April 22, 2003

Kornblum Institute Loses Namesake

News from Athletics

Did You Know?

Kampus Kudos

St. Louis Calendar Highlight

Employees of the Month

Service Anniversaries

New Employees

Kornblum Institute Loses Namesake

Beatrice Kornblum, the largest individual donor to Webster University in the institution’s history, died on Monday, April 3. Her death occurred just days before she was to be honored at a special celebration in Emerson Library to thank major donors to the recently completed campaign for The New Tradition. She was 96 years old.

Bea Kornblum was a feisty, straight-talking schoolmarm with a soft spot in her heart for the children of the city of St. Louis. She held underserved and immigrant children especially dear. Her interest grew out of her experience teaching in the city schools for some 30 years.

Kornblum’s passion for urban education led her to Brenda Fyfe, acting dean of the School of Education, and an expert in early childhood education. Together they developed plans for a new educational organization that the University named the Beatrice and David Kornblum Institute for Teaching Excellence. Founded in 1999 with $2.4 million in charitable gift annuities from Kornblum, Brenda became the institute’s first director. The institute receives annual payments from its endowment and supports professional development, action-oriented research, and graduate-student scholarships for practicing teachers who are known as "Kornblum Scholars." Kornblum dined with three of the scholars the evening before she died.

According to Brenda, "The institute carries forward Mrs. Kornblum’s passion for the integration of arts in education, her commitment to helping children become responsible citizens and her insistence on challenging children to think, question and read."

Spurred by an article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, which reported on the high numbers of children who move from school to school within the city, the Kornblum Institute recently supported a study that examined children’s perceptions of mobility. "Living and Learning in St. Louis" documented mobility rates, reasons for mobility, and absenteeism related to moves. The study’s report found that children, not surprisingly, were distressed by the frequent moves. Whether they moved or stayed behind, all experienced sadness at the sudden and repeated loss of friendships. The children said that classroom lessons structured around small groups best helped them adjust to new schools and make new friends. While the city schools have not, thus far, discussed changes based on the report’s findings, Brenda says that most importantly the study encouraged teachers to talk directly to children. "To my mind, that was worth it all. Teachers who really never even thought to ask for a child’s opinion were starting to be fascinated by their opinions and ideas."

Over the next few months and into next year, the institute will develop a second project, also based on children’s perspectives, called "Voices Across the River: Living and Learning in St. Louis in 2004." Students of all ages and teachers will explore the metropolitan area from an interdisciplinary perspective and get to know the past, present and future of the region. Under the direction of Carol Hoyt, assistant professor, Learning and Communication Arts, and interim director of the Kornblum Institute, the project will begin with workshops focusing on the power of oral history to connect children with their communities. Additional courses and workshops, some linked to exhibits at cultural institutions throughout the region, will be offered in the summer and fall. In the final phase of the project, Hoyt hopes that the children will develop their own ideas for the future of the Mississippi riverfront. A similar project now occupies the attention of the city’s civic and political leaders. Hoyt expects that the children will be able to make a significant contribution to the discussion as well as to a major regional celebration in 2004.

Brenda says the School of Education will greatly miss Bea Kornblum. "Everyone in the School of Education knew Mrs. Kornblum. We were all inspired by her spirit, her energy, and her strong voice. She was a political activist who wanted to see everyone taking action to make change for children. She didn’t care if she offended people. It was kind of delightful to know someone who had very strong opinions and did not hold back. She lived what she valued."

Brenda Fyfe and Bea Kornblum developed a warm personal friendship that maintained its strength long after conditions for the Kornblum gift had been resolved. Recently the two went to see "The Hours." Kornblum admitted that the film disturbed her greatly though she told Brenda, that the characters in the movie "could have had it worse," an apparent allusion to the early death of Kornblum’s husband, David, and to her ill son who has spent much of his life institutionalized.

Kornblum was born in New York City. Her mother was a Russian immigrant who spent her youth toiling in the sweatshops and saving money for rent, food, and music lessons. Ultimately she married a successful restaurateur and businessman, and Kornblum, herself, knew relative comfort on New York’s upper west side. She and her two brothers grew up around a dinner table where the family engaged in what Kornblum described as political "hub-bub" that veered from the perspective of her Republican father to her brothers’ Communist and Socialist views. Kornblum called herself a Democrat. She continued the argumentative traditions in which she had been raised. The night before her death she grilled the Kornblum Scholars about pedagogy as well as the war in Iraq, which she vociferously opposed.

Kornblum credited her mother for teaching her to appreciate music, art, and literature. From her father she gained an appreciation for more mundane pleasures. "My favorite dish is soup," Kornblum once said. "My father taught me that. He knew about soup. He said soup is the important element."

