A new edition of the Cal U Journal is available online. The latest headlines include: Despite snow, robots heat up Convocation Center; Students applaud airman at Convocation; Conference speakers address security gaps; Cal U, WCCC sign transfer agreement. Read the Journal online today.

Dr. Caryl Sheffield’s Last Lecture
3:30 p.m. March 31
North Wing, Cal U Convocation Center

As she prepares to retire after almost 30 years as a student, faculty member and administrator at Cal U, Dr. Caryl Sheffield caps off her distinguished academic career by delivering a multimedia “last lecture.”

Sheffield, an associate provost/associate vice president in the Office of Academic Affairs, looks back on her personal journey, as well as her career, within the historical context of the ongoing quest for racial, gender and social equity, especially during the 1950s and ’60s.  

About Dr. Sheffield

The granddaughter of a man who was lynched in southern Georgia in 1915, Sheffield grew up with 20 siblings in a family that stressed the value of education.

She attended the March on Washington in 1963, took part in campus protests in the ’70s, and spent six months in 2000 as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of the West Indies Institute of Education in Kingston, Jamaica.

Sheffield joined the faculty at California University in 1991, and was chair of the Department of Early, Middle and Special Education from 2002-2012.

She has been active with the Frederick Douglass Institute at Cal U and with the President’s Commission for the Status of Women, among other professional endeavors.

The Frederick Douglass Institute recently honored her by establishing the Dr. Caryl Sheffield Faculty Excellence Award, to be presented to faculty who exemplify excellence in teaching and mentoring.

Join us

The lecture is free and open to the entire campus community, as well as to the public.

Visitor parking is available in the Vulcan Garage, off Third Street near the campus entrance.

Get directions

Love @ First Plight
8 p.m. April 2-3, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. April 4
Gerald and Carolyn Blaney Theatre, Steele Hall

A college love triangle is at the heart of “Love @ First Plight,” onstage April 2-4 in the Gerald and Carolyn Blaney Theatre in Steele Hall.

The play puts a modern spin on a Shakespearean-style comedy as four college freshmen find themselves flirting with the ideas of fate and love at first sight.

Audience members watch as the characters discover their own personal insecurities and the importance of first impressions while they search for love and happiness.  

The play is written by Drew Aloe and produced by the Department of Theatre and Dance. The performance contains subject matter that may not be suitable young children.

The cast includes Theatre and Dance majors Katie Cerda of Greensburg, Pa. (“Flow”), Jake Reed of Biglervile, Pa. (“Spools”) Tristan Gould of Fredericktown, Pa. (“Rich”), Autumn James of Ellwood City, Pa.(“Daisy”) and  social science major Shylyn Prentice of Philadelphia, Pa. (“Phil”).   
Students Emily Lorence of Bridgeville, Pa.) and Kellee Cohlhepp of Elizabeth, Pa. handle the duties of director and stage manager, respectively.

Curtain time is 8 p.m. April 2-3, with shows at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. April 4.

Cost is $12 for adults, seniors and children. Cal U students with valid CalCards pay 50 cents, plus a $5 deposit that is refunded at the show.

Meet the playwright

Playwright Drew Aloe holds an open talk with the production's director, actors, designers and technicians at 2 p.m. April 3 in the Blaney Theatre, and again after the 8 p.m. performance on April 3.

The campus community and the public are welcome to attend.

Get tickets

For ticket information, or to charge tickets by phone, call the Steele Box Office at 724-938-5943.

‘SPACE’ art exhibition
8 a.m.-4 p.m. April 16-23
Vulcan Gallery

Opening reception
6-9 p.m. April 16

The Department of Art and Design presents “SPACE,” an exhibition exploring spatial dimensions from microcosm to macrocosm.

Students from Advanced Drawing and Painting courses will install and curate the show. Faculty members will judge the submissions, and exhibited works will be eligible for prizes and purchase awards.

The exhibition is dedicated to the memory of Robert Potter, a former Cal U student who died in a skiing accident in February. Proceeds from the sale of many of the artworks on display will be donated to his family.

Call for submissions

Students, faculty, alumni and staff may submit artworks in any medium. Two entries per person are allowed.

Proposals for readings, performances or musical events also are invited.

Artworks (framed or matted and wired to hang), written works and abstracts for performance or musical pieces should be brought to the Vulcan Painting Studio, located on the second floor of Vulcan Hall, at noon April 10 -13.

Opening reception

The Associated Artists of California will host an opening reception at the gallery.

The free reception is open to the University community and the general public.  

