Education (Colleges & Universities)
Here's a look at documents from public, private and community colleges in the U.S.
Featured Stories
University of Portsmouth: Scientists Urge Governments Not to Wait for Global Plastics Treaty as Pollution Continues to Grow
PORTSMOUTH, England, Dec. 19 (TNSjou) -- The University of Portsmouth issued the following news:
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Scientists urge governments not to wait for global plastics treaty as pollution continues to grow
Scientists are urging governments to act immediately on plastic pollution, warning that waiting for a binding Global Plastics Treaty could mean years of damaging delay while plastic waste continues to accelerate worldwide.
In a new Nature Reviews: Earth & Environment article, Dr Antaya March, Director of the Global Plastics Policy Centre at the University of Portsmouth argues that although international
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PORTSMOUTH, England, Dec. 19 (TNSjou) -- The University of Portsmouth issued the following news:
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Scientists urge governments not to wait for global plastics treaty as pollution continues to grow
Scientists are urging governments to act immediately on plastic pollution, warning that waiting for a binding Global Plastics Treaty could mean years of damaging delay while plastic waste continues to accelerate worldwide.
In a new Nature Reviews: Earth & Environment article, Dr Antaya March, Director of the Global Plastics Policy Centre at the University of Portsmouth argues that although internationalnegotiations on a Global Plastics Treaty remain deadlocked, countries already have the tools they need to tackle the crisis now and must use them.
The latest round of negotiations under the United Nations Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) ended without agreement, leaving a global treaty years away. Meanwhile, plastic pollution continues to increase across land, rivers and oceans, with growing impacts on ecosystems, economies and human health.
"The treaty delay must not become an excuse for inaction," said Dr March. "Plastic pollution is growing every year. Governments can't afford to wait for perfect global consensus when practical solutions already exist and are working in many countries."
The article outlines how governments can make immediate progress through comprehensive national plastics strategies, even in the absence of a global agreement. Well-designed national plans can align ministries, coordinate stakeholders, unlock finance and prepare countries for future treaty implementation.
The authors highlight that plastics should be treated not only as an environmental issue, but as a growing public health concern. A growing body of evidence links plastics and associated chemicals to cancer, respiratory disease and endocrine disruption, with potential global health-related economic costs estimated at more than US$1.5 trillion per year.
Framing plastics as a health issue, the authors argue, can strengthen public understanding and political pressure for faster, more ambitious regulation.
While negotiations remain slow, the treaty process has already mobilised research, funding and global collaboration. The authors warn that losing momentum now would be a critical mistake.
"This moment should be seen as an opportunity, not a pause," said co-author, Sam Winton, from the Revolution Plastics Institute at the University of Portsmouth. "Governments and communities can show leadership now through national planning, ambitious policies and local action and be ready when a global treaty finally comes."
The editorial concludes that plastic pollution cannot wait for the slow-moving negotiations, and that immediate action at national, regional and local levels is essential to curb the crisis.
You can read the full article here (https://www.nature.com/articles/s43017-025-00752-0).
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Original text here: https://www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/news/scientists-urge-governments-not-to-wait-for-global-plastics-treaty-as-pollution-continues-to-grow
University of Arkansas: College of Education and Health Professions Hosts Inaugural Tornado Alley Muscle Meeting
FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas, Dec. 19 -- The University of Arkansas issued the following news:
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College of Education and Health Professions Hosts Inaugural Tornado Alley Muscle Meeting
The College of Education and Health Professions' Molecular Muscle Mass Regulation (M3R) lab recently hosted a conference to foster collaborations among muscle researchers from the "tornado alley" region.
The lab, in the Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation, has a robust molecular muscle lab led by Kevin Murach, an associate professor in the exercise science program. He and his team study how
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FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas, Dec. 19 -- The University of Arkansas issued the following news:
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College of Education and Health Professions Hosts Inaugural Tornado Alley Muscle Meeting
The College of Education and Health Professions' Molecular Muscle Mass Regulation (M3R) lab recently hosted a conference to foster collaborations among muscle researchers from the "tornado alley" region.
The lab, in the Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation, has a robust molecular muscle lab led by Kevin Murach, an associate professor in the exercise science program. He and his team study howexercise can mitigate the decline of tissue function associated with aging. Murach was inspired to initiate the inaugural Tornado Alley Muscle Meeting due to the groundbreaking research being conducted at the U of A and nearby states.
