State of the college address puts focus on students
Nick Russo Critic Staff
Issue date: 2/5/10 Section: News
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The exercise science department is now one of only five programs in the country to be granted accreditation by both NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Association) and CAAHEP (Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs), Donna Dalton, dean of academic and student affairs, proudly announced at the address on Jan. 29.
The day was focused more on students and academic programs rather than numbers and the financial aspect of the college.
Three Lyndon students, Amanda Winter, Nick Barnets, and Adam Rutt, had an opportunity to briefly tell those in attendance how Lyndon helped them "step out of the box".
Amanda led a student trip to Russia, Nick got real life experience in broadcasting through News 7 and Adam has been able to play sports and become a leader on the campus.
The presentation went on to examine several of Lyndon's strongest programs and the way in which they are morphing to meet the needs of an ever changing world. The program set to undergo the biggest change will be television studies, as it will be completely revamped with content to prepare students for reporting across multiple platforms. The program's name will be changed to the "Department of Electronic Journalism Arts". As part of the new program, the requirements for journalistic writing will increase, and the curriculum will include many courses from the English journalism program.
The afternoon's most emotionally engaging moment was featured as part of the discussion on financial aid. Freshman Shera Howe explained how a new needs-based grant initiative called the Lyndon Promise has changed her life's path in the best possible way. She comes from a low-income family that lives in a small town where jobs are few and financial hardship is great.
"As I reached the end of high school, I didn't think college was an option because it would be too financially challenging, but then I remembered Lyndon," Howe told the audience. "After a phone call to the admissions office, I applied for, and was awarded, the Promise scholarship, which brought in the final sum of money needed for my first year. I made the dean's list first semester, the professors and staff are amazing, always willing to help and very personable. Regardless of what the future holds financially, I am extremely grateful to have had at least one year here."
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