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

Because external funding is an important source of support for our University’s academic mission, I am always happy to recognize those faculty and staff members who develop grant proposals.

It is painstaking and time-consuming work, but the results can be significant.

At today’s Grant Writers Recognition Ceremony, we honored 50 faculty and 12 staff members who engaged in grant-writing during the 2014-2015 academic year. Collectively they submitted 75 proposals, resulting in 36 awards totaling $2.3 million.

That funding makes a real difference. Fifty percent of the awards were for service projects, 22 percent for instruction, 17 percent for research and 11 percent for software or equipment. In other words, sponsored research and external investment can impact every facet of teaching and learning.

Two very successful grant writers have joined the list of Million Dollar Achievers.

Both Dr. David Argent, of the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, and Dr. Christine Crawford, of the Department of TRIO and Academic Services, have been awarded more than $1 million in external funding during their careers at Cal U.

In the biology department, recent awards have expanded Cal U’s fisheries program, made summer field experiences possible for more than 30 students and purchased much-needed equipment. In academic services, the Student Support Services TRIO grant has assisted more than 2,000 Cal U students with their goals of college attainment since 1971.

The annual Grant Writers Recognition Ceremony also honored Dr. Susan Ryan, of the Department of Earth Sciences, with the President’s Award for Outstanding Grantsmanship. Dr. Lisa Kovalchick, of the Department of Math, Computer Science and Information Systems, received the Provost’s Award for Outstanding Grantsmanship.

In addition to these stellar grant writers, I want to applaud the 18 faculty and staff members who put their grantsmanship to the test for the first time in 2014-2015. It takes energy and conviction to plunge into this endeavor, and I appreciate the time and effort invested by this group.

All of our 2014-2015 grant writers are recognized in the Grant Writers Yearbook, published online. Please take a look. Congratulate a successful grant-writing colleague. Then think about a project you’re passionate about — and consider developing your own winning proposal.

With warm wishes,

Meet Interim President Geraldine M. Jones

The annual pre-holiday Student Pottery Sale will be held from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Dec. 1 and from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 2-3 in the Ceramics Studio, CER 100, near Vulcan Hall.

The sale is open to the public. Complimentary refreshments will be served.

The sale features handcrafted holiday gifts including mugs, bowls, pitchers, jars and vases of all sizes.

Members of the Student Pottery Association create all the handmade items. 

Learn more

Department of Art and Design, 724-938-4182 

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016. Polls are open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Make your vote count! Click 'more' to read nonpartisan guides to key candidates' positions, learn what a 'third party' vote can mean, find your polling place and see what ID you should bring to the polls.

For more information, visit http://www.calu.edu/academics/american-democracy-project/information-for-student-voters/index.htm

Attention, shoppers! 

Specially marked Vulcan Flyer buses make regular trips between campus and the Walmart Supercenter in West Brownsville.

Buses making the run will have a “Shoppers Shuttle” designation prominently displayed.

The service is free for students, faculty and staff. Students must present a CalCard to ride; each student may bring one guest.

Ride the Shoppers Shuttle

Service is available Mondays through Saturdays (except holidays when campus is closed).

A shuttle arrives at Walmart once every hour.

On weekdays:

• The first Shoppers Shuttle leaves campus at 1 p.m.
• The last Shoppers Shuttle leaves campus at 7 p.m.
• The last shuttle returning to Cal U leaves Walmart at 8:30 p.m.

OnSaturdays:

• The first Shoppers Shuttle leaves campus at 10 a.m.
• The last Shoppers Shuttle leaves campus at 8 p.m.
• The last shuttle returning to Cal U leaves Walmart at 9:30 p.m.

Questions?

For questions about the Shoppers Shuttle or Vulcan Flyer service, contact the Office of Parking and Transportation at 724-938-4677.

2016 Election Analysis Forum  
7 p.m. Nov. 15
Eberly Hall, Room 110

Just one week after American voters make their choice, a popular team of political experts returns to Cal U to examine the reasons behind the results and look ahead.