"The University of Arkansas is reaching a critical mass of skeletal muscle researchers across campus and is growing a reputation for research in this focus area," he said. "There are also several strong institutions for muscle research in the region."
Representatives from the U of A, the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Baylor University spent a Friday evening and Saturday on the U of A campus sharing research and ideas through insightful presentations and trainee competitions.
Murach, Benjamin Miller and Zach Hettinger from the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, and Davis Englund from UAB organized the conference, which featured guest presentation sessions by lab leaders, a panel discussion and two trainee research competitions. Between sessions, attendees enjoyed meals and coffee breaks with colleagues working on muscle research across various disciplines, including aging, exercise, disease, disuse and nutrition, in both pre-clinical and clinical settings.
The lab leader presentation sessions featured a dozen different speakers, including the conference organizers, from all the institutions represented. The speakers introduced the audience to their ongoing lab research projects and explained the implications of their findings. Many of the speakers used original data to showcase the work they are doing related to muscle research.
Following the presentation sessions, a panel of researchers gathered to answer questions about their experiences in the field. The panel consisted of Anna Thalacker-Mercer from UAB, Hettinger and Sue Bodine from the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Cory Dungan from Baylor University and Christopher Nelson from the U of A. Panelists answered questions about the future of muscle research, technology and artificial intelligence, and even provided young researchers with advice for pursuing a career in muscle research.
A significant focus of the conference was the advancement of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars who attended. The conference wrapped up with two research competitions for them. The research blitz competition allowed trainees to present their original research using one PowerPoint slide. With just two minutes each, the contestants explained their hypotheses, research methods, data and conclusions. The trainee lay science competition gave competitors two minutes to present their research in simple, non-technical language designed for a general audience without the use of assistive technology.
Both competitions provided trainees the opportunity to experience preparing and delivering research presentations in a professional setting. The winners of each competition received an award made possible by the generous support of the American Journal of Physiology - Cell Physiology, which frequently publishes research from the labs represented.
The conference laid the foundation for future collaborations among area professionals. Murach said the meeting provided a space to build connections that are essential for working together to submit competitive large-scale grants with colleagues from multiple institutions.
"The goal of this conference was to bring everyone 'local' together, identify synergies and collaborative opportunities, and ultimately submit competitive large-scale grants that crosscut colleges and institutions," he said.
The Tornado Alley Muscle Meeting was made possible by a College of Education and Health Professions' WE CARE grant. The conference also received support from the Arkansas Integrative Metabolic Research Center (AIMRC) at the U of A and the American Journal of Physiology - Cell Physiology.
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Original text here: https://news.uark.edu/articles/80549/college-of-education-and-health-professions-hosts-inaugural-tornado-alley-muscle-meeting
University College London: Roman-era Beachy Head Woman Originated From Britain - Analysis
LONDON, England, Dec. 19 (TNSjou) -- The University College London issued the following news:
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Roman-era Beachy Head Woman originated from Britain: new analysis
The identity of a Roman-era individual found in southern England has finally been resolved after scientists at UCL and the Natural History Museum were able to sequence high quality DNA from her skeletal remains.
Once theorised to have origins in sub-Saharan Africa or possibly the Mediterranean, the first comprehensive scientific study to be carried out on the Beachy Head Woman has now revealed that her origins were in fact much
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LONDON, England, Dec. 19 (TNSjou) -- The University College London issued the following news:
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Roman-era Beachy Head Woman originated from Britain: new analysis
The identity of a Roman-era individual found in southern England has finally been resolved after scientists at UCL and the Natural History Museum were able to sequence high quality DNA from her skeletal remains.
Once theorised to have origins in sub-Saharan Africa or possibly the Mediterranean, the first comprehensive scientific study to be carried out on the Beachy Head Woman has now revealed that her origins were in fact muchcloser to home.
The nationwide team re-examined the ~2,000-year-old individual with the latest technologies, and report in a Journal of Archaeological Science paper that Beachy Head Woman descended from the local British population of Roman-era southern England.
Dr William Marsh of the Nature History Museum, who performed the latest DNA analysis, said, "By using state-of-the-art DNA techniques we were able to resolve the origins of this individual. We show she carries genetic ancestry that is most similar to other individuals from the local population of Roman-era Britain."
