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.

Junior Summer Hill will compete at the 2016 NCAA Division II Cross Country National Championships on Nov. 19 in St. Leo, Fla.  

Hill earned her second straight trip to the national competition by finishing third out of 144 runners Nov. 5 at the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Championship at Slippery Rock.

Her time of 22 minutes, 51 seconds, ties Cal U’s best individual regional finish.

A 2015-2016 Academic All-American, Hill earned all-region cross country honors after placing 21^st at the 2015 Regional and was 159^th at Nationals last year.

Senior Julie Friend, a redshirt this fall, also finished third overall at the 2015 Atlantic Regional contest. 

The Meteorology Club at Cal U welcomes two speakers on Friday, Nov. 18.

Dr. Jamie Mitchem will speak at 3 p.m., followed by Jason Levit at 4 p.m. Both presentations will be in Eberly Hall, Room 110. 

Mitchem’s presentation, “To Leave or Not to Leave: Communicating Meteorological Risks to the Public and Addressing Barriers to Safety Seeking Behavior,” will give 

aspiring forecasters more information about communicating weather hazards to the general public. 

Levit, who works at the Meteorological Development Lab in Silver Spring, Md., will discuss his work as lead developmental meteorologist for the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere. 

A former member of the faculty in the Cal U Department of Earth Sciences, Mitchem teaches geography and geographic information systems at the University of North Georgia. 

Levit was awarded the Kenneth C. Spengler Award from the American Meteorological Society as a member of a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration group that coordinates government academic and private sectors to address challenges of hazardous weather.

Mitchem’s and Levit’s presentations are free and open to the public. Directions and campus map

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,

NCAA Selection Show watch party
Doors open at 4:30 p.m., show starts at 5
Nov. 13, 2016
Performance Center, inside the Natali Student Center 

Wear your Cal U gear and head to the Natali Student Center Sunday to watch the NCAA Selection Show with other Vulcans football fans.

Join the team, Cal U cheerleaders, mascot Blaze and band members at 5 p.m. in the Performance Center.

We’ll tune in to NCAA.com and find out together which team the Vulcans will face in the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs and where the game will be held.

Admission is free. Bring your school spirit, and we’ll provide the snacks!

The annual pre-holiday Student Pottery Sale will be held from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Dec. 6 and from 10 a.m. -4 p.m. Dec. 7-8 in the Ceramics Studio, near Vulcan Hall.

The sale is open to the public, and 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

For more information about the sale or Cal U art programs, contact the Department of Art and Languages at 724-938-4182 or Professor Richard “Duke” Miecznikowski at 724-938-4083 or miecznikowski@calu.edu.

NCAA Division II Football Playoff (round 2)
1 p.m. Nov. 26, 2016
Adamson Stadium

Take a break from those Thanksgiving leftovers and enjoy playoff football LIVE at Adamson Stadium!

Come out and cheer for the Vulcans football team — the Super Region One’s top seed — when Cal U hosts a second-round game of the NCAA Division II playoffs at 1 p.m. Nov. 26.

The PSAC champion Vulcans (10-0), under the direction of first-year head coach Gary Dunn ’95, ’97, will face the winner of the first-round contest between fourth-seeded Fairmont State (10-1) and fifth-seeded IUP (9-1).

Doors open 90 minutes before game time.

Ticket price is $10 for adults, $5 for students. Cal U students are admitted free with a valid CalCard.

About the playoffs

Super Region One consists of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), Mountain East Conference (MEC), Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) and Northeast-10 Conference (NE-10).

The top seven teams in the final regional rankings receive at-large bids to the NCAA Playoffs. As the top seed, Cal U receives a bye into the second round.

In the other first-round Super Region One games, second-seeded LIU Post (Brookville, N.Y.) will face seventh-seeded Winston-Salem State (N.C.), and third-seeded Shepherd (W.Va.) hosts sixth-seeded Assumption (Mass.).

A victory on Nov. 26 would move the Vulcans into the regional championship game on Dec. 3.

