Junior distance runner Aaron Dinzeo will represent Cal U’s track and field program at the 2013 NCAA Division II Track and Field Outdoor Championships, which will be held at the Neta and Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl in Pueblo, Colo.

Dinzeo will compete in the 5,000-meter run at 10:30 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) May 25.

A total of 754 participants, 377 men and 377 women, will compete in the outdoor championships. Student-athletes qualified for the championships by reaching the automatic and provisional standards established for each event.

Earlier this month Dinzeo finished second at the PSAC Outdoor Championships to earn all-conference honors for a third time. He earned All-America status in March by placing seventh in the 5,000-meter run at the 2013 NCAA Division II Indoor Championships, held in Birmingham, Ala.

Apple Inc. and Cal U team up June 20-21 for ‘Fueling the Learning Experience,’ a workshop explaining how iPads and laptop computing can change the learning environment. Register now for education or IT/instructional design sessions. Read more.

Update: May 12, 2013

Cal U’s softball team concluded play at the NCAA Atlantic Regional 1 Tournament with a 6-3 loss to West Chester at Lilley Field and finishes in second place. The Vulcans end the 2013 season with a 38-6 overall record.

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Update: May 11, 2013

Cal U’s softball team at the NCAA Atlantic Regional 1 Tournament with a 4-3 loss to West Chester and a 9-1, five-inning victory over Lock Haven at Lilley Field. The Vulcans are 38-5 overall and will need to defeat West Chester twice on May 12 beginning at 1 p.m.

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Update: May 10, 2013

Cal U’s softball team opened play at the NCAA Atlantic Regional 1 Tournament with a 13-0 win in five innings over Chowan (NC) at Lilley Field. The Vulcans improve to 37-4 overall and next play West Chester or Lock Haven on May 11 at 10:30 a.m

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Original story

The softball team earned the Atlantic Region’s top seed and will host a four-team regional component of the NCAA Division II Tournament May 10-12 at Lilley Field, on Cal U’s upper campus.

The Vulcans will face eighth-seeded Chowan (N.C.) University, champions of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, at 11 a.m. May 10. 

In the other first-round game at Lilley Field, fourth-seeded West Chester will face fifth-seeded Lock Haven. 

Shippensburg University, the second seed, will host the other Atlantic Regional contest, playing Bloomsburg University while Kutztown and West Virginia State face off  in first-round competition.

Winners of the double-elimination tournaments this weekend will advance to the NCAA Super Regionals. They will play a best-of-three series from May 17-18 at the site of the highest remaining seed.

The eight Super Regional champions will compete in the NCAA Division II National Championship Tournament May 23-27 at the Moyer Complex in Salem, Va. 

The Vulcans are making their sixth consecutive NCAA post-season appearance. Under head coach Rick Bertagnolli, they have qualified for post-season play in 18 of the past 20 years .

NCAA REGIONAL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Friday, May 10 ** NEW TIMES **
Game 1 - (8) Chowan (N.C.) at (1) California (Pa.), 11 a.m.
Game 2 - (5) Lock Haven vs. (4) West Chester, 1:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 11
Game 3 - Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2, 10:30 a.m.
Game 4 - Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2, 1 p.m. (loser eliminated)
Game 5 - Winner of Game 4 vs. Loser of Game 3, 3:30 p.m. (loser eliminated)

Sunday, May 12
Game 6 - Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5, 1 p.m.
Game 7 - Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5, 3:30 p.m. (if necessary)

** Fans can follow both Atlantic Region Tournaments on Twitter - @AtlanticD2SB **

Dr. James McKenna
7 p.m. May 9
Eberly Hall, Room 110

Cal U welcomes Dr. James McKenna, a leading authority on mother-infant co-sleeping, for a lecture at 7 p.m. May 9 in Eberly Hall, Room 110.

His lecture is titled “Scientific Studies of the Evolution of Human Mother-Infant Attachment: Implications for the Health and Well Being of Mothers and Babies in Urban Industrialized Settings.”

McKenna is the director of the Mother-Baby Behavioral Sleep Laboratory at the University of Notre Dame, where he is also the Edmund P. Joyce Chair in Anthropology.

He is a world-renowned expert on infant sleep — in particular the practice of bed sharing or “co-sleeping,” especially in relation to breast-feeding. McKenna is known for conducting the first physiological and behavioral studies of the differences between solitary and co-sleeping mother-infant pairs. 

The author of Sleeping With Baby: A Parent’s Guide to Co-sleeping, McKenna is a proponent of the practice who focuses his research specifically on the relationships between sleeping arrangements, feeding method and risk factors for sudden infant death syndrome.

