Cal U President's Perspective

Advancing Careers:Building a foundation for success

PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

From the desk of Dr. Angelo Armenti, Jr.,

president of California University of Pennsylvania

SPRING

2011

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Would you take your car to a repair shop where thetechnicians were honest

and reputable but didn’t have the latestequipment? Where they didn’t understandthe intricacies of the 21st-century car?

Of course not.Would you choose a service center

where the technicians were skilled at carrepair, but had larceny in their hearts?

I’m sure you wouldn’t.You’d choose, instead, a technician

you could trust — a worker who has built a reputation for being both competent and of good character.

That’s the thinking behind Cal U’s mission of Building Careers.

We know that job skills, while essential, aren’t enough. Truly successfulcareers are founded on both competence and character.

In our Cal U courses, through our student support services and in campusactivities, we help students strengthen both of these essential attributes.

Our goal is to graduate capable, trustworthy leaders — men and womenpoised for success now and in the future.

Because we recognize that competence and character are two sides of the same coin, two transcripts document student progress at Cal U.

An academic transcript testifies to competence, listing all courseworkcompleted. An activities transcript — also an official University document —chronicles volunteer work, community service, internships and other character-building experiences.

We believe these twin transcripts give our graduates an edge in today’scompetitive job market.

More importantly, we are convinced that the competence and characterthey document will provide the foundation for a successful career.

I invite you to play a part in our University’s career-building efforts. A number of outreach and mentoring opportunities are available through our Career Services and Alumni Relations offices.

One place to start is the Cal U Career Network group on LinkedIn,www.linkedin.com , a social networking site for professionals. With close to 400 members and counting, the Cal U Career Network is a great placeto connect with students and alumni who are actively involved in advancing their own careers, and in helping others along the way.

With warm regards,

Angelo Armenti, Jr.President, California University of Pennsylvania

F R O M T H E P R E S I D E N T

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Advancing careersCAL U LAYS A FOUNDATION FOR

PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL GROWTH

How does a university measure itssuccess? At Cal U, we often look to our alumni.

When we see CaliforniaUniversity graduates takingtheir place in the work-force, becoming leaders in their fields and makinga positive difference inthe lives of others, weknow that our institutionis fulfilling its mission of Building Character, Building Careers.Of course, it is always

gratifying to hear fromyoung graduates who have landed theirfirst job. That initial success is a testamentto their hard work — and a positive reflection on the excellent faculty whoprepared them to succeed. But there is more to Building Careers

than helping our students get a foot in thedoor. To truly fulfill its mission, Cal Umust prepare future leaders — capable,confident individuals who can forge the

relationships that are the foundation ofcontinuing success.

Trust is the currencyof those all-importantrelationships, says Dr. Stephen R. Covey,author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.In order to be successful,leaders must provethemselves trustworthyby demonstrating twokey virtues: competenceand character. Both traits are

essential. Few peoplewill trust an incompetent to lead. Nor will they trust a person of questionablecharacter. However, competent men and women

of good character do inspire trust. Becausethey prove themselves trustworthy, theycan build the relationships required to become leaders in the workplace and at home.

‘‘By focusing on both character

and careers, California University

is perfectly positioned to produce

leaders — people who can be

highly effective in both their

careers and their personal lives.

’’

Senior Jeff Ward’s resumé includes an internship in Washington, D.C., where the political science major with a pre-law concentration gained valuable work experience.

B u i l d i n g C h a r a c t e r .

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Viewed in this light, it becomes obviousthat both parts of Cal U’s mission are indispensable. Building Character is inextri-cably linked to Building Careers. By focusingon both character and careers, CaliforniaUniversity is perfectly positioned to produce leaders — people who can behighly effective in both their careers andtheir personal lives.

Classroom competence So how does Cal U equip students

for a lifetime of professional and personalgrowth? First, we nurture competence by offering

strong academic programs — about 150 undergraduate majors or concentrationsand 50 graduate programs.More than 80 percent of Cal U’s programs

of study are accredited by nationally recognized agencies, assuring that theymeet established quality standards. In addition, experienced professionals serveon advisory boards for many programs, ensuring that academic training alignswith workforce needs. The University’s longest-standing

program accreditation dates to 1954, when the teacher education program wasaccredited by NCATE, the National Councilfor Accreditation of Teacher Education. The work of obtaining and renewing accreditation continues across our campus,

with a goal of securing accreditation for all eligible programs.Strong programs rely on a faculty