Dozens of small drawings, watercolors, paintings and prints depicting campus views from the windows Old Main and Vulcan Hall will be offered for sale, along with architectural views of Old Main.

Learn more

For more information, contact faculty members Maggy Aston or Todd Pinkham, or Art Club president Shannon Drudy.

Dr. Henry H. Lee
“Lessons Learned from High-Profile Cases”
9-11 a.m. April 20, 2015
Convocation Center

Renowned forensic scientist Dr. Henry C. Lee will discuss “Lessons Learned from High-Profile Cases” from 9-11 a.m. April 20 in the Cal U Convocation Center.

Chief emeritus of the Connecticut State Police and founder of the Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science at the University of New Haven, Lee has investigated thousands of cases over the past 40 years.

He is best known for his work on such well-publicized cases as those involving O.J. Simpson, Jon Benet Ramsey, Vincent Foster, Elizabeth Smart and Laci Peterson.

Lee’s talk is co-sponsored by the Criminal Justice Club and the Forensic Science Club at Cal U.

Admission is free to both the University community and the general public. Visitor parking is available in the Vulcan Garage, off Third Street near the campus entrance.

Directions

Celebrate Our National Champions
11 a.m. March 31 (common hour)
Downtown and at the Convocation Center 

All students, faculty, staff, alumni and community residents are invited to help Cal U celebrate the Vulcan women’s basketball team, winners of this year’s NCAA D-II National Championship.

A parade starts at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 31, at the Mechanic Street basketball courts in downtown California.

The march will move up Third Street and end at the Convocation Center, where Vulcan fans will hear from the coaches and players.

Wear your Cal U gear and show your Cal U pride!

Free refreshments will be available. 

Two events sponsored by the Department of History and Political Science are designed for students who are considering law school or a career as an attorney. 

These speakers will discuss their work and answer questions:

• Lisa J. Buday ’89 — 11 a.m. April 14, Duda Hall, Room 103
  A Cal U alumna, attorney Buday is a Duquesne Law School graduate with a practice in California, Pa. She is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, Workers’ Compensation Section; the Washington County Bar Association; and Rotary International in California.

• Gina Cicchetti — 11 a.m. April 23, Duda Hall, Room 103
  Cecchetti is the associate director of admissions at Duquesne University School of Law. Applicants to the law school last year had earned undergraduate degrees from nearly 200 different colleges and universities.

Both events are free and open to the campus community. For information, contact Dr. Craig Smith.

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes^®
11 a.m. April 23
In front of Natali Student Center

You can’t understand someone until you walk a mile in his or her shoes.

That’s why each year men walk across campus in high-heeled pumps to show support for victims of sexual violence, relationship violence and stalking.

Registration is open now for the End Violence Center’s annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes^® event. Register on OrgSync.

Why walk

Walking the walk helps us talk the talk, to open up lines of communication about violence.

It not only is a visible representation to our campus community that there are courageous men who care about these issues, but it’s also an opportunity for men to honor people in their lives who have been impacted by violence. 

What can I do?

Organize a team today and register via End V’s OrgSync page.

The first 75 men who register will be provided with high heels, and every man who walks will receive a free T-shirt and lunch.

Although this event is strictly for men, all members of the campus community are encouraged to show their support on the day of the event.

Cal U’s Department of Theatre and Dance closes its 2015 spring season with four performances of the musical “Urinetown” Thursday, April 23 through Saturday, April 25 in Steele Hall Mainstage Theatre on the Cal U campus.

Winner of three Tony Awards, three Outer Critic’s Circle Awards, two Lucille Lortel Awards and two Obie Awards, “Urinetown” is a hilarious musical satire of the legal system, capitalism, social irresponsibility, populism, bureaucracy, corporate mismanagement, municipal politics and musical theater itself.

The music and lyrics are by Mark Hollmann, book and lyrics by Greg Kotis.

The show is directed by Dr. Michele Pagen, a professor and chairperson of the Department of Theatre and Dance.

Senior theatre and dance major Alex Hagerty is the production stage manager while Mike Meketa, a sophomore majoring in commercial music technology, is the music director. Senior Josh Kovel is handling lighting design and properties design is done by senior Stephen Reedy and junior Nikki Davis, who are all majoring in theatre and dance.

Alumna Maria Gismondi is the choreographer while faculty members Marty Savolskis and Diane Collins are overseeing scenic design and costume design, respectively.

Curtain time is 8 p.m. April 23 and April 24, with shows at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on April 25.

Cost is $12 for adults, seniors and children. Cal U students with valid CalCards pay 50 cents, plus a $5 deposit that is refunded at the show.

For ticket information, or to charge tickets by phone, call the Steele Box Office at 724-938-5943.

