Power has been restored to Keystone Hall, and all personnel should report to their regular work stations on Monday, July 21.
Classes scheduled for Keystone Hall will be held in their original locations.
The University appreciates the patience of those faculty, staff and students who were inconvenienced during this period, and thanks everyone who assisted in making the repairs.
Cal U will welcome first-year students as they move into University Housing during the week of Aug. 17-22.
New and returning students are expected to arrive at Vulcan Village, on the upper campus, throughout the week.
On the main campus, Move-In Day has been scheduled for Aug. 22. New students whose names begin with letters A through M are scheduled to arrive between 9 a.m. and noon. Students whose last names begin with N through Z will move in between noon and 3 p.m.
Volunteers will be on hand at the main campus residence halls to greet incoming students and their families, and to offer assistance as they carry their belongings inside. Student athletes, members of Greeke organizations and even University administrators are typically on hand to assist incoming students.
A picnic-style lunch for all new students and their families will be offered 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.
Move-In Day 2014 will begin the sixth annual Cal U for Life New Student Orientation, a student-focused experience that introduces freshmen and transfer students to the services and programs available at Cal U.
Students trained as orientation leaders, as well as campus staff, lead sessions designed to foster interaction among students and smooth the transition to campus life.
The three-day orientation closes on Aug. 24 with a student convocation and core values candlelight ceremony, followed by fireworks.
Returning students will move in to main-campus housing from noon to 4 p.m. Aug. 24, just in time for the start of fall semester classes on Monday, Aug. 25.
To: All Cal U students
From: Interim President Geraldine M. Jones
As you may have heard, this week the Board of Governors for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education approved a new tuition rate for all 14 PASSHE universities, including Cal U.
In the 2014-2015 academic year, the base tuition rate for full-time, resident undergraduate students will be $3,410 per semester, or $6,820 for the full academic year.
This is an increase of $98 per semester, or $198 for the academic year. As the board noted, this increase matches the projected rate of inflation for the coming year, about 3 percent.
Why must students and their families pay more?
Although tuition dollars account for a major portion of the University’s budget, tuition alone doesn’t pay the bills. A portion of the state budget — in other words, money from taxpayers — helps to reduce costs for students at PASSHE schools.
That public funding for the State System has held steady for the past four years. In the meantime, costs for basics such as utilities, essential technology and personnel continue to rise. The tuition increase will help to meet those expenses.
The University is doing its part by working aggressively to cut costs without compromising the quality of Cal U’s academic programs. Every department on campus has contributed to that effort. Some staff and administrative positions have been left unfilled, and nonessential spending has been sharply curtailed.
I’ve joined our leadership team in poring over the University budget, line by line, looking for additional savings. The University also seeks scholarship dollars that can help to reduce students’ costs, and we are marketing Cal U aggressively in an effort to increase enrollment.
I am always mindful of the financial pressures faced by our students and their families. Yet even with the modest tuition increase announced this week, I am convinced that a degree from California University of Pennsylvania remains a sound investment.
In fact, Cal U recently was ranked among the nation’s top 100 colleges and universities by Educate to Career, whose fact-based analysis determines which schools do the best job of improving graduates’ earning potential and boosting their chances for quality employment.
If you are a student who is concerned about tuition costs, I urge you to contact the Office of Financial Aid right away. Ask questions now, before the fall semester begins. For academic concerns, please contact the Office of Academic Success. We want to help you stay on track and complete your degree in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. Our graduates go on to achieve success in many different fields, and their accomplishments speak volumes about the value of a Cal U education.
I wish you all a safe and productive summer!
The Government Agency Coordination Office at Cal U reports that it has reached a new milestone: Since it was founded in 1985, GACO has helped area businesses obtain more than $3 billion in government contracts.
As a Procurement Technical Assistance Center, GACO helps local businesses pursue government contracts and subcontracts, as well as export opportunities.
Deborah S. Wojcik, GACO’s director, says clients have reported receiving 49,349 contracts and subcontracts totaling more than $3.1 billion. GACO is now assisting 1,631 regional businesses.
"Since initiating our contracting assistance program, we have helped many regional businesses understand the procurement process and become suppliers of goods and services to government agencies,” Wojcik says.
“Our program basically gives businesses a chance to compete for an opportunity to sell to the government on the federal, state and local level and to prime contractors.”
The program began at California University but expanded its operation to include satellite offices in Pittsburgh and at Slippery Rock University. Procurement professionals at each office provide the guidance businesses require to enter into government contracting.
