-
‘Collaborative spirit’ energizes communication and rhetorical studies at IC
‘Collaborative spirit’ energizes communication and rhetorical studies at IC rosalind.essig Wed, 04/14/2021 - 11:17 4.14.2021 Collaborative research projects are nothing new for Adrienne Hacker Daniels and Christopher Oldenburg, longtime faculty in communication and rhetorical studies. Their work has helped elevate Illinois College and the department, which has taken a unique approach to educating students in the major that sets them up for success in a wide array of fields. Hacker Daniels, who is the A. Boyd Pixley Professor of Humanities and professor of communication and rhetorical studies, was instrumental in revitalizing the program, which has more than doubled in size in recent years. It has grown from around 30 total majors in the program to nearly 20 students in this spring’s senior seminar alone. “There’s an energy in the department,” says Adam Jones, associate professor of communication and rhetorical studies and department chair. The name “communication and rhetorical studies” reflects the program’s approach, which gives students experience with the breadth of the discipline and embraces IC’s liberal arts tradition. The core courses offer students in the major a broader field of study than some programs that are narrowly focused, such as a mass communication or organization communication major. "They see how the study of communication can be applied and integrated into an area that they're interested in — maybe it's sports, maybe it's marketing, maybe it's religion, maybe it's health — whatever it is," Oldenburg, an associate professor in the department, said. The department receives great feedback from graduate and professional schools who find that IC students come in ahead of their peers thanks to that curriculum and the hands-on learning they get from participating in student-faculty research, Jones said. And beyond caring about what the students learn, faculty care about their wellbeing: Students in the department become part of the family. Sergio Peña '21 said he has been supported, nurtured and challenged academically during his time as a communication and rhetorical studies major. “Every single one of those professors, even the ones that I did not have in class, in some way, helped and nurtured my communication abilities, knowledge and skills,” he said. “I feel so prepared for really any academic experience that may be thrown at me in the future in graduate school.”
Every single one of those professors, even the ones that I did not have in class, in some way, helped and nurtured my communication abilities, knowledge and skills.
Sergio Peña '21 The teacher-scholar Hacker Daniels and Oldenburg have worked on four published or forthcoming projects together — in addition to their other scholarship, teaching and service responsibilities. Hacker Daniels explained that they follow the scholar-teacher model: the idea that being a good scholar enhances teaching, and that working with students informs scholarship. It's not true that doing “vibrant, robust research” research detracts at all the quality of teaching, she said. "That categorically is not the case. And, in fact, I would argue that the students are the beneficiaries. When we do this high quality research, they're the beneficiaries of that research. And when we do excellent teaching, the scholarship is the beneficiary of that excellent teaching," she said. Undergraduate student-faculty research isn't just for STEM fields, she added. Students assisting with the research gain valuable hands-on experience. Peña has assisted with research and even co-authored a book chapter with Hacker Daniels. "You think about the doors that something like that opens for an undergraduate student as they graduate,” she said. “It puts a whole new spin on Graduate READY." Peña said his competitive graduate school offers are a testament to the department and the work he did with faculty like Hacker Daniels and Oldenburg. He will be attending Penn State in the fall to pursue a master’s and doctorate in communication arts and sciences. Peña explained that student-faculty research challenged him, built his perseverance, developed his critical reading and writing skills, and ultimately set him apart from other applicants. “The experience and ability to work with faculty so closely is probably one of the things I most value about my time at IC,” he said. “They were able to prepare me both in terms of the skill set, but also in terms of the business or professional side of academics and the communication discipline. And now I just feel really, really excited to take on the next step of my career.”Hacker Daniels Hacker Daniels has written or edited numerous books, chapters and other published work, in addition to presenting and sitting on panels at conferences on interfaith rhetoric, First Amendment and freedom of expression, relationship between rhetorical theory and political theory, and theater and drama. Oldenburg’s focus shifted from political communication and American political discourse to religious rhetoric following an invitation from Hacker Daniels to work on a project on rhetoric and religion. He credits her with opening doors for him as a scholar on the topic and he ultimately wrote a book on the rhetoric of Pope Francis that won the Religious Communication Association Book of the Year Award in 2019, The Rhetoric of Pope Francis: Critical Mercy and Conversion for the Twenty-First Century.Oldenburg But Oldenburg said it is also unsurprising that they would connect and