Dr. Nicole Taylor is an assistant professor in the School of Psychological Sciences at the University of Indianapolis. She received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Toledo in 1999, and has been at UIndy since 2000. Dr. Taylor's clinical and research interests include topics such as coping with illness, training and supervision issues in graduate clinical psychology, women's issues, psychology and primary care, factors related to medical compliance and non-compliance, behavioral health and prevention, psychoeducational assessment, ADHD assessment, and psychotherapy treatment outcome in psychology training clinics. Dr. Taylor teaches at both the graduate and undergraduate level, and covers such courses as Life Span Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Tests and Measurements, Theories of Counseling, Foundation Skills of Psychotherapy, Supervision and Management, Ethics, Professional and Legal Issues, and Clinical Assessment. 

In addition to her busy teaching schedule, Dr. Taylor is the Director of the Psychological Services Center (PSC) at UIndy. The PSC offers comprehensive evaluation and therapy services to individuals, families and organizations, both children and adults. Licensed clinical faculty and advanced graduate students working under their supervision provide services.     

Away from campus Dr. Taylor spends time with her partner and their three young children. They take as many family trips as possible and really enjoy their many trips to Disney World.

To learn more about Dr. Taylor and the other faculty at the University of Indianapolis, visit our web pages. 

What do Nursing, Communication, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy all have in common?

They are all among our strongest academic programs at the University of Indianapolis. But what makes these programs so great?

• The School of Nursing’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) includes three years of clinical instruction, during which students receive hands-on experience in local health care facilities
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• Most faculty at the Krannert School of Physical Therapy continue to practice on a part-time basis, allowing students to gain exposure to real-world situations through presentations with live patients.
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• For undergraduate students who are interested in jumpstarting their graduate education, the schools of Physical and Occupational Therapy also offer special programs for early admission.
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UIndy’s Department of Communication also fares well in preparing students for real-world jobs. Majors like Public Relations, Journalism, and Sports Information are each complemented by great opportunities for students to get hands-on training during their undergraduate careers. At UIndy, students have the chance to work for the campus newspaper The Reflector, the campus radio station WICR 88.7 FM, which reaches 22 counties in the state of Indiana, UIndy TV 5, or the student-run public relations agency, Top Dog Communication.

If you are a high school junior, and are interested in learning more about any of these programs, come check out our Spring Preview Days:

Health Professions Preview Day: Monday April 1st, 2013 8:00a.m.–1p.m. EST

RSVP Now at: http://admissions-orig.uindy.edu/rsvp/fhpd/

Nursing Preview Day: Wednesday April 3rd, 2013 10:00a.m. EST

RSVP Now at: http://admissions.uindy.edu/visit/son

Communication Preview Day: Wednesday, April 3rd 2013 8:30a.m. EST

RSVP Now at: http://admissions.uindy.edu/rsvp/previewcomm

Each of these events will include academic presentations, tours of the facilities, and opportunities to hear from faculty and current students. Come and learn how our excellent faculty, programs and opportunities can help prepare you to achieve your goals!!

You are invited to an evening that could change your life! 

Join us at the University of Indianapolis on Tuesday, April 9th at 5:30 for an Information Program for the Master of Science in Strategic Leadership and Design. This master's degree can be completed in two years by attending class just one night per week. No GRE or GMAT test is required. Courses meet once a week in the evening and are offered in a blended (online and on site) cohort format. 

Why Strategic Leadership & Design?  A graduate degee in this program offers education and development in the areas that will make a difference in today's world: strategies for problem solving, direction in how to conceptualize goals and communicate them effectively. Graduates of the Master of Strategic Leadership and Design program are prepared to lead their organization to greater effectiveness and success.

Job Outlook: Students graduating from this program can work as project managers, directors, strategic planners, business owners, consultants or sustainability professionals (internal and external) within businesses, nonprofit organizations and communiities.

The April 9th Information NIght will begin at 5:30 in Esch Hall Room 103. To reserve a seat,  email sallyr@uindy.edu or call Robbin Sally  at 317-788-2119.  More information, go to http://www.uindy.edu/sal/strategic-leadership

Well, my first year of OT school is almost complete. I am in the final stretch of projects, presentations and competencies. Next, I get to look forward to all of the lovely finals and lab practicals. I will have to admit that this semester has been quite the balancing act. However, I have been reassured by multiple second years in the program that if I make it past this semester, I will make it through the rest of the program. This semester has taught me the importance of not procrastinating and that time management is essential for graduate school.

