These students have earned a place on the Fall 2014 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.

Did you miss 'Technology Today' on KDKA-TV? Watch as Dr. Kate Mitchem, Dr. Swarn Gill and Dr. Stephen Whitehead describe how students and the community benefit from Cal U programs that use the latest high-tech tools. 

Considering Cal U?

Prospective students and their families may attend Academic Open House programs during the spring semester.

The events introduce prospective students to California University of Pennsylvania or give students who already have been accepted a chance to explore the campus.

Programs are scheduled from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on:

• Monday, Feb. 16
• Saturday, March 21
• Saturday, April 18. 

For each event, registration begins at 8 a.m. in Steele Hall.

Students and families who attend will learn more about Cal U’s programs of study, housing and student life. They also can talk with Cal U students, meet faculty members, tour the main campus and visit Vulcan Village. 

Contact us

Register online

Call the Welcome Center: 724-938-1626

Ask a question: E-mail Carrie Pavtis.

Throughout February, California University of Pennsylvania celebrates Black History Month with these free events: 

Feb. 3:

Blood drive and sickle cell information
11 a.m., Carter Hall Multipurpose Room

Give the “gift of life” at a Central Blood Bank blood drive and learn more about sickle cell anemia, which affects an estimated 70,000 to 100,000 people in the United States.  

Feb. 12-28

“Significant African Americans with Pittsburgh-Area Roots”
Manderino Library

View this photo exhibit showcasing notable artists, athletes, business professionals and humanitarians, each with a connection to western Pennsylvania.

Feb. 17:

“What’s Going On: The State of Black America”
6 p.m., Keystone Hall, Room 205

Psychology professor Rueben Brock, this year’s Frederick Douglass Institute Visiting Scholar and author of “A Young Man’s Wisdom,” moderates a panel discussion of issues and trends in the black community.

Panelists are:

• D. Watkins, an award-winning writer whose work has been published in The Huffington Post, Aeon, The City Paper and Salon. He is a recurring guest on National Public Radio, Huff Post Live and The Real News Network. A professor at Coppin State University, he also runs a creative writing workshop at the Baltimore Free School.

• Emmai Alaquiva, an Emmy Award-winning producer and CEO of Ya Momz House Inc., a full-service multimedia company. He is a director for CBS Sports Network and the executive director of the Hip Hop On L.O.C.K. youth arts education program.

• Marisa Bartley, executive director of the PNC YMCA in Pittsburgh and an executive board member for the National Urban League Young Professionals.

• Malcolm Thomas, program director for the Reaching Back male mentoring and manhood development program at the Neighborhood Learning Alliance in Pittsburgh.

Feb. 19:

Poetry Slam with Drew Law
1 p.m., workshop, Natali Student Center, Student Organization Suite 101
9 p.m., performance, Natali Food Court

Spoken word poet and teaching artist Drew Law hosts an afternoon poetry slam workshop, then gives an evening performance in the Natali Student Center. 

The original host of the groundbreaking Graffiti DC slam series, Law is a teaching artist for Split this Rock, an organization that uses written and spoken word as an agent for social change, and Poetry NOW, a nonprofit group that creates spoken word curricula for high schools and government entities in northern Virginia and Washington, D.C.

“The Confederate Flag: Symbol of Hate or Freedom of Speech?”
7 p.m., Morgan Hall, Room 222

A panel discusses the powerful feelings evoked by this iconic image from the U.S. Civil War. 

Feb. 23:

“Historically Black Greek Letter Organizations,” with Carlton Heywood
7 p.m., Morgan Hall, Room 222

Attend “A Brief Conversation About the History of HBGLOs (Historically Black Greek Letter Organizations) and Activity in Western Pennsylvania” with Carlton Heywood, a lifetime member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity and a teacher/librarian in the Pittsburgh Public Schools. 

Heywood, a Clarion University graduate who visited Cal U during Black History Month 2013, provides his perspective on the past, present and future of black fraternities and sororities.

