Anxious to start their college careers, incoming freshmen often experience mixed feelings of anticipation and curiosity as they embark on a new part of life. Questions inevitably arise concerning friendships, activities, professors, and, most importantly, academic expectations.

A fundamental part of UM is the Honor Code, a creed that dedicates itself to the values of integrity, honesty, and respect. The Honor Code stands to protect the value of the degree that you will earn. Admission to UM is a result of hard work, high ethical standards, and self-discipline. College work may become demanding, but it is crucial to remember the values with which admission to this institution was granted. A firm reliance on these values will ensure success no matter what.

By accepting a seat at this institution, each student has agreed to abide by the UM Honor Code. A copy of this code will be given to students at Orientation and can also be found in the Student Rights & Responsibilities handbook.

The Honor Council, a student group consisting of 29 members, is charged with enforcing the Honor Code. The Honor Council has two facets: adjudication and education. Professors at the University are not required to turn in students caught violating the Honor Code to the Honor Council. However, they are encouraged to report any infractions. Side by side with adjudicating cases, the Honor Council also focuses on educating the student body, faculty and staff on issues pertaining to academic integrity.

Honor Council members will be present during Orientation to answer any questions that you may have. I

>> For more information, visit www.miami.edu/honor-council or call 305-284-5354.

The University of Miami School of Business has launched the Hyperion Council, a service organization for undergraduate students who desire to use their classroom training to help the disadvantaged in greater Miami.
The Hyperion Council encourages undergraduate business students to gain leadership experience by developing projects that strengthen the bonds between the local business and university communities. It honors students and alumni who exemplify the core values of integrity, fortitude, resilience, excellence and initiative.

The objectives of the Council are to:
I Promote the ideals of good corporate citizenship;
I Recognize the students from the School of Business who most exemplify the Council’s core values;
I Foster a unique esprit de corps among students, faculty and alumni from the School of Business;
I Strengthen the bonds between the University of Miami and the local community.

“Our goal is to help the best and the brightest of our students learn that ethical business practices aren’t theoretical classroom exercises,” says Ellen McPhillip, director of undergraduate admissions for the School of Business and advisor to the Hyperion Council. “Using the principles of private enterprise to help the disadvantaged will not only help them personally but also help the community grow in a positive way.”
Students interested in joining the Hyperion Council must apply. To be eligible, a student must have completed at least 45 credits (three semesters) at the University of Miami and have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higher. Those selected are known as Titans. The first group of Titans, 13 in all, was inducted into membership on May 4.
The goal for projects initiated by the Titans is to become self-sustaining, continuing to benefit the community after the students who created them have graduated. “It’s a way for young people to leave a tangible legacy at an early age,” says McPhillip.
The Hyperion Council was recently accepted as a chapter of Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE), a global, non-profit, student service organization on more than 1,500 campuses dedicated to spreading the values of free enterprise. The Hyperion Council’s community projects will be eligible to be entered in SIFE’s annual competition.I

>> For more information, visit the Hyperion Council at www.bus.miami.edu/hyperion.

The International Education and Exchange Programs, which offers students the opportunity to spend a semester, year, summer, or spring/semester break studying in another country, is becoming one of the most popular programs available to UM students. Students can study as an exchange student at a university overseas where UM has exchange agreements, or students can travel with UM professors on short-term programs during the summer, spring break, or semester break.

“I will always remember my semester in Paris as one of the greatest periods in my college career,” said Laraine Martin, who studied at American University of Paris.

“There’s nothing like learning to live internationally – it will make you a better person in every way!”

Among the benefits of traveling abroad is the intensive practice of a foreign language and immersion into a new culture. Also, students in nearly every major can find classes in their field taught from a different point of view.

“I spent four months among the people of Japan,” said Ivan DeQuesada of his studies at Sophia University in Tokyo. “I lived with a host family and was completely immersed. I had the most knowledgeable teachers and the perfect classroom to study the one thing not taught accurately in any books – culture.”

