ROCKFORD, Ill. (July 23, 2024) – Rockford University, the region’s leading private four-year educational institution, will welcome a group of incoming freshmen students this Sunday, July 28, for the Rockford University’s Regents First Summer 2024 Retreat.

The retreat runs from Sunday, July 28 through Friday, Aug. 2. The event kicks off at 1 p.m. Sunday. Incoming freshmen students will arrive and check in on campus at the Burpee Student Center at 5050 E State St. in Rockford.

Check-in will be followed by a welcome session and introductions from the Rockford University Dean of Student Support Programming, Dr. Karen Walker, and other RU staff members.

“It’s a residential camp and students will live on campus,” Dr. Walker said about the program. “The purpose is to saturate them in the college experience and equip them for a successful launch into their college journey.”

Walker adds that throughout the week the retreat will cover many topics including time management for successful college students; effective communication strategies for successful college students; finding a job on campus; developing a growth mindset; and much more.

The Regents First program aims to recruit, support, and retain first-generation college students. 

The Regents First program takes what can be a challenging experience for anyone – enrolling in a four-year university – and boosts support for students who are working to become the first in their families to earn a bachelor’s degree. 

Individuals are paired with a peer mentor during the retreat – someone who also is a first-generation college student who can be a motivating force and help build resilience during the retreat and continuing into the first year of school. The mentors will provide weekly check-ins and study group sessions to the students.

“The mentees (incoming freshmen attending the retreat) will be able to learn about navigating through college, and time management skills,” said Mya Barrett, Regents First Mentor and incoming junior studying education at RU. “All the good nitty-gritty stuff that you need to be able to be a good, successful college student.”

The students are also paired with a designated financial aid coach, as well as a college life skills coach who will meet with them regularly throughout the academic year. Regents First participants receive a stipend to support the purchase of course materials in both semesters of their first year.

While the program is designed to ensure and increase student retention for first-generation college students at Rockford University, the ultimate goal is college completion.   

For more information or to RSVP to the event, the media can email RU Marketing/Communications at communications@rockford.edu by Friday, July 26  at 3 p.m. Media are encouraged to come out and meet the students.

Contact:

Sara Myers

RU Marketing & Communications

smyers@rockford.edu

ABOUT ROCKFORD UNIVERSITY:

Rockford University is a private four-year, co-educational institution founded in 1847 offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in traditional liberal arts and professional fields. The University offers more than 80 majors, minors, and concentrations, including the bachelor’s degree completion program for a B.S. in Management Studies. 

Through its Graduate Studies department, degrees are extended to include the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), and Master of Education in Urban Education, (M.Ed.). Rockford University is home to one of only 11 Phi Beta Kappa (PBK) chapters in Illinois, the most prestigious honor society in the United States. Named by The Princeton Review as a Best Midwestern College and a U.S. News & World Report Best Midwest Regional University, Rockford University currently serves approximately 1,250 full- and part-time students.

Rockford University is hosting its second annual Dog Days of Summer event. RU Alumni and the general public are invited to pack up their pup and join us for a walk around RU’s beautiful campus.

What: Rockford University’s Dog Days of Summer event 

When: Saturday, July 27, 2024, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Where: RU Nelson Alumni Center Parking Lot, Rockford University, 5050 E. State St, Rockford, IL, 61108

Who: Rockford University Alumni and the general public

ROCKFORD, Ill. —Rockford University’s Advancement Office will host its second annual Dog Days of Summer event on Saturday, July 27. RU Alumni and the general public are invited to bring their dog and guests for a walk around our beautiful campus. 

Attendees will check in at the Nelson Alumni Center, 5050 E. State St. in Rockford, where they can pick up some goodies, pick up a campus map, and stroll around our scenic campus.

We’re excited to announce that The Canine Crunchery, Inc. will join us as a vendor this year. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to spoil your pup with wholesome treats and delights!

All dogs must be leashed and be updated on all vaccines. Don’t have a dog? All are still welcome to join us and enjoy a walk around campus. 

 For more information: Email alumni@rockford.edu or call 815-226-4007.

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Media-related questions or interview requests can be sent to Communications@Rockford.edu. We ask the media to RSVP by emailing us by 8:30 a.m. on July 26, 2024. 

Press Contact: 

Sara Myers

Rockford University Marketing & Communications

SMyers@rockford.edu

815.394.5052

ROCKFORD, Ill. – (June 11, 2024) – Rockford University is thrilled to announce the launch of two new professional certificate programs: Women in Leadership and Customer Experience.

