Eastern Connecticut State University

The Theatre Program and Drama Society in the Department of Performing Arts at Eastern Connecticut State University presented "The Island," their first major production for the 2011-12 season, from Oct. 27 to 30 and Nov. 1 and 2.

Nineteen students from Eastern Connecticut State University took a field trip from Oct 21 to 24 to the White House, the U.S. Congress and the World Bank. The students enrolled in Professor Dennis Canterbury's Sociology of Globalization class attended the trip.

The Theatre Program and Drama Society in the Department of Performing Arts at Eastern Connecticut State University presented "The Island," their first major production for the 2011-12 season, from Oct. 27 to 30 and Nov. 1 and 2.

Four students and two faculty members from Eastern Connecticut State University's Department of Environmental Earth Science participated in the New England Intercollegiate Geological Conference (NEIGC) from Sept. 30-Oct. 2. The annual meeting was held at Middlebury College in Middlebury, VT.

FEMALES (Females Excelling Maturing to Achieve Leadership, Excellence and Success), a women's leadership club at Eastern Connecticut State University, hosted its third annual "Take Steps for Crohn's and Colitis" walk on Oct. 2. Proceeds benefited the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA).

Several local students are serving as resident assistants (RAs) at Eastern Connecticut State University this fall. Eastern has more than 70 RAs, students who are carefully selected and trained to help dormitory residents create an environment that is conducive to individual and social growth.

Ten Eastern Connecticut State University Students volunteered with the Math Mania Tutor Program. Eastern students and staff have completed their second year of the renowned and successful Math Mania camp.

Students from Eastern Connecticut State University's Performing Arts Department performed "Ring Around the Bottle" as part of the Phoenix New Play Series on Oct. 8.

The students attended the trip for an 11-day study tour of marine and terrestrial environments this past summer. San Salvador's flora and fauna include both native and introduced species, making the island a natural laboratory for studying island biogeography. The following local residents were among a group of Eastern undergraduate biology students who traveled to the Gerace Research Center on San Salvador Island, the outermost island in the Bahamas:

A group of Eastern Connecticut State University students recently visited the country of Nepal along with Associate Professor of Psychology Carlos Escoto, Geeta Pfau, retired associate director of health services, as well as ITS trainer Barbara Williams.

Nineteen communications majors from Eastern Connecticut State University recently travelled to London and Paris to learn about different platforms of European media and how they compare to American media.

More than 1,300 students, including first-time freshmen and transfer students, are attending Eastern Connecticut State University for the first time this fall. Christopher Dorsey, acting director of admissions at Eastern. notes that Eastern freshmen come from 164 of Connecticut's 169 towns, from 24 other states and from 48 other countries. Local students enrolled at Eastern include:

A record 303 Eastern Connecticut State University students have received ECSU Foundation's competitive scholarships in the 2011-12 academic year. The allotted scholarships total $334,000 in funds awarded through the ECSU Foundation's annual scholarship process.

Six Eastern Connecticut State University students traveled to Italy this past summer as part of Art History Professor Anne Dawson's Honors course, "Art in the Italian Landscape." Local students included:

More than 1,300 students, including first-time freshmen and transfer students, enrolled for the first time this fall at Eastern Connecticut State University. Christopher Dorsey, acting director of admissions at Eastern Connecticut State University, notes that Eastern freshmen come from 164 of Connecticut's 169 towns, from 24 other states and from 48 other countries. Local students who are attending Eastern include:

The Eastern Connecticut State University Alumni Association Board of Directors has elected three new members to the board: Holly Butler of Groton, CT; Kate Fortier of Ashford, CT; and Paulette Haines of Marietta, GA. The three women were unanimously approved and will begin their first three-year terms at the board meeting on October 5. Butler, a 2008 graduate of Eastern, is a mental health worker with CarePlus in Groton. Fortier graduated in 2003 and is a community engagement director with Access Community Action Agency in Willimantic, while Haines is a 1994 graduate and the CEO/consultant for Creative Non-Profit Solutions, LLC. Members of the Eastern Connecticut State University Alumni Association Board of Directors are responsible for attending and actively participating in meetings of the Board in person or via teleconference. They are also encouraged to represent the Alumni Association at university events and activities and to engage fellow alumni to support university events through their attendance or through financial sponsorship. Board meetings are held quarterly on Eastern's campus. Eastern Connecticut State University is part of the Connecticut State University System (CSUS) and is the state's public liberal arts university. Eastern serves more than 5,600 students each year on its Willimantic campus