Political analyst Jon Delano, money and politics editor at KDKA-TV, will be the moderator for the 2016 Election Analysis Forum.

The program is free and open to the public.

Panelists are:

• Alan Abramowitz, professor of political science at Emory University, Va.
• William C. Binning, chair emeritus of the Department of Political Science at Youngstown State University, Ohio.
• Louis Jacobson, deputy editor/senior writer for the Pulitzer Prize-winning PolitiFact.com website, a contributing columnist and elections handicapper for PoliticsPA, a state politics columnist for Governing, and senior author of The Almanac of American Politics 2016.
• Costas Panagopoulos, director of the Center for Electoral Politics and Democracy and the graduate program in Elections and Campaign Management at Fordham University, N.Y.

Why it matters

“We are so fortunate to have these national experts return to dissect the results, answer insightful questions and tell us what they mean just one week after the election,” says Dr. Melanie Blumberg, a professor in Cal U’s Department of History, Politics and Society and campus director of the American Democracy Project.

“The decisions made by elected officials affect a broad spectrum of issues, ranging from student loan guarantees to health care coverage.”

Event sponsors

Presenting the Nov. 15 event are the campus chapter of the American Democracy Project, the Office of the President, the Office of the Provost/Academic Affairs, the College of Liberal Arts, and the Department of History, Politics and Society.

Get directions or a campus map

Experts from the Financial Aid Office provide free, personalized assistance for families of college-bound students who are completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as FAFSA. Click 'more' to register for FAFSA Night at Cal U on Nov. 15.

For more information, visit http://www.calu.edu/FAFSAnight

A new edition of the Cal U Journal is available online. The latest headlines include: New housing open for commuters; Students back in class after strike; Experts to dissect election outcomes. Click here to read the latest Cal U Journal online.

Cal U has been recognized as a 2017 Military Friendly^® School, a designation that recognizes the University’s service and commitment to military service members, veterans and their families.

The designation is awarded annually by Victory Media, publisher of G.I. Jobs®, STEM Jobs^SM and MilitarySpouse magazines.

It is designed to help service members and their families make the best use of the Post-9/11 GI Bill and other federal benefits by selecting a college where they can acquire the education needed to pursue a civilian career.

Cal U has received the designation each year since 2010.

Office of Military and Veterans Affairs

Nearly 200 military veterans attend classes on Cal U’s campus, and more than 500 service members around the world are enrolled in Global Online, Cal U’s Internet-based learning community.

The Office of Military and Veterans Affairs assists these students and their families with academic advising, career guidance and information about financial aid.

It even has computers equipped with military ID card readers, to make it simpler for student service members to register for correspondence classes or travel vouchers.

An active Veterans Club offers opportunities for networking and community service.

“Our office is the place that any military-related person on this campus can come to for help,” says Capt. Robert Prah ’06, ‘10, the office’s director.

Cal U Global Online, the University’s 100% online learning community, offers a tuition discount for active-duty military, veterans and their families. The office works closely with service members, including those who are studying online during deployments.

“Whether they are studying on campus or online,” Prah says, “California University of Pennsylvania is committed to providing services and support to all members of our military family.”

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

The United States is known throughout the world for its free and fair elections, and I have been pleased to see our campus community actively engaged in that process during the past few months.

Many of you took the opportunity to learn about the issues and the candidates, to engage in spirited discussions, and to cast your vote on Election Day.

Some people are pleased with the outcome of Tuesday’s election; others are not. That is the way our democracy works. Now it is time to set aside our political differences and focus on all that unites us. By working together, we can make our University, and our nation, stronger and better for us all.

Our University’s core values are clear. We expect every member of our campus community to act with integrity, treat others with civility, and take responsibility for the safety and well-being of ourselves and those around us.

No one should be made to feel unwelcome, or unsafe, because of their beliefs, race, nationality, gender, sexual orientation or disability. That is not who we are at Cal U. 

Times of change can be unsettling, but many resources are available to our students and employees. If you are in need of support, please contact the professionals in the Office of Social Equity, the Counseling Center, our Lambda Bridges Office, the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Diversity Education, or the Office for Students with Disabilities. They are here to help. 

