Conference: ‘Just Around the River’s Bend’
9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sept. 25, 2015
Cal U Convocation Center

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Registration is open now for “Just Around the River’s Bend,” a one-day conference focusing on water and its importance to the Appalachian region in the past, present and future.

Presented by the Northern Appalachian Network (NAN), the event will be held Sept. 25 in the Convocation Center at California University of Pennsylvania. 

The conference is open to the entire campus community, NAN members and the general public.

The keynote presentation by Dr. David Argent and Dr. William Kimmel is “What Fish Have to Tell Us About Appalachia.” Argent is a faculty member in Cal U’s department of Biological and Environmental Sciences; he and Kimmel, an emeritus professor at Cal U, have co-authored a number of research papers on the region’s fisheries.

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Space is limited, so please register early. Registration fee is:

• $45 for non-students (includes lunch)
• $20 for exhibitors (includes lunch)*
• Free for students; $5 lunch ticket available

* Exhibitors who are presenting at the conference pay only the exhibitor fee.

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

Get directions.      

About the Northern Appalachian Network

The Northern Appalachian Network is a multidisciplinary network of scholars, artists and residents of the region. NAN seeks to highlight the accomplishments, culture and challenges facing this often neglected part of Appalachia. The Northern Appalachian region includes communities across Pennsylvania, southern New York, northern West Virginia, northwestern Maryland and northeastern Ohio.

Contact us

For more information about the conference or the Northern Appalachian Network, contact Dr. Pamela Twiss at twiss@calu.edu or 724-938-4053.

Tattoos and Society
11 a.m.-noon
Sept. 15, 2015
Eberly Hall, Room 110 

Tattoos make a statement, but what they say has changed over the years. Learn more about this contemporary art form at “Tattoos and Society,” a student-driven panel discussion hosted by the Sociology of Deviance Club.

The presentation includes a discussion by a local tattoo artist who will discuss his portfolio, his experiences and his changing clientele. A live tattoo demonstration will be included in the program. 

The presentation is open to the campus community and the general public. Visitor parking is available in the Vulcan Garage, off Third Street near the campus entrance. 

Contact us

For more information, contact club adviser Dr. Emily Sweitzer, director of Cal U’s Sociology: Deviance program, at sweitzer@calu.edu.

Cal U welcomes families back to campus Sept. 19 for a full day of music, sports and fun. Join us as we celebrate the University’s heritage and reconnect with family and friends. It’s a great time for students to show off their University!

Here’s what’s on the schedule:

Family Day

10 a.m.— University Choir performance, Convocation Center

11 a.m.–2 p.m.— Family Fun Zone, in front of Natali Student Center (weather permitting; activities move indoors if it rains).

• Photo seat cushions
• Build a Buddy
• Leather name bracelets
• Caricatures
• Arts and crafts

1 p.m.— Vulcan football: Cal U vs. Shippensburg, Adamson Stadium

Jennie Carter Day

11 a.m. — Convocation Center Courtyard

In memory of Elizabeth “Jennie” Carter, the school’s first African-American graduate, an annual award is presented to a deserving African-American alumnus who personifies the spirit, resilience and leadership of Jennie Carter. This year's award recipient is Shanita Carmichael, Class of 2008. This presentation is open to all members of the Cal U family.

Pro wrestling at Rostraver Ice Garden

Family Day visitors can stop at the information desk in the Natali Student Center to pick up free tickets, while they last, for TNA Pro Wrestling at Rostraver Ice Gardens, Gallitin Road and Route 51, Belle Vernon.

Show time is 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:30. See a map

As the new academic year gets under way, Frank Brogan, chancellor of Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education, welcomes students to the Commonwealth's 14 public universities.

Run/Walk for Suicide Awareness
11:22 a.m.
Sept. 22, 2015
Cal U campus

Cal U Run/Walk for Suicide Awareness

Members of the campus community are encouraged to get moving as they raise awareness about suicide by military veterans.

The Office of Veterans Affairs and the Cal U Veterans Club have organized a 2.2-mile run/walk to highlight this public health crisis, which claims the lives of 22 veterans each day. 

Runners and walkers will begin at 11:22 a.m. Sept. 22. They will follow a 2.2-mile route that begins on Third Street in front of Manderino Library and ends at the Convocation Center Courtyard, where water and refreshments will be available. 

In true military fashion, the event will be held rain or shine.

Who can participate?

This free event is open to the entire campus community, as well as the general public. In particular, student veterans, military members and their dependents are encouraged to attend. 

How does Cal U assist veterans?

The Office of Veterans Affairs at Cal U provides information and support for veterans, military members and their families. Learn more at www. calu.edu/veterans.

