RALEIGH, N.C. – William Peace University (http://www.peace.edu), a private four-year university located in downtown Raleigh, has announced that the institution has expanded its educational offerings with the addition of its criminal justice major. The William Peace University Criminal Justice Program will consist of interdisciplinary courses that will provide students with insight into the conditions – psychological and sociological – that lead to criminal behavior. Additionally, the program will cover components of the U.S. legal system as well as forensics.

The Criminal Justice Program is comprised of 39 hours. Students will be required to meet 18 hours of criminal justice core courses and nine hours of elective courses. Additionally, students will complete 12 hours toward The Raleigh Experience, which will provide a hands-on learning opportunity for students to work alongside area professionals in fields specifically related to criminal justice.

The Raleigh Experience will allow students in their senior year to complete an intensive, 40 hours per week co-op program. Through the program, students will be expected to work for three areas related to the criminal justice concentration, which includes advocacy and lobbying, governance, law, nonprofit administration, politics, policy research, and public administration. During that time, students will additionally rotate through three five-week practicums.

QUOTES:

“Whether it’s working for the FBI or assisting companies in protecting their private cyber material, our workforce has a growing demanded for employees educated in the field of criminal justice,” said Debra M. Townsley, Ph.D., president of William Peace University. “We are proud to announce the William Peace University Criminal Justice Program and the unique opportunity it will provide students through The Raleigh Experience. Students who pursue this major will gain firsthand experience in the field of criminal justice prior to graduation, positioning them as marketable candidates for future employers.”

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http://www.facebook.com/WPeaceU

William Peace University YouTube Channel:

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 RALEIGH, N.C. – William Peace University (http://www.peace.edu), a private four-year university located in downtown Raleigh, has announced that Sorien Schmidt, JD, will serve as adjunct professor and pre-law advisor. In her role, Schmidt will be responsible for teaching a course on law and the legal system, as well as providing educational and professional guidance to students seeking a career in the legal profession following their graduation.

With 25 years of professional experience as a lawyer, Schmidt previously served as a lobbyist and lawyer on behalf of low-income families and children for both the North Carolina Justice Center and Action for Children, where she delivered speeches, met with state legislators, advocated with administrative agencies, provided policy analysis, and handled related duties in order to reduce poverty and improve the lives of North Carolina’s families and children. Prior to that position, she practiced law with Legal Aid of North Carolina for six years.

Schmidt has participated in many professional organizations throughout her career, including the North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys, the American Civil Liberties Union and Advocates for Justice. She has received awards from the NC Association of Women Attorneys and from Legal Aid of North Carolina for her work on behalf of representing women, children and low-income families. Schmidt earned her Bachelor of Arts in English and psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her Juris Doctor from the UNC School of Law.

QUOTES:

“There is a crucial need to educate people on the basic information required to better understand the courts and the law and the impact it has in our everyday lives,” said Debra M. Townsley, Ph.D., president of William Peace University. “Sorien is bringing to us a strong background of excellence in her field that will enlighten all who attend her class and receive her advice.”

“I am pleased that William Peace University has chosen me to provide instruction on an overview of the legal system to students,” said Schmidt. “As an adviser, my door is open to share my experiences and insights to help students who are considering whether to pursue this field in their future.”

NEW MEDIA CONTENT:

William Peace University Twitter:

http://twitter.com/WPeaceU

William Peace University Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/WPeaceU

William Peace University YouTube Channel:

http://www.youtube.com/user/WPeaceU

Four-Year Baccalaureate University Hires Paulhus To Serve As Student Accounts Coordinator

RALEIGH, N.C. – William Peace University (http://www.peace.edu), a private four-year university located in downtown Raleigh, has announced that Linda Paulhus has been named student accounts coordinator. In her position, Paulhus will serve as the primary cashier for the university and will be responsible for preparing statements and collection follow-ups, as well as assisting students, staff and faculty with transactions involving the PacerCard, which is the university’s campus card system. Additionally, she will serve asthe primary contact for all university billing and accounts receivable payments, including walk-in traffic and phone calls, and will advise students and parents on payment options and arrangements.

Paulhus has an extensive career in the accounting industry.  Prior to joining William Peace University, she worked at Hood College in Frederick, Md., in the student accounts department.

QUOTES:
“We are excited to welcome Linda to the staff of William Peace University, as she understands how critically important the role of student accounts plays into our institution and into the daily lives of each of our students,” said Debra M. Townsley, Ph.D., president of William Peace University. “With an increasing number of students and their parents seeking more information on available payment options that they can utilize, her efforts are essential for our continuing success in meeting their needs for affordability while at our university.”

