News & Events

News Room/Press Release

For more information, please contact
Breck Knauft at breckk@woodbury-college.edu

 

Even if you're familiar with Woodbury College, you'll find new and exciting developments posted here and in our Woodbury Perspectives newsletter.

 

NEWS:

October 7, 2008

 

 Can Consensus-Building Work To Address Climate Change?

 A Case Study from Mexico

  

(MONTPELIER, VT) – Can Mexico Be Run Through Consensus-Building?  That’s the provocative question to be explored at a special public presentation on Friday, October 17, 9 a.m. to 12 noon led by Woodbury College’s new mediation dean Julian Portilla.  We are pleased to invite all prospective students and members of the public to take advantage of this special opportunity to learn from the real-world application of fundamental conflict resolution skills beyond U.S. borders.

 

In his continuing capacity as Project Director at the Centro de Colaboracion Civica, Portilla is in a unique position to answer this important question. Now, he has agreed to share his perspective with area conflict resolution professionals, environmentalists, and others involved in complex environmental and public policy issues.

 

Over the past two years, Mexico’s lawmakers have conferred with executive branch employees, academic experts, and representatives of civil society organizations to discuss the most effective ways to address climate change in the Mexican national territory. According to Portilla, the experience has been a learning process for everyone involved and has tested the bounds of facilitation techniques in large group settings. “The links between the informal, ad-hoc dialogue process and the formal law-making process are varied and constantly evolving,” he observes. “It’s true that the ever-changing interpersonal landscape creates challenges for mediators, but involving so many stakeholders in an effort to arrive at consensus also creates real opportunities to address what may be the single greatest challenge of our time.” 

 

This event is free and open to the public, however pre-registration is required due to limited seating. Call 1-800-639-6039 ext. 232 or admiss@woodbury-college.edu to register.

 

Portilla’s presentation will include participatory exercises and will introduce mediation concepts to those new to mediation. Participants can also gain invaluable insight into coalition building techniques, large group facilitation, the role of consensus building in governance, and various approaches to fostering dialogue.

 

# # #

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Woodbury College becomes Woodbury Institute of Champlain College

BURLINGTON, VT -- Plans to transfer the academic programs of Woodbury College to Champlain College have been completed following more than two months of negotiations by officers of both institutions. The acquisition was finalized Friday, Sept. 19 by a vote of the Board of Trustees at both Champlain College and Woodbury College.

Under the agreement, nearly a dozen Woodbury staff members will move to Champlain in January to support The Woodbury Institute. The agreement also keeps Woodbury's $350,000 endowment intact to support the transferred programs.

With the 2008-09 academic year already underway, Woodbury's current students will see little change. They will attend classes in Montpelier and online as they have in the past through December, when operations move to Burlington. As the transition is finalized and the Woodbury Institute at Champlain College evolves, students from both colleges will have more course options available to them. Each Woodbury undergraduate will have a detailed, individualized degree completion plan. Tuition and financial aid for Woodbury students is not expected to change this academic year, officials said.

"It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the Champlain College family," wrote Champlain College President David F. Finney in a letter sent to all Woodbury students. He emphasized the positive nature of the change. "Like our colleagues at Woodbury College, we at Champlain care deeply about maintaining a small-school feel where faculty, staff and students, online or on campus, know each other well. This focus has helped us deliver the most innovative and relevant programs in a community connected through the "human touch." Indeed, it is this cultural fit in addition to the academic fit that makes joining our academic offerings so sensible."

Woodbury College has established itself as one of the nation's premier institutions of higher education in the critically important areas of legal studies, mediation, and advocacy. More than 1,600 students have graduated from Woodbury, going on to play essential roles in Vermont government, nonprofit activity, and the private sector in Vermont and elsewhere.

"Woodbury's unique academic assets and expertise will enrich Champlain's curricula and improve our own ability to enroll students in an increasingly competitive environment," Finney explained.