As our nation enters a time of transition, I call on every member of our campus community to be respectful of one another and to work for the common good.

We must continue to support our democratic process by honoring the outcome of one of our most basic rights: the right to vote.

Sincerely yours,

James Stofan, Class of 1971, will address graduates when California University of Pennsylvania marks its 183^rd Commencement.

Stofan, an expert in university alumni relations, will speak at two graduation ceremonies.

• Graduate students: Commencement begins at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16, in the Cal U Convocation Center. Master’s degree candidates will be vested in their academic hoods during the ceremony.
• Undergraduates: Commencement is set for 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, also in the Convocation Center.

University President Geraldine M. Jones will confer the degrees and personally greet each graduate who walks across the stage.

Graduates’ family members and friends are welcome to attend.

Download the Commencement program

Information for graduating students

Want to watch the 2016 Commencement ceremonies LIVE? Visit our media player about 10 minutes before Commencement begins. 

About the speaker

Commencement speaker James Stofan ’71 is vice president for alumni relations at Tulane University in New Orleans. At Tulane he oversees strategic engagement initiatives for the university’s 140,000 alumni worldwide.

Before joining Tulane, Stofan was the associate vice chancellor of alumni relations for Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn.

Prior to that, Stofan worked in alumni relations at the University of California for more than 25 years. His tenure at UC included:

• Serving as assistant vice president for alumni relations and protocol for the UC System.
• Advising the 10 UC campus alumni associations, which represent more than 1.4 million alumni.;
• Overseeing protocol for the UC Office of the President.
• Creating UC alumni chapters in London, Paris, Mexico City, New Delhi and Shanghai, and hosted alumni events in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

Stofan received his Bachelor of Science in Education from Cal U in 1971. Upon graduation, he received Cal U Student Government’s Distinguished Service Award for his volunteer work with various student activities.

Stofan also holds a master’s degree in College Student Personnel from Central Connecticut State University and attended the Protocol School of Washington.

He sits on the board of directors for the Donald A. Strauss Public Service Scholarship Foundation, which encourages young leaders from 15 pre-selected California colleges and universities to undertake a high-impact project in public service or social change before graduation.

University President Geraldine Jones and her husband, Jeff, send their warmest wishes to California University’s students, faculty, staff and friends. Click ‘more’ to view their holiday greeting card online.

For more information, visit http://www.calu.edu/news/holiday/index.html

This year’s Black History Month theme at California University of Pennsylvania is “Struggle, Strength, Resilience, Triumph.”

All members of the campus community are encouraged to take part in these Black History Month events. Admission is free and the public is invited, unless otherwise noted.

2017 Black History Month events

Jan. 31 —“The Good News About Racism,” a presentation by empowerment specialist Eraka Rouzorondu, 4-7 p.m. in the south wing of the Convocation Center. Rouzorondo explores the history of racism — and what steps every person can take to help eradicate it.

Feb. 1 — Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Giving and American Red Cross Blood Drive, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. in the Natali Performance Center. Register or drop in to give blood, or donate gently used clothing and shoes, new toiletry items, old eyeglasses and unwanted cellphones. This event is organized by the Office of Diversity Education and Multicultural Affairs, and the Office of Volunteer Programs and Service Learning.

Feb. 2 —A Raisin in the Sun: A Multimedia Showing, 7 p.m. in the Blaney Theatre, Steele Hall. The Department of Music and Theatre looks at various stage and film versions of this award-winning 1959 play about a black family’s struggles to overcome racism and pursue their dreams. The look-back sets the stage for the department’s production of a Raisin spin-off, Clybourne Park, set to open April 20. 

Feb. 8 —“A Dichotomous Life: A Person of Color Living in Two Worlds,” noon-1 p.m. in the Natali Student Center, Rooms 206/207. Bring your lunch and join the Department of Social Work for a roundtable discussion of the personal and societal expectations faced by people of color in various settings.