dedicated to excellence in both teachingand learning. Most Cal U faculty membershave terminal degrees, and many are involved in cutting-edge research that advances their own standing in the community of scholars. Under the guidance of these energetic

professors, students not only acquire knowledge but also witness leadership andcareer development firsthand.Recognizing that change is inevitable

in the 21st-century workplace, Cal U offersclasses that emphasize both job-specific and broad-based, transferrable skills. In the Job Outlook 2011 survey conducted

by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, business leaders identified verbal communication, a strong work ethic,teamwork, analytical thinking and initiativeas the five key attributes they look for in job candidates. Undergraduate coursework,in particular, develops these adaptable,durable skills.Graduate programs focus more

specifically on career advancement. Cal U’sGlobal Online makes it especially convenientfor mid-career professionals to earn a master’sdegree or postsecondary certificate whilefulfilling other commitments at home or on the job.

Cal U hosts workshops and seminars where both studentsand professionals can learn new skills. Here, WashingtonSchool District teacher David Bunting and graduate studentSally Groves ’08 explore social media.

B u i l d i n g C a r e e r s .

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For example, teachers can enhance theircompetence in technology education, Englishas a second language, or STEM education.Experienced educators can position them-selves for leadership roles by completing theadministrative program for principals orearning a superintendent’s letter of eligibility. Justice professionals can earn a master’s

degree in applied criminology, a newGlobal Online offering. For healthcare professionals, Cal U offers a popular MSNprogram in nursing administration andleadership. Two new certificate programs in Spanish address the specific needs ofleaders in business and law enforcement. These 100 percent online programs,

and many more, are delivered with thesame commitment to quality as Cal U’sface-to-face classes. And because our University is fully accredited by the MiddleStates Commission on Higher Education,Cal U Global Online students earn a degreethey can point to with pride.

Character at workThere is no shortcut to competence,

but Cal U educators know that ability alonewill not suffice. They understand that professional ethics and strong personal values— in short, character — are required to secure a successful career and a fulfilling life.In fact, a faculty committee has been

meeting for more than a year to discussways to integrate character-building intothe curriculum.Other initiatives are already under way.

Through the Character Education Institute,every member of the Cal U community is offered 7 Habits training free of charge.Some professors also weave elements of Dr. Covey’s leadership principles into their day-to-day teaching. They realize that fostering habits such as “Begin with the endin mind” and “Synergize” prepares studentsfor success in the workplace and beyond.By nurturing these principles and hold-

ing students to high standards of integrity,civility and responsibility — the University’score values — Cal U fosters a campus culturein which character counts.Long before graduation day, Cal U

encourages students to test both their competence and their character in real-world situations.

Internships and pre-service teaching experiences challenge them to respondcompetently to the demands of an actualworkplace. Immersed in the corporate culture, they quickly learn the charactertraits required to succeed. The most successful interns also

demonstrate leadership. They use this valuable experience to earn the trust of future colleagues and prove their trust-worthiness to a potential employer. Inshort, they start to build a career.At Cal U, Building Careers doesn’t end on

graduation day. In the spirit of Cal U for Life,the door to Career Services remains open.At any stage of their career, alumni maycontact the office for job search assistance,career assessments, networking opportunitiesand referrals. All services are free — onesmall part of the lifelong relationship theUniversity hopes to maintain with everyone of its graduates.At Cal U, our alumni are a constant

source of pride. Through their competenceand character, our University graduates havebuilt noteworthy careers in education andprofessional studies, in science and technology,and in the liberal arts. We celebrate theircontinuing achievements — and we recognizethat their success is our success, as well.

Student-teacher Jackie Davis reads with the third-grade class at Pittsburgh Mifflin PreK-8, in the Pittsburgh Public Schools.


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Internships build resumés ––and character

’’

An internship can be life-changing.Some students findtheir voice, and othersfind their passion.

‘‘

Karen PrimmDirector Internship Center

Karen Primm challenges studentsto step out of their comfort zoneand into the workplace. Long

before graduation, she wants them to start thinking about a career.“I won’t be happy until all our students

have some real-world experience beforethey leave here,” says Primm, the directorof Cal U’s Internship Center since it opened in 2004.Last year more than 3,000 Cal U

students participated in some form of “experiential learning,” including pre-serviceteaching and non-credit co-ops. Of thosestudents, nearly 900 completed a faculty-supervised internship for academic credit.It’s a start, Primm says, but it’s not

enough. In a competitive job market, employers look first at candidates who have proven themselves in the workforce,as well as in the classroom. She wants everyCal U graduate to have that advantage.