The lecture is free, and the public may attend. 

Update: May 18, 2013 

The women’s golf finished in ninth place following the fourth and final round of the NCAA Division II National Championship. The team played at the LPGA International (Legends Course) in Daytona Beach, Fla.
 
Cal U was 139 over-par. Lynn won the team standings at 35 over-par followed by Nova Southeastern (+38) and Barry Universities (+42).
 
The Vulcans’ top individual golfers were seniors Maria Lopez (+31) and Kim Thomas (+36), who finished in 43^rd and 48^th place, respectively.    

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Update: May 17, 2013

The women’s golf team is in ninth place following the third round of the NCAA Division II National Championship. The team is playing at the LPGA International (Legends Course) in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Cal U is 97 over-par. Nova Southeastern leads the team standings at 17 over-par followed by Lynn (+18) and Barry (+30) universities.

The Vulcans’ top individual golfers through the third round are seniors Maria Lopez (+21) and Kim Thomas (+22), who are tied for 42^nd and 44^th place, respectively.  The Vulcans conclude play at 8:30 a.m. May 18.

The women’s golf team is in ninth place following the second round of the NCAA Division II National Championship. The team is playing at the LPGA International (Legends Course) in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Cal U is 65 over-par. Nova Southeastern leads the team standings at 10 over-par followed by Lynn (+13) and Barry (+20). 

The Vulcans’ top individual golfer through the second round is senior Kim Thomas, who shot a 79 and is tied for 33^rd place.  The Vulcans next play at 8:30 a.m. May 17.

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Update: May 15, 2013

The women’s golf team is in 10th place following the first round of the NCAA Division II National Championships. The team is playing at the LPGA International (Legends Course) in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Cal U is 39 over-par. Nova Southeastern leads the team standings at 4 over-par followed by Lynn (+13) and Barry (+14). 

The Vulcans’ top individual golfer through the opening round is senior Kim Thomas, who shot a 77 and is tied for 25^th place.  The Vulcans next play at 8:30 a.m. May 16.

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Update: May 7, 2013

The women's golf team shot a 40-over 328 to finish play at the NCAA Super Region One Championships in third place, behind Indianapolis and Ashland universities. The Vulcans play next at the NCAA Division II National Championships May 15-18 in Daytona Beach, Fla.

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Update: May 6, 2013

The women's golf team shot a 28-over 316 to end the second round of the NCAA Super Region One Championships in second place, behind Indianapolis University. The Vulcans play next at 9 a.m. May 7.  

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Update: May 5, 2013

The women's golf team shot a 39-over 327 to end the first round of the NCAA Super Region One Championships in third place, behind teams from Indianapolis and Ashland universities. The Vulcans play next at 9 a.m. May 6.

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Original story:

The women’s golf team will be the second seed in the NCAA Division II Super Region One Championships, which will take place May 5-7 at Joliet Country Club in Joliet, Ill.
 
Under the guidance of ninth-year head coach MerriLyn Gibbs, the Vulcans are making their seventh consecutive appearance in the NCAA Regional. 

The team has advanced to the NCAA National Championships in each of the past three seasons and finished a program-best sixth last spring. 

The top three teams from the regional contest, plus the top three finishers who are not members of the advancing teams, will move on to the NCAA Division II National Championships from May 15-18 in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Update: May 8, 2013

The men’s golf team shot an 8-over 292 to finish the NCAA Division II Atlantic/East Region Championships in third place. The Vulcans play next at the NCAA Division II National Championships May 20-24 at the Hershey Country Club in Hershey, Pa.

Update: May 7, 2013

The men's golf team shot a 16-over 300 to end the second round of the NCAA Division II Atlantic/East Region Championships in fourth place. The Vulcans conclude play at the Regional at 7:30 a.m. May 8.

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Update: May 6, 2013

The men's golf team shot a 26-over 310 to end the first round of the NCAA Division II Atlantic/East Region Championships tied for fifth place with St. Thomas Aquinas (Sparkill, NY) University. The Vulcans play next at 7:30 a.m. May 7.

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Original story

The men’s golf team was selected to the NCAA Division II Atlantic/East Super Regional Championships, which will take place May 6-8 at Oglebay Resort in Wheeling, W.Va.

Under the guidance of sixth-year head coach Peter Coughlin, the Vulcans have finished 10th in the team standings at the NCAA Atlantic/East Regional Championships in each of the last three years.

