Faculty were recognized at a ceremony yesterday afternoon for achievements, tenure and promotion. Dr. Michael Gabriel (left with Dr. Cevallos
and professor emeritus Dr. Carlson Chambliss) and Dr. John Lizza (at right with Dr. Cevallos and Dr. Chambliss) were each honored with the
Chambliss Faculty Research Award. Dr. Randy Kaplan (in center with professor emeritus Dr. John Schellenberg and Dr. Cevallos) was honored
with the John P. Schellenberg Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.





The Daily Brief
Thursday, December 1, 2011
ANNOUNCEMENTS

A Brief Reminder -
•Please be sure to submit all considerations by 2 p.m.
•Try to keep submissions brief and insert a link to additional information.
•Include a contact name to be published.
•Format any lists of names into a paragraph.
Thank you for all of your past and future submissions!
        University Relations

 The Strategic Plan Task Force invites the campus community to an Open Forum from 11 - 11:50 a.m. today, in AF, room 203, to discuss proposed revisions to the Strategic Plan. Faculty, students and staff are encouraged to join in a conversation with our strategic planning consultant, Dr. Stephen Reno, members of Cabinet, and the Strategic Plan Task Force.
        F. Javier Cevallos, president

I am very pleased to announce that Benjamin Trout joined our staff as the new degree auditor on Oct. 10. Ben comes to us from ITT Technical Institute, in King of Prussia, where he held the position of registrar. He has a B.A. in Film and Media Arts, from the School of Communication at Temple University. Ben can be reached via email at trout@kutztown.edu or phone x3-4479.
        Michelle Hughes, registrar, Registrar's Office
Flexible Spending Accounts – Important information has been added to H.R. website regarding updates for those enrolled in Flexible Spending Accounts. Please take a moment to review.
        Jean Adam, benefits manager, Human Resources

Please welcome fifth graders and their parents today from Lauer’s Park Elementary School in Reading who are part of the Financial Aid Office’s “College Can Be a Reality” early awareness outreach program. This is the seventh year of the program and today’s visit will include interactive activities in the MSU, Boehm Science building, S. Dining Hall, and Keystone Hall. Thank you to KU students, staff, and faculty who agreed to help us today and who offered donations and support.
        Joan L. Holleran, associate director, Financial Aid

This week's MSU Movie Series film is 30 Minutes or Less which will be shown in the MSU Alumni Auditorium on Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Admission is free! Check out the MSU movie website for more information. http://www.kutztown.edu/divisions/studentservices/departments/msub/programs/submovies.asp
        John Alfero, technical services coordinator, Student Union & Involvement Services

OCAC and KCP are asking students to enter to win a poster contest promoting an environmentally-friendly Kutztown downtown and win gift cards ranging from $25-$75. Hand in a hard copy of your poster at the Community Outreach Center 281 MSU or email it in a .pdf to ocac@kutztown.edu by Dec. 16. Contact OCAC for more details, or see our poster "Make Your Mark" around campus.


·  The PASSHE Academy is a new initiative designed to expand personal and professional development and wellness opportunities for all PASSHE employees. The Academy makes some employee development programs offered at one university available to employees at all PASSHE universities. And most are offered free of charge. Visit the PASSHE Academy web and registration site at www.passhe.edu/academy. Courses are available now and will be updated on an on-going basis.  (If training is scheduled during your workday, please be sure to get supervisory approval in advance of registering. If there is a cost associated with the training, you would need pre-approval from your supervisor for funding.)For more information, please contact Alexis Martin in HR at amartin@kutztown.edu.  

· KU offers some wellness initiatives similar to those offered through the PASSHE Academy. These can be found at http://hr.dept.kutztown.edu/health.html  

· Have an idea on a future program for the PASSHE Academy? Click here to access the Training Needs Assessment Survey.   

