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

 

May 12, 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.
 

 

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