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Transcript of 2009june22journal
VOLUME 11, NUMBER 17 JUNE 22, 2009
California University
Anew era in California
University’s nationally respected
women’s basketball program
began officially on June 4 when
President Angelo Armenti, Jr.
introduced Mark Swasey as the
program’s sixth full-time head coach.
Swasey joins Cal U after seven
seasons as head women’s basketball
coach at Franklin Pierce University in
New Hampshire.
This year his team advanced to the
NCAA Division II national
championship game after ending Cal U’s
2008-2009 season by defeating the
Vulcan women 88-73 in the quarterfinal
contest. The Ravens also reached the
NCAA II Elite Eight in 2007-2008.
Over the last four years, Franklin
Pierce has compiled an impressive 89-37
record
Swasey was chosen from a
nationwide search that began with more
than 100 applicants.
“Our women’s basketball program
has been building for some time, and it
has the potential to reach even greater
heights,” President Armenti said. “These
fine players deserve a great coach, so we
looked for the very best. In Mark
Swasey, I believe we found what we
were looking for.”
Swasey was named Russell
Athletic/Women’s Basketball Coaches
Association East Region Coach of the
Year for 2008-2009, as well as the
Northeast-10 Conference Coach of the
Year. He will be inducted into the New
England Basketball Hall of Fame in
October.
He will lead a Cal U program that
has made eight consecutive NCAA
tournament appearances since the 2001-
2002 season and won seven PSAC-West
championships, four conference crowns,
four NCAA Regional titles and the 2004
NCAA Division II National
Championship. Cal’s cumulative record
during this time period was 222-42
(.819) with an 86-14 (.860) PSAC-West
mark.
“My job is to improve a team and a
system that are already in place and
work very well,” Swasey said at a news
conference.
“We just need to fine-tune in some
areas. This will take a lot of creativity
and building of trust with my coaching
staff and players.”
Overall, Swasey owns a 180-111
(.619) career record in 10 seasons, which
— Continued on page 3
Cal U’s Council of Trustees was
given a preview of coming
attractions — the renovated and
expanded Herron Fitness and Recreation
Center — during its quarterly meeting
June 3.
Dr. Allan Golden, vice president for
Administration and Finance, presented a
series of slides highlighting the $10
million renovation project. Herron is
expected to re-open for the start of the
fall semester with renovations
throughout, including an 18,000-square-
foot addition, an indoor walking/jogging
track and a 33-foot-tall indoor climbing
wall.
“I believe the indoor track and the
entire finished product will blow people
away,” Golden said enthusiastically.
“This facility will become a very popular
place for all of the University
community.”
In other finance matters, the Trustees
voted unanimously to have the University
purchase the six-acre Phillipsburg School
property from the Student Association
Inc. No firm plans have been made for
the building and grounds, but Golden
noted that “space is at a premium” on
campus and few other parcels are
available for purchase nearby.
The Trustees also approved the 2009-
2012 Strategic Plan, a document intended
to guide the University’s progress.
President Dr. Angelo Armenti, Jr.
pointed out one major change from
previous plans: a new goal of fostering
civic engagement.
All University members had an
opportunity for input as the plan was
updated, President Armenti told the
Trustees, and the Cal U Forum approved
the final product at its April meeting.
“The objectives and methods actually
support the achievement of the various
goals,” he said of the 33-page document.
Compared to previous plans, “the
revisions better reflect the effort and
involvement of the vice presidents, deans
and directors.”
In their regular reports:
— Continued on page 2
Swasey Introduced as Women’s Basketball Coach
Trustees Get a Peek at Rec Center Renovations
Cal U Wins FarmlandHabitat Restoration Grant
President Angelo Armenti, Jr. introduces Mark Swasey as Cal U’s sixth full-time head women’sbasketball coach at a June 4 news conference.
California University of Pennsylvania’s Partners for Fish
and Wildlife Program has received a $900,000 grant
from the Richard King Mellon Foundation to support
its work in farmland habitat restoration and watershed
conservation.
Partners for Fish and Wildlife has been collaborating since
1995 with conservation groups and a variety of local, state and
federal agencies concerned with restoring the health of
watersheds, wetlands and streamside ecosystems across
Pennsylvania.
