Daily Brief

Football Wins Super Region One Title; Will Host NCAA Semifinal Saturday

Third-ranked Kutztown University football is headed back to the semifinals of the NCAA Division II Football Championship for the second time in the last three seasons after pulling away from 24th-ranked Frostburg State in the second half for a 51-29 victory Saturday afternoon at Andre Reed Stadium. The Golden Bears added to their school record for wins in a season by improving to 14-0, claimed their second Super Region One title (2023) and surpassed 50 points for the third game in a row --the first time that's happened in the program's 109-season history. KU was selected to host the NCAA national semifinal against Harding University Saturday, Dec. 13.

Football Wins NCAA Super Region One Title

Sports Information

Holiday Faculty and Staff Appreciation Days

Faculty and staff will receive 35% off any regular-priced apparel and gift items and 15% off tech accessories and art supplies in store through Friday, Dec. 19 (discount cannot be combined with any other offers, does not include tech hardware and software). Please present your KU I.D. at the register to receive the discount. If you are unable to make it in store, please use coupon code "APPRECIATE" for 35% off apparel & gift on the KU Campus Store website.

KU Campus Store

KU Campus Store/KUSSI

Time Change for Fall 2025 Commencement

Kutztown University is scheduled to host thousands of visitors on campus Saturday, Dec. 13. In addition to the Fall 2025 commencement ceremony at O'Pake Fieldhouse, KU has been selected to host the NCAA national semifinal football game at Andre Reed Stadium. The football start time, determined by the NCAA, has yet to be determined. To allow guests of both events ease of access to and from campus, with adequate parking, the start time for the Fall 2025 commencement ceremony has been moved up one hour to 9 a.m.

University Relations

Student Recreation Center and Keystone Pool: Finals Week Hours

Please find the hours during finals week for the Student Recreation Center and Keystone Pool.
Student Recreation Center
- Monday, Dec. 8 to Wednesday, Dec. 10: 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Thursday, Dec. 11: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Friday, Dec. 12: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Saturday, Dec. 13 to Sunday, Dec. 14: Closed
Keystone Hall Swimming Pool
- Monday, Dec. 8 to Wednesday, Dec. 10: Regular Hours
- Thursday, Dec. 11: 8-9 a.m., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., 6-7 p.m.
- Friday, Dec. 12: 8-9 a.m., noon to 1 p.m.
- Saturday, Dec. 13 to Sunday, Dec. 14: Closed

Tracy Turner, Student Recreation Center

Counseling Center Finals Week Hours

The KU Counseling Center will be open during finals week, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. No appointments are needed. Students are invited to walk in for a consultation with a counselor during these hours throughout the week.

KU Counseling Center

Mass for Immaculate Conception at the Newman Center

Mass at the Catholic Newman Center will be celebrated Monday, Dec. 8, for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception at 12:10 p.m. (upstairs chapel) and 5 p.m. (downstairs auditorium). The Newman Center is located at 15207 Kutztown Rd., across from Old Main. For more information on the Newman Council, please visit the website.

Newman Center

Thiep Pham, Newman Council

Your Marketing Help Desk: Live Q&A Session

Join us for this free weekly session noon Tuesday, Dec. 9, via Zoom, where small-business owners and entrepreneurs can bring their questions and get expert answers in real time.

Registration

Rachael Wolfe, KU SBDC

Kutztown SBDC to host Small Business Lending Program in Harrisburg to Support Entrepreneurs in Dauphin County

The Kutztown University Small Business Development Center will co-host "Small Business Lending Solutions for Sustainable Growth," 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, Harrisburg Regional Chamber and CREDC, 3211 North Front Street, Harrisburg. The event is designed for entrepreneurs, startups and existing small businesses in Dauphin County and Central Pennsylvania who are searching for guidance on how to secure a small-business loan, how to finance a business in Pennsylvania or how to start a business in the Harrisburg region. This program provides step-by-step support for individuals navigating small-business financing in Pennsylvania. Participants will learn how lenders review applications and what is required to prepare a strong loan package. Topics include understanding the funding spectrum, identifying the role of Community Development Financial Institutions, evaluating the 5 C’s of Credit, preparing required loan documents and creating business plans and financial projections that meet lender standards. The session is structured to help business owners improve readiness for bank loans, CDFI loans and other financing options available in Central Pennsylvania. This collaborative program is offered by the Harrisburg Regional Chamber and CREDC, ASSETS, Impact Harrisburg and the Kutztown University Small Business Development Center. The partnership supports economic growth in Dauphin County by expanding equitable access to capital and strengthening the small-business ecosystem that serves Harrisburg and surrounding communities. Individuals seeking information on how to start a business in Pennsylvania or needing support with business planning, financial projections or loan preparation can contact the Kutztown SBDC for no-cost consulting. The Kutztown SBDC serves entrepreneurs across Dauphin County and Central Pennsylvania with confidential, personalized support. Rachael Wolfe and Mark Rentschler from the Kutztown Small Business Development Center will facilitate the event on behalf of the KUSBDC. All Pennsylvania entrepreneurs and small-business owners welcome.

