada.

After completing a thirty-year career in the Air Force, Gilbert enrolled at UWF as a junior in the summer of 2011. He is currently slated to graduate this summer, and was recently named the 2012 College of Professional Studies Outstanding Undergraduate Student for Legal Studies. Gilbert will start law school at Louisiana State University in the fall.

Gilbert feels ready for the challenges that lie before him in law school, saying: “I believe the legal studies program at UWF has prepared me very well to be a first year law student. I now have a strong working knowledge of our system of laws and how they relate to society.” The COPS legal studies program has given Gilbert an understanding of the criminal justice system, as well as the theories of civil procedure and criminal law. Gilbert also feels that the time he spent at UWF developing his skills in legal research, writing, and advocacy will make for a significant advantage in law school: “The first few times I walked into the law library, it sometimes took me hours to find a particular case or statute. It only takes me minutes now, and I can readily draw from them what is needed and transmit that information in proper written or oral form.”

Gilbert speaks fondly of the legal studies faculty and the relationships he has built with them, despite his initial concerns about being a non-traditional student and transitioning from a professional military life to an accelerated academic experience. “I have found UWF all that one would hope it to be,” said Gilbert, “I experienced top-notch instruction, with very clear expectations and standards, supported by a universal willingness to help you succeed.”

While Gilbert is a top student and has been named to the President’s List every semester while at UWF, he was surprised at the emphasis placed on grades when applying to graduate school. “I was literally explaining a ‘C’ in sociology from over twenty-eight years ago. Like it or not, academically speaking, your GPA will define you.” Gilbert advises his fellow students to manage their course load to accommodate their particular lifestyle, whether they are full time students or professionals with families to care for. “It’s okay if that means fewer classes, or even a semester or more off as the other demands of life dictate. No matter what, do your very best and know why you are here.”

To learn more about the legal studies program at UWF, please visit uwf.edu/justice.

OUTSTANDING ALUMNI RECOGNIZED AT THE 2012 COPS ALUMNI SOCIAL

Dean Northrup, Judge Darlene Dickey, and Associate Professor Susan Harrell

UWF alumni, friends, faculty, and staff all had a great time at the annual 2012 COPS Alumni Social, held the evening of Thursday, May 3 in the UWF Conference Center. The standing-room only event was well-attended, as COPS recognized the significant accomplishments that came to fruition during the preceding year, both inside and outside the college by our faculty, outstanding alumni, and community partners.

As guests arrived they were greeted by the soothing tones of bossa nova played by alumni Nicolau and Alessandra Cardoso, and the 11 year-old Mateus Cardoso. Upon entering the main room of the event, the warm and hearty smells of tasty hors d’oeuvres and the happy sounds of old friends getting reacquainted welcomed attendees. The schools and departments in COPS showed off their recent and ongoing successes through displays and demonstrations, many of them highlighting the use of technology that enhances the learning experiences provided at the college.

UWF President Judy Bense addressed the crowd and spoke of the growth and successes that have been attained by COPS and the University as a whole in the past year. In particular Bense remarked upon the impact the college is making in sparking interest in the STEM disciplines through projects like the new National Flight Academy classroom that provides immersive, game-based environments for local-area students and the student teachers learning at UWF.

Dean Pam Northrup spoke with obvious pride about the many accomplishments of her staff and faculty, including student and professional Fulbright scholarships and the many awards and honors garnered in multiple disciplines both locally and nationally by COPS personnel. Northrup also recognized the contributions of the many new faculty that have recently joined the college, as well as the continuing hard work put in by the faculty that have been instrumental in the continued growth and successes celebrated at the event.

The real stars of the event were the Outstanding Alumni awardees, who were given awards and recognized for their contributions to the community, to their fields, and to the mutually beneficial partnerships they have fostered and maintained. The notable awardees included Malcolm Thomas, Superintendent of the Escambia County School District; Jennifer Grove, Workforce Development Coordinator at Gulf Power Company; and Judge Darlene Dickey, a UWF alumna who was recently appointed as a county judge by Governor Scott. Dean Northrup also presented a special commemorative plaque to Evelyn Ortiz and John Ortiz Smykla in recognition of their establishment of the Criminal Justice Endowed Scholarship in Diversity.

To stay up-to-date on all of the accomplishments, successes, and upcoming events at the College of Professional Studies, please sign up for the COPS Weekly Newsletter and take a moment to "like" COPS on Facebook!

COPS Top Stories - April, 2012

UWF HOSTS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CONFERENCE FOR AREA PROFESSIONALS AND STUDENTS

The UWF Department of Justice Studies and the Escambia County Domestic Violence Coalition partnered to present “The Professional’s Challenge in Addressing Domestic Violence,” a two-day conference for law enforcement, prosecutors, probation officers, victim advocates, social workers, and students on April 9 and 10, 2012. This year’s event, held during National Child Abuse Prevention Month in the UWF Conference Center, featured presentations from a variety of professionals and offered training on best practices addressing domestic violence. This is the third year that UWF has hosted the event.

The first day of the conference featured Lieutenant Mark Wynn (retired), former supervisor of the Domestic Violence Division of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. Wynn has travelled extensively while presenting training seminars on domestic violence interventions and investigations to law enforcement groups and community organizations of all types. He offers a unique combination of perspectives on the topic: “I’ve worked as a career cop, in Nashville I was the lieutenant over one of the largest police domestic violence divisions in the country, and I am also a survivor of domestic violence.” Wynn expressed his firm belief in the benefit of conferences like the one held at UWF, where workers from different fields can come together: “Look at the make up of this class and it is not just police, it’s advocates, probation, prosecutors, psychologists. The main message is that we are going to make the law keep its promise to the victims, that we understand that leaving a violent relationship is an not a single event, it is a process that takes the entire community.”

Lieutenant Ken Simmons of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office attended the event and remarked on the power of building relationships between the different groups that deal with domestic violence: “You have the enforcement side of things, and then you have the people that pick up the pieces after we have done our job. There is a real necessity for communication between these agencies, between the Sheriff’s office and advocacy groups for the victims like Favor House.” Simmons also hopes that the conference will help to reduce the number of domestic violence cases that occur in the county, saying, “If we can all work together to avoid the incident itself, then I think we have done the community a great service.”

Captain of the Pensacola Police Department, David Alexander III, was also at the event and also commented on the need for more communication: “While we are good at enforcement and advocacy, we need to step up and do more. We need to be more patient, we need to be more proactive as a holistic system that goes from enforcement all the way up to prosecution and sentencing. The systems have to start interacting more with each other.”

The need to understand a different perspective was espoused by those who work as victim advocates as well. Andrea Nutt, a senior in the UWF B.A. degree program in Social Work, attended the event and gained valuable insight from the conference. “Listening to the enforcement side of the equation was a real eye-opener for me. As a social work student I have focused on how to help after the damage is already done.” Lince Favors, an MSW student at the UWF Department of Social Work, attended the event with her Okaloosa County Healthy Start co-workers. The conference gave her valuable information that will impact her work with current clients: “I work with a lot of pregnant women, and I will use what I am learning here right away. Everyone you work with could be a potential victim or perpetrator themselves, and unless we all are educated about domestic violence, we are not going to be able to stop the cycle of violence.”

Fred Sulzbach, director of the Battered Intervention Program at Favor House works predominately with the perpetrators of domestic violence. He used his time speaking at the conference to help attendees understand why the perpetrators behave the way they do. “We realize that it is a crime, but many of the perpetrators that I have worked with look at it as ‘this is what I was taught to do growing up. There is nothing wrong with what I'm doing,’” said Sulzbach. “The message that we really need to spread is that we need to take a look, as a community, at what is healthy versus what is unhealthy.”

In hosting the conference, the UWF College of Professional Studies is continuing to fulfill its commitment to improve our community by partnering to provide education and training to students and professionals alike.