Feb. 15 — Black Arts Festival & Multicultural Affairs Night at Cal U Basketball, 1-5 p.m. in the Convocation Center. Enjoy Vulcan basketball and an arts festival showcasing visual art from Cal U’s Department of Art and Languages, along with spoken word performances, music and art-and-crafts vendors. The halftime show features a performance by members of Cal U’s Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.

Feb. 22 — Soul Food Luncheon, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in the Gold Rush dining hall. Choose from a menu created from recipes and stories contributed by members of the Cal U community and collected by the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Diversity Education. Share your recipes and memories about favorite soul food dishes! Emailwebb_s@calu.edu by Jan. 27.

Feb. 27 — Screening and Panel Discussion of the Netflix documentary 13th, 5:30 p.m. in Eberly Hall, Room 110. The Psychology Department, along with the Frederick Douglass Institute, presents a screening of Ava DuVernay’s acclaimed documentary 13^th, about the criminal justice system in the United States since the abolition of slavery. A panel discussion with faculty member Dr. Rueben Brock, a former FDI scholar, follows the film. 

March 3 — Visit the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. The bus departs at 5:30 a.m. for this one-day trip to our nation’s capital and the newest museum on the Washington Mall. Registration is required and payment is due in advance. Cost is $30 for students, $60 for staff, faculty and guests. For more information, contact webb_s@calu.edu.

Learn more

For more information about Black History Month events at Cal U, contact the office of Multicultural Affairs and Diversity Education at 724-938-5758 or webb_s@calu.edu.

These students have earned a place on the Fall 2016 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.

Spring semester classes at Cal U begin Monday, Jan. 23. Students returning to campus can ride the Vulcan Flyer shuttle between the upper and lower campuses, and take the hourly Shoppers Shuttle to the Walmart Supercenter in West Brownsville.

Shuttle service is limited during the weekend before classes begin.

Look for the Shoppers Shuttle sign on designated Vulcan Flyers. Rides are free for Cal U students with a valid CalCard; one guest per student may ride the shuttle to Walmart. All Vulcan Flyer shuttles are handicapped accessible.

Limited bus service

Friday, Jan 20: Vulcan Flyer shuttles begin with limited service from 8a.m.-8 p.m. The Shoppers Shuttle to Walmart begins hourly service at 10 a.m.; the last bus returns to campus at 7 p.m. 

Saturday, Jan. 21: Vulcan Flyer shuttles operate from 8 a.m.-11 p.m. The Shoppers Shuttle makes hourly runs to Walmart from 11 a.m. -7 p.m.; the last bus returns to campus at 8 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 22: On spring Move-In Day, the Vulcan Flyer operates from 8 a.m.-8 p.m., without hourly Shoppers Shuttle runs from 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; the last bus returns to campus at 8 p.m.

Full shuttle service resumes

Monday, Jan. 23: As spring semester classes begin, the Vulcan Flyer and Vulcan Flyer Express return to full service. Shuttles operate from 7 a.m.-11 p.m.

Shoppers Shuttle service continues hourly from 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; the last bus leaves Walmart for campus at 8 p.m.

NOTE: There is no Vulcan Flyer service during spring break, March 13-18.

A new edition of the Cal U Journal is available online. The latest headlines include: Deployed soldier among winter graduates; Speaker explores roots of racism; Online bachelor program no. 6. Click here to read the latest Cal U Journal online.

Cal U will offer a Doctor of Criminal Justice (D.C.J.), a professional doctorate designed to enhance the careers of mid- and senior-level criminal justice practitioners across the country.

Cal U’s Doctor of Criminal Justice is the first regionally accredited D.C.J. degree in the United States and the second doctorate offered at Cal U.

The new doctoral degree program was approved Jan. 26, 2017, by the Board of Governors for Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education.

Applications are being accepted now, and classes begin this summer. 

Online learning for working professionals

Students enrolled in the two-year Doctor of Criminal Justice program will complete nearly all of their coursework through Cal U Global Online, the university’s online learning community.

Global Online’s asynchronous, Internet-based courses are an appealing option for criminal justice professionals who are looking to earn an advanced degree without taking time off from their careers.