Constitution Day panel: “Money and Politics”
11 a.m.
Sept. 17, 2015
Eberly Hall, Room 110

Cal U Constitution Day

California University will mark Constitution Day Sept. 17 with a panel discussion exploring money and politics.

Special guest is attorney Patrick J. Brier, who will join three Cal U faculty members for the free presentation.

About Patrick J. Brier

Attorney Brier has been representing some of the nation’s largest healthcare organizations for more than 25 years. He works with providers, health insurance companies, hospitals, consumers and legislators to prepare for legislative and regulatory changes.

Brier also specializes in Pennsylvania election law and compliance. He advises various federal and state candidates and committees on best practices and internal compliance programs.

At Cal U he will discuss “Citizens United, Climate Change and the Future.”

Constitution Day speakers

Other speakers and their topics are:

• Dr. Sheri Boyle, of the Department of Social Work: “Money & Politics: What Comes First, the Chicken or the Egg?”
• Dr. Craig Smith, of the Department of History and Political Science: “Can Judges Do That?”
• Dr. Pamela Twiss, of the Department of Social Work: “Dark Money, Dark Times.”                      

The panel’s moderator will be Dr. Emily Sweitzer, of the Department of Modern Languages, Philosophy and Socio-Cultural Studies.

Attend the event

An annual event mandated at all schools that receive federal funds, Constitution Day commemorates the signing of the U.S. Constitution.

The campus chapter of the American Democracy Project presents this year’s Constitution Day program at Cal U. Co-sponsors are the Office of the Provost/Academic Affairs, the College of Liberal Arts, and the Department of History and Political Science. 

The free program is open to the entire campus community, as well as the general public. Visitor parking is available in the Vulcan Garage, off Third Street near the campus entrance.

Rededication ceremony
2:30 P.M. Sept. 16
Heritage Lounge, Natali Student Center 

All members of the campus community are invited to attend a rededication ceremony for the Natali Student Center, where a two-year renovation project has been completed.

The rededication will be held in the dramatic new Heritage Lounge, the rotunda that now is a signature feature of the building.

The “new” student center also includes a renovated Energy Zone, with amenities for commuter students; conference rooms for student clubs and organizations; offices for a variety of student services; and an expanded Gold Rush dining room and retail food court.

The project expanded the building by more than 31,000 square feet, creating room for the amenities students requested when they authorized renovation of this auxiliary facility through a 2011 referendum. 

After a brief rededication ceremony, students, faculty and staff are invited to tour the building and sample foods provided by AVI, the University’s dining services provider. 

Read more about the Natali Student Center renovations

California University of Pennsylvania is once again partnering with the Washington County Community Foundation through the annual WCCF Day of Giving today. 

The Washington County Community Foundation’s annual Day of Giving supports participating charities in our region. A portion of a bonus pool estimated at $100,000 will help your donation go even further when you give online today. 

Here’s how you can make a difference: 

• If 57 Cal U donors gave $25 each, their total gifts would pay one student’s University fees for the spring semester.
• If 71 Cal U donors gave $50 each, their total gifts would pay one student’s in-state tuition for a semester.
• If 70 Cal U donors gave $75 each, their total gifts would pay one student’s out-of-state tuition for a semester.
• If 100 Cal U donors gave $100 each, their total gifts would help to pay the fees and expenses for two summer internships.

Questions?

For more information, contact Randi Minerva at 724-938-4248 or minerva@calu.edu.

It’s time for Microsoft Office 365!

This month student e-mail accounts will be migrated to the Office 365 environment. This change will allow all Cal U students to access Microsoft Office products on their personal digital devices, via Office 365, free of charge. It also will dramatically increase both file and e-mail storage capacity. 

Student e-mailboxes will be migrated according to the following schedule:

*Note: If your last name falls toward the end of an alphabet group, your account may be migrated in the next group. For example, if your last name starts with “Ez—,” your account may be changed on Sept. 21 instead of Sept. 17.

Important information

When accessing e-mail via QuickLinks or VIP after your mailbox is moved, you will be redirected to a new page and required to log in again using your full campus e-mail address and current password. 

Once your mailbox is moved, e-mail on your smartphone will stop working. Information on how to reconnect using the new e-mail information can be found at www.calu.edu/ithelpdesk.

Cal U will mark National Voter Registration Day with a voter registration drive from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 22 in the lobby of Manderino Library and in the kiosk area outside the Natali Student Center. In case of inclement weather, the registration drive at the student center will move indoors to the lobby.
 
Both students and university employees may register to vote.
 
