Saint Leo University, known for its community service interlaced with steadfast and morale education, decided to take part in educating the public on this epidemic. On October 12th, Saint Leo University invited the former New York Times reporter Joseph B. Treaster to discuss the worldwide water crisis in the presentation, “Social Justice: Who Has the Right to a Drink of Water?”

Saint Leo University hosted this free event for both students and the public. Treaster’s presentation on the awareness of the concern for water was more significant because of his international reporting history; he brought his wealth of current experience in this worldwide problem to the forefront, to be shared with the educational and local community. After thirty years at The New York Times, Treaster joined the faculty at the University of Miami School of Communication as the John S. and James L. Knight Chair in Cross Cultural Communication, serving as editor of the environmental website 1h20.org.

Saint Leo University invites students and community to visit this online magazine that publishes articles, photographs, videos, and commentaries on the water crisis spreading throughout the world.

Treaster, who spent the week at Saint Leo Univesity as the 2009 Woodrow Wilson Scholar, also gave an interview in addition to his October 12th presentation. To read the interview, visit Saint Leo University’s News and Events article on Treaster’s visit to the campus. To learn more about the success of Treaster’s presentation, visit the article: “Speaker Draws Attention to Issue with Online Environmental Site.”

They seek out the professor during office hours to talk about the material or their work, or at least do so before or after the class. Emailing the professor with your additional questions is also advised, and is actually necessary sometimes for students in online courses or at course at our Continuing Education Centers. And let them get to know you a little, and what your overall goals are for your education and career. Your teachers will provide their contact information at the beginning of the semester. Make sure you keep their office hours and preferred email addresses handy, at that you are aware of any days of the week or hours of the day that they don’t accept phone calls from students. They love interaction with students, but like everyone else, also need their own time for family, rest, and other work.

The MSW program’s mission is to prepare students with the specialized knowledge and skills needed to be culturally competent and ethical social workers in advanced social work practice.

The MSW program is a two year 62 credit hour program. A one year 32 credit hour advanced standing program will be offered to those who have completed a BSW degree from a CSWE accredited program within the last five years.

The first year of the program is the 30 credit hour foundation year. The second year is the concentration year and it is 32 credit hours. We offer two areas of concentration; the advanced clinical practice concentration and the management concentration. The advanced standing students will complete only the concentration year curriculum.

Graduates are prepared to be leaders in management and advanced clinical social work practice serving all areas of the population, in particular the increasing aging population, military personnel and the workforce population.

The program is undergoing the accreditation process with the CSWE which will take approximately 3 years. We hope to be approved for candidacy status in June, 2010. If we receive candidacy in June, 2010, anyone who graduates from the MSW program will be considered having graduated from a CSWE accredited MSW program, including those who enter in Fall, 2009. Those who enter the program during candidacy are eligible to take the clinical social work licensure exam and apply for jobs which require the MSW degree. Each student is responsible for checking with his/her state licensing board to see if this program meets the criteria for receiving a license in clinical social work in that state.

Our undergraduate Social Work Program has been continuously accredited since 1983.

Mr. Thomas O'Brien Speaks at Saint Leo

Mr. Thomas E. O’Brien, president & CEO of AAA Auto Club South, recently spoke to Saint Leo University MBA students and faculty at a Lunch and Learn session at the university’s main campus.  The discussion was simulcast to students enrolled at Saint Leo’s Chesapeake, Virginia, and suburban Atlanta teaching locations.

Sharing lessons from his experience as a leading executive in the tourism industry—lessons that can be applied to any business sector—Mr. O’Brien focused on the fundamentals required of leaders, especially during a troubled economy.

“Management involves understanding processes and financial ratios.  Leadership is about inspiring others to act,” he said.  “Seeking input through ‘management by walking around’ gains respect and builds a level of trust for when less popular and difficult decisions have to be made.  A successful leader will work ‘hands on’ and inspire staff to lead a company back to prosperity,” added Mr. O’Brien.

Mr. O’Brien’s Top 10 List

1. Be true to your core values, your commitment to customers, commitment to employees, honesty, integrity, and protect the brand.
2. Create and act with a sense of urgency, not panic.
3. Focus only on priority initiatives, making certain operating and capital budgets are aligned to support priorities.
4. Establish and maintain a positive attitude.
5. Make the tough decisions now, not later.
6. Communicate with employees as often as necessary to keep them informed.
7. Make expense reductions as soon as it is apparent the budget may not be working.
8. Work as hard at revenue growth as you do at expense reduction.
9. Try not to cut too deep into your core, to be in a position to have strong performance once turbulence has passed.
10. Build a strong balance sheet, especially your liquidity position—be as diligent managing the balance sheet as you are the profit and loss statement.

