Daily Brief

Welcome Cherish Prazeres to the KU Community

Please join us in welcoming Cherish Prazeres to Kutztown University. Cherish has joined our team to lead the university’s efforts in digital accessibility, ensuring that our digital content and platforms meet compliance standards and provide an inclusive experience for all users. With a wealth of experience in web accessibility, document remediation and user-centered design, Cherish brings a strong background in accessibility consulting, training and strategic compliance planning. In the coming weeks, Cherish will be reaching out to various departments across campus to gain insight into our current digital accessibility practices. She will be conducting a university-wide assessment, identifying training needs and collaborating with stakeholders to strengthen our digital accessibility posture. Please join us in giving her a warm KU welcome and support her in this important initiative toward a more accessible and equitable digital environment.

Troy Vingom, CIO, Information Technology

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. Let us know about the amazing work everyone is doing at KU.

Nomination Form

Elisabeth Manwiller, Human Resources

SSHE 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 Saturday, May 31, 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, 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.

Elisabeth Manwiller, Human Resources

Spring 2025 Highlights: Counselor Education and Student Affairs

We are pleased to share some key statistics and highlights for the Counselor Education and Student Affairs (CESA) department at Kutztown University. The department hosted a variety of events this spring, including workshops, guest lectures and community outreach programs. Notable events included the initial advisement seminar for new counseling students Jan. 27 and attending the "Chew on This" roundtable during National School Counselors Week in February. The department is supported by numerous dedicated site supervisors who guide students during their practicum and internship experiences. Students had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience at a wide range of internship sites. In total, there were 100 site supervisors to support students' learning and 96 internship sites available for students. All four of Kutztown University’s master’s programs in counseling received full CACREP accreditation for eight years, through March 2033. This includes the M.S. degree in School Counseling and M.A. degrees in Addictions Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling. These highlights showcase the department's commitment to providing comprehensive educational experiences and support for their students, faculty and the broader community.

Counselor Education and Student Affairs

College of Education