The University of Louisville Alumni Magazine: for alumni, faculty, staff, students and anyone that is a UofL Cardinal fan.
Issue link: https://louisville.epubxp.com/i/643329
4 8 | L O U I S V I L L E . E D U McCONNELL CENTER Kentucky's reputation as a hotbed of political activity is well earned, but just how civically engaged is the commonwealth's electorate? The McConnell Center's Civic Education Program partnered with Western Kentucky University's Institute for Citizenship and Social Responsibility to f nd out. The partnership will launch the 2016 Kentucky Civic Health Index to be released right in time for the 2016 presidential election. The report will offer a snapshot of Kentuckians' political activity. "Given the critical importance of civic life to the vitality of our individual and collective lives, this report is intended to examine and better understand Kentucky's civic health," said Gary Gregg, PhD, director of the McConnell Center. "Results from this index will offer us the opportunity to understand our state's strengths and weaknesses, improve opportunities for civic engagement and knowledge, and, ultimately, advance our commonwealth's civic health," he said. "For more than 10 years, the McConnell Center has been tackling the important problem of civic illiteracy, a problem that has the potential to undermine the future of our democracy," said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). The center's civic education programs have reached more than 1,000 Kentucky social studies teachers from more than 150 Kentucky schools. The unique programs offer an emphasis on American and world history, politics, economics and literature in historic locations ranging from Atlanta to Boston and from Portland, Oregon, to Philadelphia. Additionally, the center hosts the Young Leaders Academy, a week-long summer residential leadership program for high school students designed to enhance their knowledge of American public life. These distinct civic educational opportunities are a key component to the McConnell Center's mission, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary. For more information on upcoming events and anniversary celebrations, visit McConnellCenter.org. McConnell Center to poll Kentucky political activity The McConnell Center's Civic Education Program also includes the Young Leaders Academy, a week-long summer residential leadership program for high school students designed to enhance their knowledge of American public life. Climbing the charts: COB national rankings make school history The College of Business can now proudly say that all of its major programs — both at the undergraduate and graduate level — are among the top 100 programs in the country for the f rst time in school history. Of the more than 500 business schools across the United States, UofL ranks No. 22 in the country for its entrepreneurship MBA program (Princeton Review) and No. 19 in the United States for its Masters of Accountancy program (Eduniversal. com). Its undergraduate program recently cracked the top 80, and both the full-time and professional MBA programs placed in the top 70, putting them in the same company as Tulane University, North Carolina State and the University of Cincinnati. Interim Dean Rohan Christie-David is excited with the progress of the college, but emphasizes they aren't satisf ed quite yet. "Our rise in the rankings is a clear indicator that we are getting better and better and that we are clearly a school on the rise," Christie-David said. "In the next three to f ve years our goal is to be a Top 50 business school. It might seem like a bold statement, but I think we can get there." According to Christie- David, much of UofL's progress can be attributed to the college's earned reputation in providing students the tools needed to succeed in a number of growing industries. "We are already well- known for our equine and entrepreneurship programs, but will soon offer specialized instruction at all levels in a number of f elds, including health care management, consumer analysis/branding, and f nance/ banking. Employers want to hire people who have specif c training and can come in and hit the ground running. It's our job to prepare our graduates for the challenge." COLLEGE OF BUSINESS All of UofL's undergraduate and graduate level business programs are ranked in the top 100 in the nation for the fi rst time in school history.