JANUARY 2008
New full-time research professors at Webster's Vienna campus, left to right: Ludger Helms, Monika Schwarzler, Arno Haslberger, Michael Freund and Thomas Oberlechner. See "News from Vienna" below for more information.
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Assessing Assessment with Kathy Marlock
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Webster Welcomes New Director of Health Services
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2008 YWCA Leaders in the Workplace
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News from Vienna
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St. Louis Calendar Highlights
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Employee of the Month
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Kampus Kudos
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Service Anniversaries
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New Employees
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Condolences
To view the Inside Webster archives, click here
Answer to Editor's Holiday Quiz in December issue: Cindy Rose, senior director, Camp LeJeune Marine Corps Base, N.C. site
 Kathy Marlock. Photo by M. Kirk |
The energetic Marlock, who joined the Academic Affairs office three years ago, "found her niche" in assessment design and implementation at the University of Utah. After completing a doctorate degree in higher education leadership and policy analysis, she assisted in the design and implementation of that university's assessment program while working in the office of assessment for undergraduate education.
Being hired as Webster University's director of academic assessment was a dream come true for Marlock. "I'm passionate about my work," she says, "and the chance to lay the foundation for this was a rare opportunity."
IW: Can you explain how measuring outcomes for accreditation visits has changed in recent years?
KM: Accreditors are looking for numbers that tell them about our programs. This was less true in the past, meaning they were less preoccupied with how to quantify what we do. At Webster, we're using a program evaluation model. Conducting assessments using this model represents an internal system that allows us to understand the quality of what we're delivering to students in our academic programs. As a university, we invest a lot of monies into our programs. How well those programs are meeting our expectations is what assessment is all about. It's a quality-control endeavor and also provides a return on our investment.
IW: In the past, rather than focusing on outcomes, assessment was more concerned with the quality of the faculty and programs. Is the new thinking that the outcomes prove the quality of the faculty and the programs?
KM: Yes. It's sort of like an equation. If we add up all the teaching resources — computer labs, the help desk, the faculty and their books and articles and the spaces faculty use for teaching — and say they equal a particular course, we can then ask, "What are the students who enroll in the course walking away with?" In the past, we haven't had unique measurements to be able to answer that question.
IW: What has been accomplished toward that end?
KM: I would say the highlight is that we — as a team — developed and are able to support new data collection systems. These systems support all accreditation efforts and they support the faculty and deans in developing new forms of measurement. Information Technology is to be congratulated for their flexibility, ingenuity and savvy in bringing to life and supporting a secure data collection system that meets the standard of measuring the learning outcomes of our students. This was an important milestone and it was foundational for the School of Education to help them succeed with NCATE accreditation.
We were also able to take some next steps with the data management tools for the School of Business and Technology by having the reporting tools for data put online so the faculty worldwide can submit data. At the same time, checks and balances were built into the system, which is not perfect, but has come a long way.
The fact that we were able to support, this far, our SBT in moving through a specialized accreditation process — with programs in every campus setting around the world — is another major accomplishment of the office.
Another achievement is the fact that I'm able to access the data on a regular basis, chart it, and send reports to the schools and colleges showing how much students are achieving in their programs in terms of student learning outcomes. The fact that the charts represent new data and new information systems for Webster shows we've made progress in learning to think in new ways.
IW: What about the School of Communications?
KM: The same tools built for the School of Education are used for the School of Communications, which has one of the most sophisticated yet efficient assessment systems for their faculty. They have a model that's both rigorous and feasible in practice. Dean Carpenter and her team deserve much credit for designing and developing that system.
To have three colleges immersed in the assessment processes in almost three years is remarkable to me, and many, many people deserve rounds of applause. I also love that these processes reveal what a dynamic group we are as a university community.
IW: What about the colleges of Arts and Sciences and Fine Arts?
KM: Until the end of March, my office will be occupied with getting ready for the HLC (Higher Learning Commission) visit. We are focused on refining the self-study and the exhibit room that will be posted online, for the accreditation review. After that, we will turn our attention back to the College of Arts and Sciences.
