Chaminade News and Events

Faculty from the School of Nursing at Chaminade University of Honolulu joined leadership in celebrating the news that the university’s School of Nursing baccalaureate program had been granted full accreditation for five years (the maximum) by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). From left to right are Bro. Bernard Ploeger, SM, Helen Turner, Stephanie Genz, Heather Schlessman, Ashley Keck, Larry Osborne, Edna Magpantay-Monroe, Eurina Kee and Jeanette Peterson.

Chaminade University announced that it has received notice from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) that the baccalaureate degree program at Chaminade University of Honolulu is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.aacn.nche.edu/ccne-accreditation) for the maximum five year period, extending to June 30, 2018. The accreditation is effective as of November 5, 2012, which is the first day of the program’s recent CCNE on-site evaluation. Per the accreditation letter, the Board of Commissioners determined that the program met all four accreditation standards, adding that there are no compliance concerns regarding the key elements.

 “We are delighted to have reached this major milestone in our program,” announced Chaminade Nursing Dean Stephanie Genz, EdD, RN. “Accreditation would not have been possible without the hard work and commitment of our entire team here at Chaminade.”

In spring of 2014, the first cohort from the Chaminade University School of Nursing will graduate with some 50 students. Each year demand for the program far exceeds available spaces. Chaminade’s program is an “admit and commit” program to ensure that there is space to graduate those who start as freshman.

School of Nursing at Chaminade University of Honolulu now has a five-year accreditation from Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) for its BSN program.

The Hawaii State Board of Nursing gave Chaminade’s nursing program the necessary approval it needed to officially launch its nursing program in fall 2010. That original first-year cohort from 2010 will soon graduate in spring 2014.  

“Our first-year students come in with a strong commitment to becoming a nurse and are academically well-prepared and community minded from the get-go. Many of our students are also transfer students, which also ensures a very well prepared student,” said Genz.  “Consequently, our program has enjoyed high rates of retention, exceeding national averages.”

“From the program’s inception, through the commitment ceremony of the first class in the fall of 2010, to the recent completion of the third year,” said Chaminade President Bro. Bernard J. Ploeger, PhD, SM, “the health care community, our nursing advisory board, faculty and staff have collaborated to create a first class nursing education.”

Chaminade’s nursing educational experience draws heavily upon the Catholic, Marianist and Native Hawaiian serving identity of the school. Through early introduction of clinical experience, active service learning programs, state-of-the art technology and a values based curriculum, Chaminade is preparing graduates who will be dedicated RNs succeeding  in a variety of health care settings within Hawaii, the Pacific Region and the U.S. Mainland.

Leadership celebrated the major announcement of the School of Nursing at Chaminade University of Honolulu receiving full accreditation for five years (maximum) by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Considered major pioneers of the program are from left to right Drs. Bro. Bernard Ploeger, SM (president); Helen Turner (dean of Natural Sciences and Mathematics), Stephanie Genz (dean of Nursing),and Larry Osborne (provost).

Educating students for life, service and successful careers, Chaminade University is a Catholic/ Marianist university offering programs of study grounded in the liberal arts with day, evening, online and accelerated courses. A Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander serving institution, Chaminade is located at 3140 Waialae Ave., Honolulu, HI 9681, which is its main campus. It also has nine satellite locations around Oahu. Chaminade University is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and looks forward to increased opportunities to promote environmental sustainability. For more information, visit the Chaminade Web site at www.chaminade.edu or call (808) 735-4711.###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE      HONOLULU—May 29, 2013
MEDIA CONTACT: Kapono Ryan  Kryan@chaminade.edu   Office (808) 735-4797

More than a dozen Chaminade students spent Friday at Ala Moana Beach taking their final for their Underwater Investigations workshop, a graduate studies offering held annually by Chaminade’s Criminal Justice program.  The day at the beach was the culmination of the weeklong workshop offered by the university’s Summer Institute.  Classes focused on underwater crime scene recovery operations.  The students learned and practiced the scientific protocol that can and should be applied to “underwater crime scenes.” Methods and techniques to locate, recover and handle submerged evidence were covered, along with the handling of firearms, bodies and vehicles to prevent contamination or loss of forensic evidence.