The top three teams from the regional contest, plus the top two finishers who are not members of the advancing teams, will move on to the NCAA Division II National Championships from May 20-24 at the Hershey Country Club in Hershey, Pa.

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

Here at Cal U, we pride ourselves on offering our students high-quality academic programs that align with national standards for excellence. Seeking accreditation is one way to ensure that our programs measure up. This voluntary, peer-review process assures students and their families that a Cal U degree has real value.

Once accreditation has been earned, the national agencies that evaluate our programs return regularly to verify their quality. I’m proud to announce that a number of programs have been accredited in recent months.

• Just this week our faculty in the Department of Theatre and Dance learned that the National Association for Schools of Theatre has re-accredited Cal U’s Bachelor of Arts program in theatre. The University will remain a NAST member in good standing for the next 10 years. 

 NAST also has given its “seal of approval” to the Mon Valley Performing Arts Academy, an outreach program that has provided after-school
 and summer theater experiences for hundreds of area children.

 These accreditations affirm the quality of our theatre program, and they earn a standing ovation for the faculty, staff and students  of the
 department! 

• In March the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education visited campus to conduct its 10-year re-accreditation review of our RN-BSN program and the initial review of our MSN in Nursing Administration and Leadership. 

 The RN-BSN program allows registered nurses to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing — a degree that is in demand as health care
 becomes more complex. Cal U’s Master of Science in Nursing addresses the needs of working professionals by offering education in
 nursing administration and leadership 100 percent online.

 We have not yet received official notice on the outcome of the CCNE evaluation, but we anticipate that both programs will meet all
 accreditation standards. I compliment the Nursing Department faculty, staff and students on their dedication and hard work as they prepared
 for this accreditation visit. 

• This winter our graduate program in athletic training was re-accredited through 2016 by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education. CAATE, which also accredits entry-level athletic training programs, only recently added post-professional programs to its accreditation process. 

 Prior to 2012, the National Athletic Trainers Association accredited all post-professional athletic training programs. In June, NATA approved
 moving post-professional education programs to CAATE.

 Accredited since 1994 through NATA, Cal U’s graduate athletic training program became the first CAATE-accredited post-professional 
 program. At that time, it was one of only 16 accredited post-professional athletic training programs in the United States. Well done!

• Also in the past year, our bachelor’s degree programs in computer science and computer information systems both received accreditation from the prestigious Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, the world’s leading accreditation agency for applied science, computing, engineering and technology programs. Again, this is a team effort worth congratulating.

In all, more than 80 percent of Cal U’s academic programs are nationally accredited. Achieving accreditation requires an investment of time and resources, but I consider it one of our University’s most worthwhile endeavors.

With best wishes,

Meet Interim President Geraldine M. Jones

UPDATE: May 9, 2013

The 15^th-ranked women's tennis team today lost 5-0 to third-ranked BYU-Hawaii (29-1) in the NCAA Division II national quarterfinals.

The team finishes a stellar season season with a 17-10 overall record.

This marks the fifth consecutive year that Cal U women's tennis has reached the national quarterfinals.

UPDATE: May 8, 2013

The women's tennis team defeated Queens (NY) College 5-0 in a NCAA Division II round of 16 match. The Vulcans play BYU-Hawaii in a national quarterfinal match at 3 p.m. tomorrow.

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UPDATE: April 28, 2013

The women’s tennis team defeated Mercyhurst 5-0 today in a second-round NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Tournament match. Play was moved indoors to the Glen Creek Tennis Club in South Park, Pa.

With this win, the Vulcans improve to 16-9 overall. The team will advance to the NCAA Round of 16 May 8-11 in Surprize, Ariz. 

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UPDATE: April 27, 2013:

The women’s tennis team defeated Virginia State 5-0 today in a first-round NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Tournament match contested at Roadman Park.

The Vulcans improve to 15-9 overall. They will face Mercyhurst University beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday, April 28.

Original story:

The women’s tennis team earned the Atlantic Region’s top seed and will host preliminary-round matches of the NCAA Division II Tournament April 27-28 at Roadman Park.

The Vulcans will face eighth-seeded Virginia State, of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, at 10 a.m. April 27.

In the other first-round match at Roadman Park, fifth-seeded West Liberty, of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, will face Mercyhurst, of the PSAC, at noon.

The second-round match, featuring the two winning teams, is scheduled for 10 a.m. April 28.

The winner of the preliminary-round tournament will advance to the Round of 16 at the NCAA Division II Championships May 8-11 in Surprise, Ariz.

Cal U earned the automatic qualifier after winning an unprecedented seventh straight PSAC championship with 5-0 conference tournament victories April 19-20 over Millersville and IUP. 