“There is nothing that can compare to a career in higher education, which is why I am so excited to join the staff of William Peace University,” said Paulhus. “The atmosphere of a college setting is unlike any other, and I look forward to advising students and parents of this outstanding institution through the financial process that comes with higher education.”

NEW MEDIA CONTENT:

William Peace University Twitter:

http://twitter.com/WPeaceU

William Peace University Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/WPeaceU

William Peace University YouTube Channel:

http://www.youtube.com/user/WPeaceU

The honor, which is voted on by the entire student body, is the highest tribute paid to an individual at William Peace University.

Four-Year Baccalaureate University Expands Admissions Department With The Hiring Of Experienced Student Recruiter

RALEIGH, N.C. – William Peace University (http://www.peace.edu), a private four-year university located in downtown Raleigh, has announced that Kevin Rist will serve as admissions counselor. In his role, Rist will be responsible for meeting and touring with prospective students, reviewing student applications, conducting interviews, and corresponding frequently with students and families throughout the admissions process. Additionally, he will provide outreach from the university to high school juniors and seniors and transfer students through periodic visits to National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) college fairs, community colleges and high schools.

With more than four years of student recruitment experience, Rist previously served as the admissions event coordinator for Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, where he handled programming for on-campus recruitment initiatives, including open house events and minority recruitment. As regional director for International Student Volunteers, a nonprofit volunteer and adventure travel organization, Rist worked closely with high schools and colleges in the Charlotte, N.C., area for student recruitment under the President’s Volunteer Service Award. Rist earned a Bachelor of Science in biology at Shippensburg University and is a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity.

QUOTES:
“It is critically important that as an institution we provide each potential student considering William Peace University as the next step for educational advancement with all the assistance he or she needs from the start,” said Debra M. Townsley, Ph.D., president of William Peace University. “Kevin is fulfilling a key role in this essential process, and his previous recruiting success bodes well for what he will achieve for us. He will be an asset in showing high school and transfer students why our university should be the right choice for meeting their goals for more knowledge.”

“It is a true honor to be able to help shape the aspirations and future educational goals of our youth,” said Rist. “I am excited to be joining William Peace University and look forward to contributing to its already successful efforts in increasing student enrollment by carrying its message of success and opportunity to every prospect I meet.”

NEW MEDIA CONTENT:

William Peace University Twitter:

http://twitter.com/WPeaceU

William Peace University Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/WPeaceU

 RALEIGH, N.C. – William Peace University (http://www.peace.edu), a private four-year university located in downtown Raleigh, has announced that Carmela Cohen-Perry has been named assistant director of financial aid. In her role, Cohen-Perry will work alongside the director of financial aid, Shawn Henderson, to manage the university’s financial aid program and ensure that all policies and procedures are met and remain compliant with federal, state and institutional regulations. Additionally, she will guarantee that the department is meeting and addressing all day-to-day functional and operational needs for students and parents.

Cohen-Perry brings more than 12 years of higher education experience, nine of which have been directly involved in financial aid. She has served in a number of positions across a range of North Carolina higher education institutions, from private, nonprofit, proprietary and historically black colleges and universities. Cohen-Perry earned a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from Saint Augustine’s College in Raleigh and an MBA from Strayer University.

“The office of financial aid plays a key component in ensuring an affordable education for our students,” said Debra M. Townsley, Ph.D., president of William Peace University. “We are confident that Carmela’s financial aid experience over the last 12 years will prove to be an invaluable asset for our institution. Carmela understands the importance of affordability in higher education, and I look forward to working with her as we assist students of today and tomorrow in achieving their educational goals.”

“I am truly honored to join the staff of William Peace University as its assistant director of financial aid,” said Cohen-Perry. “As someone who wholeheartedly believes in the power of education and doors that it opens to transform lives and the future of all who pursue it, I look forward to supporting the office of financial aid as we address the needs of all students during their education at the university.”

ABOUT WILLIAM PEACE UNIVERSITY:
William Peace University is located in the heart of Raleigh, North Carolina. It was founded in 1857 as Peace Institute, offering education for boys and girls in primary grades and to women from high school to college. Peace, an all-women’s college, became a four-year baccalaureate college and graduated its first bachelor’s students in August of 1996. Exclusively an all-women’s institution for its first 152 years, Peace began offering coeducational evening courses through the William Peace School of Professional Studies in 2009. In 2011, Peace College transitioned to William Peace University and welcomed its first coeducational class to its day program in fall 2012. Its mission is to prepare students for careers in the organizations of tomorrow. On average, more than 90 percent of the university’s graduates are placed in jobs or graduate school within one year of graduation. For more information, please visit http://www.peace.edu.