Especially noteworthy is the fact that The Woodbury Institute will provide Champlain with two new graduate-level programs, Finney said. "This is a smart move for both our institutions and one that will benefit our students, now and in the future."

An important area of negotiations was continuing employment for Woodbury College's 26 staff positions. As part of the agreement, "All Woodbury employees have employment guaranteed until December 31," according to David Provost, Champlain's senior vice president for finance and administration.

"Just under half of those employees have been invited to move to Champlain and support the transition and Woodbury Institute beyond that date. A number of other Woodbury staff will be interviewing with Champlain departments for open positions at Champlain. Woodbury College is providing outplacement services for the remainder of the employees who want to continue working in Montpelier and central Vermont," he said.

The Woodbury Institute itself will remain in Montpelier until the end of this year and will move to Champlain's Burlington campus in January 2009. Woodbury officials say they hope to sell their Montpelier building this fall. "A number of parties have already expressed interest," Provost said.

"Through the transaction, Champlain has been able to achieve the important objective of keeping Woodbury's endowment intact and will honor the wishes of the donors to support the on-going growth of Woodbury's programs," Provost noted.

Faculty at Woodbury is largely unaffected because they are part-time or adjunct employees of the College. Current faculty will teach the existing courses this academic year and those with the appropriate backgrounds may have additional opportunities to teach courses at Champlain College, college officials explained.

"Champlain shares Woodbury's goal of creating access to high quality education for Vermonters, as well as for those outside the region. Woodbury Institute will provide tremendous advantages in the marketplace as well as enhanced educational offerings for our students," Finney said.

Woodbury Institute of Champlain College will have no material effect on Champlain's Master Plan, officials said. Woodbury's academic programs combine online learning with short intensive residencies and growth will continue to be online, so the Institute is not expected to grow the student presence on campus or increase demands on Champlain College physical facilities.

Champlain College, a private baccalaureate institution, was founded in 1878. Located in Burlington, Champlain College is a national leader in educating students to become skilled practitioners, effective professionals and global citizens. It was ranked 12th in the top tier of Best Comprehensive Colleges in the North by U.S. News and World Report's America's Best Colleges 2009. Champlain has approximately 2,000 students, presenting 32 states and 17 countries. It has study abroad programs that include campuses in Montreal, Quebec and a newly opened campus in Dublin, Ireland. For more information, visit www.champlain.edu




June 16, 2008

Woodbury Graduate Students
Present Findings of Conflict Resolution Research

MONTPELIER, VT— Master’s degree candidates in Woodbury College’s Mediation and Applied Conflict Studies Program will present the results of their final projects at the college’s annual Capstone Conference on Thursday and Friday, June 26 and 27. Fourteen graduating students in the program will present on topics including:

* Starting a dispute resolution center
* Applying the Dalai Lama’s philosophy in mediation
* Using neuroscience to untangle the web of emotions in mediation
* A shamanic approach to conflict resolution
* Restorative juvenile justice

Each presentation will be followed by a classmate of the presenter who will share observations about the project’s value to the dispute resolution community and suggestions for sharpening its focus. Presentations are followed by question- and-answer sessions for the general audience. A complete schedule is included below. This event will also include an optional lunchtime Introduction to the Woodbury Mediation Programs for all interested participants. Members of the public are invited to attend this conference. However, seating is very limited. Please pre-register by Monday, June 16, by calling 1-800-639-6039 x232 or writing to admiss@woodbury-college.edu. There is no charge to attend this event.

As a leader in mediation education in the United States, Woodbury offers the country’s only regionally-accredited Master of Science degree in Mediation. Its curriculum is based on the premise that disputes are most effectively settled when the parties in conflict can work with a neutral mediator – one who does not have a stake in the outcome – to arrive at a mutually agreed upon solution. Woodbury College founded one of the earliest centers for the systematic study of conflict management in the country.

Woodbury College specializes in programs in advocacy, law, and conflict resolution including: Paralegal Studies, Pre-Law, Master’s in Law, Advocacy, and Master’s in Mediation and Applied Conflict Studies. For information on any of these options, please contact the Admissions Office at 1-802-229-0516 x232 or admiss@woodbury-college.edu.

