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
{
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