The grant supports the farmland habitat project led by
supervisor Jose Taracido. Project staff members work with
farmers and other landowners to restore wildlife habitats along
small waterways in agricultural areas, often in fields or pastures.
— Continued on page 2
The much-anticipated fall opening of the renovated and expanded Herron Hall Fitness Centerwas one of many topics reviewed at the Council of Trustees’ June quarterly meeting.
President’s
Gala
Cal U students(from left) Bryan
Tolle, MargueriteSmith, Sarah Tuke,
Jenna Dunmire andRyan Jerico enjoy a
light momenttogether at the
President’s Gala.For story and morephotos, see page 2.
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2
President’s Gala Raises Scholarship Funds
Trustees Hear Enrollment,Marketing, Development Reports
I would like to publicly
acknowledge the efforts and
thank the students in my
Recreation Program
Planning class, the Parks
and Recreation Student
Society and the other
student volunteers for all
the hard work they put into
the 14th annual Pike Run
Youth Fishing Festival.
It was a very successful
University and Cal
community event, with
almost 170 kids from the
Mon Valley and beyond participating.
Everyone had a great time, most
caught at least one fish and the
students gained important hands-on
experience in planning and running a
large community recreation event.
Casey Durdines, the mayor of
California Borough, even came down
at the end of the event to publicly
thank and congratulate the students
for a job well done.
What a great event and what
remarkable students we have!
John Confer
Assistant professor,
Department of Earth Sciences
Thankyou
About 330 members of the Cal U community
spent “A Night on the Riviera” June 6 to boost
the University’s scholarship fund. Dr. Angelo
Armenti, Jr. and First Lady Barbara Armenti hosted the
16th annual President’s Gala at the Omni William Penn
Hotel, in Pittsburgh.
Guests enjoyed fine dining, Monte Carlo games and
dancing to the music of the Benny Benack Orchestra.
Net proceeds from the event — the University’s largest
annual fundraiser — support student scholarships.
“This was a year of remarkable achievement at Cal
U,” President Armenti told the crowd. “In the past 12
months our academic offerings have been strengthened
and expanded. Our athletic teams have won statewide
and regional titles. Our beautiful campus continues to
evolve, and our enrollment continues to grow.”
The program featured a videotaped “year in review”
and presentation of awards. Dr. Rose Greco Hughes ’25
received the Lillian M. Bassi Core Values Award.
Faculty award winners were Dr. Rebecca Hess for
teaching, Dr. Joseph Heim for research and Dr. Mary
O’Connor for service. Emeriti honorees were William
B. Kania and Leslie Parkinson.
The celebration also included the announcement of
the public phase of the University’s $35 million capital
campaign, The Campaign to Build Character and
Careers.
“The goal of this campaign for student enrichment
and support is to bring a Cal U education within reach
of more students, so they can graduate less burdened by
debt and better positioned to achieve continued
success,” President Armenti said.
William Booker ’74, the campaign chairman,
reported that that “silent” phase of the fund drive has
brought it nearly halfway to the goal.
President Angelo Armenti, Jr. makes a toast with Sharon Thomas Fisher ´95 (left) and Gala co-chairs Thomas ´64 and NancyCrumrine ´66.
— Continued from page 1
Fencing out livestock makes an
immediate impact on these waterways
by reducing erosion, removing animal
waste from the stream and allowing
streamside plants to thrive. Planting
warm-season grasses and native plants
in riparian (streamside) buffer zones
introduces shade that cools the water
and creates a more hospitable habitat for
insects, fish, birds and mammals.
The conservation project also
benefits farm operators: Planting warm-
season grasses boosts hay production;
providing clean water for livestock
reduces veterinary bills; and planting
streambanks with wildlife-friendly
vegetation increases the value of the
land.
Since 1996, Cal U’s Partners for Fish
and Wildlife has fenced more than 355
miles of streambank, restored more than
3,300 acres of wetlands, planted more
than 4,500 acres of warm-season grasses
and completed more than 400 acres of
border edge cuts to provide cover and
habitat for farmland wildlife.