2008 Capstone Conference Schedule
Thursday, June 26 and Friday, June 27

Basic schedule for both days:
8:30 Refreshments
9:00 Welcome
9:15 Session One
10:30 Break
10:45 Session Two
12:00 Lunch
1:30 Session Three
2:45 Break
3:00 Session Four
4:00 Closing

Thursday, June 26

9:15 An Exploration of Restaurant Conflict Issues and Opportunities for Resolution Presenter: Jenny Johnson

9:50 Beyond Emotional Intelligence: How Explorations in Neuroscience are Helping Mediators Untangle the Intricate Web of Emotions – Yours, Mine, and Ours
Presenter: Juliana Hoyt

10:50 Spiritual Mediation: A Shamanic Approach to Conflict
Presenter: Lori Baker

11:25 A Work in Progress: An Emerging Dispute Resolution Center
Presenter: Janet Rathbone

1:35 Reframing Mediation Reframing
Presenter: Glen Gross

2:10 Transforming Interpersonal Conflict: Beyond Bush and Folger
Presenter: Wendy Vonhof

3:05 Mediation from the Eyes of a Musician: How One Discipline Informs the Other
Presenter: Dana Kaplan

4:00 Close

Friday, June 27

9:15 Marketing Mediation: How the Field of Mediation Can Sell Itself
Presenter: Regan Eberhart

9:50 The “I,” “We,” and “It” Story: An Integral Approach to Mediation
Presenter: Haven Fricano

10:50 Restorative Juvenile Justice: A Paradigm Shift
Presenter: Nan Starr

11:25 Sum Ergo Cogito: I Am, Therefore I Think – A Look into Intuition
Presenter: Noel Sylvester

1:35 Creating Conflict Studies Curriculum for Technical College Students
Presenter: Roni Coleman

2:10 Mindful Mediation: Peace in the Art of Mediation Via the Philosophy of the Dalai Lama
Presenter: Cristin Ruddy

3:05 South Africa: A Transition from Violence and Conflict towards Forgiveness
Presenter: Kenneth Heare

4:00 Close




May 29, 2008

Woodbury College Announces Partnership with Beijing Environmental Organization and Prominent Chinese Law School

MONTPELIER , VT - Woodbury College President Larry Mandell announced today that the college will develop a curriculum to train approximately 40 legal professionals at Beijing's Center for Legal Assistance to Pollution Victims.  Woodbury College has also signed a memorandum of understanding with Beijing's Chinese University of Politics and Law (CUPL) to create exchange programs and joint degrees in law and mediation. 

The memorandum, signed by President Mandell and Wang Weigo, CUPL's Assistant President, also includes a commitment from both schools to support the creation of a Sino-American Research Center on Mediation Law and Practice.

These partnerships are the result of a four-person delegation to China led by Mandell in early May.  Mandell said, "Woodbury's trip to China exceeded our expectations and created an extraordinary opportunity to be the first organization to develop extensive mediation education and training in China.  We have the best possible partner in the Center's Director, Wang Canfa; the unmet need is great; and the central government of China has declared its commitment to incorporating mediation into the legal system." 

The Center for Legal Assistance to Pollution Victims (the Center) was founded in 1998 to protect the rights of pollution victims, conduct research in environmental law, organize domestic and international exchanges, and train court and environmental officials.  The Center's director, Wang Canfa, is a law professor who has lectured widely in the United States.  In 2005, he was one of five winners of the central government's Green China award.  The Chicago Tribune declared him one of eleven people poised to make a significant global impact in the twenty-first century, and in 2007, Time Magazine's named him one of the world's 50 "Environmental Heroes." 

As a leader in mediation education in the United States, Woodbury is a natural partner for Professor Canfa's organization. Woodbury College founded one of the earliest centers for the systematic study of conflict management in the country.  In addition to being a valuable regional resource, it is also at the forefront of a new and emerging field nationally.  The program's evolution and development has alternatively reflected and influenced mediation and conflict management practice nationally and internationally. Woodbury now offers the country's only regionally-accredited Master of Science degree in Mediation.