Under the guidance of 11^th-year head coach Pablo Montana, the Vulcans are making their ninth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. They have advanced to the national quarterfinals five times in the past six seasons.

Register now for one of 17 New Student Registration sessions on campus.

Sessions begin June 10 and continue through July 13. Each session runs from 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

All new students are required to attend New Student Registration so they can:

• Schedule classes for the fall semester.
• Meet with department advisers.
• Speak to financial aid representatives.
• Attend informational meetings about the University and campus life.

The sessions also allow incoming students to meet faculty members and other new students.

Family members are welcome to attend.

For questions, contact Carrie Pavtis at 724-938-1626 or pavtis@calu.edu.

Online registration form

Schedule of events

2013 Technology Senior Project Symposium
9 a.m.-4 p.m.
May 3 Eberly Hall

Seniors from the Eberly College of Science and Technology have been working to solve real-world problems experienced in business and industry.

They will present their innovative solutions May 3 at the 2013 Senior Project Symposium in Eberly Hall.

Demonstrations of student-led projects and cutting-edge technologies are scheduled from 10 a.m.- noon and from 1-3 p.m.

The daylong event welcomes employers to Cal U, to provide recruitment opportunities for our talented graduates and alumni.

The event is free, and the public may attend.

To learn more about participating, contact Anthony Rodi, of the Department of Math, Computer Science and Information Systems, at rodi@calu.edu or 724-938-4131.

Evening of Poet Laureates
7 p.m. May 7
Eberly Hall, Room 110
 

Two poet laureates with ties to Cal U will read from their work at an “Evening of Poet Laureates,” part of the Visiting Writers Series sponsored by the California University Department of English and the College of Liberal Arts.

Joseph Bathanti

Poet laureate of North Carolina

Former Cal U student Joseph Bathanti, who was installed as North Carolina’s poet laureate in September, is the author of six books of poetry, two novels and a short story collection.

A Pittsburgh native, he is professor of creative writing at Appalachian State University, where he also is director of Writing in the Field and a writer-in-residence in the university’s Watauga Global Community.

Devoted to social justice, Bathanti first went to North Carolina to serve in the VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) program. He has taught writing workshops in prisons for 35 years and, as poet laureate, works with veterans to share their stories through poetry.

Bathanti’s books of poetry include:

• This Metal (St. Andrews College Press, 1996, and Press 53, 2012)
• Restoring Sacred Art (Star Cloud Press, 2010)
• Land of Amnesia (Press 53, 2009)
• Anson County (Williams & Simpson, 1989, and Parkway Publishers, 2005)
• The Feast of All Saints (Nightshade press, 1994)
• Communion Partners (Briarpatch Press, 1986).

He also has published two novels, Coventry (Novello Festival Press, 2006) and East Liberty (Banks Channel Books, 2001), as well as a book of short stories, The High Heart (Eastern Washington University Press, 2007).

Ryan Sittler

Former poet laureate of Berks County, Pa.

Ryan Sittler, poet laureate of Berks County from 2002-2008, is an assistant professor and instructional technology/information literacy librarian at Cal U’s Manderino Library.

He is also an adjunct faculty member for Clarion University's Department of Library Science and a doctoral candidate at IUP, where he is working toward a Ph.D. in communications media and instructional technology.

A videogame designer as well as a poet, Sittler is the lead designer of A Planet in Peril: Plagiarism, a Web-based educational game that won the 2010 Caspian Learning Serious Games Challenge.

Sittler has co-edited, with Dr. Doug Cook, two books for the Association of College and Research Libraries:

• Practical Pedagogy for Library Instructors: 17 Innovative Strategies to Improve Student Learning I (2008)
• The Library Instruction Cookbook (2009).

Event details

An “Evening of Poet Laureates” is free, and the public may attend. The event begins at 7 p.m. May 7 in Eberly Hall, Room 110.

A book signing and light refreshments will be offered after the reading.

Cal U is easy to reach via major highways and Toll Route 43. Directions to Cal U.

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

California University of Pennsylvania will hold a ceremonial dedication and naming of the G. Ralph Smith II Honors Hall at 11 a.m. May 3 in the entry courtyard of the building known until now as Residence Hall A.

The building’s new name honors Professor G. Ralph Smith II, who was a member of Cal U’s English Department for 30 years.

Upon his death on May 28, 2010, Smith donated his estate to the University to endow the G. Ralph Smith II General Scholarship.

His gift of $1.95 million is believed to be the largest in the University’s modern history.