collaborate eventually, because they shared a mentor and teacher, Michael Leff. Leff taught Hacker Daniels at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and advised Oldenburg during his time at the University of Memphis, and they share his approach to rhetorical criticism. Though Hacker Daniels and Oldenburg have different areas of focus that have evolved over time, their research interests intersect with interfaith communication, rhetoric and religion. Jones said it is in that area where their collaboration has become programmatic research that builds and answers more questions with each project. Oldenburg noted another special quality to their collaborative work on interfaith communication: he is Catholic and she is Jewish. "It's not only professionally edifying, but for me it's also enriching interpersonally to be able to work with her in this respect,” he said. “There's this wonderful scholarly synergy that transpires, but then also interpersonally and in terms of our department there’s a collegiality, through all of this, that is inspiring. It is really, really refreshing." "It just makes for the richest kind of intellectual experience," Hacker Daniels added. Timely topics The duo’s current book project is one they were invited to contribute to a series from Peter Lang Publishing. Through a collection of speeches, Hacker Daniels and Oldenburg will study the relationship between religion, rhetoric and violence, and how religious rhetoric can be “a remedy and a poison,” Oldenburg said, adding, “I can’t think of a more timely topic.” "All of the speeches we're going to explore in this anthology will demonstrate this kind of dynamic — the three kinds of functions that we see religious rhetoric doing as it responds to or incites violence,” he said. Their research analyzes three ways religious rhetoric is used to incite or react to violence: as a source of comfort and healing; to fuel, incite or justify violence, such as in the case of the Crusades, the 9-11 terrorist attacks, or the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol; or to admonish and inoculate the audience against further violence.They're definitely helping put IC on the map and I think that's a testament to the quality of the scholarship that they do and the amount that they're publishing. It's a very ambitious research agenda and they're able to do it beautifully.
Communication and Rhetorical Studies Chair Adam Jones Hacker Daniels said curating speeches to quote in their entirety has presented unique research challenges compared to other projects she has worked on with Oldenburg. Their research efforts provide “million dollar” lessons for students, she said: “They actually see on the ground how to put these kinds of research materials together." Jones feels a sense of pride watching the collaboration of his colleagues and the recognition their work is garnering for the department and the College. "They're definitely helping put IC on the map and I think that's a testament to the quality of the scholarship that they do and the amount that they're publishing,” he said. “It's a very ambitious research agenda and they're able to do it beautifully." Faculty -
Illinois College archives receives League of Women Voters collection
Illinois College archives receives League of Women Voters collection rosalind.essig Wed, 04/07/2021 - 15:34 4.07.2021 A collection covering nearly 100 years of women’s political activism in Jacksonville was donated to the Illinois College Khalaf Al Habtoor Archives last month. The collection includes artifacts spanning the League of Women Voters of Morgan County’s existence, from January 1923 until the chapter’s disbandment in 2019, and was donated by Fran and Jim Ringle.McKenna Servis ’22 Samantha Sauer, archivist, curator and assistant professor of history, said it is an exciting campus community collection with rich and meaningful ties to Jacksonville and the Illinois College community, and uniquely complements existing historic campus collections. “There are many connections between Illinois College and the league's history, and there is much teaching and research potential for this collection, especially to support curricular activities with civic engagement, political science, history and hands-on learning at IC,” she said. “Illinois College is honored to be a steward of this campus and community collection.” The collection — of meeting minutes, scrapbooks, photographs, voter registration and community resources material, buttons, detail-driven documentation of league activities and events — comes to the College well-organized and well-cared for, clearly showing decades of care and preservation to maintain the chapter’s history and impact. The collection has already created a special hands-on experience for McKenna Servis ’22, who is researching the history of student and campus civic engagement at Illinois College with Director of Community-Engaged Learning Ryan Flynn ’15. Servis assisted Sauer and Emily Pursley ’24 with moving the collection to campus from its temporary home at the Jacksonville Municipal building and had the opportunity to meet the Ringles. “The donation means both a lot to the history of the College and the history of the Jacksonville community,” Servis said. “As a history and political science major, I value the connection that the College provides to the community. Being able to meet the donors and help with the donation process was also a valuable and unique hands-on experience for myself, and the research opportunities will provide that to future students, as well."
