Daily Brief

Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance

Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance is observed Sept. 11 in honor of the individuals who lost their lives as a result of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Flags are flown at half-mast. Americans are to observe with a moment of silence beginning at 8:46 a.m.

University Relations

Officer Melanie Howe Promoted to Corporal

Chief David Drezek is pleased to announce the promotion of Officer Melanie Howe to the position of Corporal, R1 Police Specialist. Officer Howe started her career at Kutztown University in September 2013. She is the department's, First Aid /CPR/ AED Instructor, Firearms Instructor, R.A.D. Instructor, and Sexual Assault Victim Advocate. Corporal Howe received her B.A. Criminal Justice Studies from Alvernia University and is currently completing her master’s degree at University of the Cumberlands. She will be assigned to the 3-11 p.m., 2nd Platoon. Please join our department in wishing Melanie all the best on her new position.

David Drezek, Public Safety

Assessment Newsletter

The Office of Assessment has published their September Newsletter and it is now available on the website: https://www.kutztown.edu/about-ku/administrative-offices/assessment/newsletters.html. The newsletter includes helpful information and links about annual assessment and general education assessment updates.

https://www.kutztown.edu/about-ku/administrative-offices/assessment/newsletters.html

The Office of Assessment

9/11 Remembrance Ceremony - We Will Never Forget

Please join Army ROTC and KU Student Veterans Association (formerly the Military Club) as they remember and honor those who lost their lives 8-8:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 11, MSU and Rohrbach Library lawn. Music by Kutztown Pipe Band, a "Moment of Silence and Tribute" display. No formal program.

Department of New Student Programs and Military & Veterans Services

Assistant Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Open Forum

LAS Assistant Dean Search: LAS Community Open Forums will be held 1 p.m. in 202 Academic Forum on the following days:
- Candidate A: Monday, Sept. 11.
- Candidate B: Wednesday, Sept. 13.
- Candidate C: Friday, Sept. 15.
CV’s will be posted in advance on the LAS Search Website.

https://www.kutztown.edu/about-ku/administrative-offices/provost-academic-affairs/las-assistant-dean-search-2023

LAS Assistant Dean Search Committee

Walk with Wynnie Monday, Sept. 11

Faculty, staff and students are invited to walk with Wynnie, the First Dog of Kutztown University, as she takes President Hawkinson and Ann Marie on a walk Monday, Sept. 11. Walkers should meet at 5 p.m. on the patio behind the President’s House for a 45-minute walk around campus, with light refreshments after the walk. The walk will be canceled in the event of rain. Other dogs are welcome to attend. Pet waste bags will be provided.

Office of the President

Anthropology and Sociology Open House

Faculty, staff and students are invited to our Anthropology and Sociology Open House. Stop by to enjoy raffles, giveaways, displays, delicious food and beverages while meeting our anthropology and sociology professors. Connect with students and discover more about our programs. Our Open House is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12, 464 Old Main (fourth floor D-wing). Please contact our department secretary, Diana LoChiatto, lochiatto@kutztown.edu or 610-683-4242 with any questions. See you there.

Diana LoChiatto and William Donner, Department of Anthropology and Sociology

Lambda Theta Phi Back-To-School Supply Drive

Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Incorporated will be holding a Back-To-School Supply Drive through Friday, Sept. 15 to collect essential back to school supplies for the Opportunity House in Reading, Pa. We will have three drop off locations available for your convenience: Multicultural Center lobby; Stratton Administration Center lobby; and the McFarland Student Union information desk. Monetary donations can be made at www.opphouse.org/donate. Thank you for your support.

Amanda Garcia, McFarland Student Union

AFSCME Monthly Meeting

Join us 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 18, 200 Academic Forum for our monthly meeting. Light refreshments will be served.

Dave Isett, AFSCME

World Mental Health Day

Did you know …
- About two-thirds of all college students say they are negatively impacted by overwhelming anxiety.
- More than 40% of college students screen positive for symptoms of depression.
- 1 in 5 college students report having thoughts of suicide in the last three academic years.
We are in the middle of a world mental health crisis and the college students we serve are no exception. The best way to combat mental health concerns is to break the stigma and talk about them, generating information not only on the concerns themselves, but also on warning signs, causes and ways to alleviate the pressures and stressors of being a college student. This is why the Office of Disability Services is planning a campuswide event in observance of World Mental Health Day 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10, across campus. Want to be part of this event? Email DSO assistant director Megan Rutter at rutter@kutztown.edu by Monday, Sept. 25.