New Enterprise Rent-A-Car Employee Personal Use Contract Number – A Kutztown University employee can rent an Enterprise rental car at the University discounted rate provided payment is made with personal funds. Effective Dec. 1,  employees renting a vehicle from Enterprise for personal use must give the new contract number XZ57179 to utilize the pricing discount. Personal rentals cannot be made through the Kutztown University website. An employee must contact Enterprise directly and identify themselves as a Kutztown University employee renting a vehicle for personal use. Please contact the Business Services Office at x3-4399 with any questions.
        Elizabeth Pflugler, assistant director, Business Services

Join Allies in the MSU Multipurpose Room on Thursday, Dec. 1 from 3-10 p.m. to learn and to help raise awareness of the truth behind AIDS. The Health Careers Society and Social Welfare Club will have tables set up. Health & Elderly will also have a condoms workstation, and Allies will have person cutouts and t-shirts for participants to make from 3-5 p.m. Allies and Health & Elderly will be collaborating to put on an HIV/AIDS Myths & Stereotypes workshop from 5-6 p.m. There will be a prize! Social Welfare will be presenting the documentary "Sex in and Epidemic" from 6-7:30 p.m., and Allies will be presenting the movie "Philadelphia" from 7:30-9 p.m.

Attention Faculty and Staff: On behalf of the General Education Assessment Committee, the General Education Committee, and the CET, I would like to announce the January 2012 Workshop on General Education and Assessment planned for Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012. The workshop will be held in the MSU multi-purpose room from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and will feature a plenary address to be followed by individual sessions on a variety of topics related to General Education and its assessment. More information will follow in the coming weeks. So save the date and join us on Thursday, Jan. 19.
        E. Gil Clary, director, Office of Assessment

Thank you to all Faculty for submitting your textbook adoptions in a timely manner. Your attention to this allows the Bookstore to buy more used books from our students at Textbook Buyback, putting more money in their pockets and more used copies on our bookstore shelves. As we prepare for the spring semester, we are attempting to ensure all course material information on our website is accurate and complete. We are reaching out to faculty and asking that they please take a minute and check to make sure their courses are listed on our website with accurate information. You can find this information at:  www.kubstore.com and click on “Textbooks”, “Purchase or Rent your Textbooks”, select “Spring 2012”, and choose your department, course, and section. If your course and section do not appear, we may have not received your textbook adoption yet. After reviewing your courses, please feel free to contact our textbook department with any questions at x3-4037.
        KU Student Bookstore
AFSCME Local 2234: This is a notice to all AFSCME employees who lost seniority due to parental leave taken prior to July 1993. Please send notice to the Human Resources office, through their work order system, stating that you are requesting your lost time back. This Request must be made before the end of the year. A form to reclaim this time was to have been distributed by the end of this year, but it has not been completed yet.
        Annette M. Christman
Keep KUR as your pre-holiday soundtrack - On Sunday, Dec. 4, tune in for "Free Speech Radio" at 10:30 a.m., "Classical Guitar Alive" at 11 a.m., Later, it's "Anything Goes" (Swing/Big Band/Old-Time Jazz) at 2 p.m., "Fifty One Percent" (Women's Talk) at 3 p.m., and "This Way Out" at 3:30 p.m.

On Tuesday, it's our Tuesday block of community access talk programming kicking off at 2 p.m. with a very special FINAL "Kutztown Live" of the semester where this week, host Mike R. turns hosting duties over to KUR alum Kyle "The Green Machine" Greenwood who will be interviewing local jazz artist and KU alum Nick Ruffini to discuss Nick's new solo album "Pressin' On." Then stay tuned at 3 p.m. for the semester's final "The Dan Donahue Show," "The KU Car Show" at 4 p.m., "Notas Latinas" at 5 p.m.

KUR's full schedule can be found by clicking on the "Schedule" link on our webpage near the top.
        Michael Regensburger, KUR Radio

ARAMARK
Java City location (Bear's Den, Book & Brew, Kutztown Perk). Gift certificates can be purchased in $5 increments for the coffee lover in your office and can be used at any Java City location on campus! Java City Gift Certificates pair perfectly with a Holiday Blend or Sugar Cookie Coffee Gift Box Set, now available just in time for holiday shopping!