In the first phase of this collaboration, Woodbury faculty will teach mediation skills to Chinese judges, lawyers, and advocates. In turn, the newly-trained mediators will provide needed mediation services for pollution victims and industry representatives.  Within several years, Woodbury and the Center hope to have developed a sustainable and replicable model wherein Chinese legal professionals and other advocates can continue to train their colleagues in contemporary mediation techniques. 

China has a tradition of using intermediaries to help resolve conflicts.  Now, however, the Chinese are interested in learning about Western style mediation.  Mediation in the West is based on the premise that disputes are most effectively settled when the parties in conflict can work with a neutral mediator - one who does not have a stake in the outcome - to arrive at a mutually agreed upon solution.  By partnering with Woodbury, the Center hopes to introduce a more effective dispute resolution process that empowers the parties to create long lasting agreements.

The Center for Legal Assistance to Pollution Victims and the central government would also like to introduce western mediation methods because the Chinese courts do not have the capacity to adequately address the growing needs of pollution victims. The sheer volume of disputes is simply too great.  Impartial mediation, therefore, has the potential to emerge as a tremendously helpful tool for injured parties as well as potential defendants.

"Everyone we talked with - professors, lawyers, justices, judges -expressed concern that the court system was incapable of litigating these disputes," Mandell said.  "At the highest levels of Chinese society, mediation is being promoted as a primary method for conflict resolution, but unless the mediators are trained, mediation could potentially play an unproductive role in the legal process.  The need for training is therefore immediate and real." 

At the invitation of Wang Canfa, President Mandell visited the Center, the affiliated law school, the Deputy Chief Justice of China's Civil Supreme Court and other high-ranking legal professionals.  The delegation also met with U.S. Embassy staff and program officers at the Beijing offices of the Ford Foundation.  All of these meetings supported the project, as they helped to establish good relations with Chinese leaders, generate interest among potential funders, and educate Woodbury's delegation about the logistics of student exchanges with China. 

The Woodbury delegation consisted of:

  • Larry Mandell, Woodbury College's President,
  • Alice Estey, Director of Woodbury's Mediation Program,
  • Brian Bronfman, President of the Brian Bronfman Foundation, and Woodbury alumnus
  • Hong Yue Guo, interpreter and consultant




May 2, 2008

WOODBURY COLLEGE GOES TO CHINA
- Delegation to Explore Joint Degrees and Mediation Training for China's Judiciary

MONTPELIER , VT - Larry Mandell, Woodbury College's President, Alice Estey, the Acting Director of Woodbury's mediation program, alumnus Brian Bronfman, and Hong Yue Guo, an interpreter and consultant to the college were in Beijing from May 5 th to 12 th to discuss a potential partnership with lawyer and professor Wang Canfa, Director of the Center for Legal Assistance to Pollution Victims.  The Center for Legal Assistance to Pollution Victims is a branch of the Chinese University of Politics and Law.

In China , mediation has enormous potential because courts cannot manage the growing numbers cases brought by pollution victims.  Woodbury hopes to teach mediation skills to Chinese judges, lawyers, and advocates.  In turn, the newly-trained mediators would provide much needed mediation services for pollution victims and industry representatives.

Woodbury hopes to develop a replicable model where Chinese legal professionals can continue to train their colleagues in mediation techniques.   "Working with Chinese legal professionals at the highest levels is a tremendous opportunity for Woodbury," says Mandell.  "We're proud to be recognized by Wang Canfa, and I'm optimistic to think about the international mediation experience this project can offer our students and faculty.  And, to think that Woodbury might play a key role in helping China incorporate mediation into their legal system is really quite exciting."

