1780 – The Official Blog of Transylvania University

1780 | The Official Blog of Transylvania University

Transylvania hosts fifth annual PumpkinMania on Oct. 27

LEXINGTON, Ky.—In what is becoming a Lexington Halloween tradition, hundreds of jack-o’-lanterns are glowing on the steps of Transylvania University’s historic Old Morrison. The community was encouraged to come out to the fifth annual PumpkinMania lighting and trick-or-treating on Tuesday, Oct. 27. The public donated carved pumpkins, and the university invited local schoolchildren to participate in a carving contest and put their entries on display alongside the others. “There’s no better place to celebrate Halloween in Lexington, than Transylvania University,” said organizer Johnnie Johnson, associate director of admissions, operations. “It’s a perfect opportunity for the university and the community to come together for a celebration with music, trick-or-treating, games and, of course, the lighting of hundreds of pumpkins.” The jack-o’-lanterns will remain on display through Halloween night. In keeping with Transylvania’s commitment to sustainability, the school ordered 400 locally grown pumpkins for the event. Overman’s Bluegrass Fruits and Vegetables of Lancaster, Ky., delivered them to campus.

Transylvania inducts three standouts into Pioneer Hall of Fame

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania University inducted three alumni into the Pioneer Hall of Fame on Saturday, Oct. 10, as part of the Celebration of Transylvania, which culminated in the inauguration of President Seamus Carey. Ethan A. Busald ’05 (pictured left), Carol Munson Caudill ’98 and John Mark Stuart ‘95 became the newest members of the 113-member fraternity. “Participation in athletics provides student-athletes with valuable life lessons including teamwork, perseverance and leadership, to name a few,” Vice President of Athletics Holly Sheilley said. “Ethan, Carol and John have translated these life lessons not only during their time as student-athletes at Transylvania but also into their professional lives. We are honored to have them inducted.” Busald made his mark as an exceptional tennis player, earning the title of HCAC Athlete of the Decade. His accomplishments also include being the first in conference history to earn four MVP awards; and he never lost a conference singles or doubles match, winning titles in both categories at No. 1 each of his four years. Additionally, Sports Illustrated recognized Ethan in its “Faces in the Crowd.” He went on to graduate from Northern Kentucky University’s Chase School of Law in 2009. Caudill took to the field for Transylvania in a variety of sports— from field hockey to softball to soccer. In field hockey, she was named MVP in 1997 and Most Improved Player her first year. And she earned spots on the KWIC Tournament field hockey and softball

The Door, the Light, and the Liberal Arts

The following is the transcript of Dr. Carey’s speech during his installation ceremony as Transylvania University’s 26th president. I. Distinguished Guests, Faculty, Staff, Students, Alumni, Delegates, Neighbors, Friends, thank you for being here today. Your presence here brings me honor, but more importantly, it honors Transylvania University and I am grateful for that. Regardless of how hard we tried to streamline this occasion, getting here today involved a lot of work by a lot of people. I want to thank the inauguration committee, led by our vice president for communications, Michele Sparks and our academic vice president, Laura Bryan. I want to thank Rachel Millard, my executive assistant, who has been essential in keeping me on track this past year, and I want to thank everyone across the campus who helped to put this all together.

Transylvania presidential inauguration Oct. 9

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania University installed Seamus Carey as its 26th president on Friday, Oct. 9, in Haggin Auditorium. Carey, who became president in July of 2014, is transforming the university through positive changes such as the appointment of Laura Bryan as vice president for academic affairs and dean of the university, the 100 Doors to Success mentoring program and the Project One diversity initiative. Other innovative improvements are campus-wide building projects that include the construction of three new residence halls and the renovation of the J. Douglas Gay Jr./Frances Carrick Thomas Library and the Haupt Humanities Building. “Dr. Carey has already had a significant impact on Transylvania,” said Chairman of the Board of Trustees William T. Young Jr. “His leadership exemplifies his passion for renewal and devotion to the liberal arts.” Young presented Carey with the Presidential Medallion during the installation ceremony. Distinguished visitors and speakers included presidents and officials from other universities and Lexington Mayor Jim Gray. The installation ceremony was the culmination of the four-day Celebration of Transylvania, which included events such as an All-Campus Picnic, concert by renowned Celtic fiddler Eileen Ivers and the dedication of Alumni Plaza. Before coming to Transylvania, Carey served as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Also, at Manhattan College he was chair of the philosophy department and School of Arts curriculum committee, a member of the faculty senate and director of the Center for Professional Ethics. He earned an

Transylvania education program maintains dual accreditation

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania University’s education program successfully completed rigorous reviews this year to maintain dual accreditation from state and national organizations. The university undergoes evaluations every seven years to maintain its status with the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board. “Achieving this accreditation is a major accomplishment, as the process is quite stringent,” said Tiffany Wheeler, associate professor of education and program director. “To achieve this status, education programs have to successfully demonstrate they are meeting challenging standards related to education candidates’ content knowledge, skills and dispositions. Other standards include field experiences, faculty qualifications and performance, diversity and program governance and resources.” To keep its national accreditation—which the state bases its decision on—Transylvania’s education program underwent both on-site and off-site reviews. The university submitted a lengthy report and many supporting documents that showed how it meets the standards of CAEP, which used to be called the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education. The name of the accreditation retains the organization’s former acronym: NCATE. “This reaffirmation of accreditation demonstrates the faculty’s commitment to provide our students with exceptional learning experiences that prepare them for successful careers in education,” said Laura Bryan, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the university. Students in Transylvania’s education program can prepare to be a teacher in primary through secondary grades or opt for a non-teaching, educational studies major. Most of the courses include fieldwork,