RALEIGH, N.C. – William Peace University (http://www.peace.edu), a private four-year university located in downtown Raleigh, has announced that it will freeze housing and board for the 2013-2014 academic year at the same level of the current academic calendar. The decision was made in an effort to monitor costs and provide students with a viable access to higher education. For students enrolling in fall 2013, standard housing will remain at $6,186 and the standard 14-meal plan will remain at $2,814. The housing and board freeze follows the institutions previous announcement in 2012 to freeze tuition for the 2013-2014 academic calendar, which marks the second consecutive year for William Peace University. Tuition will remain at $23,700. The tuition, housing and board freeze reflects the same amount it cost for students attending William Peace University since the 2012-2013 academic year, which marked a 7.73 percent reduction instituted in fall 2012.

The 2012-2013 academic year has proven to be a year of significant growth for William Peace University, with enrollment figures totaling 791 students, an increase of 9 percent from the previous year. New student enrollment increased by 82 percent in the 2012-2013 academic year, and to date the university has an 80 percent increase on deposits for the 2013-2014 academic year compared to the previous year. Continuing in its commitment to offer affordability and higher learning access to all students, the university’s tuition, housing and board freeze takes place in the midst of countless institutions across the state of North Carolina and the nation who have recently announced increases in tuition, room and board.

The ability to freeze tuition, housing and board in the state of our current economy comes from the focus of William Peace University’s Board of Trustees on controlling institutional costs overall, much of which came from the cost savings program implemented in 2011. William Peace University has implemented refined internal processes and environmental initiatives such as recycling more materials and becoming more energy efficient in an effort to decrease expenses.

“William Peace University’s ongoing commitment to higher education has been centered on three guiding principles – affordability, accessibility and accountability – as we truly believe that each of these play an integral role in providing students with the education they rightfully deserve,” said Debra M. Townsley, Ph.D., president of William Peace University. “It is our primary focus to equip students for their professional career, but the only way to ensure that it takes place is by establishing a system that addresses the financial considerations of students today. Our economy is improving, but is still a challenge for most Americans. We hope that the tuition, housing and board freeze will better assist students throughout the learning process.”

ABOUT WILLIAM PEACE UNIVERSITY:
William Peace University is located in the heart of Raleigh, North Carolina. It was founded in 1857 as Peace Institute, offering education for boys and girls in primary grades and to women from high school to college. Peace, an all-women’s college, became a four-year baccalaureate college and graduated its first bachelor’s students in August of 1996. Exclusively an all-women’s institution for its first 152 years, Peace began offering coeducational evening courses through the William Peace School of Professional Studies in 2009. In 2011, Peace College transitioned to William Peace University and welcomed its first coeducational class to its day program in fall 2012. Its mission is to prepare students for careers in the organizations of tomorrow. On average, more than 90 percent of the university’s graduates are placed in jobs or graduate school within one year of graduation. For more information, please visit http://www.peace.edu.

In regards to the possible purchase of Seaboard:
The Seaboard Station property is in bankruptcy and we understand that there are several parties interested in it, including William Peace University. At this time, any questions related to the purchase on the property would be best directed to Seaboard’s broker at Capital Associates.

In regards to the public hearing today:
It has come to our attention that some social media postings have caused some confusion about the subject matter of the public hearing scheduled for tomorrow. The public hearing scheduled several weeks ago relates to the refinance of  Peace’s 2004 bonds and to some limited campus projects in the area  bounded on the North by Delway Street, the South by East Peace Street, the West by Halifax Street and the East by N. Blount Street.  The bonds and the projects do not relate to the Seaboard Station property which is the subject of these social media postings.

We understand that the Seaboard Station property is in bankruptcy and, although this property is near WPU, the public hearing has nothing to do with Seaboard.  It is our hope that the public hearing will focus solely on the relevant issue, i.e. the  bonds and the current campus projects as set forth above.

RALEIGH, N.C. – William Peace University (http://www.peace.edu), a private four-year university located in downtown Raleigh, has announced the launch of the university’s new website. An ongoing project overseen by the Office of Communications and Marketing, the website has been tailored to focus on enrollment and audience-based messaging by using both verbal and visual platforms that fall in line with the overall messaging of the university’s other marketing collateral. By fully integrating monitoring, measurement and audience engagement features, the redesigned website incorporates easier navigation that adjusts to meet the needs of the individual user depending on which section is selected – prospective students for the day program, prospective students for the school of professional studies or university alumni. Additionally, the website launched a new live chat, which allows visitors to directly connect with university representatives. By evaluating the user’s page, the live chat system notifies representatives from the appropriate university departments to answer user questions and concerns in an effort to deliver the most effective response.

