ROCKFORD, Ill. — Rockford University’s Spring 2018 Forum Series continues with a visit from a New York City-based jazz pianist on Tuesday, Feb. 27.

Fascinating Algorithms: Pianist Dan Tepfer 
Tuesday, Feb. 27, 3 p.m.
Maddox Theatre, Clark Arts Center 
New York City-based jazz pianist Dan Tepfer will discuss the intersection of science and art in music, in particular the balance of intuition and emotion with the mathematical and algorithmic. At a more personal level, he will talk about how, as a performer and composer, he has opened up new avenues of creativity in his work by integrating mathematical structures, from simple processes to fractals, into his music.

With the exception of Performing Arts productions, the Forum Series is free of charge. Events take place on the Rockford University campus, 5050 East State Street, Rockford. Tickets are required and can be obtained by contacting the Box Office at 815-226-4100 or boxoffice@rockford.edu.

This semester’s Forum Series continues through late April. View the full lineup at www.Rockford.edu/forum.

ROCKFORD — Rockford University’s Spring 2018 Forum Series continues with a special keynote address from the city’s new mayor, Tom McNamara, to commemorate the 171st anniversary of the signing of the school’s charter on Monday, Feb. 26.

Charter Day Convocation 
Monday, Feb. 26, 4 p.m.
Maddox Theatre, Clark Arts Center 
This year’s Charter Day welcomes Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara as special speaker and commemorates the 171st anniversary of the signing of the charter for Rockford University. The annual event typically includes an academic procession of faculty in traditional robes depicting their rank, with stoles representing their respective alma maters and degrees.

With the exception of Performing Arts events, the Forum Series is free of charge. Events take place on the Rockford University campus, 5050 East State Street, Rockford. Tickets are required and can be obtained by contacting the Box Office at 815-226-4100 or boxoffice@rockford.edu.

This semester’s Forum Series continues through late April. View the full lineup at www.Rockford.edu/forum.

ROCKFORD, Ill. —Rockford University’s Spring 2018 Forum Series continues Feb. 22-25 with Performing Arts’ production of Shakespeare’s Richard III.

Play: Richard III 
Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 22-24, 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 25, 2 p.m.
Maddox Theatre, Clark Arts Center 
King Edward is on the throne, England is at peace, and all is well. But don’t worry – it won’t be that way for long because Richard is “discontented.” Gripping and outrageous, Shakespeare’s Richard III is the tale of a ruthless, power-crazed Machiavellian who lies and cheats his way to the highest seat in the land through charm, deception, and force of presence.

Forum Series takes place on the Rockford University campus, 5050 East State Street, Rockford. Tickets are required and can be obtained by contacting the Box Office at 815-226-4100 or boxoffice@rockford.edu.

This semester’s Forum Series continues through late April. View the full lineup at www.Rockford.edu/forum.

Rockford, Ill. —Rockford University will host two events in February for students interested in attending college and learning more about the University. For students who are ready to enroll, a daylong Admit-a-Thon will be held on Monday, Feb. 19 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. On Saturday, February 24, prospective students and their families are invited to the Future Regent Visit Day held from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

During the Admit-a-Thon on Monday, Feb. 19, interested students are invited to come directly to the Admission offices located in Nelson Hall anytime between 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. to complete a free application. An official transcript (first-year students must also bring ACT/SAT scores) will be needed. Admission counselors will be available to evaluate individuals’ files and provide an admission decision on the spot. Full-time, admitted students also will receive a scholarship.

The Future Regent Visit Day on February 24 will provide interested students and their families an in-depth look at Rockford University, including visits with admission representatives, financial aid staff, faculty and current students. The day also includes a tour of the campus, located in the heart of Rockford on 150 wooded acres, and an academic fair where visitors can talk one-on-one with faculty from various departments to learn more about academic programs. A complimentary lunch in the University’s dining hall will be provided.

Check-in begins at 10 a.m. on Rockford University’s campus, located at 5050 East State Street in Rockford. To learn more about Future Regent Visit Day and to register, call 815-226-4050 or visit www.rockford.edu/admission/visit.

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 Master of Education in Urban Education (MEd).