We'll renew assessing the Counseling program, which is the College of Arts & Sciences' largest graduate program, as well as re-examine the assessment foundation for their other programs. The College already has plans in place for measuring and documenting student learning outcomes, and I believe they're ready for the next step.
Also in the College of Arts and Sciences, the nursing department was able to go from a qualitative assessment system to a quantitative one. They had a very successful National League of Nursing (NLN) visit in Fall 2007 and received accreditation for their BSN and MSN programs.
When I think about the Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts, I wonder how we might best support its faculty and dean. They already have a powerful assessment system that's engaged in the individual scrutiny of their students and there is no stronger level of analysis. The fine arts faculty know, quite well, how each individual in their programs is doing in meeting the expected outcomes. However, we need to find a way to help them document and communicate to reviewers what we, at Webster, already know and believe — that their programs are first-rate and their graduates talented.
All in all, things are moving along well. While it has been a lot of hard work, it has also been really rewarding, too. I feel blessed to have a career in a field that I truly have a passion for and love doing.
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 Lisa Sommerhauser, left, with Kit Schmiemeier, assistant director, Academic Resource Center, at the reception. Photo by M. Kirk |
"I'm excited and honored to come to Webster University," Sommerhauser says. "It's been a very welcoming community, and I'm especially impressed by our staff's commitment to students and their success and excited to be contributing to that."
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 2007 YWCA Leader Honorees: from left, Meg Sempreora, Barabara Stewart, Melanie Gottlieb, Michele Boesch, Kit Jenkins, Kat Singleton, Diane Conrad and Diane Jeffery. Photo by Claudia Burris |
For the past 15 years, Webster University has honored the contributions of women employees through the St. Louis YWCA Leader Lunch program, which recognizes outstanding area women in the fields of business; science and technology; government; education; and the arts.
The Faculty Senate, Webster Staff Alliance, Administrative Council and the President's office nominate women for the honor. This year's honorees (pictured above) are: Meg Sempreora, chair and associate professor, English; Barabara Stewart, director, Academic Support Center; Melanie Gottlieb, international credential specialist and coordinator, International Recruitment/International Services; Michele Boesch, coordinator, Academic Affairs; Kit Jenkins, associate professor, Communications and Journalism; Kat Singleton, associate professor, Theatre and Dance; Diane Conrad, database programmer/analyst, Administrative Information Systems, and Diane Jeffery, business technology specialist, Administrative Information Systems.
Congratulations to all!
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Vienna Research Faculty |
There will be 18 new research faculty members at Webster's Vienna campus after the latest appointments made for Spring I.
With these appointments there is now one full-time research professor in every program offered at Vienna. In addition, two half-time research professors will be doing extensive research and teaching. The professors were selected because of their solid backgrounds in research and practical experience in their methods of teaching.
These new hires came about because of the rapid growth in the Vienna campus's student numbers since its accreditation as an Austrian private university in 2000. The current headcount at Vienna is 500. Webster's unique position in Austria has been strengthened by the offer of double accreditation (Austrian and American) in addition to its small classes, close student contact with professors and fellow students and the lack of bureaucratic hurdles.
Over the past two years Webster Vienna also has added two new course offerings: art and media communications. The campus already offers majors in psychology, international relations, computer science and an extensive array of business and management courses.
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 Todd Moore, Angie Dinkelman, Kimberly Moller and Tom Logan perform in the Opera Studio production. |
A select ensemble of singers will perform scenes from opera and operetta, under the artistic direction of Alice Nelson, adjunct professor, Music, in the Moore Auditorium.
Selections will include Cavalli's "L-Ormindo"; Mozart's "The Magic Flute" and "The Abduction from the Seraglio" (in German); and Offenbach's " Orpheus in the Underworld."
Performances are at 7 p.m., Jan. 25-26, and at 4 p.m. Jan. 27. General admission is $10; faculty and staff get in free with a Webster I.D.
For more information, contact Jean Huber in the Music Department, 314-968-7032.