The Women in Leadership program will help women develop strategies and interpersonal skills for greater success. Industry experts design the program for professionals seeking expert advice, strategies, and practical tools. Students will learn how to navigate the nuances of thought leadership, barrier destruction, and organizational influence. This program serves as a platform for women to engage and uplift each other by inspiring positive change.

The Customer Experience program will teach you to make customer experience your differentiator. Students will learn the art of customer experience to drive loyalty and increase revenue. You will gain practical templates and discover best practices as you build your portfolio and strategic plan. Industry experts design the program for professionals seeking practical tools for this fast-growing discipline. 

Both programs are part of RU’s newest college: the College of Professional & Extended Learning. Both programs can be completed online in 8 weeks or less.

For more information on these two programs and to register, visit execed.rockford.edu.

Contact:

Sara Myers

Rockford University Marketing & Communications 

SMyers@rockford.edu

815.394.5052

ROCKFORD, Ill. – (June 5, 2024) – Rockford University is thrilled to announce its second annual Business Summit, set to take place on June 13, 2024. The event will bring together Rockford industry leaders to engage in a day of insightful discussions, networking opportunities, and knowledge sharing.

The free event will take place in Regents Hall in the Burpee Student Center on Rockford University’s campus located at 5050 E. State St. in Rockford, Illinois. The summit will go from 7:30 to 11 a.m. Breakfast is included, and an optional lunch is available for purchase. 

This year’s summit features an impressive lineup of accomplished speakers, interactive workshops, and valuable takeaways. Panelists include:

• City of Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara
• Travis Andersen, President & CEO of UW Health 
• Howard Spearman, President & CEO for RVC (Rock Valley College) 
• Ehren Jarrett, Superintendent for RPS 205
• Alex Stagnaro-Green, Regional Dean for the UIC College of Medicine
• Gina Caronna, Executive Director for The Workforce Connection 

Participants will have the opportunity to hear from distinguished local keynote speakers who are at the forefront of their industries. The engaging sessions will cover a wide range of topics, including artificial intelligence, data analytics, and entrepreneurship. 

To sign up for the free event, head here: Rockford University Business Summit RSVP (office.com) 

Any questions on the event can be sent to RU’s Associate Vice President of Business Innovation and the Dean of the College of Professional and Extended Learning Dr. Deepshikha Shukla at DShukla@rockford.edu. 

This event is open to the media to attend and record b-roll. Interviews with speakers can be done before the event at 7 a.m. or after. 

Please RSVP to Sara Myers at SMyers@rockford.edu or 815-394-5052 by June 12 at 5 p.m. to confirm attendance. 

About Rockford University:

Rockford University is a private university located in Rockford, Illinois. With a rich history dating back to 1847, the university offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in various disciplines. Known for its commitment to academic excellence, Rockford University is dedicated to preparing students for successful careers and lives of purpose.

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Media Contact: 

Sara Myers

RU Marketing & Communications

SMyers@rockford.edu 

815-394-5052

ROCKFORD, Ill. — Rockford University’s Performing Arts department (RUPA), in partnership with the Friends of the Performing Arts, will host “Good Neighbors Tea: A Celebration of Scotland,” on June 2 from 2 to 4 p.m. to raise funds for the department’s trip overseas to perform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Edinburgh, Scotland.

The event will be held in the Clark Arts Lobby on the Rockford University campus. 

At the event, Clan MacAlpine Bagpipe Band members will play outside the Clark Arts Center as the festivities begin, and costumed students will greet guests. Indoors, students from The Music Academy in Rockford will serenade guests. The High Tea will feature tasty treats in the flavor of Scotland. In the spirit of the occasion, expect songs and poetry, tartans and plaids. 

RUPA received one of the seven invitations extended to colleges and universities to perform at the festival. The department received their first invitation to the festival in 2016.

While traveling abroad, RUPA students will perform on a world stage, representing not only Rockford University, but the City of Rockford, the State of Illinois, and the United States. Please join us in supporting the RUPA students as they embark on this incredible journey.

Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased by visiting rockford.edu/alumni/friends-of-the-performing-arts.

Media are invited to come and attend the show, shoot b-roll, and interview members of RUPA and FOPA. 

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Please RSVP to Sara Myers at SMyers@rockford.edu by Friday, May 31 at 5 p.m. to confirm your attendance. 

Contact:

Sara Myers

Rockford University Marketing & Communications 

SMyers@rockford.edu

815.394.5052

 ROCKFORD, Ill. (May 2, 2024) –Rockford University, the region’s leading, private, four-year educational institution, will hold its 170th Commencement on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at the Coronado Performing Arts Center. Commencement exercises begin at 10 a.m. 