Cal U is making its sixth NCAA Division II Football Playoff appearance. The Vulcans made five consecutive post-season trips to the playoffs from 2007-2011.

Learn more

For a roster, the season’s scores and more information, visit calvulcans.com.

A new edition of the Cal U Journal is available online. The latest headlines include: New name, same committed service; Speaker notes Cal U support for military, veterans; Seattle hosts Cal U honor students. Click here to read the latest Cal U Journal online.

The women’s volleyball team (22-9) has received an at-large bid and the fifth seed in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Tournament, which will take place Dec. 2-4 in the Alma Grace McDonough Center at Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia.

Cal U will face fourth-seeded Pitt-Johnstown (24-9) in a quarterfinal match on Dec. 2.

If the Vulcans defeat the Mountain Cats, they will advance to a Dec. 3 semifinal match against either Shaw University, of Raleigh, N.C. (22-7), or face the defending national champion, Wheeling Jesuit University (38-2), on Wheeling Jesuit’s home court. 

About the playoffs


The Atlantic Region consists of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), Mountain East Conference (MEC) and Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA).

All three conference tournament champions receive an automatic bid, with the top five remaining teams in the final regional rankings earning at-large bids.

In the other first-round Atlantic Regional quarterfinal games, second-seeded Gannon (30-3) will face seventh-seeded Fairmont State (W.Va.) (21-13), and third-seeded Edinboro (23-8) plays sixth-seeded Shippensburg (26-7).

The winners of each of the NCAA’s eight regional contests will advance to the championship finals Dec. 8-10 in Sioux Falls, S.D.

About the team

Coached by Peter Letourneau, the Cal U volleyball team is making its 15th appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament. The Vulcans advanced to the national quarterfinals three consecutive years, from 2007-2009, and were national semifinalists in 2000.

Community members ages 5-55 will join Cal U students onstage and behind the scenes when the Department of Music and Theatre performs The Happy Elf.

This is the first time this holiday production has been presented at Cal U. It is based on a song by Grammy award-winner Harry Connick Jr.

Showtime is 7 p.m. Dec. 8-10, and 2 p.m. Dec. 10-11, in Steele Hall Mainstage Theatre. All performances are open to the public. Children from area school districts will attend a school matinee at 10 a.m. Dec. 9.

“It's exciting for our department to do a new holiday performance,” said Dr. Michele Pagen, who directs the production. “The Happy Elf is jazzy, fun, and also has a heart-warming message.   

“I think audiences will fall in love with it, and we are again thrilled to have many members of the community involved.” 

The family-friendly musical comedy tells the story of Eubie the Elf, one of Santa's helpers, whose rose-colored view of the holiday season is put to the test when he sets out to bring Christmas joy to a dreary town called Bluesville.

See the show

The Happy Elf is open to the public.

Ticket price is $12 for patrons of all ages. Cal U students with valid CalCards pay 50 cents, plus a $5 deposit that is refunded at the show.

For ticket information, or to charge tickets by phone, call the Steele Hall Box Office at 724-938-5943.

Get directions or a campus map

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.

Information for graduating students

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.

A new edition of the Cal U Journal is available online. The latest headlines include: Middle-schoolers study renewable energy at SAI Farm; Alumni are focus for graduation speaker; Students talk with counterparts in Russia.  Click here to read the latest Cal U Journal online.

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

Happy holidays! Please make note of this new holiday schedule:

• California University will close at noonon Friday, Dec. 23, 2016.

• The University also will be closed on Friday, Dec. 30, 2016. Only essential personnel are to report to work.

The University will reopen on its regular schedule on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017.

For questions, please contact Eric Guiser, Director of Human Resources, at 724-938-4427.

California University of Pennsylvania’s 100 percent online bachelor’s degree programs have been ranked No. 6 in the country by U.S. News & World Report, a recognized leader in college rankings nationwide. 

According to U.S. News, Cal U is one of the top schools in Pennsylvania for 100% online bachelor’s degree programs.

