Wisconsin-Whitewater Rallies Past Mount Union in NCAA Division III Championship Game

FOOTBALL

NCAA Division III

National Championship: Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl at Salem, Va.

Wisconsin-Whitewater 31, Mount Union 21

It's Déjà, Déjà, Déjà, Déjà, Déjà, Déjà Vu for Mount Union Football

Sixth Consecutive NCAA Division III Championship Game Awaits

Against Wisconsin-Whitewater (Again)

Mount Union overcame the loss of its starting quarterback to defeat Bethel (Minn.) 34-7 Saturday in the semifinal of the NCAA Division III football playoffs.

The Purple Raiders head to the championship game, December 18 at 3:30 p.m. at Salem, Va., where they will face defending champion Wisconsin-Whitewater. Both teams have 14-0 records including playoffs. This will be the sixth straight year the two teams have met for the national championship. Wisconsin-Whitewater is the defending champion, having defeated Mount Union last year 38-28, but Mount Union has won three of the five preceding title games against UW-W. A victory would give the Raiders their 11th national football championship, and Ohio independent colleges their 20th since 1942 (compared to the 15 won by Ohio public universities).

Tickets and other information about attending the game, known as the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, are available through Mount Union's web site. The contest will be televised nationally on the ESPNU cable network and on the radio on WRMU 91.1 FM and WDPN AM1310 (Alliance), WANR 1570 (Warren/Youngstown) and ESPN 970AM (Ashtabula).

Mount Union Reaches NCAA Division III Football Semifinal for 16th Consecutive Year

FOOTBALL

NCAA Division III

Quarterfinal, Dec. 4

Mount Union 37, Alfred 7

Semifinal, Dec. 11

Bethel (Minn.) at Mount Union, 12 noon EST

Tickets can be ordered here.

National Championship Game, Dec. 18

Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl at Salem, Va.

Bethel-Mount Union winner vs. Wisconsin Whitewater-Wesley (Del.) winner, 3:30 p.m. EST

Notre Dame Falls in High-Scoring NAIA Men's Soccer Final

Notre Dame College’s dream of an undefeated national championship ended in a barrage of goals by Hastings (Neb.), as the Falcons lost 5-3 in the final game of the NAIA men’s soccer tournament, Sunday in Orange Beach, Ala.

Notre Dame Men's Soccer Advances to NAIA Title Match; Otterbein Women Fall in NCAA Semifinal

A soccer story of Notre Dame winning in the national semifinal game is great news, from the standpoint of Ohio's independent colleges, no matter what happens elsewhere in the culture that dominates Columbus.

Men’s Soccer
NAIA Tournament at Orange Beach, Ala.
Semifinal, Dec. 3
Notre Dame 1, Mobile (Ala.) 0

National Championship Match
Sunday, Dec. 5
Notre Dame vs. Hastings (Neb.), 7 p.m. CST

The Otterbein women’s national title dream ended last night in a shootout that followed a scoreless tie with Hardin-Simmons.

Women’s Soccer
NCAA Division III Tournament at San Antonio, Texas
Semifinal, Dec. 3
Otterbein 0, Hardin-Simmons 0 (Hardin-Simmons won on penalty kicks, 4-2)

— Bob Burke

ODU Welcomes New President

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of joining the inauguration of Dr. Peter Cimbolic as the 15th president of Ohio Dominican University (ODU). Held in the recently completed Alumni Hall, the well-attended event honored both the institution's new leader and the growth of the university.

During the '00's, ODU was one of Ohio's fastest growing independent campuses, not only in enrollment, but also in physical development. In the past three years, ODU has completed the Alumni Hall adjacent, the Bishop James A. Griffith Student Center, a new residence facility, Lyham Hall, and Battelle Hall Science Center. It also acquired a nearby building that is being converted to classes for its adult-focused LEAD program. The changes will properly set the stage for next year's ODU Centennial.

ODU has long supported AICUO. Not only have two of Dr. Cimbolic's three most-recent predecessors served on the AICUO Executive Committee, but ODU trustee Tom Winters currently serves in that capacity.

The more unusual aspects of yesterday's inauguration included a wonderfully personal introduction of the new president by a faculty member from American University in Washington, D.C. Dr. Kathleen Cimbolic Gunthert is associate professor of psychology who happens to be Dr. Cimbolic's daughter. She spoke not only of her obvious affection for him, but also of his commitment to education. I must also compliment ODU's Chair of its Board of Trustees, Galen Barnes, who easily was funnier in his five minutes than every other board-chair speaker I have ever heard at an inauguration.