Second semester has been full of clinical applications and the building of a foundation for the real world. We have been able to gain a greater understanding of various theories and models that have provided a basis for the field of occupational therapy to understand the client-centered, holistic approach. Looking back a year ago, I can honestly say that my mentality towards graduate education and occupational therapy has changed – but definitely for the better. We have been introduced to interventions, evidenced-based practice techniques, and skills to complete measures of range of motion and manual muscle testing.  

My favorite thing about this semester has been our biomechanics course and the mastering of competency skills. It’s a very hands-on class that allows us to practice measuring range of motion and manual muscles tests on our peers. We are gaining valuable skills that we will use on a regular basis within our profession. It has been thrilling to consider all of the knowledge that we have soaked up within a year. I know that mentally, my brain cannot possibly wait for the summer, but it’s crazy to think about how much we really have learned in a year at UIndy. I can’t wait for what is to come. Soon enough, we get to have Lottery Day, which is when we pick our two 12-week clinical fieldwork rotation sites that begin next summer. We will be occupational therapists before we know it. Time flies when you’re having fun.

Elise Leung, 1st Year MOT Student

University of Indianapolis

Asking a college graduate how they remember their undergraduate years is like opening up a Pandora's box full of memories. You would be amazed at how many stories they can tell you about, those late night conversations with friends in the dorm, those crazy off campus adventures, or the annual campus traditions that everyone tried to check off their 'college bucket list' before graduating. 

Rarely, will they ever tell you about spending hours locked up in the library before a midterm, pulling an all-nighter to finish writing a big paper, or the most stressful for any student... finals week. No one wants to remember studying for more than one exam because the professors decided to have them on the same day, or feeling completely brain dead after the first test, but forcing yourself to go back to the library and prepare for the next final. 

Univeristy of Indianapolis students are no exception. They will often tell you all about those fond memories of the good times they had in school, but no one likes to talk about, or remember, studying for those exams, or writing that research paper. Thankfully, there are events on campus that not only help students at UIndy get through this stressful week, but will hopefully leave them with slightly more pleasant memories of finals week in college. 

The week before finals, the UIndy Counseling Center sponsors the annual Dog Days event for students. Faculty and staff who own a dog, bring their four-legged friends to campus for students to play with during the lunch hour. Since the university mascot is the greyhound, there is also a Greyhound Rescue group that brings some dogs to the event. In the last three years, Dog Days has also been part of the Counseling Center's Wellness & Relaxation Fair, which includes tables with information about managing stress. During the actual finals week, students always look forward to the annual Midnight Breakfast, where the faculty/staff volunteer to serve them a hot breakfast in the campus dining hall. This year, the students camped outside of the dining hall from as early as 8pm, and were entertained by a live DJ, prize giveaways from the Residence Life staff, and a student-organized flash mob. In the fall semester, students have one additional event to look forward to during the first finals week of the year. Dessert Diversion, which happens on Tuesday of finals week, is an event hosted by the Student Alumni  Association. Students are invited to the Steirwalt Alumni House for desserts from The Cheesecake Factory and the chance to win great prize giveaways. Each student is asked to bring a canned food item, which are then collectively donated to a local food bank of choice.

This past Saturday, May 6, 2013, UIndy celebrated its annual Commencement in Nicoson Hall. The chosen speaker for the undergraduate ceremony was PBS broadcaster and author, Tavis Smiley, who offered the graduates an inspiring message to use their educational talents and skills as a way to tackle current issues that the nation is facing. A total of 428 graduate, and 849 undegraduate degrees were awarded.

So what's next for our newly graduated students? Some will venture out into the workplace, while others will start their graduate education. Whichever path they decide to take, we are confident that they will succeed. In a recent survey, 96% of UIndy grads said they felt prepared for their first job out of school, and 89% reported that they were able to find a job or placement into a graduate program within six months of graduating. But don't worry, we're not just making this up. UIndy students don't just learn inside a classroom, many of them gain real-world skills and experience through internships and summer job opportunities. Here are a few examples of what our students have done so far:

Donnie Strack (Class of '02, D.P.T. '05) Has been working as the director of medical services for the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder since 2008. How did he land his dream job? A strong academic background, and attending school in a city that is big on sports certainly helped, but this UIndy grad would also attribute his success to the numerous opportunities for hands-on training that he received during his undergraduate years in the Athletic Training program. Of course, Donnie had even more opportunities to apply the skills he learned in the classroom as a graduate student at UIndy's Nationally ranked Krannert School of Physical Therapy.