Cal U Global Online offers 10 bachelor’s degree programs that can be completed entirely online:

• Bachelor of Arts degree in Arabic Language and Culture
• Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems
• B.S. in Criminal Justice: Homeland and International Security
• B.A. in Jurisprudence: Land Management
• B.A. in Jurisprudence: Legal Studies
• B.A. in Liberal Studies
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing: RN-BSN
• B.A. in Sociology: Social Deviance
• B.S. in Science and Technology Multidisciplinary Studies
• B.S. in Wellness and Fitness

About the U.S. News ranking

Because many online students are working adults, often with college experience, U.S. News & World Report ranks online schools on “how these programs are being delivered and their effectiveness at awarding affordable degrees in a reasonable amount of time,” the publication says.

Class sizes, academic and technology support, graduation rates, and student debt are among the factors that U.S. News considers when ranking the top online schools.

The U.S. News 2017 rankings are based on:

• Student engagement: Cal U Global Online students interact with instructors and fellow students through technology such as online tutorials and videos, video chats, threaded discussions, and email.
• Faculty credentials and training: Global Online courses are taught by California University of Pennsylvania faculty who are skilled in distance learning and online instruction techniques.
• Student services and technology: The Global Online staff supports students from application through graduation. Cal U also provides technology support, library services, academic support and financial aid advice for online learners.
• Program reputation: California University has been offering high-quality online instruction since 2006. Cal U is recognized as one of the top online schools in Pennsylvania and throughout the United States.

Affordable education

U.S. News is not the only educational organization to recognize Cal U’s online bachelor’s degree program. SR Education Group (OnlineU.org), founded in 2004, has ranked Cal U’s online bachelor’s degree program No. 8 on its 2017 list of Most Affordable Online Colleges.

See a comprehensive list of awards and rankings for California University of Pennsylvania.

Online master’s degrees and more

In addition to online bachelor’s and associate degrees, California University of Pennsylvania also offers more than 60 online master’s degrees, an online Doctor of Health Science, and a variety of certification and certificate programs.

See all the online programs at California University of Pennsylvania or learn more about how Cal U Global Online can help you reach your goals for education and career.

 If you prefer an on-campus program, Cal U has plenty to offer. See a complete list of Cal U’s undergraduate, master’s degree and doctorate programs, or learn more about our continuing education and degree completion options.

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.

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.

College students looking to transfer to California University of Pennsylvania can get an on-the-spot admissions decision and find out how their previously earned credits will apply to a Cal U bachelor’s degree program.

Students looking to complete their bachelor’s degree at Cal U are invited to visit campus on Instant Transfer Decision Day, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, and meet with Transfer Office staff in Room 218, Dixon Hall.

“No waiting!” is the theme of the day.

• Students can walk in or call 724-938-5939 now to schedule an appointment to meet with a transfer counselor on Jan. 17.
• Students will learn right away whether they have been accepted for spring semester classes, which begin Jan. 23 at Cal U.
• Accepted students will find out how their previous college credits apply to their Cal U major. California University offers more than 130 undergraduate programs.

Instant Transfer Decision Day is open to students who are attending or have attended a community college, nursing school, career school or other post-secondary institution. Transfer students from other four-year colleges and universities also are welcome.

What to bring

In order to receive an immediate decision, students should bring copies of transcripts in a sealed envelope from all colleges or universities they have previously attended. Those who are enrolled in college now should bring a transcript from their current school, as well.

Students who have not completed an associate degree also should bring a copy of their high school transcript(s).

In addition to meeting with counselors, students can schedule a tour of the California University campus on Instant Transfer Decision Day.

“The waiting game is over!” says Terrie Greene, executive director of the office of Articulation and Transfer Evaluation at Cal U.

“If you are looking to transfer to Cal U and finish a bachelor’s degree, we will look over your records and give you a decision on the spot. With one visit, we can help you move one step closer to meeting your educational goals.”