Cal U again has been recognized as one of the most environmentally responsible colleges in North America.

The Princeton Review has included Cal U in the 2014 edition of its free downloadable book, “The Princeton Review's Guide to 332 Green Colleges," published in partnership with the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council.

Cal U has been profiled in the guide annually since 2010.

Schools were selected for the guide based on a 2013 survey of more than 800 colleges and universities across the United States and Canada. The Princeton Review collected data in 25 fields, including sustainability-related policies, practices, and programs.

This year’s edition of“Green Colleges” notes that by using geothermal energy to heat and cool its residence halls, Cal U “reduced energy usage on campus to an astounding 57 percent below the average university in the Pennsylvania State System.” It reports that 37 percent of the school’s energy comes from renewable resources.

“The university also offers internships and employment counseling for environmentally aware and sustainability-related industries,” the guide says, adding that Cal U has been working to “promote campus-wide sustainability awareness programs so that students are informed about what they can do to lead greener lives both on campus and off.”

Each of the 322 school profiles in the guide features essential information for college applicants— facts about school demographics, admission, financial aid and more — plus write-ups on the schools’ sustainability initiatives.

A "Green Facts" sidebar reports on topics ranging from the school's use of renewable energy sources, recycling and conservation programs to the availability of environmental studies and the percentage of the campus food budget spent on local/organic food. 

Green programs

Among Cal U’s academic offerings are programs of study in environmental earth science, conservation ecology, environmental studies, fisheries and wildlife biology, geology, meteorology and more.

Campus programs include dining services that provide locally grown meats and produce, including vegetables grown at SAI Farm; bike parking and mass transit options for students; and  the use of nontoxic landscaping and cleaning products.

An expert in geospatial information technology will speak at 10 a.m. Friday, April 25, in Eberly Hall, Room 110.

Dr. Talbot J. Brooks directs the Center for Interdisciplinary Geospatial Information Technologies at Delta State University in Mississippi.

His presentation, “Saving the World One Grid Square at a Time,” will focus on how the tools and techniques of mapping can be used in the emergency preparedness phases of planning, mitigation, response and recovery.

Brooks’ appearance at Cal U is part of the Department of Earth Sciences Colloquia Series and is made possible by a Pennsylvania Space Grant.

About the speaker

Brooks was appointed to the National Geospatial Advisory Committee for 2013-2016 by Ken Salazar, former Secretary of the Interior.

He is president of the Geospatial Information and Technology Association; director for the GIS Certification Institute; chair of the Technical User’s Group for the Mississippi Coordinating Council for Remote Sensing and GIS; and member of the National Fire Protection Agency’s Technical Standards Committee.

He has served in a variety of emergency services positions, including in a volunteer position as chief engineer at the Bolivar County (Miss.) Volunteer Fire Department.

Visit Cal U

Located less than one hour from Pittsburgh, California University of Pennsylvania is easy to reach via major highways and Toll Route 43.

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

Directions and maps.

An expert in geospatial information technology will speak at 10 a.m. Friday, April 25, in Eberly Hall, Room 110.

Dr. Talbot J. Brooks directs the Center for Interdisciplinary Geospatial Information Technologies at Delta State University in Mississippi.

His presentation, “Saving the World One Grid Square at a Time,” will focus on how the tools and techniques of mapping can be used in the emergency preparedness phases of planning, mitigation, response and recovery.

Brooks’ appearance at Cal U is part of the Department of Earth Sciences Colloquia Series and is made possible by a Pennsylvania Space Grant.

About the speaker

Brooks was appointed to the National Geospatial Advisory Committee for 2013-2016 by Ken Salazar, former Secretary of the Interior.

He is president of the Geospatial Information and Technology Association; director for the GIS Certification Institute; chair of the Technical User’s Group for the Mississippi Coordinating Council for Remote Sensing and GIS; and member of the National Fire Protection Agency’s Technical Standards Committee.

He has served in a variety of emergency services positions, including in a volunteer position as chief engineer at the Bolivar County (Miss.) Volunteer Fire Department.

Visit Cal U

Located less than one hour from Pittsburgh, California University of Pennsylvania is easy to reach via major highways and Toll Route 43.

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

Directions and maps.

A new edition of the Journal is available online. Headlines from the latest Journal include: Honors Convocation speaker: reputation matters; It’s a smash: BotsIQ returns; Grateful recipients greet Rutledge family. Read more.

No one knows whether the free golf program offered by the Professional Golf Management program is training the next Annika Sorenstam or Babe Didrikson Zaharias.

