News

McDaniel College announces its Spring 2020 Dean's List, recognizing full-time undergraduate students for outstanding academic achievement. Highest honors are earned for a semester grade point average of 3.90 or higher, high honors for a grade point average of 3.70-3.89, and honors for a 3.50-3.69 grade point average.

In response to the new federal rule affecting international students, President Casey shared how McDaniel is working with our international students who could be impacted by this decision. "Unlike other institutions, we are fortunate that our current plan for the fall includes a combination of course modality for our undergraduate students," he said. "McDaniel also stands in support of statements issued by our national higher education associations."

Rising junior Zachary Ruggerie, a History major from York, Pa., has been awarded the Jo Anne J. Trow Scholarship from Alpha Lambda Delta for the 2020-21 academic year. Alpha Lambda Delta has awarded 50 Trow scholarships to outstanding students from across the country.

Two of Maryland’s top teachers are alumnae of McDaniel College. Carroll County Teacher of the Year Jena Ehmann graduated with a Student-Designed major in English Language and Literacy Acquisition and a minor in Elementary Education in 2007 and also earned a master’s degree in Reading Specialist: Literacy Leadership in 2012 and Administrator I certification in May 2020. Kent County Teacher of the Year Angel Jones Lins received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology in 1983.

Heidi Reigel, Dean of Admissions at McDaniel College, is among the more than 315 admissions leaders from across the United States who signed “Care Counts in Crisis: College Admissions Deans Respond to COVID-19.” This collective statement describes what college admissions offices value and expect—and don't expect—from students during the pandemic.

Informed by the recommendations of the Return to the Hill (RTTH) Task Force along with its five committees, as well as guidance from state and county health officials, key decisions involve Academics, including changes to the undergraduate academic calendar, as well as Health and Safety, Residential Life and Food Service, Student Support and Campus Life, and Financial Matters. The College plans to honor its commitment to students by absorbing over $1 million in expenses on efforts related to health and safety to ensure the residential and academic experience is as safe as possible.

McDaniel College is expanding its efforts on behalf of diversity, equity and inclusion. A new McDaniel Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Board will inform a more comprehensive campus-wide Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Action Plan and immediately make recommendations on key issues, including the appropriate staffing model to support our diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, analysis of data, examination of policies, and support of the Black Lives Matter movement. McDaniel will also develop a clear reporting structure for community members to elevate concerns about discrimination or acts of racial injustice, increase training among student groups, expand our White Accountability Group, establish a Leadership Council for student organizations serving minority or underrepresented students, and review our curriculum to consider expansion of multi-cultural and racial justice course offerings. Additionally, McDaniel will officially be closed and declare a paid employee holiday this Friday, June 19, to celebrate Juneteenth, the traditional day to recognize the end of slavery.

McDaniel College’s Reading Specialist: Literacy Leadership master’s degree program has partnered with Wilson Language Training to offer a new dyslexia specialization, which includes Level I Certification in the Wilson Reading System® (WRS). McDaniel is the first higher education institution in Maryland to partner with Wilson to offer this online certification.

Rising junior Jessia Avila, who aspires to have a career in public service, has been selected as an inaugural Key into Public Service Scholar by The Phi Beta Kappa Society and as a Governor’s Summer Internship Program Fellow through Maryland Public Service Scholars Programs.

Graduating Cinema students produce original works as the culmination of their studies at McDaniel. For the Spring 2020 semester, the students had the opportunity to either write an original screenplay or produce a 20-minute film.