Enjoy Chef Dan's Table every Tuesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in South Side Cafe! Today, Chef Dan will be tossing up Grilled Flank Steak Caesar Salads with Garlic Bread! On Thursday, Dec. 1, Chef Dan will be carving Turkey and Smoked Ham for Dagwood Club Sandwiches, Cream of Turkey Rice Soup, and Red Velvet Cake for dessert! Talk about value...all you can eat for $5 if you use Dining Dollars!

Want to see what students are eating Wednesday nights at South Side Cafe? Check out this week's Premium Night selection... Buffalo Wings with a variety of sauces, Tossed Salad, Ranch Fries and Specialty Desserts for only $1.50 in addition to a meal swipe!


In Case You Missed It:
 (Announcements and other information that have previously appeared in the Daily Brief.)
KU Community (Students/Staff/Faculty) - Online payments (MyKU, ARD’s, Bear Bucks and Flex Dollars) will be unavailable from Wed., Nov. 30 at noon, through Friday, Dec. 2 at 9 a.m. to accommodate the conversion of the credit card and e-check processing to the MyKU Hosted Payment Solutions.

Please make any online payments prior to noon Wednesday or after 9 a.m. on Friday. The Bursar’s Office remains open during this time and is able to accept cash or checks in our office like normal. Access to MyKU will not be affected during this conversion, only online payments will be unavailable.
        Wendy A. Pursell, bursar, Financial Business Services
KU student, Caitlin Smith, receives BWIC Award! Berks Women in Crisis (BWIC) is holding their 6th annual Celebration of Peace fundraising event on Dec. 12 from 6-8 p.m. in the Yashek Social Hall at 555 Warwick Drive, Wyomissing, Pa. Hors d’oeuvres and cocktails will be served.

This event marks BWIC’s 35 years of providing safety, life and hope to victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Kutztown University student, Caitlin Smith, will be receiving the first-ever Youth Voices for Change Award at the celebration. Her on and off campus activism earned her this honor. Currently interning at the KU Women’s Center, Caitlin has been a volunteer, student employee, and Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance (FMLA) and LGBTQ activist for several years. A trained KU HEART Advocate, she was a Peace Works intern with BWIC last spring, a CAMPpeaceworks facilitator this summer and is currently working weekends at the Safe House.

Tickets cost $75. Of the ticket price, $50 is tax deductible. RSVPs need to be made to BWIC by Dec. 5: reservation cards can be picked up in the Women’s Center, OM 126. For more information, please visit BWIC’s website at http://www.berkswomenincrisis.org/Fundraisingevents.html.
        Chelsea Brink, writing intern, Women's Center
Need art for your home or office? Join the Honors Club on Dec. 2 from 8 p.m.- 12 a.m. in the Bear's Den (MSU) for live performances, a raffle, KU student art auction, free coffee and a bake sale. You'll be glad you did.
        Johanna Forte, director, KU Honors Program
Holiday Movie Marathon on Friday, Dec. 2, 6 p.m.- 12 a.m. in MSU 157 and 183. Free Waffles-N-Ice Cream Station plus holiday crafts.
6 p.m. - A Christmas Story
8 p.m. - 8 Crazy Nights
10 p.m. - Elf
The Community Outreach Center is offering five different Alternative Spring Break trips from March 10-18, 2012. The trips include New York City, Pochohantas State Park, Assateague Island and two Habitat for Humanity trips to Cleveland, Ohio and Blount County, Tennessee. Applications are available now in the Community Outreach Center in MSU. If you have any questions, please contact asb@kutztown.edu.
        Jenna Shikoff, Maya Rogers & Ethan Baldwin, coordinators, Alternative Spring Break

Lavender Grads Celebration - The Lavender Grads celebration will be held on Dec. 8 in the GLBTQ Resource Center, OM 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cake and light refreshments will be served at 11 a.m. This celebration is to honor the accomplishments of Kutztown University‘s LGBTQ individuals and their allies.
        Chelsea M. Brink, writing intern, Women's Center