To find out more about the UWF Department of Justice Studies and the Escambia County Domestic Violence Coalition, please visit the links below:

The UWF Department of Justice Studies

FavorHouse of Northwest Florida

DEPARTMENT OF RESEARCH AND ADVANCED STUDIES HOSTS VISITING SCHOLARS FOR INTERNATIONAL REASEARCH FORUM

Visiting Scholars in the Argonaut Athletic Club

The National Association of Hispanic and Latino Studies, in conjunction with the University of West Florida’s Department of Research and Advanced Studies, sponsored an International Research Forum with the Universidad Autonoma de Coahuila in Saltillo, Mexico. Dr. Susie Jans-Thomas, as a board member for the National Association of African American Studies and Affiliates and editor for the Journal of Intercultural Disciplines, organized the event which sponsored 17 international scholars visiting the UWF campus April 16 through 19, 2012. The visiting scholars shared research with faculty and students, and toured the city of Pensacola. UWF faculty and students shared research with the international group.

After the first day of papers with topics ranging from the stigmatization of Mexican immigration to calculus, a banquet was held with Brazilian music, greetings from President Bense, and recognition from Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward granting special citizenship to the International Scholars.

Throughout the remainder of the research forum, dialogues and discussions about science, civil rights, and music yielded intellectual rigor meaningful to all. The group toured UWF, Historic Pensacola Village, Fort Pickens, and Gulf Islands National Park.

UWF faculty and students who presented at the forum are eligible to participate in the exchange to Saltillo in May of 2013. Faculty who presented were: Dr. F. Steve Bridges, Dr. Sandra Davis, Dr. Justice Mbizo, Dr. Carla Thompson, Dr. Susie Jans-Thomas, Dr. Joyce Nichols, Dr. Enid Sisskin. COPS graduate students who presented were: Mrs. Cathy Kempf, Mrs. Devin Blackmarr, Ms. Sarah Schwab, Mr. Eric Kollar, Mrs. Susan Barnes, Mr. Daniel Correa, Ms. Bertha Roberts, Mr. Mark Gough, Ms. Eileen Sousa, Ms. Juanese Jones, Mrs. Nicole Everette, Mr. Douglas Doidge, Ms. Maria Leite, Mrs. Karla Caillouet, and Mrs. Jing Henderson.

COPS Top Stories - February, 2012

UWF MOCK TRIAL TEAM MEMBER NAMED OUTSTANDING ATTOURNEY IN ORLANDO

The UWF Mock Trial Team participated in the Orlando Regional Tournament February 19-20. UWF had two teams with 18 students competing in the tournament. The tournament included teams from across Florida and the Southeast, and also included teams from Harvard University and Princeton University.

At the tournament, legal studies student Thomas Moody (pictured) earned an award for outstanding attorney. The team performed very well, and students learned a great deal about the American jury trial process.

Faculty sponsor Kimberly Tatum noted that the team practiced very hard and performed well at the competition. She also indicated that she is most pleased that many of the students on this year's team include freshmen and sophomores who plan to return next year. Go Argos!

COPS Top Stories - November, 2011

NEW TEACHERS GET A BOOST WITH INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY

Dr. Wanda Wade, an Assistant Professor in the UWF School of Education, is leading the way in utilizing technology to provide assistance to new teachers. Now in her second year at UWF, Dr. Wade coordinates the UWF student teaching program. Earlier this year, Dr. Wade received several grants and a gift from Dr. Pickens to fund the Pickens Pack Technology Initiative. The project, also known as the "Bug-in-Ear Project," includes the use of an iPod Touch, a Plantronics Bluetooth earpiece, and FaceTime. It allows experienced faculty to observe a teacher in his or her classroom from a remote location and to provide immediate feedback on classroom management. The observer can watch what is happening in the classroom, and coach the teacher on how to respond.

The purpose of the project is to address the needs of new teachers in an innovative and effective way. Research shows that many new teachers report the need for more feedback, support, and training in classroom management. This project is designed to enhance the UWF student teaching experience by helping new teachers feel more prepared in the classroom.

According to Dr. Wade, "This is an innovative way to enhance the student teaching experience with the integration of technology. Student Teaching 2.0 is a way to increase the number of observations of student teachers virtually and have the platform to provide these students with immediate feedback during instructional delivery. Very cool stuff!"

The project is currently being used in four elementary schools in Escambia County including Brentwood, Ferry Pass, Pine Meadows, and Weiss. There are plans to expand the project to other schools throughout the area.

For more information about the UWF School of Education, please visit uwf.edu/education.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM PUTS COPS STUDENTS ON THE LEADING EDGE

Building and construction companies are tightening their belts and looking for new ways to stay competitive. One of the ways the industry is accomplishing this is by implementing new technologies to refine construction design before the first brick is laid or the first nail is driven. Students in the Building Construction Program at UWF's Department of Applied Science, Technology and Administration are learning how to use these new technologies and they are graduating with a competitive edge.

"One of the most exciting things we are doing is teaching the new system of Building Information Modeling, or BIM," shared Glenda Mayo, Instructor and Program Coordinator of the UWF Building Construction program. According to Mayo, "This system is a big improvement over Computer Aided Design, or CAD, that has been used extensively in the past." With BIM, an entire structure is created virtually before construction begins, and all of the individual components are given attributes of how they relate to the entire structure as well as to each other. "Contractors are using BIM to work out many of the kinks before starting the actual construction. By eliminating even a few errors and change orders beforehand, the system pays for itself in saved time and money very quickly," said Mayo. While BIM is being used more extensively in other areas of the US, it is just starting to catch on with contractors in Northwest Florida. "By learning how to use BIM, our students are given a real edge when they graduate and are looking for a job. I think it will be a real advantage for them."

"We are also working on a new technology for students of our Construction Document Technology (CDT) preparation course." The CDT National Exam certifies that industry professionals have an extensive knowledge of the creation and use of a wide variety of construction documents. "It is a very difficult exam," said Mayo, "and we are developing a new app that will help the students study wherever they might be." Rather than having to carry around the rather substantial textbook to prepare for the exam, this new app will allow students to study the information on their mobile devices. "The students will be able to listen to the information in an audio file, or use the visual elements of the app like flash cards. We are really excited to be able to offer the students something different, to engage them with something other than the typical class" said Mayo.

Mayo also stated that she is seeing signs that the construction industry is beginning to pick up. "Last semester we had problems placing some of our students in internships, but this semester we are almost at 100% placement." By working with members of the construction industry in projects and workshops, students in the Building Construction program are developing relationships that will serve them far into the future. "The more that local professionals see what we have to offer, the more they want to get involved with our students and support what we are doing for the industry" said Mayo.

To find out more about the Building Construction or other programs available through the College of Professional Studies at UWF, visit uwf.edu/cops.

MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK PROGRAM GRANTED INITIAL ACCREDITATION

After starting its first class less than three years ago in January 2009, the UWF Masters of Social Work (MSW) program has been granted initial accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education. This significant accomplishment was achieved under the leadership of Dr. Glenn Rohrer, Director of the School of Justice Studies and Social Work. Dr. Rohrer joined UWF in 2006 to start the MSW program after working at East Carolina University for 17 years where he holds the title of professor emeritus. "The key to any academic program is accreditation," says Dr. Rohrer, "and the very first thing I did was to contact the state licensure board and tell them we were starting this program. That ensured that the 53 students in our first graduating class would be included in our accreditation, and that they could start the licensing process right away."

While the B.A. degree program in Social Work at UWF has been continuously accredited since 1974, this new accreditation of the MSW makes UWF one of only about 200 universities with a nationally accredited master's program. According to Dr. Rohrer, "Graduation from an accredited institution is the gold standard in the profession, and our program opens many doors for our students." State licensure laws are now in effect in all 50 states for social workers, and UWF graduates from the first MSW class are now working not only in Florida, but also in Alabama, North Carolina, Montana, and even Hawaii.

