President’s Newsletter: September 2025

From the Desk of Dr. Philip Cavalier

President of Kutztown University

President's Update

The fall semester is off to a great start, and it’s been a true joy to see our campus in full swing. Over the past four weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many students, faculty, and staff, and I’ve greatly enjoyed hearing your stories and learning more about what makes KU special.

I’ve been intentional about getting out of the office – walking campus, attending events, and engaging directly with our community. Move-in day was an incredible opportunity to welcome students and their families to KU – thanks to our Student Affairs team for making it all run so smoothly. The Faculty and Staff Convocation was another highlight, where I was able to connect with many of you and share my vision for the year ahead.

There have been lighter moments, too – like handing out donuts on the first day of class and chatting with students about their excitement for the semester (and yes, my Nike Dunks have sparked more than a few conversations!). Unity Day was a powerful example of the strong relationship between KU and the Borough, reaffirming our shared commitment to creating a campus where every student feels a sense of belonging. I was honored to attend Pride Night at the Reading Fightin’ Phils (our local Double-A minor league baseball team) and throw a not-so-perfect first pitch. I’ll leave the athletic talents to our Golden Bear sports teams, who are off to a great start.

We also had a productive visit from consultants who are helping us evaluate how we can better support student recruitment and success. Their insights will be instrumental as we work to remove barriers and enhance services for our students – consistent with our recruiting goal to “win our backyard.”

I’ve had meaningful meetings with key partners in the region, including major donors and leaders within the Reading community – such as the CEO of Reading Hospital, the superintendent of Reading School District, and the president of Reading Area Community College. These conversations help lay the groundwork for future opportunities and collaboration with our regional partners.

Looking ahead, Family Day is this weekend – Saturday, Sept. 20. It’s a special opportunity for families, especially those of our first-year students, to revisit campus, see how their students are settling in, and celebrate the start of their college journey.

I encourage everyone to attend one of our upcoming Town Halls:

• Students: 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22, 183 MSU.
• Faculty/Staff: 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23, 183 MSU.

These sessions have two main goals: to provide timely updates (including a featured topic of the KU budget) and to give me a chance to hear directly from you – your concerns, your ideas, and your hopes for Kutztown University.

Our Town Halls, along with this newsletter, are two ways I hope to bridge the communication gap between myself and the campus community (stay tuned for new social media content coming soon!).

Thank you for the warm welcome and for the energy you bring to KU every day.

Phil (Dr. Cav)

Division Updates

Academic Affairs

In the same way that feedback to our students about their work provides them with opportunities to adapt and grow, higher education assessment gives us insight that promotes continuous improvement. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) self-study process is a primary example of this idea in action. With the self-study completed by a dedicated team of campus members, we are now preparing for the evaluation team visit Oct. 5-8. During the visit, different campus constituencies will engage with the team to discuss the ways that we work to meet our fundamental mission.

In preparation for these discussions, we encourage you all to spend some time with the Kutztown University 2025 Middle States Self-Study. Even those of us that have extensive experience at KU will likely find out new information about our institution in the self-study document. Engaging with the document in advance will leave you well-prepared for conversations with the visiting team. The steering committee has set up a dedicated email account and is happy to address questions, comments or concerns you may have as your review the self-study.

We extend our thanks to the members of the working groups and steering committee for the significant work of preparing the self-study and amassing the extensive evidence required by MSCHE. We look forward to the active participation of all campus members in this significant event.

Equity & Compliance

As part of our steadfast commitment to fostering a secure environment, KU Public Safety and Police Services is proud to offer the nationally acclaimed Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) Systems course. We had 40 participants for our comprehensive three-day training this month and have added a second class in the first week of November.

The R.A.D. program is designed to teach women vital self-defense concepts and techniques in a supportive and encouraging environment. The curriculum begins with a foundation of awareness, prevention, risk reduction and avoidance strategies before progressing to the fundamentals of hands-on defense training. Please note, R.A.D. is not a martial arts program, and no prior experience is required to participate. We believe that empowerment through education is a critical component of personal safety. We strongly encourage all interested female students, faculty and staff to take advantage of this valuable training. Enroll for the R.A.D. program online.

Finance & Facilities

The university’s financial year 2025-26 budget, as approved by the KU Council of Trustees in June, was built on three key assumptions regarding enrollment, tuition rate and state appropriation. Fall enrollment appears to be tracking slightly behind last year. The Board of Governors approved a 3.6% increase to the tuition rate in mid-July.  At this time, the commonwealth of Pennsylvania has yet to pass the state budget. The original assumption of a 6.5% increase in state appropriation is unlikely.

We will continue to monitor these items and make the necessary adjustments in upcoming months to ensure the university maintains a balanced budget.

KU Foundation

The KU Foundation had an exciting start to the semester, welcoming alumnus David Natroshvili M’01 and his wife, Nina, back to campus. David and Nina made a generous gift to name the David Natroshvili Small Business Development Suite in the newly renovated de Francesco Building, supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs.

We are just a month out from the 1866 Minute Giving Challenge and Homecoming! From Oct. 15-16, make your impact by supporting what you love most at KU. Every gift counts. Homecoming registration is now open – join us to celebrate and show your Golden Bear pride.

Student Affairs

KU Health and Wellness Services will be hosting a free flu vaccine clinic 3-7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, Lot A2 on campus. This event is sponsored by Lehigh Valley Health Network, part of Jefferson Health, and is open to all KU students, faculty, staff and local community members (while supplies last). Everyone is encouraged to roll up their sleeves and get their flu shot to help keep our community healthy. No medical insurance or pre-registration is needed. Please note, this will be the only opportunity for faculty and staff to receive their flu shot on campus this year.

University Relations, Athletics & Enrollment

Indulge your interest in regional folk culture at the Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center’s Heemet Fescht 2025: a celebration of the harvest and Pennsylvania Dutch farm life, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, located on the historic Sharadin Farmstead at 22 Luckenbill Road on the KU campus. The event is free, fun and educational for the whole family.

Heemet (pronounced HAY-met) means “home” in Pennsylvania Dutch. Enjoy some of the region’s finest in traditional music in the barnyard featuring local Berks County folk musicians Mike and Linda Hertzog, Keith Brintzenhoff, Northside Stringband and The Shooflies, as well as traditional crafts, folklife demonstrations, hearth-cooking, farm animals, speakers, children’s activities and more.

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