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. RU is ranked as a Best Regional University – Midwest Tier One by US News & World Report and was named by the Princeton Review as a Best in the Midwest institution. The University currently serves approximately 1,260 full-and part-time students.

Rockford University junior forward Tony Diemer has been named NACC Men’s Basketball Student-Athlete of the Week for his outstanding performance on the court a week ago. This marks the second time Diemer has earned conference player of the week honors in his career, with the other coming during his sophomore year. Diemer is also the first RU men’s basketball player to be voted conference player of the week this season. 

Playing alongside Tony and making a big impact on the court is younger brother, Kevin, also a forward for the Regents.  It’s been a strong season for the Diemers, which included Tony passing the 1000 point mark. It was appropriate that the assist came from Kevin. 

The Rockford natives and Boylan High School alumni recently talked with WTVO Sports Anchor Scott Leber in a feature, Diemers A Strong One-Two Punch for Regents, that aired on February 12.  Saturday’s win over MSOE was the last home game of the season. Two games remain in the regular season.

For more about Regent athletics, visit Go.Regents.com.

ROCKFORD, Ill. — Rockford University’s Spring 2018 Forum Series continues with a free author lecture from an alumna on Thursday, Feb. 15.

The Surprising Effect of Stories on Sane
(and Crazy) People: Jacquelyn Mitchard, ’73 
Thursday, Feb. 15, 7 p.m.
Severson Auditorium, Scarborough Hall

The thing that authors want most is connection, which is the whole reason they write stories. The New York Times bestselling author Jacquelyn Mitchard recounts some of the most moving, and scary, stories about the way readers feel about her stories.

A Chicago native and graduate of Rockford College (now Rockford University), Mitchard is a professor of creative writing in Miami University of Ohio’s low-residency Masters of Fine Arts program, and lives on Cape Cod with her husband and their nine children. She was the first author to be featured in Oprah’s Book Club.

With the exception of Performing Arts events, the Forum Series is free of charge. Events take place on the Rockford University campus, 5050 East State Street, Rockford. Tickets are required and can be obtained by contacting the Box Office at 815-226-4100 or boxoffice@rockford.edu.

Other highlights of this semester’s Forum Series include lessons on forgiveness from a Holocaust survivor, an appearance by Rockford’s new mayor, a visit from a New York City-based jazz pianist and a musical presented in collaboration with the Rockford Symphony Orchestra.

View the full lineup at www.Rockford.edu/forum.

ROCKFORD, Ill. — Rockford University’s Spring 2018 Forum Series continues with a free, interactive talk from a Philadelphia-based sexuality educator.

Not Your Typical Sex Talk:
Sexologist Justine Shuey
Tuesday, Feb. 6, 3 p.m.
Maddox Theatre, Clark Arts Center

Board-certified sexologist Dr. Justine Marie Shuey shares a hilarious, honest, no-holds-barred approach to sexuality education that uses puppets, props, interactive activities and audience participation to address misinformation head-on while enhancing sexual awareness. You will leave educated, informed, and empowered to take charge of your sexuality in safe, appropriate ways. Dr. Shuey has a Ph.D. in human sexuality and is completing a second doctoral degree.

With the exception of Performing Arts events, the Forum Series is free of charge. Events take place on the Rockford University campus, 5050 East State Street, Rockford. Tickets are required and can be obtained by contacting the Box Office at 815-226-4100 or boxoffice@rockford.edu.

Other highlights of this semester’s Forum Series include lessons on forgiveness from a Holocaust survivor, an appearance by Rockford’s new mayor, a visit from a New York City-based jazz pianist and a musical presented in collaboration with the Rockford Symphony Orchestra. View the full lineup at www.Rockford.edu/forum.

ROCKFORD, Ill. — Rockford University welcomes nine regional high schools to campus Saturday, Feb. 17 for the 2018 NIATM Math Invitational, the Northern Illinois Association of Teachers of Mathematics’ annual math competition. 