Eastern Connecticut State University has published "From Tutor to Tutor: A Guidebook for Writers," a book written by students under the leadership of Lauren Rosenberg, associate professor of English and coordinator of Eastern's First Year Writing program. The idea for the book came from student tutors in Rosenberg's Tutoring Writing class in fall 2009. The peer tutors in Eastern's Writing Center work one-on-one with fellow students on their writing assignments for class. While the student tutors received training during the course, the books and articles they read were all written by scholars and professors of composition and rhetoric. Nothing was available by students their age. They chose to do something about it. Throughout the fall 2010 and spring 2011 semesters, the tutor-trainees met with Rosenberg to plan, write and edit a guidebook by peers for peers. "Nothing like this is out there," said Rosenberg. "We didn't model our book after any other because there are no student-written works like this." "From Tutor to Tutor" is composed of 18 essays that range in topics from dealing with plagiarism to working with English as a Second Language students to handling unexpected experiences during tutoring sessions. Essays include "What to Do When You Have No Clue"; "Meeting with a Tutor for the aEUR~Write' Reasons: Why Voluntary Meetings Beat Mandatory Sessions"; and "Turning Stressful to Productive," among others. Each essay is written by a student trained in Writing Center theory and pedagogy in either Eastern's Tutoring Writing or Composition and Theory Pedagogy courses.

The following students were named to Eastern's Dean's List for the spring 2011 semester.

Eastern Connecticut State University's 121st Commencement took place at the XL Center in Hartford on May 22. In all, 1,077 undergraduates and 102 graduate students earned their degrees.

Eastern Connecticut State University's 121st Commencement took place at the XL Center in Hartford on May 22. In all, 1,077 undergraduates and 102 graduate students earned their degrees.

The School of Arts and Sciences at Eastern Connecticut State University held its 10th Annual Student Research Conference and Exhibition on April 16. The conference took place in several locations across the campus, including the Science Building, Wood Support Services Center and the Student Center. More than 85 students supported by 35 faculty mentors presented nearly 80 projects and presentations showcasing 11 departments and 13 majors in the School of Arts and Sciences. The following students were among the exhibitors:

Eighteen math majors and one faculty member at Eastern Connecticut State University were inducted into the national sociology honor society, Alpha Kappa Delta, on May 11. The society recognizes students who have an officially declared sociology major or demonstrate a serious interest in sociology, are at least a junior (third year), have accumulated an overall GPA of 3.0, rank in the top 35 percent of their class in general scholarship, have maintained a 3.0 GPA in sociology courses, and have completed at least four regular courses in sociology prior to initiation. The following students were among the inductees:

Fifteen students majoring in social work at Eastern Connecticut State University were inducted into the national social work honor society, Phi Alpha, on April 30. The society provides a closer bond among students of social work and promotes humanitarian goals and ideals. Phi Alpha fosters high standards of education for social workers and invites into membership those who have attained excellence in scholarship and achievement. The following local students were among the inductees:

The School of Education and Professional Studies and the Graduate Division at Eastern Connecticut State University held its 11th Annual Excellence Expo on May 4. Students presented their work on a variety of topics, including economics; marketing; math and science in early childhood education; communication law and ethics; sport and leisure management; teaching typical and exceptional learners; and systems analysis, among others.

Seven Spanish majors at Eastern Connecticut State University were inducted into the national Spanish honor society, Sigma Delta Pi, on May 7. Qualifications for inductees include three years of college-level Spanish (18 semester credit hours), including at least three semester hours of Hispanic literature or Hispanic culture and civilization at the junior level; a 3.0 GPA in all Spanish courses taken; rank in the upper 35 percent of their class and have completed at least three semesters. The following local students were among the inductees:

Eight health and physical education majors at Eastern Connecticut State University were inducted into their national honor society, Alpha Upsilon Chi, on May 5. The society establishes an intellectual climate by providing instruction for future professionals in the areas of health, physical education, recreation, and sport and dance, and recognizes students for their academic achievement, service and professional involvement in their field.

Students from Eastern Connecticut State University's Theatre Program performed "Echoes: Voices from the Church Farm" on May 6 and 7 at the Church Farm Center for the Arts and Sciences which is located in Ashford.

The School of Education and Professional Studies and the Graduate Division at Eastern Connecticut State University held its 11th Annual Excellence Expo on May 4. Students presented their work on a variety of topics, including economics; marketing; math and science in early childhood education; communication law and ethics; sport and leisure management; teaching typical and exceptional learners; and systems analysis, among others. The expo also featured a photography exhibit, an ePortfolio competition, and a preview of the of the Association of Information Technology Professionals Windham Non-profits website.

Students majoring in economics at Eastern Connecticut State University were inducted into Omicron Delta Epsilon on April 21. Eligible students must earn a 3.25 GPA overall and must have taken at least 15 credits of economics classes. The society is dedicated to the encouragement of excellence in economics and seeks to recognize individuals who have distinguished themselves in their academic programs.

On April 26, 12 history majors at Eastern Connecticut State University were inducted into Alpha Mu Alpha, Eastern's chapter of Phi Alpha Theta. The society promotes the study of history through the encouragement of research, good teaching, publication and the exchange of learning and ideas among historians. The society recognizes students who have completed a minimum of 12 semester hours (four courses) in history, have a minimum GPA of 3.1 in history, have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and are in the top 35 percent of their class.