The Coronado Performing Arts Center at 314 N. Main St. in Rockford will host the University’s commencement ceremony.

Providing this year’s keynote address to the graduates is Angela Hite-Carter.

Hite-Carter is a retired Illinois State Certified administrator. Hite-Carter’s last role in her career was as Executive Director of Student Services and Alternative Learning at Rockford Public Schools District #205 from January 2012 to 2021, when she retired. As Executive Director, Hite-Carter ensured communication and appropriate execution of support systems for Illinois policies governing public school students and parents.

Tickets are required to attend the commencement ceremonies, and have been limited to degree candidates and their guests. No tickets will be available at the door on May 11.  

Commencement will also be live-streamed here. 

About Rockford University: 

Rockford University is a four-year, co-educational institution founded in 1847 offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in traditional liberal arts and professional fields. The University offers approximately 80 majors, minors, and concentrations, including the adult accelerated degree completion program for a B.S. in Management Studies. 

Through its Graduate Studies department, degrees are extended to include the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), and a Master of Education in Urban Education (ME.d). Rockford University is home to one of only 11 Phi Beta Kappa (PBK) chapters in Illinois, the most prestigious honor society in the United States. 

Rockford University is also named by The Princeton Review as a Best Midwestern College. Rockford University currently serves approximately 1,300 full- and part-time students. 

All media must notify the Marketing & Communications Department in advance for planning purposes.

For more information or to RSVP, contact:

Sara Myers

Rockford University Marketing & Communications 

815.394.5052

smyers@rockford.edu

MEDIA ADVISORY

For April 19, 2024

ROCKFORD, Ill. — Rockford University’s Performing Arts department (RUPA), in partnership with the Friends of the Performing Arts, will host “A Celebration of 41 Years of Costume Design,” on April 28 to raise funds for the department’s trip overseas to perform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Rockford University received one of the seven invitations extended to colleges and universities to perform at the festival.  The department received their first invitation to the festival in 2016.

While traveling abroad, RUPA students will perform on a world stage, representing not only Rockford University, but the City of Rockford, the State of Illinois, and the United States. Please join us in supporting the RUPA students as they embark on this incredible journey.

The Costume Design fashion show will be held Sunday, April 28 from 2 to 5 p.m. in Maddox Theatre in Clark Arts Center on Rockford University’s campus, located at 5050 E. State St. in Rockford.

The fundraising event will highlight the designs of retired RU Professor/Costume Designer Jeff Hendry. Master of Ceremonies Mike Garrigan (Evening Anchor of 23 WIFR) will walk through each design as models from all areas of the community, including the City of Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara, State Senator Steve Stadelman, and State Representative Dave Vella, strut their stuff!

The show will also include performances from the Groove Hotel Trio and words of support from State Representative Maurice West.

Tickets are on sale now for $30.00 and may be purchased by visiting rockford.edu/alumni/friends-of-the-performing-arts.

Media are invited to come and attend the show, and shoot b-roll. They may arrive early at 1:30 p.m. to interview university staff involved in the event. 

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Please RSVP to Sara Myers at SMyers@rockford.edu by April 26 at 4 p.m. to confirm your attendance.

Contact:

Sara Myers

Rockford University Marketing & Communications 

SMyers@rockford.edu

815.394.5052

For Immediate Release: 

April 18, 2024

Students from Galapagos Charter School and Marshall Middle School will engage in interactive workshops and more with the assistance of RU students. Area High School students and employers will see RU STEM Students’ research posters and interactive demonstrations. 

What: Rockford University, Galapagos Charter School, Marshall Middle School, Local High Schools and STEM Employers 

When: April 26, 2024,

9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.: STEM Workshops

1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Student Research Symposium, Interactive Demonstrations and BANG! 

Where: Starr Science Center, Rockford University, 5050 E. State St, Rockford, IL, 61108 

Who: Rockford University students, faculty, and staff; Galapagos Charter and Marshall Middle School students; local high school students; university officials, and media

ROCKFORD, Ill. —Rockford University will host students from Galapagos Charter and Marshall Middle Schools in Rockford on Friday, April 26, for STEM Day. The middle school students and 4th graders will be on campus from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Rockford University students will be working with the 4th, 6th, 7th, and 8th graders during the different workshops, and RU professors from mathematics, computer science, physics, and chemical & biological sciences will lead the workshops. Visitors will even get a campus tour and lunch on campus to learn more about RU.

