There is still time to enroll for fall courses at Rockford University. Classes begin Wednesday, August 24. Rockford University is a four-year, co-educational institution offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in traditional liberal arts and professional fields. The University offers approximately 80 areas of study and provides diverse programming for students in all levels of education including undergraduate (bachelor’s degree), graduate (master’s level business and education), transfer students and adult accelerated degree completion in management studies (BSMS). Rockford University is also a participant in the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program for veterans.

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) allow students to take up to four courses before formally enrolling in the program and offer flexible options for working adults.

The MAT program offers several certifications and endorsements in areas like special education, reading specialist, instructional strategies and bi-lingual education. There are also a variety of options available to degreed professionals who may wish to enter the teaching profession. Online bilingual and ESL endorsements are offered within new Master of Education (MEd) programming.

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) program covers a variety of functional areas including as accounting, economics, finance, management and marketing. Students can choose a concentration in disciplines such as MBA/CPA, public and not-for-profit management, entrepreneurship or management.

Contact the Rockford University Office of Admission at 815-226-4050 or 800-892-2984 for more information about applying for undergraduate classes. You may also apply online by visiting www.rockford.edu and clicking on the homepage “Apply Now” button

Contact the Rockford University Graduate Office at 815-226-4040 today if interested in MBA or Graduate in Education courses.

Visit www.rockford.edu for more information.

Media Contact: Rita Elliott, Director of Communications, 815-226-3374

Rockford, Ill. – On July 28 the Library of Congress announced that Rockford University is among 21 organizations to receive a portion of $3,340,352 to support the effective use of digitized primary sources in K-12 classrooms. 76 proposals from public, private, not-for profit and for-profit organizations were submitted to the Library of Congress.

The Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) program at Rockford University supports Northern Illinois educators in their efforts to incorporate primary-source, inquiry-based learning to enhance the achievement of students in kindergarten through grade 12. The program is conducted through undergraduate and graduate classes leading to teacher certification at Rockford University, including student teaching. The TPS program also collaborates with school districts, universities, libraries, and foundations to help teachers use the vast collection of digitized primary sources within the Library of Congress to enrich their classroom instruction.

More information about the grant and about the Teaching with Primary Sources program can be found at: https://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2016/16-122.html?loclr=ealn.

Final preparations are underway for Performing Arts students and faculty to make their journey to Edinburgh, Scotland on August 4 to perform in this year’s international Festival Fringe. The group will present a preview of their Festival Fringe performance one final time on Friday, July 29, at 7:30 p.m., Maddox Theatre, Clark Arts Center on Rockford University’s campus. The public is welcome to come. Freewill donations will be accepted at the door and a reception will follow the 80 minute performance.

Students are set to perform Kander and Ebb’s “2 By 5,” a dark and classy sung-through revue of songs from one of Broadway’s most prolific and celebrated composing teams of the late 20th century. The revue, hailed as stylish and fresh, includes songs from such smash hits as “Chicago” and “Cabaret” as well as some of the duo’s lesser-known but no less-loved work. Money and sex, love and loneliness, gritty yet fragile, with a wink for the man at the bar, the world of Kander and Ebb comes to life with edgy new stage direction and choreography for the Fringe.

Contact the RU Box office for more information: boxoffice@rockford.edu or 815-226-4100.

More about the students’ trip to Scotland:

20 students and three faculty members are preparing for a unique opportunity this summer to perform on an international stage. The RU group will be attending the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, held August 5 – 29, in the Scottish capital city. Rockford University is one of only four small colleges in the United States invited to attend. Only eight total from the U.S. were invited.

Led by Performing Arts Department Chair and Professor of Performing Arts Deborah Mogford, Associate Professor of Music Timm Adams, and Assistant Professor of Dance Amy Wright, the students will perform a new piece created specifically for the festival, “Taps, Tunes and Tales of the American Songbook.” RU will be at the festival for two weeks and performances will take place throughout the city.

More about this exciting opportunity can be found in the Sunday, March 6, story in the Rockford Register Star –Rockford University to take the stage at world’s largest performing arts festival in Scotland.

Students attending the Edinburgh Festival Fringe are:

Taylor Barnes – Venutra, Calif.
Elisha Beston – Singapore
Mary Bridgeland – Freeport, Ill.
Addison Clearwood – Madison, Wis.
Sarah Cleeland – St. Louis, Mo.
Courtney Foschi – Frankfort, Ill.
Janelle Good – East Highland, Calif.
Samantha Hodson – Flower Mound, Texas
Maya Hopkins – Rockford, Ill.
Kyle McCaffrey – Niles, Ill.
Brandon Michaud – Saint Peters, Mo.
Ilea Pearce – Rockford, Ill.
Joi Pierre – Houston, Texas
Zachary Pletcher – Highland Village, Texas
Kyle Rainey – The Colony, Texas
Alex Smith – Rockford, Ill.
Owen Thomas – Portsmouth, N.H.
Emily Todt – Jackson, Mo.
Sarah Vallacchi – Shreveport, La.
Ana Weickert – Rockford, Ill.

Learn more about these student achievements and others on RU’s Merit page.

Media Contact: Rita Elliott, Director of Communications, 815-226-3374

Rockford, Ill., – Matthew D. Phillips has been named as Interim Vice President for Enrollment Management for the 2016-17 year, filling the position previously held by Dr. Eric Fulcomer, who took over as President of Rockford University on July 1, 2016. Phillips has served as a member of Rockford University’s Enrollment Management Leadership Team since his appointment as Associate Vice President for Global Affairs in October of 2012. In this role, he was responsible for guiding the University’s globalization efforts to both increase the international student population on campus and to enhance opportunities for students traveling abroad for short and long-term study.

Phillips has been associated with Rockford University for more than a decade. He received his undergraduate degree from Rockford in 2004 and his Master of Business Administration in 2006. He’s served in a variety of positions including graduate assistant, Special Assistant to the President, Director of Operations, Contracts, and Services; Associate Vice President of Operations; and Associate Vice President for Global Affairs and Operations.

President Eric Fulcomer says of the appointment, “Maintaining consistency in our recruitment efforts is vitally important. Matt’s extensive background and depth of experiences at the University affords us the ability to minimize disruptions and for him to immediately step-in to help guide our outstanding student recruitment and administrative support teams.”

Phillips adds, “Rockford University has experienced several years of strengthening enrollments throughout our student populations. It’s exciting to see the diverse mix of traditional undergraduate students, part-time and full-time, residential, commuter, international, non-traditional and graduate studies students all combine to make RU a thriving and dynamic learning environment. I’m excited to be a part of this work and help continue our positive momentum.”

As Vice President for Enrollment Management, Phillips will oversee the Admissions, Student Administrative Services (SAS), Global Affairs, Athletics, and Student Success and Retention departments. The University will conduct a search for the Vice President for Enrollment Management position within the coming academic year.

Rockford, Ill., – Rockford University Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR) Michael Perry, Ph.D., has been selected as a 2016 NCAA Division III FAR Fellow. Along with his duties as FAR, Dr. Perry is an associate professor of English and serves as Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities.

The FAR Fellows Institute was launched in 2010 and aims to increase the effectiveness of Division III FARs at the campus, conference and national levels.

Institute attendees will participate in a three-day professional development program at the NCAA national office in Indianapolis October 14 – 16. The components of the program provide a thorough examination of best practices and issues surrounding the role and responsibility of the FAR, help FAR Fellows develop the leadership skills necessary to carry out their responsibilities on campus and in their conference, and strengthen the network of FARs needed to serve on conference, divisional and association-wide committees.