Director of Communications Rita Elliott, 815-226-3374

Rockford, Ill., – The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at Rockford University has successfully completed its accreditation review by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), earning full accreditation through 2019. The Rockford University Department of Nursing is approved by the State of Illinois Department of Professional Regulation (IDFPR) www.idfpr.com and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc., 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850 | Atlanta, Georgia 30326 P.(404) 975 5000 | F. (404) 975-5020, www.acenursing.org.

Rockford University’s BSN program has grown to accommodate 80 new students per year with cohorts beginning in each fall and spring semester. Current total nursing enrollments exceed 180 students. RU Nursing graduates are noted for routinely scoring well above the national average on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN®). Nursing is a licensed profession with nurses practicing according to state-specific provisions outlined in the Nursing Practice Act, Illinois Compiled Statutes (225 ILCS 65/) Nursing and Advanced Practice Nursing Act. Graduates of Rockford University BSN program are eligible to apply to take the NCLEX-RN®. This is a computer-adapted examination and may be taken at testing centers in Illinois and across the United States. Passage of this examination will allow the graduate to begin practicing as a registered nurse.

The BSN program is led by a program administrator, Assistant Dean for Nursing Education Nancy Kertz, Ph.D., and nine full-time faculty instructors. Assistant Professor of Nursing Nola Addante, BSN, MSNE, serves as the Academic Department Chair. Dr. Kertz notes, “The accreditation process confirms our commitment to ensure our programming meets the highest standards in nursing education. Rockford University has an outstanding reputation of preparing its nursing graduates to excel in their chosen nursing disciplines. We take pride in knowing our nurses have the necessary advanced training and skills to provide exceptional care to their patients and to become leaders in their field.”

According www.acenursing.org, “ACEN supports the interests of nursing education, nursing practice, and the public by the functions of accreditation. Accreditation is a voluntary, self-regulatory process by which non-governmental associations recognize educational institutions or programs that have been found to meet or exceed standards and criteria for educational quality. Accreditation also assists in the further improvement of the institutions or programs as related to resources invested, processes followed, and results achieved. The monitoring of certificate, diploma, and degree offerings is tied closely to state examination and licensing rules, and to the oversight of preparation for work in the profession.”

‌Rockford, Ill., – US News and World Report has released its 2015 Best College Rankings with Rockford University being named as a Best Midwest Regional Tier One University.

More information about the University can be found on the Accreditations and Distinctions page located on the University’s website, rockford.edu.

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) and Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT). 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 one of only 81 colleges in the nation as a “College with a Conscience,” Rockford University currently serves approximately 1,300 full-and part-time students.

Rockford, Ill., – Students interested in attending Rockford University are invited to attend the University’s Visit Day on Friday, October 13, 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Rockford University, 5050 East State Street, Rockford.

Visit Days provide prospective students and their families the opportunity to gain an in-depth look at Rockford University’s campus, faculty, student life and services. During the day there will be chances to meet with faculty, talk to admission counselors and tour the campus, located in the heart of Rockford on 150 wooded acres.

A complimentary lunch will also be served in the University’s cafeteria from its on-campus dining service. Prospective students are also invited to stay overnight in one of the University’s residence halls or at one of the area’s hotels.

To arrange for your reservation at Visit Day, register online through Oct. 10, e-mail admissions@rockford.edu, or call the Office of Admission at 815-226-4050 or 800-892-2984. Upcoming visit days will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2014 and Saturday, February 7, 2015.

Rockford, Ill. – Stephen Warde Anderson is a self taught artist with over twenty years spent perfecting and adapting his technique. His paintings combine a vivid imagination, and innocent admiration of women, to reveal paintings of a symbolic nature. Anderson was born and raised in Rockford, Illinois. His paintings have been included in exhibits nationwide, including in the Smithsonian Art Gallery, Museum of American Folk Art, Art Institute of Chicago, Milwaukee Art Museum, and Rockford Art Museum. This exhibit will display the width and breadth of Anderson’s career and will include paintings spanning the last ten years.