“Just getting to know the culture and the people in Lausanne was as much of a learning experience as the classes I took at the University of Lausanne,” said Noah Nite, who studied during the 2004 spring semester Lausanne, Switzerland.

According to those working with the program, the earlier a student plans a semester abroad with an academic advisor, the easier it will be to meet any academic requirements. “First-year students are encouraged to consider a summer program abroad after their first year at UM,” said Chris Tingue, assistant director of the International Education and Exchange Program. “It’s best for students to plan study abroad into their program of study as early as they can.”

Historically, the most popular destinations for study abroad were in Western Europe. However, UM has recently seen an increase of participation in programs to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Australia, which is one of the most popular destinations for UM students.

“Going abroad to Australia was easily the greatest experience of my life,” said Barry Baker, who studied at James Cook University in Townsville, Australia. “I learned so much, not only about what I am most passionate about in life, but about myself as a person as well.”

“When I was away in Australia, there was an adventure waiting to happen everyday,” said Katy Reinhard after her experiences at the University of Wollongong in Wollongong, Australia. “In five short months, I scuba dived on the Great Barrier Reef, saw an opera at the Sydney Opera House, hiked the mountains of Tasmania, saw crocodiles and Aboriginal artwork in the Northern Territory, camped next to wild dingoes on Fraser Island, and drank kava with villagers on a short stop in Fiji.”

On average, about 70 students study abroad for the fall semester, approximately 90 in the spring and around 300 students during the summer, semester, and spring breaks. The tuition cost and all aid and scholarships that an enrolled full-time student at UM has earned apply to study abroad. Some travel stipends are also offered.

“A study abroad experience is one of the most memorable experiences of a student’s college career,” said Glenda Hayley, director of International Education and Exchange Programs. “It enhances a student’s academic and cultural background while adding dimension to personal growth.” I

>>For more information about the exchange/study abroad programs at UM, contact the International Education and Exchange Programs office at 305-284-3434, or visit www.studyabroad.miami.edu.

Glenda Hayley contributed to this article.

The Engineering Advisory Board [EAB] could be called UM’s student government specifically for engineers. Serving as the umbrella organization for all student organizations within the College of Engineering, each class from freshman to graduate as well as each engineering organization is represented by a delegate to the Engineering Advisory Board.

EAB is the student group that works to bring exciting programs and events to engineers and that works with COSO, SAFAC and other UM organizations to represent Engineering student interests. EAB sponsors and conducts events including beginning and end of year picnics, student study breaks during final exam week, and Homecoming events. Other University-wide events and community service projects are sponsored by EAB, including participation in the national celebration of Engineers Week.

EAB sponsors and conducts events including beginning and end of the year picnics, student study breaks during finals, and Homecoming events.

EAB’s impact is far-reaching for all engineering students. The board serves the College of Engineering as both a link between administration and students, as well as a means of communication and collaboration among all the other engineering organizations. Students can address their concerns to the dean’s office through EAB sponsored events such as the Dean’s Roundtable. It’s also the mission of EAB to support and promote engineering organizations in any capacity.

EAB also serves the Coral Gables community in many ways. Throughout the year, EAB participates and coordinates events such as Habitat for Humanity, Holiday Angels, and Make a Difference Day.

Each club as well as class has a delegate to the board, and all engineering students are automatically members. Students are encouraged to get involved with EAB to have their voices and interests heard. I

>> For more information, contact EAB Chair Chris Gratz at cgratz@umsis.miami.edu or email umeab.studorg@miami.edu.

The Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, UM’s graduate school for the marine and atmospheric sciences, has added a new research institute in collaboration with the Pew Charitable Trusts devoted to the study of marine conservation and fishery issues. The School is located on a 16-acre campus on Virginia Key in Miami and is the only subtropical applied and basic marine and atmospheric research facility of its kind in the continental U.S. Its faculty and students study many topics on the forefront of science and the environment, including coral reefs, aquaculture techniques, climate change, hurricanes, and commercially important fisheries.

