A Presidential Note:

Happy Holidays!

We are closing the Fall 2014 semester with the sure knowledge that

the past four months have hearkened a defining transition in our

community’s development and sense of self. Now, motivated by the

Founders Day message of sacrifice and extraordinary achievement, the

College has set our sights on an equally compelling and boldly

ambitious future.

The commissioning of Credo by our Board of Trustees to support the

Beacon community in pursuing our first comprehensive institutional

master planning exercise is certainly a tangible “tipping point” in the

College’s trajectory and evolution. This campus-wide initiative is

intended, by design, to call us to reflect on the distinct values, ethos,

and outcomes that are vital to our community, our students, and our

families.

Fortified with this understanding, we are then provisioned as a baccalaureate community to act

decisively and coherently in fashioning a campus in the decade ahead: one that will sustain and

nurture the sort of undergraduate experience and culture that is recognized as powerful,

transformative, and singularly “Beacon.”

Even with Credo’s year-long work unfinished and the commissioned Campus Master Plan six

months from its established due date, the College’s programmatic and enrollment growth –

past, present, and envisioned – have demanded that we take full advantage of the opportunities

that have been placed immediately before us to secure needed space. Certainly, nowhere have

our immediate space needs been more important than in housing, where over 30 students have

been residing in leased properties since the 2012-13 academic year. The acquisition and

upgrading of the 108-bed residential complex, now known as Beacon Commons (located on

Oak Terrace Drive and to be formally opened in January) allows Beacon to return upper-class

students to College-owned housing that will offer the services and on-site programming

definitive of a residential undergraduate community.

Other important property acquisitions that will enhance Beacon’s campus footprint and address

long-standing needs of the College are being negotiated at the time of this writing.

Understandable protocols and my own penchant for superstition keep me from placing these in

writing until all of the necessary documentation is complete. Suffice it to say, I believe that the

New Year will bring welcome news on the campus development front. With each of our

recent and potential campus acquisitions, care is being taken to align our endeavors with

Credo’s and the community’s preliminary master planning work. I look forward to reporting

more on this unfolding story of campus transformation in future Navigator articles.

I end this communication with my very best wishes to all associated with the special community

that is Beacon College. May your Holidays be of good cheer and fellowship!

Beacon

Navigator W I N T E R 2 0 1 4 V O L U M E I V , I S S U E V

Know Your World and Its Challenges. Chart Your Course and Succeed.

Gain. Learn. Grow.

I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :

A Message

from the Board

Chair

2

Healthy Living

for Employees 2

IECA Visit 4

Faculty Grant

Awarded 6

SGA Gives

Back 7

Assistive

Technology 7

Legal Issues in

Education 8

Campus Safety

Patrol Vehicles 8

S P E C I A L

P O I N T S O F

I N T E R E S T :

Beacon Shares Its

Learning Model in

Saudi Arabia

Beacon Joins

Global Movement

Beacon Arrives in

the U.S. Virgin

Islands

President Hagerty

P A G E 2

The Happiest Time of the Year

December has arrived and we are busily preparing for our individual and group celebrations of the Holiday Season. We,

too, are reminded that this is the happiest time of the year, and no doubt, it is for the fortunate among us. We are also

called to remember the less fortunate members of our society, among them, those without appropriate educational

opportunities.

The Beacon College Board of Trustees is committed to serving the many students who have dealt with learning

disabilities, ADHD, and other learning differences. Rest assured that the provision of a high quality undergraduate

education and the enhancement of the Beacon College experience is ever foremost in our thinking and planning. During

the last year and a half, you have witnessed and profited by a revitalized campus, and yet, the work of the Board of

Trustees continues.

If there were a Santa Claus, the Board would be asking for more professionals like the people we have all come to know

as Beacon’s Faculty, Staff, and Administrators. And yes, we would be asking for more students and families just like

those with whom we are engaged, people who are committed to higher education and the

benefits it yields. We would ask for more updated facilities and more programs to enhance the

opportunities for our outstanding students.

Of course, there is no Santa Claus, but, fortunately what we have is better. Instead of counting

on a jolly, red-faced fellow who shows up once a year, each and every day, we have each other

to depend upon and a community of individuals who share a commitment to academic

achievement. We have a growing body of financial supporters who contribute generously to

the advancement of the College and each year progress is witnessed. You can’t get all that in a

big red sack and down a chimney!

