University of Louisville Online Programs | Student Resources & Feature Stories

University of Louisville Masters in Engineering Management: Interview with Tim Hardin

By admin | September 24, 2014

: Dr. Tim Hardin, MEEM Program Director

If you like to focus on something over a small period of time, get it done, and then move on, the new Masters of Engineering in Engineering Management (MEEM) program at the University of Louisville (UofL) is designed for you.

In the online MEEM program, you can power through a different course every 6 weeks! Dr. Tim Hardin, Program Director, said that “the students see the 6 weeks turnaround as a flexibility rather than a limitation. You can complete two courses in a term, or if your next few weeks will be busy, you can take the next rotation off. You can always enter back into your next course at one of our 5 entry points.”

If you think that the 6 week time frame is a little restrictive then perhaps this program isn’t for you. But that’s not what the school is finding.

“We have had feedback saying that with non-structured courses like say some MOOC, students fall behind. They have no skin in the game. But in our MEEM program, it’s hard to get more than a week behind without repercussions. I’ve had many students asking for next week’s material so they can work ahead. It’s a refreshing change. The quick pace collects a different crowd,” explained Hardin.

“However, we have also had students realize that they are unable to meet the required time frame. It is good for a student to come to that decision early on. The accelerated online learning is not for everyone,” cautioned Hardin.

Though the MEEM program existed on-campus since 1972, it has recently transitioned the offering online in August, 2013. “The program curriculum covers the same material; we still use the same textbooks. However, the assessment quizzes and exams are different. Those have been replaced with project papers and reports. This strategy helps alleviate some of the possible issues with identity authentication and cheating,” said Hardin.

“The move to online delivery was a little accidental and a little bit planned. I was interested in online learning and the school started to support the medium more and more. We asked our industrial advisory board about switching over and it was a unanimous ‘yes’ from the board and our students,” Hardin clarified.

You can still work on your own schedule as the courses are asynchronous. This is vital as the student body crosses about 14 time zones. The student base even has a few members of the U.S. Armed Forces deployed in the Middle East and Asia. “I think the Blackboard interface we use as a learning platform makes it easier on our students serving abroad.”

Blackboard, the popular online course platform service, allows for PowerPoint voice over videos or webcam videos, assignments, grades, and student-student/student-instructor communications. However, one-on-one phone calls can be scheduled if needed.

As for online teaching pedagogy, the University of Louisville has the full support of the Delphi Center for Teaching and Learning. Delphi staff provide instructional design and quality assurance support for online learning programs at UofL. Professors can take training courses from Delphi which includes best practices. They also offer a voluntary review process to assess compliance to teaching and learning best practices. However, the MEEM instructors will be given a few more semesters under their belt before the reviews will be requested.

Naturally, new course platforms can be associated with a few kinks that need to be ironed out. Though no issues have been noticed as of yet, best practices and technology, such as those that exist to curb cheating and assist students with disabilities have yet to be perfected. This is however, top priority for the online program team. As the MEEM online program gains momentum, more such best practices will be implemented and tested in the current format of the program.

To learn more about enrollment and graduation requirements for the Master of Engineering in Engineering Management Online at University of Louisville, visit our program page.

Written by Shawn Wasserman of Engineering.com.

Dr. Gennaro F. Vito

By Laura Dorman | September 17, 2014

Tagged as one of the 25 Top Criminal Justice Professors in the U.S.

Dr. Gennaro F. Vito, professor in the Department of Justice Administration at the University of Louisville has been recently featured as one of the “25 Top Criminal Justice Professors” by ForensicColleges.com. The list is comprised of outstanding professors in the field of criminal justice and criminology, identified in the top 25 criminal justice and justice administration degrees, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report’s criminology rankings (2009).

This is not the first time Dr. Vito has been applauded for his work and contribution to the field of law enforcement and administration of justice. In 2012, he received the Bruce Smith Jr. Award from the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. The award recognizes a “person who has been actively involved in criminal justice research or other endeavor which has made substantial contributions to the emerging body of knowledge in criminal justice.” It is the highest research recognition awarded by the Academy.

The “Outstanding Mentor Award” from ACJS (2010), “UofL Distinguished University Scholar” (2008-2013), Dean’s and President’s Awards for “Outstanding Scholarship, Research, and Creative Activity” (2002); “Exceptional Performance Award” (1999); and the Southern Criminal Justice Association’s “Educator of the Year Award” (1991) are just a few of the other accolades that make Dr. Vito proud.