Joey Myles (Class of '09, MBA '10) also took advantage of some great academic programs, internship opportunities, and even got to travel abroad. Now, he works as an auditor for the Department of Defense. Joey studied Accounting during his time at UIndy, and took advantage of the School of Business' Accelerated MBA , which allows students to complete their Bachelor's and Master of Business Administration (MBA) in five years. As part of the preparation students receive in this program, MBA candidates travel to different parts of the world each year to learn how business is done internationally. Joey got the chance to travel to Europe and South America. Like many UIndy students in different academic disciplines, Joey made sure to acquire some internship experience before completing both degrees.

At UIndy, students learn by doing. Many undegraduate and graduate programs encourage and promote local internship opportunities that allow students to put their classroom skills to practice in real-world experiences. The result? many students leave the university having completed at least one internship or work experience before they graduate, a unique characteristic that has proven to be beneficial when seeking that first job after college.

Want to read more about other big opportunities that are out there for a UIndy student? Check out our prospective student magazine, Inside UIndy.

Although the University of Indianapolis is mostly known for its programs in the health sciences (Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Nursing), its Teacher Education programs are equally strong and effective in preparing students to enter the workplace. In fact, UIndy is one of very few colleges in Indiana that is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education for its undregraduate and graduate teaching programs.

Rarely do undergraduate students get the opportunity to apply what they learn in real-world scenarios, while acquiring relevant work experience. The faculty within the School of Education make it a top priority for their students to get hands-on training in classrooms and experience in diverse school settings (private, public, charter). As early as their freshmen year, students in the Teacher Education program are taken to different elementary or secondary schools near campus to observe methods and practices in classrooms, which are then dicussed in follow-up seminars. Classroom visits continue further on in a student's undergraduate career, with an increase in field experiences and opportunities for student teaching during junior and senior years.

Further opportunities to gain valuable experience in the field exist through some of the student groups on campus that organize volunteer and service events in the local community. Like many other academic departments at UIndy, students in Elementary and Secondary Education can also count on small class sizes, allowing them to build close relationships with their professors and classmates. With a small-class learning environment and a hands-on approach to learning, it is no wonder that many school districts in the state of Indiana show a strong preference for hiring UIndy graduates and student teachers. 

Check out what this UIndy student has to say about her experience in the Elementary Education program.

The School for Adult Learning at the University of Indianapolis announces its revised process allowing students to earn college credit for their lifetime of learning experiences. 

What is a Prior Learning Assessment Portfolio?  A Prior Learning Assessment is a formal written communication presented by the student to the University requesting credit for extra-collegiate, college-level learning. A portfolio consists of multiple components. Each component plays a role in demonstratitng mastery of learning objectives. Each portfolio must make its case by identifying learning clearly and succinctly, with suporting documentation and other evidence, that will demonstrate you have sufficiently mastered the credit being requested. The use of portfolios in degree completion has been around for over 40 years.

Is it right for you?  If you are a student who has nontraditional learning that meets the necessary criteria, you may be eligible to seek academic credit through the portfolio process. Credit is granted for learnng, not experience! The Prior Learning Assessment portfolio process provides you with an opportunity to earn credit for learning outside the confines of a traditional classroom. If you have developed college level knowledge, skills, and abilities as a result of:  work experience, formal corporate training, operating your own business, working with a volunteer or community organization, seminars, or license: you may want to use this option to earn college credit. Completing a PLA portfolio is an economical way to accelerate your degree while also receiving recognition of your life's accomplishments!

What are the benefits? As a returning adult you recognize that a basic requirement for career placement is the attainment of- at minimum- a bachelor's degree. By the year 2018, 63% of the total job openings in the US will require some level of post-secondary (college) education (http:www.9.georgetown.edu/grad/gpi/hpi/cew/pdfs/FullReport). No matter whether you bring with you transfer credits or none at all, the use of prior learning assessment has been statistically documented to give you an advantage in several important ways.

To get started, meet with the PLA Coordinator in the School for Adult Learning. The Coordinator will explain the process and the cost.