Smith’s bequest will provide assistance to students who qualify for the scholarship based on merit and financial need, regardless of their major area of study. The University expects to make the first scholarship awards in the 2013-2014 academic year.

In her invitation to the campus community, Interim University President Geraldine M. Jones noted that “the G. Ralph Smith II Honors Hall is home to the University Honors Program, a dynamic living and learning environment that Professor Smith would have appreciated and encouraged.”

About Professor Smith

G. Ralph Smith II (1940-2010) served as an assistant professor of English at California University of Pennsylvania for 30 years, from 1964 to 1994. He was a 1958 graduate of Germantown Friends School in Germantown, Pa., and earned his bachelor’s degree three years later from Franklin and Marshall College. He completed coursework for his master’s degree and Ph.D. in English at Villanova University and Temple University.

Professor Smith lived in the Borough of California during his career at the University and afterward, a span of nearly 40 years. An active member of the English Department and the University community, he was personally committed to enhancing the English Department’s library, and for many years he helped to pay the tuition of incoming freshman students.

Through his estate plan, Professor Smith used virtually his entire life’s savings to create and endow the G. Ralph Smith II General Scholarship. The scholarship provides financial support to students from any major who demonstrate both financial need and academic merit.

At the time of his passing, Professor Smith was described as “a brilliant, unassuming, quiet charmer with a kind and generous heart, and an extreme wit who made you think even if you didn’t think you could.”

About the renaming

The campus community is invited to attend the ceremonial dedication of the G. Ralph Smith II Honors Hall. The ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. May 3 in the entry courtyard of residence Hall A. 

Representatives of the University, the Emeriti Faculty Association and the University Honors Program will be among those participating at the naming ceremony.

Light refreshments will follow the dedication.

Manderino Library will present Koran By Heart: One Chance to Remember from 1-3 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. April 16, in the library.

The HBO documentary follows the progress of three 10-year-old scholars, a girl and two boys, as they compete against other students, some twice their age, in a contest called the International Holy Koran Competition.

A short discussion and question-and-answer session will be led by a Kaddour Boukaabar, a professor at Cal U in the Department of Math, Computer Science and Information Systems. 

The public is invited to attend. 

The film is part of the Bridging Cultures Bookshelf: Muslim Journeys, a collection of books, films and other resources that discuss the complex history and culture of Muslims in the United States.

Cal U is one of the institutions selected to receive this collection, which is made possible by the National Endowment for the Humanities in cooperation with the American Library Association. Support was provided by a grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Bid on auction items

Bidding opens April 15 and continues through noon April 29 in the fifth Pittsburgh Penguins Online Auction supporting scholarships at Cal U.

Players James Neal, Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang, Marc Andre Fleury and Jerome Iginla all have autographed items for the fundraiser.

California University is the official education partner of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Since 2009, online auctions have raised more than $24,000 for the Pittsburgh Penguins Scholarship at Cal U.

The scholarship is awarded annually to a student who demonstrates financial need and maintains a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher.

Hockey fans can bid on these items:

• Real Deal James Neal
  James Neal autographed replica jersey, autographed mini-helmet and autographed puck. 
• Geno! Geno! Geno! 
  Evgeni Malkin autographed replica jersey, autographed mini-helmet and autographed puck.
• Quintessentially Kris
  Kris Letang autographed replica jersey, autographed mini-helmet and autographed puck.
• The newest Penguin
  Jerome Iginla autographed replica jersey, autographed mini-helmet and autographed puck.
• The Flower
  Marc Andre Fleury autographed replica jersey, autographed mini-helmet and autographed puck. 
• Golf with the old two-niner at Nemacolin
  Round of golf at Mystic Rock and lunch for two (2) with Phil Bourque at Nemacolin Woodland Resorts (Date mutually agreed upon).
• VIP Game Night Experience
  Dinner for two (2) at the Lexus Club, two (2) autographed pucks, view warm-ups from the penalty box, Zamboni Rides during pre-game festivities and two (2) premium seat for the game (Date mutually agreed upon).
• Iceburgh's Birthday Party
  The Penguins mascot (Iceburgh) will make a 60-minute appearance at the winner's house, ten (10) autographed pucks, a DQ Penguins Ice Cream Cake (Date mutually agreed upon, must be within 40 miles of CONSOL Energy Center).
• Michael Michael Motorcycle
  Hall of Fame Penguins broadcaster Mike Lange signed and framed limited edition "Langism" Poster. Plus a pre-game tour for four (4) fans of the Penguins Broadcast Booth and a chance to meet the Broadcast crew.
• Penguins Game Day Watch Experience
  Join five (5) of your friends and enjoy a morning up close at CONSOL Energy Center watching the Penguins morning practice. Event includes six (6) Penguins gift packs for you and your friends. 