The invitational, hosted by Rockford University’s math department, Math Club, the NIATM and numerous volunteers, is set for 1-4:30 p.m. in the Starr Science Center. Hundreds of competitors from 10 local high schools—Belvidere, Boylan, Harlem, Hononegah, Rochelle, Rockford Christian, Winnebago, Woodstock and Woodstock North—will attend the event with their coaches and guardians for individual and team tests in several disciplines.

Rockford University is pleased to announce the addition of the Bloomberg Professional service to its business curriculum. The new Bloomberg Business Lab, featuring 11 state-of-the-art terminals, is now part of the Puri School of Business at Rockford University and is the only academic institution with this level of global business resources in the Rockford area. Students will use the Bloomberg Professional service to further develop industry leading skills for careers in finance, economics, accounting and business. The Bloomberg Professional service has more than 320,000 leading business and financial subscribers worldwide.

The Bloomberg Professional service, Bloomberg’s core offering, is a software platform that provides trusted real-time and historical data, market moving news and analytics to help business and financial professionals make better informed investment decisions. The service also features execution platforms for every asset class, research and a global network to communicate securely and reliably. The University’s subscriptions to the Bloomberg Professional service will serve as a resource for both students and professors. It will enable students to become familiar with tools used in financial services, thereby reinforcing classroom theory, while professors can use it to further their own research.

John Gunyon, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of Rockford University’s Economics, Business and Accounting department, says, “The addition of the Bloomberg Business Lab is an incredible asset to our growing business curriculum. The Bloomberg Professional service terminals will provide instant access to more than 130 industries and thousands of companies, allowing our students to analyze real-world scenarios that drive movements in major asset classes, credit metrics, economics and government policy. The technology brings together all of the data, news and analytics to provide the kind of complete understanding of companies, industries and markets that are critical to finding successful entry into today’s financial job market.”

The Bloomberg Business Lab was made possible by Rockford University alumnus Sunil Puri and his contributions to establish the PURI School of Business. The business school is home to the Department of Economics, Business and Accounting, including the Master of Business Administration, Executive Development and Adult Accelerated Degree Completion programs. The academic programs offered by the department are accredited by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE).

Rockford University will host an open house for the Bloomberg Business Lab and the Puri School of Business on Tuesday, February 27, 2018, from 4:30 – 6 p.m. with remarks at 5:15 p.m. The Puri School of Business building is located directly to the east of the University’s main entrance at 5050 East State Street, Rockford.

For more information regarding the Bloomberg Business Lab or the University’s Economics, Business and Accounting department, contact Dr. John Gunyon, JGunyon@rockford.edu.

Bloomberg Business Lab Fact Sheet

Media contact:
Rita Elliott, Director of University Communications
relliott@rockford.edu , 815.226.3374

Rockford University Assistant Professor of English Tara Wood, Ph.D., recently had pieces published related to her ongoing research on the nexus of disability and writing studies, specific to higher education students with disabilities. Her article “Cripping Time in the College Composition Classroom” published in the journal College Composition and Communication. The article shares findings from a qualitative study on the experiences of students with disabilities in college-level writing and writing-intensive classrooms. Dr. Wood argues that normative conceptions of time and production can negatively constrain student performance, and offers the concept of ‘crip time’ (borrowed from disability theorists and disability activists) as an alternative pedagogical framework.

“Rhetorical Disclosures: The Stake of Disability Identity in Higher Education” published in the edited collection Negotiating Disability: Disclosure and Higher Education. Here, Dr. Wood examines the rhetorical strategies that students with disabilities often use when making decisions regarding disclosure on college campuses.

Wood was also published in the May 25, 2017 edition of the Chronical of Higher Education, where she was the lead author on the article “Why we dread the disability myths” – a critical response to an article published in April by Gail Hornstein titled “Why I Dread the Accommodation Talk.” Dr. Wood critiques Hornstein for perpetuating dangerous and ableism myths about disability and disabled students. Dr. Wood donated the publication payment to the Society for Disability Studies.

Dr. Wood earned her B.A. and M.A. from Colorado State University and her doctorate from the University of Oklahoma. She has been a member of Rockford University’s English faculty since 2014. Dr. Wood is currently working on a piece that analyzes the rhetoric and politics of Title IX, as well as a collaborative piece on writing an accommodation letter addendum that is specific to writing classrooms.