By Madeline Riccardi, Editor-in-Chief

La Roche University hosted its first Academic Senate of the year remotely and in-person in early November.

On Nov 2, 60 members of the La Roche Community attended the Academic Senate meeting in the afternoon. This meeting required members to attend in-person or via Zoom for the first time in over a year.

Dr. Howard Ishiyama Ph.D., Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, introduced the new adjunct faculty representative, Shirley Duffy, adjunct Biology faculty member.

He also welcomed in Tashai Thompson, the La Roche Student Government Association’s (SGA) Vice-President, and Nate Lurie, Assistant Registrar.

Ishiyama welcomed back the former La Roche employees who have returned before presenting Dina Muth, CFA, MBA, with the Brother Gregory Nugent Award. According to the La Roche University website, “This annual award is presented to a faculty member who, in the estimation of the students, is an outstanding teacher and dedicated mentor.”

The Academic Senate approved Benjamin Mogesa Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Chemistry Chair, as a new member of the Core Curriculum Committee.

The LRU Core Curriculum Committee met in mid-October to approve changing, renaming, and revising courses.

The changes approved:

• Course revisions for Kinesiology and Exercise Physiology and Sports Nutrition
• Removal of a pre-requisite for Motor Learning, Control and Development
• Removal of a pre-requisite for Biomechanics
• Course name revisions for American Multicultural Literature and Modern American Literature

The new graduate program courses approved:

• EDSP 5010: Contemporary Issues in Education and Inclusive Practices
• EDUC 5000: Characteristics of Effective Middle Level Instruction
• EDSP 5020: Assessment for Data Based Instruction
• EDUC 5025: Creating Positive Learning Environments for Adolescents
• EDUC 6000: Instructional Strategies Across the Disciplines
• EDSP 6010: Literacy Instruction for Diverse Learners
• EDUC 6055: Middle Level Student Teaching
• EDUC 6025: Professionalism and Action Research

The Faculty Development Committee ran an event for faculty with the purpose of sharing strategies for motivating and engaging students at La Roche. Attendance for this meeting was reportedly low, but they plan to meet again in the future.

The Promotions Committee is currently reviewing portfolios for the next promotion.

Two new hires joined the Institutional Advancement Committee in September: Melissa Kebbler, Executive Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving, and Kim Corrado, Director of Advancement Services.