Join us

Black History Month programs are free and open to the public. Parking is available in the Vulcan Garage, off Third Street near the campus entrance.

Sponsors: Multicultural Student Programs, the Center for Volunteer Programs and Service Learning, the Frederick Douglass Institute, the Student Activities Board and the Office and Fraternity and Sorority Life. 

Now you can grab a bite, or a cup of Starbucks coffee, even after dark!

Sycamore Bistro has extended its hours. It’s now serving sandwiches, soups and salads from 7:30 a.m. -7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday.

The Bistro is just one of Cal U’s dining locations.

Late-night activities

Looking for something to do? These evening activities are planned for February:

Feb. 5: Non-Alcoholic Mix Off , 9 p.m., Convocation Center Concourse. Sponsored by the Office of Greek Life and The Underground Café.
 
Feb. 6: Funny Freaking Friday comedy series featuring Scott Schendingler, 7 p.m., Vulcan Theatre. Presented by the Student Activities Board.
 
Feb. 12: The Underground Café at Vulcan Village, 9 p.m., clubhouse.
 
Feb. 19: The Underground Café featuring poet Drew Law, 9 p.m., Natali Food Court.
 
Feb. 24: “Phantom of the Opera,” Benedum Center, Pittsburgh. Presented by PNC Broadway Across America. Ticket and transportation packages are on sale beginning Feb. 3 at the information desk in Natali Student Center. A limited number of tickets are available. Cost is $15 for students, $45 for others.
 
Feb. 26: The Underground Café featuring Austin Renfro, 9 p.m., Natali Food Court.
 
Feb. 27: Flashback Friday featuring Disney's “Finding Nemo” and a sushi bar, 8 p.m., Vulcan Theatre. 

Clubs and organizations

For more student activities, log in to OrgSync.

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

After a series of off-campus incidents involving members of the football team, California University of Pennsylvania contracted with The Compliance Group (TCG) to conduct an independent review of the football program.

That review has been completed, and TCG’s report is available here. 

About the report

“TCG appreciated the opportunity to assist Cal U and the Office of Chief Counsel,” stated Chuck Smrt, president of The Compliance Group.

“Our role was to undertake an assessment of the culture of the football program in order to provide recommendations that further enhance the integration of the institution’s values into the football program. TCG interviewed approximately 66 individuals and gathered other various information. No restrictions were placed upon TCG by the institution.”

After completing its assessment, TCG prepared a written report that includes recommendations in six areas:

• Program supervision and oversight
• Recruiting
• The football program and the campus community
• The football program and California Borough
• Support for student-athletes in the football program
• Policies and procedures

University administrators are meeting today to review the report and its recommendations.

From President Jones

Interim University President Geraldine M. Jones has issued this statement:

“Athletics are an important part of the college experience at California University of Pennsylvania. Intercollegiate sports can help to create a dynamic campus atmosphere, strengthen ties with alumni, and offer access to higher education.

“But in order to provide these benefits, every one of our athletics programs must live up to the University’s stated ideals and its core values of integrity, civility and responsibility. Recent incidents led me, and many others, to question whether this was the case.

“As the individual ultimately responsible for the operations of Cal U’s intercollegiate athletics program, I will not tolerate behavior that is unworthy of our institution. I will not permit the actions of a few to tarnish the reputation of this University and its students. I expect our student-athletes to fulfill their obligations as members of a living-learning community that is focused on student success, both in academics and in life.

“Last fall The Compliance Group was commissioned to conduct a review of our football program and to recommend specific changes in order to assure that our football program aligns with California University’s core values. TCG’s report includes 32 specific recommendations. I will consider each of them carefully, in consultation with the University’s leadership team and our Athletics Department, where appropriate.

“Some recommendations will be implemented immediately:

1. As interim President, I take seriously the recommendation that I become more directly involved with our student-athletes. Moving forward, I will meet with each of our intercollegiate sports teams, face to face, to emphasize the University’s expectations. I am convinced that intercollegiate athletics should be a gateway to academic and personal achievement. I want our student-athletes and our coaching staff to know without a doubt that I am fully invested in leading our Athletics Department toward this higher purpose.
   
