AROUND THE COLLEGE
Here are some recent events in the College of Applied Sciences and Arts.
- Joan M. Davis, professor, School of Allied Health, received her second Fulbright Scholar Specialist grant and worked in Hungary with the University of Szeged’s Dental and Medical School in April and May. While there, she:
- worked with the administration and faculty to assess and develop strategies to match their curriculum with European competencies.
- worked with the chair of periodontics to move forward the newly developed baccalaureate dental hygiene program; the first formal dental hygiene program in Hungary.
- created a strong working relationship with the chair of behavioral health to integrate a tobacco treatment into the medical school curriculum through curriculum and faculty development.
- was awarded the position of visiting professor, and invited to return in May 2017.
- The dental hygiene program in the School of Allied Health was busy during the summer. About 35 dental hygiene students, with the help of faculty, dental hygienists, and dentists, provided preventive dental services to about 100 patients for the two-day, “Give Adults a Smile” and “Give Veterans a Smile” days in July. Patients whose care was not complete at that time have come into the dental hygiene clinic this semester for the continuation of care. In addition, 170 children from three to 17 years old, received preventive dental care at six locations in Carbondale, Cobden, Marion, Murphysboro and Pinckneyville in June and July through the dental sealant grant program. There were 14 senior dental hygiene students involved with those rotations.
- Aviation technologies students turned in an impressive performance in their inaugural maintenance competition in October at the Midwest Aviation Invitational Aviation Technicians Skills competition in Ottumwa, Iowa. The event was the first for the “Detail Dawgs,” a registered student organization formed in February. Competing against students from other colleges and industry professionals, SIU students David Clarke, Raymond Pfaff and Cody Kleiser took the top three individual honors, respectively. The five-member team will prepare for the 2017 Aerospace Maintenance Competition, April 25-27, in Orlando, Fla. That event is much larger, and will feature industry professionals and international competition.
- Two programs within the college have recently received recognition for their online programs. In September, the School of Allied Health’s four-year degree program for radiology technicians was ranked No. 5 in the nation for 2016-2017 by the Community for Accredited Online Schools. In May, the Master of Architecture online program was ranked No. 4 for “Best Values in Online Education in Architecture” for 2016 by College Values Online.
- The Flying Salukis utilized depth to turn in another dominating performance for the team’s sixth straight National Intercollegiate Flying Association Region VIII title on Oct. 29. Senior Bradley C. Smith earned top pilot honors and six other Flying Salukis finished among the top 10 overall scorers as SIU won a ninth regional title in 10 years. The team won seven of nine events -- including placing the top five scorers in each of two events, and five scoring positions in two other events. The 355 points earned was the team’s highest in regional competition under the existing format, eclipsing a 349-point performance in 2014.The title qualifies the Flying Salukis for NIFA national competition for the 47th time in 48 years – the 2017 NIFA national competition is May 9-14 at The Ohio State University. The nine-time national champion Flying Salukis finished second last year, marking the sixth straight year the team has finished in the top three in the nation. The team won recent titles in 2011, 2014 and 2015.
- In September, the university signed an agreement with a St. Louis-based regional airline Trans States Airlines to participate in the “Aviators Program,” which offers a career path for students after they graduate from SIU.
- State Farm Insurance and their research lab recently donated five engine and transmission powertrain units from a Cadillac XTS all-wheel drive; Ford Focus; Subaru BRZ; Volkswagon Touareg, and a Jaguar XF for use in the automotive technology engine and transmission laboratories.
- The success of an inaugural two-day course to allow drone operators to gain Federal Aviation Administration certification to operate unmanned aircraft systems will result in a second two-day session, Jan. 14-15. There were 16 registered participants in the Nov. 12-13 course at the Transportation Education Center, with a wait list already set up for the January class. FAA regulations put in place earlier this year require certification for drone operators if they will operate drones under commercial guidelines for businesses and surveying.