William Peace University’s athletic website (http://www.gopeacepacers.org/landing/index) has received an extensive renovation to provide a more interactive platform, including minute-by-minute statistics and news, social feeds and page wraps. The site displays general information for each university sport as well as individual athlete highlights and statistics.

The website redesign occurred in conjunction with Marketing Partners, Inc., a strategic marketing and branding company located in Raleigh, and Mad Monk Interactive, an interactive marketing agency based in Greensboro, N.C.

“The fast pace transition and integration of online media has directly impacted the approach we now take in reaching our students, as it has been proven that more college-bound students correlate their knowledge of a university by first visiting an institution’s website when compared against any other print marketing collateral,” said Debra M. Townsley, Ph.D., president of William Peace University. “We are proud of the newly redesigned website, as it achieves our goal to use the site as a platform to highlight what a WPU education really means and the potential outcomes that can follow.”

“We are excited to have launched the newly renovated website for William Peace University,” said Justin G. Roy, vice president for communications and marketing. “All web content has been fully optimized and evaluated in an effort to provide users with a clean, ‘less is more,’ intuitive website layout. The website showcases the exciting activities and events taking place across campus as well as provides an excellent way for students and alumni to remain connected while still providing general university information.”

ABOUT WILLIAM PEACE UNIVERSITY:
William Peace University is located in the heart of Raleigh, North Carolina. It was founded in 1857 as Peace Institute, offering education for boys and girls in primary grades and to women from high school to college. Peace, an all-women’s college, became a four-year baccalaureate college and graduated its first bachelor’s students in August of 1996. Exclusively an all-women’s institution for its first 152 years, Peace began offering coeducational evening courses through the William Peace School of Professional Studies in 2009. In 2011, Peace College transitioned to William Peace University and welcomed its first coeducational class to its day program in fall 2012. Its mission is to prepare students for careers in the organizations of tomorrow. On average, more than 90 percent of the university’s graduates are placed in jobs or graduate school within one year of graduation. For more information, please visit http://www.peace.edu.

RALEIGH, N.C. – William Peace University (http://www.peace.edu), a private four-year university located in downtown Raleigh, has announced that Shawn Henderson has been promoted to serve as the director of financial aid. In his role, Henderson will be responsible for overseeing the financial aid process and the financial aid staff, managing the administration of the financial aid program, and ensuring the university’s compliance with all federal, state and institution program policies and regulations for traditional and nontraditional programs. Additionally, Henderson will lead the development of processes that will maximize the use of financial aid dollars in order to promote the recruitment and retention of William Peace University students.

With more than 10 years of higher education experience, Henderson has served in William Peace University’s Office of Financial Aid since 2001. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Shaw University in Raleigh, a MBA from Strayer University and an Educational Specialist degree from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.  Deeply involved in the professional community, Henderson is a member of the NC Association of Financial Aid Administrators (NCASFAA) and the Southern Association of Financial Aid Administrators (SASFAA).

“We are proud to announce that Shawn, who has been with our institution for nearly 12 years, will now serve as our director of financial aid, and will work to ensure that affordability is made possible across the board for all students,” said Debra M. Townsley, Ph.D., president of William Peace University. “Shawn has demonstrated through his years with William Peace University that he possesses a keen understanding of both the financial aid process, and the integral components that go into financial regulations and compliance. He truly is a valued asset and essential member of our university staff, and I congratulate him on assuming his new responsibilities.”

“It was during my own undergraduate education that I first developed an appreciation for the dedication and passion behind the individuals who work in the office of financial aid,” said Henderson. “I am proud to serve as William Peace University’s director of financial aid, and I look forward to assisting the department as we work to improve and expand our efforts in ensuring that all student needs our met throughout the educational process.”

ABOUT WILLIAM PEACE UNIVERSITY:
William Peace University is located in the heart of Raleigh, North Carolina. It was founded in 1857 as Peace Institute, offering education for boys and girls in primary grades and to women from high school to college. Peace, an all-women’s college, became a four-year baccalaureate college and graduated its first bachelor’s students in August of 1996. Exclusively an all-women’s institution for its first 152 years, Peace began offering coeducational evening courses through the William Peace School of Professional Studies in 2009. In 2011, Peace College transitioned to William Peace University and welcomed its first coeducational class to its day program in fall 2012. Its mission is to prepare students for careers in the organizations of tomorrow. On average, more than 90 percent of the university’s graduates are placed in jobs or graduate school within one year of graduation. For more information, please visit http://www.peace.edu.