   I also will place a high priority on reviewing the University’s drug-testing policies. Additionally, I will appoint a panel to evaluate potential two- and four-year transfers and other football prospects. The decision about whether to give a “high-risk” student an athletic opportunity should not lie with the coaching staff or the Athletics Department alone.
2. Today I have directed Athletic Director Dr. Karen Hjerpe to instruct our head coaches in all NCAA athletics programs to develop guidelines that clearly outline expectations for their players, as well as consequences for failure to abide by University, Athletics Department and team rules. Once the guidelines have been reviewed and approved, this information will be communicated to every member of each team.
3. I also have asked Dr. Hjerpe to develop language that can be inserted into the Student-Athlete Handbook emphasizing that student-athletes are responsible for reporting instances of arrests (other than traffic citations) that occur outside the local community. The importance of this obligation will be conveyed to all student-athletes, who should understand that serious penalties, up to and including suspension from the team, will be imposed for failure to self-report.
4. I will continue meeting regularly with community leaders, a practice I began shortly after being named to my current role. And I will explore with them the opportunity to expand those meetings to include representatives of law enforcement and athletics.

“I thank The Compliance Group for its diligence in compiling this report and providing our University with an objective perspective on these important issues. We cannot resolve every concern overnight, but let me assure you that the work of improving our football program has already begun.

“As we move forward in this effort, I will keep our faculty, staff and students informed of our progress.”

Links

Read The Compliance Group’s report

Read Attachment A

Read Attachment B

Read Attachment C

Mobile Vet Center
1:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 10
Third Street (near the Natali Student Center)

Military veterans and their families may visit a Mobile Vet Center when it makes a campus stop Feb. 10. 

Mobile centers operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Readjustment Counseling Services are among the VA’s premier front-line resources for reaching veterans, especially in rural settings.

The centers provide nonmedical counseling and outreach to military veterans and their families, focusing primarily on social and economic issues. 

At the mobile center, veterans can file claims for service-related illnesses or injuries, apply for VA pensions, or learn about benefits for dependents or survivors.

The center also provides information about:

• Individual or group counseling.
• Military sexual trauma.
• Marriage and family counseling.
• Community education.

The Mobile Vet Center welcomes veterans from Cal U and from the surrounding community.

Learn more

For more information, contact Robert Prah, director of Veterans Affairs, at prah@calu.edu or 724-938-4076. Or visit the Veterans Center in Manderino Library, Room 317.

‘Back to the Drawing Boards’ art show
6-9 p.m. Feb. 19 (reception)
8 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 20
Vulcan Hall

Artworks by current and former students will be displayed on all three floors of Vulcan Hall during a juried art show, “Back to the Drawing Boards.”

The student gallery’s first show of the 2015 season is presented by Associated Artists, a student organization that has developed cooperative programs with amateur and collegiate art groups in Washington, Fayette and Allegheny counties.

Artworks range from jewelry, pottery and paintings to drawings, prints and installation pieces.

Opening reception

A free opening reception is planned from 6-9 p.m. Feb. 19 in Vulcan Hall. 

Two bands, Devin Moses and The Saved and Proper People, are scheduled to perform. Their appearance is sponsored by Green Mountain Energy and provided through Ziggy Sawdust Productions.

More information
For details, contact:

• Shannon Drudy, Associated Artists president, dru5424@calu.edu
• Todd Pinkham, faculty adviser, pinkham@calu.edu

8^th annual Conference on Homeland and International Security
“Assessing the Security Gaps in Our Criminal Justice System”
9 a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 27
Steele Hall Mainstage Theatre 

The Department of Criminal Justice, in collaboration with the Mon Valley NAACP and the NAACP State Conference Criminal Justice Committee, present the 8^th annual Conference on Homeland and International Security on Feb. 27.