To learn more about this process, contact:  Kathy L. Simpher, MTS, Master Certified PLA Coordinator

ksimpher@uindy.edu or 317.788.3393. School for Adult Learning, Esch Hall 103, University of Indianapolis

It is no secret that the cost of a four-year college degree can be really expensive, and that the main difference between a public college and a private college usually lies in the cost of tuition. For these reasons, many students will dismiss the possibility of attending a private university.

While the advertised cost of attendance at a private college can be a number big enough to give mom and dad a heart attack, often times financial aid and outside scholarships can reduce this number significantly, to the point where the actual cost of attendance can be made to be just as affordable as the cost at a state school.

To better illustrate this issue, let's take a look at the numbers for cost of attendance at UIndy:

Currently, the cost of tuition at the University of Indianapolis is $24,420 and the cost of Room & Board is $8,790. However, as I said before, do not be fooled by the large dollar amount. Most first year students at UIndy are not expected to pay the advertised cost of attendance. In fact, a good number of them receive some form of financial assistance from the university. A typical financial aid package for a first year student will usually include some of the following items:

University Scholarships and Grants

Every student who applies for undergraduate admission to UIndy is automatically considered for a merit scholarship, which can range from anywhere between $6,000 and up to full tuition annually, provided that the student maintains a good GPA while attending full-time.

Merit scholarships, are just one of three categories of university scholarships that an incoming freshmen could be eligible for. Talent-based scholarships are also another category. UIndy awards scholarships for athletic talent to recruited athletes, and demonstrated ability in music, theatre, and art for students who plan on pursuing a major in either of the three departments. (The music department scholarship is also available to non-music majors). Legacy, alumni, departmental awards are the third category of scholarships. To see the full list, visit our financial aid website: (www.uindy.edu/financial-aid)

In addition to scholarships, students may qualify for additional aid from the university, which can be listed as a supplemental or director's grant on a financial aid award letter. Academic merit and overall financial need are both considered for this.

Federal and State Aid

You may have heard of the Pell Grant, or Federal Work Study. These are grants and special forms of assistance from the federal government that students are not expected to pay back after graduating. Indiana state residents may qualify for Indiana student grants, like 21st-Century Scholars, or the Indiana Freedom of Choice Grant. Non-Indiana residents are also eligible for grants from their own home states. For more information, visit http://nassgap.org/membershipdirectory.aspx. The amount of Federal/State awards and total funding that a student will qualify for is primarily based on financial need. This is why filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is important.

There are also federal student loans, more commonly known as Stafford loans and/or Perkins loans. However, as an Admissions Counselor, I always remind families that these are completely optional, and that students are never obligated to accept any loans on their financial aid award letters. Every family's situation is different, and it is important that students talk with their parents about whether or not these are feasible options.

Outside Scholarships

I always encourage my students to look out for any outside scholarships from their local communities, parents' employers, and/or other networks. Although scholarship websites like FastWeb are great search tools to use, many of the posted scholarships on those sites are national awards, that thousands of other students are also applying to. True, the local scholarships may not be worth as much as national scholarships like Gates Millennium or Coca-Cola, but the odds of winning the former are much higher, so it never hurts to apply to those either.

Bottom line students; never rule out a private college as an option simply based on the cost of attendance. You never know what you will get on the financial side of things. Feel free to reach out to the university's financial aid office, and your friendly admissions counselor (that's me!) if you or your parents need help.

Stephanie A. Combs, PT, PhD, NCS, assistant professor in the Krannert School of Physical Therapy at the University of Indianapolis, will present a poster presentation at the World Parkinson Congress in Montreal, Canada on Wednesday, October 2, 2013. Combs will present research conducted in conjunction with colleague Dyer Diehl, PT, PhD, UIndy physical therapy students and Rock Steady Boxing in Indianapolis. The research concluded that people with Parkinson's disease who participated in boxing training maintained better walking function over the course of one year than those who did not box.

The results were based on a two-year longitudinal study. Thirty-nine people with Parkinson's disease participated in boxing training, while 26 people with the disease engaged in other exercise activities. Members of each group were similar in age, gender, length of time since diagnosis and readiness to exercise. Each person's walking function was measured at the beginning of the study, at six months and at 12 months using a fast 10-meter walk test and a 6-minute walk test.

Those people in the boxing group demonstrated significantly greater comfortable 10-meter walking speed compared to non-boxers and increased gait endurance on the 6-minute walk test. That is, the boxers could walk faster for 10 meters and further in six minutes than the non-boxers. In addition, the boxers reported significantly more minutes of exercise per week then non-boxers.