Alumnus Thomas Rutledge '77, president and CEO of Charter Communications Inc., addresses master's, bachelor's and associate degree candidates May 8 and 9 at Cal U's 180th Commencement.

Read more about Commencement

Nearly 400 volunteers worked at 44 community locations April 18 as part of The Big Event. The annual student-led service project aims to make a difference for Cal U’s neighbors and local organizations. View photos below.

A new edition of the Cal U Journal is now online. Headlines include: 'Strike a Spark' conference showcases research; Cable industry leader to address graduates; Three named spring Women of the Year; Scholars told to expect change. Read the Journal online.

These students have earned a place on the Spring 2015 dean's list at California University of Pennsylvania.

Dean’s list students are undergraduates attending full-time and have earned a grade-point average of 3.25 or higher this semester.

At its June 30 meeting, the Board of Governors for Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education approved the University’s request to acquire our six main-campus residence halls from SAI, the Student Association Inc., and to pay off the debt for those buildings through State System bonds.

Currently, SAI owns the six buildings and pays the University to manage them. SAI splits housing profits with the University, retaining 30% and giving 70% to Cal U.

I’d like to explain the University’s plan to assume ownership of the residence halls and tell you why our leadership team believes this change will benefit both the University and our Cal U students.

First, some background: The main-campus residence halls were built between 2004 and 2008. The six buildings include 726 units, with 1,497 beds. Construction was funded through a variable-rate financing model that included occupancy and debt coverage ratios that must be met.

Had the financing arrangement for the buildings been altered before June 30, 2015, SAI would have faced a substantial penalty. But a key agreement is expiring, making this the right time for the University to assume ownership of the halls.

Why acquire the residence halls?

The plan to acquire the residence halls has a number of benefits. Most importantly, it has the potential to reduce operational costs and give our University the flexibility to lower room rates. That could make campus housing more affordable for students and their families.

The University Housing Office also would gain the ability to change room configurations in order to meet student demand, perhaps by making more single rooms available.

We believe the plan makes good business sense, too. It frees the University from bond covenant restrictions regarding occupancy, converts to a low fixed-rate financing model, and eliminates more than $500,000 per year in expenses.

Although the purchase will add to the University’s overall debt, the estimated reduction in annual debt service payments is substantial — perhaps as much as $34 million in savings over 25 years, compared to the current financing model.

What’s next?

Once the acquisition is completed, the University will manage main-campus housing. This will be a seamless change, since Cal U has provided oversight and management support to the residence halls since they were constructed.

SAI will continue to own Vulcan Village and the SAI Farm, and to fund clubs and organizations for Cal U students.

Residential living can be an important part of a student’s college experience, and Cal U is committed to offering campus housing that is convenient, safe and affordable. As the University assumes ownership of its residence halls, I can assure you that we will continue to provide the same high-quality facilities and services that our students have come to expect.

Sincerely yours,

Meet Interim President Geraldine M. Jones

To: All students, faculty, staff and alumni
From: Interim University President Geraldine M. Jones

I am proud to announce an academic milestone for our University: Beginning in the Spring 2016 semester, Cal U will offer a Doctor of Health Science degree with a focus on Health Science and Exercise Leadership.

This will be the University’s first doctoral program and the first D.H.Sc. available within Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education.

The degree offering was approved today, July 9, by the Board of Governors for Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education. It is a natural outgrowth of Cal U’s 100% online programs in exercise science, which include bachelor’s and master’s degree options.

100% online

To meet the needs of working professionals, coursework for the Doctor of Health Science program will be delivered 100% online through the Cal U Global Online office. All classes will be taught by Cal U faculty who are recognized experts in the field.  

The Doctor of Health Science is a three-year, 50-credit program. Candidates should expect to complete a rigorous program of study that includes 42 credits of coursework, comprehensive written and oral exams, and an 8-credit dissertation representing applied, evidence-based research clearly linked to exercise, wellness and/or fitness.

Graduates will be prepared to work as educators, administrators and leaders in areas such as athletic training, physical or occupational therapy, exercise physiology, wellness and fitness, rehabilitation science, and allied health care professions.

The D.H.Sc. program also will maintain the University’s existing relationships with the National Academy of Sports Medicine, the National Association of Speed and Explosion, and WellCoaches Corp., all leading organizations in the field.

Employment potential

A growing interest in wellness and fitness has driven student demand for academic programs in health and exercise science. And like all new programs introduced at Cal U, the Doctor of Health Science was developed with employment potential in mind.

