University News

CSU Hits the Limit – Time for a New Building

CSU will have a new home by the end of 2008. With a record enrollment of more than 11,000 students and at least 20,000 expected by 2010, CSU has outgrown its current facility and will be making the move to a 67,000 square foot, three-story building. Construction began in December on a 20 acre plot of land purchased in Orange Beach, Alabama.

Last year, CSU surpassed more than 130 employees forcing in-house faculty and staff to occupy additional facilities other than the Orange Beach headquarters. The new building will be large enough to house all CSU departments.

CSU Photo Contest Winners Selected

iPods Awarded to Thirteen Participants

CSU recently launched a photo contest inviting students and alumni to send in their best pictures of them performing day-to-day activities – studying online, working on the job, or spending time with family. The winners will be featured on the CSU website, advertisements, collateral materials and a special 2008 CSU calendar. An online photo gallery will be available in March showcasing all 191 photos that were submitted. Thirteen winners were chosen who all received Second Generation iPod Nanos.

2008 CSU Photo Contest Winners

David Janney
Master’s Degree in Business Administration

Andre Bowers
Master’s Degree in Business Administration

Teresa Sarver
Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management

Jon Jett
Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration

Benjamin Boeke
Master’s Degree in Business Administration

John Boehm
Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice

Elijah Aidelogie
Master’s Degree in Occupational Safety and Health and Environmental Management

Mary Cunningham
Master’s Degree in Occupational Safety and Health

Frank Ottofaro
Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Safety and Health

Keith Kyte
Bachelor’s Degree in Fire Science

Dante Steel
Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice

David Theiler
Associate’s Degree in Fire Science

Irvin Ridgeway
Bachelor Degree in Fire Science

The 2008 calendar featuring the winning photos will be available in March. For more information, please email photocontest@columbiasouthern.edu.

CSU Receives Major Military Award

Kerrigan Media and Military Advanced Education recently announced the first annual review of top colleges and universities for the servicemember. CSU was selected as one of the top 30 schools identified as a significant player in military education. This award is presented based on the number of military contracts, number of military students, availability of financial aid and scholarships, and other “military friendly” policies.

CSU currently serves more than 5,000 military students and awards them transfer credit based on military training, professional experience, and prior coursework. Up to 75 percent of undergraduate courses and 50 percent of graduate courses can be transferred.

All servicemembers receive an application fee waiver and immediate family receives the waiver plus a 10 percent tuition discount.

Approved to offer DANTES, TA and VA benefits, CSU is also a member of GoArmyEd and Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges.

Please refer any military members you know to the CSU Admissions Department at admissions@columbiasouthern.edu to learn more about benefits we can offer to make achieving a quality education possible.

CSU Adds AA in General Education to List of Degrees

CSU recently launched a new Associate of Arts in General Education aimed for students who desire to achieve an educational foundation. A broad range of subjects are offered including social sciences, English, history, and mathematics, to equip students with the knowledge necessary to succeed in the workplace. Offered completely online, students have the opportunity to learn from subject experts around the nation.

“The new Associate of Arts in General Education allows students the flexibility to take courses across a wide curriculum to discover their academic interests and prepare for future education,” said Tamrala Swafford, Dean of the College of General Studies. “Students will acquire the knowledge necessary to develop critical thinking skills and become a more effective communicator - both valuable skills in any career.”

All applicants receive a comprehensive evaluation of prior academic credit, training experiences and relevant professional licenses and certifications. If accepted, a detailed evaluation report outlining transfer credit accepted and courses required for degree completion will be provided.

Please call 1-800-977-8449 to learn more about the programs offered at CSU.

Alumni Scholarship Deadline Extended

CSU Alumni now have until March 14th, 2008 to submit their application materials for the Robert G. Mayes Memorial Scholarship.  Established in loving memory of Dr. Robert Mayes (1945 - 2005), CSU founder and president, this $5,000 alumni scholarship will be awarded annually to a CSU graduate. 