Megan Rutter, Office of Disability Services

Fall 2023 Attendance Verification Process

For the Fall 2023 semester, we are using the Starfish platform for attendance compliance utilizing the “progress survey” function of Starfish. The initial attendance verification – required federally for awarding of financial aid – will be available Sept. 6 to 12. Faculty are able to indicate whether students have attended or have never attended by utilizing one of two flags. Please be sure to verify the attendance status of every student. Students who have just added a course, and a meeting has not yet occurred since that change, should be marked as attending. For additional assistance, please visit Starfish in D2L, email starfish@kutztown.edu, or call 610-683-4217.

Cheryl Brattley, The Center for Student Success & Academic Excellence

Building Evacuation/Fire Drills - Residence Halls

Residence Halls Evacuation/Fire Drills will be conducted Tuesday, Sept. 12 through Friday, Sept. 15. Please review the evacuation egress routes posted in hallways of the building you occupy in advance of the evacuation drills. Some slight impedance of student punctuality is expected. Please excuse this when/if necessary. Your cooperation is appreciated.

Gary W. Fleming, EH&S

Center for Engaged Learning (CEL) Fall 2023 Cookie Chats

The Center for Engaged Learning is happy to announce the first of our Fall 2023 Cookie Chats, "Take Note" 11-11:50 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 14, CEL Center, 6 Rohrbach Library. How can we help students take better notes to support their learning? Join us along with Deb Sailsbery from the Department of Elementary, Middle Level, Library and Technologies Education (EMLT), as she shows us how she uses sketchnoting in her courses. We'll also be joined by Jessica Smith from the Center for Student Success and Academic Excellence, who will share how Tutoring Services helps students develop notetaking skills. Bring examples or ideas from your own courses to join in the conversation. Our featured cookie will be a molasses crinkle.
"Planning, Perseverance, and Publications - Not Perfection" will be held 11-11:50 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, CEL Center, 6 Rohrbach Library. Academic writing and publishing are a significant commitment of time and energy. In this cookie chat, Dr. Albert Fu will share tips and strategies for having a publication pipeline despite KU's 4/4 load. We invite others to share experiences on writing, revision and dealing with peer reviewers. The featured cookie will be a coconut macaroon.
Center hours for the fall semester are:
- 9 a.m. to noon and 2-4 p.m. Monday.
- 9-11 a.m. Tuesday.
- 1-4 p.m. Wednesday.
- 9-11 a.m. Thursday.

Center for Engaged Learning web page

Center for Engaged Learning

Comp Conversations Workshops

Join us for Comp Conversations, discussions and workshops about teaching, grading and encouraging student writing. All meetings will be held in hybrid form: in-person in the CEL conference room, 6 Rohrbach Library and via Zoom at https://kutztown.zoom.us/j/95187699965. For more information, contact Dr. Amy Lynch-Biniek: lynchbin@kutztown.edu
- 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 21, "Grade Less: Approaches to Contract and Portfolio Grading In the Age of AI" In this workshop, we’ll share several approaches to contract and portfolio grading, discussing how these forms can be instrumental in AI. Participants are encouraged to bring materials for a specific course for which we can create rubrics or contracts.
- 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17, "Designing Writing Assignments that Discourage Student Use of AI" Participants are encouraged to bring a writing assignment that they’d like to reconfigure, reducing the likelihood of students turning to AI to fulfill. We’ll discuss concrete strategies for revising the assignment.
- 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, "Library Research and AI: Uses and Cautions" For discussion: how students might productively use AI to aid in their search for sources; methods of attributing AI; cautions for and challenges of inviting AI into the process.
- 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 2, "Designing Writing Assignments that Include Student Use of AI," Interested in incorporating AI into your lesson plans? Bring an assignment, and we’ll brainstorm tools and activities.

Amy Lynch-Biniek, Department of English

Call for Presentations PASSHE STEM Research Conference

2023 PASSHE STEM Student Research Conference, will be held Saturday, Nov. 11, at Kutztown University. The conference offers opportunities to all PASSHE students (undergraduate and graduate) to present any research they have conducted in the STEM disciplines* listed below. The conference is currently being organized as in-person and will feature a keynote speaker, oral and poster presentations by undergraduate and graduate students, awards for oral and poster presentations, lunch and refreshments. Please encourage your students to register at  https://mykucrm.kutztown.edu/register/STEM2023. Submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22. Contact: Dr. Brooks Emerick, bemerick@kutztown.edu.

PASSHE STEM Student Research Conference web page

Brooks K Emerick, Department of Mathematics