All Medaille news items are now being posted at its main web site, www.medaille.edu/news. Content on this site will be transferred over to the main site, but will remain searchable here through the end of 2011.

Continuing in its tradition of offering flexible program options, Medaille College has introduced two new online bachelor’s degree programs in homeland security and health information administration.

In the wake of terrorist events like 9/11, environmental crises like the BP oil spill and natural disasters like the recent earthquake in Japan, the demand for professionals who can effectively manage emergency situations has led to the introduction of academic degrees in homeland security. Medaille’s Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security is tailored to meet the demand for professionals who can prepare for and mitigate the effects of large- and small-scale disasters.

The Bachelor of Professional Studies degree in Health Information Administration will prepare individuals for management positions in the fast-growing field of electronic health records.

“Few colleges in Western New York are offering online programs,” said Jacqueline Matheny, vice president for enrollment management. “We’re taking our existing approach – of working individually with students and providing the support they need to be successful – and applying that to an online environment.”

These two degrees build upon Medaille’s initial online degree offering, a Bachelor of Business Administration in Information Systems. Each of these programs is designed for working adults who have already earned approximately two years’ worth of college credits. Students pursue these degrees by taking one class at a time, with each class running for seven weeks. Degrees can be completed in about two years, and the programs are accepting applications for classes that start in September 2011.

A group of students took part in a one-of-a-kind, and perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime, event on Wednesday, April 27. With a crowd of Medaille students, alumni, faculty, staff and media cheering them on, 19 seniors took less than ten minutes to “stuff” themselves inside the Medaille Bug, a 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle.

Guinness World Records approved Medaille’s attempt at a world record, which is held by a group in Austria that managed to fit 25 people inside a New Beetle.

Video by Chatham Marcolini ’14.

Additional pictures and video will be available on the Medaille Bug’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/medaillebug.

In response to questions raised this week about the treatment of animals within its Department of Veterinary Technology, Medaille has released the following statement.

Medaille College’s Veterinary Technology Program trains students to aid animals and society by providing excellent care and service for animals by alleviating animal suffering and by promoting public health. Medaille does not do animal testing of any kind, and the program is fully accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Medaille graduates, as licensed veterinary technicians, are employed in many occupations working to maintain the good health and welfare of animals. Essential tasks required in Medaille’s curriculum for proper housing and high standards of medical care are specifically related to the animal species listed in the AVMA standards for veterinary technology programs.

Medaille animals are cared for by a staff of five NYS Licensed Veterinarians and five Licensed Veterinary Technicians, all with many successful years of veterinary clinical experience. The welfare of all animals on campus comes under the direct jurisdiction of the NYS Department of Health and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. These state and national governing agencies conduct a minimum of one yearly inspection of program facilities and the protocols describing the procedures used for student learning and the housing requirements for each individual species.

Cats and dogs used in the Veterinary Technology Program are fully vaccinated and tested for common diseases found in each species, consistent with the high quality of animal care practiced by pet owners. Cats and dogs remain on campus for one academic year, and are neutered and spayed prior to being adopted out. Medaille has consistently found wonderful homes and families to adopt all cats and dogs that have been used in the program since its inception.

Medaille’s Veterinary Technology Program adheres to all regulations as outlined in the federally-enacted Animal Care and Welfare Act.  Locally, the program is supervised by an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee that contains two public members, not connected to Medaille, who are  from the Buffalo area.

An advisory board comprised of veterinarians with various specialties, veterinary technicians, program graduates and outside public members oversees all aspects of the Medaille Veterinary Technology Program.

Medaille College honored contributions to community service in Western New York with its annual Founders’ Day Celebration on Wednesday, April 13. A reception, dinner and awards ceremony took place at the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society.

Ann McCarthy, consumer affairs manager for Wegmans, delivered keynote remarks on service, based on her longtime efforts to volunteer in the WNY community. She also received a Lifetime Service Award.

Recipients of the Fr. Medaille Awards included:

Crisis Services, organizational award.

Christopher Kreiger of WNY Heroes, Inc., individual award.

Khadija Osman, Medaille student, student award.

Many Mountains Moving, a literary magazine based in Philadelphia, Pa., will publish a story by Emmett Haq, a junior English major, in its annual issue this summer. Haq’s piece, “The Best Man,” was written in fall 2010 as a response to an assignment in Dr. Ted Pelton’s fiction workshop class. Many Mountains Moving is distributed nationally, and is available online at mmminc.org.

Over 250 student leaders from colleges throughout Western New York participated in the Be the Change Student Leadership Conference at Medaille on Saturday, April 2. This all-day event drew students and staff from Niagara University, SUNY Brockport, Hilbert College, Buffalo State College, Daemen College, Canisius College, D’Youville College and the University at Buffalo. Sessions included Athletic Leadership, Diversity, How to be a “Super” Supervisor, Mediation, and Living Your Life in a Digital Fishbowl.

Medaille’s Scholars Program is hosting a Love Canal Community Forum on Monday, April 4, from 7-9 p.m. in the Main Building Lecture Hall. This event marks another piece of the semester-long project in which this group of students has studied and evaluated the ethical decisions surrounding Love Canal.  Luella Kenny, a noted local speaker and Love Canal homeowner and activist, will give the keynote remarks and will serve as a panelist, along with a local environmental attorney and a representative from the New York State Department of Health.

Heidi A. Raphael ‘85, vice president of corporate communications at Greater Media, Inc., has been elected to serve a two-year term representing District 1 on the 2011 National Association of Broadcasters Radio Board of Directors. The term officially begins in June 2011.

Raphael has had a successful career in the radio broadcasting industry, and has served on the Medaille board of trustees since July 2010. Medaille’s Department of Communication honored her with its “Woman of the Year” award at its recent recognition ceremony.

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) is the premier advocacy association for America’s broadcasters. NAB advances radio and television interests in legislative, regulatory and public affairs. Through advocacy, education and innovation, NAB enables broadcasters to best serve their communities, strengthen their businesses and seize new opportunities in the digital age.

Jackie Matheny, vice president for enrollment management in the School of Adult and Graduate Education, appeared on 1230 AM WECK on Tuesday morning, March 29  to speak about college degrees for adults and graduate students.

Listen to the nine-minute clip from the broadcast (MP3)

“No matter what kind of schedule you have right now, whether you’re working  a split shift, a morning, a day – you’re unemployed and looking for work, there’s a way for you to go back to school.” – Jackie Matheny