Bid on auction items

All vehicles entering campus from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 13, must pay for “event” parking. 

Landmark Co. will be handling parking collections for the Convocation Center, which is featuring a concert by Bob Dylan and his band.

Cal U parking permits will NOT be recognized for vehicles entering during those hours. Students, faculty and staff who have business on campus should plan to arrive before 4:30 p.m. or after 7:30 p.m.

Students may continue to access campus via the Vulcan flyers during this time.

For more information, contact the Office of Parking and Transportation at  724-938-4677 or kirk@calu.edu. 

To showcase the talents of faculty and students, the Faculty Professional Development Committee will present the seventh annual Academic Excellence Days April 23-24.

This year’s theme is “Taking the Lead Together.”   

A variety of activities designed to stimulate academic excellence will take place each day from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the second floor of the Natali Student Center.  

The FPDC Teaching and Learning Subcommittee will sponsor two presentations by Dr. Ian Crawford, chair of the Arts and Humanities Division of the Council for Undergraduate Research.

Both presentations will take place on April 23 in Room 206 of the student center.

At 11 a.m., Crawford will present “Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creativity: Going Beyond the Sciences.” He will describe the benefits of undergraduate research for faculty as well as students, discuss the institutional value of undergraduate research programs, and identify key features of successful programs.  

At 2 p.m., Crawford will facilitate a workshop, “Incorporating Undergraduate Research into Your Syllabus,” designed to help faculty build undergraduate research opportunities into their existing courses and implement them throughout the curriculum.

Additional faculty and student presentations will take place during the two-day event. Attendees will learn about encryption codes and how to “crack” them, discover how iPads can be used in the classroom, and explore the use of mock trials to teach legal concepts.

Posters created by students will be on display from 9:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m. each day in the Performance Center. The Student Scholarship, Research and Creativity Day Poster Session will be held April 23, and the Service and Service-Learning Poster Session will be held April 24.  

Artworks created by students in the Department of Art and Design will be displayed both days in the Airport Lounge, where three a cappella singing groups — Cal Singers, Vulcanize and Acappella Stella — will perform an eclectic mix of popular music from noon-1 p.m. on April 24.

The Academic Excellence Learning Communities Award program, initiated by and supported through the FPDC, awards competitive grants to faculty and staff who want to plan a learning community to foster academic excellence, intellectual rigor and civil discourse.  Proposed learning communities must be multidisciplinary and include students, staff and faculty. 

During this year’s Academic Excellence Days, Dr. Marta McClintock-Comeaux, the 2012 AED award winner, will report on her project activities during the past year. Other CAL U faculty members who have received FPDC grants also will discuss their grant-funded projects and how they have contributed to their professional development.  

A continental breakfast and buffet lunch will be served both days at the Natali Performance Center from 7:30-9 a.m. and from 11a.m.-12:30 p.m., respectively.

All members of the University community are invited to attend this event.

A complete schedule of events will be available at the Faculty Professional Development Center’s website. For more information, contact the FPDC office at 724-938-4505 or e-mail fpdc@calu.edu.

Red & Black Game
Cal U All-Stars vs. Steelers Footballers Basketball Team
8 p.m. May 2, 2013 Cal U Convocation Center
Tickets $7 (general admission), $15 (VIP courtside) available at the door

There will be plenty of action on the court when the Cal U All-Stars challenge the Steelers Footballers Basketball Team at California University of Pennsylvania.

But the Cal U crowd will be keeping an eye on the sidelines during the Red & Black Game at 8 p.m. May 2 in the Convocation Center arena.

Interim University President Geraldine M. Jones will be coaching the Cal U All-Stars. Her husband, Jeff Jones, will be coaching the Steelers players.

“I may not know basketball strategy, but I do know our Cal U All-Stars. They have the skill and the will to win!” says President Jones.

“I’m so confident in our team’s ability to win,” answers Jeff Jones, “that in the unlikely event we lose, I will let Gerri shave off my mustache at mid-court immediately after the game.”

Basketball and more

While this good-natured rivalry plays out on the benches, teams comprising Cal U students, faculty and staff will face the Steelers Footballers in four rounds of fast-paced basketball action.

Steelers players will sign autographs for 10 minutes during half-time. More entertainment is planned for intermissions, and refreshments will be available for purchase.