The exhibit, titled “Fables & Fairy Tales”, will open Friday, September 12 with a reception serving light refreshments from 6 – 8 p.m. The exhibit will close October 9. The Rockford University art gallery is located in the Clark Arts Center at 5050 East State Street, Rockford. Gallery Hours are Tuesday – Friday, 3 – 6 p.m. and by appointment.

The exhibit is free and open to the public. Clark Arts Center is wheelchair accessible. For more information, contact the Rockford University Box Office at 815-226-4100.

For immediate release – 10/6/14
Contact: Director of Communications Rita Elliott, 815-226-3374

Rockford, Ill., –Approximately 200 students from high schools in the stateline area will visit Rockford University to attend the Annual Entrepreneurship Day, on Thursday, October 9, 2014 in the University’s Burpee Center, 5050 East State Street, Rockford.

Entrepreneurship Day events will include professors from the University’s Economics, Business and Accounting Department speaking about what it takes to be an entrepreneur, as well as subjects such as Market Analysis, Ethics, Business Planning and Strategy. Students will also work in teams to develop a business plan for a product or service of their choosing. Teams will develop their plans with discussion and activities facilitated by Rockford University professors and current MBA students.

There will be a panel of area entrepreneurs that will share their knowledge with the students and answer questions about their experience. Optional tours of the Rockford University campus are included in the day.

Rockford, Ill., – Enrollment of full-time undergraduate (FTUG) students at Rockford University has reached a 20-year high of 878 students for fall 2014, up nearly nine percent over last year. The University also recruited the largest first-year class in a decade with 146 students. Transfer enrollments are also at 20-year highs, bringing the total number of full-time new students entering traditional undergraduate programing to 341 students. The increase in enrollment has occurred despite a decrease in high school graduates in Illinois and the region. The University’s international student population has also seen a six percent increase over 2013 with 49 students from 22 countries enrolled in undergraduate, graduate and ESL programs.

The University’s total student enrollment is 1,284, up four percent over 2013, and includes 1,032 undergraduate and 252 graduate students. Vice President for Enrollment Management Eric Fulcomer, Ph.D., credits several factors for the strong student numbers saying, “Rockford University has invested $13 million in campus infrastructure and facilities over the past five years; we’ve leveraged our name change to University with a new Rock Solid marketing campaign that is proving to resonate with diverse audiences; we’ve made improvements in our recruitment processes and procedures; and perhaps most importantly, the dedication of our faculty and staff to foster a satisfying student experience is exceptional.” Dr. Fulcomer also notes that the GPA and ACT academic profile of students continues to increase.

Additionally, the university has recently conducted the national 2014 Student-Satisfaction Inventory (SSI) in which Rockford students rank their experiences as more satisfied than peer institutions in 10 of 11 categories such as academic support, campus life, recruitment and financial aid, support services, and service excellence.

Rockford, Ill., – The Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence (NICNE) at Rockford University will be hosting several programs this fall including the Leadership Café series, Certificate in Nonprofit Management, a workshop on teambuilding for nonprofits, Nonprofit Board Training, Nonprofit Dialogue, and superior customer service workshop.

Leadership Café Series: The Leadership Café series is held the last Wednesday of every month beginning August 27, 2014 and lasting through June 24, 2015. These monthly discussions focus on critical and cutting-edge issues in nonprofit leadership and governance. The series is designed to provide a menu of ideas, information, opinions, and resources for nonprofit management staff, board members, and community participants.

Certificate in Nonprofit Management: This program is designed to support the changing demands on nonprofit leaders to enhance their management skills and operate more effectively. There are five courses designed to strengthen participants’ abilities in Leadership and Governance, Marketing, Human Resources, Financial Management, and Fund Development. The certificate program will be held Thursdays from 1-4:30 p.m. beginning October 2. Cost is $250 per course.

A Workshop on Teambuilding for Nonprofits: It’s Okay to be a Silly Goose! The teambuilding workshop will focus on investing in and maintaining a positive culture and environment within your workforce. Discover how to create a strong sense of teamwork through high-energy activities. The workshop will be held Tuesday, October 14 from 9-11:45 a.m., with a registration deadline of October 7. Cost is $35.