The University reached a three million dollar agreement with the Pew Charitable Trusts, a Philadelphia-based foundation that finances work in the areas of culture, education, health, public policy, religion and the environment, to open the Pew Institute for Ocean Science, a center focused on marine conservation research.

“This new institute is a great opportunity for Rosenstiel and the University,” Dr. Robert Cowen, professor in marine biology and fisheries, said. “Not only does it bring additional resources, financial and intellectual, but it also provides expanded visibility to our school.”

Dr. Otis Brown, dean of the Rosenstiel School, said the main goal of the institute will be to focus on marine and ocean conservation research and how to link basic science understanding with policy formation. With this goal in mind, it will allow the School to provide critical information for more effective policies to curb declining ocean life and increasing oceanic pollution.

“This announcement comes at a critical time for the oceans,” Joshua Reichert, director of environment programs at the Pew Charitable Trusts, said. “As more and more Americans demand greater protection for our coastal waters and ocean wildlife, the Pew Institute will provide the sound science needed to solve the challenges facing our oceans.”

Within the first year, the institute plans to produce reports on the impact of recreational fishing and ecosystem-based fishery management. Future efforts will focus on the development of effective, science-based solutions to address the various threats facing marine fish and ecosystems. These findings will be widely disseminated to policy-makers and the public.

To coordinate the Institute’s efforts, an advisory board will be set up to establish research priorities. Dr. Ellen Pikitch, a fisheries scientist and Pew fellow, will be the Institute’s executive director and on the Rosenstiel faculty. Her research has helped ban the practice of shark finning, in which the fins are chopped off and the shark, while still alive, is thrown back into the ocean. Also joining the institute is Dr. Elizabeth Babcock, a fisheries expert and new assistant research professor at UM.

“The addition of Professors Pikitch and Babcock to our faculty will substantially enhance our programs in sustainable fisheries and conservation,” Brown said in a press release. “We will expect them to teach, do research, become involved with UM and community activities and mentor students.”

The Institute will also administer the Pew Fellow’s program, in which internationally recognized marine conservation experts are awarded a stipend of $150,000 to pursue their work.

Students are sure to benefit with this new center and the additional resources.

“Our students will be exposed to world-class scientists as they visit for meetings, workshops and research in association with the Pew’s Fellow program,” Cowen said. “The students will also benefit by an expanded marine conservation and revised fisheries curriculum, which is under development.”

Although Rosenstiel is a graduate school, those working at the school say that undergraduate students will also benefit from the new institute.

“Our faculty teaches hundreds of undergraduates in the marine science, marine affairs and meteorology programs,” Brown said. “These students will have access to the new faculty members and to the Pew Fellows when they are visiting and giving seminars.” I

>> For more information about the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, visit www.rsmas.miami.edu.

The School of Nursing is expanding the many benefits of studying UM, increasing opportunities for students interested in careers in the health care profession. Coming soon to campus are new program initiatives, an increased emphasis on research, and new facilities.

“The UM School of Nursing is well known for its high quality education at the Baccalaureate, Masters, and Doctoral levels throughout the local community and nationwide,” said Dr. Rosemary Fedrigon Hall, professor in the School of Nursing.

Indeed, the school seems to have its finger on the pulse of national trends – within the fields of education and research and industry alike. With plans in the works for new centers of excellence in the areas of Pediatric Safety, Aging and Health, and Women’s Health, the school will be addressing demographic trends and preparing nursing students for the challenges of contemporary health care.

“The School is known for its high quality education at the Baccalaureate, Masters, and Doctoral levels throughout the local community and worldwide.” -Dr. Rosemary Fedrigon Hall Professor

This fall, the nursing school will launch a graduate program in disease management nursing, the first in the nation to prepare nursing professionals in this emerging field.

Industry developments show that healthcare professionals are going to be in high demand in upcoming years. According to the 2004 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, one million new and replacement nurses will be needed in the U.S. by 2010, and the state of Florida alone will face an estimated shortage of 55,000 nurses. According to the 2002 Nursing Shortage Consortium South Florida, one in four nurse educators in Florida are projected to retire soon.