Two five-day summer residencies on the California University campus will allow students to benefit from face-to-face interaction with nationally recognized criminal justice experts.

Cal U faculty in the D.C.J. program are full-time professors with extensive real-world backgrounds in law enforcement, international and homeland security, criminal investigative analysis, forensic science, cybercrime investigations, legal science and more.

The 42-credit program includes coursework, a comprehensive exam, capstone courses and preparation of a professional portfolio focused on theory and applied research.

Leadership in challenging times

Dr. John Cencich, a professor in Cal U’s Department of Criminal Justice, says the D.C.J. program responds to state and national calls for reform of the criminal justice system.

Unlike Ph.D. programs, which typically are designed for academics or researchers, the Doctor of Criminal Justice focuses on policy implementation and the analytical skills that are crucial for agency leaders, supervisors, investigators and managers in the field of criminal justice.

“Professionals in this program will make in-depth analyses of topics such as federal consent decree implementation and enforcement, police use-of-force, false confessions and wrongful convictions, and reducing recidivism,” Cencich says. “Leadership in criminal justice agencies goes to the very heart of the program.”

Collaborative approach

Cal U’s doctoral program in criminal justice will collaborate with the Pennsylvania Center for Criminological and Forensic Sciences, based at Cal U.

The center provides services for police, district attorneys, coroners and others involved in the administration of justice, including real-time investigative consulting and professional development training.

The center will provide additional credentials to eligible students enrolled in the D.C.J. program, such as a certificate in “Criminal Justice Instructor Development” for students who successfully complete the Criminal Justice Training (CRJ 860) course.

Learn more

To apply or learn more about the new Doctor of Criminal Justice degree at California University of Pennsylvania, visit www.calu.edu/DCJ.

In addition to the new doctorate, the Department of Criminal Justice at Cal U offers bachelor’s degree programs in criminal justice and a 100% online master’s degree in applied criminology.

For additional information, email Dr. John Cencich at cencich@calu.edu or contact the Global Online Office at calugo@calu.edu.

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

Earlier today, at our spring convocation for faculty and staff, I spoke about our University’s future.

The prospect of a State System-wide strategic review gives us an opportunity to proactively define our direction as a university. This is our moment to tell the State System, and our future students, that Cal U has a strong and distinctive identity that sets it apart from other universities in our region and across Pennsylvania.

Since the mid-1970s, California has acknowledged a special mission in science and technology. This longstanding special mission can guide our way forward as we re-engineer Cal U for a new generation.

The University’s leadership and management teams, along with deans from our academic Colleges, have begun the process of re-defining our University under this model: 

Guided by our special mission in science and technology, California University of Pennsylvania offers professional, career-focused programs in the arts and sciences, technologies and education that engage students in applied and active learning.

 This definition is supported by well-established practices at our University.

• Cal U uses technologies as teaching tools and prioritizes technology literacy for faculty, staff and students across disciplines.
• In response to regional, state and national needs, Cal U promotes innovation and leadership to solve real-world problems and serve society.
• Cal U combines applied, active learning with a foundation in professional and liberal arts, distinguishing our University from vocational or technical colleges that focus on trade or skill development. 

This approach to Cal U’s future benefits our students by sharpening the focus on programs that blend academic excellence, innovation and applied education to create pathways to the STEM careers of the future.

It benefits the Commonwealth by developing a competent and well-educated workforce to meet employment needs in Pennsylvania’s healthcare and technology corridors and beyond.

And it benefits our University by creating a distinct and sustainable identity that will make Cal U the preferred choice for capable, career-focused students, now and in the years ahead.

Let me offer some reassurances.

To our students: You will be able to complete your degree and graduate from your current academic program. Your University is not stepping away from its historic mission in education, and we recognize that college graduates in every profession benefit from a background in the liberal arts.

Preparing students for career success has always been our goal. Data from numerous sources, including the State System’s “Gap Analysis for Southwestern Pennsylvania,” points to a need for well-educated workers with STEM-related skills. As a Cal U graduate with these vital skills, you are likely to find a wider range of career opportunities, no matter your field of study. 