Nonprofit Board Training: The focus of board training is to develop true partners in leadership by developing engaged and purposeful boards. Led by nationally recognized governance expert, Dr. Susan Whealler Johnston, the training will help board members understand how to move beyond legal and oversight responsibilities to become partners in leadership with their CEO. Training will be held Saturday, November 8 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Cost to attend is $60.

10th Annual Nonprofit Dialogue: The Nonprofit dialogue will be facilitated by Rockford University President Robert L. Head, Ph.D. The dialogue will help identify issues and trends that nonprofits are facing in our community. During the dialogue, participants will also learn how Rockford University can work with area nonprofits to address the issues identified and support nonprofits. The 10th Annual Nonprofit Dialogue will be Friday, November 14 from 8:30-10:00 a.m. with a registration deadline of Wednesday, November 12. There is no cost for this event.

NICNE Customer Service Workshop: During this workshop, participants will learn that the most valuable asset to their organization are their people. Developing superior customer service within an organization will lead to increased profitability and will help build business. The workshop will be Thursday, December 4 from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m., with a registration deadline of Wednesday, November 25. Cost is $40.

All programs will be held on the Rockford University campus at 5050 E State Street, Rockford, Ill. Further details for each program can be found at https://www.rockford.edu/?NICNEPrograms.

*As of January 1, 2015, to reflect NICNE’s expansive programming and home within the Rockford University College of Social Sciences, Commerce and Education, NICNE will become the Rockford University Center for Nonprofit Excellence (RUCNE).

Rockford, Ill., – Rockford University will be hosting Rajmohan Gandhi, Ph.D., grandson of Mahatma Gandhi , on their campus as part of their fall 2014 Forum series. Dr. Gandhi will be interviewed be Rockford University President Robert L. Head, Ph.D. The interview will be held Wednesday, September 17, 6 p.m., in Maddox Theatre, Clark Arts Center, 5050 E. State St., Rockford.

Dr. Gandhi is currently a research professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He has been involved with Initiatives of Change, an organization that strives to transform society by enacting change in individual lives and relationships, since 1956. He has worked for more than half a century to engage in trust-building, reconciliation and democracy in the fight against corruption and inequality.

Over his career Dr. Gandhi has received numerous humanitarian, peacemaking and writing awards. He led the Indian delegation to the United Nations Human Rights Commission in 1990 and in 2004 received the International Humanitarian Award from the city of Champaign. He has also served as a jury member for the Nuremburg International Human Rights Award and as co-chair for the Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation in Gurgaon, India. In 2007 he was awarded the Bennial Award from the Indian History Congress for a biography of his grandfather Mahatma Gandhi: A True Story of a Man, His People, and an Empire.

During his interview, Dr. Gandhi will focus on questions regarding human rights, social justice, nonviolence, the Indian independence movement, his work, and his grandfather, Mahatma Gandhi. Following his interview, on September 18, Dr. Gandhi will be the guest speaker at the Violence Prevention Collaborative 15th Annual Peace Awards Luncheon and Workshop at the Radisson Hotel in Rockford.

This interview is open and free to the public, however, tickets are required. Please contact the Rockford University Box Office at 815-226-4100 or boxoffice@rockford.edu to reserve your tickets or for more information. Clark Arts Center is accessible. To see the entire fall 2014 series line-up visit: https://www.rockford.edu/? ForumSeries.

For more about the 15th Annual Peace Awards luncheon and workshop, visit: http://www.wchd.org/contentPage.asp?pgID=500.

For immediate release – 8/18/14
Rita Elliott, director of communications: 815-226-3374

Rockford, Ill. – McGaw Hall, the seven story residence hall located on the northeast corner of the University’s campus is scheduled for demolition. The building has not been in use since its closing in 2004. The N-TRAK Group of Loves Park, Ill., has been awarded the contract for demolition which will begin immediately. The entire project will take six to eight weeks to complete.