The Woodbury team will also be meeting with leaders of the University to discuss the possibility of a joint degree.  If this aspect of the partnership were to be realized, Chinese law students would take Woodbury's mediation courses, either in Beijing or on Woodbury's Montpelier campus.  These courses could be offered as part of a law degree or a separate certificate for working legal professionals.

The Center for Legal Assistance to Pollution Victims works on behalf of pollution victims, conducts research in environmental law, organizes domestic and international exchanges, and trains court and environmental officials.  The Center's director, Professor Wang, has lectured widely in the United States , was identified by The Chicago Tribune as one of eleven people poised to make a significant global impact in the twenty-first century, and most recently, was one of Time Magazine's 50 "Environmental Heroes."

Wang Canfa's reputation is well-earned.  Since the Center's founding in 1998, it has won more than a third of its cases, a record that environmental experts call unparalleled in China .  The number of environmentally related law suits is only expected to increase - according to Chinese authorities at the State Environmental Protection Administration, air pollution is on track to quadruple by the year 2020, over 400 million urban Chinese are exposed to polluted air, and more than 70 percent of the water in China 's rivers is unfit for human contact.  Pollution at this level wreaks not just environmental, but political turmoil and personal suffering - this is precisely why Woodbury hopes to help.




March 3, 2008

FREE PRESENTATION ON NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP BY AUTHOR AND EXPERT SHIRLEY SAGAWA, MARCH 13

MARLBORO, VT - Author Shirley Sagawa will be at Burlington's Main Street Landing on Thursday March 13 for a free presentation on effective nonprofit management, starting at 7:00 pm in the Great Room.

Newsweek magazine has called Sagawa a "Woman to Watch in the 21st Century.” Her lecture, “The Charismatic Organization: How Effective Nonprofits Build and Benefit from Strong Communities,” discusses the important roles that nonprofits play in building social capital and the economy, and the characteristics of effective nonprofit leaders.

Woodbury College and the Marlboro College Graduate Center are sponsoring this event in conjunction with the Main Street Landing. Ms. Sagawa will be teaching a workshop on Effective Leadership this spring for a Nonprofit Management Certification course jointly offered by the two Vermont-based institutions.

Sagawa has served as a presidential appointee in both the first Bush and Clinton Administrations. As Deputy Chief of Staff to First Lady Hillary Clinton, she helped organize the first-ever White House Conference on Philanthropy. Her award-winning book, “Common Interest, Common Good:
Creating Value through Business and Social Sector Partnerships” (with co-author Eli Segal, Harvard Business School Press) describes how business and social sector organizations can collaborate for mutual gain. Her new book, “The Charismatic Organization: Eight Ways to Grow a Nonprofit that Builds Buzz, Delights Donors, and Energizes Employees,”
is scheduled for publication by Jossey-Bass this fall.

Marlboro College and Woodbury College have received over $80,000 in grants and individual donations to start their Nonprofit Management Certification program. Granting organizations include the Workforce Education and Training Fund (WETF), which is a division of the Vermont Department of Labor, anonymous donors and the TD Banknorth Charitable Foundation, which recently launched a new program to provide funds for nonprofit employee education and professional development.

Vermont’s nonprofit sector comprises nearly 11 percent of the state’s economic activity and employs over 12 percent of the workforce. After the Vermont Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations (VANPO) ceased operations, the Vermont Community Foundation (VCF) led a series of meetings to discuss the unmet needs of the nonprofit sector. As a result of these meetings, VCF stepped up its efforts to meet some of the networking and information needs by acting as a clearinghouse for donors and to publicize training efforts, while the need for more training is being filled by the Marlboro-Woodbury collaboration.

The Marlboro College Graduate Center is located at 28 Vernon Street in Brattleboro, Vermont. For more information, contact the Marlboro College Public Relations department at 802-251-7644 or pr@marlboro.edu.
For information about Woodbury College, please contact Jessie Lynn at 802-229-0516, x245 or jessiel@woodbury-college.edu.