As you head home to enjoy Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and the New Year with your family

and friends, please take with you the very best wishes of the Board of Trustees for a safe and happy vacation. We hope

that your reunions are joyful and that your holiday season is festive. We further hope that you will enjoy the Winter

Break and come back to Beacon College well rested and refreshed, ready to resume the rigorous academic programs.

The Beacon community will be eagerly awaiting your return.

For the 11 students who this December make the important transition from student to proud graduate, be assured that

your Trustees and your College extend much deserved congratulations and possess well-founded confidence in you and

your future.

May peace fill your homes and communities,

Eileen Marinakis, Chair

Board of Trustees

B E A C O N N A V I G A T O R

Did you know that employees of Beacon College are eligible to take advantage of a free

Employee Assistance Program? Beacon’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a

comprehensive program that provides individuals with the resources and tools to live a

balanced and healthy life at home and at work. This program is provided by Beacon College

and Aetna Resources for Living. Aetna provides specially trained clinicians to assist 24

hours a day, 7 days a week with referrals to counselors and resources, along with providing

information on a wide variety of topics. EAP services include face-to-face counseling, life coaching, legal and financial

services, child care and parenting resources, adoption support, education resources, and elder care assistance. This

benefit is open to all Beacon College employees and their dependents, and all contact with the EAP is confidential.

Online services are also available. Beacon is excited to be partnering with Aetna Resources for Living to offer this

important benefit to its employees.

Contributed by Kimberly A. Baggett, Associate Vice President of Human Resources

Beacon College Supports Balanced and Healthy Living

Chair Eileen Marinakis

In October, President Hagerty and I were invited by the Prince Salman Center for

Disability Research to present at the 4th International Conference on Disability &

Rehabilitation in Saudi Arabia (pictured left). Beacon College was one of only two

American colleges to have representatives as presenters for this conference. The

audience ranged from influential professionals such as educators, researchers, and

doctors to parents of children with disabilities, providing an exceptional opportunity

to interact with people from many different professional backgrounds and

perspectives and also different countries and cultures.

My presentation focused on answering the question: “What does Beacon College do

to achieve its excellent student outcomes?” I shared the Beacon College Student-

Centered Learning Model with an enthusiastic audience of approximately 120

professionals who listened to how we adapt our curricula in ways that allow students

with learning disabilities and ADHD to learn.

In his session “Establishing Functional Special Education Policies and Guidelines,” Dr. Hagerty provided a historical

narrative of the evolution of American Federal and State regulations (1970s to present), along with a review of

challenges faced in implementing these changes. With his involvement in the U.S. Department of Education at its

inception, Dr. Hagerty is uniquely qualified to speak about the challenges and progress made in the field of special

education in America.

The audience was told that professors and instructors ensure that each class session

contains three types of knowledge: 1) declarative knowledge (i.e., facts and

concepts of the discipline); 2) procedural knowledge (i.e., application of the

declarative knowledge); and 3) metacognitive knowledge (i.e., reflection about that

class meeting’s learning and thinking). All three types of knowledge interact during

critical thinking to promote a deeper understanding of the material for the student.

The audience was also informed of the current research that purports that

educators should focus on the strengths of students with LD and ADHD. At

Beacon College we learn what learning styles our students prefer and provide

multimodal delivery to accommodate these learning styles. Many photos of Beacon

College students and faculty interacting in the classroom and out in the field were

incorporated into the presentation so the audience could visualize what multimodal

delivery looks like in a real-world setting.

The audience was impressed by the human element found in the College’s

supportive climate of inquiry. Beacon College professors, learning specialists, life

coaches, mental health counselors, and staff all care about our Beacon students. The Gallup-Purdue Index Report

(2014) concluded that a caring professor or learning specialist is instrumental in assisting graduates to thrive. The

research shows that students are three times more likely to thrive after graduation if they had connected to an

educational professional on campus who had challenged them, cared about them, and encouraged them. At Beacon

College, faculty, and staff know all of the students by name, remove fear from the classroom, and create a safe place

for students.

In response to questions at the end of the presentation, the audience learned about the Beacon College Career

Development Model and our job placement rates.

Overall, the long trip was very worthwhile as we continue to spread the name and good work of Beacon College to

a global audience.

Beacon Shares its Learning Model in Saudi Arabia

P A G E 3 V O L U M E I V , I S S U E V

Contributed by Dr. Shelly Chandler, Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs

Drs. Shelly Chandler and George and Oksana Hagerty

P A G E 4

B E A C O N N A V I G A T O R

Nationally Recognized Educational Consultants Visit Beacon

Twenty-five members of the Independent Educational

Consultants Association (IECA) visited the Beacon

College campus on Wednesday, November 5th (pictured

left) as part of their semi-annual conference held in

Orlando that same week (shown bottom left).