McGaw Hall was completed in 1969 and first served as a women’s residence hall. It was closed in 2004 for two primary reasons: the space was not needed to house students and there were prohibitive costs associated with several building code upgrades, most significant was the retrofitting of a fire suppression system. Discussions have continued since its closing about what would be the best long-term solution for the McGaw building, taking into account both renovation and demolition options.

Damage sustained to the building as a result of this past winter’s extreme weather conditions caused roof drains to malfunction and flooding throughout the building. There is no strategic advantage to renovating the facility for use as a residence hall as the space no longer adequately meets the needs and expectations of current students. As additional living spaces are needed, students will be better served by more modern housing alternatives. The University’s Fiscal Year 2015- 2018 strategic planning process includes provisions for the construction of new housing that will provide options for both traditional and non-traditional students.

Rockford University President Robert L. Head adds, “The recent damage to McGaw Hall and resulting insurance settlements allow us to offset the approximate $600,000 cost to raze the structure, making this an opportune time to put the lingering issues of the building to rest. We continue our commitment to make improvements to the University that enhance the overall experience of our students, like the $5 million in renovations currently underway to the Burpee and Seaver Centers that will provide modern student-centered spaces that benefit the entire campus community.”

Rockford University has invested more than $13 million in capital improvements in the last five years. Estimates to completely renovate the McGaw building are in the $5 million range. The cost of demolition is estimated to remain under $600,000.

For immediate release – 8/08/14
Director of Communications Rita Elliott, 815-226-3374

Rockford, Ill. — Rockford University is pleased to announce its fall 2014 Forum Series schedule. The University will host nine events this fall that span a wide variety of topics and interests. The public is invited and encouraged to attend all events. With the exception of the theatre production, forum events are offered at no charge. All lectures and performances take place on the Rockford University campus, 5050 East State Street, Rockford. Tickets are required for all events. Please contact the Rockford University Box Office at 815-226-4100 or boxoffice@rockford.edu to reserve your tickets or for more information.

12 p.m., Maddox Theatre, Clark Arts Center
President’s Opening Convocation

The 2014-2014 Rockford University academic year begins with a traditional convocation and remarks from President Robert L. Head, Ph.D. The formal opening convocation event has been held annually since 1851. Opening Convocation includes a faculty procession in full academic regalia.

Wednesday, September 17
4 p.m., Fisher Memorial Chapel
Constitution Day Lecture by Ron Lee, Adjunct Professor at Rockford University

Constitution Day recognizes the adoption of the United States Constitution. The U.S. Constitutional Convention signed the constitution on September 17, 1787 in Philadelphia. This year’s guest speaker is Rockford University Adjunct Professor of Political Science, Ron Lee.

Wednesday, September 17
6 p.m., Maddox Theatre, Clark Arts Center
Celebration of Peace: Interview with Rajmohan Gandhi, Ph.D., by Rockford University President Robert L. Head, Ph.D.

Dr. Rajmohan Gandhi is a research professor at the Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Associated from 1956 with Initiatives of Change (formerly known as Moral Re-Armament), Dr. Gandhi has been engaged for half a century in efforts for trust-building, reconciliation and democracy and in battles against corruption and inequalities.

Formerly a member (1990-92) of the Rajya Sabha (the upper house of the Indian Parliament), Dr. Gandhi led the Indian delegation to the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva in 1990. In 2004 he received the International Humanitarian Award (Human Rights) from the City of Champaign, and in 1997 he was awarded an honorary doctorate of law from the University of Calgary (Canada) and an honorary doctorate of philosophy from Obirin University, Tokyo. He currently also serves as a Jury Member, Nuremberg International Human Rights Award, and Co-chair, Centre for Dialogue & Reconciliation, Gurgaon, India.

Monday, September 22
7 p.m., Fisher Memorial Chapel
Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help (And How to Reverse It)
Robert Lupton, Ph.D.