Combs and her colleagues reported that future study of people with Parkinson's disease is warranted to determine the effectiveness of boxing on both overall fitness and disease symptoms.

A copy of the poster abstract can be viewed here: combs_et_al_wpc_2013_abstract_final.pdf

Fall is here, and along with the colder weather and leaves changing, there are thousands of high school seniors who have started their college applications. While many schools will have deadlines in August, November, December, and January, there are some colleges that do not have deadlines for admission,and accept applications year round. The University of Indianapolis is one of these schools that practices what is known as Rolling Admissions. There are many benefits that come with applying to a school that does not have strict deadlines for admission. Here are just a few of the reasons for why you should add UIndy to your list of college applications this season.

No Deadlines

You won't have to worry or stress out over an early deadline. We want you to apply when you are ready. So if you need to wait for your SAT/ACT scores, there's no problem there! Of course, this does not mean that we recommend waiting until the last minute, especially if you are hoping to be considered for scholarships.

Flexibility

Not having a strict deadline allows students to take the time needed to put together a stronger application. For example, if a student wanted to improve their SAT/ACT scores before submitting their application, they could retake the test and apply once those scores were ready. In other cases, there may be some students who want their grades from the first semester of their senior year to be included on their transcript. Rolling Admissions allows these students, and those from our SAT/ACT example, to submit their application when each of these components is ready, and without being penalized for submitting it late.

A Simple and Easy Application

Aside from lifting away the stress of deadlines, our application process is made to be like peeling off a band-aid, quick and painless. No essays, and no letters of recommendation required! However, you should anticipate writing a small essay or two for some of our scholarships and grants.

Decisions on a Rolling Basis

Since we admit students on a rolling basis, we also send out decision notices in the same fashion. Once we receive your completed application (Application Form, Official High School Transcript, Official Test Scores), we can process it and notify you of a decision within 2-3 weeks at the earliest. No need to wait for months before getting a decision letter in the mail.

Automatic Consideration for Scholarships

All students who apply to UIndy are automatically considered for one of our merit scholarships. This means that you could get some free money for those good grades and SAT/ACT scores! Amounts vary from $7,000  to Up to Full Tuition. Therefore, the higher your GPA and test scores, the more money you could receive in Merit Scholarship. Remember though, there are plenty of other university scholarships, many of which may require a separate application, and that will have deadlines. In order to apply to these, be sure to apply for admission early. Most of our admissions counselors will recommend that you apply before December 1st.

We know that you are probably applying to more than one college, and we hope UIndy will be one of them!Keep this information in mind and be sure to contact our office directly with any questions or concerns. http://uindy.edu/admissions-home

Come to the University of Indianapolis School for Adult Learning  on Thursday, October 24, 2013 at 5:30 pm. to learn more about the accelerated master’s degree in Strategic Leadership and Design. This program is designed for today’s leaders, managers, and supervisors and allows busy working adults an opportunity to complete a graduate degree in two years attending class just one night each week.

This graduate degree offers education and development in areas that will make a difference in today’s world: strategies for problem solving and direction in how to conceptualize goals and communicate them effectively. This degree will lead you to leadership roles in both profit and not-for-profit settings.

No GRE or GMAT required. Call 317-788-3393 to reserve a seat or to schedule an appointment with Robbin Sally, Graduate Advisor.  For more information, please visit  http://www.uindy.edu/sal/strategic-leadership

UIndy Kinesiology was well represented at the Indiana Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Conference (IAHPERD) Oct 30-Nov 1, 2013 with multiple juried presentations.  

Oral Presentations:

Practical strategies to help you advocate for health education within the school and community was presented by students Michelle Kruse (Community Health Education), Terrence Johnson (Health & Physical Education), and Lauren Hostetter (Community Health Education) and faculty Dr. Heidi Rauch and Dr. Shannon McMorrow.

Resistance Bands: A safe and economical way to increase strength in your program was presented by students Royce Carlton (Health & Physcial & Education), Terrence Johnson (Health & Physical Education), Trent Vickrey (Health & Physical Education), Braden Miller (Exercise Science), Caitlin Gomez (Exercise Science) and faculty Dr. Lisa Hicks and Ms. Mindy Mayol.

Poster Presentations

Special Olympics Indiana Event Management Project presented by Aaron Ostapchuk (Sport Management Undergraduate).