The program has a strong
educational component and employs as
many as 15 field staff.
The grant from the Richard King
Mellon Foundation, one of the largest
independent foundations in the United
States, will be paid over three years. The
foundation makes grants that serve the
public interest, emphasizing regional
economic development, the quality of
life in southwestern Pennsylvania, land
preservation, and watershed restoration
and protection with an emphasis on
western Pennsylvania.
Partners for Fish and Wildlife, based
at California University of
Pennsylvania, has worked in
collaboration with conservation entities
including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, the National Fish and
Wildlife Federation, the Pennsylvania
Game Commission and county
conservation districts. Organizations
such as Pheasants Forever, Habitat
Unlimited and the Ruffed Grouse
Society also have taken part in projects.
To learn more about Partners For
Fish and Wildlife, visit
workforce.cup.edu/Taracido/. For more
information about California University,
visit www.cup.edu.
Cal U Awarded Grant for Farmland Habitat Restoration
— Continued from page 1
• Provost Geraldine Jones offered
encouraging enrollment projections for
the fall semester. As of May 13, the
number of freshmen accepted to Cal U
was 5.6 percent higher than last year’s
total. The increase for transfer students
was more than 22 percent.
• Dr. Lenora Angelone, vice president
for Student Development and Services,
highlighted Cal’s student media with
slides and podcasts depicting the work of
CUTV, the Cal Times student newspaper
and the multimedia access center.
Angelone described these activities as
“important learning opportunites” for
students.
• A multi-media presentation by
Angela Burrows, vice president of
University Relations, emphasized the
strategic approach used in working with
the media, developing a new Cal U
website, marketing the University and
using social media to reach current and
prospective students.
“Our team’s reach has become even
more global,” she said, “while at the
same time its touch is increasingly
targeted.”
• President Armenti reported on
development. Although the total number
of donors is slightly down from a year
ago, total giving has shown an increase of
nearly $1.2 million, and endowed
scholarships have increased by almost $1
million as the fiscal year comes to a close.
The amount received from gifts of $1,000
or more has nearly doubled during this
time.
“I believe that endowed scholarships
continue to be our best hope for the
future,” he said. “We are getting larger
gifts, which is obviously important.”
At a brief reorganization prior to the
quarterly meeting, Leo Krantz and
Robert Irey were re-elected chair and vice
chair of the Council of Trustees through
June 2011. Krantz has been the chair
since June 2007.
Cal U’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, under the supervision of Jose Taracido, hasbeen awarded a $900,000 grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation to support itswork in farmland habitat restoration and watershed conservation.
Luke Edmonds (right) and his brother Seth take acloser look at a fish he caught during the Pike RunFishing Festival.
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3
Cal U’s GIS Students Help Make Springdale Safer
Finance Their DreamsThis op-ed, written by Dr. Angelo
Armenti, Jr., was published June 3 in the
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
The Pennsylvania Tuition Relief
Act proposed by Gov. Ed Rendell
would open a window of
opportunity for students who hope to
build a better life by earning a college
degree.
Education has become increasingly
important in an increasingly complex
global economy, which needs talented,
highly trained professionals to thrive. Mr.
Rendell’s plan would make college tuition
more affordable for every Pennsylvania
family earning less than $100,000 per
year, helping about 170,000 students
across the state. It would place the
achievement of a college degree within
reach for 10,000 students who otherwise
would be unable to afford tuition.
These students are the reason I
support the governor’s plan. The global
economic downturn has hit hard across
many sectors, including higher
education. This year’s state budget
emergency has resulted in a cut of 4.25
percent — $1.6 million — in state
funding to our university, the California
University of Pennsylvania.
While we are working
hard to cope with this
funding cut, we remain
deeply concerned about the
plight of our students.
Many are struggling to pay
tuition, and they are likely
to face even greater
challenges in the months
ahead.
Many of our students
accumulate crushing debt
over the course of their
college careers, even
though Pennsylvania’s
state-owned universities, such as ours,
have worked hard to remain affordable:
Tuition this year is $5,385, and the
average total annual cost of attending
one of the 14 state-owned institutions is
$13,794 — half the cost of attendance at
the branch campuses of state-related
Penn State or the University of
Pittsburgh.