Many of the 100-plus students currently in the program are from Pensacola and the surrounding areas of Escambia County, but there are students from Okaloosa, Mobile, and Baldwin counties as well. Because of this geographically diverse student body, Dr. Rohrer anticipates the program moving towards a more blended structure, with an increased number of online classes and fewer face-to-face meetings at the Pensacola campus.

The program requires a lot of hands-on experience: 900 hours of field education are required in the regular program, and 600 hours in the Advanced Standing program for students who already hold a B.A. in social work and advanced credentials. The program has written agreements with over 100 agencies in the surrounding areas. "One thing that is quite different about our program are the weekly Field Education Seminars," says Dr. Rohrer. "Students sit down with a licensed clinical social worker from our faculty and talk about what they are doing in hospitals, prisons, youth-serving agencies, the VA, or where ever they are placed. That way there is some cross-fertilization in the field experience; they learn about not just one area of practice but many."

Dr. Rohrer attributes the program's successful bid for accreditation in part to the wide and varied experience of the UWF faculty. "Most of our faculty are experienced social workers themselves, and teach from that experience. They help our students to apply the theories they learn and put it all into practice."

For more info on the Masters of Social Work and other programs available through the College of Professional Studies, please visit uwf.edu/cops.

EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP ONLINE PROGRAM EARNS QUALITY MATTERS SEAL OF APPROVAL

The Quality Matters Academic Advisory Council has approved the implementation plan for the Educational Leadership program. The Quality Matters standards assure that the online components of this course promote learner engagement and provide students with all the tools and information they need to be successful learners.

COPS Top Stories - October, 2011

NCATE VISIT A RESOUNDING SUCCESS!

The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) completed the Onsite Review of the UWF Professional Education Unit (PEU) on Tuesday, October 25, 2011. NCATE serves as the accrediting agency for teacher preparation programs across the nation, and reviewed the UWF PEU programs from COPS (SoE, HLES and RAS) and CAS (Music Department).
The Board of Examiners’ recommendation is FULL ACCREDITATION IN ALL STANDARDS! The team also notes that we met all previous Areas of Improvement from their 2003 visit. The NCATE BOE team will submit their recommendation to the Unit Accreditation Board for final determination of accreditation in April 2012.

University of West Florida Military and Veterans Resource Center Now Open on Pensacola Campus

The Military and Veterans Resource Center (MVRC) is now open in Building 38, room 147 on the Pensacola campus.
The MVRC offers specialized resources tailored to the needs of the 2,600 military and veteran students at UWF. For more information about the MVRC or military affairs at UWF, contact Marc Churchwell, MVRC director and coordinator of the Hometown Heroes program, at mchurchwell@uwf.edu or 850-474-2550.

THE COPS 2010-2011 ANNUAL REPORT IS HERE

We are happy to announce that the 2010-2011 Annual Report has arrived! We are in the process of distributing the report across campus, so keep an eye out for your copy if you have not yet received one.
The report is the culmination of countless hours of work, and is a shining example of how we are communicating our message to all of our publics. We would like to thank everyone who helped with this project. Your time and effort are greatly appreciated.
We are also making the report available online in a PDF version. Just click the link below:

PDF of the COPS 2010-2011 Annual Report -->

COPS FACULTY NAMED TO EDITORIAL BOARD OF JRP

Susie Jans-Thomas, Research and Advanced Studies, has been named to the Editorial Board of The Journal of Race and Poverty sponsored by Old Dominion University. The Journal of Race and Policy is published annually by the Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity at Old Dominion University. The JRP includes significant research by scholars from several disciplines using a variety of approaches and methodologies.

COPS FACULTY EARN UWF QUALITY ONLINE COURSE SEAL OF EXCELLENCE

The Academic Technology Center is proud to announce that Dr. Betsy Botts and Dr. Bill Evans have been awarded the UWF Quality Online Course Seal of Excellence for their joint effort in the development of the fully online course - EEX 4221C - Evaluation and Prescriptive Instruction for the Exceptional Child.
Reviewed by a team of UWF faculty peer reviewers trained in applying the Quality Matters rubric standards, this course is designated as being aligned to national standards of best practice in online course design.

COPS Top Stories - July, 2011

DR. CHRISTINE OGILVIE'S WORK WITH AUTISM PENSACOLA TO BE FEATURED ON LOCAL NEWS

Dr. Christine Ogilvie's work with Autism Pensacola's "Kids for Camp" will be featured on WEAR-TV 3's "Angels in our Midst" segment during the 6:00 p.m. news on Monday, July 11th.

Dr. Ogilvie is an professor in the School of Education and her passion and research interests lie in teaching teachers to work with students with Autism Spectrum disorders. She focuses mainly on social skills instruction for students with Autism Spectrum disorders and she is finding ways to incorporate new and emerging technologies into her research including video modeling of social skills and starting the process of teaching social skills in virtual environments.

Dr. Ogilvie is serving as a Coach for Autism Pensacola's "Kids for Camp," a six-week summer camp which was started in 2003. "Kids for Camp" provides fun and intense learning experiences for autistic children, as well as training for educators. This year's camp began on June 22 and will run through July 28, 2011 at Holm Elementary School.

COPS FACULTY RECEIVE TENURE/PROMOTION

The following College of Professional Studies faculty members have been promoted to full professor: Dr. Cheryl Swanson and Dr. Stacie Whinnery.

In addition, several COPS faculty have received tenure and have been promoted to associate professor. These faculty are Dr. Byron Havard, Dr. Charlie Song, and Dr. Xuan Tran. Congratulations to our COPS faculty!

FACULTY TO PRESENT AT ACADEMIC TECHNOLOGY CENTER'S "FACULTY SHOWCASE"

Faculty will demonstrate innovations in online and blended teaching and student engagement at the Academic Technology Center's (ATC) annual "Faculty Showcase" to their colleagues on Thursday, July 28th and Friday July 29th. The event will be held in the new School of Science & Engineering building. Several COPS faculty will be featured during the two day showcase:

Thursday July 28th from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.:

Ron Belter: Demonstration on the Academic Integrity Tutorial and quiz
Kuiyan Li: Using a Standardized Syllabus to Improve Student-learning Outcomes
Bob Hoyt: Demos of iSpring, Animoto, and Jing for Teaching and Student Engagement

Friday July 29th, from 9 am to 11:30 am:

Wanda Wade: "Bug-in-the-Ear" Broadcast Technology for Teaching
Christine Ogilvie: Using Mixed Reality Simulations for Instruction
Enid Sisskin: Improving Student Engagement

Friday July 29th, from 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm:

Lela Hobby-Burns: Reflections on Using the ATC Course Design Template
Janusz Chudzynski: iPhone Apps for Education, and Desire2Go demo
Dave Dawson: Nuvixia, "Poor Man's Green Screen"

Faculty may register for this event online. Click Here to register.

COPS Top Stories - June, 2011

UWF POSTER PRESENTATIONS SHINE AT AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SPORTS MEDICINE CONFERENCE

Dr. Ludmila Cosio-Lima with graduate student, Erika Smith.

UWF's HLES department's poster presentation at the American College of Sports Medicine in Denver, CO was an outstanding success. Dr. Ludmila Cosio-Lima was particularly proud of the presentation because the keynote speaker at the conference, Dr. Joe Knapik, endorsed and supported UWF's work. "UWF gained credibility and a great reputation from the highest investigators in the subject matter in this topic,"said Dr. Cosio Lima.

During the conference, Dr. Cosio-Lima was approached by several military investigators including Dr. Lucie Laferriere, a representative for the Canadian Department of Defense, who expressed interest in learning more about the functional movement screen used for the study.

Additionally, two posters from UWF graduate students were presented at the conference. "A Treatment for Rape Victims with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Utilizing Therapy and Aerobic Exercise," by Erika Smith and Measures of Upper and Lower body EMG Activity in Stable and Unstable Surfaces," by Adam Leja, Jordan Glenn, and Bhargav Desai were displayed at the conference.