Sparkling new facilities are also on the way; work on the M. Christine Schwartz Center for Nursing Education building will begin soon. The four-story, 53,800 square foot facility will give South Florida’s foremost health research institution a state-of-the art nursing education and research facility. I

>> For more information on the School of Nursing, visit www.miami.edu/nursing.

The UM School of Law’s reputation as one of the finest legal educations in the country is a reflection of the excellence of the School’s faculty, students, and alumni. Many of the law school community’s most accomplished members share the common background of an undergraduate degree from UM. The following is a sampling of just three of the many bright and successful individuals who earned their bachelor’s from UM.

Monica Segura, Law Student

Segura graduated magna cum laude from UM in 2002 with a double major in journalism and criminology. As an undergraduate student, Segura was a news anchor and writer for UMTV and worked for The Florida Almanac in Key West for a summer as a reporter. Now a third-year law student, Segura has been active in Res Ispa Loquitor, the student newspaper at the School of Law, H.O.P.E. [Helping Others through Pro Bono Efforts], the Hispanic Law Students Association, the Miami Law Women Association, and the Catholic Law Students Association. Her fellow law students recently elected her president of the Student Bar Association for the 2004-05 academic year. In addition to her hectic life at the School of Law, Segura has been working for the past year as a law clerk for Nicklaus & Associates, P.A., in Coral Gables. I

Ricardo Bascuas,

Associate Professor of Law

After receiving his B.S. from UM in 1993, Bascuas attended Yale Law School. He started his legal career in Miami as an associate at Zuckerman Spaeder, LLP. After three years, he left the firm to clerk for U.S. District Judge Adalberto Jordan, an accomplished Miami Law School alumnus who clerked for Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. Before returning to UM to teach at the School of Law, Bascuas was an Assistant Federal Public Defender in Miami, representing indigent defendants at both the trial and appellate levels. In addition to teaching in the areas of evidence and procedure, during the 2004-05 academic year, Bascuas will teach Sports Law and International Criminal Law. I

Jenna Moore, Alumna

After working full-time while going to school part-time, Moore earned her B.A. in Art History from UM in 1997. She graduated cum laude from the School of Law in 2000, where she was a member of the UM Law Review. For the past four years, Moore has been working at Alston & Bird in Atlanta. In her first year with the law firm, Moore was assigned to the biggest privacy lawsuit in the country, a $2.5 billion case involving Envoy, the largest health claim processing center in the country. The case addressed cutting edge legal issues in the areas of medical privacy rights, intellectual property, and electronic commerce. Following the Envoy lawsuit, Moore was assigned to another high-profile case, the Enron Corporation Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the largest bankruptcy petition in U.S. history. Moore spent a year and a half investigating the conduct of officers and directors at the Enron Corporation. I

>> To speak with an admissions counselor, a current law student, or alumni, or to sit in on a class, contact the Office of Student Recruiting at 305-284-6746 or admissions@law.miami.edu. The School of Law will also host two Open Houses, Oct. 16 and Nov. 23.

The schools of communication and music and the college of engineering have undertaken a collaborative project aimed at generating a greater awareness concerning worldwide water issues. Proposed by the Modern Media Collaborative, The Water Project has three main formats: a documentary film, a 200-page book and a related website.

“Safe potable water is an important topic with global implications,” Sanjeev Chatterjee, project director, said.

“There are no immediate solutions, but there is a need to change the way we think about water. It is not a limitless resource, it is finite.” -Sanjeev Chatterjee Project Director

Chatterjee, who is also associate professor and director of the Center for the Advancement of Modern Media at the school of communication, said he developed the idea for the project following the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2002.

“At the time I felt there were important visual stories to be told about the subject,” Chatterjee said. “As a media maker within academia, I have always found myself to be fortunate to have the freedom to explore important topics that mainstream media does not focus on.”

