President’s Newsletter: December 2025

From the Desk of Dr. Philip Cavalier

President of Kutztown University

President's Update

We've reached the end of the fall semester – my first as part of the KU community. Two of my favorite times on a college campus are when students move in for the fall, and when our students walk across the stage at commencement.

I’m looking forward to helping celebrate our students' accomplishments this Saturday morning. It is exciting to see students who have overcome challenges, persevered and are now ready to be awarded a diploma. It is always a powerful moment. It is important to note the continued high level of academic success at KU – 219 of our nearly 450 graduates this fall will graduate with honors.

Commencement is also a reminder of the extraordinary work our faculty and staff do to help students realize their potential and succeed. While our students will be in the spotlight on Saturday, I deeply appreciate the time, effort and care that faculty and staff invest in every student.

Our graduates will transition into a new role on Saturday – alumni of Kutztown University. We will always welcome them back to campus and look forward to their continued involvement in the life of the university. We know they will achieve impressive accomplishments in the years ahead.

Saturday also brings excitement for our undefeated Golden Bear football team, who will host the NCAA national semifinal at 3:30 p.m. in Andre Reed Stadium, broadcast nationally on ESPN+. Hosting ESPN on our beautiful campus is a tremendous point of pride for our university. Our Golden Bears have had an outstanding season. I have been impressed by their persistence – playing hard for 60 minutes and winning with class. It starts at the top with Coach Clements and his staff, who have created a culture built on hard-nosed football.

Needless to say, Saturday will be an exciting day at KU.

As I look back on my first semester, it has been an energizing experience getting to know our students and the broader KU community. This is a university with tremendous potential to achieve even greater things.

Earlier this week, we announced several leadership transitions. I look forward to working with these talented individuals as we continue moving the university forward. I am grateful to our outgoing vice presidents, Jesus Peña and Matt Delaney, for their long and dedicated commitment to making KU a strong institution. Our vice-presidential search process will start in January, beginning with the search for a vice president for Enrollment Management.

Looking ahead to 2026, there is much to be excited about, along with important challenges to address. As I shared at the last Town Hall, we will soon launch a portal for faculty and staff to share ideas and feedback related to the budget.

Speaking of which, thank you for your engagement in our town halls this fall. I hope students, faculty and staff continue to feel encouraged to raise any question or concern in those forums in the months ahead. Our town halls will resume in the spring semester, with dates to be announced in the new year.

Filming this year's holiday video was a lot of fun, and I hope it provided a chuckle or two. I hope everyone enjoys a restful winter break and returns recharged for the spring semester. I look forward to welcoming everyone back in January.

Happy Holidays!

Phil (Dr. Cav)

Division Updates

Academic Affairs

To meet the needs of enrolled and potential students with disabilities and comply with federal legislation, KU is working to conform to standards for web-based information and applications. Examples of online materials that require accommodations include videos and audio files (adding captioning and/or transcripts), images (including alternate text/descriptions), documents (engaging remediation for voice readers to accurately represent the material), and general website content (adjusting for navigation, readability, etc.). As we engage in these efforts to continue serving residents of the commonwealth, we will continue to provide additional information and support for faculty and staff working to make our digital environment accessible.

Equity & Compliance

At the end of the Fall 2025 semester, the Disability Services Office (DSO) supports 25% of KU's student body, serving one in four students across campus. My Place, KU's autism-support program, welcomed its largest cohort to date. The DSO also expanded sensory inclusion initiatives and continued broadening digital accessibility efforts in partnership with offices across campus to strengthen access to online materials and learning environments. These initiatives advance KU's commitment to inclusion, student success and equitable access for all members of our community.

Finance & Facilities

The university will be engaging with a professional firm to complete a comprehensive campus facilities master plan during the upcoming spring semester. The previous campus facilities master plan was completed in 2013 and resulted in many facility improvements. It is best practice to complete a new plan about every 10 years, but we consciously delayed the process due to COVID, our financial sustainability efforts and the presidential transition. The upcoming campus facilities master plan process will be a university-wide effort with opportunities for various campus constituents to provide ideas and feedback. We are excited to develop a thoughtful and achievable plan that will guide future campus construction and renovations.

KU Foundation

This year, your generosity can change the story for countless Kutztown University students. Many Golden Bears balance full course loads with multiple jobs, and unexpected expenses can threaten their ability to stay on track. Emergency resources – such as the Morris and Dorothy Beebe "Just in Time" Fund, the Bear Essentials Food Pantry, and other philanthropic support – provide stability when it's needed most. 80% of KU students rely on financial aid and 85% of recent graduates credit experiential learning with helping launch their careers, making philanthropic support essential to their success. Your year-end gift keeps these vital resources available.

Student Affairs

The Residence Hall Association at Kutztown University hosted its annual Deck the Halls celebration Sunday, Dec. 7. Hall Council members and the Residence Life, Housing and Dining Services teams transformed the residence halls into a festive space. President Cavalier joined in the holiday cheer with warm cookies, creating a moment to connect with residential students and the community before finals week began. This annual event is a way to spread joy, relax and make lasting KU memories.

University Relations, Athletics & Enrollment

There are currently 711 KU students participating in intramural sports (Flag Football, Pickleball, Co-Rec Volleyball, Co-Rec Outdoor Soccer, Co-Rec Indoor Soccer (Current) and Basketball (Current), and 948 students playing recreation and club sports (1,659 total students). Club sports highlights included postseason berths for men's soccer and men's rugby, and strong individual performances for men’s golf and fencing. Learn more about KU Recreational Services.

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