Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania
Communication
Review Quarterly September 2014
President’s Office
Welcome Back
BU President David Soltz checks out the campus in his latest welcome video. Is everything ready for faculty, staff, returning students and the Class of 2018?
Communication Survey As I interact with students, faculty, staff and alumni, they often tell me they want more frequent communication about what’s happening at the university. As a result, I’ve implemented and shared the President’s Annual Report, Vision; a bi-weekly blog; and this Communication Review Quarterly, known as the CRQ. Through this quarterly communication, we share information on university programs, news, initiatives and strategic priorities. Please take a moment to let us know how we are doing by taking this short survey.
David L. Soltz President, Bloomsburg University
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Office of the President Carver Hall Bloomsburg University 400 E. Second St. Bloomsburg, PA 17815-1301 Email: president@bloomu.edu Blog: bupresident.blogspot.com www.bloomu.edu/president ON THE COVER:
Biology major Ali Hussain presents his research related to mice genetics at the Susquehanna Valley Research Symposium held in August at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville.
View Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Chancellor Frank Brogan’s fall semester welcome video.
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania is committed to equal educational and employment opportunities for all persons without regard to race, religion, gender, age, national origin, sexual orientation, disability or veteran status.
President’s Office
New students have their photo taken with Roongo at orientation registration in July.
Celebrating 175 Years Bloomsburg’s 175th celebration continues this fall. Activities commence with the back-to-school lunch on Sept. 5 in Kehr Union and continue with a fall faculty lecture series and a performance by trumpeter Wynton Marsalis in October. View the complete list of activities.
New Slate of Trustee Officers
The Council of Trustees approved a new slate of officers at the June meeting. The 2014-15 Council of Trustees are: Patrick Wilson ’91, chairperson Mary Jane Bowes, vice chairperson Nancy Vasta ’97/’98M, secretary Ramona H. Alley Robert Dampman ’65
LaRoy G. Davis ’67 Dr. Joseph J. Mowad ’08H Charles E. Schlegel Jr. ’60 Kenneth Stolarick ’77 John E. Wetzel ’98 Shannon Phillips ’15
Members of the Council of Trustees, who are appointed by the governor and approved by the Senate, are charged with reviewing the administration, fiscal management and physical plant of the university.
Greenly Center takes shape President David Soltz and Bloomsburg Mayor Sandy Davis recently signed the final steel beam to be placed in the Bloomsburg University Foundation’s Greenly Center on Main Street. Top photo, from left: Bloomsburg Foundation Director Jerome Dvorak, BU President Soltz, Mayor David, BU Administration VP John Loonan, Foundation Board members Duane Greenly and Chet Snynder, Provost Ira Blake and Student Affairs VP Dione Somerville. Center Photo: President Soltz signs the beam. Bottom Photo: President Soltz and Mayor Davis discuss the project on site.
Academic Affairs
White Coat Ceremony High school students take a course in the Department of Physics and Engineering Technology through BU’s STEM Magnet Program.
Growing STEM From courses in human biology to object-oriented Java programming to calculus, the first class in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Magnet program capped its initial year without a hitch. Nineteen students from Berwick, Bloomsburg and Central Columbia school districts got a taste of higher education while earning college credits by completing STEM courses on campus during the 2013-2014 academic year. The program is growing this fall, adding students from Benton, Danville, Millville and Southern Columbia school districts, along with Columbia-Montour Area Vocational Technical School. Recognizing the growing need for college graduates in science, health science, technology, engineering and mathematics, BU established a regional math and science education center with a wide range of programming focused on: STEM pipeline development (K-12), professional development of teachers in collaboration with regional districts, cutting-edge research in STEM education and innovative college programs based on proven pedagogies that produce graduates prepared for success in the STEM fields.
Bloomsburg University’s nursing program is among 100 nationwide and three in Pennsylvania selected to receive funding support to pilot a white coat ceremony. The ceremony, designed to instill a commitment to providing compassionate care among future health professionals, is funded by Arnold P. Gold Foundation Trustee Elaine Adler and her husband Mike, co-founders of the Adler Aphasia Center, in partnership with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. The program was developed to promote humanistic, patient-centered care among nursing students. BU’s ceremony at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 7, in Haas Center for the Arts will formally recognize members of nursing’s sophomore class, the academic year when nursing students enter the major. Seated in the audience, junior and senior nursing majors will also receive pins and join in reciting the oath. White coat ceremonies have been a rite of passage at medical schools for more than 20 years. This new collaboration between APGF and AACN marks the first time a coordinated effort has been developed to offer similar events at schools of nursing. BU’s nursing program received a $3,000 grant in support of the white coat ceremony.