COPS CONGRATULATES THE UWF ARGO BASEBALL TEAM

The College of Professional Studies would like to congratulate the University of West Florida Argo baseball team for winning the 2011 NCAA Div-II National Championship game. The Argos defeated Winona State in a 12-2 win on Saturday, June 4th at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C.

14 members of this year's National Championship team are students majoring in College of Professional Studies programs. Congratulations to you all for an incredible athletic and academic year!

Chad Allen, Exercise Science
Dustin Brenton, Physical Education
Brandon Brewer, HLES
Ryan Day, Construction Engineering
Philip Ebert, Education
Brad Hammac, Exercise Science
Tyler Hastings, Criminal Justice
Ben Hawkins, Sports Management
Josh Huggins, Physical Education
Eric Kroll, Exercise Science
Leo Lamarche, Athletic Training
Jordan Rasinski, Sports Management
J.D. Sabo, Construction Engineering
Shane Waller, Physical Education

To read more about the team's victory, visit www.goargos.com.

COPS Top Stories - May, 2011

DR. RICHARD HOUGH RECEIVES DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

May 13, 2011 -- For his dedication to women's issues and domestic violence throughout his career, Dr. Richard Hough was honored with the 2011 FavorHouse Distinguished Service Award at the organization's White Rose Luncheon on Thursday, May 12. Dr. Hough served as a law enforcement officer for almost 30 years, and has been involved in women's issues since the early 1980s.

He has been a faculty member at the University of West Florida since retiring from law enforcement and currently serves as an instructor of Criminal Justice in the Department of Justice Studies. While at UWF, he has presented at numerous meetings, conferences and seminars covering issues of domestic violence and educated students, law enforcement, prosecutors, and social workers.

Dr. Hough has served on the board of FavorHouse of Northwest Florida for almost 10 years and is a past-president of the board. He also serves on the Domestic Violence Coalition as the law enforcement chair, and he is a member of the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team.

COPS Top Stories - April, 2011

SCHOOL OF JUSTICE STUDIES AND SOCIAL WORK SPONSORS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TRAINING

The Professional's Challenge in Addressing Domestic Violence, a two-day training, was held at the UWF Conference Center on April 25-26 for local law enforcement, social workers, prosecutors, and students. The event was sponsored by the UWF School of Justice Studies and Social Work and The Escambia County Domestic Violence Coalition.

Featured speakers included Casey Gwinn, J.D., former Prosecutor and current President of the National Family Justic Center Alliance and Stacy Sharp, J.D., former Deputy and current Assistant State Attorney, 14th Judicial Circuit. Also in attendance was Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan.

Topics covered by the featured speakers and presenters from the University of West Florida faculty, as well as community partners included evidence-based prosecution, law enforcement response to DV, family justice centers, threat assessment in DV, INVEST (Intimate Violence Enhanced Services Team), technology and DV, and community coalitions.

RETIRED FBI SPECIAL AGENT SPEAKS TO STUDENTS AND FACULTY

Pictured above are Mr. Ricardo "Rickey" Fernandez (left) with Mr. James Stewart, FBI Agent (right).

The School of Justice Studies & Social Work sponsored a presentation by Ricardo “Rickey” Fernandez, FBI Special Agent (Ret.) on Tuesday, April 5 in the UWF Auditorium.

Mr. Fernandez’ 35-year law enforcement career included service with the New Orleans Police Department, the Office of Naval Intelligence, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He is currently an adjunct professor at Tulane University where he focuses on Interviewing and Interrogation. In addition, Mr. Fernandez is currently completing his Ph.D. at the University of New Orleans.

During his presentation, Mr. Fernandez shared his expertise on interviewing and interrogation. In addition, he discussed a case study he is working on for his dissertation on a former police officer turned serial rapist.

COPS FACULTY RECOGNIZED AT UWF HONORS CONVOCATION

On April 1, 2011, several faculty members from the College of Professional Studies were recognized for exemplary achievements in the areas of teaching, research, and service at the annual UWF Honors Convocation. The following faculty members were honored:

Captain Stefanie Hoffman (AFROTC) - Distinguished Teaching Award

Dr. Glenn Rohrer (Justices Studies and Social Work) - Million Dollar Research Hall of Fame

Dr. Kathleen Heubach (Teacher Education) - Five Million Dollar Research Hall of Fame

Dr. John Smykla - Distinguished University Professor

Dr. Stacie Whinnery - Distinguished Faculty Service Award

UWF'S FIRST MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK CLASS GRADUATES

The first graduating class of UWF's Master of Social Work program, which began in January 2009, will walk the stage to graduate on April 30, 2011. We caught up with a few members of the graduating class to find out why they chose UWF's Master of Social Work program and to learn more about their future goals.

If you are interested in learning more about the Master of Social Work program and how to apply, please visit the website at http://uwf.edu/socialwork/msw.cfm. Applications for the full time regular track, which starts in the fall semester of 2011, are due June 1, 2011. Applications for the part-time program, which begins spring semester 2012, are due in October, 2011.

	Tiffany Chen Tiffany decided to pursue her Master's in Social Work because she wanted to have more opportunities in the field of social work available to her. A graduate of UWF with a Bachelors in Social Work, she enjoyed the undergraduate program so much that she decided to stay in Pensacola for the new MSW program. Upon graduating, Tiffany feels that the UWF MSW program has equipped her to be a clinical counselor. "I have learned a lot about clinical counseling and have had the opportunity to apply what I've learned in class in my internship,"she said. Tiffany's career achievements include working in foster care at Families First Network and First Call for Help at the United Way. Currently, she is interning at Waterfront Rescue Mission's Women's Recovery program. She hopes to stay involved with this program after her internship is complete. "It (the internship) has helped me to be able to do group and individual counseling with women, and that is my passion: to help change their lives," she said. Tiffany loves to serve the community and spends her time volunteering through her church or the UWF social work department. She is also an avid tennis player and enjoys crocheting, knitting, and spending time on the beach.

	Karen Lynch A counselor in the substance abuse and mental health fields since the early 1990s, Karen Lynch decided to advance her knowledge and employment opportunities by adding a Master's in Social Work degree to her resume. For her, UWF felt familiar and was close to home, so when she heard that there was a new MSW program on campus, she decided to pursue it. Before entering the program, Karen found that most social services agencies she was interested in working for were asking for a Master's in Social Work. "This additional credential will add to my certification in mental health and experience in both mental health and chemical dependency,"she said. Karen's career started out in the United States Air Force, where she worked in television production. She worked at UWF for 10 years before moving to Seattle, WA, where she began working in substance abuse. There, she worked for an HMO until she returned to Pensacola in 2003, where she has since worked in the field of social work for both Lutheran Services of Florida and the Escambia County Health Department. Today, she is completing her MSW internship with Families Count in Milton working with in-home families. Karen is known on campus for arriving on her motorcycle. "I bought it last year to celebrate my 60th birthday â€¦ and for cheaper transportation to UWF. I have put over 5,000 miles on it in 8 months," she said. In addition, Karen is a movie collector with more than 1,200 DVD's in her collection, including all of the best picture award winners since 1927!

	James Poindexter James completed his bachelor's degree in Social Work at UWF, and when he heard that a new MSW program was starting, he decided to sign up. "I knew there would be more opportunities for advancement with a master's degree in Social Work," he said. Chosen to be a part of the Advance Standing program, which James described as being fast-paced with the coursework and classes, he enjoyed the interaction with his classmates and the ability to share cases and class notes. Working in the Mental Health field for more than three years, James started as a Psychiatric Technician at Baptist Behavioral and became a Mental Health Counselor at the completion of his bachelor's degree. After graduation he plans to continue working in the Mental Health field to achieve his future goal of becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. In his spare time, James enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, and enjoys playing basketball and going to the park with his kids. "They are my motivation and source of strength," he said.