The project has already produced a 20-minute documentary film, One Water, a prologue to the feature-length documentary planned. It was screened in the Dag Hammarskjold Library at the United Nations headquarters in New York on April 28, as part of the U.N.’s 12th session of the Commission of Sustainable Development.

Over 20 hours of footage shot in India, the Canary Islands, South Africa, and the U.S. was condensed by film editor Ali Habashi of the college of engineering into a 20-minute collection of visual stories describing how different cultures use water.

Setting it apart from traditional documentaries, the film does not use narrative voice-overs. Instead, accompanying the images is original music composed by Thomas Sleeper, director of orchestral activities at the school of music.

“We tried to make it engaging and truthful by showing real people with real problems,” Habashi said. “We wanted the audience to feel emotion. This is a documentary about pain and sorrow.”

While filming in South Africa, Ed Talavera, director of photography and associate professor at the school of communication, witnessed the injustice of the water problem.

“I was shocked to film in the same country a woman who had to travel a mile uphill to collect water for her family and a man that bottles water at home and sells it for one dollar a bottle,” he said.

If the visual evidence is not compelling enough, the proposed book will add a scholarly dimension to the project. Book Editor and Assistant Professor at the school of communication Loup Langton explains that by having several mediums, like the book complementing the film, a larger audience will be reached.

“The important point is that there is a global crisis that is below the radar screen for many,” Langton said. “We hope to develop several different products for varied audiences that will help to put this issue on the screen.”

Langton envisions the literary work as a coffee table-quality book that merges essays written by water experts and intriguing photographs.

Among those interested in contributing to the book is Sandra Postel, director of the Global Water Policy Project in Amherst, Mass., and author of several books dealing with the water issue. Also scheduled to participate are photographers Peter Essick, Melissa Farlow, and Randy Olsen all who photograph regularly for National Geographic.

Although the project is still in its initial stages, its outlook is positive. Chatterjee explains that if the resources needed are in place on schedule, the major elements of the project should be delivered by the end of 2004. However, he also hopes the project does not end there.

“The products cannot be ends in themselves,” Chatterjee said. “It is my sincere hope that in terms of a university-wide collaborative effort this is only the beginning.”

One of the next endeavors the project will embark on is filming in Iceland. Dr. James Shelley, project administrator, assistant vice president of Academic and Research Systems, and director of audio engineering, described the country as being one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world with respect to water usage.

“In the U.S. we take [water] for granted. In many other countries life is about getting adequate water,” Shelley said.

While some may argue that the project should try focusing more on solutions to the problem than on the problem itself, Chatterjee is confident the aim of the project is realistic.

“The Water Project is not about solutions; it’s about raising awareness and perhaps a sense of responsibility within ourselves,” Chatterjee said. “Few of us are aware that perhaps only one percent of all the water on earth is really potable – three percent of the earth’s water is potable, but two percent is found in ice caps, therefore only one percent is potable. There are no immediate solutions, but there is a need to change the way we think about water. It is not a limitless resource; it is finite.” I

>> For information about participating in The Water Project, contact Sanjeev Chatterjee at (305) 284-2234 or visit the website at www.onewater.org.

As far back as he can remember Dr. Edmund Abaka has been interested in history.

“I’ve been fascinated by history and by the stories of people,” Abaka said. “For me, history is all about human beings and where they have shaped and been shaped by the environment.”

Since the summer of 2003, Abaka has served as the interim director of UM’s African American studies program. During his tenure he has sought to broaden the African studies curriculum and create a speaker’s series to bring scholars in African American studies and prominent members of the community to UM. The program is also in the process of creating internships with organizations such as the African American Library of Broward County.

Originally, Abaka studied to become a teacher in his native Ghana in Western Africa. Near the end of his undergraduate studies, he began to think about completing graduate work abroad.

Prior to leaving Ghana, his concentration was in African history. He eventually enrolled in a European history class and, finding himself inspired by that professor, decided to take a different direction with his studies.