Though she remained a New Yorker at heart, Kornblum moved to St. Louis in 1940. Following the death in 1953 of her husband, David, a vice president at St. Louis Music Supply, she returned to teaching. She always insisted that questions were key to teaching excellence. "The questions are ultimate," she said in a story that appeared in Webster World (Spring 2000). "They are the basis. If you don’t have a good question, forget the rest. That’s what starts people thinking. It’s the question." On the last night of her life, she spoke to the Kornblum Scholars about the importance of "voice," referring not only to the clarity and strength of a teacher’s speaking voice, but to the strength of character, presence and respect that a teacher communicates and commands through speech and action.

Always the educator, Beatrice Kornblum donated her body to science.

In addition to Webster, Kornblum maintained a long relationship with the Ethical Society. Her son, Mark, and many friends survive her. A memorial service for Beatrice Kornblum will be held at the University at a future date.

News from Athletics

FROM MERRY GRAF, SPORTS INFORMATION COORDINATOR

Webster University will offer men’s swimming as an intercollegiate sport in the 2003-04 academic year. The University has competed as a club team during the last two seasons but now will be recognized as an NCAA III member.

The addition of men’s swimming will increase the number of varsity sports to 13 at Webster. The swimmers compete in the state-of-the-art pool located in the University Center on campus.

Tom Hart, director, Athletics, says, "We are excited about this opportunity." He also says a search for an individual to head both swim teams will be under way shortly. Myrna Greer, the aquatics coordinator and current head women’s swim coach, will be the assistant for both the men’s and women’s teams next season.

Did You Know?

China Eases Way for Foreign Universities to Offer Degrees in the Country

The following article from the April 2 Online Chronicle, by Jen Lin-liu, describes a new Chinese law regarding educational partnerships. Following the article, Rick Foristel, director of Webster’s Shanghai campus, offers his thoughts, suggesting that while the new law will encourage U.S. institutions to open programs in China, only hard, day-to-day work offers the possibility of long-term success on the Mainland.

A new regulation adopted in China last week gives foreign universities clear guidelines for establishing joint degree programs with Chinese universities. China’s Education Ministry hopes that the new rule, which adds more transparency to China’s bureaucratic education system, will encourage foreign universities to expand their presence within the country of 1.2 billion people.

Under the new rule, foreign universities will be permitted to grant diplomas and certificates bearing their names alone. In the past, diplomas and certificates offered in joint degree programs had to include the name of the sponsoring Chinese university. While foreign universities still need a sponsoring university, the move is seen by some experts as giving foreign universities more autonomy in joint programs.

The regulation, which will be effective as of September 1, also grants Chinese legal protections and "preferential" treatment to foreign universities that open programs in China. The version of the rule that was released did not elaborate on what kinds of incentives will be offered.

The law encourages programs at all levels of higher education but bars foreign universities from teaching subjects involving the military, police, and politics. Religious institutions remain banned from setting up programs with Chinese universities, and foreign universities are still forbidden to open programs independently.

One expert predicted that the new regulation could "open the floodgates" in Sino-foreign university cooperation. Foreign universities "have been waiting for this law," said Gerard A. Postiglione, director of the Wah Ching Center of Research on Education in China, at the University of Hong Kong. "It’s significant because the law makes it easier to have joint programs with institutions in China."

Rick Foristel comments:

For several years, Webster University has been following the development of new rules that would govern the operation of non-Chinese universities operating in China. Obviously, various parts of the national government, including both local and provincial governments, have differing views on how to regulate foreign universities in China. During the past month, Beijing issued new guidelines, but even many of these are vague or require additional direction.

Webster has been in China nearly seven years and, with each year, it has been easier for U.S. and other universities to operate in China. The rules are a mere confirmation of this direction. Of course, these changes will only help land more non-Chinese institutions on Chinese soil, but while clearer rules will make it easier to operate, the real challenge is day-to-day work. American and Chinese university leaders simply think differently about how they operate instructional programs. This difference isn’t bad, and, in fact, it is one of the reasons we are so interested in the Mainland, but the differences require more trial and discussion and cause many disagreements.

Another everyday task is assuring the availability and functionality of support equipment, software and even basics, like heating and cooling. Attracting, recruiting, housing and caring for visiting professors are, also, a full-time business.

Finally, there’s the huge amount of information shared by Webster China and other parts of the university. Webster, with four programs in three Mainland cities, has to properly transmit information about student records, professors, visas, academic programs and finances. Due to language and cultural barriers, Chinese universities aren’t equipped to do these things for their foreign partners.

