Kutztown University senior biology major Jazzmyn McCoy won first prize in the cellular/molecular sub-division in the Commonwealth of University Biologists Annual Meeting, featured at Slippery Rock University on April 14. Her poster presentation was judged out of ten others in that subdivision. As a reward for her achievement, McCoy received $50 and recognition from professionals in her field. She worked in close collaboration with Dr. Cristen Rosch, assistant professor of biological sciences. For more information about the Commonwealth of University Biologists, please visit http://academics.sru.edu/cpub/index.php?content=proceedings. 

The Frederick Douglass Institute of Kutztown University hosts its biannual “Walking in the Shoes of…” recognition luncheon for thirty three adolescents from the local foster care system on April 25. More than teens will be gaining a better understanding to campus life by shadowing a typical day with university administrators, faculty, staff and students. Keynote speaker, Dr. James Jackson of the KU psychology department, will address the youth during a special luncheon that honor their participation in the program.

Academically Adrift—Book Discussion PART 2: Join us on Monday, Apr. 30, at 4 p.m. in room 100B of the Library for part 2 of our discussion of the Academically Adrift book and the state of learning in higher education. (Attendance at the first session is not required.) Dr. Carlos Vargas will continue as our discussion facilitator as we talk about the literature surrounding this topic, how the national conversation relates to us at KU, and what can be done to move KU in the right direction in the future. We invite students, faculty & staff to participate in this important dialog. We have created a LibGuide for this topic as a place where we can share books and articles of interest to the group. It is available at: http://libguides.kutztown.edu/studentlearning. For more information, contact Bruce Gottschall at x3-4166 / gottscha@kutztown.edu.

         Karen J. Wanamaker, assistant professor, librarian

Design a basket of treasures to support KUBoK Neighborhood Watch! Then come to see the baskets displayed on-campus in the MSU, May 3 and off-campus at the Community Block Party on May 6 to enter for your chance to win! Anyone can participate - staff, faculty, departments, students, clubs and organizations. Do it individually or as a group. Be as creative as you like and as non-traditional as you want it to be. You can base it around a theme, a hobby, sporting team, or anything that comes to mind. The deadline to submit baskets is May 1. Baskets should be gift-wrapped in cellophane and can be dropped off at MSU 262. Please give your basket a creative name and identify who it is being sponsored by. Any questions, please contact Susan Mangold, Academic and Student Affairs, at x3-1396 or mangold@kutztown.edu.

         Jessica Cole, graduate assistant, KUBoK

If you applied for Fall 2012/Spring 2013 on-campus housing and will no longer be living on-campus you must provide us with a cancellation in our 106 Old Main office during our business hours which are Monday-Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm and Tuesday evenings until 6:30 pm. July 1st is the cancellation deadline. Thank you.

         Apryle Carney, associate director, Housing & Residential Services

Kutztown University Jazz Studies Upcoming Performances:

Thursday, Apr. 26, MSU Multi-Purpose Room.  Free. A JOINT CONCERT - For the first time ever Jazz Ensembles I and II and jazz vocal group AfterHours will be performing on the same event.  Jazz Ensemble II presents their tribute to Buddy Rich in their Spring Concert followed by the WORLD PREMIER of Mexico City Blues for Voices and Orchestra by KU Jazz Faculty Neal Kirkwood. Jazz Ensemble II will present a concert of challenging and swingin’ works written for jazz orchestra.  Gordon Goodwin’s extremely challenging and fun Count Bubba’s Revenge will highlight a concert of high energy works for big band, including a tribute to Buddy Rich featuring Groovin’ Hard, Basically Blues, and the Theme to Sesame Street.  A Child is Born by Thad Jones and works for solo voice and jazz orchestra will round out the Jazz II portion of the program. This will be immediately followed by Jazz Ensemble I and AfterHours premiering Neal Kirkwood’s five movement piece, Mexico City Blues.

Wednesday, May 2, MSU Multi-Purpose Room.  Free. - Jazz Ensembles I and II are together again for the Jazz Ensemble I Spring Concert.  Jazz Ensemble II will perform works from Buddy Rich and Gordon Goodwin, followed by Jazz Ensemble I. Jazz Ensemble I will present modern works for Jazz Orchestra. This eclectic concert will present works written for jazz orchestra by composers from around the world.  Sweden’s Lars Janssen’s Gnosis I and II, Michael Brecker’s African Skies, McCartney and Lennon’s Norwegian Wood,  Kutztown University Jazz Studies Alum Ryan Wise’s arrangement of Giant Steps, and Brazilian Antonio Carlos Jobim’s How Insensitive will be performed.

For more information, please contact Kevin Kjos, Director of Jazz Studies, at x3-1583 or kjos@kutztown.edu  or the Department of Music at x3-4550.

Library Survey - Please take a few minutes to complete the Global Library Consulting group survey that you received in your e-mail. The goal of the survey, which is being administered across all PASSHE schools, is “to gain critical insight and current perspectives from teaching faculty" and "better understand faculty needs and how the libraries might be enhanced to support teaching, learning, and research.” This consulting group will be making recommendations that will shape the future of libraries within the entire PASSHE system. Your honest input is extremely valuable. To take the survey, go to: https://www.research.net/s/Faculty_Survey_S1_2012. Thank you.

         Karen J. Wanamaker, assistant professor, Rohrbach Library

Please excuse the following students for a Sunshine Players tour on Apr. 25, 26, 27. They will be traveling to area elementary schools to perform "Tantrum on the Tracks." Each student knows they are responsible for making up missed work. Abraham Kue, Kailee Charles, Holly Ore, Geert Ruelens, Shoshana Roberts, Sean McKinney, Matthew Fulkerson, Courtney Chew, Stephen Aguirre, Sara C. Burke, Phillip Thomas.

         Johanna Forte, advisor, Sunshine Players

KU hosts the 2^nd Annual Level 2 Rodgers North American Classical Organ Competition this Friday morning, April 27, at 9 a.m., in the Georgian Room of Old Main with assistance from KU music professor and legendary organists, Dr. Ina Slater Grapenthin, Dr. Robert Tall and Dan Miller. The event is free and open to the public. No tickets are required. In the morning, the eight finalists will play a 20-minute program of their own choosing. At 12:30 p.m., the top three participants will be announced. Later that evening, at 7 p.m., these three will compete for the title. Finalists will be competing for prizes ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 as well as additional performance opportunities throughout the United States.