	Ron Inere Ron Inere is proud to be a part of UWF’s first MSW graduating class. He said that the opportunity to be a part of the first class was one of the reasons he chose UWFâ€™s MSW program. He earned his Bachelors in Social Work from UWF, so he was already familiar with the faculty and staff. Ron said that the personal touch of the faculty and staff in the Social Work department really stand out. He credits Ruth Jenkins, Office Administrator, and Dr. Glenn Rohrer, Director of the School of Justice Studies and Social Work, with helping him to navigate the program successfully. Ron also chose UWF because he wanted to stay close to home, and because he wanted face-to-face classes and not online classes for his courses. Ron currently works as an outreach specialist for the Vet Center, a counseling center that is part of the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs. He wanted to earn his MSW so that he can apply for a clinical counseling position at the Vet Center. The center provides a range of counseling services to veterans who have been deployed to combat zones and to their families. Ron is a retired Navy veteran who always wanted to give back to his fellow veterans and to the community. He earned the Hometown Heroes scholarship that paid for his tuition in the MSW program. He believes that the MSW degree will allow him to pursue his employment goals. Ron is married to Michelle Inere, another UWF graduate who was recently appointed a magistrate judge for the First Judicial Circuit.

COPS Top Stories - March, 2011

IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES FOR STUDENTS

Advanced Registration (Summer 11) by classification for currently enrolled students starts March 21

Withdrawal Deadline from individual course or all courses for Spring 11 - March 23 (no individual course withdrawals after this deadline)

Advanced Registration (Fall 11) by classification for currently enrolled students starts March 28

Final dissertation and binding form due to Library - April 1 (Spring 11)

Final Exams Spring 11 - April 25-29

Last date to request Grade Forgiveness using a course from Spring 11 - April 29

Commencement - April 30

Reminder: Students who are anticipate using financial aid for Fall Semester 2011 are reminded to complete a new FASFA for 2011 and contact Student Financial Aid.

DR. MARK OLSON NAMED LOCAL SOCIAL WORK EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR

On March 3rd, The Northwest Unit of the National Association of Social Workers Florida Chapter named Dr. Mark Olson, Assistant Professor in the School of Justice Studies and Social Work, the Social Work Educator of the Year at their annual luncheon.

Dr. Olson is a licensed clinical social worker and educator. Here at UWF, his research interests include social work education and geronotology. Congratulations, Dr. Olson!

COPS FACULTY PRESENT RESEARCH

On Tuesday March 1, faculty from the College of Professional Studies and the College of Arts and Sciences presented their work at a COPS research forum. Dr. Charlotte Boling and Dr. Patrick Moore explained "Finding Florida: Teaching Literacy and Social Studies in the 21st Century," a Teacher Quality grant conducted with UWF History and School of Education faculty with the Escambia County School district. The project involves training local language arts and social studies teachers to increase their content knowledge about local history and to provide a professional learning community.

Dr. Dave Dawson and Dr. Jay Clune presented their work on the Next Exit History Project and the related NSF Cyberlearning grant proposal called "iShareHistory: Integration of a Location Based Services Mobile Application Using a Challenge Based Learning Framework Approach to Improve 21st Century Learning Skills." This exciting project, currently in its 4th year, represents a successful collaboration with UWF, WUWF, and the Florida Humanities Council. For more information about the Next Exit History project, please visit: http://nextexithistory.org/

COPS Top Stories - February, 2011

CAREER ACADEMY UNIVERSITY A SUCCESS

About 500 students from Escambia and Santa Rosa career academies attended the first Career Academy University at the First Baptist Church conference center in Pensacola last week. The event was sponsored by the University of West Florida and area businesses and was designed to teach life skills to seniors before they are released into the world of higher education or the work force.

Sessions for students included "How to get a Job," "How to keep a Job," and "Life after High School, Now What?" The keynote speaker for the event was Jeff Havens, author of the book "How to Get Fired."

Dr. Jill White and Jennifer Edge of the College of Professional Studies were instrumental in the planning and success of the event. Other UWF faculty and staff who played an active role in the Career Academy University event included Patrick Ryan of UWF Career Services, Jay Massey of UWF Marketing Creative Services, Katie Condon of UWF Admissions, Dr. Karen Rasmussen, Associate Dean, College of Professional Studies, and Angela Hahn of Allied Health.

SOCIAL WORK FACULTY REACH OUT TO VETERANS

Three social work professors in the School of Justice Studies and Social Work, Dr. Diane Scott, Dr. Jody Herzog, and Dr. Mark Olson have recently developed an innovative program for veterans. The Veteran's Certificate Program, funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, is a self-paced online program consisting of four social work courses: Interviewing and Assessment; Substance Abuse; Family Development and Dynamics and Lifespan; and Case Management.

The Department of Education grant pays the fee for each course and for textbook rental. The certificate program is designed to help volunteers, Veteran Service Officers, or social service professionals better assess and respond to the needs of veterans and their family members who come seeking assistance in resolving problems.

The program has been quite successful so far. Currently there are two cohorts that include 27 participants who have begun the certificate program and are in either the first or second course. A third cohort of 20 participants will start the program on February 28, 2011.

For more information, please visit the UWF Hometown Heroes website: http://www.uwf.edu/hometownheroes/VSO.html

GET SOCIAL WITH THE COLLEGE OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES

PENSACOLA, FL -- The College of Professional Studies is launching a campaign to encourage students, alumni, faculty and staff to "Get Social." Click the links below to join us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to keep up-to-date with news and events happening at the College.

The "Get Social" campaign is about creating an online and on-campus community for College of Professional Studies at the University of West Florida. Watch our Facebook and Twitter pages for information on future contests and events! What are you waiting for? Get Social with the College of Professional Studies!

MOCK TRIAL TEAM PREPARES FOR REGIONAL COMPETITION

The UWF Mock Trial team is preparing for regional competition at the University of Central Florida on February 18-20. At this competition, the team will compete against other universities from across the Southeast. The mock trial team is open to UWF students from any major.

The team practices in the mock trial courtroom on campus in building 78/ room 145. The UWF team, currently in its 9th year, is part of the American Mock Trial Association, an organization dedicated to sponsoring undergraduate mock trial competitions as a way to introduce students to the American legal system and to promote fairness and civility in the trial process.

Professor Kimberly Tatum is the faculty sponsor for the team. For more information about the mock trial team, please contact her at ktatum@uwf.edu.

COPS Top Stories - January, 2011

ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY: TRANSFORMATIONAL SPACE

After decades in the same tight facility, the Engineering and Computer Technology Department has moved into their new facility - Building 70 (their old facility, too!). A five year journey to reach this destination began in 2005 when UWF was first planning the new Science and Engineering Building. After learning that Building 70 space would be vacated, ECT Department faculty worked through the proper University channels to secure the building for a future renovation and ultimate Department location.

At the same time, faculty began fundraising for this specific initiative. Once renovation dollars were raised, UWF was then eligible to apply for matching funds through the State of Florida Alec P. Courtelis University Facility Enhancement Challenge Grant Program. Matching funds from this program were combined with adaptive re-use funds from the State to fund the Building's transformation. It is extremely rare on a campus to have the opportunity to complete renovate an entire building.

The Department worked closely with Architectural and Engineering Services to take full advantage of that opportunity ensure a design that would meet all possible needs, including the future accreditation needs. The American Council for Construction Education (ACCE) Accreditation Guide was during the programming phase of the project to ensure that features and supports required by accreditation agencies were used as benchmarks. For example, space for a file and print room for copies of plans and specifications as well as a library were included.