Specifically, GACO can help by:
GACO also provides training in government contracting procedures through seminars, webinars and an annual procurement fair.
GACO operations are supported by grants from the Sarah Scaife Foundation and the Defense Logistics Agency.
Businesses can learn more about GACO online or call Tracy Julian at 724-938-5881.
The Mon Valley Performing Arts Academy, now in its 17th year, will wrap up its 2014 summer theater experience for young performers with a fully staged production of the children’s musical “Honk Jr.” at 4 p.m. Aug. 2 in Steele Hall Mainstage Theatre.
Hosted by Cal U’s Department of Theatre and Dance, the academy offers musical theater instruction for students ages 8-17. After acting, voice and dance classes and rehearsals, students present a musical complete with stage sets, costumes and props.
Thirty-one MVPs — Mon Valley Performers — are participating in this year’s academy, which opened July 21.
“Honk Jr.,” with music by George Stiles and lyrics by Anthony Drewe, is a contemporary re-telling of Hans Christiaan Andersen’s classic fable “The Ugly Duckling.” The tale has been specially adapted for young performers.
It’s the story of Ugly, an awkward duck whose gawky looks instantly incite prejudice from his family and neighbors. Separated from the farm and pursued by a hungry cat, Ugly must find his way home. On his journey he not only discovers his true beauty and glorious destiny, but also finds love and acceptance in all its forms.
“The show is funny, heart-warming and smart — which is why we picked it,” said Dr. Michele Pagen, the academy’s artistic director and the chair of Cal U’s Department of Theatre and Dance. “The MVPs will have great fun bringing these characters and this story to life. This show reminds us all that there is an important place for all of us.”
The performance is open to the public. Ticket price is $8 for adults, $4 for children. Tickets may be purchased at the door. To order tickets in advance, leave a message at 724-938-4220.
About the Academy
Housed at Cal U, the Mon Valley Performing Arts Academy is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre, the same organization that has accredited California University of Pennsylvania’s Bachelor of Arts in Theatre program since 2005. Mon Valley Performing Arts is one of just six such academies to hold NAST accreditation.
As part of its annual summer camp, the Cal U cross country program will host a talk by distance runner Billy Mills at 7 p.m. Aug. 6 in Steele Hall Mainstage Theatre.
The Cal U community and the general public may register to attend this free event.
At the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Mills became the only American to win the gold medal in the 10,000 meter run — a distinction he still holds today.
A member of the Oglala Lakota (Sioux) tribe, Mills was the second Native American, behind Jim Thorpe, to win an Olympic gold medal.
His winning time of 28:24.4 set a new Olympic record for the event and was almost 50 seconds faster than he had run before. Many experts consider Mills’ victory one of the greatest upsets in Olympic history.
Mills was a first lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve when he competed in the 1964 Olympics. As a student, he was a three-time NCAA All-American in cross country, and he helped the University of Kansas track and field team win consecutive NCAA outdoor national championships in 1959 and 1960.
Mills’ story was told in the 1983 feature film Running Brave. He received the Presidential Citizens Medal in 2012.
Seating is limited for the talk. To register, e-mail cross country/track and field coach Daniel Caulfield at caulfield@calu.edu.
The English Association of Pennsylvania State Universities will hold its 2014 fall conference at California University of Pennsylvania. “Come Together: Creativity in 21st Century English Studies” will be held Oct. 3-4 in the Convocation Center at California University of Pennsylvania.
Gaseous Fuel Roundtable Workshop
9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Aug. 12
Cal U Center for Innovation at Southpointe
135 Technology Drive, Canonsburg, Pa. 15317
Can alternative fuels such as compressed natural gas and propane help to address the nation’s environmental and energy issues?
Businesses, transportation providers and the general public can explore the topic Aug. 12 when the Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities coalition holds a free Gaseous Fuel Roundtable Workshop at the Cal U Center for Innovation at Southpointe.
The workshop includes presentations, test drives of alternative-fuel vehicles and a question-and-answer session. Register here
A variety of alternative-fuel vehicles are scheduled to be onsite, including cars fueled with compressed natural gas (CNG), a dual FYDA Freightliner tractor, a dedicated CNG tractor, a propane bi-fuel van, a Chevy bi-fuel pickup truck and a propane-powered school bus.