Little has been certain about this individual since her discovery, until now. Radiocarbon dating showed she died between 129 and 311 CE (AD), corresponding to the Roman occupation of Britain. Analysis of her skeletal remains suggest that she was around 18-25 years old when she died and stood at just over 4.9 feet tall. A healed wound on her leg suggests a serious but non-fatal injury at some point in her life. Dietary analysis looking at the carbon and nitrogen values in her bones also revealed that her diet likely included a lot of seafood.
Tracing the origins of Beachy Head Woman
The Roman-era individual was brought to light in 2012 when her remains were uncovered in the collections of Eastbourne Town Hall. Details on the box she was found within suggested that the skeleton had been found at the nearby headland, Beachy Head, in the 1950s but no details of an excavation have yet to be recovered.
The Beachy Head Woman's story became more intriguing when initial morphometric analysis suggested she originated from sub-Saharan Africa; this result informed a display at the Eastbourne Museum and captured media attention. Then in 2017, unpublished DNA work suggested she was more likely to have come from the Mediterranean rather than Africa, possibly Cyprus. However, this finding was based upon limited DNA data, insufficient for robust conclusions, leaving many questions about the Beachy Head Woman unanswered.
The study's first author, PhD student Andy Walton (UCL Genetics, Evolution & Environment) said: "Using newly developed DNA sequencing technology, we were able to retrieve about 10x the amount of DNA from Beachy Head Woman's remains as the attempt in 2017. It was this, combined with advances in computational methods and genetic datasets which allowed us to tell so much more about her than ever before. Her story is an illustration of how scientists can use these tools to revisit findings and learn more about our ancestors.
"It's always a real privilege to be able to work with human remains, so it was really important that we found out as much as we could about Beachy Head Woman and got her story right."
Senior author Dr Selina Brace, Merit researcher at the Museum and honorary researcher at UCL, added: "Our scientific knowledge and understanding is constantly evolving, and as scientists, it's our job to keep pushing for answers. Thanks to the advancement of technology that has occurred in the past decade since Beachy Head Woman first came to light, we are excited to report these new comprehensive data and share more about this individual and her life."
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Original text here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2025/dec/roman-era-beachy-head-woman-originated-britain-new-analysis
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry: Maps Reveal Striking Impacts To One of the Arctic's Largest Caribou Migrations
NEW YORK, Dec. 19 -- The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry issued the following news:
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New Maps Reveal Striking Impacts To One of the Arctic's Largest Caribou Migrations
Dr. Elie Gurarie from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) partnered with the Global Initiative on Ungulate Migration to produce new maps revealing the near-collapse of one of the Arctic's most iconic caribou migrations -- a dramatic shift that underscores mounting ecological and cultural threats across the North.
Dr. Gurarie, wildlife scientist in ESF's
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NEW YORK, Dec. 19 -- The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry issued the following news:
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New Maps Reveal Striking Impacts To One of the Arctic's Largest Caribou Migrations
Dr. Elie Gurarie from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) partnered with the Global Initiative on Ungulate Migration to produce new maps revealing the near-collapse of one of the Arctic's most iconic caribou migrations -- a dramatic shift that underscores mounting ecological and cultural threats across the North.
Dr. Gurarie, wildlife scientist in ESF'sDepartment of Environmental Biology and a member of the GIUM who has studied the Bathurst caribou for the last 10 years, said that the maps bring a renewed focus to the plight of the caribou.
"This project shows how interconnected and collaborative ecological science and conservation are in the Arctic," said Gurarie. "Mapping the Bathurst caribou herd isn't just about lines on a map, it's about understanding a species whose vast habitats are beginning to fragment, the pressures from roads and mines, and the cultural and material significance these animals hold for Indigenous communities."
For centuries, the migrations of massive herds of caribou defined the ecosystem and lifeways of people across the vast North American Arctic. New migration maps published today document a near complete collapse of one of the region's formerly vast caribou migrations.
Abundant migratory caribou have made landscapes more productive, provided a prey base for the region's carnivores, and shaped the culture of the Indigenous communities that have hunted them for countless generations. The Bathurst herd of barren-ground caribou, named for their historic calving grounds near Bathurst Inlet, on the far northern coast of Canada, once ranged from Nunavut all the way to northern Saskatchewan, with some individuals traveling over 500 km on their yearly migrations.