Homeland Security Training in Israel

A training seminar for security professionals hosted by Saint Leo University and SSI Security Solutions International global leaders in security training and solutions.

Course Description:

This training seminar in Israel is based on what U.S. Homeland Security professionals need to know, focusing on the most important areas of Homeland Security:

• Public safety: large scale events, shopping and retail, public transportation
• Transportation: ports, airports, train and bus stations
• Critical infrastructure
• Schools
• Government buildings

In addition, participants will learn from Israeli experts on subjects such as:

• Krav Maga (Israeli Martial Arts)
• Suicide terror and vehicle borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs)
• Protecting dignitaries against terror
• Much, much more.

Numerous case studies on past attacks including buses, shopping malls, and other targets are also included.

Course Fees:

The $3,000 fee per student includes round trip flights from Newark, NJ, to Israel, hotel, meals, security, tours, and all transfers. Fees are payable to SSI.

Registration and Tuition:

Students can earn three (3) undergraduate credit hours, three (3) graduate credit hours, or a certification of completion for the course.

Certificate of completion $400
Undergraduate credit $711
Graduate credit $1107

For registration information, please contact Ms. Ashlee Castle at (352) 467-0106 or at ashlee.castle@saintleo.edu or Professor Barry Glover at (813) 310-4365 or profglover@aol.com.

Itinerary:

Click here for a sample itinerary for the program. Please note that agenda is subject to change due to security considerations, availability, and weather conditions.

Yellow Ribbon Program

Saint Leo University announced after the May release of the Post 9/11 GI Bill application that they will be participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program. The Yellow Ribbon Program is a provision of the Post 9/11 GI Bill designed to aid students in the over-the-top tuition expenses that are not covered under the Post 9/11 GI Bill’s regular benefits.

The Post 9/11 GI Bill was designed so that qualifying active military, military reserve, and veterans could receive tuition assistance up to the in-state undergraduate tuition costs at the college of their choice. For universities with higher tuition costs higher than an in-state university equivalent, the Yellow Ribbon Program steps in to mitigate the extra expenses. Here’s how it works:

A college may, at their option, waive 50% of the additional expenses of their tuition; the VA, in return, covers the additional 50%. This is the maximum benefit of the Yellow Ribbon Program, adding up to 100% coverage of the student’s over-the-top tuition expenses. Some colleges may only waive 25%, in which case, the VA would cover 25%, and the student would be left with the remaining 50%.

For example: Saint Leo University’s main campus charges $8,498 per class. The Post 9/11 GI Bill only covers $8,186 of these expenses, leaving an excess of $312. Saint Leo University waives $156 of this additional expense through the Yellow Ribbon Program, and the VA in turn covers the other $156, leaving the student with a zero-dollar obligation.

It is important to note that the Yellow Ribbon Program is completely voluntary enrollment on a college-by-college basis. A college is not required to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program at all, or may opt for partial participation. Once a college has enrolled for partial or complete participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program, they must provide the benefits of the additional fee waiver equally to all students.

Saint Leo University is proud to support the U.S. military by signing up for complete enrollment with this wonderful opportunity. The official release for which colleges are participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program comes out in June, but for prospective military students considering Saint Leo University, this information is useful while preparing for early enrollment.

A student only qualifies for the Yellow Ribbon Program if they receive 100% of the benefits of the Post 9/11 GI Bill. If a student does not have enough military background and only receives a percentage of the Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits, they cannot take advantage of the Yellow Ribbon Program.

Is an Online Program as effective as attending classes on campus?
Since the beginning of online education, institutions and researchers have conducted thousands of studies regarding the effectiveness of online education. The overwhelming findings of these studies indicate that online education is as effective as traditional classroom-based education. In fact, many of these studies have found that online education is more effective than classroom-based education.

For more information about this research, please visit . . . www.nosignificantdifference.org

What if I need help with my course work?
It’s easy to get help. You will have a close working relationship with your Professor at all times. When you are accepted into a program, you will be assigned your own Academic Advisor. You will be able to discuss your program progress and any questions you may have with that advisor. No other school provides you with this level of personal service.

Additionally, all students have access to an online tutoring service called “Smarthinking” which is available 24 hours a day and 365 days per year.

If I earn my degree online, may I attend the graduation ceremony on campus?
Yes. Saint Leo University welcomes you to take part in your graduation ceremonies on campus once you have successfully completed your degree. In fact, you have an open invitation to visit our main campus anytime you wish. Contact your Academic Advisor at the Center for Online Learning for the details and dates of your commencement.

To accomplish its mission, the university community creates a student-centered environment in which love of learning is of prime importance. Members of the community are expected to examine and express their own values, listen respectfully to and respond to the opinions of others, serve the community in which they live, welcome others into their lives and care for all of God’s creations.