Daily Brief

April 9, 2024

Chambliss Student Academic Achievement Awards 2024

Kutztown University presented the Chambliss Student Academic Achievement Awards to six accomplished students Friday, April 5. Students who received awards were nominated by staff and faculty members for meeting one or more of the six areas of achievement: successfully completed research projects, high-quality original artwork, high-quality artistic performances (music, chorus, drama, etc.), original writing in literature or meritorious writing in other fields, noteworthy achievements in athletics and outstanding service to the KU community. Winners include (shown above, left-to-right): Christine Price, director of KU Women's Center and LGBTQ+ Resource Center (on behalf of Samantha Smith), Sarah Gatehouse, Chase Altemose, Aubrey Zegstroo, Michael Alberto, Maria Del Carmen Angeles-Molinelli, Dr. Kenneth S. Hawkinson, University President.

University Relations

Weather

Weather forecasts are provided by KU's Dr. Michael Davis and "Monsoon Mike" Regensburger

Southerly breezes kick in today and temperatures respond nicely, making it all the way to around 75 under partly sunny skies.

Announcements

Free Reading Fightin Phils Tickets

Are you interested in free general admission tickets for the 2024 baseball season to the Reading Fightin Phils? Tickets are only valid for the 2024 season and can also be used as a $6 discount off box seat tickets based on availability. Children under the age of four do not require a ticket. Please contact University Relations at 610-683-4114 or by email at ur@kutztown.edu by Friday, April 19, if interested.

University Relations

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 at 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, Old Main Concourse. 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 and Academic Affairs

Grammy-Nominated Saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin

One of the most sought-after and revered saxophonists in the world, the charismatic and dynamic Lakecia Benjamin, fuses traditional conceptions of jazz, hip-hop and soul. See this amazing player, formidable composer and arranger 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, Schaefffer Auditorium, as the final performance of the 2023-24 KU Presents! Performing Artists Season. KU faculty and staff can access discounted tickets by logging in for tickets using their MyKU log-in credentials.

KU Presents!

P-Card Training

Are you new to using a KU purchasing card or need a refresher on how to monitor and reconcile your P-card purchases? The Regional Procurement Office (RPO) will conduct a WORKS training 11 a.m. to noon Wednesday, April 10. Please email Mary Vink at mvink@passhe.edu for the invite or if you have any questions. 

Mary Vink, RPO

AFSCME Local 2234 Member Meeting

Please plan on attending AFSCME Local 2234 monthly member meeting 5 p.m. Monday, April 15, 103 Academic Forum. Refreshments will be served.

Tish Manwiller, AFSCME Local 2234

You're Invited to an Indian Cultural Celebration

Join us for an Indian Cultural Celebration 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, Multicultural Center. All are welcome. From 5-6 p.m., local artist Mamta Kochhar, M.A., will lead an art workshop "Spring Festivities of India - Global Celebrations and Cultural Nuances" with mandala designs. There will be samosas and mango lassis to snack on and Bollywood music to listen to. From 6-7 p.m., there will be a throwing colors relay race Holi-style. Please make sure to wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty. We'll be using powdered colors that can wash off. We hope to see you there.

Angelica Mishra, Multicultural Center

Elder Care Workshop

Ann Barlet, Public Advocacy and Outreach Manager, Berks County Area Agency on Aging and Robert R. Kreitz, Attorney at Law with Kreitz and Gallen-Schutt, will present a workshop on elder care 11 a.m. to noon Thursday, April 18, 102 Academic Forum, or via Zoom (Meeting ID: 931 8410 7622, Passcode: 742349). This event is open to all faculty, staff and students. A box lunch is available to on-campus attendees. Please RSVP by noon Thursday, April 11, to pytleski@kutztown.edu to attend along with your choice of lunch:
- Bavarian Ham and Swiss on a Pretzel Roll.
- Chicken Caesar Wrap.
- Grilled Vegetable Wrap with Spicy Hummus.
This event is sponsored by Kutztown University Commission on the Status of Women.

Patricia Pytleski, Commission on the Status of Women

TIAA Representative On Campus

Our new TIAA representative will be on campus 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, 119 Stratton. If you would like to make an appointment, please call 1-800-842-2252 or visit the link below. Thank you.

Jeanette Forster, Human Resources

Golden Bear Gallop

The Community Outreach Center is excited to announce our first-ever Golden Bear Gallop - a 5K that you can walk or run on the beautiful north side of KU's campus. KU faculty/staff cost is $20. All funds raised will be donated to the "Helping Paws Emergency Fund" to help current KU students in an emergent financial need. Please use the link below to sign up. For any questions or concerns, please email volunteer@kutztown.edu.

Amanda Garcia, Community Outreach Center

Take Steps Toward a Longer, Healthier Life and Walk With Us

Incorporate purposeful walking into your daily routine. Every Wednesday in April, there will be one morning walk from 9-10 a.m. and one afternoon walk from 2-3 p.m. We will begin at the Health Center and then travel to the north side of campus. In case of rain, we will be at the Student Recreation Center. All are welcome. For more information, please call 610-683-4240; modifications are also available.