Starting at 1:30 p.m., RU STEM students will present their research findings in the afternoon as part of a research symposium and the Alpha Helix Bang! The Chemical Show will be presented at 4:30 p.m. at Starr. Local high school students and local employers are invited to attend.

High school students and employers are asked to RSVP by April 19 to Kari Severson at KSeverson@rockford.edu. 

Media are invited to attend both events and speak with the RU faculty who organized the workshops.  

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 Questions or interview requests can be sent to SMyers@Rockford.edu. We ask the media to RSVP by emailing us by 9 a.m. on Friday, April 26. 

Contact:

Sara Myers

RU Marketing & Communications

smyers@rockford.edu

815.394.5052

MEDIA ADVISORY

For April 17, 2024

Students, faculty, staff, and alumni will participate in challenges and special activities to encourage engagement. This year, Day of Giving is seeking to specifically support the Howard Colman Library.

ROCKFORD, Ill. — Rockford University, the region’s leading private four-year educational institution, will hold its tenth annual Day of Giving on Thursday, April 25, 2024. Day of Giving is a 24-hour giving challenge that uses the power of social media to raise funds in support of Rockford University students. This year, Day of Giving is seeking to specifically support renovations of the Howard Colman Library at Rockford University.

Challenges, fun incentives, and special activities will be featured to encourage engagement and participation throughout the day. Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends will celebrate on campus with fun activities planned from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. outside the Howard Colman Library, 5050 E. State Street.  There will be FREE food, RU merchandise, pictures with Reggie the Mascot, and time with therapy dogs. 

In 2023, Day of Giving raised over $131,841 from 415 donors. This year, the goal is to exceed last year’s totals and achieve a record 425 alumni and friends making gifts of any size to show their belief in these incredible students.
 
Facebook: facebook.com/RockfordUniversity/

Instagram: instagram.com/rockforduniversity/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/school/rockford-university/

Website: givecampus.com/schools/RockfordUniversity/day-of-giving-2024; rockford.edu/alumni/day-of-giving/ 

Photo opportunities will be available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. outside the Howard Colman Library during our Day of Giving Celebration.

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Please RSVP to Sara Myers at SMyers@rockford.edu by 9 a.m. on April 25, 2024, to confirm your attendance.

Contact:

Sara Myers

Rockford University Marketing & Communications 

SMyers@rockford.edu

815-394-5052

For Immediate Release: 

April 16, 2024

What: Rockford University Raising Awareness about Sexual Assault on Denim Day

When: April 24, 2024, from 4 to 6 p.m. 

Where: Sam Greeley Football Field at Rockford University, 5050 E State St, Rockford, IL 61108 

Who: Rockford University students, staff, faculty, and community partners – Remedies Renewing Lives, NAMI, Pregnancy Resource Center, Family Peace Center, Rockford Sexual Assault Counseling (RSAC), OSF Trauma Recovery Center

ROCKFORD, Ill. —Each year, Rockford University holds an event to recognize Denim Day. This year, Denim Day is being put on by a group of students for a class project to raise awareness about sexual assault. The students are hosting a kickball tournament and the participants will be playing in jeans. The community partners will have tables to share their resources with the students.   

The history of Denim Day is as follows: (according to Why Denim? — Denim Day)

“Since 1999, Peace Over Violence has run an inspiring and powerful opportunity to practice solidarity and support survivors by renewing our commitment to exposing harmful behaviors and attitudes surrounding sexual violence. Denim Day is a campaign on a Wednesday in April in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The campaign began after a ruling by the Italian Supreme Court where a rape conviction was overturned because the justices felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans she must have helped the person who raped her remove her jeans, thereby implying consent. 

The following day, the women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim. Peace Over Violence developed the Denim Day campaign in response to this case and the activism surrounding it. Since then, what started as a local campaign to bring awareness to victim blaming and destructive myths that surround sexual violence has grown into a movement. 

As the longest-running sexual violence prevention and education campaign in history, Denim Day asks community members, elected officials, businesses, and students to make a social statement with their fashion statement by wearing jeans on this day as a visible means of protest against the misconceptions that surround sexual violence.”

The media are invited to attend this event where they can shoot b-roll and/or interview event organizers. We ask all media to RSVP by April 24 at 9 a.m. 

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Questions or interview requests can be sent to SMyers@Rockford.edu.

Contact:

Sara Myers

RU Marketing & Communications

smyers@rockford.edu

815.394.5052