Finlandia Announces Tuition Freeze

HANCOCK – Finlandia University President Philip Johnson has announced that the university will not increase tuition rates, or room and board for residential students, for the 2008-09 academic year.

“The university is committed to affordable private education in the Upper Peninsula,” Johnson said. “The 2008-09 tuition freeze is our response to the current economic realities faced by our students.”

Johnson said that the profile of Finlandia students shapes the university’s commitment to affordable education.

“Finlandia serves a local and regional moderate- to low-income demographic,” Johnson said, “More than 75% of our students are from the U.P., and more than half of them are non-traditional, commuting students with jobs, families, and homes. Finlandia does not want to make it harder for these people to attend.”

“I believe that there is a general misconception that private equals unaffordable,” Johnson said. “At Finlandia, an individualized and unique education is accessible to any student, regardless of income.”

About three-quarters of Finlandia students receive Pell Grants, federally-funded financial aid for low-income students, said Sandy Turnquist, Finlandia’s director of financial aid. She added that 100% of the university’s full-time students receive one or more types of financial aid.

Turnquist sees it as her mission to track down as much financial aid as possible for each Finlandia student. She said that qualifying for tuition assistance is based on many things, including income, academic standing, and the student’s program of study.

It is well known that the State of Michigan and the federal government offer tuition grants and loans. What may not be as well known, Turnquist said, is that help is available from many, many other sources, including scholarships from Finlandia.

“I want to make it affordable for anyone who wants to come to Finlandia,” Turnquist said. “Everyone’s situation is different. It’s my job to work with each student to locate the scholarships, grants, and loans that will make it possible for that individual to pursue and complete a college degree at Finlandia.”

For additional information about financial aid opportunities at Finlandia University, please contact Turnquist at 906-487-7240, or visit her in Finlandia’s Old Main building, 601 Quincy St., Hancock.

“You don’t need an appointment, just stop in anytime!” Turnquist said.

Back to Top

Finlandia Pool Installs Handicapped-Accessible Stairs

HANCOCK – When Chester Rheault of Lake Linden, Mich., was nearing his 65th birthday and ready for semi-retirement he thought he should start getting more exercise. So in 2000 he started swimming two or three times a week at Finlandia University’s Paavo Nurmi Center. A childhood accident had made walking difficult for Chester, limiting his exercise options.

He swam several times a week for a couple of years, making friends with many other retirees who also swam at Paavo Nurmi. But, after a period of time, Chester said some of his new friends had to discontinue swimming because they could no longer comfortably get in and out of the pool using the standard ladder.

Then, Chester, too, had to stop swimming after he badly twisted his ankle getting out of the pool one day. Chester’s son, Brian Rheault, of Wellington, Florida, said his father basically abandoned swimming at that time. Brian didn’t think that was right

“He’d always been involved in swimming and we wanted to see him continue that as long as he could,” Brian said. “If he decides to quit swimming or not, it should be on his own terms.”

“Swimming was one of the activities we always did together as a family,” Brian added. “And over the years, it was one of the constant things my father has done to control his weight and reduce stress. When he twisted his ankle getting out of the pool that day, he decided he could no longer take the risk.”

That’s why Brian and his wife, Sheila, decided to arrange the installation of handicap-accessible steps at Finlandia’s pool. Now 76 and almost fully retired, Chester says he is ready to start swimming again. And now he’ll be able to get in and out of the pool more easily.

Just a week ago a set of handicap-accessible stairs were installed in the shallow end of the Paavo Nurmi pool. Chester says he thinks it’s a wonderful idea, not only for him but for others, especially those who have arthritis or are handicapped. The steps will allow almost anyone to get in and out of the pool easily.

“It’s a big help for us older people,” Chester said. “And it’s good for Finlandia, too. I hope word gets out to the community that people can now comfortably walk, not climb, in and out of the pool.”

Chester Rheault is a Class of 1952 alumnus of Suomi College. Both he and his wife, Evelyn, were born and raised in Lake Linden. Brian’s wife, Sheila Hill Rheault, is also a Suomi College graduate. Chester and Evelyn raised their four children in Lake Linden.

An accountant, Chester has worked for the Ruppe family of Lake Linden for 50 years. He was employed at Commercial National Bank and was president of the First National Bank of Calumet for 10 years. Today, he works part-time as an accountant for James Ruppe.

For additional information about the pool at the Finlandia University Paavo Nurmi Center, please call Athletic Director Chris Salani at 906-487-7378; for pool hours, call the automated Pool Line at 906-487-7575 or visit the Finlandia Web site at www.finlandia.edu.

Back to Top

James Kurtti Named Honorary Consul of Finland

HANCOCK – James N. Kurtti has been approved as the Honorary Consul of Finland for the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Osmo Lipponen, Consul General of Finland in New York, announced recently. The Finlandia University Finnish American Heritage Center has been designated the office of the Finnish Honorary Consul.

Kurtti replaces Dr. Robert Ubbelohde, who resigned the position in July 2007 when he retired as Finlandia University’s president.