Since I met President Cimbolic several months ago, I have seen him move matters forward on campus that elsewhere would have required months or years of unnecessary contemplation for its own sake. Yesterday's events formally commenced—for the better—a new era at Ohio Dominican University.

—C. Todd Jones

Otterbein Women's Soccer in NCAA Division III Semifinal Friday

Women’s Soccer

NCAA Division III Tournament at San Antonio, Texas

Semifinal, Dec. 3

Otterbein vs. Hardin-Simmons (Texas), 5 p.m. CST

Final, Dec. 5

Otterbein-Hardin-Simmons winner vs. William Smith (N.Y.)-Messiah (Pa.) winner, 6 p.m. CST

—Bob Burke

Notre Dame Men’s Soccer Wins, Plays in NAIA Semifinal Friday

Men’s Soccer

NAIA Tournament at Orange Beach, Ala.

Quarterfinal, Dec. 1

Notre Dame 2, Grand View (Iowa) 1

Semifinal, Dec. 3

Notre Dame vs. Mobile (Ala.), 4 p.m. CST

House and Senate Leadership Teams Complete

Rep. William Batchelder (R-Medina) was selected as speaker;

Rep. Lou Blessing (R-Cincinnati) is speaker pro tem;

Rep. Matt Huffman (R-Lima) is majority floor leader;

Rep. Barbara Sears (R-Sylvania) is assistant majority floor leader;

Rep. John Adams (R-Sydney) is the majority whip;

and Rep. Cheryl Grossman (R-Grove City) is the assistant majority whip.

Rep. Armond Budish (D-Beachwood) is minority leader;

Rep. Matthew Szollosi (D-Toledo) is assistant minority leader;

Rep. Tracy Heard (D-Columbus) is minority whip;

and Rep. Debbie Phillips (D-Athens) is assistant minority whip.

Sen. Tom Niehaus (R-New Richmond) is Senate president;

Sen. Keith Faber (R-Celina) is president pro tem;

Sen. Jimmy Stewart (R-Albany) is majority floor leader;

and Sen. Shannon Jones (R-Springboro) is majority whip.

Sen. Capri Cafaro (D-Hubbard) is Senate minority leader;

Sen. Shirley Smith (D-Cleveland) is assistant minority leader;

Sen. Edna Brown (D-Toledo) is minority whip;

and Sen. Jason Wilson (D-Columbiana) is assistant minority whip.

Notre Dame Advances, Rio Grande Falls in NAIA Men’s Soccer Championship

NAIA Men’s Soccer Tournament

at Orange Beach, Ala.

Updated

Second Round, Nov. 29

Notre Dame 2, Vanguard (Calif.) 1

Bethel (Tenn.) 2, Rio Grande 1

Third round, Dec. 1

Notre Dame vs. Grand View (Iowa), 12 noon CST

— Bob Burke

Sports Tournament Results Through Nov. 28

FOOTBALL

NCAA Division III

Second Round, Nov. 27

North Central (Ill.) 28, Ohio Northern 9

Mount Union 31, Delaware Valley (Pa.) 3

Quarterfinal, Dec. 4

Alfred (N.Y.) at Mount Union, 12 noon EST

— Bob Burke

Fall Sports Tournament Results Through Nov. 21

MEN’S SOCCER

NCAA Division I

First Round, Nov. 18: West Virginia 4, Xavier 2

NCAA Division III

Third Round, Nov. 20: Ohio Wesleyan 1, Johns Hopkins 0

Quarterfinal, Nov. 21: Lynchburg 2, Ohio Wesleyan 0

NAIA

First Round, Nov. 20: Rio Grande 2, Bethel (Ind.) 1; Notre Dame 5, Davenport (Mich.) 0

Second Round, Nov. 29 at Orange Beach, Ala.: Noon, Rio Grande vs. Bethel (Tenn.); 7:30 p.m., Notre Dame vs. Vanguard (Calif.)

WOMEN’S SOCCER

NCAA Division III

Third Round, Nov. 20: Denison 1, Wisconsin-Stevens Point 1 (Denison won on penalty kicks, 5-4); Otterbein 0, Loras (Iowa) 0 (Otterbein won on penalty kicks, 3-1)

Quarterfinal, Nov. 21: Otterbein 1, Denison 1 (Otterbein won on penalty kicks, 3-1)

Semifinal, Dec. 3, time TBA, at San Antonio, Texas: Otterbein vs. Hardin-Simmons (Texas)

FOOTBALL

NCAA Division III

First Round, Nov. 20: Mount Union 49, St. Lawrence (N.Y.) 0; Ohio Northern 37, Wittenberg 14

Second Round, Nov. 27: 12 noon, Delaware Valley (Pa.) at Mount Union; 12 noon CST, Ohio Northern at North Central (Ill.)

