This past Saturday we celebrated the 2013 graduating class of the University of Saint Francis Graduate School. Over 125 students make up the list of those who earned their Masters from USF. Congratulations to our newest recipients of their degrees.

Here is a breakdown of the degrees by number: Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)-33; Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MS)-24; Master of Science in Psychology/Mental Health Counseling (MS)-19; Master of Busisness Administration (MBA)-16; Master of Science in Education (MS ED)-16; Master of Science in Environmental Science (MS)-8; Master of Arts in Studio Arts (MA)-6; Master of Arts in Theology (MA)-2; Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA)-2.

If you are interested in knowing more about the Graduate School at Saint Francis, visit our website at: http://www.sf.edu/sf/graduate/programs.

Well, here we are. This is the week when professors are busy trying to get papers read and exams graded, students are cramming for that last formula they need for their exams, and graduates are making preparations for the celebrations to take place at Commencement services this weekend. It is a busy week around the university, and it signals the completion of another academic year.

Whatever your role during this coming week-faculty, student, or staff, I pray you have a week filled with a sense of peace in the midst of all going on around you. May you find moments of clarity and discover a sense of wonder around our campus. Take the time to notice the blooms on the trees, the turtles in Mirror Lake, the song of a robin in the early morning; and may these elements bring you a sense of completion to your year.

Blessings as you go forth into the next season of life,

Dr. B

On Saturday, May 4 the University of Saint Francis will celebrate this year’s graduates. Over 120 graduate students have submitted an application for graduation and will join the hundreds of undergraduates at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum for the 2:00 PM ceremony.

The day begins with a Baccalaureate Mass at 9:30 AM at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Fort Wayne, and follows with the Commencement Service at 2:00 PM. With the combination of these two services there is ample opportunity to rejoice and give thanks for all that our students have accomplished.

The Commencement speaker this year wil be Dr. Keith L. March, a USF alumnus and currently on faculty at the Indiana University School of Medicine.  In 1999, Dr. March became the first Director of the Indiana Center for Vascular Biology and Medicine. He has developed a world-renowned laboratory while maintaining an active clinical practice.

Any student involved in this year’s services should have already received a letter with full details of the events. For more information on the services, please use this link: http://www.sf.edu/sf/registrar/graduation

Now is often that time in the semester when students begin to feel the pressure of exams, research papers, and class presentations. As the semester is in the final four weeks assignments begin to mount. books need read, and papers need written.

Compounding all of this is the coming of Spring. After a long winter we all look forward to sunny days, green grass, and blooming flowers. These things naturally draw us outside and often away from the studies that await us indoors.

If you are facing these types of tensions, be good to yourself. Do not spend every waking moment working on your papers or studying for exams. Reward yourself with some time to walk outside and rejoice in the wonder of Spring. At the same time, don’t overdo it. Set up a schedule for those study projects, discipline yourself to meet your deadlines, and then reward yourself when you complete a goal.

Enjoy these last few weeks of the term. Summer will soon be here!

Dr. B

On Saturday, May 4, the University of Saint Francis will celebrate the achievements of this year’s graduates, both undergraduate and graduate. The ceremony will recognize the work of those stuidents who have completed or anticipate completing, their degree requirements this academic year.

We have already had 12 students finish their Masters degree. They will be joined by another 112 who will be completing in May or August, bringing our Graduate School number to a total of 124 graduates this year. What an outstanding job they have done to reach this milestone.

If you are among those who have already been audited and are on our list, you should receive final commencement instrutions within the next two weeks. Be sure you read all the information so you will be well informed.

If you anticipate graduating next year, it is not too soon to begin planning for your commencement service. You can start by meeting with your advisor and making sure you are on-track to finish, and will meet all the degree requirements. After that, set aside the first Saturday in May, and plan to join us in celebrating your work!

In the midst of your busy life, and in whatever circumstances you find yourself, I pray that you will discover anew the peace of Christ this week. Throughout this week there are services and reminders which bring us to the highpoint of Easter.

As you approach your readings, papers, exams, and whatever else you may have in your classes, take a few moments and reflect upon the gift of grace we all experience every day.

Blessed Easter to you all!

Dr. B

Last week I sent out letters to anyone who was struggling with classes this term. The Graduate faculty submitted mid-term grades about a week previously. Assuming you are doing fine in your classes, you should not be expecting a warning letter from me. If you do receive a letter, it is a warning that you need to attend to your coursework.

Also, this is a “last-call” for anyone who is planning to graduate this year.The Registrar is ordering the diplomas, the office staff is making plans for the Commencement Program, and I am doing degree audits to make sure every graduate has met the degree requirements. If you have not yet submitted an Application for Graduation, this is the last chance to make sure you are included in the ceremonies. Click here for the application form http://www.sf.edu/sf/assets/files/gradstudies/Application%20for%20Graduation%20-%20revised%202012%2010%2016.pdf 

If you are not planning to complete your degree this year, it is not too soon to begin planning for next year. You should submit an application one semester prior to the term you plan to complete your degree. That allows for any last-minute problems that may occur and assures you that you are on track. Check with your advisor if you have any questions regarding your degree requirements or your curricular options.

As I consider the world this week it would be easy to have a sense of turmoil. The US has just entered into a time of sequestration, with uncertain results for all of us. The Cardinals are meeting in Rome to elect a new Pope under circumstances that have not been faced in centuries. All around us are signs that things are getting difficult.

On the other hand, I spotted new growth in my yard this week as the spring flowers begin their task of renewing the earth with beauty. In the midst of all that is going on around us, I would encourage you to pause for a moment and reflect on all that is right in your world. Yes, there are problems on a global scale and there are concerns locally. However, there is also a sense of peace offered us by the one who said, “My peace I leave with you, not as the world gives . . Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)

As you begin this week, may you find that place of tranquility which offers you peace!