The 15 counties of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula have one of the largest concentrations of Finnish Americans in the U.S. In five of those counties Finns and descendents of Finns make up the largest ethnic group – the only such place in the country, according to U.S. census data.

Kurtti’s volunteer role as Honorary Consul (on behalf of the Government of Finland) is to provide regional services to Finnish citizens and expatriate Finns, and facilitate communication among Finnish business and cultural interests and U.P. communities. This February Kurtti attended his first training session for Honorary Consuls in New York City.

So far, Kurtti says, his work as Honorary Consul has involved helping people applying for dual citizenship, which is generally available for anyone born in Finland, or anyone whose parents were born in Finland. Finnish law allowing dual citizenship or reclaiming Finnish citizenship ends this May 31.

A Finnish American himself, Kurtti is no stranger to working with Finns in the U.S. and elsewhere. He is the director of Finlandia University’s Finnish American Heritage Center and Historical Archive, and editor of the Finnish American Reporter, a monthly English-language journal for Finnish Americans.

He is a member of the Salolampi Foundation board of directors, chairman of the City of Hancock (Michigan) Finnish Theme Committee, and active in several other ethnicity-based civic organizations.

A Bruce Crossing, Michigan, native, Kurtti earned an associate degree at Suomi College, studied at Helsinki University, and earned a bachelor’s degree in social work and Finnish studies at the University of Minnesota. Kurtti, 50, resides in Painesdale, Michigan, with his wife Debora and sons Christian and Anders.

Kurtti can be contacted at 906-487-7302 or james.kurtti@finlandia.edu.

Back to Top

Finlandia Library to Receive Conservation Bookshelf

HANCOCK — The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has announced that the Finlandia University Maki Library has been selected to receive the IMLS Connecting to Collections Bookshelf.

The Bookshelf, selected by a panel of conservation experts, includes books, DVDs, online resources, and a user’s guide. The collection addresses such topics as the philosophy and ethics of collecting, collections management and planning, emergency preparedness, and culturally specific conservation issues. It is intended to provide small and medium-sized libraries and museums with significant information on collections care.

“The IMLS will be sending us specific books about preservation, conservation, and restoration,” says Yesianne Ramirez, Finlandia acting head librarian. “The collection will help the university preserve important articles from Finlandia’s heritage and local Finnish-American history.”

The Bookshelf will be catalogued and become part of the library’s main collection. It will be available for use by all library patrons.

“We have many books in Finnish from the time of the establishment of Suomi College, and other special Finnish-American books from the 1900s,” Ramirez adds. “The IMLS Bookshelf will give us the resources for self-learning so we can ensure that the collections will be well-preserved. We’ll be able to undertake some preservation efforts ourselves, helping reduce the expenses associated with maintaining historical items.”

Finlandia archivist Gary Kaunonen says the collection will be especially helpful for the Finlandia University historical archive as it offers information and resources for the preservation not only of books, but documents, photos, and other archival materials and artifacts.

Among the 851 nationwide recipients of the Bookshelf, 236 are libraries or archives and 615 are museums. Additional Upper Peninsula recipients include the Calumet Public School Library, Calumet, the Delta County Historical Society, Escanaba, the Gogebic Community College Library, Ironwood, and the Menominee County Historical Society, Menominee.

“We are pleased to announce the first group of IMLS Bookshelf recipients. These small libraries and museums are taking up the charge to care for America’s heritage,” said Dr. Anne-Imelda Radice, director of IMLS. “A recent national study tells a sobering story about the state of America’s library and museum collections. Without immediate action we stand to lose important collections that are at the heart of the American story.”

The IMLS Connecting to Collections Bookshelf is part of a multi-year, multi-faceted IMLS national initiative to raise public awareness and inspire action to care for the collections held in public trust by libraries and museums throughout the United States. The initiative is grounded in the results of A Public Trust at Risk: The Heritage Health Index Report on the State of America’s Collections, which reports that a stunning 190 million objects in U.S. collections need conservation treatment.

The Connecting to Collections Bookshelf was made possible by a cooperative agreement with the American Association for State and Local History and with support from the Getty Foundation, the Henry Luce Foundation, and the Samuel H. Kress Foundation.

For additional information, please contact Yesianne Ramirez at 906-487-7253 or yesianne.ramirez@finlandia.edu.

Back to Top

Finlandia to Implement Emergency Notification System

HANCOCK – Finlandia University has received a grant from First Alert System Text (FAST) to set up a campus-wide text message-based emergency notification system.

Finlandia is one of 100 higher education campuses in the United States that were awarded the notification system.

Jim Harden, Finlandia director of campus security, says the university will receive all software and technical support to implement the FAST system, valued at $2,500. FAST will also supply materials to help build awareness of the program among students, faculty, and staff.

“The most common cause for emergency notification on Finlandia’s campus is inclement weather,” Harden says, “Many of Finlandia’s students live off-campus, and many of them have children. The FAST system will allow us to send school closing information very quickly.”

“The FAST system is part of a campus-wide emergency management system being developed at Finlandia,” adds Bill Melchiori, director of student life. “Most students have cell phones and the new system gives us an additional method of relaying urgent messages.”