The program is sponsored by the American Democracy Project at Cal U.
 
Co-sponsors are the Office of the Provost/Academic Affairs and the Department of History and Political Science.

Exercise your right to vote

Learn more about your voter registration status, how to register to vote, requirements for voting in Pennsylvania and the deadlines for registering.

Cal U Community Forum: Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness
11 a.m. Sept. 29
Vulcan Theatre, Natali Student Center

More than 23 million American living in long-term recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs.

Learn more about this important issue when campus organizations Options@CalU and H.E.A.R.T. sponsor a showing of the documentary film “The Anonymous People,” followed by a question-and-answer session, at 11 a.m. (common hour) Sept. 29.

Free T-shirts and refreshments will be distributed.

The event is made possible through a grant from Cardinal Health Foundation, whose goal is to raise awareness about misuse and abuse of prescription medications.

“We agreed to show this documentary a few times throughout the semester,” said Rachel Michaels, Cal U’s alcohol and other drug (AOD) education specialist.

“There continues to be a negative stigma about what it means to be an addict, and not enough attention is paid to those in long-term recovery. This documentary raises awareness about people in recovery and attempts to change the stigma of addiction.”

Join us

All members of the campus community are encouraged to attend. The event is open to the public.

Admission is free. Visitor parking is available in the Vulcan Garage, off Third Street near the campus entrance. Metered parking also is available in Lot 17, behind Gthe Natali Student Center. 

Get directions or a campus map

Get set for a full week of Homecoming activities! Register your group for the 2015 Homecoming parade and plan to attend Hockey Night, the Superhero Underground Cafe, Our Showcase of Stars performance and more. Click 'more' for details.

For more information, visit http://www.calu.edu/events/2015/homecoming/index.htm

The Lambda Bridges LGBTQA Programs Office is sponsoring three presentations during October, celebrated nationally as LGBT History Month. They address the theme “Rights to Respect … Inclusivity for All.”

Scheduled from 11 a.m.- noon (common hour) in the Vulcan Theater, the free talks are open to the campus community and to the public. Visitor parking is available in the Vulcan Garage, off Third Street near the campus entrance.

LGBT History Month speakers

Oct. 6
“LGBT Community, Religion and Spirituality”
Alex Patchin McNeil, executive director, More Light Presbyterians

Alex Patchin McNeill is the first openly transgender person to head a mainline Protestant organization. He is a lifelong Presbyterian and a nationally known educator and advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) Christians.

McNeil has trained hundreds of Christians to become community leaders and organized faith communities to advocate for legislation promoting LGBTQ rights.

He holds a Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School and a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill. He and his wife live near Washington, D.C.

Oct. 20
“How 2013 and 2015 U.S. Supreme Court Rulings Have Impacted the LGBTQA Community”
Ted Martin, executive director, Equality Pennsylvania

Longtime activist Ted Martin leads Equality Pennsylvania, the state’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) political advocacy organization and recently was appointed to serve on Pennsylvania’s business diversity commission. 

Martin started his career as a legislative assistant and then deputy chief of staff for a subcommittee of the Education and Labor Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives. Since then he has worked in the fields of architectural preservation, communications and marketing.  He serves on the boards of several nonprofit organizations, and in 2011 Philadelphia Gay News named him a Person of the Year.

Married since 2008, Martin and his husband live in Camp Hill, Pa. 

Oct. 26“LGBTQA Arts and Literature,”
Jewelle Gomez, writer and activist

Jewelle Gomez is the author of seven books including The Gilda Stories, a two-time winner of the Lambda Literary Award. Bones and Ash, a play adapted from that work, has been performed in 13 U.S. cities.

Her new play about singer-composer Alberta Hunter, Leaving the Blues, is scheduled to open next year.

The former president of the San Francisco Public Library Commission, Gomez has taught creative writing at universities in New York and California. She and her partner were litigants in the first marriage equality suit against the state of California; they now are married.

About Lambda Bridges

The Lambda Bridges LGBTQA Program Office promotes a welcoming and inclusive environment for all. The office provides diverse, thought-provoking and educational programs, activities, services and resources centering on LGBT-related issues.

For more information, contact the office at 724-938-5758 or e-mail lambdabridges@calu.edu.

Nominations will be accepted through Oct. 21 for the 2016 Presidential Distinguished Merit Awards (formerly the Presidential Faculty Gala Awards).

Any member of the Cal U community — students, faculty, staff and alumni — may nominate a tenured faculty member who has demonstrated excellence in teaching, research or service.

Self-nominations are permitted. Nominations close at 4 p.m. Oct. 21, 2015.