Candidates must have graduated from CSU with a cumulative grade point average of 3.8 or higher to be eligible for consideration.  You must also complete the scholarship application accompanied by a 300-word essay and letter of recommendation from a CSU faculty member.  The application and more details concerning this scholarship are available by accessing the links below.   

• Robert G. Mayes Memorial Scholarship Details
• Robert G. Mayes Memorial Scholarship Application

A phone interview with the Scholarship Selection Committee may also be required.  The committee will be composed of CSU Provost Dr. Joe Wilkins, Executive Vice President Dr. Joe Manjone, and the deans with final approval from President Robert Mayes, Jr.  The name of the scholarship recipient will be posted on the CSU website and in the CSU Communicator student/alumni newsletter. 

For more information, please contact Dr. Joe Wilkins, CSU Provost, at joe.wilkins@columbiasouthern.edu or 1-800-977-8449 ext. 326.

Student Services

The CSU Student Services department currently serves more than 11,000 active students. As each student’s main point of contact, this department is responsible for organizing extensions, approving proctors, maintaining student records, and retaining students. Last year, 378 inactive students re-enrolled; 3,434 proctors were approved; 8,145 final exams were administered; approximately 75,000 emails were answered; and staff size increased from 13 to 17 employees. Student services representatives are available to answer questions or offer advice Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. CST.  

Partnership News

Delta Air Lines Awards CSU Scholarship

Employers large and small are recognizing the impact online education can have on their organization. Delta Air Lines recently awarded employee Tom Blatnik a $2,000 scholarship towards completing his bachelor’s degree with CSU. CSU joined Delta as one of six academic partners in 2004.

Funded by Delta as part of its commitment to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Safety Administration Voluntary Protection Program, the scholarship is designed to recognize students who engage in occupational safety, health and environmental outreach within their schools, communities, and workplace. Blatnick, a current CSU student, will use the award to help finance his occupational safety and health degree.

“Earning a degree has always seemed just out of reach,” said Blatnick. “Our affiliation with CSU has offered me, and other Delta employees, special benefits that make achieving a quality education possible.”

More than 120 Delta employees have taken advantage of the academic partnership. Benefits include a 10 percent tuition discount and application fee waiver. While Delta employees are free to attend any accredited institution of their choice, CSU is second only to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and is number one on the list of universities employees select to earn their master’s degrees.

“CSU was established to create educational possibilities for those who need it most,” said Robert Mayes, CSU President. “Our programs offer customized solutions that can accommodate anyone seeking to expand their career options.”

Delta offers service to a large number of destinations - more than any other global airline. Including its SkyTeam and worldwide codeshare partners, flights are available to 462 locations in 95 countries.  

Other CSU partnerships include 16 corporations, 20 police departments, and 70 fire departments. Among these are Boeing, HR for Techs, Sarasota Memorial Hospital, and the New York City Fire Department.

If you are a Delta employee and interested in taking advantage of CSU learning partnership benefits, contact the admissions department admissions@columbiasouthern.edu or 1-800-977-8449.

Alumni News

DETC Announces 2008 Outstanding and Famous Alumni

Each year the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) publishes a brochure recognizing distinguished graduates from universities under their accreditation. Out of the 100 schools accredited by DETC, 33 profiles were chosen.  Two of those alumni, Gary Moulder and Brian Edwards, graduated from CSU. Criteria for being selected as a DETC 2008 Outstanding and Famous Alumni include the graduate’s academic records, contributions to society, and their professional achievements.

2008 Outstanding Alumni	2008 Famous Alumni
Gary Moulder Fleetwood, Pennsylvania MS, Environmental Engineering, 2002 MS, Occupational Safety and Health, 2006	Brian Edwards Charlotte, North Carolina BSBA, 2002 MBA, 2004

People News

Awards and Accomplishments

American Society of Ethnohistory Invites CSU Dean to Present Paper at Major Historical Conference

Tamrala Swafford, Dean of the College of General Studies at CSU, presented a paper at the American Society for Ethnohistory Annual Conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma on November 8, 2007. This is a peer-reviewed panel and one of the major historical conferences in the United States.