9 a.m. – Welcome and announcements
9:15 a.m.– Department of Energy Clean Cities Overview and PRCC projects: Rick Price, executive director, PRCC
10 a.m.– Presentations
11:30 a.m.– Lunch, ride-and-drive and networking
12:30 p.m.– Presentations
1:30 p.m.– Question-and-answer session
Japanese popular culture and history will be on display when Cal U hosts the KuroKiiro Festival 2014, Aug. 29-31 in the Convocation Center.
The weekend’s events, organized by the Pittsburgh Japanese Culture Society, will include hands-on educational workshops and lectures, performances, festival games and more.
Among the highlights:
Registration information is available on the KuroKiiro Festival 2014 website, along with answers to Frequently Asked Questions.
Cost for a general admission badge is $25 before Aug. 28, or $30 at the door. A $20 Sunday Discount badge will be available ONLY if the event is not sold out.
More information is also available on the festival’s Facebook and Twitter pages.
Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh Mobile Makeshop: 3-D Printing
6-8 p.m. Aug. 28
California University of Pennsylvania's Center for Innovation at Southpointe
135 Technology Drive, Canonsburg, Pa.
You’ve heard the buzz about 3-D printing. Now children ages 9 and older can explore this 21st-century manufacturing technique at a free Mobile Makeshop® organized by the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. Adults also may attend.
Participants will:
Located in Washington County’s thriving Southpointe business complex, the Cal U Center for Innovation fosters connections between California University and the people and enterprises of southwestern Pennsylvania.
The Cal U Center for Innovation is a hub for lifelong learning, a link between the University’s resources and the wider community, and a home for creative thinking and innovative ideas.
The Cal U Center for Innovation is located at 135 Technology Drive, Canonsburg, Pa. 15317. To learn more about programs at the center, contact community education manager Christopher Allen at allen@calu.edu or 724-873-2765.
For the 10th consecutive year, The Princeton Review has named California University of Pennsylvania among the best universities in the northeastern United States.
The nationally known education services company selected California University as one of the 226 institutions profiled in the Best in the Northeast section of its “2015 Best Colleges: Region By Region” listing at www.PrincetonReview.com.
“The colleges we choose … must pass our reviews for academic excellence,” The Princeton Review notes. Nationally, only 648 colleges — about 26 percent of the country’s 2,500 four-year institutions — were named as best in their region this year.
Selections are based on data collected at hundreds of institutions, visits to schools, and the opinions of independent and high-school-based college advisers. The selection process also takes into account on comments made by students themselves.
With campus-wide Wi-Fi and numerous “smart” classrooms, Cal U earned high marks for technology, as well as the “visual appeal” of the campus. "The housing is perfect, like your very own place … everything a student looks for nowadays in a dorm room!" one student wrote.
Students also are enthusiastic about the “good mix” of “friendly people” who attend. "From freshmen right out of local high schools, students from Brazil, Canada, and Europe, to older, non-traditional students pursuing a higher education, I think it is this unique blend of people that make Cal U special."
The Princeton Review’s 226 “Best Northeastern Colleges” are located in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and the District of Columbia.
The School of Graduate Studies and Research has planned a series of open house events to help you take the next step toward your career goals.
The informal sessions will be held in either on the main campus or at California University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Innovation at Southpointe. The center is located at 135 Technology Drive, in Canonsburg, Pa.
Open house events are planned for these dates:
The open house lets you meet with faculty, staff, students and alumni who can share information about Cal U’s master’s degrees in 35 fields of study, including business administration, education, nursing, athletic training and legal studies.
Cal U’s School of Graduate Studies and Research offers both traditional face-to-face classes and master’s degree programs delivered 100% online.
The graduate school also offers certificate and licensure programs for professional educators and counselors, as well as certificate programs and letters of completion in a variety of fields.
Open House events are free, but online registration is requested.
For more information, contact Nikki Popielarcheck by e-mail or by phone at 724-938-5490.
Cal U will join baseball fans at PNC Park Sept. 12 when the Pittsburgh Pirates host the Chicago Cubs at 7:05 p.m.
Pregame activities will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Federal Street, where fans can stop at a Cal U booth outside the center field entrance, near the Clemente Bridge.
As part of the Pirates’ Free T-Shirt Friday promotion, the first 25,000 fans to enter the ballpark will receive complimentary T-shirts with the Cal U logo.
Fans from Cal U can ride to the game in a Vulcan Flyer bus, which will depart at 3:30 p.m. from the Manderino Library’s front entrance. The bus will return fans to campus after the game.