Award recipients will be recognized at the 2016 Honors Convocation luncheon and ceremony. Each recipient will be presented with:

• A medallion.
• A check for $1,000.
• A $1,000 scholarship for a student within the recipient’s department.

Make a nomination

Nominations will be accepted via e-mail only. Send nominations to the Presidential Distinguished Merit Awards Committee chair, Dr. Cassandra Kuba, at kuba@calu.edu

Each nomination must include:

• Name of the nominee.
• Category of nomination (teaching, research or service).
• Name of the nominator. 

E-mail your 2016 Presidential Distinguished Merit Award nomination

Eligibility

Nominees must be tenured faculty members.

Although a faculty member may be nominated in multiple categories, he or she may compete for only one award. The nominee may select the category.  For example, if someone is nominated in both the teaching and service categories, he or she may submit support materials for one or the other, but not both. 

Support materials from nominees are due by 4 p.m. Nov. 4, 2015.  

California University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Theatre and Dance presents “An Evening of One-Acts” at 8 p.m. Oct. 8-9, and at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Oct. 10.

The short plays will be performed in the Gerald and Carolyn Blaney Theatre in Steele Hall.

For the department’s first performance of the Fall 2015 semester, student directors Jessica Jacobs, Autumn James and Trevon Kiser have selected works that will make audiences laugh — and challenge their beliefs.  

Student actors will bring the works by Amiri Baraka, Alice Gerstenberg and Julie Marie Myatt to life onstage.  

Ryan Johnson is the costume coordinator, with sound design by Kylee Henry and lighting design by Mikey Rogers.

Ticket price 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 Hall Box Office at 724-938-5943.

California University of Pennsylvania has been designated a 2016 STEM Jobs^SM Approved College by Victory Media, creator of media and resources for students interested in science, technology, engineering and math.

Cal U earned the designation based on a survey rating colleges, universities, community colleges and trade schools on their ability to connect programs and students with high-demand, high-growth STEM occupations.

Institutions submitting completed STEM Jobs^SM Approved surveys were scored on publicly available data and responses to proprietary questions around four key indicators that demonstrate the extent to which a school works to:

• Provide opportunities for students to explore STEM subjects.
• Promote partnerships that foster STEM literacy and connect classrooms to careers.
• Ensure coursework and activities have a focus on careers.
• Promote STEM programs that actively attract and engage under-represented student populations.

“This designation affirms California University’s longstanding focus on STEM programs and its special mission in science and technology,” says Dr. John Kallis, dean of the Eberly College of Science and Technology at Cal U.

“Our career-focused academic programs emphasize fieldwork and hands-on activities that put classroom learning into practice. New programs in mechatronics engineering technology, land management, cybersecurity, “big data” mathematics and other high-demand fields prepare our graduates to compete successfully in a rapidly evolving job market.”

Glen Zollman, vice president of STEM Jobs, says the surveys “help educators evaluate whether they’re meeting the needs of students by employing the kinds of programs that our research shows are most effective in getting students involved in STEM.”

About STEM at Cal U

Cal U offers a wide variety of career-focused undergraduate, graduate and professional programs in STEM fields. Learn more about undergraduate programs in the Eberly College of Science and Technology or degree and professional programs in the School of Graduate Studies and Research.

‘The Seussification of Romeo and Juliet’
8 p.m. Nov. 5 and 6
2 and 8 p.m. Nov. 7
Blaney Theatre, Steele Hall

The fall semester’s second presentation by the Department of Theatre and Dance showcases the talents of Cal U’s newest crop of aspiring actors and technicians.

First-year students appear onstage and work behind the scenes Nov. 5-7 in Peter Bloedel’s The Seussification of Romeo and Juliet, a whimsical retelling of the familiar Shakespearean love story.

Suitable for the whole family, this tale of two star-crossed lovers is performed as if Dr. Seuss had written the script. The show is complete with rhymed couplets, creative wordplay and fantastical machines.  

This is the 19th annual first-year student show at Cal U.

Behind the scenes

The production stage manager is Paige Zalar, a communication studies major who is focused on public relations. 

Annabel Lorence designed the costumes, while Kylee Henry and Brendan Smith are coordinating the sound. All three are theatre and dance majors.

Several new faculty members are involved in the production: John Paul Staszel is directing, Sabrina Hykes-Davis designed sets and properties, and Deborra Peelor handled lighting design.

See the show

Curtain time is 8 p.m. Nov. 5-6, with shows at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Nov. 7. All performances are in the Gerald and Carolyn Blaney Theatre in Steele Hall.

Cost is $12 for patrons of all ages. 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.