In addition to faculty members Dr. Michael Hummel and Dr. Aref Al-Khattar, of the Department of Criminal Justice, speakers include David Hickton, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and retired police chief Chuck Drago, president of Drago Professional Consultants.

The schedule

Attendees may sign in beginning at 8 a.m.

• 9-9:15 a.m.— Opening ceremony and opening remarks
• 9:15-10 a.m. — Dr. Michael Hummel: “Managing Decisions in a Crisis Situation and the Integration of Deadly Force”
• 10-10:45 a.m.— Dr. Aref Al-Khattar: “Law Enforcement and Culture”
• 10:45-11:30 a.m.— David Hickton: “Building Police and Community Relations”
• 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.— Chuck Drago: “Strategies to Reduce Officer-Involved Shootings”
• 12:30-12:35 — Closing remarks 

Join us

Admission to the Conference on Homeland and International Security is free. The general public may attend.

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

For more information, contact Dr. Michael Hummel at hummel@calu.edu.

Planning committee

Planning committee members are Lynn Baron, Burrell Brown, Michael Hummel, Elaine Johnson, Ross Martin, Hazel Murray, George Simmons and Mohamed Yamba.

The conference is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Burrell A. Brown.

BACCHUS Area 11 Regional Conference
“Igniting the Future of Peer Education”
Feb. 28
Convocation Center 

More than 100 peer educators from universities in three states are expected to attend the BACCHUS Area 11 Regional Conference, “Igniting the Future of Peer Education” Feb. 28 in the Convocation Center.

BACCHUS is a university- and community-based network of more than 8,000 student leaders and advisers who work with over 4 million peers on more than 330 campuses nationwide.

Options@CalU peer educators are certified through BACCHUS, which stands for Boosting Alcohol Consciousness Concerning the Health of University Students. The nonprofit organization now is a division of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.

Through grants from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, Options@CalU peer educators provide interactive programming and education to reduce underage and dangerous drinking and other high-risk behavior, especially among first-year students. 

Attend the conference

BACCHUS Area 11 consists of member schools from Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey, but the conference is open to any peer educator from any school.

Speakers include Wendy Krisak, BACCHUS coordinator for Pennsylvania and director of counseling at DeSales University in Center Valley, Pa. 

Through Feb. 20, cost to attend is $60 per member, or $90 for non-members. A late registration fee will be added after Feb. 20. 

More information

To register for the conference, contact Bob Mehalik at 724-938-4775 or mehalik@calu.edu.

Get directions

Poet and Writer John Hoppenthaler
3 p.m. Feb. 13
Chapel, inside Old Main 

Poet John Hoppenthaler will read from his work at 3 p.m. Feb. 13 in the Chapel, inside Old Main.  

Hoppenthaler is the author of two books of poetry, Lives of Water and Anticipate the Coming Reservoir, both from Carnegie Mellon University Press. 

His third collection, Domestic Garden, is forthcoming from the CMU Press this year.

Hoppenthaler’s poetry has appeared in Ploughshares, Virginia Quarterly Review, McSweeney's, Southern Review, Christian Science Monitor, Barrow Street, The Laurel Review, Copper Nickel, Blackbird, Subtropics, The Literary Review, Southeast Review and many other publications.

His essays, interviews and reviews appear in such journals as Arts & Letters, Southeast Review, Chelsea, Bellingham Review, Pleiades, The Greenwood Encyclopedia of American Poetry, North Carolina Literary Review, Cortland Review and Kestrel, where he served as poetry editor for 11 years.

For nine years he served as personal assistant to acclaimed novelist Toni Morrison, winner of both the Nobel Prize in Literature and the Pulitzer Prize, for fiction.

Join us

The poetry reading is free, and the public may attend. Visitor parking is available in the Vulcan Garage, off Third Street near the campus entrance. Get directions

Hoppenthaler’s reading is sponsored by the Office of Academic Affairs, the Office of the Dean of Liberal Arts, and the English Department.