Celebrating its 60th commencement in 2008, Marlboro College offers undergraduate education in the liberal arts and, since 1997, career-enhancing degree programs to working adults at the Marlboro College Graduate Center in Brattleboro, Vermont. Programs include management of information systems and technologies, healthcare administration, Internet engineering and an MBA in Managing for Sustainability.

Woodbury College offers Associate's, Bachelor's and Master's degrees, as well as Certificate programs. Woodbury offers a challenging and supportive learning environment for students to prepare for fulfilling new careers in the fields of mediation, law, advocacy and conflict management.




January 31, 2008

VERMONT COLLEGES JOIN FORCES TO OFFER NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATE
- Marlboro and Woodbury awarded over $80,000 in grants to develop joint program

Marlboro, VT - Organizations in the state of Vermont are combining resources to help those who help others by offering a nonprofit management certification course. Starting in March, 48 students will assemble at either the Marlboro College Graduate Center in Brattleboro or at Montpelier's Woodbury College for ten in-person sessions supplemented by an online component.

Each workshop will focus on an aspect of nonprofit operation, including effective leadership, understanding boards, human resources and conflict resolution, financial management, fundraising and marketing, and strategic planning and evaluation. Over $80,000 in grants have been awarded to Marlboro College and Woodbury College to recruit faculty, develop a curriculum and obtain the necessary materials to create a program that will help leaders of Vermont's nonprofit organization to better serve the needs of their respective constituencies. With the nonprofit sector comprising nearly 11 percent of the state's economic activity and employing over 12 percent of the workforce, Marlboro College president Ellen McCulloch-Lovell says it was only natural that the Marlboro College Graduate Center -- known for providing continuing education for adults in several facets of business management -- would want to be involved.

"The health of Vermont's nonprofits is vital to the health of the statewide economy. We are grateful for the generous support we've received to develop this program and the enthusiasm generated by both the faculty and incoming students," said McCulloch-Lovell. Woodbury and Marlboro's long-standing commitment to adult education make them strong and logical partners in this endeavor. Woodbury's president, Larry Mandell believes that career-oriented adult colleges like Marlboro and Woodbury are best equipped to work with the leaders of Vermont's nonprofits. "Nonprofit organizations play a critical role in Vermont communities. Helping the leaders or future leaders of these organizations strengthen their skills is at the heart of Woodbury College's mission to help create a healthy, just and democratic society."

Granting organizations include the Workforce Education and Training Fund (WETF), which is a division of the Vermont Department of Labor, an anonymous donor and the TD Banknorth Charitable Foundation, which recently launched a new program to provide funds for nonprofit employee education and professional development.

"TD Banknorth partners with many non-profit organizations across the state of Vermont. It is a highly competitive work environment, with thousands of non-profits competing for limited resources and funding," stated Philip R. Daniels, TD Banknorth President in Vermont. "Participation in this program will help non-profit organizations to strengthen their management skills and, in turn, enhance the services provided to our communities."

The grants have allowed the schools to cap tuition costs for in-state students at just $500. In addition, local chapters of the United Way are helping to further defray the costs. The Green Mountain United Way is offering eight scholarships of $250 for applicants who are members within the counties of Orange, Washington, Essex, Caledonia, and Orleans; while the United Way of Windham County is contributing $100 towards tuition for any of its members, as well as ten $250 scholarships, according to executive director Konstantin von Krusenstiern. "Helping nonprofits build capacity is central to United Way's mission.

This sort of professional training will have a tremendous impact on an organization's ability to be more effective and efficient in serving the community," said von Krusenstiern. After the Vermont Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations (VANPO) ceased operations, the Vermont Community Foundation (VCF) led a series of meetings to discuss the unmet needs of the nonprofit sector. As a result of these meetings, VCF stepped up its efforts to meet some of the networking and information needs by acting as a clearinghouse for donors and to publicize training efforts, while the need for more training is being filled by the Marlboro-Woodbury program. "The VCF supports the colleges' nonprofit management training initiative as a way to strengthen community-based organizations and help them achieve in greater things for Vermont and Vermonters. Woodbury College and Marlboro College are perfect providers," said VCF president and CEO, Brian Byrnes.