The IECA Bus Tour included consultants from 12 states,

Puerto Rico, and even from as far as Hong Kong, and

they collectively place more than 2,500 students in a

variety of different programs with most focusing their

private practices in college and post-secondary

placements for students with diagnosed learning

disabilities, ADHD, or other learning differences.

In order to become a member of IECA, consultants must fulfill the following requirements:

A master's degree or higher OR demonstrated comparable educational training/professional experience.

Three years of experience in educational placement counseling or admissions, including a minimum of one year

of independent educational consulting.

Minimum number of students advised (during the previous three

years) on school, college, or program admission:

a) 35 students advised in private practice; or

b) 50 students advised: a minimum of 10 students advised in

private practice; the balance personally a d v i s e d a s a

counselor or admission professional.

A minimum number of evaluative campus visits during the

previous three years within each specialty area:

College: 50 visits;

Boarding/Day Schools: 25 visits;

LD Schools/Programs: 25 visits;

Troubled Teen Programs: 50 visits; and

Graduate & Professional School: 25 visits.

Professional references from at least three college or independent school admissions officers.

Beacon College was voted for the IECA Bus Tour by the members themselves; prior to each conference, members

are surveyed to gauge interest in which local colleges, post-secondary programs, and independent schools they are

interested in touring prior to each conference. The agenda for the group on campus included a welcome from

President George Hagerty, an academic and student services overview

by Dr. Shelly Chandler and Dr. Andrea Brode along with a student

session sharing their experiences at Beacon College and a brief tour of

the Main Street campus by Jack Callahan and Andrew Marvin.

The conference itself was located at the Disney Swan & Dolphin

Resorts and included several break-out sessions designed for

consultants who place students, along with networking opportunities

and a “College and School Swap” which included Beacon along with

300 college advisors and more than 200 Independent School

Representatives. With all 1,400 IECA members, they end up advising

over 60,000 students each year!

Contributed by Stephanie Knight, Director of Admissions and Andrew Marvin, Assistant Director of Admissions

Engaging the Student Panel

P A G E 5

On Tuesday, December 2nd, Beacon College joined the global movement, Giving Tuesday, becoming a partner to raise

money for scholarship funds. It was a day of firsts for the College. Not only was it the first time for Beacon to participate in Giving Tuesday, but it was also the first time the College held a phonathon! Especially considering that this was the first

effort, the day was a success, and an overwhelming number of students, staff, faculty, and other members of the Beacon College Community volunteered their time to contribute to this important cause!

Speaking about the significance of this global day devoted to “giving back,” Dr. Hagerty reflects on Beacon’s involvement in

the movement stating, “Giving Tuesday is quickly becoming a national philanthropic tradition, and Beacon is proud to be a part of this nationwide event. The day serves as a symbol and motivator to people of all walks of life to remember non-

profits such as Beacon College.”

Leading up to Giving Tuesday, the Development Office crafted postcard and

email messages, as well as social media posts and advertisements to alert the community to the upcoming day of giving. A student group of Social Media

Ambassadors was assembled in the weeks leading to the event. These students — Shia Byers, Cari Beecham, Sam Resnick, Tony Naumann, Jessica Balot, Rachel

Yellon, and Lindsey Flax (pictured left) — spent many hours brainstorming ideas and planning for Giving Tuesday. Over the Thanksgiving Break, they began

posting messages on their social media channels in an effort to reach their networks for support of this cause.

The actual day began with a fun photo session! Executive Vice President Bob Bridgeman and Brett Daly, alumnus and current Systems Analyst for the College, volunteered their mornings to get the campus excited for the day! For a suggested $5

donation, anyone could get a photo with Daly, dressed as Uncle Sam, or Bridgeman, who had graciously agreed to dress and pose however the donor chose. This meant, for instance, that Bridgeman, a Patriots fan,

accepted being dressed as a Packers fan, complete with cheese head and beads (shown right). Nearly $200 was raised through these efforts, and no price can be placed on the

memorable photos captured! We encourage you all to check out our social media posts and photo album from this session via the College’s website.