“Being able to meet the donors and help with the donation process was also a valuable and unique hands-on experience for myself, and the research opportunities will provide that to future students, as well."
McKenna Servis ’22 To learn more about Khalaf Al Habtoor Archives and how it serves the Illinois College campus, surrounding communities and researchers worldwide, visit www.ic.edu/about/history/khalaf-al-habtoor. In the Community -
IC nursing program meets needs of Jacksonville region
IC nursing program meets needs of Jacksonville region amy.jones Tue, 04/06/2021 - 10:24 4.06.2021 A recent article published by the Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation explores how Illinois College's nursing program is growing to meet the health care and educational needs of the region.
Our nursing students have access to cutting-edge labs, hands-on learning resources and expert faculty. They are engaged with the Jacksonville community and dedicated to developing the skills needed to provide compassionate, patient-centered care.
President Barbara A. Farley This article was originally published on April 5, 2021 by the JREDC. It can be accessed on the JREDC website here. Illinois College's nursing program meets needs of Jacksonville, IL region In 2020, to help meet the urgent needs of community and regional health care providers, Illinois College (IC) added a traditional four-year track to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. Graduates from the program are fully prepared to take the national licensure exam to become registered nurses (RNs). This track is in addition to the College’s online RN-to-BSN program that launched in 2019. For working RNs, returning to school to earn the BSN can lead to career advancement through increased leadership roles and salary, as well as open the door to careers such as a nurse educator, public health nurse, or other specialty. “With this expansion of the BSN program, Illinois College continues to demonstrate its commitment to serving students by preparing them to become leaders in health care,” said Barbara A. Farley, Illinois College President. “Our nursing students have access to cutting-edge labs, hands-on learning resources and expert faculty. They are engaged with the Jacksonville community and dedicated to developing the skills needed to provide compassionate, patient-centered care.” The addition of the four-year nursing degree at IC also helped fill a void created by the closure of MacMurray College and its clinical nursing program. The IC program allowed all MacMurray students in good academic and social standing to be eligible for transfer benefits. Illinois College’s nursing program is approved by the State of Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Currently, IC holds new candidate status with the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and hosted an evaluation visit in October 2020. In March 2021, IC was awarded a $237,750 CARES Act grant to support the new clinical nursing program in recognition of its future economic impact on the region. The grant and matching funds from IC will total nearly $300,000 in investment in the region. The grant will ultimately support the placement of more than 1,000 nursing professionals into future jobs in the region by helping to fund a state-of-the-art nursing lab on IC’s campus. The grant will help with the purchase of innovative equipment and patient care simulators. The grant will also support the training of certified nursing assistants and licensed practical nurses through a partnership between IC and Lincoln Land Community College (LLCC). IC’s partners for the project include LLCC, Memorial Health System, Passavant Area Hospital, Illini Community Hospital, the Two Rivers Economic Development District and the Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation (JREDC). When asked about Passavant Area Hospital's role in the nursing program, Leanna Wynn, Affiliate Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer of Passavant Area Hospital, said her hospital provides the clinical experience site for Illinois College nursing students. “We also provide Masters-prepared registered nurses who can assist as part-time faculty to meet the faculty needs of a nursing program.” Additionally, she said they hire nursing students as patient care technicians which provides them employment and additional experience. There are also internship opportunities available. “We have a paid summer internship program for nursing students who have completed their junior year of study,” continued Wynn. “This program allows the student to be partnered with an experienced registered nurse to gain additional knowledge and understanding of the registered nurse role. We also offer Healthcare Career Education Grants to provide financial assistance to registered nursing students attending Illinois College.” “Illinois College’s Nursing Program is crucial to our ability to hire registered nurses with bachelor’s degrees locally at Passavant Area