Today, these migrations -- and the large herds they sustain -- are hanging in the balance. The Bathurst caribou population has declined from 400,000 to less than 4,000 over the last 30 years, according to new surveys by the government of the Northwest Territories.
"The steep decline of the Bathurst herd is not just a biological concern, it represents a profound cultural and ecological loss," says Orna Phelan, wildlife biologist with the North Slave Metis Alliance, one of the Indigenous communities that stewards the caribou. "Conserving this herd means safeguarding our history, our identity, and the health of the land we all share."
New detailed maps reveal the recent toll that human development and a myriad of pressures facing the Arctic have had on the long-distance movements of the Bathurst caribou. ESF researchers partnered with the Global Initiative on Ungulate Migration (GIUM), an international team of migration researchers headquartered at the University of Wyoming, to map how the caribou migration has been altered.
Published in the Atlas of Ungulate Migration, the maps document the dramatic reduction in the Bathurst caribou's migrations and illustrate imminent threats from a new proposed all-season road to connect current and potential mineral mines to newly accessible deep-water sea ports, effectively bisecting the range. The maps also indicate where conservation efforts can yet prevent further disruption to this epic migration.
The Atlas of Ungulate Migration represents a global effort to make migration maps publicly available for conservation and land-use planning; it is led by the Global Initiative on Ungulate Migration working under the auspices of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, a United Nations treaty. The Bathurst herd is the first time a migration has been included in the Atlas for caribou, a circumpolar species facing an urgent conservation need.
Although many human communities benefit from the ecological and economic benefits of migratory ungulates, the caribou herds of the Arctic are one of the only wild, migratory ungulate populations in the world to which Indigenous communities still maintain strong traditional ties -- the caribou are used for food and fiber and have shaped Indigenous cultures around the global Arctic and sub-Arctic regions. Their migrations are the longest known ungulate movements in North America.
The Bathurst herd is emblematic of the pressures facing migratory caribou worldwide, which have declined by 65% over the last 20-30 years. Rising temperatures due to climate change, associated increase in insect harassment, poorer vegetation quality, and more frequent rain-on-snow events that make lichen, their primary winter food source, inaccessible under thick ice, increasingly stress the caribou populations.
These and other effects are compounded by the major impacts of expanding infrastructure. The new maps illustrate where a proposed all-season road - billed as the Arctic Security Corridor - will cut straight through the Bathurst's core migration area, very near the herd's calving grounds. This road will allow for expanded access and mineral exploration within the caribou's migratory range and access to a deep-water port. Three diamond mines already operate within their range - in areas known to be preferred by the caribou. Indigenous stewards and researchers have documented large-scale caribou avoidance of these areas, as well as an almost complete impermeability of the winter ice roads that service the mines.
But tracking data and detailed maps, when used for planning, make it possible to develop in such a way as to not disrupt the seasonal migrations. If development is built in the right places and in the right ways, researchers believe it doesn't have to spell the end of the Arctic's caribou migrations. Indigenous-led guardians, harnessing traditional knowledge and boots-on-the-ground observations, are intensively monitoring traffic and caribou behavior on and around roads and mines. Working in close partnership, Gurarie and colleagues are working to understand how the caribou are responding to various kinds and levels of disturbance, with an eye towards specific mitigation solutions that can make linear infrastructure more caribou-friendly.
Mapping approaches tested in the Bathurst caribou's range could have implications for the other large caribou herds that still inhabit the circumpolar North, hopefully allowing other regions to avoid stark population declines and to preserve the long-distance movements caribou require.
"Among all the caribou's astonishing adaptations to not only survive, but thrive, in the Arctic, perhaps none is more important than the ability to move freely across large landscapes," says Gurarie. "By working closely with First Nations, Inuit, territorial governments, and NGOs, we're not only documenting change but working on shaping solutions."
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About SUNY ESF
The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) is dedicated to the study of the environment, developing renewable technologies, and building a sustainable and resilient future through design, policy, and management of the environment and natural resources. Members of the College community share a passion for protecting the health of the planet and a deep commitment to the rigorous application of science to improve the way humans interact with the world. The College offers academic programs ranging from the associate of applied science to the Doctor of Philosophy. ESF students live, study and do research on the main campus in Syracuse, N.Y., and on 25,000 acres of field stations in a variety of ecosystems across the state.