As a faculty member teaching online and on-campus courses, Dr. Vito brings a wealth of knowledge to the classroom and infuses each lesson with practical knowledge that students can readily apply to their own work place. His published work includes 11 textbooks, 17 book chapters, 95 refereed, professional journal articles, 9 book reviews, and 43 technical reports on criminal justice programs and policies.

Students describe Dr. Vito and his “on-the-ground” teaching style and personality as a cross between Lewis Black and Don Corleone – strict and fair, assertive and loyal, rigorous and reasonable. His teaching method includes in-depth examination of law enforcement leadership and management issues through analysis of relevant case studies, video clips or articles. Although he allows for an independent study format, he ensures that students adhere to the required schedule of assignments and examinations whether learning online or in the classroom.

Dr. Vito has a Ph.D. in Public Administration, earned from the Ohio State University where he also earned his master’s in sociology-criminology, and has been teaching in the J.A. program at UofL since its inception in 2001. He has also been teaching at the Southern Police Institute (SPI) in the Administrative Officer Course (AOC) program since 1995.

Speaking to the benefits of online learning for all students, undergraduate and graduate, who start by taking the AOC courses at the Southern Police Institute, Dr. Vito said: “Our students are police managers – Sergeant Rank and above – who want to pursue a career in leadership, advance their ranking or increase their earnings. Online Learning at UofL has made it possible for them to complete a Master of Science in Justice Administration degree fully online. Graduates of the AOC course can transfer in 12 credits from this graduate track and finish their degree online when they return home. There was no other way to do this before the online program came along. Undergraduate AOC students earn 15 transferable credits. They also can complete their undergraduate degree online.”

Dr. Vito strives to provide students with knowledge that improves their analytical and practical skills, challenges them to engage in critical thinking and take the classroom-gained information into the real world. He draws from his extensive experience, scholarly research and industry best practices, trends and concepts. His measure of applied learning is quite simple: “I do not ask my students to do anything that I have not done or am currently doing” says Dr. Vito.

There is little doubt that Dr. Vito has gone above and beyond in terms of leadership and professional contributions to his field. His published work in academic journals, his leadership and expertise, as well as his dedication to the world of criminal justice tag him as one of the top criminal justice professors in the country.

We hope that Dr. Vito will enjoy many more teaching years, awesome achievements and significant contributions to the research of the field, preparing current and future law enforcement leaders to change the world.

The Master of Science in Justice Administration is offered to professionals who have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher learning and want to pursue or advance their career in law enforcement, security, corrections, public safety and other areas or criminal justice. Contact us today and learn more about the master’s in criminal justice program at UofL Online.

Corrections in America: Learning from those who wrote the book

By Laura Dorman | September 17, 2014

Rarely do students have an opportunity to learn from the textbook writers, but that’s the case at the University of Louisville (UofL). Dr. Harry E. Allen and Bruce Ponder, faculty members teaching at UofL, along with colleague Dr. Edward J. Latessa at the University of Cincinnati, are now working on the 14th edition of the text for Corrections in America.

In the always-evolving field of corrections, it’s noteworthy that one thing has stayed the same since the 1970s – the textbook. In fact, Corrections in America is the longest continually published textbook in the field and continues to be the best-selling text in the study of corrections.

The 14th edition continues its established tradition of comprehensive, student-friendly instruction coverage with extensive supplemental study materials. It covers virtually all aspects of corrections, including the history of corrections system, prisons in the present, correctional ideologies, sentencing and legal issues, alternatives to imprisonment, institutional corrections, and correctional clients.

But it’s more than just the variety of subject matter that sets Corrections in America apart. The text has maintained its position in the market because of its adaptability. Like the field of corrections itself, the text has undergone numerous changes over the years, with some editions seeing more revisions than all of the previous editions combined, according to the authors.

The authors also take great pride in reviewing feedback from colleagues across the country and work to balance research and theory with practical and predictive examples included in the text. This helps to make the book both informative and interesting to eager to learn students.

The text is organized in sections ranging from historical perspectives and the justice process to correctional systems and functions and a link to the future, in which the authors offer a look at future trends, innovations and programs that could develop and be expanded. By looking forward, the authors challenge students to become thought leaders in their chosen field and think about the sustainability of the corrections environment.