Developing Social Media Strategies for a Professional Sports Franchise presented by Joshua Sollman (Sport Management Undergraduate)

Clustering among Student-Athletes at Division II Schools: Fact of Fiction presented by Ashley Fowler (Sport Management Graduate Student)

The Senior Women’s Administrator: Roles and Inconsistencies within Division I Athletic Programs presented by Amanda Reed (Sport Management Graduate Student).

Award Winners:

Ashley Fowler (Sport Management Graduate Student) received the top award for posters of graduate students among four different Indiana institutions participating. This is the third year in a row that a UIndy student received an outstanding poster award.

Terrence Johnson (Health & Physical Education) received the Catherine Wolf Scholarship which included: 1 year membership to IAHPERD, IAHPERD Conference Registration, Award Certificate and monetary stipend.

Rebecca Reutman (Exercise Science) received the Jean Lee/Jeff Marvin Collegiate Scholarship Award.  This scholarship includes a monetary stipend and recognizes outstanding undergraduate students preparing for a career in health, physical education, recreation dance or allied field.

Whether you are an aspiring artist, musician, or thespian, you can rest assured that you will be able to find a place at the University of Indianapolis. Our Art, Music, and Theatre programs offer the same great commitment to personal attention as our other academic programs. Each program's small class sizes, curriculum that exposes students to a variety of topics, and a "learn by doing" philosophy for teaching, allows students to graduate with the tools they need for success in a variety of careers within either of these areas.

The Department of Art & Design offers programs in Art Education, Pre-Art Therapy, Pre-Medical Illustration, Studio Art (with concentrations in Ceramics, Digital Photography, Drawing, and Painting) and Visual Communication/Graphic Design.

The department is one of very few schools in the state that has an accreditation from the National Association for Schools of Art and Design.

Art students have 24hr access to our spacious facilities in the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center which includes, large studios, a art gallery, and four computer labs.

Click HERE to find out about available scholarships in this department.

The acoustically perfect Ruth Lilly Performance Hall serves as the host for many nationally and internationally recognized musicians that are brought to the UIndy campus every year. 

Our rehearsal rooms and classrooms offer state-of-the-art equipment for recording and playback, a music recording studio, and quality instruments like Steinway, Seiler, Mason and Hamlin, Petrof, Baldwin and Kawai grand pianos. 

Choose from majors in: Music Education, Music Performance, Music 

Concentrations are available in: Church Music, Jazz Studies, Music Technology & Recording, Theory/Composition, Music Business

Click HERE to find out about available scholarships in this department.

Degrees are offered in either Theatre or Theatre Teaching with options for concentrations in Performance/Directing, Design/Production, or Music/Theatre.

Small class sizes, and studio classes with no more than 12 students

A broad curriculum that features hands-on training and experiences in the all areas of Theatre from acting and directing, to scenic design, costuming, and dramatic literature.

Click HERE to find out about available scholarships in this department.

When Erin Peterson graduated from high school, she wanted to be a teacher. That is until she was student teaching and met the school occupational therapist.

“I decided that’s what I really wanted to do,” Peterson said.

Fast-forward several years and Peterson is setting a course to do both.  The 2011 UIndy Master of Occupational Therapy graduate is now enrolled in UIndy’s Doctor of Health Science (DHS) program. Her focus is on advocacy and leadership with a minor in education.

Next semester, Peterson, who specializes in hand therapy at Community Physical Therapy and Rehab, will co-teach the Biomechanics for Occupation II course with Dr. Lucinda Dale.

“I’m excited about this opportunity,” Peterson said. “I think it will be helpful to co-teach before teaching on my own. The class content for this course is what I practice every day with my patients. I learn new things on the job and can bring the ‘real world’ to the classroom.”

In addition to pursuing her DHS, Peterson plans to become a certified hand therapist and focus on treatment of patients with post-surgical hand and upper extremity conditions.

“The best part is helping patients get better and tangibly seeing improvement,” Peterson said. “From the first day when they are in so much pain and can’t do anything to the last day when they are independent. It’s really awesome.”

If it sounds like Peterson is pretty busy, she is. The hybrid format – online with one on-campus weekend – of the UIndy DHS program allows Peterson and other students to manage a career while also working toward advanced degrees.  The format allows students to meet and share resources with clinicians from all over the country. The DHS program also takes advantage of a student’s current work and applies it toward the degree. For instance, Peterson’s juried project stems from research she is conducting with patients at Community.