The main problem is the ongoing,
multi-year shift from grants to loans in the
typical federal- and state-funded financial
aid packages available to our students. As
a result of that shift, graduating seniors
leave Cal U with an average
debt load of $23,000, which
is somewhat larger than the
$19,000 average for students
attending all public
universities in Pennsylvania,
and significantly larger than
the $15,000 average for
students attending all public
universities nationwide.
(Even though our tuition is
lower than other state
universities, our students
often incur more debt
because their families have
fewer resources.)
We must ensure that all Pennsylvania
students have access to higher education
without incurring thousands of dollars in
debt. The Tuition Relief Act would help
accomplish this.
At Cal U, we believe in wise
stewardship of all the funds we receive,
and we will continue to make every
dollar count. But personal resources,
private scholarships and government
dollars only go so far — and right now,
even in combination, they are
insufficient to meet our students’ needs.
Gov. Rendell’s plan for tuition relief
would make higher education more
accessible to thousands of Pennsylvania
residents, who make up the vast majority
of students at state-owned institutions,
including Cal U. Most of our graduates
remain in Pennsylvania after graduation,
contributing to the vitality of the
commonwealth.
I am aware of the concerns about
using video-gaming revenues to fund the
act. Those concerns can be addressed
only by the legislators who craft the
annual budget and who are in the best
position to know whether other viable
funding alternatives exist. But regardless
of the ultimate source of funds, the
need for scholarship aid is so
compelling that the debate about
funding the Tuition Relief Act should
focus on the plight of the thousands of
Pennsylvania students whose chance at
the American dream depends on its
passage.
As the first member of my working-
class family to attend college, I
understand both the dreams and the
struggles of our students. The Tuition
Relief Act would be an investment in
their future, and in the future of
Pennsylvania.
Cal U President Angelo Armenti, Jr.
Because of a three-year
collaborative project with Cal U
GIS (Geographic Information
Systems) students, the Springdale
Township VFD will be better prepared to
protect its citizens from fire or any
natural emergencies.
Spearheaded by current student
Jessica Wright and recent graduates
Stacey Stanley and Lisa Leyh, Cal U has
set up a GIS database for the fire
department of the Allegheny County
borough, which consists of 1,856 homes.
Cal U students from Dr. Tom
Mueller’s GIS class input information
gathered from surveys sent to the
residents from the fire department.
Wright created a tutorial, which she
presented to Curt Funkhouser,
Springdale assistant chief, who is also a
technology education teacher at Mars
Middle School.
“The tutorial shows how to query an
address once that call comes in,” said
Wright, a Fredericktown native who will
graduate from Cal U this December.
“Once that address is queried it brings
up a street. Through their laptops the
firefighters can then zoom directly to
that street and identify all the attributes
associated with that survey.”
Wright explained that the mapped
information includes not only the names
of who lives in each house but also the
number of pets; entrances and exits;
utility providers; chemicals in the house;
such as chlorine for pools or gas or
propane for grills; and even the closest
hydrant. The work was completed in the
Department of Earth Sciences’ Peter J.
Daley Geo-Technology Institute
“Basically all the available
information en route or at the scene
gives us a better opportunity to pre-plan
for the house and provide better
emergency services for people because
we know what we’re getting into ahead
of time,” said Funkhouser.
The project became a reality when
Funkhouser participated in a Governor’s
Institute for Technology Education
Workshop on the Cal U campus, where
he took a GIS session taught by Mueller
and fellow Cal U faculty member Dr.
Glenn Hider.
“I started talking to those guys about
how to use GIS in both my classroom
and fire department and found out we
could implement this,” Funkhouser said.
Mueller lauded Wright and the other
students involved while crediting Cal U’s
administration for its support in
technology upgrades. In particular
University President Angelo Armenti,
Jr., and Dr. Len Colelli, dean of the
Eberly College of Science and
Technology. Cal U provided the service
free of charge to Springdale Township
VFD.
“One of this University’s biggest flags
that I believe it flies under is the service-
learning component, and I think this is a
great example of that,” said Mueller.
“The students really want these real
world projects.”