In Pennsylvania, the Center for Workforce Information and Data Analysis projects significant employment growth in health science occupations relevant to the degree, with nearly 10,000 new jobs being added by 2022. Nationally, nearly 1.1 million new jobs are anticipated within the same time period.

The head athletic trainer for an NFL team and the president of a nationally recognized fitness organization are among the professionals who submitted letters of support for the program.

Alumni of Cal U’s existing master’s degree programs in exercise science are at work across the country and around the world. Their success in a wide variety of settings, from their own businesses to the locker rooms and practice fields of professional sports teams, demonstrates the quality of our University’s academic programming in this discipline.

I’d like to thank Dr. Marc Federico, Dr. Jeffrey Hatton and Dr. Stan Komacek for their work in preparing the degree proposal.

I invite our graduate students and eligible alumni to consider the Doctor of Health Science degree — and to recommend the program to colleagues who may wish to enhance or advance their careers. Over the years California University of Pennsylvania has become a recognized leader in health and exercise science, and our new post-professional degree builds on that tradition of success.

With warm wishes,

Applications for the Doctor of Health Science program are being accepted now. To learn more, e-mail the Cal U Global Online office atcalugo@calu.edu, phone 724-938-5958 or call toll-free 1-866-595-6348.

Meet Interim President Geraldine M. Jones

Resident students will settle into University housing during the week of Aug. 16-23 and begin fall semester classes on Aug. 24.

• Vulcan Village, residents arrive throughout the week.
• First-year students move in to main-campus residence halls on Move-In Day, Aug. 21.
      — 9 a.m.- noon : Students whose last names begin with letters A-M.
      — Noon-3 p.m.: Students whose names begin with N-Z.

• Returning students arrive at main-campus housing from noon-4 p.m. Aug. 23.

Volunteers will be on hand at the main-campus residence halls to greet new and returning students and their families, and to help carry their belongings.

Move-In Day picnic, Aug. 21

Move-In Day activities Aug. 21 include a picnic-style lunch for all new students and their families from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Convocation Center.

Interim University President Geraldine M. Jones plans to drop by and chat informally with the Cal U community’s newest members.

Register for the Move-In Day picnic

Cal U for Life New Student Orientation

Move-In Day 2015 begins the seventh annual Cal U for Life New Student Orientation, a student-focused experience that closes with a core values candlelight ceremony and fireworks on Aug. 23.

The three-day program helps freshmen and transfer students meet their classmates and discover the programs and services offered at Cal U.

One highlight will be an outdoor showing of Bigfoot: The Movie, a full-length feature film was written, produced and directed by Cal U alumnus Jared Show, who gained relevant experience as a student by participating in CUTV (California University Television) for four years. A “red carpet event” is planned for 8 p.m. Aug. 22 on Third Street.

Help out as students move in

Students who volunteer to assist their new or returning classmates will register through OrgSync so their service can be reflected on their Activities Transcript.

Students who volunteer on Aug. 21 receive Move-In Day T-shirts; volunteers on Aug. 23 should wear Cal U gear or a T-shirt representing their student organization, fraternity, sorority or athletic team.

Register to help new students on Aug. 21

Register to help returning students on Aug. 23

For more information, visit OrgSync or contact Brittany Halinka at halinka@calu.edu or the Center for Volunteer Programs and Service Learning at volunteer@calu.edu.

Employees are encouraged to lend a hand if their work schedule allows. Employees may ask their supervisor for release time to assist on Aug. 21, or they may volunteer on Aug. 23. (No comp time will be given.)

Staff and faculty members are encouraged to wear Cal U gear or a nametag indicating their role at the University. 

A new campus initiative designed to combat food insecurity kicks off Aug. 12 with a collection of non-perishable food items.

The Cal U Cupboard is a student food pantry based in the Natali Student Center.

Food pantries are in operation at colleges and universities across the country, where students on tight budgets may experience food insecurity — defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a lack of consistent access to adequate food for at least some time throughout a given year. 

“We haven’t done a formal study,” says Diane Hasbrouck, director of Volunteer Programs and Service Learning at Cal U.

“We don’t think it’s a widespread problem, but we’ve heard anecdotally that students sometimes need assistance. We’re here to help.”

VPSL staff will monitor the pantry and gather data on how often it’s used during the academic year. That information will inform future planning, Hasbrouck says.

Fill the Cupboard

The Cal U Cupboard initiative kicks off with a campus-wide collection on Aug. 12. Faculty and staff are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to work; staff and students will pick them up from University offices.

Donations of food, as well as monetary support, will be accepted throughout the semester.