Peterson will present her project, “A Pilot Study of the Effecs of Kinesio Tex Tape on Carpal Tunnel Release Scars and Hand Function,” in August 2014.

It's that time of year...do you set resolutions at the beginning of each year, but do nothing to reach the goals?  If your goal is a better paying job, then make your first step a college degree.  The School for Adult Learning at the University of Indianapolis will help you reach this goal.  Our accelerated bachelor degree program for students 24 years and older will prepare you for that better job. Classes meet just one night per week for five weeks. You will earn three credits every five weeks and complete the degree in as little as two or three years.  And, our students have direct access to a Career Advisor who helps them with all aspects of career exploration as well as helping with resumes, cover letters, and interviewing skills.

It's not too late to get started.  Classes begin the middle of January and again the middle of February.  You can't reach your goal without taking the first step.  What are you waiting for.  Call or email Chelsea Ward, Admissions Advisor, at 317-791-5762 or wardcb@uindy.edu.  No ACT or SAT tests are required for admission. Request your high school transcript and any college transcripts from classes you have taken previously. We accept transfer credit from regionally accredited schools and military experience. 

For more information, go to www.sal.uindy.edu. 

All the talk and stories on the news about students who graduate from college with thousands of dollars in debt is enough to discourage some from even applying to their top choice schools. But figuring out how to pay for college doesn't have to be so overwhelming. Here is a quick rundown of what you can do in these next few months to keep you on the right track.

January - March are the key months for most students to apply for financial aid at colleges and universities in the United States.

For UIndy, this means:

-Applying to university scholarships (visit the scholarships page on the financial aid website). Although students receive automatic consideration for merit scholarships when applying for admission, there are several other university scholarships and grants that you could be eligible for.

-Filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 10th. Keep in mind that information from your parents' most recent federal income tax returns, and additional supporting documents, will be needed to complete this form. Remember to save your PIN!

-Completing the University Aid Application (UAAP)

-Non-Indiana Residents should also search for available grants from their home states

March - April By this time, you will have submitted your FAFSA and UAPP. During this period, you can expect to start hearing back from the financial aid office. You should expect to receive the following:

-Student Aid Report may be sent by mail or e-mail. This is basically a summary of the information you provided on your FAFSA. If your FAFSA is complete, your SAR will also include your EFC (Expected Family Contribution), this is the estimated amount that your family is expected to contribute to your college education based on a number of variables like, household size, annual income, other assets, and savings.

-Preliminary Award Letter gives you an estimate of the amount of financial aid that you qualify for at the university. Since this is NOT the final award letter, it CAN still change.

-Missing Information Letter (if applicable) Sometimes the financial aid office will ask you or your parents to provide additional documents as a way to verify things that can affect your total costs, or EFC. If you do receive a letter asking for more information, be sure to submit all materials as soon as possible. Failure to submit any missing information, could delay the processing of your final aid award letter.

-Official Financial Aid Notification Letter the one you've been waiting for! The official award letter includes a total amount for all scholarship monies, grants, federal, state, and university aid that you will qualify for.

April - May By this time in the year, you will have received all financial aid letters from the different schools you have applied to. Now it's time to sit down with your parents and compare aid packages.

Depending on your situation, there may be some other items to take care of during this time as well:

-If you will be taking out any Federal or private loans: Complete any Master Promissory Notes, or sign other required documentation for your loans.

-If you have edits to make on your FAFSA. You can still make changes! just be sure to do so by May 15th

-If the remaining balance noted on your financial aid letter is still too high, review alternative financing options and resources.

Orthopeadics is a broad category within the profession of physical therapy, and while many physical therapists work on some level with people with orthopaedic conditions or injuries, some choose to specialize in the discipline. For physical therapists who wish to develop expertise in orthopaedics, the UIndy Krannert School of Physical Therapy in partnership with Body One Physical Therapy has developed an Orthopaedic Clinical Residency Program.

The orthopaedic residency is designed to prepare graduates of the program for expert practice and leadership roles within the PT profession. The program welcomes applications from licensed (or license-eligible) physical therapists who have strong skills in clinical reasoning and application of manual exam and treatment procedures.

