Daily Brief

Welcome to University Relations

University Relations would like to welcome Leyna Beard, Ed.D. and Nicole Rearich, B.S. Ed. to our team. Leyna is our new Web Content Manager. She brings with her 16 years of higher education experience and earned her master's degree in 2012 from KU in Higher Education Administration. Her office is 102 Ed House, her phone extension is 3-4991 and her email is lbeard@kutztown.edu. Nikki is our new Administrative Assistant and brings with her 29 years of higher education experience and is the proud parent of a KU Communication Design graduate. Her office is 100 Ed House, her phone extension is 6-4317 and her email is rearich@kutztown.edu.

Cheryl A. Faust, University Relations

2026 Mileage Reimbursement Rate

In accordance with a change in the U.S. General Services Administration's privately owned vehicle mileage reimbursement rates and Board of Governors’ Policy 1986-07-A: Travel Expense Regulations, the reimbursement rate for use of a personal automobile for official State System travel has increased to $0.725 per mile effective Jan. 1, 2026. The reimbursement rate for travel from Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2025, was $0.70 per mile. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Accounts Payable by calling 610-683-4135 or by email at apinvoice@kutztown.edu.

Kelsey Arcelay, Business Office

Love is In The Air and On Your Door

It's time to take a break to spread a little office cheer. Student Affairs is hosting a Valentine's Day Door Decorating Contest. The theme is "Love, Campus Style;" interpret this as loosely as you'd like. To register, email stratton@kutztown.edu with the name of the office, the building and room number by Friday, Jan. 30. Send a picture of your decorated door to stratton@kutztown.edu by Friday, Feb. 6. Judging will take place Feb. 9-12 with the winners announced Friday, Feb. 13. Remember, decorations cannot obstruct exits or walkways and door handles must remain visible and operational. We can't wait to see and feel the love across campus. Happy decorating.

Erica Stratton, Student Affairs

Chambliss Undergraduate Student Academic Achievement Awards

Faculty and staff are encouraged to nominate undergraduate students graduating in December 2025 or May 2026 for this prestigious award. The nomination deadline is Feb. 9, 2026. Nominees should exemplify an exceptional individual achievement in one or more categories. See the Chambliss Student Academic Achievement Awards webpage for more details and use the Chambliss Undergraduate Student Academic Achievement Nomination Form to submit a nomination.

Chambliss Student Academic Achievement Awards

Heather Arbuckle, Grants and Sponsored Projects

Maximize Your Impact with Starfish

Join us for one or more of our Starfish Express Workshops offered several times a week for your convenience. Whether you're brand new to Starfish or looking to sharpen your skills, these quick sessions will help you navigate key Starfish features, set up and personalize your profile, manage your consultation hours with ease, raise flags, make referrals and support student success. Zoom link to join.
- Wednesday, Jan. 21, 1-1:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Jan. 22, 11-11:30 a.m.
- Friday, Jan. 23, 10-10:30 a.m.
Additionally, from Jan. 27 through Feb. 26, we're offering Starfish training sessions twice a week, 3-3:30 p.m. Tuesdays and 11-11:30 a.m. Thursdays. Please contact starfish@kutztown.edu or 610-683-4106 if you are unable to attend a scheduled session.

Nancy Brynildsen, Center for Student Success and Academic Excellence

University Writing Center Spring 2026 Information

Please have your students reach out to the KU Writing Center for help and to schedule a writing session concerning papers for any subject/discipline. Also, please include this information in your syllabi and share the poster or flyer on your D2L pages. We have two methods of writing tutoring available: in-person and online sessions. Please use the following Google form link (or email me) to let us know if you would like an in-person or Zoom information session about the UWC or any in-class writing information sessions (the writing process, writing stress, citation styles, etc.). Please let your students know they can choose to have you emailed after coming to the UWC for help with work from your class. Please direct any questions to pytleski@kutztown.edu.
For Your Students:
Making an appointment:
- In-person sessions: please call 610-683-4733 or email wrcenter@kutztown.edu to setup an in-person appointment. You can also stop by the Writing Center, 100c Rohrbach, 2-6 p.m. Sundays; 2-8 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
- Online sessions: visit the WCOnline website to schedule an online session. Please see our website for additional helpful instructions and screenshots. Online hours are 2-6 p.m. Sundays; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays; 3-8 p.m. Wednesdays; and noon to 4 p.m. Fridays.

Writing Center

Patricia D. Pytleski, KU Writing Center

Smuda Selected for first PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Week

After three weekly awards for Olivia Smelas so far this season, frontcourt mate Ariana Smuda joined the fray and earned this week's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division's Defensive Athlete of the Week. In three games last week, all victories, Smuda, a junior center, averaged nine points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in 24 minutes of action per game. KU was the only PSAC East team to go 3-0 last week and held its opponents to just 44.6 ppg.

Smuda Named PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Week

Sports Information