The design, however, went far beyond the requirements of ACCE and the development team also considered what design features would support the Building Construction program. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and mechanical visuals, which are typically hidden in most buildings, were purposely planned as teaching tools for students and visitors. Windows were added into telecommunications and mechanical rooms with instructor accessible light switches. All ceilings are an "open" design to showcase sprinkler piping, conduit, and duct runs. All four classrooms showcase a different type of ductwork. Classroom space is flexible and modular to permit configurations that support engaged student learning. State-of-the-art computer technologies are located in conference rooms, classrooms and a laptop-based, portable computer laboratory supports student classroom and research projects.

The project coordination and design consciously integrated USGBC-LEED criteria. Examples of these characteristics include automatic lighting energy saving features. The lighting in the front study area automatically adjusts to achieve the proper lighting, based on the existing levels of natural lighting. Additional windows were added to increase natural lighting throughout the building. Materials from the demolition were recycled (3.11 tons of ceiling tiles) and many areas of the remodel saved existing structural features and reused materials where possible.


A screenshot from the Siemen's monitor in the Bldg. 70 lobby.

One of the most exciting features in Building 70 is the Quality Attributes Software (QAS) and Siemen's monitor in the Lobby. This system will showcase the features as described above and others that were implemented into the design. In addition, the system monitors real-time "live" data points and will display energy efficiency monitoring such as: building power, lighting power, water usage, and carbon footprint.

Building 70 is the culmination of a project that has integrated effort, hard work, best practices, and research. Faculty in Building Construction, Networking and Telecommunications, Electrical Engineering Technology, Workforce and Program Development and Instructional and Performance Technology are working together to build exciting, real-world learning experiences for students.

The late Richard P. Morette provided the leadership and inspiration for the Building Construction fundraising initiative for Building 70. Beginning in 2006, Rick spearheaded an eight month fundraising campaign that resulted in excess of $237,000 in gifts from individuals and companies. These gifts were matched by the State of Florida Alec P. Courtelis Matching Gift Program resulting in more than $475,000 to be used for the renovation.Â Glenda Mayo, Instructor in the Building Construction program led the development and renovation efforts.

The best way to experience the Building and meet those people who contributed to the success of the project is to attend the Building 70 Open House celebration, January 28th at 3:30. Join us!

THE 14TH ANNUAL U.S. - JAPAN SOCIAL WELFARE SYMPOSIUM AT THE UWF CONFERENCE CENTER

"Social Welfare in the Community: Social Inclusion" will be held in the UWF Conference Center January 27 beginning at 1:00 p.m. The symposium will be opened with welcome remarks by Dr. Judith Bense, UWF President, followed by two keynote speakers from the U.S. and Japan. Dr. Catherine Powell, Director of the UWF Office for Informal Dispute Resolution and ADA Compliance will speak on Diversity Matters: The Case for Inclusion. Mr. Atsushi Yamaguchi, Education Department Head of the Tokyo College of Welfare will speak on The Demand for Social Welfare Professionals in Japan.

From 2:15 -5:00 p.m., there will be concurrent discussion sessions in five groups on the topics of Child Welfare, Elderly, Disabilities, Medical and Mental Health. UWF social work students and students from Tokyo College of Welfare and Saitama College of Welfare will present their papers researched in advance.

All programs from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. are free open to the public.

Professor Paula Rappe, Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Work, works closely with Ms. Shigeko Honda and Ms. Kathy Jones of the UWF Japan Center to coordinate the annual event with UWF's sister school, Jikei College Group of Japan. Students from two of Jikei's schools, Tokyo School of Social Welfare and Saitoma School of Social Welfare, travel to Pensacola for an educational/cultural exchange. Jikei students visit several social service agencies in the community, and this year will volunteer in Milton at the Habitat for Humanity thrift store. They also have the opportunity to meet with UWF Japanese language students and UWF Social Work students.

The plenary session from 1-2 p.m. will be simultaneously interpreted and the ear piece for the translation can be reserved at the UWF Japan Center by calling 850-474-3363 or email japan@uwf.edu. For more information, contact the UWF Japan Center at 850-474-3363 or e-mail japan@uwf.edu.

MEET THE NEW COPS FACULTY

	Holly Ellis, Ph.D, Assistant Professor -- Engineering and Computer Technology Holly Ellis has many friends who are military brats, but she describes herself as a "UWF brat." Her father was hired as a faculty member the year that UWF opened. " As a child, I can remember running around campus with my mother and sister waiting for Dad to finish teaching his classes. I knew my way around campus better than many students," she says. A fourth generation educator, Holly teaches Advanced Instructional Design, Foundations of Instructional Technology, Performance Analysis for HPT, and Evaluation for MSA professionals. She is currently involved in research on distance learning, online discussions, roles and responsibilities of online instructors, and gender roles in online courses. While new to UWF as a faculty member, Holly has served in other roles on campus since 2005.
	Aneurin Grant, Ph.D, Assistant Professor -- Engineering and Computer Technology Aneurin Grant is a new faculty member teaching courses in the Building Construction program including courses such as Sustainable Construction, Surveying and Layout, and Engineering Economy. Aneurin's favorite thing about the UWF campus is the "friendly vibe" he gets from other faculty and staff members. "Everyone is really helpful. they are really interested and engaged in what they are doing." Currently, he is writing a series of articles on Life Cycle Assessment and Service Life Prediction for building and building materials. He is also working on a paper concerning OSHA fatality data, and accidents related to the erection, setting and handling of trusses on construction sites. His diverse background includes experience as a county planner and a construction manager. "All have been influential in my teaching," he says.
	Christine Ogilvie, Ph.D, Assistant Professor -- School of Education Christine Ogilvie knew on her first visit to campus that UWF could be home for her. " The first time I visited, I cam in early so I could wander around a bit. As a lifelong Massachusetts resident, being this close to the ocean and going to the beach in the winter is a fantastic event!" she says. Her passion and research interests lie in teaching teachers to work with students with Autism Spectrum Disorders. She focuses mainly on social skills instruction for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders and she is finding ways to incorporate new and emerging technologies into her research including doing some work with video modeling of social skills and starting the process of teaching social skills in virtual environments. As a new Assistant Professor, Dr. Ogilvie says she doesn't have a lot of "free" time, but she is enjoying finding her way to community events such as volunteering for the recent Extreme Makeover: Home Edition filmed here in Pensacola and participating in the Alzheimer's Walk a Mile event in honor of her father.
	Susan Jans-Thomas, Ph.D, Associate Professor -- Professional and Community Leadership Susan Jans-Thomas went to high school just east of Pensacola in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, but college took her to Milwaukee. She wanted to return to the panhandle for quite a while in order to "give back to the region that provided me with an outstanding education. When I saw the position advertised in the Chronicle of Higher Education for a qualitative research position, I applied, and the rest is history," says Susan. Currently, she is instruction Qualitative Research 1- Methods, Philosophical & Multicultural Foundations of Education, and Critical Issues in American Education. Her research includes the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, Race Relations, Holocaust Education, Women in History, Child & Adolescent Literature, and Negro Baseball. She recently completed site-based research throughout Mississippi to complete the prospectus for a book about Civil Rights in Mississippi using six different qualitative research strategies. She is currently working on two new instructional strategies - one for Holocaust Education, and the other for college professors.
	Wanda Wade, Ph.D, Assistant Professor -- School of Education Wanda Wade is currently working to increase the support provided to student teachers through virtual observation and immediate feedback with Bug-In-Ear technology. Her courses include the Senior Seminar and Student Teaching, but her career goals weren't always to become a professor. While playing basketball for North Carolina State University, she visited a local high school. "I wanted to talk to the kids who were in the "Bad Kids" classroom. After that experience I immediately withdrew from my major and enrolled in education. I have been in education in some form ever since," she recalls. Dr. Wade is a member of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) and is currently developing a service portfolio and identifying committees and associations locally to join.
	Franco Zangaro, Ph.D, Assistant Professor -- Department of Health, Leisure and Exercise Science Dr. Franco Zangaro is an Assistant Professor in Physical Education Pedagogy in the Department of Health, Leisure, and Exercise Science. His scholarly work includes empirical research in the areas of: teacher cognition and teacher planning; dynamics of classroom instruction; and sports participation, aggression, and adolescent moral development. This fall Dr. Zengaro was invited to serve on the Editorial Review Board for The Teacher Educator, a prestigious international, peer-reviewed journal that focuses on preservice teacher preparation and continued professional development of teachers. Dr. Zengaro completed his Ph.D. from the University of Alabama. He is married to Dr. Sally Zengaro and has two children, Elisabetta and Matteo.
	Frank Dufon, Visiting Instructor -- Criminal Justice and Legal Studies Frank Dufon recently retired from the FBI after having served 22 years as a Special Agent. Prior to his service with the FBI he served eight years as a police officer in local law enforcement, including two years as a police chief in a small community. He is a Vietnam veteran with four years in the US Air Force and three years in the US Coast Guard Active Reserves. Frank is an instructor in the Justice Studies Department teaching courses on terrorism, homeland security and criminal investigations. Currently, he is researching educational development opportunities in homeland security studies for students and the Justice Studies program.