Dr. Bob Lupton has invested over 40 years of his life in inner-city Atlanta. In response to a call that he first felt while serving in Vietnam, he left a budding business career to work with delinquent urban youth. Bob and his family sold their suburban home and moved into the inner-city where they have lived and served as neighbors among those in need. As an entrepreneur and Christian community developer he brings together communities of resource with communities of need. Since founding the non-profit organization FCS Urban Ministries he has developed two mixed income subdivisions, organized a multi-racial congregation, started a number of businesses, created housing for hundreds of families and initiated a wide range of human services in his community. Bob is the author of five books and a monthly circulation. He will be speaking about his newest book, Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help (And How to Reverse It).

Tuesday, October 21
7 p.m., Maddox Theatre, Clark Arts Center
Tales that the Dead Can’t Tell
Gary Telgenhoff, D.O.

Dr. Gary Telgenhoff sees dead people — and often in the most gruesome ways imaginable. A real life CSI consultant in Las Vegas, Nev., “Dr. T” is a forensic pathologist and Deputy Medical Examiner who uses science and his own macabre sense of humor to bring audiences of hit television shows “Bones” and CSI” the tales that the dead can’t tell.

Monday, October 27
7 p.m., Fisher Memorial Chapel
Tres Vidas

Tres Vidas (Three Lives) is a live music theatre work for a singing actress and instrument trio (cello, piano and percussion), based on the lives of three legendary Latin American Women: Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, Salvadoran peasant activist Rufina Amaya and Argentine poet Alfonsina Storni. The music ranges from traditional Mexican folk and Argentine tango songs sung in Spanish to instrumental works by composers such as Astor Piazzolla and Osvaldo Golijov.

Wednesday, October 29
7 p.m., Maddox Theatre, Clark Arts Center
The Special Consensus Bluegrass Band

The Special Consensus is a four person acoustic bluegrass band that began performing in the Midwest in the spring of 1975. The first band album was released in 1979 when the band began touring on a national basis; they have recorded fifteen albums since then. In 1984, The Special Consensus initiated the Traditional American Music (TAM) Program in schools across the country and began appearing on cable television and National Public Radio shows. In 2003 they performed on the Grand Ole Opry at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium. The band’s sixteenth recording, “Scratch Gravel Road,” was released by Compass Records in March 2012 and was nominated for the Best Bluegrass Album GRAMMY Award. The song “Monroe’s Doctrine” from that recording was nominated for the IBMA Recorded Event of the Year award in 2012. “Country Boy – A Bluegrass Tribute to John Denver”, the band’s seventeenth album, was released in March 2014 to instant critical acclaim.

Tuesday, November 4
7 p.m., Fisher Memorial Chapel
Motivational Speaker Bill Breakey

Throughout his career as a school administrator, business consultant and professional speaker, Bill Breakey has helped organizations find solutions for the long run. He is a motivational speaker, corporate trainer and educator who believes that two of the most important days in our lives are: the day we’re born and the day we discover why we were born.

Thursday, November 20 – Saturday, November 22; 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 23; 2:00 p.m.
Maddox Theatre, Clark Arts Center
Babes in Arms

The quintessential “Hey kids, let’s put on a show!” musical boasts one of the greatest scores ever written. Set in a summer stock theatre, the plot concerns a group of young apprentices and their conviction to mount the original revue they have created while dodging the underhanded attempts of the surly theatre owner to squash their attempts at every turn. Further complications are provided by the overbearing stage mother of an ex-child star and the inflated ego of a hack Southern playwright. But of course the show must go on, and so it does in a resolution of comeuppance, reconciliation and romance.

About the Rockford University Forum Series:
Each semester, the Rockford University Forum Series presents speakers from a variety of disciplines and performers of stature in the arts. The series is designed to deepen and broaden students’ education at Rockford University. All full-time undergraduate students are required to attend a minimum of two Forum Series events each semester. The series has hosted many notable presenters like Oscar Arias, the Tibetan Lamas of Drepung Loseling monastery, Benazir Bhutto, the Kremlin Chamber Orchestra, Naomi Tutu, and Twyla Tharpe.