Tickets at the door

Ticket price is $7 for general admission or $15 for courtside VIP seating. Tickets will be sold at the door.

The game is sponsored by Cal U’s Black Student Union. Proceeds benefit the Jennie Carter Scholarship Fund, named in honor of California’s first African-American graduate. Everyone is welcome at this all-ages community event. 

Young anglers can try their luck when Cal U and the community again collaborate to present the 18^th annual Pike Run Youth Fishing Festival, set for 8 a.m.-3 p.m. April 20 at Rotary Park, off Route 88 (Third Street) in California.

The free event is open to boys and girls ages 15 and younger. A parent, guardian or other responsible adult must accompany children ages 12 and younger. 

Participants may bring their own fishing gear, or they can borrow equipment from a Cal U student volunteer as part of the state Fish and Boat Commission’s Borrow-A-Rod-and-Reel program.

The Pike Run Fishing Festival Committee will stock the stream with nearly 500 rainbow, brook, brown and golden trout, some as long as 24 inches. As it has done in the past, the committee will provide entertainment and food for the event. 

Registration begins at 7 a.m. Along with excellent fishing, participants can look forward to family-friendly games, raffles, fishing contests and many other activities.

The festival closes with a weigh-in, prizes and the awarding of trophies. Youngsters are encouraged to help stock the stream at 2 p.m. April 19. 

Cal U’s Dr. John Confer, faculty adviser for the event, said this successful collaboration between the university and community has attracted nearly 200 participants in each of the past six years.

“Everyone involved in the event learns about environmental stewardship, and it’s an excellent experience in community involvement for our students,” he said. 

The fishing festival is co-sponsored by Cal U’s Student Government Association, the Department of Earth Sciences’ parks and recreation program, and the Cal U Eco Learning Community, in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, the California Rotary Club, the Borough of California and the California Borough Recreation Authority.

The festival also celebrates Earth Day. 

For more information, contact Confer at 724-938-4211 or confer@calu.edu, or visit the Pike Run Youth Fishing Festival website or Facebook page. 

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

As we prepare to celebrate Honors Convocation tomorrow, and Commencement next month, I want to congratulate our students and faculty for their scholarly achievements during the 2012-2013 academic year. 

As interim president, I find it uplifting to see the excellent academic work undertaken by our students. At Saturday’s Honors Convocation, more than 1,400 students will be named Presidential Scholars, and I am proud of each and every one.

All of us at Cal U recognize the dedication needed to accomplish this significant academic achievement.

I congratulate not only our Presidential Scholars, but all of our students who work so diligently, day after day, to expand their knowledge and abilities. I know that many of our students juggle their classroom assignments with jobs in order to pay for their college education, so I commend them for their work ethic and their commitment.

In addition, I want to commend our faculty for their excellent work in the classroom, in their research and other scholarly pursuits, and in their service efforts. I know how much our faculty members care about our students, and I am impressed by everything they do to create a dynamic learning environment. 

Working together, our faculty and students have explored, researched, debated and discovered. Their combined energies power our University and propel it toward excellence.

Our staff also makes an invaluable contribution to this vibrant teaching and learning environment. Their efforts create an unforgettable campus experience for our students. They are the reliable foundation for Cal U’s continuing success.

As interim president – and particularly as an alumna of Cal U – I am so appreciative of our hardworking students, faculty and staff. I am grateful to have the opportunity to lead this great institution at this time in our history.

With warm wishes,

Meet Interim President Geraldine M. Jones

Thinking about pursuing a master’s degree? California University is hosting an open house from 5-7 p.m. April 17 in the Kara Alumni House. 

Cal U’s School of Graduate Studies and Research offers both traditional face-to-face classes and master’s degree programs delivered 100 percent online. 

This informal open house lets you meet with faculty, staff, students and alumni who can share information about Cal U’s master’s degrees in 35 fields of study, including nursing, education, legal studies, athletic training and business administration.

Cal U’s School of Graduate Studies and Research also offers certification and licensure programs for professional educators and counselors, as well as certificate programs and letters of completion in a variety of fields. 

The event is free, but registration is requested. Parking is available on campus.

To register for the open house, contact Nikki Popielarcheck at 724-938-5490 or popielarcheck@calu.edu.

Learn more about the School of Graduate Studies and Research

View a list of graduate programs

Learn more about Global Online

Application and admissions information 

Directions to Cal U

Computer-driven cars will be racing to campus for the Freescale Cup East Coast Regional competition from 1-4 p.m. April 27 at the Convocation Center. 