But it’s certain that the 8- to 10-year-olds involved are learning valuable life skills during the 12-week educational program for girls.

Activities focus on golf, but also include strength training, cardiovascular conditioning and yoga, along with educational material from the Women’s Sports Foundation’s GoGirlGo! Curriculum.

“The Women’s Sports Federation’s plan is to positively introduce girls to sport without a lot of pressure and in a fun environment that uses golf as a gateway to talk to them about other things,” said youth program director Dr. Vanessa MacKinnon, assistant professor and internship coordinator for the PGM program.

Each weekly session in Cal U’s indoor golf facility inside Gallagher Hall begins with a half-hour discussion of topics such as proper eating habits, stress prevention, positive body image and even substance abuse.

“I know they’re very young, but it’s never too early to discuss with them why smoking and drinking are bad,” MacKinnon said. “These discussions are in an all-girls environment, so they’re comfortable with talking about each topic.”

Along with MacKinnon other PGM faculty, students and staff members volunteer to help with the program. Members of the women’s studies program, Options@CalU and the Department of Health Science have led the discussions.

After their weekly talk, nearly 20 young golfers hone their game. They practice putting and chipping, use a driver to perfect their full swing, and spend time on the PGM simulators.

“I’ve golfed before, but I’m really learning and getting better because I get to play more,” said Martyna Maley, 8, from Rostraver Elementary School. “The lessons (talks) when we start help me think more about things.”

The free program is also paying off for PGM students such as junior Chris Rhein, who aspires to be a head golf professional at a high-end private golf facility.

Conducting junior clinics is an important aspect of internships, he said, and his volunteer work may enhance his options. “A lot of our teaching will be with young people, and this really prepares us. If the route I want to take does not work out, I can go into the teaching aspect of the game.”

Rhein pointed out that golfers who are properly trained when they’re young develop “muscle memory” that can serve them well in years to come.

“It’s definitely enjoyable for us, and very beneficial to (the girls),” Rhein said. “You can tell they love it, and in teaching, that’s one of the greatest feelings you can have.”

Even the golfers’ parents are fans of the program. Dr. Mary Kreis, an associate professor in the Department of Exercise Science and Sport Studies, enrolled her daughter, Viva, 9.

“It’s a really neat program, and I am glad my daughter goes,” said Kreis, who competes in marathons. “They’re learning a great game, getting exercise and also learning important information about life.”

“I like that we get to meet a lot of people, and all of it is fun,” her daughter added. “I enjoy coming.”

Students in the Master of Social Work program are helping the Republic Food Enterprise Center (RFEC) reach out to area farmers with the goal of making nutritious food more readily available to residents of southwestern Pennsylvania.

Established by the Fayette County Community Action Agency Inc., the RFEC supports enterprises that focus on providing locally grown food.

Last fall students in the Research, Policy and Rural Social Work Practice course, taught by Dr. Pamela Twiss, created a growers’ interest survey for the RFEC. In January, the survey was mailed to local farmers and made available electronically.

The current semester’s class is following up with a second mailing, fielding responses, and planning a series of follow-ups and meetings with area farmers. One important goal is to develop retail outlets within “food deserts”— communities that lack access to fresh, nutritious food — throughout the region.

The MSW program at Cal U focuses on serving local populations and at-risk people, especially in rural environments.

First-year MSW students are required to perform 240 hours of community service as part of their field practicum. Second-year students devote 360 hours to community service.

Southwestern Pennsylvania has many communities, like California Borough, that lack ready access to supermarkets and other sources of fresh produce. Low-income families in those areas find it especially difficult to obtain nutritious food. 

“What our students are doing is helping the RFEC identify those farmers who are willing to partner with them and to supply fruits and vegetables to the enterprise center,” Twiss said.

“Our students are really interested in this from a social work angle, because of their concern about food deserts, providing employment and helping to rebuild the local food network.”

A number of students in the program were raised in rural areas or have experience with farming.

“This project absolutely hits home with me,” said Paul Paxton ’10, who grew up on a farm in Perry County, Ohio. “We want the people to have accessible and affordable food — a pound of bananas as opposed to a bag of doughnuts.”

The Cal U students got involved when the research subcommittee of the Fayette County Human Resources Council asked MSW program director Dr. Norma Thomas, a committee member, for assistance.

“It was a great opportunity to use our students’ skills and talents to give back to the community,” Thomas said. “The field practicum component of the program requires them to integrate theory into practice. This work with the RFEC makes learning real.”