Fall Sports Tournaments: Some Begin, Some Continue

A quick look at fall sports tournament action featuring AICUO member campuses:

Soccer, Men’s: Xavier begins play in the NCAA Division I tournament this Thursday evening at West Virginia. In the NCAA Division II tournament, Ashland, champion of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, lost in the first round to Missouri S&T on Nov. 12 at Highland Heights, Ky. In Division III, Ohio Wesleyan has advanced to the third round, defeating Catholic (D.C.) 2-0 in the first round and Kenyon — first-round victors over York (Pa.) — by the same score in the second round. The Bishops’ next game, Saturday against Johns Hopkins, will be at Delaware, Ohio, as OWU is the site of both the third and quarterfinal rounds. Ohio Northern also qualified for the Division III playoff, but lost in the first round to Calvin, 2-0.

Two AICUO members qualified for the NAIA men’s soccer tourney. Top seed Rio Grande, boasting a 21-0 record, hosts Bethel (Ind.) on Saturday, while Notre Dame, also unbeaten and the fourth seed in the 30-team playoff, plays Davenport (Mich.) on its home pitch.

Soccer, Women’s: Two AICUO members have reached the third round of the NCAA Division III playoff, and each travel this weekend for games at Dubuque, Iowa. On Saturday Denison, after defeating Penn State-Altoona 1-0 and Illinois Wesleyan 2-0 at Granville, plays Wisconsin-Stevens Point, while Otterbein, which eliminated Calvin 1-0 and Washington-St. Louis 2-0, takes on Loras, the host school. The winners play Sunday afternoon for a space in the tournament’s final four.

In the NCAA Division I tournament, Dayton won its first-round game 3-0 over Virginia Tech, but lost on penalty kicks to Ohio State after a scoreless regulation and overtime in Columbus.

Football: Three AICUO members qualified for the NCAA Division III tournament beginning this Saturday, and two play each other. Ohio Northern, runner-up in the Ohio Athletic Conference, hosts North Coast Athletic Conference champion Wittenberg. Mount Union, OAC champion and last year’s national runner-up, welcomes St. Lawrence (N.Y.) for a first-round game. Starting time for both games is 12 noon.

No AICUO member qualified for the NCAA Division II or NAIA tournament.

—Bob Burke

AICUO Art Awards Coordinator Featured in CCAD Magazine

Noel Ang, AICUO Art Awards Coordinator and senior at the Columbus College of Art & Design (CCAD), was recently featured in CCAD’s Image magazine. For more information about Noel and what inspired him to pursue a career in art, check out the feature here.

Movember is Here - Gentlemen, Start Your Growing!

When I was asked 3 years ago to shave my mustache for charity, I balked. I had taken a lot of time and effort to perfect my 'stache and here I was being asked to shave it, just to re-grow it during the month of November. In the end, I decided that this cause was well worth it considering I could be diagnosed and affected and the money raised could be the money that finds a cure. I shaved it and will continue to shave and re-grow every Movember, the month formerly known as November.

Movemeber started in 2003 in Australia with 30 guys who wanted to grow mustaches, but apparently none were man enough to grow them without a little support from others. The next year, they decided to raise money along with their growing efforts. Since they were all men, the logical charity is prostate and testicular cancer. Now, 7 years later, Movember has raised over $42 million across the US, UK, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, Spain, South Africa, the Netherlands and Finland.

Please click here to donate and help raise awareness for these important issues. I mean, I did shave my 'stache for this...

- Dustin A. Holfinger

Independent College Enrollment Growth Highest Since 2003

For the 24th consecutive year, Ohio’s independent colleges and universities showed growth in enrollment. This fall’s preliminary headcount estimate of 139,933 is an increase of 4,494 students over the final fall 2009 headcount, or 3.3 percent.

It is the largest increase in independent-sector enrollment in seven years.

— Bob Burke

Wittenberg Hosts AICUO Annual Meeting

The 2010 annual meetings for AICUO and the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges, a sister-organization focused on joint fundraising for 34 of our 51 members, were hosted by Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio on October 6. The campus was bustling with activity as they prepared for Homecoming Weekend and red and white could be seen on almost all passersby.

