Bloomsburg University
of Pennsylvania
Communication
Review
Quarterly
March 2014
President’s Office
Dear Campus Community,
The year 2014 marks 175 years of academic excellence at Bloomsburg University. Since our
earliest days as a literary institute, Bloomsburg has provided a personalized approach to
education, always putting our students first. That tradition continues today.
This year, we are reflecting on Bloomsburg University’s growth over the decades and charting our
path to shape the Bloomsburg of tomorrow. Our observance of the 175th anniversary celebrates
the values that form Bloomsburg’s foundation: collaboration, community, critical thinking,
diversity, excellence, integrity, knowledge, opportunity, respect and personal and professional
growth.
We began our celebration with Myrlie Evers-Williams, widow of slain Mississippi civil
right activist Medgar Evers, as the keynote speaker at the 21st annual Martin Luther King Jr.
Commemorative Celebration on February 25.
As the story of Bloomsburg University continues to unfold, we invite you to share your memories
and the reasons you celebrate BU during this special anniversary at facebook.com/bloomuniversity
or magazine.bloomu.edu. A website (www.bloomu.edu/175) has been created to chronicle BU’s
history and features upcoming events.
{
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:
Emily Bostian presents at the first Zeigler
Case Competition in November. She and her
teammates won the competition. Learn more
on BU’s Tumblr.
Please join us in marking this historic occasion.
David L. Soltz
President, Bloomsburg University
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
2013 Annual President’s Report
The 2013 President’s Report, Vision, is available online. This year’s report highlights BU’s
economic impact, community partnerships and collaborations. Download the report.
Strategic Planning Grants
Five projects were selected to receive the 2013 President’s Strategic Plan
Grant award:
Community-based hydrologic monitoring and
flood forecasting for Fishing Creek, Pa.
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Magnet
Program in the Central Susquehanna Region
The Bloomsburg University Sustainable Food Systems Outdoor
Classroom
Leading Educators Advocating Diversity (L.E.A.D.)
Center for Healthy Aging
Grant recipients’ names, grant amounts and short project abstracts are
located on the Strategic Planning website, www.bloomu.edu/strategicgrants.
Physics professor Ghassan Ibrahim teaches a physics class to students
involved in BU’s STEM Magnet program. The STEM Magnet program is one
of the projects being funded by a President’s Strategic Plan Grant.
Academic Affairs
New Academic Program:
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Bloomsburg University will offer its second doctoral program
– the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – starting this fall.
Approved by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher
Education Board of Governors in January, the new degree builds
on the Master of Science in Nursing to help meet the shortage
of health care professionals in the state and the nation. Twelve
students are expected in the first cohort of the 33-credit, online
program.
PCOM Physician
Preparation Program
Bloomsburg University now offers a fast-track program for
chemistry majors pursuing a Doctor of Osteopathy degree
through a partnership with Philadelphia College of Osteopathic
Medicine (PCOM). The Accelerated Bloomsburg-PCOM
Physician Preparation Program is a combined Bachelor of Arts
in Chemistry-Doctor of Osteopathy dual degree program that
can be completed in three years at Bloomsburg University plus
four years at PCOM instead of the traditional four years at BU
plus four years at PCOM.
To qualify for the accelerated program, students must complete
four years of high school science and attain a minimum SAT
score of 1150, minimum high school GPA of 3.4 on a 4.0 scale
and a class rank in the top 25 percent of high school graduating
class. At BU, students must earn a minimum GPA of 3.2 in
science and an overall GPA of 3.2, take the Medical College
Admission Test (MCAT) no later than April of their junior year
and score at least an 8 in each section of the test to be considered
for admission. The accelerated program guarantees five seats for
students meeting the requirements.
Undergraduate Research
Featured in Publication
Undergraduate research and creative experiences are distinguishing features
of a Bloomsburg education. From esoteric to applied research, student
research is as diverse as the many fields of study BU offers. Download the
undergraduate research booklet to learn about recent student projects.
Academic Affairs
EGGS Dept.
Honored
by National
Organization
Bloomsburg’s Department
of Environmental, Geological
and Geographical Sciences
was honored by the Geological
Society of America last year.
The society produced a video
about the department. Shown
are members of a film crew
recording students doing tests in
Fishing Creek.
STEM Magnet Program
Receives Boost from Local Grants
The Central Susquehanna Community Foundation (CSCF) and UGI
Utilities Inc. through The Foundation of the Columbia Montour
Chamber of Commerce recently awarded grants totaling $55,300 to
the Bloomsburg University Foundation in support of the Science,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Magnet
Program for local high school students. The funding amount was a
result of Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) contributions.
The CSCF, UGI and The Foundation of the Columbia Montour
Chamber of Commerce joined PPL, U.S. Gypsum, Merck and
Kawneer-Alcoa as first-year partners with BU in providing creditbearing college coursework for high-achieving high school juniors and
seniors to get a head start on a college career in the STEM disciplines
with an engineering focus. Starting with the 2014-15 academic year,
the program will expand to two areas of focus: engineering and the
health sciences.
College of Education
Receives Two Major Grants
The College of Education recently received two grants
– a Pennsylvania Safe Schools/Healthy Students
Partnership award of approximately $863,000 from
the Pennsylvania Office of Mental Health to the
McDowell Institute for Teacher Excellence in Positive
Behavior Support and a $2.2 million award from the
Pennsylvania Department of Education for Pre-Service
Differently Education.
