November 2008 Inside USP Story Continuations - Back to the Newsletter
Diane Cesare PH/TX’09 Chosen as Recipient of New Scholarship for Pharmacology &Toxicology Students
Diane Cesare PH/TX’09 was recently chosen as University of the Sciences in Philadelphia’s first recipient of the Rossi Scholarship Fund.
The new scholarship, available to students in the pharmacology and toxicology program, is named in recognition of Dr. G. Victor Rossi P’51, MS’52, Leonard and Madlyn Abramson professor emeritus of pharmacology and toxicology, and former vice president for academic affairs (1984 to 1992).
Dr. Rossi, who penned a brief history of the University called “Courageous Beginnings, Bold Initiatives,” also chaired the biological sciences, and pharmacology and toxicology departments at the University.
A faculty panel was formed to decide on the selection criteria and to ensure Dr. Rossi’s desire that the scholarship be merit-based and a tool to help promote and ease the way for a student interested in further graduate training.
Cesare, a fourth year student, was chosen for her fine grade point average, laboratory research, and time in the program. Being chosen as the recipient came as a surprise to Cesare, who didn’t learn of the scholarship until the day Dr. Adeboye Adejare, chair of the Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, announced that she would receive it.
“I feel very honored to be recognized by my faculty,” said Cesare. “I am usually a very shy and quiet student, and this scholarship showed that I am not just another face in the crowd.”
Currently, she is working with Dr. Adejare testing the effects of NMDA antagonists on the presence of gamma secretase and its effect on Beta-Amyloid 40 and Beat-Amyloid 42 proteins.
Cesare is in the process of applying to graduate school to pursue a PhD in pharmacology. In the future, she hopes to expand her work with Alzheimer’s treatment and one day, work for the Food and Drug Administration.
New Walkway to 4500 Woodland Ave. Building and Glasser Hall
This past summer, the University converted approximately 10,000 square feet of warehouse space in the 4500 Woodland Avenue Building. The results included three state-of-the-art classrooms, administrative offices, a student lounge and a locker room for the College of Health Sciences. When fall semester began, the updates brought an increase of foot traffic in the area. It became apparent that there was a need to create a more direct route for students and faculty who regularly access the 4500 Woodland Ave. Building, Glasser Hall, and the Southside campus. The newly laid path and stairs serve this need and promote a feeling of a single campus environment – more safe and convenient.
New Initiative Enables Students to Pay Tuition Online
The Student Accounts Office recently announced that effective November 12, 2008, students have the convenience of making electronic payments to their tuition accounts on WebAdvisor. This option is available 24 hours a day. Students are no longer limited to paying the cashier in person, making a phone payment only during office hours, or sending payments by mail. This is the latest in an innovative series of customer service initiatives using technology to provide enhanced information and new processing options to students and their families.
To make an online payment, log in to WebAdvisor, proceed to the ‘Current Students’ menu and select ‘Make A Payment’ in the ‘Financial Information’ section. Next, click on ‘Pay on My Account’ and you will have the choice of paying by credit card (American Express, MasterCard and Discover accepted) or making an E-check payment directly from your checking account. To pay by credit card, be prepared to enter the card number, expiration date, security code, name on card, and card billing address. To pay by E-check, be prepared to enter a routing number, account number, check number, name on check, and address. There are prompts to help you identify numbers and codes that might not be familiar to you.
Effective November 12, 2008, anyone who uses a credit card to pay a tuition account will be charged a non-refundable convenience fee equal to 2.5% of the transaction. 100% of this fee will be retained by the processor and related banks that are providing the credit card service. The fee will not appear on the student's University account. These policies pertain to any credit card payment made on a student account, whether by mail, phone, cashier's office, or WebAdvisor. Please note that we no longer accept payments by VISA credit cards.
E-check payments made on WebAdvisor will be not be charged a convenience or transaction fee.