To our faculty, staff, alumni and students: We welcome your input. The long process of re-defining our University has just begun, and we want to hear your voice. Your intellect, resourcefulness and commitment to excellence are vital to the success of this new approach. In the days ahead, all key stakeholders will have the opportunity to participate in organized listening sessions and working groups. I urge you to get involved.

As I said in my “State of the University” address, Cal U inevitably will be a very different place in just five or 10 years. As a campus community, it is time to take our destiny into our own hands. If we embrace this opportunity with wisdom, energy and a united will to succeed, we can ensure a stronger, brighter future for our University.

We must realize that vision together.

Sincerely yours,

Geraldine M. Jones
President, California University of Pennsylvania

Meet President Geraldine M. Jones

Vulcan Flyers will NOT be operating during spring break 2017.

Please note that Mid Mon Valley buses will run from 7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. each day during spring break. Visit www.mmvta.com for the detailed Valley 2 schedule.

Vulcan Flyer schedule

• Friday, March 10: Regular shuttle service ends at 6 p.m. 

• Saturday, March 11 – Friday, March 17: NO SERVICE during spring break. 

• Saturday, March 18: Service resumes, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. only.

• Sunday, March 19: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

• Monday, March 20: Full service resumes, 7 a.m. – 11 p.m.

Questions?

For questions about Vulcan Flyer service, check the website or contact the Office of Parking and Transportation at 724-938-4677

California University of Pennsylvania has been named a Voter Friendly Campus, one of only seven Pennsylvania universities to be recognized by the nonpartisan organizations Campus Vote Project (CVP) and NASPA-Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education.

Nationwide, just 83 campuses in 23 states received the Voter Friendly Campus designation for planning and implementing practices that encourage students to register and vote.

The mission of the Voter Friendly Campus designation is to strengthen efforts that help students overcome barriers to participating in the political process.

Cal U’s voter engagement efforts were evaluated based on a campus plan for engaging students in the 2016 general election, how voter engagement was facilitated on campus, and a final analysis of those efforts.

Why Cal U Is ‘Voter Friendly’

During the 2016 campaign and election seasons, the American Democracy Project at Cal U spearheaded campuswide events designed to:

• Educate students about the election process.
• Promote voter registration.
• Inform students about the candidates and the issues.
• Encourage students to cast their ballots on Election Day.

In addition to an ongoing voter registration drive, the American Democracy Project held a series of discussions about top campaign issues, hosted CampaignWatch and ElectionWatch events, and hosted an Election Analysis Forum to examine election outcomes. On Election Day, Cal U student government pitched in to organize walks and rides to polling places.

Students Claudia Pehowic and Kirra Lent, who interned at the Republican and Democratic national conventions, shared their experiences with the campus online and through on-campus forums.

Student Mari Boyle represented Pennsylvania and Cal U as a delegate to CollegeDebate16, a national, nonpartisan initiative that engaged young voters in the presidential election process.

Why It Matters

Why is it important for students to vote? Dr. Melanie Blumberg, director of the American Democracy Project at Cal U, says that no matter their political views, students do themselves a disservice if they don’t cast their ballots:

“Officeholders tend to place more weight on opinions of voters than abstainers. If the electoral fortunes of candidates depend on a voting bloc, once in office they are apt to listen and give credence to the group’s concerns. 

“By not participating in politics, students are undermining their interests and passions, whether it be affordable college tuition or environmental protection. 

“In addition, research indicates that if college students participate in politics, they are more apt to remain active in community matters throughout their lives.”  

Behind the Award

The Fair Elections Legal Network (FELN) is a national, nonpartisan election reform organization working to remove barriers to registration and voting for traditionally underrepresented constituencies and improve election administration. FELN’s Campus Vote Project (CVP) works with universities, community colleges, faculty, students and election officials to reduce barriers to student voting and helps campuses institutionalize reforms that empower students with the information they need to register and vote.

NASPA is the leading association for the advancement, health and sustainability of the student affairs profession. Its work provides high-quality professional development, advocacy and research for 15,000 members in all 50 states, 25 countries, and 8 U.S. territories.