Hospital,” said Wynn. “In nursing, it is common for nurses to seek employment in the area where they have received their education. In addition, students who live in our area have a nursing program to attend. The Illinois College Nursing Program provides us with the ability to recruit and hire registered nurses to meet our employment needs.” “The rapid growth of our program and the accomplishments of our students and faculty are inspiring,” said Farley. “I have no doubt this program will have a positive impact on Jacksonville and ensure greater access to top-notch health care throughout the region. Illinois College is thrilled to be a partner in this work. I look forward to seeing what graduates of the IC nursing program accomplish in the future.” JACKSONVILLE REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (JREDC) IS EAGER TO ASSIST The JREDC is your time-saving connection to resources to accelerate your project by providing the facts and figures businesses need: statistical data, general community data, topic-specific information and comparative data. Email JREDC or phone 217.479.4627 for information today. In the News -
IC named best school in Illinois for experiential learning
IC named best school in Illinois for experiential learning amy.jones Tue, 04/06/2021 - 13:18 4.06.2021 Illinois College was named one of the top 20 schools in the state according to a recent ranking released by Intelligent.com. Notably, IC was recognized as the best school for experiential learning, an area of education that has been a major focus of the College in recent years because of the widespread benefits for students. Intelligent.com describes itself as an unbiased leader in higher-ed research, dedicated to helping students “make informed decisions about higher education programs.” Experiential learning expands education beyond classroom walls and includes activities such as student-faculty research, community engagement, internships, global study and other projects where students are able to apply their skills in real-world settings. According to Vice President of External Relations Stephanie Elpers Chipman, IC’s focus on hands-on learning and experiential opportunities has played a large role in the 33% enrollment growth IC has experienced over the past 10 years. “Students and their families trust Illinois College to provide a safe, healthy campus environment and a valuable education that will prepare them to Graduate READY for their future careers,” Chipman said. The rankings were based on evaluations of hundreds of schools with consideration for academic curriculum, graduation rate and potential earnings for graduates. The College was also recently recognized for its online degree program in agribusiness. IC’s degree, which launched in spring 2019, was named 2021’s “Most Popular Online Agricultural Economics & Business Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” by Course Advisor, a free resource for students that compiles research and college statistics for students. IC Online launched in 2019 to deliver the college’s unique, multifaceted approach to more students across the country. IC now offers seven student-centered programs delivered completely online in a convenient, flexible format, including agribusiness, RN to BSN nursing and accounting. To learn more about majors and programs at Illinois College, visit www.ic.edu/majors-programs. Research and Learning
-
IC celebrates 187th commencement with virtual events honoring the Class of 2021
IC celebrates 187th commencement with virtual events honoring the Class of 2021 rosalind.essig Wed, 03/31/2021 - 12:43 3.31.2021 Illinois College will award degrees to its Class of 2021 in a virtual commencement ceremony that will be broadcast on May 16 at 1 p.m. Approximately 245 bachelor’s degrees will be awarded to members of the Class of 2021. Each graduate will be recognized individually and the ceremony will be broadcast publicly so that graduates, families and supporters of Illinois College’s Class of 2021 from around the world can tune in. Commencement and other events honoring the graduates will be available virtually, as the Illinois College campus remains closed to guests. A live stream or virtual broadcast will be available for the following events: Nursing Class of 2021 Pinning Ceremony :: Monday, May 10 :: 5:30 p.m. Senior Celebration :: Tuesday, May 11 :: 1 p.m. Baccalaureate :: Sunday, May 16 :: 11 a.m. 187th Illinois College Commencement :: Sunday, May 16 :: 1 p.m. Family and friends can watch live as graduating seniors gather for a special Senior Celebration and the first class of IC’s clinical nursing program participates in the traditional nursing Pinning Ceremony. The virtual Commencement ceremony will be led by President Barbara A. Farley and Provost and Dean of the College Catharine O’Connell. The College’s Board of Trustees, who authorize all degrees granted by the College, will be represented by Board Chair Steven Mills ’77. More information is available at www.ic.edu/commencement. On Campus