2011 SCHOOL AND DEPARTMENT UPDATES

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
Fall semester was extremely busy with the preparations that led to our successful completion of the Florida Department of Education review in which all of our programs were reaccredited. The review identified some program elements that need to be addressed, but by any measure, the review was entirely successful.

The School of Education continues to offer undergraduate, master's and doctoral programs in teacher education. Additionally, you will find our students engaged in a wide variety of service and research projects throughout the state, region and nation.

SCHOOL OF JUSTICE STUDIES AND SOCIAL WORK
Our school was recently formed by merging two thriving departments - Criminal Justice and Legal Studies, and Social Work. We have become the School of Justice Studies and Social Work. We continue to serve large numbers of undergraduates and our graduate programs in Criminal Justice and Social Work serve professionals who seek advanced degrees.

The MSW program began in January 2009 and continues to grow. In addition to focusing on their teaching, our faculty are involved in numerous community service activities and boards including FavorHouse, the Escambia Domestic Violence Coalition, Alzheimer's Family Services, Pathways for Change, Guardian ad Litem, and the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team.

The Criminal Justice Masters degree program continues to grow in numbers thanks to the Hometown Heroes scholarship program for veterans. The Legal Studies Mock Trial Courtroom is seeing increasing utilization which has included real courtroom proceedings conducted by the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, LEISURE & EXERCISE SCIENCE
The programs within the Department of Health, Leisure, & Exercise Science have had many accomplishments over the past year:

Dr. Debra Vinci, Community Health Education, was invited to present at the 4th International Forum on Sports-For-All in Shanghai, China. Her talk, Innovative Strategies for Preventing Overweight and Obesity in Children and Families, focused on the role of exergaming and school gardens as prevention approaches when working with populations at risk for obesity and associated chronic diseases.
Stephen Bridges was recognized as a distinguished faculty member by COPS Dean Pamela Northrup at the UWF Board of Trustees meeting on December 10, 2010.
In 2010, 12 UWF undergraduate and graduate students passed the Certified Health Educational Specialist (CHES) exam, the national standard for the health education profession.

Athletic Training

Twenty-seven Athletic Training students will be attending the SE Athletic Training Association Student Conference in February 2011.Â This is a great opportunity for students to attend sessions that support their professional and network with leaders in the Athletic Training field.

Exercise Science

A study by Dr. Ludi Cosio-Lima, Dr. Petra Schuler and three UWF students, Bhargav Desai, Lesley Keck, & Logan Scheeler, "A Comparison of Cytokine Responses during Prolonged Cycling in Normal and Hot environmental conditions" was recently published in the Â Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine.
Additionally, Dr. Schuler and graduate student Karla Cailouet have completed a study with Titus Sports Academy evaluating the outcome of a 12-week multi-component fitness programÂ to determine if older adults can increase their functional abilities related to strength, balance, and flexibility.

Hospitality, Recreation, & Resort Management

In February 2011, the HRRM Student Club will be recognized as the outstanding new student club by the Club Managers Association National Meeting in Orlando, FL.
This past November, Dr. Xuan Tran brought in Joseph McInerney, the CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, to the UWF campus to make a presentation on the future of the hospitality industry to various HRRM classes.

Physical Education

Dr. John Todorovich and Danny Drost, Ed.D., graduate student in PE and Health Education, presented a session entitled The Effects of Augmented Feedback on Student Perception And Actual Performance of a Novel Task at the AIESEP World Congress in A Courna, Spain in October 2010.
Cheryl Butler, UWF graduate, was recognized as the Florida State and SE Regional PE Teacher of the Year for AAHPERD.

Sports Management

Sports Management Student Club has been very active over the past year under the direction of Dr. Charlie Song. Several projects included working with the Ice Flyers in collecting survey data to assist the team in learning more about their fan base and assisting the Women's Volleyball Team with the "Pack-it-Pink" fund raising event for Breast Cancer Awareness. This past October seven students also attended the Florida State Sports Management Conference in Tallahassee, Florida.

DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY
The Department of Engineering and Computer Technology will be celebrating the opening of their new building (Bldg. 70) with an Open House on January 28th at 3:30 p.m. The event is open to the public. To read more about the renovated building, see this month's web feature.

Additionally, Glenda Mayo, Instructor in the Building Construction program has been selected by the Associated Schools of Construction as the fourth recipient of the Rinker Scholar Endowment. This endowment was established in 2005 by a generous gift from the Marshall E. Rinker, Sr. Foundation, Inc. This $1 million endowment supports fellowship awards to Associated Schools of Construction faculty members pursuing a Ph.D. in Construction Management at the University of Florida.

DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
Professional and Community Leadership serves students in graduate programs focusing on Educational Leadership, Public Administration, Acquisitions and Contracts, and Curriculum and Diversity. The doctoral core is also housed in PCL.Â The Educational Leadership program recently was re-certified by the Florida Department of Education.Â The Masters of Science of Administration program, with specializations in Public Administration and Acquisitions and Contracts, was part of a successful program review in 2009-10. Programs in MSA-PA and MSA-Acquisitions are growing and several courses in Acquisitions and Contracts are available for equivalency in selected Defense University Acquisition courses (check out our website at http://uwf.edu/msaprogram).

We are very excited that Dr. Susie Jans-Thomas has joined the PCL faculty. Dr. Jans-Thomas teaches courses in curriculum, diversity, and qualitative research. She is the editor of the Journal of Intercultural Disciplines.

PCL would like to congratulate our new doctoral alumni: Drs. Melinda Stein, Russell Yocum, Albertnetta Hamilton, Al Cheatham, Kim Smith, Donna Lohr, Lawrence Kuszynski, and Richard Brosnaham.

ARMY ROTC
Seven more freshmen earned Army ROTC scholarships to begin the Spring Semester. The selected students excelled academically and physically during the fall semester and as a result of their hard work (and some additional funding allocations) were rewarded. UWF currently enjoys a full one-third of its Army ROTC students on scholarships.

The Army ROTC program will hold the Spring Semester Commissioning Ceremony on April 29th at 6 p.m. in the Music Hall of the Center for Fina and Performing Arts. This will be an exceptional ceremony, as we will commission a large and distinguished group of ten new lieutenants.

COPS Top Stories - November, 2010

UWF DOCTORAL CANDIDATES AND FACULTY PRESENT RESEARCH PAPERS

PENSACOLA, FL -- Nine UWF doctoral candidates and faculty presented their respective research papers at the Rocky Mountain Educational Research Association(RMERA) Annual Conference in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, October 27-29, 2010. RMERA is a regional chapter of the American Educational Research Association (AERA).

The mission of RMERA is the modeling and mentoring of doctoral educational researchers by senior educational researchers. The following research papers were published in the proceedings of the RMERA Conference and presented at the recent conference.