The late afternoon and evening hours were spent on the College’s first phonathon. Groups of 20 volunteers, consisting of employees and students, worked in one-hour

shifts to call parents, alumni, and other friends of the College. Given the size of Beacon College, it is remarkable that over $18,500 has been raised through this inaugural effort!

Keri Philips, Director of Development, expressed her appreciation for the

overwhelming support of the College community. She marveled at the success of the phonathon and noted the professionalism displayed by the students, especially given that most of them were making calls of

this nature for the very first time.

As the holiday season progresses, we urge you all to consider giving back, whether to Beacon College or to another equally

worthy cause. Happy holidays!

Contributed by Gretchen Dreimiller, Director of Communications

Beacon Joins Global Movement, Giving Tuesday

V O L U M E I V , I S S U E V

From all of us at Beacon, thank you for your support on Giving Tuesday

P A G E 6

B E A C O N N A V I G A T O R

Beacon College had a terrific opportunity to participate in a unique student recruitment event in early December

in the U.S. Virgin Islands (U.S.V.I.). The Autopista Tour is the first of many recruitment trips planned outside the continental United States. This outreach effort aligns perfectly with our mission to become a national and

international college option for students with learning differences. To that end, I had the privilege of joining other college representatives from around the country and shared the

Beacon College story with students, families, and professional educators.

Autopista America, a major organizer of college tours throughout the United States, Canada

and the Caribbean, brings together large groups of college admissions counselors with numerous high schools. The tour of the U.S. Virgin Islands included 13 colleges from across

the United States including the University of New Haven, Savannah College of Art and Design, Carlos Albizu University, the Cleveland Institute of Art, Jacksonville University,

Johnson & Wales University, Monroe College, Florida Institute of Technology, Manhattan College, Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University,

Bryant University, King University, and Beacon College!

I was in awe of not only my surroundings, but the hospitality of the people I encountered. They were excited to hear about a college that

was dedicated to supporting their specific educational needs. The U.S .Virgin Islands are beautiful, but there are few higher education

opportunities on the islands for students (and none that specifically address the needs of students with learning disabilities or ADHD).

Over the course of the four-day tour, our group hosted 15 events in

high schools on the islands of St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John. Autopista America did a wonderful job promoting Beacon College and our mission prior to our arrival. As a result, teachers and students came looking to speak specifically about Beacon College. Not only did I receive numerous inquiries, but we have already

received two applications for the Fall 2015 semester.

I truly enjoyed my visit to the U.S.V.I. and look forward to welcoming many of those students to Beacon College!

Contributed by Rachel Masson, Coordinator of Regional Recruitment

Dr. William Nesbitt, Department Chair of Interdisciplinary Studies, recently won the 2015 Marshall Fishwick

Travel Grant from the Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association (PCACA).

The individuals who comprise the PCA/ACA are a group of scholars and enthusiasts who study popular

culture. The PCA/ACA offers a venue to come together and share ideas and interests about the field or

about a particular subject within the field. It also provides publication opportunities and sponsors the PCA/

ACA Endowment.

Dr. Nesbitt submitted a proposal to visit and conduct research on the Berg Collection at the New York

Public Library. The Berg Collection contains unpublished correspondence between William Burroughs and

Brion Gysin, both authors and artists. From 592 applicants, 68 awards were granted. Nesbitt’s research

work will add pedagogical value to his Beacon College class entitled “Beat Literature.” Congratulations, Dr.

Nesbitt!

Contributed by Dr. Shelly Chandler, Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs

Dr. William Nesbitt Wins Fishwick Travel Grant

The 13 College Representatives

Beacon College Arrives in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Rachel with Students from Seventh Day Adventist High, St. Thomas

The Robert & Jane Weiner Writing Center conducted its first assistive technology workshop on Tuesday,

October 28th. Students who attended the workshop received a demonstration on usage of the Kurzweil

Firefly program. This program is available to all students of Beacon College and allows them to have their

textbooks or any document they scan into a computer read out loud to them anywhere that they have

Internet access. It also offers access to many classic works of literature for students to have read to them.

After the demonstration of the technology, students had the opportunity to practice using it while learning

the answers to their questions and receiving hands-on assistance.

One goal of the Robert & Jane Weiner Writing Center is to help students better understand and utilize

the tools available to them, so after our first successful workshop, the Writing Center welcomes

suggestions from students for workshops on any of the other assistive technologies offered at Beacon

College.