A complete schedule of workshops, course descriptions and faculty information can be found online at gradcenter.marlboro.edu/woodbury or www.woodbury-college.edu.

For information about the Marlboro College Graduate center part of the program, please contact the Marlboro College Public Relations office at 802-251-7644 or pr@marlboro.edu. For information about Woodbury College, please contact Jessie Lynn at 802-229-0516, x245 or jessiel@woodbury-college.edu.

Celebrating its 60th commencement in 2008, Marlboro College offers undergraduate education in the liberal arts and, since 1997, career-enhancing degree programs to working adults at the Marlboro College Graduate Center in Brattleboro, Vermont. Programs include management of information systems and technologies, healthcare administration, Internet engineering and an MBA in Managing for Sustainability.

Woodbury College offers Associate's, Bachelor's and Master's degrees, as well as Certificate programs. Woodbury offers a challenging and supportive learning environment for students to prepare for fulfilling new careers in the fields of mediation, law, advocacy and conflict management.


January 16, 2008

Woodbury College Announces New Online, Practice-Based Paralegal Certificate

Montpelier , Vt. — Larry Mandell, President of Woodbury College, announced today the addition of a new online, practice-based paralegal certificate to the college’s curriculum, slated to start April 14. This new certificate is an extension of the College’s very popular paralegal certificate.

“Working adults have been coming to Woodbury’s programs to learn their way into better careers as paralegals and advocates,” says President Larry Mandell. “We continue to respond to the needs of adult students, while maintaining our mission to provide practice-based study and personal attention. Adding more and more online programs, while keeping our hands-on approach, is our response to their needs. It’s also what sets us apart in the marketplace.”

Woodbury’s online paralegal certificate is unique. As with all Woodbury programs, it will provide a competency- and practice-based approach, unusual for an online program. This hands-on approach to paralegal skill building is accomplished through an intensive online program of study that combines active learning and engaging discussion with actual practice of case problems that reflect those dealt with in the field.

This challenging new curriculum has been designed to help build essential skills and knowledge of law and the legal system, legal research, investigation, legal analysis, legal writing, and the legal profession and legal ethics. In addition, students will learn the substantive laws and procedural skills needed to prepare and manage a case through both civil and criminal litigation. From interviewing witnesses to fact investigation, researching and analyzing legal cases to drafting of legal documents, they will learn the skills necessary to successfully work as paralegals or to enhance their current career skill set.

Woodbury College is one of the oldest providers of paralegal training in the United States, offering programs continuously since 1975. The College’s highly respected paralegal program and long connection to the legal community means students learn law as it’s practiced and gain valuable contacts useful in helping them prepare for their careers.
 
Woodbury College introduced paralegal and mediator education to the state of Vermont in the 1970s. Their prevention program offered the nation’s only Bachelor’s degree in this subject. Two years ago, Woodbury launched the nation’s only fully accredited Master’s degree in mediation, which now has students from coast to coast. Last September, they launched an M.S. in Law, the nation’s only fully online program that focuses on managerial, human resource, elder and health law. The new online paralegal certificate continues that tradition in offering accessible and valuable law education to ordinary citizens. 



December 17, 2007

Non-Profit Management Certificate to be offered this Spring!

Starting in early March, Woodbury College and Marlboro College will be offering a series of trainings in Montpelier and Brattleboro, Vermont, which will lead to a Certificate in Nonprofit Management.

The workshops will be held on ten Friday's between March and mid-June. The cost of the trainings is $500.

Workshop topics will include:

  • Effective leadership and Board Development
  • Human Resources
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Financial Management
  • Fundraising and Marketing
  • Strategic planning and Evaluation

These trainings are funded by a grant from the Workforce Education and Training Fund (WETF) through the Vermont Department of Labor. The WETF is one of three workforce development programs for which the 2007 Legislature appropriated funding.