Learn to build your personal brand, pick up networking and etiquette tips, visit a career fair or fix up your resume — all with Career Week activities organized by the Career and Professional Development Center. View the schedule 

Three individuals will comprise California University of Pennsylvania’s 20th Athletic Hall of Fame class.

The 2014-2015 inductees are Roger Gordon, Class of 1997 & 1999 (men’s soccer); Kim Miller, Class of 2009 (softball); and Darcie Vincent, (women’s basketball coach).

These former Vulcan standouts will be inducted officially at the Cal U Athletic Hall of Fame luncheon, set for 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 21 in the in the south wing of the Cal U Convocation Center, on the University’s main campus in California, Pa.

In addition to being honored at the luncheon, the inductees will be recognized later that day during the Vulcans’ home basketball doubleheader against Gannon University.

Tickets for the Hall of Fame luncheon are $20 each, and $8 for children 10 and younger. The public may attend.

For reservations, contact the Office of Alumni Relations, 724-938-4418, or e-mail Staci Tedrow at tedrow@calu.edu. Proceeds from the luncheon will be used to establish a Hall of Fame athletic scholarship.

To:             All students, faculty and staff
Re:             Emergency Power Outage

Noon-1 p.m. Feb. 13, 2015

In order to make emergency electrical repairs, we will be powering down the following buildings from noon-1 p.m. TODAY, Friday, Feb. 13:

• Watkins Hall
• Hamer Hall
• New Science Hall
• Old Main
• South Hall
• Helsel Hall
• Vulcan Hall

The power outage is expected to last approximately 1 hour.

Faculty members with classes in the affected areas are advised to cancel their 12 o’clock classes and/or provide an online assignment.

Because the loss of power will affect heating and lighting, faculty and staff may wish to move to a heated building during the outage. Relocation options include:

• Natali Performance Center
• Convocation Center
• Manderino Library
• Another campus location that meets your needs

If you have questions, please contact the Office of Administration and Finance at Ext. 4432.

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

At last week’s Faculty-Staff Convocation I spoke about the pressing need for all members of the campus community to become actively engaged in the life of our University.

The inaugural Cal U Conference on Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity provides an opportunity to do just that.

Scheduled for April 14 in the Convocation Center, the conference will include presentations and posters prepared by faculty, by students or by faculty-student teams. Illustrating the wide variety of exciting activities occurring on our campus, the presentations and posters will focus on the presenters’ engagement in research, scholarship and creative activity (RSCA).

Faculty can spotlight pedagogical and/or educational innovations, application of high-impact practices in teaching and learning, or innovative ways to incorporate RSCA into the curriculum.

Undergraduate and graduate students can focus on RSCA from class projects, capstone experiences or senior/graduate theses. A panel of judges will evaluate the students’ presentations and posters, with prizes awarded for outstanding work.
The free event will be open to the entire campus community — but let’s not stop there.

Students, faculty and staff should participate in promoting this event outside of Cal U. I urge you to invite alumni and University friends, members of the local business community, teachers and students from area schools, and others who might be interested in California University’s academic mission. I know they will be impressed with the depth and breadth of the research, scholarship and creativity on display.

I encourage faculty members with Tuesday classes to schedule their April 14 class meeting at the Convocation Center, so everyone can participate. Light refreshments will be provided throughout the conference.

Please direct suggestions and questions abut the conference to one of the conference coordinators: Dr. John Kallis, dean of the Eberly College of Science and Technology (kallis@calu.edu), Dr. Paul Hettler, coordinator for Faculty Professional Development (hettler@calu.edu), or Dr. Gregg Gould, director of the Center for Undergraduate Research (gould@calu.edu). 

But first, set aside time on your calendar to prepare a presentation, or to visit the Convocation Center on April 14. The University’s first Conference on Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity is one event you won’t want to miss.

With best wishes,

Meet Interim President Geraldine M. Jones

See participating teams

Each team received an identical “kit of parts” to use in building its robot. Working with adult mentors — typically engineers or previous FIRST competitors — the students have six weeks to design, build, program and test their robots before the regional tournament.