Students Learn to Use Assistive Technology Contributed by Jacob Pinkston, Director of the Writing Center

Under the leadership of President Tony Naumann, the Student Government Association (SGA) is having a

very active and productive year. The SGA conducted a month-long fund-raising campaign to secure money

to benefit breast cancer research. Members sold breast cancer awareness bracelets and pink candy, raffled

off a basket filled with assorted Beacon College items, and hosted a breast cancer awareness walk. As a

result of these efforts, the SGA donated $587 to the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation.

The SGA has also been surveying the student body on ways to improve the Beacon College campus

experience. The Association surveyed students about space needs, the quality of food served in the

Chopping Block, and student interest in intramural sports.

Along with this effort, SGA President, Tony

Naumann, has been the student

representative working with the Campus Life

Committee to assist in the implementation of

a Beacon College Honor Code and Anti-

Bullying Policy, both of which will be included

in the next addition of the Beacon College

Student Handbook.

The SGA Officers for the 2014-2015

academic year include: Tony Naumann

(President), Griffin Boven (Vice President),

Amelia Pierce (Secretary), Cari Beecham

(Treasurer), Shaheed Nu’Man (Senior

Representative), Michelle David (Junior Representative), Chris Padilla (Sophomore Representative), Lindsay

Flax (Freshman Representative), and Samantha Resnick (active student participant).

Pictured left to right above: Chris Padilla, Michelle David, Lindsay Flax, Sam Resnick (front), Dr. Shelly Chandler,

Cari Beecham, and Amelia Pierce.

Contributed by Dr. Shelly Chandler, Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs

Student Government Association Gives Back

P A G E 7 V O L U M E I V , I S S U E V

P A G E 8

T H E B E A C O N N A V I G A T O R

Contributed by Dr. Robert A. Bridgeman, Executive Vice President and In-House Legal Counsel

A contractor was working on the campus of The University of South Carolina. He parked his truck in an area

where the other contractors parked and had proper decals on the vehicle. The contractor went to his truck at

lunch and found a parking ticket on it. He saw a campus security officer nearby and asked if he wrote the ticket.

The officer stated no, but that he had the authority to do so. The contractor was “alarmed” by the response,

turned his back on the officer, turned up his radio, and began eating lunch. The officer than began yelling at the

contractor and ordered him out of the truck. The officer took out his service weapon and other officers arrived.

The contractor was handcuffed, arrested, and charged with breach of the peace. He was later found not guilty.

The contractor then sued the officer and university, claiming false arrest and use of excessive force.

You Be the Judge: Who Wins This Case?

Answer: False Arrest Charge. The Court first looks at the arrest, as it must determine if there was probable cause to

place the contractor under arrest. The contractor had out-of-state tags (warranting further investigation) and

proved aggressive and uncooperative. Furthermore, he failed to comply with the officer’s commands. He was

further found to resist arrest when another officer attempted to handcuff him. Therefore, these facts justified the

arrest; (the arrest itself was justified and is separate from the underlying crime).

Use of Excessive Force Charge. Excessive force of drawing the gun was found to be unsubstantiated as the

contractor was reaching for something in his truck. An officer can use weapons if he/she “reasonably believes” it

is necessary to protect their safety. Therefore, no excessive force was proven here as well. Finally, the use of

handcuffs was justified as part of the arrest process, and the officer who placed them on the contractor was not a

defendant to the suit; subsequently, no adequate excessive force claim is present. The officer and university win

the case.

You Be the Judge: Excessive Force

During July 2013, Beacon College created the new Department of Campus Safety.

During the development of this new department, it was decided that Campus Safety

would use two 15-passenger vans, which the College already owned but could no longer

use for transporting students (per the Department of Transportation and the College’s insurance). After

using the two vans during the 2013/14 academic year, it was determined that they were not practical to use

to patrol the campus due to their size and fuel consumption. The decision was made to sell one of the vans

and to purchase two retired law

enforcement patrol cars, which was

accomplished. The College now owns

two 2007 Ford Crown Victorias (in

place of the van) and returned

approximately $2,000 to the College

with the proceeds from the sale. This

adjustment also reduced vehicular fuel

consumption by almost half. Lastly,

Campus Safety was also able to

repurpose a donated electric golf cart

to be utilized in patrolling the

downtown campus area in line with

increased security measures.

Campus Safety Adds Patrol Vehicles to Fleet Contributed by James Ashworth, Chief of Campus Safety

Pictured: Chief James Ashworth, Merta Fuentes, Matt Manfredini, Ryan Nesbitt, and Frank Valentin with their patrol vehicles.