Pfeiffer University recently received the first-ever American accreditation for its International Master of Business Administration degree program by ACQUIN, the German accreditation agency, following a site visit and an extensive audit.
The ACQUIN Accreditation Council endorsed its site team’s recommendation to certify Pfeiffer’s European MBA degree program. The accreditation assures trained evaluators have examined the program to ensure the agency’s standards are being met in several vital areas including strategic planning, student learning and curriculum, faculty scholarship, professional activities, resources, internal/external relationships, and educational innovation. The rigorous process, which included site visits and audits and completion of 1,000 required accreditation documents, began in spring 2006. The certification is valid through Sept. 30, 2013.
Dr. Uli Froehlich, dean of the Academy of International Business Studies at Pfeiffer and administrator who led the accreditation process, and Christina Kitze, who is director of European operations for the academy, along with officials from the School of Graduate Studies, decided pursuit of this accreditation was essential because the university frequently enrolls about 30-40 students annually in its German MBA program and claims approximately 200 German alumni since the academy’s inception in 1997.
Pfeiffer’s European students are recruited through the academy, which was founded as part of the School of Graduate Studies. The academy’s mission is to develop a unique educational program for students from foreign universities and other institutions of higher education. Foreign students have the opportunity to enroll in a traditional MBA program as well as undergraduate degree programs.
Gardner-Webb list
Charles Taylor Hutchins of Hickory has been named to the spring semester dean’s list at Gardner-Webb University for achieving a 3.7 grade-point average.
He is the grandson of Spurgeon and Eugenia Huneycutt of Longs Ferry Road.
Catawba convocation
Catawba College’s opening convocation Aug. 29 marked the start of Catawba’s 157th academic year and a new president, the college’s 21st.
President Dr. W. Craig Turner convened the college and officiated as employees were recognized for their years of service.
Tom Smith, chairman of the Board of Trustees, gave notice he is stepping down after 10 years as chairman and will be replaced at the October meeting by Paul Fisher, vice chairman.
Turner encouraged faculty, staff and students to consider five or six key ideas. First, “be positive.”
“Negativism,” he said, “is the most debilitating element in the workplace today. Don’t say, ‘Why?’ when you can just as easily say, ‘Why Not?’ Don’t say, ‘I don’t know,’ but rather, ‘I’ll find out.’ Don’t say, ‘It’s too difficult,’ but rather, ‘I’ll give it my best shot.’ ”
“A positive attitude is sort of like changing a diaper,” Turner joked. “It doesn’t necessarily solve any long-term problems, but it certainly makes life more tolerable.”
He encouraged community members to “be responsible,” regardless of “how small the task may be,” and to be sensitive to opportunity. “Change is the one constant in our world,” he noted. Being a leader, a person of vision and a person of faith were also ideas he asked his audience to ponder.
Faculty and staff recognized for years of service include:
20 years: Dr. James Beard, professor of chemistry; Dr. Carl Girelli, vice president of student academic development and professor of English; Delores Imblum, administrative assistant for the School of Sciences; Dr. Renee McCachren, chair and professor of music; and Marsha Safrit, associate registrar.
15 years: James Baker Jr., head coach of men’s basketball and instructor of physical education; Dr. John Wear Jr., director of the Center for the Environment and the environmental science program; Dr. J. Michael Wilson, chair of modern foreign languages department; and Jean Wurtser, library technical associate.
10 years: Ann Dunn, coordinator of program operations, School of Evening and Graduate Studies; Larry Farmer, human resources officer; Sam Gealy, head coach for men’s and women’s golf; Ruth Goodnight, supervisor of cashier and student accounts; Dr. Seth Holtzman, assistant professor of religion and philosophy; William Kluttz, supervisor of facilities; Robin Misenheimer, programmer/analyst; David Najarian, Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling coordinator; Dr. Mark Sabo, professor of chemistry; and Craig Turnbull Jr., head coach for men’s soccer, instructor of physical education and assistant compliance director.
Five years: Doreen Blakeney, facilities office assistant; Kurt Cribb, special projects coordinator for Center for the Environment; Dr. Robert Dingle, director and assistant professor of athletic training education; Shane Flowe, director of the Office of Public Safety; Bridgette E. Gibbs, director of event planning for Catawba Conferences; Dr. Gordon Grant III, associate professor of English; Dr. Elizabeth Homan, assistant professor of theatre arts; Joanna Jasper, chief information officer; David Kirkland, director of technical services for Catawba Conferences; Shawn Moore, systems administrator/developer; Angela Morton, head coach for women’s basketball; Dr. Cynthia Osterhus, assistant professor of teacher education and director of the Shirley Peeler Ritchie Academy for Teaching; Winnell Short, library technical assistant; Dawn Snook, director of admissions; Deborah Stinson, custodian; W. Dan Sullivan Jr., dean of students and director of housing; D.J. Summers, assistant coach for football; and Chuck Williams, vice president for business and finance.
Collegiate scholar
Ivan Worth Corriher II, a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, will be inducted into the National Society of Collegiate Scholars Sept. 28.
Son of Tim and Tammy Corriher of China Grove, he graduated from South Rowan High School.
Membership in the interdisciplinary honors organization for first- and second-year college students is by invitation only based on grade-point average and class standing.