An internship builds confidence, Primm says, as students put their academictraining to the test. Some are surprised todiscover how much they already know.The experience tests their character, too.“When students take on internships,

they find out that leadership is a process,”she says. “It’s not just at the top. There isleadership at every level.”Immersed in the corporate culture,

interns see the importance of principlessuch as confidentiality, ethical accounting,social responsibility and respect for diversity. They begin to build relationshipswith colleagues and employers, based on mutual trust.“They have to discover their own

values, articulate them and use those values to make decisions,” Primm explains.“They don’t only learn from doing thework; they learn from reflecting on it. Andwhat could be more character-building?”


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An internship may not be a student’sfirst job, but it’s often his or her first professional experience — the first truestep toward a career. To help students prepare, the Internship

Center screens candidates and refers themto Career Services for interview trainingand a resumé review. Once they are prepared, students apply for an internshipjust as they would for a job. Employers may select interns based

on their competence, but Primm has madecharacter-building a part of the process, too. Every potential intern is required to

complete five professional-level trainingmodules before the internship begins. Theonline lessons address safety and security,professional development, employmentdiscrimination, sexual harassment, and diversity in the workplace.During the work experience, each

intern is supervised by a faculty member,as well as someone at the job-site.

Journals, portfolios, logs, papers or otherevaluations document their progress. Anintern typically earns three to 12 credits,which are noted on his or her academictranscript. Details of the internship alsocan be included on the student’s activitiestranscript, an official document that can be shared with prospective employers. Primm hopes to continue making

high-quality internships available, including opportunities to work in major U.S. cities and even overseas. But whether it’s close to home or a world

away, an internship can be life-changing.Some students find their voice, she says,and others find their passion. With the helpof Rutledge Internship Award scholarships,some are able to live and work away fromhome for the very first time.“I want every student to have this

opportunity,” Primm says. “I want everyone of them to graduate with a resuméfilled with experiences.”

M A K E A D I F F E R E N C E

Internships give students an edge in the job market. They introduce employers to talented, motivated potentialemployees. And they give generous donors a chance to make a real difference in a student’s future. You can help launch a career!

STUDENTS:Identify your skills and define your career goals. Then contact the Internship Center to learn about the process.Begin early — all internships must be approved and students must register their intent well in advance.

EMPLOYERS:Call the Internship Center at 724-938-1578 and request the Guide for Employers. Develop an internship description, identify a supervisor and use the online Employer/Internship Form to add your business to the Internship Center database.

FRIENDS:Invest in student success through Cal U’s capitalcampaign, The Campaign to Build Character andCareers. Or ask about the Rutledge Internship Awardscholarships, which support students who otherwisecould not afford this valuable experience. To learnhow you can help, visit www.calu.edu/giving .


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7 Habits guides work with clients, colleagues

In a class she taught last fall, Dr. ElizabethGruber asked her graduate students toconsider their “professional journey.” Then she gave these aspiring counselors

a guidebook: The 7 Habits of Highly EffectivePeople, by Dr. Stephen R. Covey.“Character is so important,” says Gruber,

a professor in the Department of CounselorEducation. Lives and careers go off track, she believes,

“when people are not focused on principles.”The 7 Habits points them in the right direction. Gruber was among the first faculty

members to participate in 7 Habits trainingat Cal U, and then to be certified as an instructor. She volunteers to teach the program once or twice a year, presenting the program to students, faculty and staff. When it fits naturally, Gruber also

incorporates the 7 Habits vocabulary intoher classroom and clinical work. “It addresses a lot of issues around

relationships,” she says. “And it’s helpful to have a common language to discuss character in the workplace.”From a counselor’s perspective, Habit 1:

Be Proactive is about choosing your own response, not merely reacting to others.Habit 4: Think Win-Win is a guide for building balanced relationships. And Habit 5: Seek First to Understand,

Then to Be Understood is a reminder to listen with empathy.“Trust is a core element within the

counseling relationship. You have to establishtrust, or the work you do may not be effective,”Gruber explains. “But in any field, people are more willing

to work with you when there is trust. If theydon’t trust you, don’t see you as a person ofcharacter, they will back away and you won’tget the support you need.“Dr. Covey’s idea of making deposits

into that ‘emotional bank account’ is some-thing we should do every day.”

