UC s Just Community Celebrates Those Who Exemplify Its Principles

University of Cincinnati administrators, students, faculty and staff took on a challenge just over a decade ago to formally design a university-wide set of values. Today, those principles are embraced by the UC|21 Academic Plan to define the new urban research university.

Students, faculty, staff and a UC organization will be honored for their dedication to upholding the principles of UC’s Just Community at the annual University of Cincinnati Recognition Ceremony at 4 p.m., Sunday, May 20, in the Great Hall of Tangeman University Center (TUC). The recipients of the Just Community awards were selected from nominations across the university, each representing one of the Just Community’s eight principles:

Pursue Learning and Scholarship
Kristen Kesse, UC student – Kesse, of Green Township, is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in materials engineering. She was recognized for continuously improving her academic achievement each quarter. She was also praised for leadership with the Society of Women Engineers, serving as president of the UC professional student academic organization for three years and co-founding the College of Engineering’s new student-run newsletter, Momentum.

Strive for Excellence
Carol Wissman, UC staff member – Wissman, of Mt. Washington, serves as senior academic advisor for the McMicken College of Arts & Sciences and is also an adjunct instructor for the UC Department of Psychology. Her dedication to promoting higher education is reflected in numerous outreach efforts in the community, including taking UC students to area elementary schools to talk about the importance of staying in school and bringing students from inner-city schools to campus to spend the day with a UC student. Wissman also was involved with local efforts to collect books for the New Orleans Public Library following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, and collected coats to donate to the Drop Inn Center during the bitter cold spell last winter.

Celebrate the Uniqueness of Each Individual
Jennifer Radt, UC staff member – Radt, of Mt. Washington, is director of disability services for UC Clermont College. In her nomination of Radt, UC Clermont student Bridgett Williams, a pre-secondary education major who earns community service hours in Radt’s office, writes, “For those of you who don’t know Jenn Radt, you’re missing out on a great person. There isn’t a student ever turned away regardless of their disability. I think the best thing I can say about Jenn is that she strives to make the college experience easier for those who struggle. Jenn is the best as she brings help, hope and happiness to UC Clermont.”

Practice Civility
Lillian Santa-Maria, UC administrator – Santa-Maria of Springdale is University Ombuds. The Ombuds Office works to respond to concerns brought by students, faculty and staff, and to resolve disputes through informal fact-finding and mediation. “Whether someone needs assistance with a specific problem or needs to simply ask a question about university policies and procedures, Lillian takes the time to carefully listen to his or her concerns,” writes UC graduate assistant Heidi Pitzer. “She often has to assist students, faculty and staff with complex issues in which quick and easy solutions are not evident. I believe it is her dedication to treat everyone with fairness that compels her to work through these issues.”

Embrace Freedom and Openness
Jorge Prada, MD, UC faculty – Dr. Prada, of Anderson Township, is chair of the human relations committee for the Faculty Senate, is an assistant professor of psychiatry for the College of Medicine and served on the UC|21 Diversity Task Force as a member of the subcommittee examining diversity of UC faculty. For several years, Dr. Prada was praised and attained the highest score for his courses and seminars aimed at helping students develop a better understanding of patients representing different cultures and lifestyles from the caregiver. Dr. Prada was also praised for his research into obesity/nutrition during pregnancy.

Seek Integrity
BearCAT (Community Action Team), a UC student-ambassador organization – Students representing BearCAT live in communities surrounding UC’s campus and they strive to build and maintain relationships with their neighbors as they represent the ideals of UC|21. The organization was praised for its work in planning community events, distributing information about the university and maintaining contact between the university, community groups, students, residents, businesses and city leaders.

Promote Justice
Urmila Ghia, UC faculty member – The UC professor of mechanical engineering was also the recipient of the university’s 2007 Barbour Award for Good Faculty-Student Relations. Ghia was praised for her work with UC’s Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) program, which provides research opportunities for undergraduate women with top scientists and engineers at UC and Children’s Hospital Medical Center. She was also recognized for serving as committee co-chair of the Women’s Institute for Leadership Development and her association with the Women’s Initiatives Network (WIN), which is devoted to addressing gender equity at the university.

Accept Responsibility
Ryan Beeler, UC student – Beeler, a senior UC music major from Canal Fulton, Ohio, was praised for his student leadership in the College-Conservatory of Music, including service as president of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity and as former president of the CCM Tribunal. Beeler was also recognized for his work in helping students communicate concerns with the CCM administration.

The University of Cincinnati’s Just Community initiative has won national recognition and has served as a model for civic education at other college campuses across the country. Over the past 10 years, programming and dialog continue to emphasize its eight principles.

Mitchel D. Livingston, UC vice president for Student Affairs and Services, first brought the concept of Just Community to UC in 1995, as UC governing committees ranging from the Board of Trustees to Student Government voted to endorse a proposal for a Just Community. The initiative was formally launched in 1996. After several years of programs and discussion, focus groups from across campus came together to outline a set of principles to define a Just Community. Those principles were formally unveiled during a university-wide ceremony on Feb. 14, 2001.

In 1999, the Templeton Guide “Colleges That Encourage Character Development,” released by the John Templeton Foundation, highlighted UC’s Just Community as a model program to encourage personal and civic responsibility.