KU SBDC

Rachael Wolfe, Kutztown Small Business Development Center

Career Closet Amazon Wish List Donations

The Career Development Center is collecting donations for the Career Closet this holiday season. The Career Closet provides students with professional attire for interviews, internships and career fairs. You can support by purchasing items directly from our Amazon Wish List. In‑person donations are always welcome and greatly appreciated. Your gift helps students feel confident and prepared as they step into their careers. Thank you for making a difference.

Jenelle Henry, Career Development Center

Call for Proposals for PASSHE Women's Conference

Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) Women's Consortium is pleased to announce that the 2026 Women's Conference will take place Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, at Kutztown University. The conference theme is "Resilient, Restorative, United." The planning committee is accepting proposals for roundtable, poster session, paper, presentations and panel discussions. Please complete this form to submit a proposal by Monday, Dec. 15.

PASSHE Women's Consortium

Marlene Nanouh Fares, Academic Advising and Student Development

Tutor.com Available During Finals

Although peer tutoring is ending, students still have access to academic support through Tutor.com, a virtual tutoring platform available 24/7. Students can find instructions for using this service on the Tutoring Services website. For additional questions, please contact tutor@kutztown.edu.

Adam Troxel, Tutoring Services

German Cinema Original Creative Projects

Please support German Cinema in English, ENGL GERM 260, students as they display their final projects 8:15 a.m. Monday, Dec. 8, 250 MSU. Original creations range from artwork to original films, to alternative scenes and abbreviated screenplays. All the projects relate to the gems of classic and foundational German cinema studied in class, starting with the original "Nosferatu," continuing into New German Cinema and concluding with films of divided Germany and beyond.

Lynn M Kutch, English

Sabbatical Applications Collection Schedule 2026

The Sabbatical Leave Committee will be available during the following times slots in 130 Lytle to collect your sabbatical applications for Fall 2027-Spring 2028.
- 11 a.m. to noon, and 3-4 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026.
- 11 a.m. to noon, and 3-4 p.m., Friday, Jan. 30, 2026.
- 9 a.m. to noon, Monday, Feb. 2, 2026.
Please bring one original copy and seven back-to-back photocopies of your application for the sabbatical committee to review. Each application should include the following items: 
- Signed verification of eligibility form from the provost's office (signatures of the applicant and the provost's representative are required);
- Signed application form (signatures of the dean, the department chair, and the applicant are required);
- Written sabbatical proposal;
- Updated C.V.    
More sabbatical application information, including the forms and rubrics, can be found on the APSCUF-KU website.

Sabbatical Leave Committee

Yun Lu, Sabbatical Leave Committee

The Collage Newsletter

Take a moment to explore the hard work and accomplishments of our faculty and students in the Fall 2025 issue of The Collage Newsletter. This edition features stories highlighting professors from English, Political Science, Physical Sciences and Criminal Justice, as well as students majoring in History, Environmental Science and Biology. Read about their accomplishments and goals as members of our outstanding college.

The Collage Newsletter

Emma Osborne, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Kutztown Tops PSAC in Dixon Cup Standings following Fall Season

Kutztown University athletics is in the midst of an historic 2025-26 year. The Golden Bears sit on top of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Dixon Cup standings following the fall season with an overall average of 13.92. The 13.92 points is 1.42 points higher than the second-place school, East Stroudsburg. The rest of the top five includes West Chester in third (12.38), IUP in fourth (11.00) and Gannon in fifth (10.93). KU men averaged 16.00 points and the women had a 13.92 average. Kutztown has won the Dixon Cup once, following the 2005-06 season. Last year, the Maroon and Gold finished seventh in the final standings.

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Sports Information

Football Garners Six on All-Region Team

The Kutztown University football team had six players named to the 2025 Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) all-region team, a program record and the most in Super Region One this season. KU's First Team honorees in Super Region One include quarterback Judd Novak, offensive linemen Billy Everitt and Ryan Schernecke, defensive lineman Freddie Retter and linebacker Brandon Hile. Cornerback Lee Coleman was named to the Second Team.

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Sports Information

Schernecke Named Finalist for Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year

Redshirt senior offensive tackle Ryan Schernecke of the Kutztown University football team was announced as one of eight national finalists for the Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award, presented by the Manheim Touchdown Club. Schernecke was one of two finalists selected to the national ballot from Super Region One, along with Slippery Rock's Joe Cooper.

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Sports Information