Harden expects the system to be operational this spring.

Back to Top

College of Health Sciences Introduced at Community Partners Meeting

HANCOCK – The quarterly meeting of the Finlandia University Community Partners advisory group met Tuesday, February 5.

Following a buffet lunch, introductions, and a brief welcome from Finlandia President Philip Johnson, Nursing department chair Fredi deYampert talked about new directions being taken in the university’s health care-related programs.

Recent reorganization of several academic departments resulted in including the Nursing and Physical Therapist Assistant programs in a new College of Health Sciences, and incorporating the Criminal Justice, Human Services, and Elementary Education programs into the Suomi College of Arts and Sciences.

deYampert said that in the coming months, the College of Health Sciences will be conducting feasibility studies with input from health care providers, local educators, and high school students to determine the health care-related degree programs the community may need, now and in the future. She said plans for new degree programs are in their infancy, but possibilities include the training of medical, dental, and speech therapy assistants.

Concluding the presentation segment of the meeting, Physical Therapist Assistant student Alayna Gianunzio spoke about her educational experiences at Finlandia and why she decided to study PTA.

Following the presentations, meeting attendees asked questions and offered comments and suggestions.

Back to Top

Towsley Foundation Grant to Fund Science Lab Equipment

HANCOCK, MI – Finlandia University President Philip Johnson is pleased to announce that The Harry A. and Margaret D. Towsley Foundation has donated $110,000 to Finlandia University to purchase science laboratory equipment.

Dr. Jeanne Rellahan, provost and academic vice president, says that many new science courses have been established recently to support new programs and energize enrollment. For instance, new health science courses were created for the Nursing and Physical Therapist Assistant programs, a science minor is now offered for Elementary Education students, and even art and design students complete a materials science course.

“As Finlandia has grown, so has enrollment in science courses,” Rellahan adds. “Typical enrollments in laboratory classes have increased 300 percent in the last decade, from 88 to nearly 300 students per year.”

“The use of state-of-the-art technology, such as virtual dissection, digital videography, or portable seismic equipment, will enhance our teaching, encourage more group interaction, and allow us to more accurately model the scientific method at work,” says Finlandia science professor Dr. Ann Kemppainen.

The Harry A. and Margaret D. Towsley Foundation was established in 1959 by Margaret Towsley. Harry’s father was Dr. Frank A. Towsley, a physician and Mayor of Midland; Margaret was a daughter of Herbert Henry Dow, the founder of The Dow Chemical Company.

The Foundation’s goals reflect Dr. and Mrs. Towsley’s common interest in teaching. It focuses on programs promoting education, health care, shelter, and nutrition for children. The Foundation is one of the largest in Michigan.

For additional information, please contact Dr. Kemppainen at 906-487-7254 or ann.kemppainen@finlandia.edu.

Back to Top

More Evening Business Courses Offered

HANCOCK, MI – Dr. Joseph Monahan, dean of the Finlandia University International School of Business, has announced that starting in January 2008 the university will offer an expanded schedule of evening business courses.

“The new evening course schedule will be maintained throughout the year in the spring, summer and fall semesters.” says Monahan. “The evening program will make it more convenient for working adults to complete a four-year business degree.”

Monahan explains that the evening business courses meet on campus just once a week for from one to three hours, and that fifty percent of course requirements are completed on-line.

“The whole idea is to make it easier for those with families and full time jobs to complete college courses, including those who have already completed a 2-year business degree,” Monahan notes.

The evening business courses offered in the spring semester starting in January 2008 include Sports Marketing, International Business, Auditing, Organizational Behavior, and Business Strategies.

An expanded schedule of evening courses will also be offered by other academic departments starting this January.

For more information and to enroll, please contact Finlandia University admissions at 906-487-7274 or 877-202-5491.

Back to Top

Two-Year Business Grads Offered Tuition Discount

HANCOCK, MI – Dr. Joseph Monahan, dean of the Finlandia University International School of Business, has announced that starting in January 2008 graduates of the Suomi College and Finlandia University two-year associate degree program in business who enroll in Finlandia’s bachelor of business administration program are eligible for an up to 10% discount on regular tuition rates.

And to make it the completion of a four-year business degree even more user-friendly, the university begins an expanded slate of evening ‘hybrid’ on-line/traditional classes, also in January 2008.

Monahan says that the robust evening course schedule is designed to make it easier for those with full-time family and employment commitments to complete college courses. The expanded schedule will be maintained throughout the year in the spring, summer and fall semesters.

“All courses will be taught using a hybrid format:” Monahan says. “Fifty percent on-line, and fifty percent instruction via class time or video link direct to class professors.”

The mostly junior- and senior-level evening business courses offered in the spring 2008 semester beginning January 7 include Sports Marketing, International Business, Auditing, Organizational Behavior, and Business Strategies.

An expanded schedule of evening courses will also be offered by other academic departments starting this January.

For a complete schedule of evening classes and to enroll, please contact Finlandia University admissions at 906-487-7274 or 877-202-5491.

Back to Top