The Safe Schools award supports a project to decrease
bullying, youth violence and criminal behavior;
Pre-Service Differently is designed to improve field
experiences at all levels for BU’s education majors.
Administration & Finance
Campus Energy Conservation
Campus Gateway
Lower Campus Housing
Strategic issue number 4 in Bloomsburg University’s
strategic plan, Impact 2015: Building on the Past,
Leading for the Future, emphasizes environmental
awareness and responsibility as key components of
fostering a strong sense of community. To achieve
this goal, Bloomsburg has developed a two-year
energy reduction plan. The plan outlines ways
students, faculty and staff can conserve electrical
and water consumption on campus. Learn how you
can help reduce water consumption and electric
use on campus. Visit the campus sustainability
and green initiatives web page to learn more about
our ongoing sustainability efforts or contact John
Holtzman at 570-389-4944 for more information.
NEO Gov Application System
BU Facilities Plan Unveiled
The Facilities Master Plan is complete. The final projects proposed address the
university’s existing and future space needs, including learning and non-learning areas.
The plan is based on anticipated enrollment growth and the objectives of Bloomsburg’s
strategic plan. It features a new campus gateway, residential villages consisting of two
clusters of residence halls (one on lower and one on upper campus), dining facility, and
additional parking. The new Master Facilities Plan estimates that most projects can be
completed within 15-20 years. Learn more and download the plan.
The new NEO Gov application system,
launched in November 2013, is an Internet-based
employment application with an emphasis on easier
communication with applicants and reduced waste
and cost. Instead of manually printing, completing
and submitting applications, the process can now be
completed entirely electronically.
Job applicants will find the website easier to
use. Features of Neo Gov include a notification
system, categorized job postings and smoother
communications between Human Resources and
the applicant. Human Resources conducted several
successful job searches at the system’s launch and
continue to explore its possibilities.
Student Affairs
Vicki Davis
Named
to PSAC
Fall Top 10
HARLON HILL WINNER
Senior Franklyn Quiteh became the second Harlon Hill Award winner in
school history on December 20, 2013 at the 28th annual trophy presentation
in Florence, Ala. The Harlon Hill Award is given to the nation’s top NCAA
Division II football player as selected in a vote by the sports information
directors at the 169 schools competing in Division II football. Quiteh, who has
been a national finalist for the award three times, follows in the footsteps of Irv
Sigler, who became the first Harlon Hill winner from BU in 1997.
Quiteh finished the 2013 season as the leading rusher in the country with a
career high 2,195 yards on 263 carries while scoring 31 total touchdowns. He
also led the nation in rush yards per game (182.9), rushing touchdowns (29) and
scoring (15.7 points per game).
Quiteh is the 2013 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East and
the Daktronics Offensive Player of the Year. He was also named to three AllAmerica teams. He finished his career as second all-time in Division II rushing
at 7,523 yards and holds combined records for 20 schools, the PSAC and
NCAA.
Bloomsburg University
women’s cross country
standout Vicki Davis
(New Ringgold/Schuylkill
Haven) has been named
to the PSAC (Pennsylvania
State Athletic Conference)
Fall Top 10 team as
chosen by the PSAC
Sports Information
Directors. The PSAC Top
10 Awards are designed to
recognize student-athletes
who excel in both the
classroom and in athletic
competition.
Davis, a graduate student,
posted a 3.76 GPA as an undergraduate and had a 4.0 GPA
in her first semester of graduate school. The fall 2013 season
one for the record books for Davis. She was named the PSAC
Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Year in 2013 and the
Atlantic Region Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track and Field
and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). She won
both the PSAC and NCAA Atlantic Regional titles in 2013 and
earned All-America status with an overall finish of 22nd at
the NCAA Division II Championships. In earning All-American
honors she became the first-ever women’s cross country AllAmerican in school history. Learn more.
University Advancement
Distinguished Faculty
Fellowship Established
A $30,000 donation from alumnus Michael
Gillespie ’95 (left) will endow the first
distinguished faculty fellowship at Bloomsburg
University. The fellowship will provide financial
assistance for field research support and expenses,
participation at conferences, travel to professional
meetings, professional and community outreach
and seed money for innovative projects with students. Gillespie is the chief
accounting officer for Hersha Hospitality Trust, located in Harrisburg.
Ira Blake, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, will select the
Gillespie Distinguished Faculty Fellow in consultation with the deans. Recipients
will be invited to make a presentation at a future meeting of the Bloomsburg
University Foundation Board of Directors and the Council of Trustees.
Marketing Redesigns Admissions Webpage
A redesigned admissions webpage was unveiled over winter break to reflect the
growth and advancement of the university’s changing enrollment demands. The
redesign remodeled existing webpages, added several new webpages, expanded
menu options for parents and prospective students and allotted space for
promotional videos, blogs and marketing content highlighting the added value of
the BU experience.
The new design also connects admissions and marketing communications,
specifically tracking effectiveness of targeted email communications. This
component extends to social media and commercial and print marketing, helping
the university to further improve its enrollment management plan. To visit the
new webpage, visit www.bloomu.edu/admissions.
New Commercials
Click here to view the first in a series
of Bloomsburg University commercials
and videos for 2014. Watch the website
and digital monitors across campus for
additional videos throughout the year.
www.bloomu.edu