The University of Louisville is a research-based public institution for higher learning widely recognized for its contribution to exploration and innovation in various fields, and Allen and Ponder are a great example of dedication and participation to the progress of the correction field. In addition to their research, the duo will also teach their course online this coming spring, presenting an opportunity for students, both near and far, to gain valuable knowledge and skills in this area of interest.

Naturally, “Corrections in America” 14th edition is the textbook supporting the course JA 202 (Corrections in the U.S.) in the Justice Administration degree program at UofL. The online delivery method allows for students to learn at a time that’s convenient for their schedule and in the comfort of their own home.
The course JA 202 presents an introduction to the history, practices, and issues related to the correctional function in American criminal justice. As with the textbook, topics in the course range from the history of prisons to inmate subcultures and institutions to correctional issues such as overcrowding, stress, sexual violence, and administrative problems. Allen and Ponder note that both adult and juvenile corrections are covered in the course, just like the text.

Learn more about the Corrections in America by visiting http://louisville.edu/justice/about-us/faculty-research. To apply and enroll to the criminal justice degrees at bachelor’s and master’s levels offered online at the University of Louisville, please visit Louisville.edu/online.

Data tools credited for reducing pretrial crime

By Laura Dorman | September 17, 2014

There is much debate on the topic of pretrial bail and on which defendants should be detained and which defendants should be released safely prior to trial. According to the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), a suspect’s release pending trial is almost exclusively based on the charge and whether the suspect has enough money to bail himself or herself out of jail. The release decision is often not based on an informed assessment of whether he or she is a danger to society and/or is likely to return to court for trial.

“Research has shown that under our current system, half of the most dangerous or likely to flee arrestees/defendants are able to make a monetary bail amount and leave jail unsupervised,” claims IACP.

The IACP pretrial justice reform initiative was established in partnership with the Public Welfare Foundation and the Pretrial Justice Institute, with a goal of educating criminal justice leaders on how their local system can save and maximize their limited resources through pretrial reform.

“Reform” is also the buzzword around the implementation of the Public Safety Assessment – Court (PSA-Court) tool in Kentucky. This summer, the Laura and John Arnold Foundation released results from the first six months of PSA-Court. According to their website, IACP is “very pleased and supportive” of the Arnold Foundation’s findings.

Among other things, the PSA-Court report claimed that crime by defendants on pretrial release declined by 15% and the overall number of defendants on pretrial release increased by 70%.

At University of Louisville, the Department of Justice Administration closely follows the trends in public safety, including corrections policies and reforms implementation. Students in the justice administration degree programs (master’s and Ph.D. levels) often use their knowledge acquired in the classroom to create analytical models for scanning the corrections environment, assessing the contemporary issues and proposing solutions to local and state government officials.

“In our master’s program in justice administration, students work closely with local criminal justice agencies and assist these organizations in analyses that result in more effective and efficient operations. Also, as part of a required coursework, our students in the Ph.D. program collaborate closely with criminal justice agencies to develop and assess the implementation of various strategies such as victim/witness programs and day reporting centers” said Dr. Deborah Keeling, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, Justice Department at the University of Louisville.

PSA-Court also uses a data driven risk assessment tool, developed by the Arnold Foundation, to help inform judicial decisions about which defendants should be detained and which defendants can most safely be released prior to trial. The report says that, “defendants flagged by the PSA-Court as being at an increased risk of violence are rearrested for violent acts at a rate of 17 times higher than that of defendants who are not flagged.

The full report from the Arnold Foundation on the Public Safety Assessment in Kentucky is available for viewing online.

The Laura and John Arnold Foundation (LJAF) is a private foundation with offices in Houston and New York City. The Foundation is currently focused on the three primary issue areas: Criminal Justice Reform, K-12 Public Education, and Public Accountability. The Foundation’s “core objective is to produce substantial, widespread and lasting national and community reforms that will maximize opportunities and minimize injustice in our society.”

If you’re interested in developing superior expertise in the field of criminal justice, join our elite education program at the bachelor’s, master’s or Ph.D. levels. To apply and enroll to the criminal justice degrees offered online at the University of Louisville, please visit our program page on Louisville.edu/online.

Tagged as one of the 25 Top Criminal Justice Professors in the U.S.

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