It is true that many universities in the United States and Europe will look at opportunities in China, especially in light of the refined rules of operation, but it will take organizational skill, international experience and tenacity for other institutions to succeed beyond the scope of bringing a visiting class to the Mainland.

Dianne Koehnecke, visiting assistant professor, Learning and Communication Arts, published an article on professional development schools with three other authors, in Contemporary Issues in Education (Feb. 2003).

Theresa Prosser, associate professor, Learning and Communication Arts, co-authored "Access to the General Education Curriculum: Providing ECSE Services in the Least Restrictive Environment" (Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Center for Innovations in Education). She also led a training session for those who will be using the publication in their work. She is a research investigator on "Psychoeducational Characteristics in Children with Hydohidrotic Ectodermal Dysplasia," a research project sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Child Development Center and Cardinal Glennon Hospital in St. Louis. She presented "Supporting Family Members as Instructional Resources and Co-Instructors," at the Midwest Faculty Institute, sponsored by several Midwest state departments of education in conjunction with SCRIPT (Systems of Comprehensive Reform In Preservice Training) at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Laura Ward, director, Ozarks Metro Campus, Mo., was appointed to a three-year term on the board of the American Heart Association. She will co-chair the board.

Keep us posted on your professional activities and send us your story ideas by completing the UFO form.

St. Louis Calendar Highlight

Webster Speaker Series Presents Human Rights Leader

Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland and former UN high commissioner for human rights will speak at Webster University’s Community Music School, 560 Trinity Avenue, in University City, on Tuesday, April 29. The lecture is part of the University’s Speaker Series. It will begin at 7:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

While at the UN, Robinson became known for focusing her work on specific countries and regions. During her first year in office, she traveled to Rwanda, South Africa, Colombia and Cambodia, among other countries. She was the first high commissioner to visit China. She also set up human rights monitoring systems in conflict areas such as Kosovo and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

As president of Ireland, Robinson placed special emphasis on the needs of developing countries, linking the history of the Great Irish Famine to today’s nutrition, poverty and policy issues, thus creating a bridge of partnership between developed and developing countries.

For more information on St. Louis events, check the online calendar.

Employees of the Month

April 2003

FROM MARIANNE KIRK, CONTRIBUTING WRITER

This month’s Employee of the Month Spotlight shines on Debra Davis, Carol Findley and Terrie Snyder, accounting assistants/cashiers in Accounts Receivable, Finance and Administration.

These three employees work directly with everyone at the University, including faculty, staff and students. "Through trying and busy times, these women give 100 percent in time and effort to help everyone, no matter what," says their nominator. Many parents of students "have commented that our cashiers make giving up their money a lot easier."

Debra Davis has worked for three years in Accounts Receivable, which she describes as "a very versatile department where we deal with everything, including financial aid, book store checks, student loans, etc." What Debra enjoys most about her job is helping the students, and she particularly appreciates the trust placed in her by the international students brought to her by Brandyn Woodard, International Student coordinator. "Even with the language barrier, we manage to work through it," she says.

Debra says her previous 20 years of working in the restaurant trade and horse training business make her especially appreciative of the regular hours and employee benefits that come with her job at Webster.

Carol Findley will observe her 12-year anniversary in Accounts Receivable at Webster this August. Carol says she enjoys the people she works with and the variety of people she services at the window, including the faculty and staff — but mostly, the students. "It’s particularly rewarding when people come back to thank you for helping them out," Carol says. She was especially touched when a grateful student brought her a Christmas tree ornament one year as a thank you for her help.

Terrie Snyder, who has been at the University in Accounts Receivable for 13 years, also enjoys the students. "I know everyone says that, but I really do; I guess it’s the mom in me. I just like working with the students. Sometimes it’s hard when they have financial difficulties, but I find if you just stay steady, you can usually find a way to make everyone happy. Every so often, a student will come up and say thanks for going out of your way, and that makes me feel good."

"Sometimes when I sit here looking out of this window, I feel like I’m looking out at the ‘World of Webster.’ Everyone seems to pass by these windows at one time or another," Terrie adds.

Debra, Carol and Terrie all chose a day of with pay as their prize.

Employees everywhere are eligible for the monthly Employee Spotlight Award. Using the nomination form is easy!

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New Employees

A warm welcome to the newest members of the Webster family:

Heather M. DiCicco, general clerk, Crystal Lake, Ill., 815-356-9619 or speed dial #6 081, replaces Deborah Swenson.

Phyllis A. Starr, service clerk, Registrar’s Office, ext. 7941, replaces Sally Nolan.

To learn more about job opportunities at Webster, go to the Human Resources Jobs site.