Daily Brief

Homecoming 2025

Thanks to everyone who attended Homecoming this past Saturday, Oct. 18.

University Relations

New Conference Explores the Futures of Pennsylvania German Folklife, Ethnic Identity and Language

The Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center at Kutztown University will host a new conference Nov. 14-15, exploring the future of Pennsylvania German folklife, ethnic identity and language through academic and community presentations. This interdisciplinary conference will examine the present state of scholarship about the Pennsylvania Germans (Pennsylvania Dutch), imagine future trajectories of the culture and envision directions for future scholarship. Welcoming everyone from all backgrounds to attend the event, the Heritage Center will facilitate an open and inclusive discussion with scholars and the community. A full conference schedule is available at the Heritage Center website.

Pennsylvania German Futures Conference

University Relations

New Journal Post: CEL Tarot of Teaching, Part 6

In the Center for Engaged Learning's latest "Tarot of Teaching" entry, we explore a simple yet powerful practice: ending class a few minutes early to give students an ungraded short-answer quiz. Read how a brief "guided recall" at the end of class can make learning last long after the lecture ends.

Center for Engaged Learning

Center for Engaged Learning

Pawbucks Sale: 30% off Apparel and Gift

Stop in the KU Campus Store today, Monday, Oct. 20, and save 30% on apparel and gift. Shop in-store or online (excludes other sales and discounts).

KU Campus Store

Kyle Rex, KU Campus Store

National Transfer Student Week

Fall 2025 National Transfer Student Week is here. Get ready for a week packed with events and giveaways just for transfer students. Don't forget to stop by the trick or treat across campus for free goodies. Check out the full schedule and join us to celebrate.

Rylee Burke , Housing, Residence Life and Dining Services

Transfer Trick or Treat

During National Transfer Student Week, Oct. 20-24, campus offices are participating in a Transfer Trick or Treat. This allows transfer students to learn about campus resources, meet friendly faculty and staff and grab a little treat. Office locations are available online.

Rylee Burke, Housing, Residence Life and Dining Services

Portion of Lot F1 Reserved for PASSHE UPrepared Summit

A portion of lot F1 behind Stratton Administration Building will be reserved for our 100 guests of the PASSHE UPrepared Summit Monday, Oct. 20, and Tuesday, Oct. 21. Please offer a KU welcome to our guests from across the State System as they make their way to the Georgian Room in Old Main. Thank you for your assistance and understanding.

Heather Arbuckle, Grants and Sponsored Projects

AFSCME Local 2234 Membership Meeting

In accordance with the AFSCME International Constitution, nominations and election for president, vice president, recording secretary, secretary-treasurer, three executive board members, (1) one-year trustee, (1) two-year trustee and (1) three-year trustee will be held at the next general membership meeting 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20, 203 Academic Forum. Please plan on attending so we can discuss how we can grow stronger as a union at Kutztown University.

Christina Ferris, Biology/AFSCME 2234

Concert for National Association of Schools of Music

Join us for a captivating evening of works by Poulenc, Puccini, Bach, Calle and more by our talented music students, 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20, Schaeffer Auditorium, presented as part of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) visit. Free and open to all.

Music Facebook Page

Maya Stava Kokkinou, Music

Strategic Planning and Resources Committee: Election Nominations

University Senate and Senate Governance Committee nominations are now being accepted for the following elected position:
- One College of Business representative, tenured or tenure track, for Strategic Planning and Resources Committee.
- Strategic Planning and Resources Committee: Makes recommendations concerning strategic planning, budget and development and allocation procedures for the university. In order to fulfill this responsibility, the committee develops and reviews all pertinent planning and budget materials. This is a three-year term.
Eligibility: All permanent and tenure track COB, teaching and non-teaching. Candidates must have three years full-time service at the university by October 2025. To self-nominate to be on the ballot, please complete the electronic form located online. Log in using your full KU email address and password. Willingness will close 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21. Engage access questions can be sent to Leah Cassellia at casselli@kutztown.edu. Information about governance committees, including mission statements, bylaws and memberships can be found online.

Governance Committee

Lisa Frye, University Senate President

University Curriculum Committee

The University Curriculum Committee will meet 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, via Zoom. The meeting agenda can be found on the UCC Document Submissions SharePoint page. Contact Brian Meares at meares@kutztown.edu with any questions.

Brian Meares, University Curriculum Committee

Pictures of Loved Ones for Dia de los Muertos Offrenda (Altar)

The Multicultural Center will be setting up an offrenda (altar) for Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3, Starbucks, MSU. On Dia de los Muertos, offerings or "offrendas" are often given and a table is set up that can include a loved one's favorite food and their picture. If you'd like, please feel free to email a copy of a picture of a loved one to mishra@kutztown.edu by Wednesday, Oct. 29, that we will print out in black and white to include on the altar. We will also have tea lights to light for those who have passed on.

Angelica Mishra, Multicultural Center

Inaugural Golden Bear Pickleball Tournament

We are proud to announce the inaugural Golden Bear Pickleball Tournament 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, O'Pake Fieldhouse. Divisions include Intermediate Men's Doubles (9 a.m.), Advanced Men's Doubles (11 a.m.), Intermediate Women's Doubles (1 p.m.) and Advanced Women's Doubles (3 p.m.). Tournament includes a round robin format, a title match for each division and three matches guaranteed. Prizes for the winners. All proceeds benefit the KU men's and women's tennis programs. Cost is $75 per team. Register online. As a guide, we are looking at 3.0-3.5 DUPR for intermediate events and 3.5-4.0 DUPR for advanced. This is not an official DUPR or PPA associated event, those are just general guidelines. Eight teams per division, first come first serve. Hope to see you there to support what we are hoping becomes an annual event.

Pete Smith, Men's and Women's Tennis

Saidi's Matrilineal Research Cited in South African Court

Congratulations to Dr. Christine Saidi, history, who had her work, "Women in Precolonial Africa," (Digital) Oxford Research Encyclopedia African History, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2020, cited in South African court case judgement: Case CCT 296/24, regarding men taking their wife's surname. She has twice been a guest speaker on Capitalk 100.4 FM, where she was interviewed as part of the Investigative Lens segment that explored the question, "What's in a name?" The discussion was inspired by the recent Constitutional Court ruling in South Africa affirming that men can take their wife's surname in marriage, based on Saidi's historical research.

Department of History

John Stanley, Interim Chair, History