Daily Brief

Justice Named Director of KU Presents

Kutztown University has named Dr. Deborah Justice its new director of KU Presents. A native of Lancaster, Pa., Justice brings more than 20 years of performance, production and arts executive experience in non-profit, higher educational settings. She begins at KU Monday, March 10. Justice comes to KU after nearly 10 years managing the Cornell Concert Series at Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.

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University Relations

BYO Lunch and Learn: Supervising AFSCME Employees

The Office of Human Resources is launching a new series of monthly BYO Lunch and Learns for managers. The first BYO Lunch and Learn will be 12:15-1 p.m., Friday, Feb. 21, 312 McFarland Student Union. Bring your lunch and learn tips on how to properly supervise AFSCME employees, including the important parts of the AFSCME CBA all managers need to know. Register here. Future BYO Lunch and Learns will include Performance Management (March 21), Occupational Safety (April 18), The Hiring Process (May 16), Supervising SCUPA employees (June 20) and Leaves of Absences (July 18). Need an idea for lunch? Stop by the Cub Cafe and ask for a to-go box.

Register

Human Resources

Safe Space Training "Creating Safer Spaces for LGBTQ+ People"

Safe Space training, titled "Creating Safer Spaces for LGBTQ+ People," will be held 3-4 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24, Boxwood House. Students, staff and faculty are all welcome to attend. Please RSVP on Engage.

Diane Biehl, LGBTQ+ Resource Center

Legal Name Change

The LGBTQ+ Resource Center is looking forward to hosting the Eastern PA Trans Equity Project Staff at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25, 218 MSU, to educate our campus on the legal name change process. This is open to all students, staff and faculty. Please RSVP on Engage to attend.

Engage

Diane Biehl, LGBTQ+ Resource Center

Campus Beautification and Preservation Survey

The Campus Beautification and Preservation Committee seeks to empower our community by connecting us to our past heritage and by honoring our future with a sense of stewardship for the long-term health of our campus ecosystems, built environment and human communities. We would like your input related to the improvement of our interior and exterior campus environments; academic research and activities related to our local ecosystems; historic preservation of our infrastructure; and new building and landscaping projects on campus. Please respond to the survey at this link by Thursday, Feb. 27.

gwendolyn yoppolo, Chair, Campus Beautification and Preservation Committee

Miller Keystone Blood Drive

The Community Outreach Center is hosting a blood drive Wednesday, March 5, Student Union Building Multipurpose Room. The demand for blood is a constant reality. Our community blood supply is the key to meeting this need. When we donate and support a life-saving cause, we ensure that the demand is met locally. Please sign up using the link below to reserve your donation timeslot. Thank you so much.

Sign Up

Amanda Garcia, Community Outreach Center

Employee of the Month

Do you have a co-worker in your department or in any other department on campus that has gone above and beyond to support KU's mission? Acknowledge them by submitting an Employee of the Month nomination. The nomination form may be found online. Let us know about the amazing work everyone is doing at KU.

Elisabeth Manwiller, HR

Healthy U Healthcare Premium Reduction Program

"Healthy U" is for all State System staff with healthcare coverage from Highmark. PEBTF healthcare plans have the “Get Healthy” program, so “Healthy U” does not apply to you. To qualify for the lowest health care premium beginning July 2025, enrolled employees (and spouses on your plan) are required to complete “Healthy U” by May 31, 2025, to keep the lower premium payment. This is a quick and easy survey that takes about 15-20 minutes to complete. Be proactive and make sure you take 20 minutes to save hundreds of dollars per year. Please note:
- If you have a spouse on your plan and they do not complete the survey through their personal Highmark login, you will pay the higher premium.
- This is an annual survey that must be completed each year for continued enrollment in the lower premium.
If you do not complete the “Healthy U” survey before May 31, 2025, you will automatically be switched to the higher premium payment from July 2025 through June 2026 and will have to wait until January 2026 to complete the survey for the lower premium payment starting July 2026. For more information, please visit the PASSHE Healthy U webpage.
Quick Tips:
- If you don’t have a MyHighmark account, register first.
- Follow the Healthy U Step By Step Instructions – you must agree to all of the authorizations to qualify for the discounted premium rate.
- Save a screenshot when complete.
- For technical assistance with your MyHighmark account, call 1-866-306-1059, option 1.
- For general “Healthy U” questions, please contact Highmark at 1-888-745-3212 or your university HR Department.

PASSHE Healthy U

Elisabeth Manwiller, Human Resources

Teaching and Learning Symposium on Social Justice in Higher Education

Hudson County Community College is hosting its annual Teaching and Learning Symposium on Social Justice in Higher Education Feb. 24-28. This free virtual event offers professional development presentations on social justice concerns such as intellectual disabilities, environmental justice and other topics. If you are interested in attending one or all sessions during your work day, please make sure to receive approval from your supervisor and register here. The agenda link is below.

Hudson CCC Agenda

Jerry Schearer, Diversity and Inclusion/Chief Diversity Officer

Assessment Grants Due March 3

The Office of Assessment is accepting applications for 2025-2026 Assessment Grants. Proposed grants may include assessment in the areas of program, cocurricular, general education and student outcomes. The maximum grant request may be funded up to $5,000, with individual stipends limited to $2,500. For full details on the scope of the grant, please see the Call for Proposals link. Direct any questions to Michele Baranczyk (baranczy@kutztown.edu) or Brad Congelio (congelio@kutztown.edu) in the Office of Assessment.

Call for Proposals

Michele Baranczyk, Office of Assessment

CEL Workshop: Stuck in the Middle

As we approach mid-terms, what are 10 things we can do in the "middle" of our class periods and semesters to help students learn and stay motivated? As always, check the CEL Events Calendar for upcoming workshops and more.

Center for Engaged Learning

ACT Students Tech Week

Please accept this notice as affirmation that Actors Creating Theatre (ACT) students are in Tech Week for their Spring Musical, "Grease," in Schaeffer Auditorium. Students know that they must follow all attendance rules for classes and should be in contact with faculty regarding attendance. As their advisor, I'm asking faculty to afford whatever consideration you can if they in fact miss class because of responsibilities associated with the show this week. The students are: Lucy Criscuolo, Addison Brassard, Annalise Mann, Adam Steppke, Michael Seidick, Avi Lovitt, Peyton Small, Quincy Sheneman, Kora Garcia, Chloe Schoemaker, Autumn Taglieber, Carlee Bonnano, Mason Snyder, Christian Brutsche, Ilán Rodrígues, Julia Kraus, Grace Spellacy, Maddie Connolly, Harrison Denithorne, Joseph Martin, Mars Smith, Sarah Olszewski, Sara Hughes, Kaitlyn Haines, Joshua Rodriguez, Cecelia Tramontana, Maya Hepler, Karina Hernandez, Monika Perez-Ramirez, Brandon Chantrill, Zack Ismael, Rachel Day, Grace Pawluck, Tommy Scuderi, Lynda Feustel, Anna Gownley, Parker Winters, Jess Cantor, Raven Snyder, Adam Reichelderfer, Thomas Prostko, Aspen Ott, William McMahon, Reece Means, Sarah Day, Bryan Correia, Jalal Muhammad, Emily Novak, Gretta Degerolamo, Lexy Knauf, Roman Crouse.

Advisor, ACT