Enrollment Management Update
Academic Affairs
The enrollment target for 2014-15 is 10,176. At the opening of classes, headcount enrollment was 10,073 students. The 2014-15 enrollment management strategy involves developing a plan focused on improving student success and communicating the role of enrollment management in institutional success. The plan, prepared by Tom Fletcher, associate vice president, with assistance from the enrollment management steering committee, will review and summarize overall institutional data by specific colleges, provide an undeclared student summary profile and outline specific enrollment objectives. In addition, the plan will make recommendations and strategies on how to direct appropriate human and financial resources toward the achievement of BU’s enrollment goals. Other 2014-15 enrollment efforts include: n Expansion of the bachelor of applied science in technical leadership
program at Reading Area Community College in 2014; and in Philadelphia and Harrisburg in 2015;
n Enrollment in the Educational Advisory Board’s Student Success
Collaboration, a program designed to assist with the improvement of student persistence (especially upperclassmen) and degree completion.
Learn more about BU’s enrollment management goals and reports here.
MyCore
All incoming freshmen and new transfer students are now enrolled in MyCore, BU’s revised general education program. The general education committee anticipates several opportunities in MyCore related to student life through the approval of Co-curricular Learning Experiences (CLEs).With MyCore: n Any course that transfers in from another institution as a direct equivalent
in the MyCore program carries the general education points (GEPs) for the equivalent course.
n Transfer students are advised to take a foreign language placement exam
through the Office of Planning and Assessment.
n The effective date for all MyCore-approved courses and experiences is summer
2012, ensuring all earned GEPs appear in ISIS without requiring waivers.
Learn more about MyCore’s progress at www.bloomu.edu/general_education .
Faculty Scholarship NIH Grant
Kevin Ball, associate professor of psychology, received a threeyear grant of $263,271 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He is using an animal model to study the effects of chronic stress on relapse to cocaine seeking, as well as the brain mechanisms causing those effects. A 2001 BU graduate, Kevin Ball Ball also is studying a model of dieters’ relapse to unhealthy eating habits focused on neural triggers.
Do Learning Styles Matter? There are auditory learners, there are visual learners and it’s a teacher’s responsibility to instruct each student according to his or her preferred learning style. But, Beth Rogowsky, assistant professor of early childhood and adolescent education, says not only is there no research to Beth Rogowski support this nearly universal practice, research she and two colleagues conducted demonstrates that using a preferred learning style does not improve learning. Rogowsky’s findings, published July 28 in the Journal of Educational Psychology’s Online First, could have a significant practical impact on how future teachers teach.
A team of students working through Bloomsburg’s Center for Community Research and Consulting is helping Berwick improve a neighborhood. See the video.
Certificate program receives approval University offers undergraduate hearing impaired and pre K-4 dual program The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has approved a new certification for Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania’s College of Education – the undergraduate hearing impaired and pre K-4 dual program certificate. According to Elizabeth Mauch, dean of BU’s College of Education, BU is the only institution in Pennsylvania to offer the deaf education and pre K-4 certificate at the undergraduate level. Previously, novice teachers were required to pursue separate certifications in deaf education and early childhood. The new certification leads to a bachelor’s degree in hearing impaired and pre K-4 dual program.
Student Affairs
Academic Affairs
Students conduct community research in Berwick
Students enjoy lunch in the newly-renovated Scranton Commons.
New Policy for Student Sexual Misconduct Implemented A systematic review of university policies and procedures related to Title IX, The Jeanne Cleary Act and The Camps SAVE Act resulted in the implementation of a new policy on Student Sexual Misconduct (PRP 4790). The new policy assures that both parties – complainant and accused – receive equal treatment and rights throughout the judicial process. The policy mandates complainants receive information outlining all available resources and services, as well as information on how to file a complaint and the university judicial and legal options. In addition, the policy on sexual misconduct includes the following specific language defining complaints of sexual misconduct: Consent, Incapacitation, Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault/Rape, Sexual Exploitation, Stalking, Dating Violence and Domestic Violence. The Student Code of Conduct (PRP 4802) and Harassment and Discrimination Policy (PRP 6814) were also updated as a result of the review.
University Advancement
Boguski Gift
Shown from left: Erik Evans, vice president for university advancement; President David L. Soltz, Steph Pettit; Michael McFarland, athletic director.
Steph Pettit Stadium Sports Stadium on the upper campus has been transformed into Steph Pettit Stadium, named for the alumnus who made a $1 million contribution for stadium improvements and athletic scholarships. Pettit, Class of 1989, played football for the Huskies. In 1993, he founded Clean Earth Systems, a nationwide distributor of hazardous waste containers based in Tampa, Fla. Among the other projects Pettit has supported with a commitment of more than $2 million are the First and Goal campaign for football scholarships, the SP-59 endowed football scholarship and Redman Stadium banner project.
Michael ’85 and Beth Boguski of Mechanicsburg have committed $1 million to the Bloomsburg University Foundation to support university initiatives including Professional U, the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Magnet School and the Henry Carver Fund, Bloomsburg University’s annual fund. Through this gift, the couple established the first Professional U Endowed Capstone Experience Scholarship, which will support internships, travel abroad and research projects for students each year.
www.bloomu.edu