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Original text here: https://www.esf.edu/news/2025/map_shows_impacts_on_caribou.php
Penn State-Abington: Q&A - What Does the November Jobs Report Mean for Workers and the Economy?
ABINGTON, Pennsylvania, Dec. 19 (TNSrep) -- Pennsylvania State University Abington campus issued the following Q&A on Dec. 18, 2025, with Lonnie Golden, professor of economics and labor-human resources:
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Q&A: What does the November jobs report mean for workers and the economy?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released its November jobs report (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.htm) on Tuesday (Dec. 16), which details economic indicators like payroll numbers and the unemployment rate. The Federal Reserve uses the report to help set monetary policy, like influencing interest rates,
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ABINGTON, Pennsylvania, Dec. 19 (TNSrep) -- Pennsylvania State University Abington campus issued the following Q&A on Dec. 18, 2025, with Lonnie Golden, professor of economics and labor-human resources:
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Q&A: What does the November jobs report mean for workers and the economy?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released its November jobs report (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.htm) on Tuesday (Dec. 16), which details economic indicators like payroll numbers and the unemployment rate. The Federal Reserve uses the report to help set monetary policy, like influencing interest rates,while industry uses the report to inform business decisions like strategic planning, capital equipment spending, and hiring and layoffs.
Lonnie Golden, professor of economics and labor-human resources at Penn State Abington, explained in the Q&A below what the report means for the economy and American workers.
Q: What are the main takeaways from the November jobs report?
Golden: The report that came out this week summarizes the last couple months of the state of the job market, and it revealed some interesting but troublesome trends. We find that the labor market is still moving forward, but it's kind of stuck in first gear. Payrolls added 64,000 new jobs last month, but that's after a loss of 105,000 jobs in October and revisions downward to the summer months' job creation numbers. There's been a slight increase in the rate of unemployment from 4.4% in September to 4.6% in November and 4% at the start of the year, particularly concentrated among the youngest workers.
Another indicator revealed in the labor force and employment report is a jump in what we call underemployment, as indicated by the percentage of the workforce that is working part-time hours but would prefer full-time jobs. The number of underemployed workers spiked up in the last month and has risen by over a million individuals in the last year. Together, underemployed and unemployed individuals now comprise 8.7% of the labor force, up from 8% last month
The job growth that did occur in November is mostly concentrated among the health care, social assistance and construction sectors, partly offsetting the decline in transportation and warehousing and especially federal government employment. Unemployment jumped for agricultural, sales and professional jobs over the last year.
A final key takeaway in the latest report is a jump in the percentage of people that are holding multiple jobs. That increased from 5.4% in September to 5.8% in November. This rate is the highest since the end of 1999, and it represents over 9 million people -- the highest number on record.
The Federal Reserve sort of anticipated this report in their last meeting and, by a 9 to 3 vote, decided to reduce their interest rates. The Fed will soon decide whether to reduce rates a little more in 2026 or leave them as is. They have to navigate between potentially reigniting inflation and reinforcing the recent reductions if they are not generating stronger job creation and reduced unemployment and underemployment.
Q: What does the report reveal about the state of the American economy?
Golden: As an economist who watches the labor market in particular, I think the report suggests that the labor market is not as strong as it was last year or the year before, but it's not yet going into a recession. We are seeing some indicators that some people are hedging against potential layoffs by taking multiple jobs or are wanting to work full time rather than part time because they're anticipating perhaps reductions in job opportunities or in their income.
It's also showing that weekly earnings are still increasing, with average hourly earnings $1.25 higher than this time last year. That might bode well for affordability issues since the labor market is still generating some wage gains that are keeping up with inflation. But it's concerning that there seem to be some areas of growing job insecurity, and that concern is well-founded based on the slowing job growth rate and the increase in people holding more than one job.
Q: What does the report mean for American workers? How can they use the monthly data to make household decisions?