Being from the Springfield area, I took this time to visit with

some friends, play a round of disc golf, and tour the town the evening before the meeting. The area has seen a lot of changes since I lived here: With a new hospital erected near campus, a new man-made whitewater section of Buck Creek (truly a fun time, speaking from experience), and the addition of a few beautification projects on campus, Wittenberg and Springfield are making the best of what they have and succeeding.

The Annual Meeting was held in James C. Shouvlin Hall, named for the late, great business leader of Springfield. Wittenberg's 14th president Mark Erickson welcomed us to campus and offered guided tours of the campus after the close of the meeting.

During lunch, a delicious one I might add, Dr. Warren Copeland, Faculty Director of the Center for Civic and Urban Engagement (also mayor of Springfield) outlined the wonderful things his students have done for the city of Springfield and how Wittenberg and the city have tightened their relationship through the creation of this new urban studies program. Students of the program also reviewed what the City of Springfield and Wittenberg have also done for them personally.

Coming to Wittenberg is always a special experience for me. Even though I did not attend the institution, I still feel a sense of home whenever I step foot on campus. I've made a lot of friends there and have spent some great times there. If you ever get the chance to drive through, stop the car and walk instead. You'll thank me.

For more information on Wittenberg University, click here for its webpage and here for its Wikipedia page.

photos (in order): Myers Hall, Buck Creek (Brad Lemon pictured), Weaver Observatory, and Koch Hall

- Dustin A. Holfinger

University of Findlay Welcomes Dr. Fell as 17th President

Friday, October 1, 2010 was a beautiful day to be on the University of Findlay's campus as the student body, alumni, faculty, and visitors welcomed Dr. Katherine Rowe Fell as the 17th president of this Northwest Ohio institution.

The ceremony gave those attending a glimpse into the future of the university under Dr. Fells' leadership. Dr. Fell served as vice president for advancement at Centenary College, Shreveport, La., where she was been the chief development officer since 2000. She takes the reigns of UF from Dr. DeBow Freed who served as president from 2003 - 2010.

Dr. Fell will be a welcomed addition to the member-presidents that AICUO represents and we look forward to working with her.

You can watch her inauguration speech here.

One New Thing From Each Campus

AICUO, in coordination with the Ohio Private College Admissions Directors group, represented Ohio independent colleges at four regional educational sessions around Ohio last week. Included in each session was a presentation on the private colleges and tips for counselors as well as a listing of One New Thing from each campus for this year. To view the presentation as well as the list of One New Thing from each campus, click here.

New Ohio Private Loan Marketplace Offers Innovative Online Resource to Students Seeking Higher Education Support

One of AICUO’s biggest new initiatives is now under way with the launch of the Ohio Private Loan Marketplace.

College students in Ohio now can use a unique online service to seek additional loans beyond federal and campus sources. Sponsored by the Association and created by Overture Technologies of Bethesda, Md., the Marketplace is an online loan comparison and shopping service available to more than 140,000 students attending 51 Ohio nonprofit institutions of higher education. Prager, Sealy, & Co., LLC, a leading higher education financial services firm, serves as the program manager for AICUO.

The Marketplace connects borrowers with a wide range of competitive loan products from lenders including national banks and nonprofit credit unions. Students have access to many loan options from a growing network of lenders that currently includes Discover Student Loans, NASA Federal Credit Union, Northwest Federal Credit Union, Eli Lilly Federal Credit Union, and cuStudentLoans. A complete list of lenders is available at https://app.overturemarketplace.com/slmp/main/participatingLender.action

As part of Overture’s Student Loan Marketplace network of websites, operating in Ohio and 10 other states, the Ohio Private Loan Marketplace benefits students, families, counselors and higher education institutions by:

• Presenting an upfront, accurate loan comparison without “as low as” advertisements for rates that may not apply to you and a complete listing of loan terms including total cost, monthly payment, interest rate and APR.
• Helping students discover untapped sources of loans with national lenders, credit unions, and regional banks are presented side by side and up to date for an easy, in depth comparison.
• Emphasizing financial literacy and smart borrowing habits, including the need to first obtain all possible federal and state grants, scholarships and loans before considering a private loan.
• Preserving borrower credit scores and privacy, by using a single credit report to match borrower information with multiple lenders’ products, and allowing the applicant to choose which lender, if any, receives this information.
• Providing schools with a straightforward path to HEOA Section 601 compliance, helping colleges comply with the Section 601 regulations with virtually no increase in burden for the financial If you’re a student interested in the Ohio Private Loan Marketplace, please contact your campus financial aid office

If you’re a student interested in the Ohio Private Loan Marketplace, please contact your campus financial aid office.