The summer workshop was taught by Ronald Becker, J.D., director of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Chaminade University, who has authored the widely used text Underwater Forensic Investigation and is nationally renowned as an expert in the field, and by Lt. Lynn Dixon, commander for the Texas Department of Public Safety Dive Team and assistant instructor at Austin Community College. Classes included not just lectures but also training with land drills, blind underwater search drills (pool), and concluded with the ocean dive this Friday at the west end of Ala Moana Beach Park.

Participating throughout the week were nearly 20 students from Chaminade, New Mexico State University, law enforcement personnel from the Sheriff Division / Maui Section and the Micronesian Dive Association, as well as HFD firefighters, instructors from Guam Community College and Hawaii Pacific University. By the way, the former newspaper publisher Lee Webber, who now volunteers for Guam’s crime lab, also participated.

For students looking to contribute to society through law, public safety, and service, Chaminade’s Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration (MSCJA) program provides an exceptional foundation for influential work in local or national government or administration, with the option of professional certification in the growing field of Homeland Security Leadership Development. For students already working in the field or for those who cannot attend evening classes for any reason, this course of study is also conveniently available online. Grounded in judicial theory and practice for both civil and criminal arenas, graduates are prepared for managerial, research, and instructional positions within the criminal justice system, in both the public and private sectors.

Educating students for life, service and successful careers, Chaminade University is a Catholic/ Marianist university offering programs of study grounded in the liberal arts with day, evening, online and accelerated courses. A Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander serving institution, Chaminade is located at 3140 Waialae Ave., Honolulu, HI 9681, which is its main campus. It also has nine satellite locations around Oahu. Chaminade University is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and looks forward to increased opportunities to promote environmental sustainability. For more information, visit the Chaminade Web site at www.chaminade.edu or call (808) 735-4711. ###

Earlier this week, the two land photos above were taken as students practiced techniques on the Chaminade campus oval near Waialae Entrance.  Teams worked on techniques to uncover firearms and bodies that are submerged in clouded waters. Goggles were covered in duct tape to simulate clouded water.
BELOW ARE PHOTOS FROM FRIDAY’S FINAL WHERE TEAMS PERFORMED PRACTICE DRILLS IN THE  RETRIEVING WEAPONS AND OTHER UNDERWATER EVIDENCE

1. From left to right, Professor Ron Becker (Criminal Justice Program director), Gordon Knowles, Chris Nolan, Holly Hewitt, and Leedo Anderson

2.  Ann and Robert Weber check equipment with Professor Ron Becker

3.  Weapon found by team members included from left to right, Chris Nolan, Holly Hewitt, Lee Webber, Dumitru Vandici and Gordon Knowles.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE      HONOLULU—May 24, 2013
MEDIA CONTACT: Kapono Ryan
Kryan@chaminade.edu         (808)735-4797

UNIVERSITY’S  CAMPUS MINISTRY BLESSED BY COMMUNITY SUPPORT OF CRS FUNDRAISING EFFORTS
Campus Ministry at Chaminade University raised $4,265 this Lent for Catholic Relief Services (CRS) through its CRS Rice Bowl fundraiser, thanks to the shared efforts of the campus community. The money was collected by students, faculty and donations from the Mystical Rose Oratory Sunday liturgies.

Above photo includes from left to right: Bro. Bernard Ploeger, SM (Chaminade president), David Coleman (Diocesan director of CRS and Chaminade dean of Humanities and Performing Arts), Amber Alvarez (Chaminade CRS student ambassador), Fr. George Cerniglia, SM (Chaminade rector), and Daniel O’Regan (Chaminade Campus Ministry director).

The mission of campus ministry at Chaminade University is to raise awareness of our Catholic Marianist traditions among students, staff and faculty by:  building a community of faith and service; forming partnerships with the church and those with whom we share Marianist sponsorship; offering opportunities for prayer, reception of Sacraments, faith development and retreats; committing to build a more just and peaceful society through service; providing spiritual guidance through listening, counseling, and reconciliation where needed or requested; and centering all our efforts in Jesus Christ, the son of Mary, who commanded us to love one another.