Golden: The average citizen at home, as part of a household or as part of the labor market, is always in a situation of uncertainty. That might be intensified now because of the adoption of technologies that might put many jobs at risk of being replaced wholesale, although for other jobs it may complement or assist our productivity or just change which tasks we do. Many people are legitimately uneasy about the effects of adopting artificial intelligence technology and other types of automation. And we're worried about this uptick in unemployment for job availability. We're worried about the potential for greater job loss that will contribute to spreading unemployment. For the time being, we should be assured that the rapid spread of such technology is not resulting, at least immediately, in any cuts to work hours or pay, so households may still have the wherewithal to continue spending at current levels.
Having said that, the concern that I have about the growth in underemployment, and maybe relatedly the growth in multiple job holding, speaks to that uncertainty that could drive the labor market further down into neutral or reverse gear.
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Original text here: https://www.abington.psu.edu/story/60571/2025/12/18/qa-what-does-november-jobs-report-mean-workers-and-economy
Mohave College Innovative Student Support Model, Employee Highlighted in National Publication
KINGMAN, Arizona, Dec. 19 -- Mohave Community College issued the following news release:
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Mohave College innovative student support model, employee highlighted in national publication
Mohave College Director of First Year and Career Experience Natalie Gebicke is featured in Community College Daily, a national publication of the American Association of Community Colleges. In her commentary, "A one-person model for student support, workforce readiness," Gebicke explains how the College is building a scalable, student-centered approach to career services that support learners across our rural,
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KINGMAN, Arizona, Dec. 19 -- Mohave Community College issued the following news release:
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Mohave College innovative student support model, employee highlighted in national publication
Mohave College Director of First Year and Career Experience Natalie Gebicke is featured in Community College Daily, a national publication of the American Association of Community Colleges. In her commentary, "A one-person model for student support, workforce readiness," Gebicke explains how the College is building a scalable, student-centered approach to career services that support learners across our rural,multi-campus district.
She outlines how the College launched a new Career Services Center, integrating career exploration into new-student orientation, expanding employer engagement, and adopting a mobile model that brings resume help, interview prep and career guidance directly into classrooms, student spaces and campus events. She also highlights the creation of an online Career Services Hub, and plans for additional digital tools to better connect students with local job opportunities and employers.
Her article emphasizes collaboration with faculty and campus partners to embed key career-readiness skills such as communication, professionalism and teamwork throughout the student experience, which offers a model that other rural and multi-campus community colleges can adapt to their own regions.
Read the full article on Community College Daily: "A one-person model for student support, workforce readiness" (https://www.ccdaily.com/2025/12/a-one-person-model-for-student-support-workforce-readiness/)
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Original text here: https://www.mohave.edu/2025/12/18/mohave-college-innovative-student-support-model-employee-highlighted-in-national-publication/
Ashland University: Occupational Life Calling Class, Professional Academic Advising Helping Students Stay on Track
ASHLAND, Ohio, Dec. 19 -- Ashland University issued the following news:
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Occupational Life Calling class, Professional Academic Advising helping students stay on track
When they were freshmen at Ashland University, Roland Ntow felt like his world was crumbling, Karin Wlodarsky didn't know if she would stick college out and Emma Stoll was not sure where to turn after deciding nursing wasn't for her.
Today, they are all thriving. Ntow is a senior marketing major and a resident assistant who is planning a career in supply chain management and to pursue an MBA. Wlodarsky, a sophomore, is majoring
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ASHLAND, Ohio, Dec. 19 -- Ashland University issued the following news:
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Occupational Life Calling class, Professional Academic Advising helping students stay on track
When they were freshmen at Ashland University, Roland Ntow felt like his world was crumbling, Karin Wlodarsky didn't know if she would stick college out and Emma Stoll was not sure where to turn after deciding nursing wasn't for her.
Today, they are all thriving. Ntow is a senior marketing major and a resident assistant who is planning a career in supply chain management and to pursue an MBA. Wlodarsky, a sophomore, is majoringin accounting and finance, serves as a vice president for her sorority and on the leadership team for the accounting club, and recently landed a competitive internship at an accounting firm. After switching her major to psychology, Stoll, a junior, huddle leader for Fellowship of Christian Athletes and member of the Honors Program, is still on track to graduate on time and become an equine therapist.
While their backgrounds, academic interests and stories are all very different, Ntow, Wlodarsky and Stoll share a common thread. They each took the elective class Occupational Life Calling and spent time with advisors in AU's award-winning Professional Academic Advising department to get their college careers on track.