Participants should be currently working in nonprofit organizations, either seeking a higher-level position or working in a management position. Information and dates of workshops will be available through both college websites at http://www.gradcenter.marlboro.edu and http://www.woodbury-college.edu in mid-January. Stay tuned for more details.

Contact the project coordinator, Jessie Lynn at jessiel@woodbury-college.edu for more information.



November 9, 2007

WOODBURY COLLEGE AND MARLBORO COLLEGE AWARDED GRANT
TO PROVIDE NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT TRAINING

Montpelier , VT- Larry Mandell, President of Woodbury College, announced this week that Woodbury, in collaboration with Marlboro College, has been awarded $47,500 from the Workforce Education and Training Fund (WETF) to design and deliver a series of workshops that lead to a certificate in nonprofit management.
 
The WETF is one of three workforce development programs for which the 2007 Legislature appropriated funding. The purpose of the grants in the WETF is to support training that will improve the skills of Vermont workers who are unemployed, under-employed or at risk of becoming unemployed.
 
Woodbury College and Marlboro College are collaborating to specifically address the needs of the nonprofit sector in Vermont, by offering specialized leadership training to increase both the talent pool and the skill sets of workers and leaders in this sector.
 
The purpose of this new nonprofit management training program is to improve the capacity of Vermont's nonprofit organizations. The program will be delivered at reasonable cost through ten-day workshops spread over six months, each session available at Woodbury's Montpelier and Marlboro's Brattleboro campuses. The entire program will constitute a firm grounding in management and leadership issues and will respond to a need expressed by the nonprofit sector for more training and education.
 
There are over 2,700 tax-exempt organizations in Vermont supporting all sectors: education, youth, environment, economic development, human services of all kinds, agriculture, arts and culture, citizen action and a variety of causes. The state's nonprofit sector comprises nearly 11% of the economic activity in the state and employs over 12% of the workforce. Thousands of citizens are involved as board members and volunteers, as well as staff members.
 
From 1998 until 2006, the voluntary sector was served by the Vermont Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations (VANPO), which attracted 400 members who received access to research, advocacy representation and member services, including training workshops and an annual conference. After VANPO ceased operations, the Vermont Community Foundation (VCF) led a series of meetings to discuss the unmet needs of the nonprofit sector.
 
As a result of the recommendations made in these meetings, VCF has stepped up its efforts to meet some of the networking and informational needs by acting as a clearinghouse for donors and to publicize training efforts. The need for more training is being filled by Woodbury College and Marlboro College in their efforts to provide education for nonprofit leadership.
 
"Nonprofits already play vital roles in building strong communities by providing essential services, giving voice to the disenfranchised and ensuring that our democracy works for everyone. The VCF supports the colleges' nonprofit management training initiative as a way to strengthen community-based organizations and help them achieve even greater things for Vermont and Vermonters. Woodbury College and Marlboro College are perfect providers," said Brian Byrnes, President & CEO of The Vermont Community Foundation.
 
Paul Costello, Executive Director of Vermont Council on Rural Development expressed his support of the project, "I'm pleased that Woodbury College is developing a certificate of non-profit management. Since Vermont leads the nation in per capita non-profits, and they can play a lead role in both community and economic development in Vermont, this is a critical need. Leadership skills to support entrepreneurial non-profits and start-ups is particularly needed to build efficiencies and positive collaboration, and to help these organizations get the job done."
 
Workshop topics would include successful fundraising, financial and personnel management, conflict resolution, effective and efficient use of technology, advocacy for public policy issues and strategies in organizational leadership.
 

 

WOODBURY PERSPECTIVES NEWSLETTER

Read Woodbury Perspectives, Woodbury College's newsletter with news about events, graduates, students, faculty, and staff.

Download or read online:    
  Spring 2008
  Fall 2007
  Fall 2006
  Winter 2006
  Fall 2005
  Winter 2005
  Summer 2004
  Fall 2003
  Spring 2003

To view the files linked from this page you may need the following software:

Adobe Acrobat ™ Reader
Microsoft Word Viewer