The American Counseling Associationhas a formal code of ethics for clinicians,and the counselor education program at Cal U examines its tenets in depth. Theethics code insists that counselors take careof themselves, so that stress in their personaland professional lives doesn’t adversely affect their work with clients.“We need to be able to stay healthy —

physically, mentally, socially/emotionallyand spiritually. In that regard, I see the7 Habits as a tool for wellness, too.”Gruber points out that she was intro-

duced to Dr. Covey’s insights as she was returning to full-time work after the birth of her fourth child.“It helped me, personally, to put things

into perspective. We’re always in the processof trying to achieve balance, and it gave melanguage I could use to talk with supervisors,and even my family, about priorities andwhat I truly needed to do.”Graduate students in her counselor

education class saw the value of 7 Habits onthe job, says Gruber, who makes regular sitevisits to observe students who are working to become school or community-basedcounselors. “They found they could usethese habits not just with clients, but also inmeetings, or with challenging colleagues.”One class member, a high school

counselor, now talks with her students about “healthy habits.” Others have foundthe habits applicable to their personal relationships, as well as workplace situations.“People respond to The 7 Habits differ-

ently, depending where they are in their lifeand in their career,” Gruber says. “Differenthabits speak to them in different ways.“But we’ve all seen how these habits

play out. When you have a leader withstrong character, you’ll get through the hard times. With a leader you trust, you’ll be able to get through the storm.”


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Trust is a core elementwithin the counselingrelationship. You haveto establish trust, or the work you do may not be effective.

‘‘

’’Dr. Elizabeth Gruber Professor and Field CoordinatorDepartment of Counselor Education


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‘‘ It’s understood that teachers aremodels in their classrooms. We alsomust model the character we want

to see in our students.’’Dr. Joseph Zisk, Program Coordinator

Master of Arts Teaching: Advanced Studies in Secondary Education

California University has been building careers in education formore than 150 years. To help good

teachers become even better, Cal U offers aMaster of Arts Teaching: Advanced Studies in Secondary Education.“The MAT program’s advanced track

is for middle school and high school educators who are looking to advance within their profession,” says Dr. Joseph Zisk, program coordinator for the past seven years. “It’s about becoming the bestteacher possible.”The 100 percent online program

correlates with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, and it helps teachers prepare for the rigorous National Board Certification process. MAT students typically have been

full-time educators for several years. The program strengthens their competence in areas such as classroom management, curriculum design and learning assessment. “This advanced class is based on research,”

MAT program advancesteaching careers

explains Zisk, a Cal U alumnus who spent 26 years in public schools before returning to his alma mater. “We focus on proven strategies, and

we ask our students to practice them intheir own classrooms.”Zisk introduces teachers to instructional

technology that can enhance learning andengage “digital natives” growing up in theInternet Age.He shows teachers how to embed

audio files into PowerPoint presentations,then post the lessons online for students to review. He encourages them to use wikisand blogs, “to get students to help one another.” He adds audio comments whengrading their papers and uses Web-basedpolling tools to take quick surveys in class.To advance their careers, teachers

must learn to use such high-tech tools effectively, Zisk says. Many public schoolsare offering cyber-classes or “blended”courses that include both face-to-face andonline components.

B u i l d i n g C a r e e r s .Joseph F. McGinn Sen. Jeffrey E. Piccola Guido M. Pichini Harold C. Shields Thomas M. Sweitzer Christine J. Toretti Gov. Tom CorbettRonald J. Tomalis,

Secretary of Education-designate Jennifer Branstetter, designee for Gov. Corbett

Lawrence Maggi ’79Michael Napolitano ’68Gwendolyn SimmonsJerry Spangler ’74Aaron Walton ’68The Hon. John C. Cavanaugh,

chancellor, ex-officio

Alan James ’62Len Keller ’61Dr. Anthony Lazzaro ’55Jim Lokay ’02Lawrence O. Maggi ’79Don Martin ’89Dante Morelli ’02Michael Napolitano ’68Melanie (Stringhill) Patterson ’82Fritz Retsch ’62, ’66Dolly Rozzi ’64James Stofan ’71Lynne Stout ’94Dr. Tim Susick ’76, ’78

President’s Perspective is published by California University of Pennsylvania.A proud member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

PENNSYLVANIA STATE SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

Nicole LowryKatie MercadanteMarc Roncone ’03Dr. Donald ThompsonMichael R. WagnerJoshua Wright

CHANCELLORDr. John C. Cavanaugh

BOARD OF GOVERNORSKenneth M. Jarin, chairmanAaron Walton, vice chairC.R.“Chuck” Pennoni, vice chairLeonard B. Altieri IIIRep. Matthew E. Baker Marie Conley Lammando Paul S. Dlugolecki Rep. Michael K. Hanna Sen. Vincent J. Hughes Jonathan B. Mack

CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIAPRESIDENTDr. Angelo Armenti, Jr.