Educating students for life, service and successful careers, Chaminade University is a Catholic/ Marianist university offering programs of study grounded in the liberal arts with day, evening, online and accelerated courses. A Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander serving institution, Chaminade is located at 3140 Waialae Ave., Honolulu, HI 9681, which is its main campus. It also has nine satellite locations around Oahu. Chaminade University is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and looks forward to increased opportunities to promote environmental sustainability. For more information, visit the Chaminade Web site at www.chaminade.edu or call (808) 735-4711.###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE      HONOLULU—May 21, 2013
MEDIA CONTACT: Kapono Ryan Kryan@chaminade.edu            (808) 735-4797

FOCUS ON BUSINESS ETHICS BRINGS INTERNATIONAL ESTEEM

From left to right, the first place team included Chaminade graduate student Justin Tuiasosopo and Chaminade seniors Rachael Rickard, Ayessa Ardiente, and Tami Konishi, with Chaminade business professor and team advisor Wayne Tanna and IACBE president, Dennis Gash.

Chaminade University Business students took first-place honors in Orlando, Florida recently at the Annual Conference and Assembly Meeting of the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE) after a rigorous selection process before its judging members, in this IACBE’s second annual student case-study competition focusing on business ethics. Both graduate and undergraduate business students were eligible to compete.

The Chaminade contingent was comprised of two teams of accounting majors. The first place team included graduate student Justin Tuiasosopo and seniors Ayessa Ardiente, Rachael Rickard, and Tami Konishi. Also competing was a team which included senior Querida Dydasco, and juniors Bernardo Equila, Caitlyn Miyamoto, and Rhys Murphy. Chaminade Business professors, Richard Kido and Wayne Tanna, coached the Chaminade contingent, and Communication professor Carolyn Kuriyama also advised. Chaminade’s business curriculum emphasizes ethics, so this year’s competition topic, business ethics, was a good fit for the Chaminade teams.

“We liked the topic for this year’s competition. We had the opportunity to take what we’ve learned and actually apply it to a scenario. One of the issues was regarding cultural preservation versus business progress,” said Ardiente. “We had to create an entire case study relating to ethics and ethics theories in order to present the best possible recommendation when facing an ethical situation.”

The students and advisors spent long hours preparing. Professor  Kido said, “I’m very proud of our students! They worked really hard on this project and they deserved to win. We were also very proud of the way our students carried themselves both in the competition and throughout their entire stay in Orlando. They were extremely professional yet were considered to be the friendliest group.”

The case-study competition provided students with an opportunity to showcase their ability to analyze a case, and to identify and discuss recommendations for action in an ethical and thoughtful manner. The competition requires students to work as teams, collect, analyze, and use data, and present information and answer questions in a clear, concise, and professional manner. In their case presentations, each team must identify and explain the legal, financial, economic, marketing, and management issues relevant to the situation and present the ethical issue that they have chosen to address. After presenting the case information, the teams must make recommendations for action that are solidly grounded in ethical theory.

The International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE) was founded in 1997 and is nationally-recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). IACBE is the leader in mission-driven and outcomes-based programmatic accreditation in business and management education for student-centered colleges and universities throughout the world. Its mission is to promote and recognize excellence in business education in institutions of higher education worldwide, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, through specialized accreditation of business programs. IACBE has hundreds of member institutions and campuses and well over 900 accredited programs in the United States, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Central America, and South America. The IACBE’s World Headquarters are located in Lenexa, Kansas, USA, with a representative office in Paris, France. For more information, please visit the IACBE’s website at www.iacbe.org.

Educating students for life, service and successful careers, Chaminade University is a Catholic/ Marianist university offering programs of study grounded in the liberal arts with day, evening, online and accelerated courses. A Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander serving institution, Chaminade is located at 3140 Waialae Ave., Honolulu, HI 9681, which is its main campus. It also has nine satellite locations around Oahu. Chaminade University is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and looks forward to increased opportunities to promote environmental sustainability. For more information, visit the Chaminade Web site at www.chaminade.edu or call (808) 735-4711.###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE      HONOLULU—May 20, 2013
MEDIA CONTACT: Kapono Ryan Kryan@chaminade.edu   (808) 735-4797