“I became interested in European history as well, so then I went to Canada at the University of Guelph, and I decided to study European history,” Abaka said. “After that, I went back to African history for my doctorate at York University.”

Excelling in both areas of historical study has helped Abaka gain a better understanding of his homeland.

“I wanted to understand European history because for a long time I’ve seen history in terms of not only individual countries and continents, [but also] from the perspective of influences coming from across the oceans,” Abaka said.

In late 1996, as he was working on his doctorate, Abaka saw an ad for a teaching position in African history at UM.

“So I went on the Internet and did some research on Florida,” Abaka said. “Since I come from Ghana, which [has] a tropical climate, I was attracted [to UM].”

Abaka liked the idea of UM’s close proximity to the Caribbean, which would give him a unique opportunity to study an important area of the African Diaspora first hand. In his first semester with UM’s history department, Abaka conducted research in Jamaica on two occasions.

Abaka’s classes divide African history into two segments: prehistory through 1800 and 1800 to the present. In some cases he finds students who have a misconception of Africa as being one large, monolithic land, but he believes this is a result of inaccurate images in the media.

“If you take East Africa, you often see safari and that’s all you see,” Abaka said. “Because of the visits of former President Bill Clinton, George Bush and Colin Powell, you begin to see some other countries.”

Abaka believes that the personal anecdotes of a lifetime of experiences traveling and studying abroad provide him a powerful asset in imparting the richness of African history to his students.

“I try to point out the diversity and the similarity [of Africa],” he explained. “More importantly, I also try to point out that throughout history Africa has been connected with all parts of the world.”

If there is one message that he tries to convey to his students it is that history is a good way to understand the human condition.

“History is about human beings,” Abaka said. “The trajectories of histories may differ, but we all have similar aspirations. We all want to live a good life.” I

Fans of everything from jazz and salsa music to classical and Irish music will have their musical appetites filled at the 2004 Festival Miami concert series, from Sept. 25 through Oct. 30.

Created in 1984 by Dr. William Hipp, Dean of UM’s Frost School of Music, Festival Miami is the largest concert series put on by any university in the nation.

Festival Miami consists of over a month’s worth of concerts put on by stellar guest artists, the School of Music’s widely-known faculty and student artists, and an educational component comprised of open rehearsals, master classes, lectures, and free concerts.

In an effort to celebrate education and culture through music, Festival Miami includes world music, orchestral works, multimedia performance art, chamber music, jazz, choral, dance, and musical theatre concerts.

This year Festival Miami will have 26 concerts and will include Brazilian jazz legends Flora Purim and Airto, two world-renowned string bands, a traditional Irish music ensemble, Cuban guitarist Manuel Barrueco, a Flamenco dance troupe, and the Klezmer Conservatory Band, as well as UM’s DownBeat award-winning vocal group Jazz Vocal 1, among others.

Music students also enjoy the opportunity to perform for large audiences made up of members of the community that Festival Miami provides.

“As a member of Jazz Vocal 1 I got to perform with [Cuban jazz singer] Claudia Acuna, which I would never have had the opportunity to do otherwise,” Parasolle said. Acuna gave a master class open to all interested students during her previous Festival Miami visit to UM.

The Stamps Family Distinguished Visitor Series is also included as part of the Festival this year, although the Stamps Series continues throughout the school year. Dr. Elise Kirk, author and musicologist widely recognized for her research in the fields of performing arts and American cultural history, will give lectures Sept. 20 and 22 as part of Festival Miami.

“I enjoy the master classes, since I’m not in the School of Music, but I play jazz piano. It’s a chance for me to learn from the great players too, without being a music major,” Jermaine Bethune, junior and computer science major, said.

Most concerts are free for UM students, although for sold out performances students sometimes have to wait until all paid audience members are seated first. I

>> For tickets and other information, call 305-284-4940 or visit www.music.miami.edu.

Arch of Titus. San Ambrogio. Etruscan Necropolis. Hadrian’s Villa. To any artist, historian, traveler or wonderer, these names are among the many renowned structures that capture the magic enmeshed in Rome.