 Make the most of your winter break by doing employer site visits - Road trips to the real world - Join us for exciting employer site visits, learn about careers, make contacts for internships and jobs, improve your networking skills, & meet other college students from across the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic. All majors & class years welcome to explore careers with 30+ companies in: Publishing, Non-Profits, Broadcast Media, Retail, Pharmacy and Healthcare, Insurance, Finance, Accounting, etc. Here are just a few local employers who will be hosting students: Aramark, Philadelphia, PA; MOD Worldwide, Philadelphia, PA; Philadelphia Zoo, Philadelphia, PA; Prime Rehabilitation Services, Toms River, NJ; City Year Philadelphia, PA; Target, Springfield, PA; Deloitte, Parsippany, NJ; Elko & Associates (Accounting), Media, PA . Registration: Begins Nov. 21 and ends Dec. 2. https://m360.eace.org/event.aspx?eventID=32601&instance=0.
       
Resume Lab - Apply your resume knowledge in a computer lab setting where you can develop and create your resume or make changes to an existing resume with the guided assistance of a CDC staff member. Bring a flash drive (or your own laptop if you'd like) to save your work. Thur., Dec. 1, 11-11:50, DeFran 27

Job Search & Networking - Find out why a good resume isn’t all you need to land that job. This workshop will cover the Six Sure Steps to Success, the art of networking, and tips to locating those “hidden jobs” (it’s more than Monster or CareerBuilder.) Beginning the job search process can seem overwhelming…we’ll show you how to break it down into manageable tasks so you meet your goal….your career. Thur., Dec. 1, 11-11:50, MSU 250
        Kerri Gardi, director, Career Development Center
Kutztown University Chapter 269 of the international honor society Phi Kappa Phi inducted 57 new members on Nov. 29 in an evening ceremony. Assisting in the ceremony were Drs. Joseph Chuk, Elaine Reed, and Brian Wlazelek as well as members Dr. F. Javier Cevallos, and Anne Imschweiler, executive assistant to the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Science.

Candidates for initiation may be elected from all academic disciplines. Selection is made on the basis of superior academic performance supported by good character. To be considered for a membership invitation, seniors must rank in the top 10 percent of their class and juniors in the top 7.5 percent.

The students join a select group of more than 900,000 outstanding students from colleges and universities in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines who have been inducted into the society over the past century. Please congratulate these students for their academic success:  Please click here for the PDF list of students: http://www.kutztown.edu/news/brief/2011/November/11-11-30Reedlist.pdf
        Elaine Walls Reed, president, Phi Kappa Phi

The Provost’s Office is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Anne Zayaitz as Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences effective Dec. 3, 2011.

For the past two and a half years Dr. Zayaitz has served as Acting Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Dr. Zayaitz has also held various positions at Kutztown University including Associate Dean, CLAS, Interim Associate Dean, CLAS, University Ombudsperson, Associate Professor, Dept. of Biology and Assistant Professor, Dept. of Biology.

Dr. Zayaitz has attended the American Association of Colleges and Universities, Millennium Leadership Institute and the American Council on Education/Office of Women in Higher Education, 73rd National Leadership Forum. She has received several grants, given various presentations, published, and done volunteer work. She holds current Professional and Academic Association memberships with the American Council on Education, the American Society of Microbiology and the Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences.

Dr. Zayaitz received her Ph.D. and M.S. from Cornell University and her A.B. from Duke University.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Zayaitz on her appointment as Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania.
        Carlos Vargas-Aburto, provost and vice president, Academic Affairs

 KU Foundation & Alumni Engagement Open House Chili Cook-Off - All members of KU faculty and staff are invited to come out to the Wiesenberger Alumni Center at 11 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 12, for an open house, chili cook-off lunch provided by members of the Kutztown University Foundation & Alumni Engagement staff. On offer for lunch will be multiple types of chili (beef, turkey, vegetarian), prepared with care by members of the Foundation & Alumni Engagement staff. Attendees are invited to judge which chili is the best. Please drop by for a fun, first-come, first-served lunch and a chance to learn more about the KU Foundation & Alumni Engagement office.