 Image by T. Ann Tolin, adjunct professor, School of Communications. |
Faculty exhibitors include: Robin Assner, Tom Barkman, Bill Barrett, Dan Dreyfus, Greg Landrum, James Leick, Robert LaRouche, Joseph John Lowry, Dominique Macaire, David A. Moore, Jack Rinehart, Susan Hacker Stang, T. Ann Tolin, Curt von Diest and Chris Walker.
The exhibit will be on display from Jan. 25 to Feb. 29. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday, and noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
The opening reception Jan. 25, 5-7 p.m., is free and open to the public.
For more information, call 314-246-7673, or visit the May Gallery Web site
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DECEMBER 2007 SPOTLIGHT AWARD
 Tyann Cherry. Photo by Karen Burch |
According to a nominator, Tyann Cherry is "the model of excellent, consistent and above-and-beyond-advising" in her department. "Tyann has a passion to be the best student advocate possible, encouraging students to be the 'best versions of themselves,' with the right mix of encouragement and motivation."
A nominator says during the past few months Cherry has contributed significantly to the overall educational mission of academic advising in a number of ways. One of these was preparing and assisting the department director with a presentation on good advising practices for the recent worldwide directors' meeting.
As School of Business & Technology advisor — and with short notice — Cherry was able to quickly bring together a group of students to represent Webster on a panel when the ACBSP (Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs) team was on campus this fall.
Cherry is praised for spearheading the creation of the Graduate Advisors Connections Group, which gives advisors and staff across the University network access to consistent materials in order to better assist students. "Our extended campuses have benefited enormously through this group," says a nominator.
Cherry started her career at Webster in Academic Advising and then moved to the School of Business & Technology's online programs department, where she worked for two years before returning to advising.
Connecting students to resources available on campus is what Cherry enjoys most about her job. "So often students do not realize the services that are available and empowering them to take an active role in their education is always exciting," Cherry says.
"Tyann not only has great ideas, but she implements them quickly and effectively in her own practice and shares what she develops with her colleagues so we all improve," her nominator says.
Cherry chose a day off with pay as her prize.
 Vicky Moore |
In addition to her own duties during the Fall 2 term, Moore had to cover the duties of the office manager when the position was vacated for two months. "Her workload has been very heavy, but her attitude and performance have been great," says her nominator.
Moore says it's humbling to know her director and co-workers appreciate her efforts enough to nominate her for the spotlight award.
"I love how the extended campuses here in South Carolina are like one big family," Moore says. "When our location was without an office manager for two months and I was juggling my responsibilities as well as that position, I couldn't have done it without the support I received from the staff at the Charleston and Myrtle Beach campuses."
Moore says she loves coming to work because the team in Greenville has the same goal in mind — to make the campus as productive as possible for the students, staff and faculty.
"Vicky takes her job seriously and works diligently to make Webster's Greenville campus an exceptional experience for everyone," says her nominator. "She is a great asset to the campus."
Moore chose a day off with pay as her prize.
Some information for this article was provided by Ashley Marshall, student editorial assistant.
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DECEMBER 2007 KUDOS
Webster Village Apartments received several national awards for 2007 from Campus Living Villages: Holland Saltsman, managing director, was awarded Outstanding Director; Larry Mitchell, maintenance supervisor, was awarded Outstanding Maintenance Supervisor, and the Webster Village Apartments was awarded the Outstanding Property for Fall 2007.
Barry Hufker, associate professor, Electronic and Photographic Media, recorded the following programs in December: debut concert of the Early Music Missouri ensemble, "St. Louis Baroque," at the Trinity Presbyterian Church in University City; the Bel Canto Chorus of Saint Louis "Holiday Concert" at Parkway United Church of Christ in St. Louis; the debut performance of The Sheldon Chorale, "Yuletide Reflections," directed by Allen Carl Larson, professor, Music, at the Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis; the Saint Louis Chamber Chorus performance of "A Lutheran Christmas" at Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Louis; "Holiday Homecoming" concert by the Gateway Men's Chorus at the Roberts Orpheum in St. Louis, assisted by audio production student Jessica Engle; and a performance session of a new work by Elliott Schwartz, "Kaleidoscope," at Christ Church Cathedral in St. Louis. In addition, Hufker was the recording engineer for a newly released Regent Records CD, "Saint Louis Commissions," which was commissioned by the Saint Louis Chamber Chorus and comprised of new works performed by the chorus at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in South St. Louis.