He also pointed out the important
role played by the Allegheny County
GIS office and Katherine Reed in
helping with the parcel data.
Wright said he enjoyed the
experience and hopes to continue this
endeavor with Springdale and other fire
departments. As of early May only 45
percent of Springdale Borough had
returned surveys and been mapped
“It’s rewarding to do something that
will be really used,” Wright said. “I hope
I am giving back some way. I will help
them after I graduate and hope this goes
forward to other townships, because I
think it is great for everyone involved.”
Mueller intends to carry out Wright’s
hopes.
“One of the things we want to do is
use this as a pilot,” he said. “We
welcome other fire departments to come
to us and talk about setting this up.”
Funkhouser is certainly a satisfied
customer.
“It just goes to show you that a
university, fire department and
municipality can work together at little
cost to provide a better service for the
community,” Funkhouser said. “It’s kind
of unique, because to the best of my
knowledge no other fire department is
doing this. If others knew this was out
there I believe they would at least
attempt the data collection to provide a
better service.”
— Continued from page 1
includes a three-year stint at Division III Norwich
University in Vermont prior to coaching at Franklin
Pierce.
He praised Cal U and joked about there being more
people at his introductory news conference than there
were at his first game at Franklin Pierce.
“This is a different level here, even though it’s still
Division II,” Swasey said. “I am very impressed with
the resources, people and support here at California.
You can sense the family atmosphere here, and the
tradition. I am very excited to become a part of one the
premier athletic programs in all of Division II.”
Lenora Angelone, vice president for Student
Development and Services, welcomed Swasey and
noted that Cal U’s athletic program is very close to
achieving perfect “gender equity” — equal
opportunities for men and women, as mandated by
federal Title IX legislation.
“We are proud to provide our female student-
athletes with world-class facilities, coaches and support
staff to succeed on the playing surfaces, and more
importantly, in the classroom,” she said. “Today is very
special as we move forward into a new era with our
perennial power women’s basketball program.”
Swasey received a bachelor’s degree from Lyndon
State College in Vermont. He and his wife, Jennifer,
have two young daughters, Addison Elizabeth and
Avery Marie.
Dr. Tom Mueller and Jessica Wright review the GIS database they put together for
the Springdale Volunteer Fire Department.
Mark Swasey Introduced as New Women’s Basketball Coach
2009june22journaldraft1.qxp:03-24-08 CAL U JOURNAL.qxd 6/17/09 2:13 PM Page 3
4
Dr. Angelo Armenti, Jr.University President
Geraldine M. Jones Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs
Dr. Joyce Hanley Executive Vice President
Dr. Allan J. Golden Vice President for Administration and Finance
Dr. Lenora Angelone Vice President for Student Development and Services
Dr. Charles ManceVice President of Information Technolog
Angela J. Burrows Vice President for University Relations
Office�of�Communications�and�Public�Relations,�250�University�Avenue,�California,�PA�15419
724-938-4195�����[email protected]��
The California Journal is published weekly by California University of Pennsylvania, a member of The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.
The Journal is printed on paper made from trees harvested under the principles of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (www.SFIprogram.org).
Christine KindlEditor
Bruce Wald, Wendy Mackall Writers
Capping a year marked by five
conference championships, Cal
U has won the Pennsylvania
State Athletic Conference’s Dixon
Trophy for the first time.
The trophy is awarded annually to
the PSAC member institution with the
most successful all-around program. The
winner is determined by a point system
based on the results of conference
playoffs and/or regular-season records.
Each institution’s point total is
calculated by adding its top six women’s
finishes and top six men’s finishes in 23
conference sports.
Cal U compiled 161 points in 2008-
2009, a conference record. The
University placed third in the standings
last year.
Shippensburg University finished
second in this year’s trophy race with
158 points. Lock Haven and Slippery
Rock tied for third with 153 points each.
The trophy first was awarded in
1995-1996. It is named for the late F.
Eugene Dixon Jr., former chairman of
the Board of Governors of the
Pennsylvania State System of Higher
Education.