Preference of Mentoring Activities in a Sample of Nurses in Florida: A Multigenerational Profile Using the Alleman Mentoring Activities Questionnaire, Patricia Posey-Goodwin, UWF Nursing Instructor & Doctoral Candidate

Impact of Reconstituting a Middle School, Dr. Trudi Gaines, UWF School of Education; Michelle Gaudette, Doctoral Candidate; & H. Quincy Brown, Doctoral Candidate

A Comparison of Response to Intervention (RtI) to a District Reading Approach, Susan Flagg, Doctoral Candidate

Critical Thinking and Test Anxiety: Does a Relationship Exist?, Dianne Harris, UWF Nursing Instructor & Doctoral Student

Observers in the Classroom: Intrusive or Inclusive Data Collectors, Ernest M. Bourget, UWF Research Associate

Combining a Human Performance Model and a Six Sigma Model to Assess Performance in a Military Environment, Dr. Wayne Aaberg, UWF Ed. D. Graduate, May 2010

Improving the Use of Data in Early Reading Intervention Programs in Northwest Florida, Dr. Carla Thompson, Associate Professor, COPS

UWF hosted the RMERA Conference at Pensacola Beach in the fall of 2009. Twenty seven UWF doctoral students participated in the 2009 RMERA conference that included 150 attendees including three area school superintendents with over 50 sessions.Â

The 2011 RMERA Conference will be held in Granbury, Texas, October 28-30, 2011 hosted by Tarleton University.

COPS Top Stories - October, 2010

FIRST COPS FACULTY RESEARCH FORUM A SUCCESS

PENSACOLA, FL - On Wednesday October 20, 2010, we hosted the first College of Professional Studies faculty research forum. There were two research presentations at this event given by faculty from the School of Justice Studies and Social Work about their current work.

The first presentation, entitled "Organizational justice and organizational commitment among South Korean police officers: An investigation of job satisfaction as a mediator," was given by Dr. Matt Crow and Dr. Chang Bae Lee. The second one, "Promoting Permanency: An Evaluation of Long-Term Placement," was given by Professor Susan Harrell and Chang-Bae Lee.

The forum provided an opportunity for faculty across the college to ask questions and provide input to the researchers. It was an excellent opportunity to learn about the current research projects that our colleagues are involved in.

The next COPS faculty research forum will be held in January, 2011.

UWF LEGAL STUDIES STUDENT COMPLETES AIR FORCE JAG INTERNSHIP

PENSACOLA, FL - Last Spring, Paul Sanders was offered a summer internship opportunity he couldn't refuse - a nine week experience as an intern for Air Force JAG. AFROTC Captain Stephanie Emery recognized Paul's drive toward becoming an attorney for the United States Air Force, and after returning from a conference in Dallas where she heard about the opportunity, she approached Sanders about his interest.

"Immediately I accepted the offer and requested the nation's capital as my placement site," he said. "The very first day of the internship, I met with 18 other summer JAG interns inside the wooden entrance doors of the Pentagon. It was an amazing feeling to walk my first pace into the building."

Sanders journey to the Pentagon and Air Force JAG began long before he ever applied for this internship. An undergraduate in UWF's Legal Studies program and a member of the Air Force ROTC program, Paul completed three semesters of coursework that prepared him to be a productive and beneficial intern, including courses such as Legal System Ethics, Property Law, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Tort Law and Civil Procedure. Paul found the Legal Research and Writing courses especially helpful to him because they prepared him to read case law and identify legal issues.

Throughout the internship Paul assisted attorneys in conducting legal research, reviewing appellate briefs and motions, and drafting and reviewing various correspondences. In addition, he read and reviewed the monthly newsletter that his office created and distributed throughout the entire Air Force Defense community and even conducted legal research on a few cases.

"I asked my supervisor for a case to work on. He said he had one I could work on, but it was a little lengthy," said Sanders. Upon responding enthusiastically, Paul was handed over more than 700 pages of case material. "At times I had the feeling that I wasn't accomplishing much. However, I remained dedicated to the task at hand and eventually saw my progress. This type of job requires a lot of thought and meticulous work," he said.

In addition, his internship experience included visits and guided tours of the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, the U.S. Supreme Court, Andrews Air Force Base, the U.S. Capitol, the White House, and the Court of Appeals for Veteran's Claims. He also had the opportunity to meet with several influential leaders including Major General (Ret.) William Suter, current U.S. Supreme Court Clerk of Court and Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense.

Paul's career goal is to become an Air Force officer and "to continue my service to this country and its citizens." He says that his outlook is very similar to what it was before the internship, but "being inside-the-wire" revealed more details that will help him better prepare to achieve his goal.

The College of Professional Studies and Department of Justice Studies at the University of West Florida continually works to provide students with beneficial internship opportunities, and each year sends students across the country for real-world experiences in their chosen field of study.

To learn more about internship opportunities through the Department of Justice Studies at UWF, visit http://uwf.edu/justice/internship/index.cfm#LSmajors.

COPS Top Stories - September, 2010

INTERNATIONAL VISITOR LEADERSHIP PROGRAM BRINGS THAI JUDGE TO UWF CLASSROOM

PENSACOLA, FL - Mr. Wutthichai Thaichareon, a judge in Thailand's Central Administrative Court, was invited to the United States under the Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program to learn about and understand the United States judicial system.

During his time in Pensacola, Judge Thaichareon visited court facilities to gain knowledge about civil and criminal justice systems and observed a trial, mediation and judicial training. As a part of his experience, he observed Professor Dufon's Criminal Investigation class and spoke to the students about the differences and similarities of the Thai and U.S. judicial systems.

He explained to the students that biggest difference between the U.S. system and Thailand's is that there is no jury system in Thailand. Even in criminal cases, judges are the sole decision makers in the courtroom. Judge Wutthichai said that he thinks a jury system would be helpful in Thailand because a jury of peers can understand and relate to the experiences of a common citizen in ways that a judge may not relate. He also mentioned that a jury could help to make the judicial system more efficient.

“I think the jury system could be beneficial in Thailand to help with the case load and can help take the burden off of the judge on some cases and could speed up the process," he said. "But, I don't think that we're ready for that."

The Administrative Court system in Thailand is made up of two tiers: The Administrative Courts of First Instance and the Supreme Administrative Court. The court system was first created in 1997 and the court's main jurisdiction is to settle litigation between the State and private citizens.

Judge Thaicharoen is a government officer with a long and continuing career in the Administrative Court established recently in 2001. He is responsible for handling disputes between the state agencies, and between state officials and private citizens.

The opportunity to meet Judge Thaicharoen was brought to the university through a continuing relationship between the Gulf Coast Diplomacy Council and the School of Justice Studies and Social Work. Over the last year faculty members have hosted numerous international delegates. To learn more about the International Visitor Leadership Program, visit the Gulf Coast Diplomacy Council’s website.

UWF ONLINE COURSE IS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED BY THE QUALITY MATTERS PROGRAM

PENSACOLA, FL -- Dr. Anita Solarski's course, ESOL Principles and Practices (TSL 4080), is now a Quality Matters (QM) recognized course. It was the first UWF online course to be reviewed by an external QM Peer Review Team, and earned this distinction by meeting each of the 14 essential QM standards.

Dr. Solarski's course met quality expectations scoring 83 out of a possible 85 points and has been awarded the Quality Matters Seal, which may only be displayed for courses that have officially met Quality Matters review standards. She is the first UWF faculty member to have an online course earn this distinction.

The Quality Matters Program (QM) is a national benchmark for online course design. This year, Quality Matters has expanded with over 400 subscriber schools adopting QM standards across North America, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and Bermuda. It is a faculty-centered, peer review process that is designed to certify the quality of online and blended courses. QM is a leader in quality assurance for online education and has received national recognition for its peer-based approach and continuous improvement in online education and student learning.

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