City University in the News

city university of seattle creates international
division and office of the Provost

economic downturn may benefit washington state students

City University of Seattle Creates International
Division and Office of the Provost

To broaden its already extensive international reach, City University of Seattle has announced the formation of an International Division, and the Office of the Provost. CityU of Seattle Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Fernando Leon Garcia, has been named Chancellor of the newly created International Division, and Dr. Steven Olswang has been named Interim Provost of the Office of the Provost.

Dr. Leon Garcia joined CityU of Seattle in 2004. During his tenure, the academic affairs team broadened the participation of faculty in the oversight and development of academic programs, established an academic governance structure, promoted a greater consistency of standards across locations and sites, developed programs to expand the university's international partnerships, and led CityU's efforts to join several of the American Council on Education International initiatives. In his new capacity, Dr. Leon Garcia will oversee the university's global operations and lead the development and growth of CityU's international partnerships and global network.

Prior to being named Interim Provost at CityU, Dr. Olswang held numerous executive positions with the University of Washington, including Vice Provost and Interim Chancellor of the UW Bothell and the UW Tacoma campuses. He is well known in the Pacific Northwest as an education leader and has served on numerous accreditation bodies. As Interim Provost, Dr. Olswang will serve as CityU's chief academic officer and will oversee adjunct faculty, facilitate the development and implementation of new academic programs, and establish quality assurance systems in all programs and at all of CityU's locations.

"CityU is fortunate to have recruited Dr. Leon Garcia and Dr. Steve Olswang to lead initiatives that are vital to the university's vision and capacity to contribute to the region's stature as a center of world trade. Dr. Leon Garcia's intimate knowledge of CityU, combined with extensive experience in higher education that spans across three decades and three continents (which includes a period with the highly successful Apollo Group), positions him to move CityU's international agenda quickly," comments CityU President, Lee Gorsuch. "Similarly, Dr. Olswang's 33 years of executive experience with the state's premier university, the University of Washington, leaves little doubt as to CityU's ambitions to elevate its standing as an innovative and globally connected university."

Dr. Leon Garcia has transitioned into his new role, and Dr. Olswang will begin his tenure at the university on February 1, 2008.

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Economic Downturn May Benefit
Washington State Students

Washington state needs math teachers. With the economic downturn, and threat of a recession, there are more professionals who are seeking a career change. City University of Seattle and the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) have a great solution for individuals with over five years of careerrelated
math experience. Both organizations are working together to put math teachers into state schools by offering an Alternative Route to Residency Certificate in Math, beginning July, 2008. The one-year certification program includes a tuition offset by the state, which is perfect for professionals looking for a new career.

According to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction's 2006 report, “Educator Supply and Demand in Washington State,” more than 306 math teachers are expected to retire between 2006 and 2011. This places mathematics teachers fourth after Elementary Education, Special Education, and English/Language Arts as the highest number of expected retirees over the next three years. With the anticipated decline in math teachers comes an incentive to invite new teachers into the classroom.

To offset the costs of the program, PESB is providing successful applicants with $8,000 in forgivable loans to be applied toward tuition costs in exchange for a two-year commitment of teaching math in Washington state. Qualified candidates must have a degree in math (or a related content area applying higher-level math), a minimum of five years of field experience using math, pass two entrance exams demonstrating their skills, and have a genuine interest in working with middle or high school students.

“With over 300 teachers graduating from City U of Seattle each year, we are proud to partner with PESB to increase the number of math teachers entering the school system,” comments Corll Miller Morrissey, Program Director, CityU. As the Northwest’s largest private not-for-profit university, CityU offers small classes taught by instructors who have real classroom experience teaching K-12. The Alternative Route to Residency Certificate in Math not only answers the need for math teachers, but also puts professionals with diverse backgrounds into the classroom who can truly answer the question, “When am I ever going to use this?”

In June, paraprofessionals in Seattle Public Schools will complete the Dual Endorsement in K-12 Special Education and K-8 Elementary Education program. The Alternative Routes programs have been so well received by paraprofessionals in the district that PESB has approved the expansion of the programs to include all districts in King, Snohomish, and Skagit counties. These programs will begin in the summer of 2008.

For more information about the program go to www.cityu.edu/math.

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