“The Dixon Trophy is emblematic of
athletic supremacy in the Pennsylvania
State Athletic Conference — the PSAC,
the premier Division II athletic
conference in America today,” said Cal U
President Angelo Armenti, Jr. “We are
very proud of our student-athletes,
coaches and many individuals behind
the scenes who are responsible for the
magnificent accomplishment we
celebrate today.”
During the 2008-2009 academic year,
the Vulcans won PSAC conference
championships and gained 16 Dixon
Trophy points each in football, women’s
volleyball, men’s soccer, women’s golf
and women’s tennis. Additional points
came from women’s basketball (15),
women’s swimming (14), softball (13),
baseball (13), men’s golf (10), men’s
outdoor track and field (8) and men’s
cross country (8).
Collectively, California’s six top
women’s teams totaled a league-high 90
points — a point of pride for Cal U,
whose athletic program is working
diligently to achieve complete gender
equity under Title IX.
In addition to the state champion
football team, Cal U’s women’s
basketball, softball volleyball and tennis
teams won PSAC-West titles. The
women’s swimming team finished a
strong third at the PSAC Tournament.
An on-campus Dixon Trophy
celebration and rally is planned for the
2009 fall semester.
Vulcans Win First Dixon Trophy
Before their quarterly meeting on June 3, the Council of Trustees gathered with Cal U’s head coaches and several administrators around the Dixon Trophy. Cal U earned this coveted awardsignifying athletic supremacy in the PSAC after compiling a conference record 161 total points.
Annual Honor Goes to School
with Best All-Around Record
Campus BRIEFS
Children entering grades 1-8
this fall may register for the
Summer Educational
Enrichment for Kids program
(SEEK), to be held on campus.
SEEK will offer two weeklong
sessions: This week and July 20-24.
The program is conducted through
Cal U’s Office of Lifelong Learning.
Launched in 2000, SEEK
provides learning experiences that
are entertaining, yet academically
challenging.
“Our goal is for children to
explore new topics in a fun learning
environment,” says Terrie Greene,
Cal U’s executive director of
Lifelong Learning.
Classes run from 8:30 a.m. to 4
p.m. daily. Children are escorted
between classes and supervised
during lunch. Each child will need
to bring a bag lunch; refrigeration is
not available.
Registration is on a first come,
first served basis. Once a child is
registered, the family will receive a
confirmation letter listing the
classroom location. This
confirmation letter must be
presented on the first day of class.
Cost is $125 per child for a full-
week, full-day program, or $80 per
child for a full-week, half-day
(morning or afternoon) program.
In 2007, the Learning Resources
Network, an international
association in lifelong learning,
honored California University for
excellence in generational
programming. Cal U was recognized
for developing SEEK in response to
needs expressed by area parents. The
program was selected from a field of
more than 100 entries from four
countries.
Those interested in SEEK may
register by mail, in person or by
calling 724-938-5840.
Seek Offers Two Summer SessionsFire Prompts Fund Drive: A fire last month
destroyed the home of Dr. Mark Nowak, a
longtime professor in the Department of Applied
Engineering and Technology. Neither he nor his
family was injured. The Cal U community has
responded by raising funds for the family.
Contributions can be made to: Fund Raiser For
Nowak Family, Cal Ed Federal Credit Union,
P.O. Box 497, California, PA 15419.
July 4th Celebration Canceled: Because
construction projects are ongoing at Roadman
Park, Cal U’s annual Fourth of July celebration
and fireworks display will not take place this
year. Other fireworks displays and celebrations
will be held nearby, including events along the
riverfront in Charleroi and Fredericktown.
Alumni Go Out to the Ballgame: Alumni
Night at PNC Park, a Cal U tradition, will be
held July 18, when the Pittsburgh Pirates host
the San Francisco Giants at 7:05 p.m. The Cal U
picnic in Pirates Cove begins at 5:30 p.m. Cost is
$50 per person. For tickets, call the Alumni
Relations office at 724-938-4418.
Thank You: Meghan Clister of Career
Services would like to offer her sincere thanks to
the Cal U community for their kind expressions
of sympathy following the passing of her father,
Martin Redigan.
Brent Zavislak (right) and Jonathan Susick are deep in thought as they program asmall robot during last year’s popular summer SEEK program.
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