The Occupational Life Calling class, which falls within the College of Business and Economics, has become a go-to in recent years for new students who are uncertain of which major to declare or of a career path to follow.
"It's a class we really use to explore more about careers and majors and potential matching. We learn about the students themselves and utilize different ... strength-finder assessments, learning styles," explained Catherine Williams, a senior advisor to the president, assistant provost for Student Success and one of the instructors of the class. "It's really to learn more about your values, your interests, personality, workplace preferences, your natural gifts."
For Ntow, it "narrowed down (his) interests" and "helped with what classes to take," while for Wlodarsky, who came in knowing she wanted to do something in the business world, it "helped find a sense of direction of what are next steps." In Stoll's case, it opened her eyes to "many more careers within psychology she didn't even know about" and "really encouraged (her) to keep going."
That encouragement carries over into student appointments with professional and faculty advisors. Every AU student is required to meet with either their professional or faculty advisor during their academic journey.
Those meetings, especially in their first year, proved to be valuable for Ntow, Wlodarsky and Stoll. The academic advice and resources provided were certainly useful, but it was the genuine relationship and overall support that each student found even more beneficial.
Ntow was born in Ghana, spent his early life in Africa and then moved to Columbus, Ohio, thus life at Ashland was very different than what he was accustomed to. "I was just so lost," he admitted, but "Ms. Kristen (Herrick) and Ms. Catherine (Williams) pointed me in the right direction."
"I'm really, really grateful for them," he added. "They've made my experience here smoother. They've helped me understand what life is about because sometimes I was freaking out over little things. They're making Ashland a better place for sure."
After high school, Wlodarsky simply wanted to give college a try for a year as she really didn't know what to expect or if she was cutout for it. Thanks to weekly connections with her advisor, Alayna Ross, she quickly gained confidence and knew AU was the right fit for her future.
"(Alayna) just laid it out clear ... (and) overall helped calm it down a little bit," she said. "It ran so smoothly with my professors and everybody in Student Success helping me. The support I had ... I didn't feel as overwhelmed as I thought I would be. I'm so thankful they helped steer me in the right direction."
When Stoll started to realize she didn't want to study for nursing, which she had previously been "dead set on," she was "knocked several steps back." But her advisor, Kelly Kossick, and Williams helped reframe her mindset.
"Even at the end of the (Occupational Life Calling) class, I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do, but that's OK, I was still figuring things out and (they) were very supportive as always," recalled Stoll. "(They) helped set me up so that I had tools to be able to figure out what I wanted to do next. I signed up for a couple of psyche courses ... and discovered how much I really enjoy studying the mind and behavior."
The Occupational Life Calling class, the staff from Professional Academic Advising and the sincere connections formed are all making a direct impact on students like Ntow, Wlodarsky and Stoll staying in school. AU's retention rate, the percentage of full-time traditional undergraduate students who remain enrolled from freshman to sophomore year, has increased four consecutive years. In 2020-21, that number was 72%, while in 2024-25, it has improved dramatically to 78%.
Their peers have taken notice of the excellent work that AU's staff of advisors is doing. Herrick and Victoria O'Brien were winners of the Advising Excellence Award in 2024 and 2025 from the Ohio Academic Advising Association, while Ross received the Outstanding New Advisor Award this year. Rae Yocum, an advisor for AU's graduate, online and adult learners, was elected president of the OHAAA, and Sandra Evans and Ross are reps on the executive board.
Williams is the "conductor" of the Student Success team, which consists of Professional Academic Advising, the Tutoring Center, Student Accessibility and the Paul and Lani McKnight Career Center for Life Calling, and also a "university mom," according to Wlodarsky and many others. The personal touch that she and the team offer exemplifies AU's "Accent on the Individual" motto.
Ntow, Wlodarsky and Stoll are just three of the thousands of AU students who have been positively impacted by them, and Williams looks forward to meeting, serving and mentoring many, many more.
"We adjust to meet the student where they're at, and work to ensure that we have a smooth handoff to whoever's next ... whether that's a faculty member or a coach or a life calling coach, somebody to prepare you for the next step of your journey," she summarized. "I love to be able to see students recognize their potential and continue to reach past that and keep thriving."
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Original text here: https://www.ashland.edu/news/occupational-life-calling-class-professional-academic-advising-helping-students-stay-track