Any current Cal U student with a valid CalCard can make the roundtrip ride on the Vulcan Flyer and receive a grandstand-level ticket for just $5. Students must register in advance by contacting Melissa Dunn.
Faculty, staff, alumni and University friends can purchase game tickets in advance through the Department of University Development and Alumni Relations. Ticket price for terrace seats is $35; grandstand-level seats cost $19. The roundtrip ride on the Vulcan Flyer bus is $11.
In addition, Atria’s restaurant will cater a Cal U Alumni & Friends pre-game “tailgate” event from 5:30-6:45 p.m. at the Cal U booth on Federal Street. Cost is $25 per person.
Registration is required. For tickets, contact Daphne Livingstone at 724-938-5467 or e-mail livingstone@calu.edu. Credit card information will not be taken via e-mail; checks should be made payable to “California University of Pennsylvania.”
In addition to the ticket price, participants are encouraged to make a donation to the Cal U Scholarship Fund. Anyone who gives at least $25 to the scholarship fund will have his or her name placed in a drawing; one lucky winner will change the bases during the third and sixth innings of the game. A member of the Cal U community also will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
The Sept. 12 Cal U Night at PNC Park continues a season-long relationship between the University and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Cal U Alumni & Friends gatherings have been held in conjunction with Pirates games in Bradenton, Fla., Baltimore and New York City, and upcoming events are scheduled for away games at Philadelphia and Atlanta.
Constitution Day panels: “Ethics in Government”
10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sept. 17
Duda Hall, Room 303
California University will mark Constitution Day with two back-to-back sessions exploring ethics in government.
Dr. Ambrus Price, the newest member of Cal U’s Department of History and Political Science, will join two veteran Cal U faculty members for the presentations.
Special guest is Stephen V. Russell, an educator and historian of political, Hollywood and sports culture. Russell has been a consultant to ESPN SportCentury, Turner Classic Movies, Peter Jones Productions for the A&E television network, and Hofstra University’s nationally known presidential conferences.
Among other topics, Russell has presented workshops on ethics and citizenship and the art of presidential rhetoric.
A former teacher, principal and school superintendent, his degrees and certifications are from California University of Pennsylvania, Duquesne University and West Virginia University.
The Constitution Day panel consists of:
Moderator will be Dr. Gary DeLorenzo, of the Department of Math, Computer Science and Information Systems.
The free Constitution Day programs are 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.
An annual event mandated at all schools that receive federal funds, Constitution Day commemorates the signing of the U.S. Constitution.
This year’s Constitution Day program at Cal U is presented by the campus chapter of the American Democracy Project, the Office of Academic Affairs, the College of Liberal Arts, and the Department of History and Political Science at California University of Pennsylvania.
As the new addition to the Natali Student Center takes shape, the all-you-care-to-eat Gold Rush dining facility has moved to the newly renovated Gallagher Dining Hall.
With a complete electrical upgrade, refurbished tables, chairs and a handicapped accessible chairlift, the second-floor Gallagher Hall dining facility will be in use throughout the upcoming academic year.
Gallagher Hall was the University’s main dining location from 1966-1998, when food service operations moved to the Natali Student Center.
The “new” Gold Rush seats 500 people, about 70 more than the dining hall in the Natali Student Center.
“We have brought in all the traditional favorites of the Gold Rush, plus the made-to-order options that students and all our diners have grown to love and expect,” says Larry Sebek, interim associate vice president for Student Affairs.
Although the Gold Rush has relocated, other food service options remain in the Natali Student Center. The Modeco and Prime House retail food operations are on the first level, near the Vulcan Theater, and a downsized food court is operating inside the Performance Center on the second level of Natali.
Diners also can stop at the campus food truck or the popular Sycamore Bistro at Herron Hall.
Tentatively scheduled for completion in 2015, the Natali Student Center renovation will upgrade the building’s infrastructure and expand meeting and recreational space for students.
The Information Center, Vulcan Theater, Student Organization Area (formerly the Commuter Center), Multimedia Access Center (MAC Lab), Cal U Bookstore and Student Media Suite will remain open during the current phase of renovations.
The public is invited to attend California University of Pennsylvania’s 27th annual health fair, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 17 in the south conference wing of the Convocation Center.
Admission is free to “Cal U Health for Life,” which is coordinated by the university’s Health and Wellness Education Center.
More than 40 healthcare experts will be on hand to discuss topics such as diabetes, nutrition and smoking cessation. Free screenings for blood pressure, glucose, speech and hearing, blood oxygen levels and balance also will be offered.
