CSULB to Offer independent Education Doctorate

To meet the need among educational leaders for advanced training, Cal State Long Beach President F. King Alexander announced in February that the university will begin offering its first independent Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree beginning in 2007.

Previously, CSULB and other CSU campuses could only offer such degrees with other doctoral-granting universities. The new degree will focus on preparing K-12 and community college administrative leaders.

Partnerships Address Nursing Shortage

CSULB is receiving support to address California’s nursing shortage through several area organizations.

The first class of 36 students from the partnership between CSULB and Long Beach Memorial Medical Center/Miller Children’s Hospital graduated in December. They completed the registered nurse-bachelor of science in nursing program in two years rather than the traditional three. A number of students took part in Memorial’s tuition payment program in exchange for working at the medical center for at least two years after graduation.

The Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) of Long Beach Foundation donated more than $175,000 toward CSULB nursing scholarships. The VNA of Long Beach merged with St. Mary Medical Center in 1997 to combine delivery in home nursing care. The donation resulted from the foundation’s dissolution.

CSULB is among nine partners headed by Cypress College in a new program to identify prospective nursing students and help them progress from certified nursing assistant through registered nurse. The project is funded by a $1.67 million grant from the United States Department of Labor.

CSULB to Develop Courses with Global Focus

CSULB was recently chosen by the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) to become part of a new network focused on developing general education courses focused on global issues.

General Education for Global Learning will provide resources to faculty and administrators as they develop general education programs designed to increase students’ knowledge about the world, their understanding of the United States’ position in the world historically and today, and about compelling and unsolved global problems.

The project is designed to help campuses as they restructure their general education programs to ensure that students encounter global issues throughout their undergraduate years and not just in a single required course.

The project is funded with a grant from the Henry Luce Foundation. AAC&U now comprises 1,000 accredited public and private colleges and universities.

Donato Receives French Government Honor

The French Ministry of National Education appointed Clorinda Donato, a professor in the Romance/German/Russian Languages and Literatures Department, as a “chevalier” in the Order of the Palmes Academiques in September.

Donato received her award from Alain Belais, cultural attaché to the Consulate General of France in Los Angeles.

Napoleon Bonaparte created the Palms Academiques (Academic Palms) in 1808 as a reward for devotion and accomplishment in the realm of teaching. It was raised to the status of an order in 1955 and is awarded worldwide to both French citizens and foreigners.

The order rewards individuals who promote French language, culture, extracurricular and educational activities. Donato received the prestigious award in recognition of her outstanding record of international scholarship through her research into 18th century French language encyclopedias. She specializes in the literature and culture of the Enlightenment.

CSULB Student Sings at Reagan Library Ceremony

CSULB opera student Nathan Stark was selected to sing the national anthem and “God Bless America” at the Oct. 21 dedication of the new Air Force One exhibit at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif. President and Mrs. George W. Bush and former First Lady Nancy Reagan were among the more than 500 invited guests.

Stark is completing his master’s in opera performance. He has performed across the West Coast and in China and Germany. He is the co-founder of the North West Young Recitalists Association in Washington.