In his 1970 book, "Future Shock," author Alvin Toffler wrote: "The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn."

Today's world is facing yet another paradigm shift – from unsustainable to sustainable development. This new paradigm seeks to establish balance between our increasing world population, society, the economy and the Earth's life-supporting ecosystems. The shift affects numerous industries, ranging from city planning to water resource management and building and construction.

Stay on top of your field by enrolling in our new Sustainable Development and Green Design certificate program, which was created in consultation with some members of the U.S. Green Building Council. You will learn the basic principles of sustainable development and the philosophy behind creating physical structures that are compatible with our natural environment. Sign up now and be a builder of a better tomorrow.

Holly Eastman, one of our online forensic nursing students who lives in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was preparing for Friday's online final when Tuesday's flood arrived.

For the next three days — as the water kept cresting — Holly and her husband were evacuated three separate times from three separate locations.

The couple returned home 17 days later.

"We thought we had prepared ourselves really well, but we had no idea how bad it would be," Holly said.

Seven feet of water, mud and sewage had invaded their home. It's now a total loss. The walls are caving in. The foundation? Well, it isn't.

The couple managed to salvage a few things, including a necessary school supply — her laptop.

Jon Kindschy, director of Extension's Science, Law and Health department, told Holly not to worry about school. She could take the final when she was ready.

"I am very thankful that UCR Extension was very understanding and allowed me extra time to complete the final," Holly said.

Despite the devastation, Holly took her final this month. She passed. Congratulations, Holly!

IOWA CITY -- Coast Guard Disaster Area Response Teams from St. Louis, MO and St. Paul, MN were deployed to assist local and state agencies in response to reports of flooding in the state of Iowa 12 June 2008.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Stephen Lehmann

International Education Programs instructor Reza Fiyouzat has created an innovative a way to keep his international students writing, build community in the classroom, save trees and prevent personal shoulder-neck pain all at the same time.

His reading and writing students are blogging their journal entries.

"I was doing journals in notebooks," Reza said. "It's not a really rich experience because it's a two-person dialogue. I wanted to do something that encouraged students to interact with each other."

Through the blogs, Reza's students can read each other's entries and share their comments. Grammar and spelling are not the highest priorities. Encouraging them to communicate in a new language is the trick.

"I just want them to feel free to write anything," Reza said.

Blogging is free and Reza is no longer carrying home piles of paperwork.

ESL instructor Reza Fiyouzat (bottom row, center) with some of his students who are blogging their writing assignments.

We are honoring our best instructors with our new Instructor Excellence Awards. Find out why Sam Maloof, Dennis Phillips, Roger Burgraff, Constance Castro and Penelope Brown are considered the best, brightest and favorite teachers in our classrooms.

Learn how to promote your company and position in the workplace at the California Council for Excellence Best Practices Conference on Sept. 25 and 26.

Featured speakers include Starbucks Vice President Peter Thum and Pro-Tec Coating Company President Paul Worstell, who is also a 2007 Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award winner.

The California Council for Excellence is committed to showing you how to apply the principles and criteria of the Malcolm Baldridge Award for Performance Excellence to achieve first-class results for your organization.

Rose Parker was convicted of murder after she shot and killed an abusive boyfriend in self-defense in 1986. She spent 15 years in jail.

In 2000, Gov. Gray Davis released Rose on parole, indicating that she was a victim of battered woman syndrome — a legal defense not afforded to her at the time of her trial.

Today, Rose runs Saving Our Women, an organization dedicated to helping other abused women. Author of the book, "Beat Up, Beat Down and Still Standing," Rose will speak at the 12th Annual Inland Empire Domestic Violence Conference on Oct. 24.

UCR Professor Michael Vanderwood, director of the School Psychology program in the Graduate School of Education, is collaborating with Extension's Education Department on two programs related to Response to Intervention (RtI). A one-day conference is scheduled for Oct. 18 and plans are underway to develop California's first continuing education certificate program in RtI.

RtI is a multi-tiered approach to help struggling learners. Instead of transferring students into special education, the goal of RtI is to provide quality interventions matched to students' needs. Ongoing progress monitoring is an important component of RtI.

K-12 teachers and school counselors who want to learn more about RtI should consider attending the Response to Intervention: Research to Practice Conference and watch for news about the new certificate program.

In 1956, John F. Kennedy penned what is considered the definitive book on political acts of courage and heroism. That book, "Profiles in Courage," would go on to win the Pulitzer Prize for Biography.

This October, you're invited to Osher's new class, Grace Under Pressure: Profiles in Courage, and other American Heroes, where you will learn about Kennedy and other senators who committed unsung acts of heroism.

Fulbright scholars Italo Lopes and Fernanda Souza

Fernanda Souza, 18, of São Paulo, and Italo Lopes, 19, of Olinda, hope to return to their country and use their English-speaking skills to help others.

"The experience at UCR Extension was beyond my expectations," Fernanda said.

"Diplomatic people in education worked hard on my behalf so I could come here to study on this scholarship," Italo said. He wants to pursue a career in diplomacy after he completes law school at the Federal University of Pernambuco.

Fernanda, who volunteers to teach English to younger children in her country, wants to come back and earn a degree from an American university.

"I want to be an advisor for students who study abroad," Fernanda said. "I want to help people reach their dreams."

Italo, who was impressed by the diverse community in Riverside, said a phrase from a sign posted at Extension would linger in his mind long after he has left. "It says 'we all smile in the same language'."

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