Central Blood Bank will be at the Convocation Center to conduct a blood drive.
The first 700 people to visit the health fair will receive drawstring bags, and there will be other prizes and free items available at the event.
WCAL, the campus radio station, will broadcast from the health fair.
For more information, contact event coordinator Fran Fayish, Cal U’s nurse practitioner, at 724-938-5922 or e-mail fayish@calu.edu.
Off-campus sponsors include but are not limited to: Adagio Health; AVI FoodSystems; Avon; Canonsburg General Hospital; Centerville Clinics; Central Blood Bank; Communication Disorders NSSLHA; Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern Pennsylvania; Fayette Podiatry Associates Inc.; Greenbriar Treatment Center; Martinelli Eye and Laser Center; Mary Kay Cosmetics; Michelle Apple, dietician; Monongahela Valley Hospital; National Pike Chiropractic; New Life Operations; Orthopedic and Sports PTA Inc.; Pregnancy Resource Center of South Hills; Redstone Pharmacy; Rite Aid; SPHS C.A.R.E. Center STARS; The Physical Therapy Institute; Washington Drug and Alcohol Commission Inc.; Washington Health Systems, California; and Washington Ob/Gyn Associates.
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, located off Third Street near the campus entrance.
The Professional Golf Management (PGM) program offers a variety of golf programs for girls. All sessions meet in the PGM Student Teaching and Research Academy in Gallagher Hall. PGM faculty and students provide instruction.
All programs are free, but e-mail registration is required.
4:30-6:30 p.m. Thursdays, Sept. 25-Nov. 6
Funded by a grant from the Women’s Sports Foundation and incorporating the WSF’s GoGirlGo! curriculum, this award-winning program touches on topics such as peer pressure to smoke and drink, bullying, stress, nutrition and positive self-image. The program is especially valuable for students who aren’t physically active or struggle with self-confidence. Previous participants are not eligible to return.
Parents/guardians are asked to register girls only if they can commit to attending at least five of the seven sessions. Registration closes Sept. 19.
9 a.m.- noon Saturday, Sept. 27, and/or 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4
Girls and their moms learn the basics of putting, chipping and the full swing. Sessions close with fun games and a few holes of “simulated” golf. Girls and their moms may register for one or both sessions. Registration closes two days before each event.
1-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28, and/or 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, Oct. 18
Girls and their dads learn the basics of putting, chipping and the full swing. Sessions close with fun games and a few holes of “simulated” golf. Girls and their dads may register for one or both sessions. Registration closes two days before each event.
4:40-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21, and/or 3-5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12
In small groups, girls learn or review the basics of putting, chipping and the full swing, along with fun games. Registration closes two days before each event.
Register by e-mail for any of these events.
Program funding
These girls golf programs have been funded by a grant from the Women’s Sports Foundation, with additional sponsorship for Girls Golf Days coming from the LPGA Foundation.
About the Professional Golf Management program at Cal U
The PGM program at Cal U is a concentration within the Department of Exercise Science and Sport Studies. Graduates receive a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management. The PGM program prepares students for careers as coaches, teaching professionals, head golf professionals or tournament organizers within the golf industry, and for jobs with major golf equipment and apparel companies. Learn more
The job outlook is bright for mathematicians with skills in statistics and data analysis. In fact, the U.S. Department of Labor has projected a 27 percent increase in employment opportunities for statisticians between 2012 and 2022.
To help meet that demand, California University of Pennsylvania is offering two new mathematics programs beginning this fall: A Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics: Statistics, and a statistics minor.
Both career-focused programs are designed to give Cal U graduates a competitive edge in the job market.
“Knowledge of statistics is useful in understanding a vast amount of information, including modeling uncertainty and drawing organized scientific conclusions,” says Dr. Melissa Sovak, a former market research analyst and an assistant professor in Cal U’s Department of Math, Computer Science and Information Systems.
“Employers are impressed by the strong quantitative component of this degree.”
Statistical analysis an essential element of many disciplines, including business, behavioral and social sciences, natural sciences, health professions, and technology. The mathematics degree with a statistics concentration prepares students for either the workforce or graduate-level studies.
Cal U students can add the new statistics minor to a variety of undergraduate programs, including biology, chemistry, criminal justice, economics, education, environmental science, geology, political science and more.
“The study of statistics can open new pathways for students,” Sovak says.