Students in the MSW program also volunteer regularly at Center in the Woods, participate in events such as Take Back the Night, and assist community-based agencies such as Fayette County Friends of Animals and local women’s shelters.

“Students wouldn’t be in this major if they didn’t want to help people in general,” Paxton said. “Everyone needs help, and this is a good way to impact the community in a positive way.

“I think it’s a real example of meeting people where they’re at.”

The Big Event
8 a.m-1 p.m. April 27
California Borough and West Brownsville Borough  

Cal U students will give back to the community during The Big Event, starting at 8 a.m. April 27. 

The Big Event began at Texas A&M University in 1982, when student leaders saw a need to give back to the community that had long supported their university.

Cal U’s Student Government Association and the Center for Civic Engagement have been teaming up since 2007 to lead students in their quest to lend a helping hand around California Borough. 

The Big Event will take place at more than 20 sites, including California Public Library, Rotary Park, the California Historical Society headquarters and the United Methodist Church.

Volunteers also will perform a variety of tasks for local residents including window washing, painting and general yard work.

Nearly 350 student volunteers from more than 30 organizations have registered to participate in this year’s event.

Support requested

During this year’s event, students will be asking area residents to support the Garrick Lackey Memorial Scholarship.

All residents who donate to the scholarship fund will receive a green ribbon yard sign and an invitation to attend an April 28 bench dedication ceremony for the former Cal U student who was tragically killed in an automobile accident in November. 

To donate to the scholarship or for more information about The Big Event, contact Cal U Student Government President Chelsea Getsy at GET0665@calu.edu.

FIRST Robotics Special

California University music students will perform at three events this week. Admission is free and the public is invited to attend these performances:

• April 28 —Cal U Orchestra— The Cal U Orchestra will perform at 8 p.m. Monday in the Gallagher Recital Hall, Room 107 in Gallagher Hall.   
• April 29 —Honors Recital— Standouts from Cal U’s Department of Music will perform an Honors Recital at 8 p.m. Tuesday in the Gallagher Recital Hall, Room 107 in Gallagher Hall. 
• May 1 —Jazz Ensemble Concert— California University’s Jazz Ensemble will perform at 8 p.m. Thursday in the Morgan Hall Learning Resource Center auditorium.

Both of Cal U’s golf teams are headed to the NCAA Division II Super Regional Tournaments. 

Women’s golf

The women’s golf team will compete in the NCAA Division II East Super Regional Tournament from May 4-6 at the Purgatory Golf Club in Noblesville, Ind.

The top three teams from the regional contest, plus the top three finishers who are not members of the advancing teams, will move on to the NCAA Division II National Championships from May 14-17 at the Rock Barn Golf & Spa in Conover, N.C.

The women’s golf team is making its eighth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Regional and has advanced to the NCAA National Championships in each of the past four seasons, finishing ninth last spring. 

Men’s golf

The men’s golf team will compete in the NCAA Division II Atlantic/East Super Regional from May 5-7 at the Edgewood Country Club in Sissonville, W.Va.

The top three teams and the top two golfers not with a team from each Super Regional will advance to the NCAA Division II National Championships from May 19-22 at the Meadows Golf Course in Allendale, Mich.

This marks the seventh straight year the men’s golf team has have competed in the Super Regional. Last spring the Vulcans advanced to the NCAA II National Championship for the first time since the 1983 tournament, finishing 20^th.

Follow the Vulcans at www.calvulcans.com or on Twitter at @calvulcans.

The women’s tennis team earned the Atlantic Region’s top seed and will host preliminary-round matches of the NCAA Division II Tournament May 3-4 at Roadman Park, weather permitting.

The 12^th ranked Vulcans (13-2) will face the winner of the Mercyhurst-West Liberty match at 10 a.m. May 4.

Mercyhurst and West Liberty will meet in a first-round match at Roadman Park at 1 p.m. May 3.

In case of inclement weather, the matches could be moved to the Glen Creek Tennis Club in South Park Township.

The winner of the preliminary-round tournament will advance to the Round of 16 at the NCAA Division II Championships May 14-17 at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, Fla.

Cal U earned the automatic qualifier after winning an unprecedented eighth straight PSAC championship with 5-0 conference tournament victories April 17-18 over West Chester and IUP.

The Vulcans are making their 10th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. They have advanced to the national quarterfinals six times in the past seven seasons.

Follow the Vulcans at www.calvulcans.com or on Twitter at @calvulcans.

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

The newest member of the Cal U Police Department will be attending Commencement next week, and he’ll be easy to pick out of the crowd.