Sponsored by the microprocessor manufacturer Freescale, the global collegiate competition challenges students to program and race autonomous, small-scale model cars around a racetrack, seeking the fastest time.  

Stakes will be high this year: Nearly 40 teams from Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island will travel to Cal U to face off for a chance to compete Aug. 21-24 in Harbin, China.

The West Coast regional winner will be on campus to face the East Coast winner immediately after the regional competition. The winner of that face-off will advance to the international contest. 

For Freescale Cup competitions, each team is given a car chassis and basic parts. Students are responsible for the programming, motor control and sensory components of the car. 

The little cars zip around the racetrack, following a black line by using a sensor or camera attached to the bottom of the car.

“This isn’t the type of problem that has a textbook or cookie-cutter solution,” said Dr. Jeff Sumey, an associate professor in the Department of Applied Engineering and Technology.

Each car has different dynamics, he explained, so students must use mathematical formulas or trial-and-error to discover the most effective tuning options. 

“It is a very interesting engineering problem to solve,” said Sumey, who is responsible for bringing the competition to Cal U. 

Freescale Cup competitions have grown in popularity over the past decade. Worldwide, more than 20 countries and 1,000 universities now participate in Freescale events. 

The competition also has added to the success of the Electrical Engineering Technology (EET) program at Cal U, said Sumey, who started using the Freescale Cup cars as a term project for his junior-level EET 360 course back in 2010.

“The cars are creating a lot of excitement about the program and the class in a ‘trickle-down’ sort of way,” he said. “Freshman entering the program look forward to participating in the course, and student enrollment in the class has doubled since I added the project.” 

When the competition comes to campus in April, Cal U will have three or four teams racing their cars against teams from some of the best engineering universities in the region.

“It is a very good project for what we do in this program,” said senior Paul Dixon, an EET major. “The competition gives a very comprehensive view of embedded programs, and it takes what we do in the classroom to another level.” 

A team from Cal U couldn’t get its car to perform at last year’s regional competition at Penn State University, but this year students are looking forward to showcasing their knowledge on home turf.

“The competition is the end-game to our time in the program,” said senior Dakota Diehl, another EET major. 

“We look forward to the event. It really helps us stay focused on our studies, learn to be part of a team and manage our time throughout our experience at Cal U.” 

See the cars in action

There will be a scheduled power outage on Friday, March 29, from 4-6 p.m. in order to complete necessary repairs on electrical circuits affected by the recent power outage.

All computers and sensitive equipment should be powered off prior to 4 p.m.

Buildings that will be affected are:

• Hamer Hall
• Heating Plant
• Helsel Hall
• New Science
• Old Main
• Pollock
• South Hall
• Vulcan Hall
• Watkins

For questions or concerns, contact Facilities Management at 724-938-4409.

Shatter the Silence II: Identifying, Rescuing and Rehabilitating Sexually Exploited Children, Adolescents and Young Adults
8:30 a.m.-3:45 p.m.
April 4
Performance Center, inside the Natali Student Center

Students from Cal U’s Department of Social Work have been conducting an extensive community outreach effort to bring the National Association of Missing and Exploited Children’s “Campaign Against Sexual Exploitation” to communities throughout southwestern Pennsylvania.

They will report on their progress, and hear from experts in human trafficking and sexual exploitation, at Shatter the Silence II, a summit set for 8:30 a.m.-3:45 p.m. April 4 in the Performance Center inside the Natali Student Center at Cal U. See the full schedule

Shatter the Silence grew out of a service-learning project, and Cal U students are playing a big part in spreading the message ‘Not here, not anywhere’ throughout southwestern Pennsylvania.”

At the summit students also will introduce a non-traumatic “safety song” for young children and a T-shirt logo for use in prevention education with older children and teens.

The problem of exploitation

Pennsylvania is considered a “pass through” state for human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

The problem is not confined to urban areas. Children, adolescents and young adults in rural and small-town communities, especially those along interstate highways, are especially vulnerable to involuntary recruitment into the sex-for-profit industry, often a component of organized crime.

The summit at Cal U

The summit is presented by Cal U’s Assessment, Intervention and Training Center, in partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.

The free event is open to individuals, community stakeholders and human service providers, including social workers, therapists, teachers and law enforcement personnel. Continuing education units are available for licensed social workers.

Admission is free, but registration is required. A free box lunch will be provided.

To register for the summit, leave a message at 724-938-5910 or send e-mail. 

Social Work at Cal U

California University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Social Work offers bachelor’s degree and master’s degree programs.

The programs are fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, the only accrediting body for social work education programs at the bachelor's and master's degree levels.