Geraldine M. Jones, provost and vice president for academic affairsDr. Lenora Angelone, vice president for student affairs Dr. Charles Mance, vice president for university technology servicesRon Huiatt, vice president for university development and alumni relationsRobert Thorn, interim vice president for administration and financeCraig Butzine ’84, interim vice president for marketing and university relations

COUNCIL OF TRUSTEESLeo Krantz, chairRobert J. Irey, vice chairPeter J. Daley II ’72, ’75Jackie Davis, secretary

(student trustee)James T. Davis ’73Annette Ganassi

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORSDr. Harry Serene ’65, presidentTim Gorske ’62, vice presidentDr. Lorraine Vitchoff ’74, secretaryDeanne Zelenak ’79, treasurerRosemary (Rich) Bucchianeri ’69, immediate past president

Dr. Roger M. Angelelli ’64Mary Jo (Zosky) Barnhart ’84Joseph Dochinez ’51Kimberly (Mahaffey) Fahey ’97, ’99Barbara (Williams) Fetsko ’75Christina (Kost) Fosbrink ’01, ’03Josh Fosbrink, ’01, ’03Dr. Paul Gentile ’62

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERSDr. Angelo Armenti, Jr., president Leo KrantzGeraldine (Johns) Jones ’71 Linda (Hootman) Serene ’64Ron Huiatt Dr. Michael Slavin ’74

STUDENT MEMBERSAshley Baird Chase LoperJosh Giffen Jason Springer

SAI BOARD OF DIRECTORSJacqueline DavisRachel FletcherWalter D. Harris IIIRobert IreySam Jessee ’90Bonnie KeenerJim Lokay ’02

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERSDr. Lenora Angelone ’89, ’92,’97 Leigh Ann LincolnDr. Nancy Pinardi ’95, ’96, ’98 Larry Sebek

FOUNDATION FOR CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA BOARD OF DIRECTORSLinda H. Serene ’64, presidentDavid L. Amati ’70, vice presidentMichele Mandell ’69, secretaryPaul Kania ’87, treasurerRoger Angelelli ’64William R. Booker ’74Thomas Crumrine ’64 Nathaniel W. Dixon William R. Flinn ’68Richard C. Grace ’63

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERSDr.Angelo Armenti, Jr., president Dr. Harry Serene ‘65Ron Huiatt

EDITORChristine Kindl

Annette M. Kaleita ’55Gary Kennedy ’58Robert Lippencott ’66Larry Maggi ’79Michael A. Perry ’63Dr. Saundra L. Stout ’72Steven P. Stout ’85Dr. Lorraine G. Vitchoff ’74Ben Wright

PHOTOGRAPHERSGreg SofrankoS.C. Spangler11

M A S T E R I N G T E A C H I N G

The Master of Arts Teaching program at Cal U has two tracks:

TRACK I is for practicing professionals who wish to become certified teachers. The program consists of online courseworkand a three-day face-to-face retreat before students enter the classroom for a 12-weekstudent-teaching experience.

TRACK II, advanced secondary studies,is for certified teachers with full-time jobs in a middle school or high school. Deliveredcompletely online, the program is alignedwith National Board for Professional TeachingStandards and prepares teachers for the National Board Certification process.

Cal U also offers master’s degrees in STEM education, English as a second language, technology education, early childhood education and more. Certificationfor school principals and superintendents also is available.

For more information, visit www.calu.edu and click on “Academics.”

Zisk uses advanced technology whenteaching the MAT courses because “a goodteacher models effective teaching strategies.”“It’s understood that teachers are

models in their classrooms,” he says. “We also must model the character wewant to see in our students.”Character-building is embedded in the

MAT program, where discussions regularlytouch on issues of integrity and respect. A three-credit Teacher Leadership

course is designed to help educators “think beyond the classroom” and become trusted teacher-leaders.“I’m not talking about becoming a

principal or a superintendent. It’s abouthow we, as committed classroom teachers,can influence the teaching and learningenvironment in our schools,” Zisk says.“Through the MAT program, educators

who are serious about teaching, who wantto make this their career, will build newskills and get a jump-start on the NationalBoard Certification process. “This program is not about changing

careers — it’s about building a career.”

California University of PennsylvaniaBuilding Character. Building Careers.

250 University AvenueCalifornia, PA 15419-1394

www.calu.edu

A proud member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

Cal U President's Perspective

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