“Our goal is to help these professional become independent, self-motivated learners who can integrate a variety of learning experiences associated with orthopaedic medicine,” said Emily Slaven, PT, PhD, OCS, FAAOMPT, CertMDT, faculty coordinator of the UIndy Orthopaedic Clinical Residency Program. “We expect graduates of this residency to not only treat orthopaedic conditions expertly, but also to effectively teach patients, families, students and peers about these conditions and their treatments.”

“What’s more,” Slaven said, “we anticipate that these professionals will assume leadership roles within the profession of orthopaedic physical therapy.”

Clinicians accepted into the program will spend 35 hours each week on clinical work and instruction at Body One Physical Therapy and 8 hours on the UIndy campus as a teaching assistant in the musculoskeletal series of Doctor of Physical Therapy classes. The orthopaedic resident will also complete post professional classes in topics relating to medical screening and differential diagnosis,  along with a supervised teaching practicum.

UIndy’s Orthopaedic Clinical Residency Program runs August through May.

Applications for the program must be submitted by March 1, 2014.

For more information on the curriculum, schedule, salary and tuition, please click here.
 

UIndy Physical Therapy Professor William H. Staples, PT, DHS, DPT, GCS, CEEAA was recently named to the National Quality Forum (NQR) committee for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. 

The NQR works to identify the best health tests and measures to be used with specific populations through review of measures by an expert committee. Staples will be one of 20 committee members representing medicine, nursing, pharmacy, social work, public health and many other disciplines.

He was recommended to serve by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) in recognition of his expertise in the area of geriatrics and dementia. Staples is currently the president of the APTA Section on Geriatrics.

To learn more about UIndy's Krannert School of Physical Therapy, click here.

Beginning today, Tuesday, February 4 through Thursday, February 6, hundreds of physical therapists will gather in Las Vegas for the annual American Physical Therapy Association's Combined Sections Meeting. Several faculty and students are in Las Vegas to present research conducted at or on behalf of the University of Indianapolis Krannert School of Physical Therapy.

Platform presentations:

Title: Comparison of outcomes and exercise behaviors in persons with Parkinson disease who participate in different modes of exercise: a mixed-method study
Authors: Combs SA, Diehl MD, Bentz M, Hojnacki K, Sewell L, Steider S.

Title: Comparison of standard care and physical therapy interventions for patients presenting to the emergency department with cervical pain.
Authors: Fruth, Rogowski, Wilhelm (presenter), Weurtemberger, Brickens, Hartman

Title: Quantification of Changes in Gait and Function as a Result of Partial Knee Arthroplasty: A Case Report
Authors: Emily Slaven; Michael Berend; Erica Smith; Jessica Stanish; Elizabeth Von Hoene; Merrill Ritter.

Title: Shoulder kinematics and function in survivors of breast cancer with unilateral lymphedema
Authors: Linda Biggers; Brittany Behrens; Alison Happel; Kelsey Kennedy; Peter Rundquist

Title: Low Frequency Burst Modulated Biphasic Pulsed Current Yields 98% of Volitional Muscle Force
Authors: James Bellew; Matthew Barton; Kyle Sanders; Kristen Schuman

Education sessions:

Title: Impact of student engagement in a free interprofessional health clinic
Authors: Micaela Hornstein, Sara (Harker) Bemenderfer

Title: Student Remediation Part I:  A Professional Behavior Wake-Up Call
Authors:  Martin, K. Van Veld, R., Black, S. Borcherding, J.

Title: Dianne Cherry Forum:  Best Practices in Pediatric Clinical Education
Authors: Martin, K., Kenyon, L. Birkmeier, M., Anderson, D.

Posters:

Title: Pilot testing of a novel axial rotation unit in individuals with transfemoral amputations
Authors: Nicole Derry; Kenneth Taylor; Renée Van Veld; Matthew Habecker; Margaret Finley

Title: The effect of guided imagery on neck flexor endurance, disability and perceived exertion in a population with chronic neck pain
Authors: Peter Rundquist; Richard Kaminski; Ryan Powell; William Staples; Samuel Kegerreis

Title: What factors affect return of knee flexion range of motion following partial knee arthroplasty?
Authors: Emily Slaven; Michael Berend; Kenneth Davis; Sharon Annee; Merrill Ritter

Title: Community-based mobility training for persons with chronic stroke: A pilot study.
Authors: Cagnet C, Hall C, Newblom J, Nair M, Schmid AA, Combs SA.

For a list of dates and times of each presentation, click here: csm_presentations_2014.docx