Frances C. Cortez Funk, Health and Wellness Services

Academics

The 17th Pirnot Lecture: “Benjamin Franklin’s Mathematics”

Paul C. Pasles, Ph.D., Professor of Mathematics at Villanova University, will deliver the 17th Annual Thomas L. Pirnot Lecture in Mathematics 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 9, 262 Boehm. Benjamin Franklin’s Mathematics will talk about centuries after the death of Benjamin Franklin, his mathematical discoveries continue to be cited in academic journals and books. Franklin was willing to apply basic mathematics to situations where only qualitative arguments had been admitted previously. How did a self-educated amateur scientist conceive of original concepts in such wide-ranging areas as demography, decision-making and most famously, the art of magic squares? This talk will examine Franklin’s self-education and early influences, contributions to quantitative thinking and his influence on others. This history of mathematics talk will be accessible to mathematicians, historians and anyone just interested in the topic.

M. McLoughlin, Mathematics

FDI Debate Competition

Millersville University will host the 11th annual PASSHE FDI debate competition and research conference Wednesday, April 10. Kutztown FDI debate team, The North Stars, has been preparing for this event with training by first-year doctoral student Daniel Sleiman (EdD in Transformative Teaching and Learning). Undergraduate students Mark-Handy Phanor (Political Science '26) and Damaiya Turner (Criminal Justice '27) will travel to Millersville Tuesday, April 9, with FDI Director Dr. Amber Pabon, FDI graduate assistant Sienna Sky (Arts Administration '26) and debate coach Mr. Sleiman for this prestigious event. Faculty, we kindly ask that you excuse the graduate and undergraduate students from any classes that coincide with this trip. Please forward any questions to fdouglass@kutztown.edu.

Sienna Sky, The Fredrick Douglass Institute

Starfish Workshops

Faculty and staff can sign up for 30-minute sessions to review Starfish functionality, learn about new features and ask questions. Users can choose from a list of available session times and topics. Sign up using this link or visit the Starfish website; the link to sign up is under "Starfish Faculty and Staff Resources."

Nancy Brynildsen, Student Success and Academic Excellence

Employment Opportunities

These are the non-instructional positions open on our online job board at http://employment.kutztown.edu (Menu to OOC postings):

Job Number Job Title Job Term  Advertise To 
2024-0054 NEW - Help Desk Analyst FT 4/21/2024
2024-0057 (internal) NEW - Administrative Assistant 1
for Student Success
and Academic Excellence (internal)
FT 4/12/2024
2024-0056 NEW - Patrol Officer Trainee FT 5/5/2024
2024-0055 NEW - Patrol Officer FT 5/5/2024
2023-0168 Landscape Maintenance Specialist FT Continuous
2023-0183 Budget Analyst FT Continuous
2024-0027 MR2 HVAC/Plumbing FT 4/28/2024
2024-0035 Key & Lock / Card Access Specialist FT 4/14/2024
2024-0051 Director, Growth Services FT 4/14/2024
2024-0052 Financial Aid Assistant (CA3) FT 4/14/2024
23-24 Asst Coaches 23-24 Assistant Athletic Coaches PT 6/28/2024
23-24 Clerical Asst Pool 23-24 Clerical Assistant Pool FT 6/28/2024
23-24 Custodial Pool 23-24 Custodial Worker 1 Pool FT 6/28/2024
OOC 24-10 Staff Attorney (Transactional) FT 4/28/2024
OOC 24-11 HRSSC - Benefits Administration Manager FT 4/21/2024

 

Upcoming Events
Date Time Event
April 9 11 a.m. Young Entrepreneurs Panel
101 de Francesco
April 9 4 p.m. Pirnot Lecture in Mathematics
262 Boehm Hall 
April 9 7:30 p.m. Concert: Percussion Ensemble with
Heartland Marimba Quartet and KU Choirs
Georgian Room, Old Main
April 10 10 a.m.  Dissertation Defense: Beth Lattanzi
245 Beekey
April 10 11 a.m. P-Card Training 
Zoom
April 10 Noon Women Entrepreneurs Panel Luncheon
218 MSU (RSVP)
April 10 3 p.m. Open Hour with Provost
Old Main Concourse
April 10 7:30 p.m. KU Presents: Lakecia Benjamin
Schaeffer Auditorium (Tickets)
April 12 Noon Societal Impact and Sustainability Panel Luncheon
Georgian Room
April 12 7:30 p.m. Alumni Concert and Chamber Players
Georgian Room
April 16 5 p.m. Indian Cultural Celebration
Multicultural Center
April 18 11 a.m. Elder Care Workshop 
102 Academic Forum (Zoom

Athletics
Date Time Event
April 9 1 p.m. Softball vs. Shepherd (DH)
North Campus Field (Stats | Video)
April 9 4:30 p.m. Women's Tennis vs. East Stroudsburg
Keystone Courts
April 10 3 p.m. Women's Lacrosse vs. East Stroudsburg
Keystone Field (Stats | Video)
April 12 4 p.m. Women's Tennis vs. California (PA)
Keystone Courts
April 13 1 p.m. Softball vs. Lock Haven (DH)
North Campus Field (Stats)
April 13 1 p.m. Baseball vs. Shepherd (DH)
North Campus Field (Stats | 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.

Notify the university of an accessibility concern

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.