Bas, a 1-year-old Belgian Malinois, is the first canine member of the campus police force and a new element in our police department’s community policing approach. 

You may have seen the dog around campus, or at last month’s Honors Convocation, when he announced himself with a bark as I stepped to the podium!

The dog’s handler is Sgt. Robert Kwiatkowski, who joined the campus police department in 2013. The pair has been training together since January with the professionals at Garrow Canine Training in Charleroi.

Yes, Bas is a student! He has completed his training in narcotics detection, and we expect him to be fully certified in obedience, patrol and tracking this summer.

Sgt. Kwiatkowski calls Bas “a public relations officer, as well as a patrol officer.” The dog serves as an ambassador, building connections between our Cal U police and the campus community. He’s learning to find lost objects and missing persons. Eventually, he may represent Cal U at school or community events.

But he’s also a working police dog, trained to protect his human partner and enhance the safety and security of our campus. When Bas is wearing his police vest, he’s “on the job” and should be treated with the same respect as any police officer.

Bas travels in a specially marked patrol car, and when their shift is done, the dog and his handler go home together. After hours Bas relaxes with the Kwiatkowski family, enjoying his dinner and sleeping at his partner’s feet.

Members of the region’s business community have given Bas a warm welcome, and Cal U is most appreciative of their support. Clover Farm Veterinary Clinic, in Fredericktown, is providing medical care. Tractor Supply Co. in Belle Vernon is providing dog food, and the Walmart store in West Brownsville has donated various pet supplies. Poochies, in North Huntingdon, will groom the dog, and many individuals and businesses have made donations toward his care. I thank everyone who has helped to make it possible for Bas to arrive, and thrive, at Cal U. 

I believe our new K-9 officer will be an asset to our police department and to the entire campus community. Please say hello to Sgt. Kwiatkowski when you see the pair on patrol, and ask his permission before greeting Bas.

I look forward to seeing our graduates, their friends and family members next week at Commencement. Each of our graduates has so much to be proud of, and I thoroughly enjoy the chance to acknowledge their achievements. If you should hear a loud “woof!” during the ceremony, you’ll know that K-9 Officer Bas is chiming in with his own congratulations.

With warm wishes,

Meet Interim President Geraldine M. Jones

A new edition of the Journal is available online. Headlines from the latest Journal include: Attorney speaks Friday, Saturday at Commencement; ‘Bot battles spark interest in STEM; Medallions mark Presidential Awards. Read the Journal online.

The softball team earned the Atlantic Region’s top seed and will host a four-team regional component of the NCAA Division II Tournament May 9-11 at Lilley Field, on Cal U’s upper campus. 

The PSAC champion Vulcans (35-5) will face eighth-seeded Winston Salem State (N.C.) University (28-11), champions of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, on May 9.

In the other first-round game at Lilley Field, fourth-seeded West Chester will face fifth-seeded Bloomsburg.

Shippensburg University, the third seed, will host the other Atlantic Regional contest, playing Indiana University while West Virginia Wesleyan and Mansfield face off in first-round competition.

Winners of the double-elimination tournaments this weekend will advance to the NCAA Super Regionals. They will play a best-of-three series from May 16-17 at the site of the highest remaining seed.

The eight Super Regional champions will compete in the NCAA Division II National Championship Tournament May 22-26 at the Moyer Complex in Salem, Va. 

The Vulcans are making their seventh consecutive NCAA post-season appearance and have qualified for NCAA post-season play in 23 of the past 25 years.

Follow the Vulcans at www.calvulcans.com or on Twitter at @calvulcans.

UPDATE: May 9, 2014

Cal U’s 12^th-ranked softball team opened play at the NCAA Atlantic Regional 1 Tournament with a 9-0 win in six innings over Winston-Salem State (NC) at Lilley Field.

Senior second baseman Shelby Lia and sophomore third baseman Natalya Smarra both homered for Cal U while sophomore pitcher Alex Sagl won her 24^th game with seven strikeouts. 

The Vulcans improve to 36-5 overall and next play West Chester on May 10 at 10:30 a.m.

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Original

The softball team earned the Atlantic Region’s top seed and will host a four-team regional component of the NCAA Division II Tournament May 9-11 at Lilley Field, on Cal U’s upper campus. 

The PSAC champion Vulcans (35-5) will face eighth-seeded Winston Salem State (N.C.) University (28-11), champions of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, at 11 a.m. on May 9.