The School of Architecture, founded in 1991, transformed these textbook images into three-dimensional tools of study by sponsoring fall and spring semester study abroad programs in Rome, Italy.

For one semester, a select group of students and faculty members have the opportunity to undergo an intensive experience in design, theory, and the history of architecture through design studio and seminar courses, complemented by site visits and notable readings and lectures.

Course subjects include: Design in the Historical Context, Theory of Urban Form, Ancient, Renaissance, Baroque and Modern Architectural History, Drawing as a Means of Architectural Knowledge, and the History of Gardens.

The curriculum for each semester includes one design studio and three seminar courses, which total 15 credits.

The School of Architecture has ensured that this unique experience exploits all of its many opportunities with the exploration of surrounding areas. Excursions are taken to Tuscany, the Veneto, Umbria, Lazio and Sicily.

In addition to this, there is a two-week trip to other European cities such as Barcelona, Spain, and Paris, France.

The program is open to students entering their fourth and fifth years.

The director of the program is Jose Gelabert-Navia and the coordinator is Carmen Guerrero. Faculty members include Sonia Chao, David Fix, Gary Greenan, Carmen Guerrero, Jean-Francois Lejeune, Nicholas Patricios, and Tom Spain.

>> For more information about this program, visit www.arc.miami.edu.

Dr. Harry Forgan is one dedicated ‘Cane. UM wallpaper covers every wall in his office. A giant plush Ibis head rests in a corner above his desk, as little UM lights wrap around bookshelves, chairs, and the doorframe. An extra-large plush Curious George sits atop a UM-themed outdoor bench, sporting a very fashionable orange and green boa around his neck.

Aside from being a hard-core fan, Forgan, a professor at the School of Education, is dedicated to his job and his students.

“I became an elementary school teacher because I wanted to help children learn how to read and the other basics,” Dr. Forgan said.

Graduating with a doctorate from Kent State University, Dr. Forgan came to UM at the age of 26. Now 61, Dr. Forgan grew up at UM, dedicating 35 years of his career to helping UM students of today become the successful teachers of tomorrow.

“I decided my freshman year of college that I wanted to be an elementary school teacher,” Forgan said. “I wanted to help those children that were having difficulties…especially those children who were behind because of their learning disabilities.”

“I thought I’d have more influence on teachers,” Forgan said, reminiscing on why he decided to teach at the college level. “I hear a lot of success stories UM students have had with their own students. So, that’s very satisfying.”

His opinion on what makes a great teacher?

“A great teacher first of all cares about the students. If you don’t really have a sense of caring and commitment to the students then you don’t have the faith in them, you don’t have the high expectations,” Forgan said. “Being a caring person and a competent teacher really makes the difference.”

“The best part of my job is working at West Lab School when the UM teachers actually teach kindergarten throgh fifth graders. We’re fortunate to have an elementary school right on our campus. I teach my classes at that lab school and the UM students actually get a chance to teach. They enjoy that so much and I love being there with them.”

Dr. Forgan has some advice for all incoming aspiring teachers:

“Volunteer. Get into the schools as soon as possible. There are opportunities [everywhere], even on our campus at Canterbury preschool. The sooner you get involved in the actual instruction of the children, the better.”

Forgan has also authored and co-authored many books, both practical and textbook alike, that have been used in universities all across the U.S. And teaching runs in Forgan’s family. His wife and two children are all educators.

“All of the people in our family are teachers. And we have four grandchildren, and they’re all going to be teachers,” Forgan said with a chuckle.

Forgan will be on sabbatical for this academic year, researching and studying independently. However, after his sabbatical, he will resume teaching TAL 420, Introduction to Literacy Instruction in the Elementary School, and TAL 421, Literacy Instruction in the Elementary School II.

“Check in to all the different schools and see what the different programs are because we have so many different options here at the University of Miami. It’s hard to decide before you come…so keep your options open, and think about being a teacher. ” I

>> For more information on the School of Education and their programs stop by Merrick 312.