Guillermo Ridriguez, director, International Projects and Study Abroad, Study Abroad, was elected vice chairman of the 2008 Board of Directors of the Hispanic Leaders Group of Greater St. Louis (HLG). The organization promotes Hispanic views on issues such as education culture, language, immigration, health, employment and civil rights and is the representative voice of the Hispanic community in the St. Louis area.
Karl Kindt III, adjunct professor, Math and Computer Science, recently made a presentation about the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair at the Bethesda Residential Center in Webster Groves. The presentation was part of a Webster class Kindt taught.
John Vincent, adjunct professor, Orlando Metropolitan Campus, Fla., was recently appointed the new mentor for the Orlando MBA and business programs. A professional chemist, Vincent spent nearly three decades pursuing a career in chemistry research and management for several global chemical businesses. Since leaving that industry, he has managed a consulting firm specializing in business and management, technology and education and has taught graduate business classes for ten years.
Carol Ancona, adjunct professor, Orlando Metropolitan Campus, Fla., was recently inducted as vice president of programs in the Orlando-Winter Park Chapter of the American Association of University Women (AAUW). She had been a member of the organization since 1962 and has served as a branch president five times.
Keep us posted on your professional activities and send us your story ideas by completing the UFO form.
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The University extends its appreciation to the following individuals who have served the institution for many years:
DECEMBER 2007
Thomas Lauher, director, Media Planning and Placement, Marketing, 10 years
Deborah Ray, coordinator, Business, 10 years
Richard Gayer, director, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., 5 years
Ronald Pointer, coordinator, User Services, 5 years
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We extend warm welcome to the newest members of the Webster family:
DECEMBER 2007
Matthew Andrew, associate vice president, Development and Alumni Programs, 314-968-6955, status change from director, effective 1/1/08.
Barbara Bick, library circulation clerk, Emerson Library, 314-968-6952, replaces Susannah Thompson.
Frances Boudreaux, administrative associate, Old Post Office Campus, 314-246-8792, status change from temporary to full time, effective 1/2/08.
Loretta Davenport, general clerk, Little Rock Metropolitan Campus, Ark., 501-375-1511 or Speed Dial #6 064, replaces Sarah Reed.
Pola Firestone, community relations coordinator, Kansas City Metropolitan Campus, Mo., 816-444-1000 or Speed Dial #6 023, status change from part time to full time effective 12/3/07.
Tamara Higdon, coordinator, Academic Affairs, 314-968-6905, replaces Laura Wainz.
Mark Koehler, information services coordinator, User Services, 314-246-8685, replaces Ryan Sullivan.
Alan Shilling, accompanist, Dance, 314-968-6929, status change from part time to full time, effective 1/14/08.
Lisa Sommerhauser, director, Student Health Services, 314-968-6922, replaces Susan Daily.
To learn more about job opportunities at Webster, go to the Human Resources Jobs site.
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The University extends sympathies to Carol Schwab, associate professor, School of Business & Technology, on the loss of her husband; Kathryn Bowers, professor, Music, on the loss of her mother; and to Art Silverblatt, professor, School of Communications, on the loss of his father.
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Correction to Dec. '07 issue: The woman on the far right in the Memphis Naval Support Activity "Toys for Tots" photo should have been identified as Sarah Stokes.
Marianne Kirk, Editor
Office of Marketing
MARKETING OFFICE CONTRIBUTORS
Claudia Burris, Sr. Editor & Photojournalist
Casey Conroy, Graphic Designer
Dominik Jansky, Writer/Editor
Patrick Powers, Writer/Editor
Pete McEwen, Technical Advisor
Ashley Marshall, Student Editorial Assistant
HUMAN RESOURCES CONTRIBUTORS
Betsy Schmutz
Gloria Barbre
Amy Brockman