In the other first-round game at Lilley Field, fourth-seeded West Chester will face fifth-seeded Bloomsburg at 1:30 p.m. May 9. 

Shippensburg University, the third seed, will host the other Atlantic Regional contest, playing Indiana University while West Virginia Wesleyan and Mansfield face off in first-round competition.

Winners of the double-elimination tournaments this weekend will advance to the NCAA Super Regionals. They will play a best-of-three series from May 16-17 at the site of the highest remaining seed.

The eight Super Regional champions will compete in the NCAA Division II National Championship Tournament May 22-26 at the Moyer Complex in Salem, Va. 

The Vulcans are making their seventh consecutive NCAA post-season appearance and have qualified for NCAA post-season play in 23 of the past 25 years.

Follow the Vulcans at www.calvulcans.com or on Twitter at @calvulcans.

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

Commencement Week is a time of celebration. There’s a sense of excitement in the air as the semester comes to a close and we prepare for graduation ceremonies.

Springtime has arrived at last, and our buildings and grounds have never looked better. I want to thank those hard-working staff members who have planted, painted and polished every inch of our campus to get it ready for visitors. Thanks, too, to those staff members who have been handling last-minute requests and working with students and families as the semester winds down. Your efforts make Cal U a place we all can be proud of.

Our faculty members are busy reading exams and finalizing grades, but tomorrow I’ll join them to honor the recipients of this year’s Faculty Professional Development Committee Merit Awards. These faculty members — Drs. Shelly DiCesaro, Kyle Fredrick, Mary Seman, Sean Madden and Sarah Meiss — have been recognized by their peers for excellence in grants and contracts, research, service, teaching, and technology.

The FPDC recognition event also celebrates the accomplishments of other grant and award recipients. It focuses attention on the outstanding work of our Cal U faculty, their commitment to professional growth and their essential role in our University’s core mission. I applaud all of our caring, committed faculty members for their professional achievements, and for their efforts on behalf of our students.

For underclassmen, this can be a bittersweet week of good-byes and promises to meet again. For some, it’s a time of preparation for internships or summer jobs. I wish all our returning students a productive summer, wherever it takes them, and I look forward to welcoming them back in August.

I’ll share my thoughts with our master’s degree candidates and graduating seniors at our Graduates Dinner this evening, and at Commencement on Friday and Saturday. For now, let me simply say this: I am proud of every one of you, because I know how hard you’ve worked to reach this moment. I can’t wait to see you walk across the stage to accept your diploma, and I’ll be thrilled to share the moment with so many of your family members and friends.

Within days, you will be part of an important group — Cal U’s newest class of alumni. Please come back often. Join us for Homecoming, alumni gatherings and campus events. Call on Career Services, a lifetime benefit for all Cal U graduates. Visit your mentors or become a mentor yourself.

Now and for always, you are part of Cal U. And our doors will always be open to you.

With warm wishes,

Meet Interim President Geraldine M. Jones

The University Data Center announces a planned network outage on Saturday, May 17.

All network services will be unavailable from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. During the outage, these services will be inaccessible from both on-campus and off-campus locations:

• Campus telephones
• Internet
• E-mail
• Vulcan Information Portal (VIP)

Access to Desire2Learn (D2L) also will be affected. If you were logged into D2L prior to the outage, you may still have access during the maintenance period. However you will NOT be able to log on to D2L during the outage. Students and faculty should take this into account and plan accordingly.

This planned network outage will allow University Technology Services to perform necessary maintenance and implement system upgrades. If you have questions, please contact the UTech Services Help Desk at 724-938-5911, Option 1.

Cal U Golf Outing & Sports Memorabilia Auction
9 a.m.-7 p.m. June 23
Southpointe Golf Club, 360 Southpointe Blvd., Canonsburg, Pa.

Cal U’s 33^rd annual Golf Outing is better than ever, with meals, tee gifts, prizes and a new Sports Memorabilia Auction, featuring items from the region’s professional sports teams.

Register now or view the brochure

Registration begins at 9 a.m. at the Southpointe Golf Club, where a continental breakfast will be available. Rounds of golf begin with a shotgun start at 10:30. After your day on the links, enjoy a reception from 4-5 p.m., followed by dinner.

Bidding for the Sports Memorabilia Auction starts at 9 a.m. and continues throughout the day. The final rounds of bidding begin immediately after dinner.

Sponsorship opportunities are available at various levels. Proceeds from the golf outing support scholarships for Cal U student-athletes.

For details or to register, call Daphne Livingstone at 724-938-5467 or send e-mail to livingstone@calu.edu.