Learn more

For information about the Aug. 12 food drive or the Cal U Cupboard, contact Diane Hasbrouck at Hasbrouck_d@calu.edu or call the Volunteer Programs and Service Learning office at 724-938-4794.

To: All students, faculty, staff and alumni
From: Interim University President Geraldine M. Jones

I am proud to announce an academic milestone for our University: Beginning in the Spring 2016 semester, Cal U will offer a Doctor of Health Science degree with a focus on Health Science and Exercise Leadership.

This will be the University’s first doctoral program and the first D.H.Sc. available within Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education.

The degree offering was approved today, July 9, by the Board of Governors for Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education. It is a natural outgrowth of Cal U’s 100% online programs in exercise science, which include bachelor’s and master’s degree options.

100% online

To meet the needs of working professionals, coursework for the Doctor of Health Science program will be delivered 100% online through the Cal U Global Online office. All classes will be taught by Cal U faculty who are recognized experts in the field.  

The Doctor of Health Science is a three-year, 50-credit program. Candidates should expect to complete a rigorous program of study that includes 42 credits of coursework, comprehensive written and oral exams, and an 8-credit dissertation representing applied, evidence-based research clearly linked to exercise, wellness and/or fitness.

Graduates will be prepared to work as educators, administrators and leaders in areas such as athletic training, physical or occupational therapy, exercise physiology, wellness and fitness, rehabilitation science, and allied health care professions.

The D.H.Sc. program also will maintain the University’s existing relationships with the National Academy of Sports Medicine, the National Association of Speed and Explosion, and WellCoaches Corp., all leading organizations in the field.

Employment potential

A growing interest in wellness and fitness has driven student demand for academic programs in health and exercise science. And like all new programs introduced at Cal U, the Doctor of Health Science was developed with employment potential in mind.

In Pennsylvania, the Center for Workforce Information and Data Analysis projects significant employment growth in health science occupations relevant to the degree, with nearly 10,000 new jobs being added by 2022. Nationally, nearly 1.1 million new jobs are anticipated within the same time period.

The head athletic trainer for an NFL team and the president of a nationally recognized fitness organization are among the professionals who submitted letters of support for the program.

Alumni of Cal U’s existing master’s degree programs in exercise science are at work across the country and around the world. Their success in a wide variety of settings, from their own businesses to the locker rooms and practice fields of professional sports teams, demonstrates the quality of our University’s academic programming in this discipline.

I’d like to thank Dr. Marc Federico, Dr. Jeffrey Hatton and Dr. Stan Komacek for their work in preparing the degree proposal.

I invite our graduate students and eligible alumni to consider the Doctor of Health Science degree — and to recommend the program to colleagues who may wish to enhance or advance their careers. Over the years California University of Pennsylvania has become a recognized leader in health and exercise science, and our new post-professional degree builds on that tradition of success.

With warm wishes,

Applications for the Doctor of Health Science program are being accepted now. To learn more, e-mail the Cal U Global Online office atDHSc@calu.edu, phone 724-938-5958 or call toll-free 1-866-595-6348.

Meet Interim President Geraldine M. Jones

To: All students
From: Interim University President Geraldine M. Jones

The state Legislature has not yet passed a spending plan for the 2015-2016 fiscal year, which began July 1.

As you may have heard, this budget impasse in Harrisburg affects the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, or PHEAA, which administers a number of state grant programs that provide financial assistance to college students, including many students here at California University.

PHEAA has notified financial aid administrators at colleges across Pennsylvania that it cannot disburse any financial aid until a state budget has been finalized. This situation, which has occurred previously when the final passage of the state budget was delayed, would impact students at both public and private institutions in Pennsylvania.

About 32,000 students who will begin classes this month at one of the State System’s 14 universities are expecting to receive a state grant to help pay their tuition and other college-related fees. If a state budget is not passed in time, funding for PHEAA-related programs — including PHEAA State Grants and PHEAA Work-Study programs — will be delayed.

California University is committed to ensuring that no student who receives PHEAA-related financial aid is harmed financially while we wait for a state budget to be passed. Cal U will use institutional funds to cover those awards until a state budget is passed and the University can be reimbursed.

Students should recognize that not all financial aid is awarded through PHEAA. For example, graduate assistants and most work-study students are NOT funded by PHEAA programs.

If you have concerns about your financial aid for the Fall 2015 semester, please contact financial aid director Jill Fernandes (fernandes@calu.edu) in the Office of Financial Aid; call the Financial Aid Office at 724-938-4415; or visit the office in Dixon Hall.

We look forward to seeing you in just a few short weeks for the start of the fall semester! 

With warm wishes,

Meet Interim President Geraldine M. Jones