1780 – The Official Blog of Transylvania University

1780 | The Official Blog of Transylvania University

Transylvania partners with the University of Kentucky for a new pre-engineering program for Transylvania students

Deans Jagger and Walz playfully display a giant slide rule, now an old-fashioned symbol of engineering, that was used as a demonstration model to teach Transylvania science students how to use normal slide rules to perform calculations. Slide rules were used by engineers before calculators became smaller and cheaper. LEXINGTON, Ky.—To prepare students who want to work in an engineering field, Transylvania University has announced a new partnership with the University of Kentucky. Transylvania students can now take up to six courses at the University of Kentucky College of Engineering as part of their undergraduate work and be fully prepared to enter a master’s or doctoral engineering program upon graduation. “This innovative partnership between Transylvania and the UK College of Engineering provides our students an extraordinary opportunity,” said Kathleen Jagger, Transylvania’s interim vice president and dean of the college. “The liberal arts promotes the critical reading, imaginative thinking and engagement with big ideas that will serve engineers well in their future careers. Taking foundational engineering courses alongside liberal arts courses will engage students more purposefully in the future they see for themselves and prepare them optimally for graduate studies in engineering.” This new partnership with UK allows the students to remain on Transylvania’s campus for their entire four-year undergraduate career. Previously, the only option was a 3-2 arrangement, where students earn a B.A. in physics or liberal studies from Transylvania in three years, then a B.S. in engineering from UK

The Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship works to improve diplomacy; center moving to Transylvania University

Portrait of Henry Clay by Matthew Harris Jouett LEXINGTON, Ky.—Many would agree that if the country ever needed a good compromiser, now is the time. The Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship hopes to improve the climate for political negotiation in the future through its prestigious summer Student Congress, which promotes the ideals of enlightened compromise and civil discourse that Clay championed throughout his distinguished political career in the 19th century. Historically, the center has brought top college students from across the nation to Lexington for its one-week academic immersion into Clay’s principles of debate, diplomacy, communication and beneficial compromise. Beginning in 2014, the program will instead bring outstanding high school students from all around Kentucky to participate in the event. By educating these potential leaders, the center aims to have a positive impact on the nation’s public conversation. The center’s core mission is to promote the ideals of statesmanship that Henry Clay exhibited in his public life from 1806 until his death in 1852. Clay was Secretary of State under President John Quincy Adams, a senator and representative (Speaker of the House for six congresses) from Kentucky and a three-time presidential candidate. His skill at diplomacy earned him the title of the Great Compromiser. A recently signed agreement between the center, Transylvania University and the University of Kentucky makes Transylvania the primary location for the center and the Student Congress. “We are thrilled to be working in association with the

Transylvania senior selected as USA Today correspondent

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania University senior Jake Hawkins has spent the last four years working on The Rambler student newspaper and honing his reporting skills. Now a major newspaper has taken notice. Hawkins has been selected as one of 19 USA Today Collegiate Correspondents for the spring 2013 semester. He will write stories for www.usatodaycollege.com with the chance to be published in the print edition of USA Today. The Princeton, Ky., native is just the second student from Kentucky to be named a collegiate correspondent for the news outlet. Alumni from the program have been from top journalism schools including Syracuse University, Michigan State University, New York University and Northwestern University. A writing, rhetoric and communication major, Hawkins has been working with the Transylvania faculty to cater his curriculum to journalism. He also serves as the editor-in-chief of The Rambler. “I really feel like I’ve gotten a personalized education at Transylvania,” Hawkins said. “Even though we don’t have a formal journalism program, my WRC professors and Rambler advisors have gone out of their way to tailor WRC to journalism for me.” Hawkins found the USA Today application while researching his senior seminar project in which he’s compiling a portfolio of freelance journalism stories. The deadline for the application was just two hours away, so he quickly filled it out and submitted clips. He then wrote an article on the fiscal cliff and how it relates to college students, earning him selection to

Transylvania is using man’s best friend and special events to counteract stress of a student’s worst enemy—finals

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania is expanding its annual Stress Fest from one day to a full week of events designed to help students reduce the pressure of their finals and end-of-term projects. Offerings include a Relaxation Station—with free 10-minute massages from Lexington’s Solar Massage—and a dog petting room, which was suggested by Student Government Association President Charli Fant. “We wanted to give students multiple opportunities, so, if at any point during the high-stress time at the end of the term, they wanted to go out and relieve some of that, they had the chance,” said Amy Jo Gabel, director of student involvement and leadership. Other events include basketball games, a Gift of Holiday concert, an improv comedy show and morning yoga classes. “If students need to blow off some steam, listen to music or just have someone rub your shoulders, we’ve got it,” Gabel said. The full list of Stress Fest events is as follows: Friday, Dec. 7 A Gift of Holiday music concert 7:30 p.m., Haggin Auditorium, Mitchell Fine Arts Center Saturday, Dec. 8 Women’s basketball game 1 p.m., Clive M. Beck Center Men’s basketball game 3 p.m., Clive M. Beck Center ImprompTU improv show 9 p.m., William T. Young Campus Center Sunday, Dec. 9 Relaxation Station with massages 2-6 p.m., William T. Young Campus Center Monday, Dec. 10 Free yoga class 8:15 a.m., Clive M. Beck Center Tumbling gym with trampolines, foam pits, and more (Legacy Gymnastics) Shuttle leaves from

Transylvania University inducts 14 into Lampas Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Thirteen Transylvania University students and university president R. Owen Williams were recently inducted into the Lampas Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa. Omicron Delta Kappa, a national leadership honor society, was founded in 1914 at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Va., by fifteen students and faculty members. In the tradition of the idealism and leadership of George Washington and Robert E. Lee, the founders of ODK formulated the idea that leadership of exceptional quality and versatility in college should be recognized. Students apply for ODK membership in their junior or senior year. Selection is based on academic ranking, extracurricular activities and leadership roles. New members are selected by current ODK members and must pass with a 75 percent approval rating. The new members are: President R. Owen Williams Junior Cody Steven Barnett of Viper, Ky. Senior Cassie Caudill of Henderson, Ky. Junior Abigail Elliston of Lexington, Ky. Junior Brianna Hill of Lexington, Ky. Junior Kristina B. Houchins of Winchester, Ky. Junior Brian Hudson of Shepherdsville, Ky. Junior Kelsey Michelle Meece of Somerset, Ky. Junior Melissa R. Moberg of Waxahachie, Texas Junior Emily Novak of Naperville, Ill. Junior Karl Alexander Schmitt of Fort Mitchell, Ky. Junior Maria Angela Starck of Louisville, Ky. Senior Caroline Tapscott of Franklin, Tenn. Junior Raisa Olivia Tikhtman of Lexington, Ky. Transylvania, founded in 1780, is the nation’s sixteenth oldest institution of higher learning and is consistently ranked in national publications as one of the top