Daily Brief
April 1, 2024
Open Forum - Ryan Hartnett Middle States VP Liaison
Meet Dr. Ryan Hartnett, Middle States Vice President Liaison, 12:30 p.m. today, Monday, April 1, 145 Boehm, at the Open Forum for Middle States Self-Study. Hartnett joined the staff of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) as vice president for Institutional Field Relations in March 2024. In this role, he serves as a liaison to member institutions, providing advice to institutions and assisting them with accreditation activities. Prior to joining MSCHE, Hartnett served as provost at Villa Maria College (N.Y.), leading as both Chief Academic Officer and Student Affairs Officer. In this role, he also served as the Accreditation Liaison Officer, leading his institution through the self-study process and other accreditation activities. Prior to serving at Villa Maria College, Hartnett served as Dean of Arts, Sciences and Professional Studies at Trocaire College (N.Y.). Hartnett has experience with the Commission as a peer evaluator and team chair for self-study and follow-up visits. He earned his Ph.D. in Philosophy from The State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo, concentrating in the areas of philosophy of science, metaphysics and bioethics. He also holds a B.A. in philosophy and psychology from The State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo.
Middle States 2025 Self-Study Overview
Middle States Steering Committee
Weather
Weather forecasts are provided by KU's Dr. Michael Davis and "Monsoon Mike" Regensburger
Weak area of low pressure moves off the coast during the day. Showers are possible in the morning until mid-afternoon. High temperature near 51.
Announcements
President's Open Hour
Faculty, staff and students are invited to stop by with President Hawkinson during his open hour 3:30 p.m. Monday, April 1, 301 Stratton Administration Center. President Hawkinson welcomes your thoughts, concerns and suggestions regarding KU. If you are planning to stop by, please call the Office of the President, 610-683-4101 to RSVP.
Office of the President
Open Hour with Provost
Faculty, staff and students are invited to drop by and chat with Dr. Lorin Basden Arnold, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, during her open office hour 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, Bears Den MSU. Faculty and staff who would like to have a conversation, but for whom this time does not work, are welcome to contact the Office of the Provost at 610-683-4155 to schedule a time to meet.
Anne Imschweiler, Office of the Provost, Academic Affairs
SGB's Personal Care Items for KU Students
Join the Student Government Board and help support KU's Bear Essentials Food Pantry by helping us collect personal items, such as toiletries, hygiene products, self-care items and school supplies. Through Friday, April 19, drop off any new personal products in the donation boxes located in the Community Outreach Center. Let's work together as a campus community to help others in need.
Amanda Garcia, Community Outreach Center
Composition/Writing Consultations
Make an appointment with Composition Coordinator Amy Lynch-Biniek to discuss any sticky wicket in your composition course, writing assignments or plans for Fall 2024 classes. Drop in 1-3 p.m. any Monday or Wednesday, either in-person at 132B Lytle Hall or via Zoom. You can also make an appointment by email at lynchbin@kutztown.edu.
Amy Lynch-Biniek, English
Call for Study Abroad/Away KU-Led Program Proposals
Study abroad and study away proposals for KU-Led Programs are now available for faculty and staff interested in leading programs in the following terms:
Winter 2025
- Proposal Deadline: Wednesday, May 1.
Spring 2025
- Proposal Deadline: Wednesday, May 1.
Summer 2025
- Proposal Deadline: Sunday, Sept. 1.
Those interested in submitting proposals can do so on the MyGLOBALKU portal by clicking "Start a KU-Led Proposal". Email Dr. Christina Kinney at studyaway@kutztown.edu if you have any technical issues or proposal questions.
Christina Kinney, Office of International Education and Global Engagement
Human Library
The Human Library returns to Kutztown University 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, Rohrbach Library. The Human Library is a way for people to reach out and connect with individuals in their community that they might not normally interact with. It creates a safe space for people to engage, whether this is one-on-one or in small groups, to encourage people to “un-judge” a book by its cover. Visitors to our library will have an opportunity to borrow "Human Books" and to engage in conversation with the books. The library tailors its approach to each person’s biases and prejudices, instead of approaching diversity and inclusion with a one-size-fits-all solution. Books are KU students, staff, faculty and community members. Click here for a list of this year's human books. You will have to "check-out" the book to have a one-on-one conversation for about 20 minutes and return the human book to the shelf once done. Please encourage students and staff to attend. Please visit the Engage webpage to register for this event.