Dr. B

I don’t know if you are an Oscar fan, but most of us enjoy watching the movies. When we find a film we enjoy it is nice to see others who confirm our “good taste” by awarding the creaters of that film with an Oscar.

Oscar night is a night when special people dress up and attend hoping to hear their name called. Fortunately, commencement is not like that at all. As you are in the midst of our Indiana winter, and spring seems far away, keep your goal in mind. When you complete your degree requirements, you can attend the Commencement Service without the fear of wondering if your name will be called.

I hope you can see the light at the end of the tunnel and press on towards that specail event. Until then, stay focused on your books, but be sure to reward yourself and catch a good movie every now and then.

So often we learn to speak of institutions in a generic sense of “they” or “them” or perhaps worst of all, “it”. We at the University of Saint Francis Graduate School are committed to making your graduate education personal, and that all begins with the folks “behind the scenes.” I would like to help you get to know who you are speaking to whenever you call the university for information related to the Graduate School.

Your first contact with us is normally with our Enrollment Office. If you are considering any of our traditional on-ground degree programs, James Cashdollar jcashdollar@sf.edu is the person you will be dealing with. If you are interested in our new Virtual Campus which offers online degree options, your connection is Michelle Kuhlhorst mkuhlhorst@sf.edu . Both of these folks have several years of experience in our Enrollment Office and both are new parents (ask to see baby pictures!) Another important connection is Jamie McGrath jmcgrath@sf.edu who is responsible for our financial aid office. She and her team work to make sure you have all the financial aid available and are making academic progress toward your degree.

Once you are accepted into a degree program your program director becomes the point of connection. With 14 different degree programs available, I won’t try to list all of our program directors here, but if you will check our website you can click on each program and learn more about them at http://www.sf.edu/sf/graduate/programs Finally, as you progress through your degree, you will need to submit an application for graduation, and that is where our Graduate School office comes in. I handle all degree audits, academic appeals, and, sad to say, any probation or suspension affairs. You can reach me, Doug Barcalow at dbarcalow@sf.edu with questions or concerns about general policies or the graduate school in general.

Besides the folks I’ve mentioned, there are a number of others who help keep us up and running. Whether it is making sure the parking lots are cleared of snow, the internet is secure for your classwork, or your transcripts are kept up to date, we at USF are pleased to serve you as you pursue your academic goals. Get to know the folks around you, and I think you will be pleased you did.

Peace, Dr. Doug Barcalow

I have been thinking about Lent this year, more than I have in the past. I have discovered that Lent is not simply a time when we “give-up” something for 40 days, and then go on with life. In it’s purest sense, Lent is about learning to discipline yourself to reach a higher goal, and it is about becoming aware of others around you. 

As we enter the season of Lent, I am drawn to the comparisons between practicing the disciplines related to Lent and those related to our academic endeavors. In both situations you need to exercise self discipline, keep the over-all goal in mind, be aware of others around you, and look with anticipation toward the celebratory conclusion.

Whether you participate in this Lenten season or not, I hope you will find some of the practices will carryover into your studies and will lead you to a successful journey during your time at the University of Saint Francis.

It’s February and the snow is falling! Now that we have made it through January, (including a record-setting warm spell) this is a good time to remind you of the weather-related cancelations or delays at the University of Saint Francis.

If there is ever a need to cancel classes, the first means of alert for all students is through Connect ED, our official notification system. This is not only used for weather, but emergency announcements of all sorts are maintained via this system. Announcements are sent to your phone and your email accounts alerting you to any closures or cancellations, and saving you the effort of listening to the radio or checking the website. (We do send any emergency announcements to the loacl television stations and we use the USF website, but Connect ED makes sure you get the information first, and directly.)

If you are not sure about Connect ED and want to make sure you receive these announcements, here is the link you need: https://ecampus.sf.edu/ics  All you need to do is go to My Cougar Connection, read the information at the lower portion of the page regarding Connect ED, and follow the instructions. You can make sure we have your preferred phone number, and you will be registered to receive all emergency announcements automatically.

In the meantime, be careful out there; the roads are slick this morning!

Even though it is early in the term, it is not too early to think about when you plan to complete your degree and graduate. If you plan to complete this academic year, you should have already completed your Application for Graduation. The deadline for submitting applications for a degree audit was Jan. 15. Although it is not too late to have an audit, it is too late to make any required schedule changes.
If you are planning to complete your degree next year (Fall, Spring, or Summer terms) be sure and get an Application for Graduation and begin the process of getting it in. The application can be found at http://www.sf.edu/sf/assets/files/gradstudies/Application%20for%20Graduation%20-%20revised%202012%2010%2016.pdf

The start of a new day, a new week, and a new semester; today is truly a new start for you. As you begin classes again, I would encourage you to stop by this site on a weekly basis to see what is new here.

I post a new Graduate School blog entry every Monday morning to keep you informed of any campus activities, university events, or graduation requirements that you should know.If you prefer, you can sign up to receive each weekly post via email. Simply enter your information in the spaces on the right column, and you will automatically be informed of all things related to the graduate School.

Peace and all good as you begin anew!  Dr. Barcalow

If you plan to graduate during this academic year (2012-2013) you need to complete an Application for Graduation. This form can be found online or by stopping by the Graduate School office in the North Campus. If you plan to complete your degree requirements this year (May or August graduation) you are asked to complete the application and submit it to the Graduate School office (NC 112). NOTE: Applications must be received by April 1 for inclusion in the Commencement program.

Questions? Contact your advisor or call Dr. Barcalow at 260-399-8056.