Students also develop marketing campaigns and create mascots and promotional materials to support the team and create excitement at the competition site.  

Upcoming STEM events at Cal U

These competitions also are scheduled at the Cal U Convocation Center, where the robots come out to play.

• March 18— Southwestern Pennsylvania Regional Science Olympiad
• April 24-25— Southwestern Pennsylvania BotsIQ Final

Parking

At check-in:

• Each participating team will receive one (1) parking pass for the River Lot (Lot 4), section 4A.
• Each volunteer will receive one (1) parking pass for the River Lot (Lot 4), section 4A.

Additional team members and spectators should park in the Vulcan Garage, off Third Street near the campus entrance.

Campus map and directions

More information

Event details:Michael Amrhein, director, Office of Integration and Outreach for T.E.A.M.S. (Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math and Science)

Convocation Center:Becky McMillen, executive director, University Conference Services

Planned Power Outage
6-7 a.m. WEDNESDAY, Feb. 18

In order to make electrical repairs, the University will be powering down these buildings from 6-7 a.m.  Wednesday, Feb. 18:

• Watkins Hall
• Hamer Hall
• New Science Hall
• Old Main
• South Hall
• Helsel Hal
• Vulcan Hall

The early-morning power outage is expected to last approximately 1 hour. 

Questions?

Contact the Office of Administration and Finance at Ext. 4432. 

Two alumni return to campus and will share their expertise s the Meteorology Club Colloquia Series opens later this month.

Dr. Michael Allen speaks in Eberly Hall Room 120 on Feb. 20, beginning at 4 p.m.


Allen is an assistant professor of geography at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va.   

Being part of several interdisciplinary projects, he has traveled throughout the world to places such as China, Moldova, and New Zealand.  More recently, Allen investigated the 2014 Northern Hemisphere circumpolar vortex and re-evaluated the definition of seasons using synoptic climatology and surface temperature observations.

During his presentation, Climate Research Beyond the Halls of Eberly, Allen will draw on his experiences to illustrate the possibilities available to students in the field of climatology and climate change.  He will also provide students with some advice for improving their marketability in the world after graduation.

Katie Mercadante speaks in Eberly Hall Room 110 on Feb. 24, beginning at 11 a.m. 

Mercadante  is a high school science teacher at Montour High School, where she teaches astronomy and meteorology electives, and serves as faculty advisor to student council and SADD.  

Also a member of the National Weather Association’s Education Committee, she is pursuing a Ph.D. in Instructional Management at Robert Morris University.

The title of her talk is Converging Majors: Making the Most of a Diverse Backgr 

The free presentations are open to the Cal U community and public.

Because of poor road conditions, Vulcan Flyer service may be suspended temporarily today, Feb. 18.

Service will resume once roadways are deemed safe for travel.

The Office of Parking and Transportation thanks you for your patience.

Nine out of 10 students who begin an online bachelor’s degree program at California University of Pennsylvania earn their diploma within six years.

That success rate earned Cal U a No. 4 ranking on the U.S. News Short List, a regular series published online by U.S. News and World Report.

Separate from the publication’s overall college rankings, the U.S. News Short List “magnifies individual data points” to inform students and their parents about colleges and graduate schools, the website says.

The Short List for Online Bachelor’s Programs With the Highest 6-Year Completion Rates is based on the percentage of students who started online classes in the 2007-2008 academic year and graduated within six years.

Program rankings

The Short List includes only those schools whose programs already have been ranked by U.S. News and World Report.

Of the 1,200 programs surveyed by U.S. News, Cal U received these rankings:

• #82 (tie) — Best online bachelor’s degree programs
• #35 (tie) — Best online graduate education programs
• #54 (tie) — Best online graduate nursing program

Learn online

Cal U Global Online offers more than 40 degree and non-degree programs.

To learn more, request information about Cal U Global Online, e-mail calugo@calu.edu or call 724-938-5958 or (toll-free) 866-595-6348.