Patricia Ann Brenner, Commission on Human Diversity
2024 Entrepreneurship Week April 8-12
The College of Business and the KU Small Business Development Center (SBDC) are proud to present Entrepreneurship Week 2024, Monday, April 8 to Friday, April 12. This annual event provides students and the local community with valuable insights, strategies and tools from experts to help launch or strengthen their businesses. Events are free and open to the public. Please RSVP to cob@kutztown.edu.
Katie Bowen, College of Business
Academics
CEL Workshop: 30 Minutes of Recess
Recess isn’t just for kids. Join your playground monitor Erin Kraal and get your daily recess with the Center for Engaged Learning (CEL) 11:10-11:40 a.m. Thursday, April 11, 6 Rohrbach Library. In 30 minutes, we’ll have fun and learn a few key research outcomes of using playful approaches in our teaching. For more information, please visit the link below.
Center for Engaged Learning
Spring 2024 Late-Start Courses Attendance Verification Process
The initial attendance verification for late-start courses, which is required federally for awarding of financial aid, is available in Starfish Wednesday, March 27 through Tuesday, April 2. Faculty should 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. For additional assistance, please visit Starfish in D2L, email starfish@kutztown.edu or call 610-683-4217.
Cheryl Brattley, Student Success and Academic Excellence
Upcoming Events
| Date | Time | Event |
| April 1 | 12:30 p.m. | Middle States Self-Study Open Forum 145 Boehm |
| April 1 | 3:30 p.m. | President Hawkinson Open Hour 301 Stratton |
| April 2 | 10 a.m. | Human Library Rohrbach Library |
| April 2 | 3 p.m. | Open Hour with Provost Bears Den MSU |
| April 4 | 9 a.m. | Law School Forum 218 MSU |
| April 4 | 11 a.m. | Faculty First Thursday Presentation 103 Wells-Rapp Center |
| April 4 | 4 p.m. | University Senate Meeting 202 Academic Forum |
| April 4 | 7 p.m. | Spring Book Review 183 MSU |
| April 4 | 7 p.m. | Drag Show Schaeffer Auditorium |
| April 6 | -- | Accepted Student Reception Campus |
| April 7 | 2 p.m. | KU Presents: Lightwire Theater: The Ugly Duckling Schaeffer Auditorium (Tickets) |
Athletics
| Date | Time | Event |
| April 2 | 1 p.m. | Softball vs. West Chester (DH) North Campus Field (Stats) |
| April 2 | 6 p.m. | Acrobatics and Tumbling vs. Caldwell Keystone Arena (Video) |
| April 5 | 1 p.m. | Baseball vs. Lock Haven North Campus Field (Stats) |
| April 6 | 1 p.m. | Softball vs. Shippensburg (DH) North Campus Field (Stats) |
| April 6 | 2 p.m. | Acrobatics and Tumbling vs. Iona Keystone Arena (Video) |
Accommodations
Persons with a disability, and who require accommodation, should notify the Disability Services Office two weeks prior to the event at 610-683-4108 or email DSO@kutztown.edu, TDD number: 610-683-4499, in order to discuss accommodations. Every effort will be made to provide reasonable accommodations. Please note: Kutztown University does not provide wheelchairs or other mobility devices.
Non-Discrimination Statement
Kutztown University does not discriminate in employment or educational opportunities on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or veteran status. To discuss a complaint of discrimination, please contact the University’s Title IX Coordinator located in the Office of Social Equity, Old Main A-Wing, Room 02, by phone at 610-683-4700 or by email at pena@kutztown.edu or the Office for Civil Rights located in the Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Bldg., 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202-1100, by phone at 800-421-3481 (TDD: 800-877-8339), by fax at 202-453-6012, or by email at OCR@ed.gov.