The theme for this conference is “Tribes and Nations: Persistence and Adaptation of Indigenous Identities” and is co-sponsored by the Department of Anthropology at the University of Tulsa and the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. Her paper is entitled, “Gadugi and the Government Agent: Land Use Decisions in Depression-Era Cherokee, North Carolina.”

Swafford holds a M.A. in English from Jacksonville State University, a M.A. in History/Cherokee Studies from Western Carolina University and is currently a doctoral candidate at Arizona State University in the Department of History. This research is a portion of her dissertation in progress entitled, “Gadugi and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians: Environmental and Economic History, 1934-1984.”

She is also an active member of the American Society for Ethno historians, the Southern Historical Association, American Historical Association, Organization of American Historians and honor societies, Phi Alpha Theta and Pi Gamma Mu.

CSU Associate Dean Presents Paper at International Conference

Associate Dean for Academic Administration at CSU, Larry Williams, traveled to Thailand in August to present his paper at the International Conference on Greater Mekong Sub-Region Discovery. The paper, titled “E-Learning: A Key Strategy in Facilitating Knowledge and Sustaining Development in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region” provides a comprehensive examination of e-learning and identifies the key advantage of online education. Representatives from six countries including Thailand, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar participated in this conference.

Williams holds a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, a MBA from Pennsylvania State University and Coppin State College, and a bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University. His professional experience includes positions as Management Consultant/Trainer for Dunville Training Group and TQM Consultants in Malaysia, International Relations Director at Yonok College in Thailand, and Dean of Portland Community College in Portland, Oregon and Catonsville Community College in Baltimore, Maryland. He is also the author of four books including 8 Windows 2 Creative Thinking; Champions of Change: Planned Change Made Easy; Keep It Simple and Succeed: 10 Effective Ways to Motivate Yourself and Others; and Keep ‘Em Motivated.

Alumni Spotlight

Jamie Gauthier
Scotts Valley, California

… he reached his personal and career goals with a degree from CSU.

Jamie Gauthier knows that sometimes education trumps experience. After being passed over for a position he had the experience for, but lacked the degree, he made the decision to pursue higher education.

Gauthier decided on an online education allowing him to earn a degree around career and family responsibilities. After researching many online universities, he chose CSU based on the flexible course formats, open enrollment options, and affordable tuition.

Gauthier completed his first degree, a bachelor’s degree in business administration, with CSU cum laude in 2003. He graduated from the CSU MBA program two years later with a 4.0 GPA.

Serving as a police officer in Scotts Valley, California, Gauthier chose degree programs in business administration to diversify his education and career opportunities. His desire was for flexible career options, and with his degrees from CSU he is qualified for other fields he is interested in, such as business and education.

“I wanted to have something other than the criminal justice field to fall back on,” Gauthier said. “After earning my degrees in business administration, I feel I have an ideal mix of talent.”

Since securing his degrees with CSU, Gauthier’s career has taken off. The Scotts Valley Police Department offers education-based salary incentives, giving Gauthier a pay raise. He was also promoted at his department to adult detective. After earning his master’s degree, he was qualified to serve as an adjunct professor for two colleges where he now develops and teaches online courses.

The Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) named Gauthier one of the Outstanding Graduates for 2006. He is also a member of the Delta Epsilon Tau International Honor Society and the National Scholars Honor Society. As president of the CSU Alumni Association, he assists in the development and advancement of the university, and serves as liaison to alumni.

“I owe my academic and professional success to CSU,” Gauthier said. “CSU offers high quality programs and other outstanding resources that help thousands of people around the world accomplish their educational dreams.”