University Psi Chi Chapter Awarded Conference Grant
The National Council of Psi Chi has awarded the University of the Sciences chapter an Undergraduate Psychology Research Conference Grant.
The grant, intended to provide funding for local and regional undergraduate conferences, will be used to help fund the Fourth Annual Philadelphia Area Psi Chi Psychology Research Conference in April 2009. The conference is an annual collaboration between University of the Sciences, Temple University, Drexel University, and University of Pennsylvania Psi Chi chapters. This will be the first year that University of the Sciences will host the event.
The conference allows students to gain experience presenting their research and to keep informed about local research projects.
“Receiving this grant is a great accomplishment for the University chapter of Psi Chi,” said Psi Chi member and grant applicant, Mark Paullin Psy’09. “The psychology program is significantly smaller than at the other universities, so it is really nice to receive some recognition and increase awareness of the program and University of the Sciences in general.”
New Digital Media Studio and Lab Opens to Students and Faculty
On Tuesday, Oct. 28, the University’s first Digital Media Studio and Lab opened as a division of the Learning Resources Center within the J.W. England Library. The space, previously used by USPTV, was developed in response to a growing need for students and faculty to have access to tools for creating digital media.
The lab is equipped to enable users to digitize 35mm slides, record podcasts, edit videos and images, digitize analog videos, and more. The studio features a PC and a ceiling-mounted projector and screen, enabling users to practice presentation skills, record live video and experiment with green screen effects.
While the University offered many of these same services before, the Digital Media Studio and Lab is a consolidated destination, creating support for increasing interest in digitizing old content and new interest in creating new digital content, and encouraging digital media proficiency.
The lab and studio are located in the lobby of the Old Gym/Alumni Hall and are open to all University of the Sciences students, faculty and staff, Tuesday through Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Currently, users can sign up for as many as three consecutive half-hour slots per day using a spreadsheet at the entrance of the studio.
Stockings for Kids Program
The Center for Community Connections and the Division of Student Affairs are partnering with the Salvation Army to fill stockings with toys for distribution to our local families in need - a great opportunity to brighten the holiday season for many!
The Salvation Army will provide the stockings, and we are asking the USP campus community to donate new toys and other items for the stockings. The items could be for boys or girls and for any age - ANYTHING THAT FITS IN A STOCKING WILL WORK. Stockings are about 22" long and 8" wide. (For ideas of what to buy, see the Salvation Army list below.)
Student Affairs will sort and stuff the stockings on WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17.
Drop Off Points: (Final pick-up is close of business, Monday, December 15)
* ARC reception desk
* Wilson Student Center reception desk
* Student Affairs reception desk - Whitecar Hall, 1st Floor
* Student Health and Counseling (SHAC) reception desk - 4140 Building
NEED IDEAS? SEE BELOW
Suggested Holiday Items
PLEASE, NO FOOD, CANDY OR OTHER PERISHABLES. ALSO GIFTS SHOULD NOT BE WRAPPED.
Help Spread Holiday Cheer to Soldiers Overseas
The holidays are especially difficult for those serving in the military and away from their loved ones. By picking up an item or two while shopping for your Thanksgiving turkey and trimmings, you can help us to send some holiday cheer to our military abroad.
Please see the list below for suggested donation items. If you’d like to contribute, please bring your donation to Whitecar Hall, Suite 2700 by Wednesday, Dec. 10.
Please contact Maggie Devine-Pennock at m.pennock@usp.edu or 215-596-8570 if you have a family member that is serving overseas, and/or you'd like to volunteer to help pack and ship boxes.
Suggested Items for Soldiers Abroad:
Gatorade in pouch with sugar
Toothpaste
Tea with sugar
Mouthwash
Creamer
Shaving Cream/After Shave
Chewing Gum
Hand Lotion
Beef Jerky
Toothbrushes
Peanut Butter Crackers, Oreos, Pringles Potato Chips, Doritos, etc.