On Thursday, Dec. 1, at 11 a.m. in DF 109  German/English BSEd student Tyler Cressman will present a Senior Seminar Project on German school reform and the German school system. Tyler has been working with  Uwe Klemm, English teacher at the Anger High School in Jena, Germany.  Through spoken and written interviews, Tyler has collected information on the recent school reforms, standardized testing in Europe, and has also learned about Mr. Klemm's experience as a teacher in the former East Germany, and how life has changed since the fall of the Berlin Wall.

 
Accounts Payable Reminder: The current standard mileage rate for personal vehicles is 51 cents per mile. Although the IRS announced an increase to the standard automobile mileage rate from 51 cents to 55.5 cents, PASSHE does not support a change at this time. The rate will stay at 51 cents per mile. If you have any questions please call Accounts Payable at x3-4147. Thank you.
        Denise Schell, Accounts Payable

 The Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI), a professional organization in the College of Education, and the education honor society of Kappa Delta Pi (KDP) would like to thank the more than 200 staff members and teacher candidates who donated to the "Giving Tree," a holiday charity initiative conceptualized by leaders of these two groups. After collecting items for three weeks before Thanksgiving, we were all very pleased to pack and send eight big boxes of food and supplies to each of the following designated charities: Animals in Distress, Hillside SPCA, and Last Chance Ranch. We were also pleased to send seven big boxes of food to Schuylkill County Pet Food Pantry; eight big boxes of new and gently used clothes and games, plus food to Berks Women in Crisis; ten big boxes of new and gently used winter clothes to People for People Charter School; and over 1,000 pounds of food to the Berks County Food Bank. Everyone expressed heartfelt appreciation to the wonderful donors from Kutztown University. As advisors for these two groups, we want to say thanks again to all of our hard workers and wonderful donors.
        Dr. Kristen Bazley, Dr. Linda McMillan and Dr. Denise Darrah, Department of Elementary Education Faculty Advisors, ACEI and KDP
The Department of Secondary Ed. and Rohrbach Library are sponsoring the movie Race to Nowhere on Monday, Dec. 5, at 5 p.m., in MSU Alumni Auditorium. This is a call to action for educators and policy makers to challenge current assumptions preparing youth through education. Admission is $3.00 donation.
        Regina Iannello, graduate assistant, Secondary Education
Looking to help out our community or need volunteer hours? Operation Snowflake is an event sponsored by OCAC that asks student organizations to help shovel driveways of the elderly when it snows. This event runs till Mar. 31, the time and date will be announced depending on the snowfall. All materials will be provided, and prizes will be rewarded to returning volunteers. Please contact ocac@kutztown.edu or drop by MSU 281 for more information.
College of Visual and Performing Arts Faculty First Thursday - Dr. Todd R. Rober, assistant professor in the Department of Music, will present “Echoes of the Incas: A Visual and Aural Journey on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu” on Thursday, Dec. 1, at 11 a.m. in the Sharadin Arts Building, room 120. Dr. Rober will recount his four-day hike on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu through visual images and music. The Presentation will be more of a travelogue than a lecture, but will provide information about the Inca history, culture and music, and many pictures of the journey. Come find out what the trek is like, and how you can participate in this memorable experience as well.
        William J. Mowder, dean, College of Visual & Performing Arts

Just a friendly reminder that the University Senate meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 1, at 4 p.m. in AF, room 203. Prior to our meeting, light refreshments will be served in the area outside of room 203, so come early if you can. If you are a Senator and cannot attend, please arrange for a substitute to represent your constituency.
        KU Senate
The University Curriculum Committee (UCC) will meet on Thursday, Dec. 1, at 11 a.m., in MSU 312, to consider the curricular proposals on its November/December agenda, which can be found online at http://www.kutztown.edu/committees/ucc/agenda.html. Individuals and/or departments with proposals on the agenda are invited and encouraged to attend to answer any questions that may arise.
        R.S. Schaeffer, chair, University Curriculum Committee