Baby Wipes or Wet Wipes
Dried Fruits
Toilet Paper and Kleenex
Trail Mix
Q-tips
Peanuts
Lens Cleaners
Hard Candy
Deodorants
Salami and/or Pepperoni Sticks
Soap
Kool-aid with sugar
Shampoo
Cookies (Homemade)
Chap Stick or other lip balm
Individual Pop-type Cans of Fruit
Hand Sanitizer
Individual Packages of Cereal
Black Cotton Socks
New or Used Books, Magazines, DVD's, CD's, workable CD Players, etc.
Batteries
Word Puzzles, Cards, Travel Games, Novels, Inspirational Books for Men and Women
Fabreeze
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Minh Nguyen Wins the Intramural Billiards Tournament
Minh Nguyen PharmD’14, defeated 13 of his classmates to capture his first University of the Sciences Billiards Tournament. Nguyen escaped the first round to be one of the final seven players in the round robin portion of the event. Nguyen faced tough competition throughout the tournament, but in the end, stood victorious.
Freshman Andy Yan Wins Intramural Table Tennis Tournament
Twenty-eight participants came out to battle in one of the largest special event tournaments in the history of the ARC, a two-day table tennis tournament. While all were vying for a spot on the ARC Wall of Fame, two rounds in and the game was down to seven players competing in a round robin style playoff. The winner would be the player who held the best record in the final six matches. Finishing with a perfect 8-0 record, first year pharmacy student Andy Yan was crowned champion. Coming in close behind him was first year pharmacy major Joe Wagner with a 7-1 record, and fourth year pharmacy major Benson Yu with a 6-2 record.
Hitsticks Win Intramural ARC Bowl
After years of heartbreaking playoff losses, the Hitsticks finally defeated the defending champions, 604 No More, in the ARC Bowl indoor flag football competition. Despite several years of dominating in the regular season, the Hitsticks continually failed to seal the deal come playoff time. With the core of the team graduating or going on clinical next year, determination and focus was at an all-time high. Led by the play of Andy Azar MPT’11, ARC Bowl MVP, the Hitsticks capitalized early on their opponent’s sloppy play to take the game 65-52. The Hitsticks is composed of Andy Azar, Steve Azar MPT’09, Rick Yarznbowicz MPT’10, Frank Staino MPT’10, Adam Fuline PharmD’09, Andrew Coccia HS’09, and Rich Cipoletti MPT’09.
Employees Taking Courses at USP…
Registrar, Alan J. Sims, provides this reminder for any employees who wish to register for courses at USP. This is a TWO-STEP process.
You need to complete a Certification or Recertification of Eligibility form and submit it to Human Resources for approval of the Tuition Remission part of the process. You ALSO need to submit a Course Registration Request form to the Registrar's Office (WH-1100) for undergraduate courses, or the College of Graduate Studies Office (GRI-100) for graduate courses.
This second form is the one that actually activates your registration for courses. If this is the first time you are taking courses at USP, you also need the approval of the Admissions Office (or the COGS office for graduate course work) which activates a student record for you in the Datatel Colleague computer system. Class section information is available on WebAdvisor at https://webad.usip.edu You do NOT need a login to view course offering information. At the Main Menu click on Students, then click on Search for Sections in the Registration area of the menu.
Employees may register for courses on a space available basis beginning the first day of classes. Course Registration forms for the 2009 Spring Semester must be submitted no later than 4:00 PM, Friday, January 23.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Registrar's Office for guidance.
Suite 1100, Whitecar Hall
Voice: 215-596-8813
EMail: registrar@usp.edu
Baltimore Avenue Pedestrian Lighting Survey
University City District is conducting a study of the street lighting in the Baltimore Avenue Business District (45th to 50th Streets). Your responses to this survey will be valuable in helping them to assess the existing lighting conditions and plan future improvements.
To take the survey, click the link below:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=aSLZev8WAhzQmDCja8kdaQ_3d_3d