Daily Brief

Admissions Open House Fills Schaeffer

Kutztown University hosted its first Open House of the season Saturday, Oct. 25. Schaeffer Auditorium was filled to capacity with prospective students and their families. Thanks to everyone who helped support the event. KU's next Open House is Saturday, Nov. 8.

University Relations

Veterans Awareness Week

Join the KU Military and Veteran Students Services Center for a week of impactful programming for Veterans Awareness Week, Nov. 3-11. While these events are tailored to our military-connected students, we encourage all students, faculty and staff to consider participating. Discover more details about the week's events online. Please contact veterans@kutztown.edu with any questions or to RSVP.
- Veterans Small Business Week First Steps Seminar – 8 a.m., Monday, Nov. 3, MSU Alumni Auditorium.
- Vets On The Rise: Career Insights From Vets Who Are Crushing It, Career Forum and Veteran Resource Fair – 11 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 4, MSU Multipurpose Room.
- Celebrating Women Veterans – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 5, MSU Lobby.
- Military Movie Night, "Hacksaw Ridge" – 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 5, 135 Rickenbach Auditorium.
- Military and Veteran Celebration Bash – 11 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 6, 250 MSU.
- Remember Everyone Deployed (RED) Friday – Friday, Nov. 7, Veterans Center/Campus.

Veterans Awareness Week

Nick Snyder, Military and Veteran Services

Grow with Google: Customer-Focused Marketing

The Kutztown University Small Business Development Center (SBDC), in partnership with the Harrisburg Regional Chamber and Capital Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC) and Grow with Google, will host a free online workshop, "Launch and Grow Your Business with Customer-Focused Marketing," 5-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4. Register online. This interactive training is designed to help entrepreneurs and small-business owners across Pennsylvania strengthen their marketing strategies by focusing on the needs, motivations and experiences of their customers. Participants will learn how to create a compelling brand, define and reach their target audience, convert leads into loyal customers and build lasting advocacy to drive business growth. The Kutztown University SBDC serves as a statewide leader in supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs through no-cost consulting, training and educational resources. As part of the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers (PASBDC) network, the KU SBDC provides entrepreneurs with the tools and expertise they need to start, manage and grow successful ventures across the commonwealth. This session reflects the center's ongoing commitment to advancing entrepreneurship and helping Pennsylvania's small-business community thrive in today's digital economy. The workshop is free to attend, but registration is required. For more information about the Kutztown University SBDC and its statewide business support programs, visit the KU SBDC website.

Register

Rachael Wolfe, KU Small Business Development Center

Alpha Epsilon Lambda Honor Society

Please excuse any graduate students who may arrive late to their evening courses Wednesday, Nov. 5, due to participating in the Alpha Epsilon Lambda (AEL) Honor Society induction ceremony. AEL honors graduate students for their outstanding academic achievements, leadership and dedication to service. If you have any questions or need to confirm a student's induction, please contact Melissa Lincoln at lincoln@kutztown.edu.

Melissa Lincoln, Office of the Vice Provost

Tax and Business Planning

Get ahead of year-end planning with expert advice on tax-saving strategies, business structuring and long-term financial alignment at a webinar at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, via Zoom. Perfect for business owners, finance professionals and anyone looking to maximize their fiscal outcomes.

Register for Tax and Business Planning

Rachael Wolfe, KU SBDC

Kutztown Sustainability Summit - Energy Efficiency Pays

Discover how "Energy Efficiency Pays" at this year's Kutztown Sustainability Summit, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, de Francesco lobby. Come connect with fellow students, teachers and professionals who are passionate about building a more sustainable future. The evening will feature inspiring speakers, thought-provoking discussions and student-led poster presentations that highlight fresh ideas for tackling today’s energy challenges. Network with peers and industry leaders; gain insights on energy-smart strategies for success; and see how small actions can create big impact. The event is open to the campus and local communities. Don't miss this chance to learn, share and be inspired.

Gary Chao, Business Administration

Social Equity Policies Training

This fall, the Office of Equity and Compliance will offer six Social Equity Policies training sessions pursuant to the university's Anti-Harassment, Anti-Discrimination, Sexual Misconduct, and Amorous Relationships Policies. Sessions will be held 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 7, and Tuesday, Nov. 18, via Zoom. Register online. Reminder: all faculty and staff must take the Social Equity Policies training on a yearly basis. If you cannot recall when you last completed the training, please contact the Office of Social Equity and we will be glad to check our records. If you would like to schedule an in-person training for your department, please send a request by email to socialequity@kutztown.edu or contact the Office of Social Equity at x3-4700. Please obtain approval from your supervisor if necessary.

Register

Office of Equity and Compliance

Be Part of the Human Library

The Commission on Human Diversity will host the Human Library April 7-8, 2026. We are now seeking applicants to be a Human Book. More information about the Human Library and the application for 2026 can be found online. If you have questions or for more information, please contact Jerry Schearer or any member of the Commission. Please apply by Friday, Nov. 21. Invite others who you think may make an interesting Human Book.

Human Library Application

Commission on Human Diversity

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.

Elisabeth Manwiller, Human Resources

New Student Orientation Hiring Student Leaders

The Office of New Student Orientation is currently taking applications for Summer 2026 student orientation facilitators. We are seeking faculty and staff nominations of students who would be a strong fit to represent Kutztown in this role. If you have students in mind who you want to recommend, please direct them to Handshake or direct them online. Questions can be directed to orientation@kutztown.edu.

New Student Orientation

Brett Santos, New Student Orientation

Perkins Recognized by Pennsylvania Library Association

Dr. Roseanne Perkins, elementary, middle level, library and technologies education, was honored with a Certificate of Merit by the Pennsylvania Library Association (PaLA) Tuesday, Sept. 30. This prestigious award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to libraries across the commonwealth during the past five years. PaLA annually celebrates members and community volunteers who go above and beyond to support the vital work of libraries in Pennsylvania. Perkins coordinates the College of Education's library science program, which prepares future professionals to lead and innovate in library and information services.

College of Education

Fall 2025 Late-Start Courses Attendance Verification Process

The initial attendance verification for late-start courses, which is required federally for awarding of financial aid Policy ACA-090, is available in Starfish through Tuesday, Nov. 4. Faculty should indicate whether students have "Attended" or have "Never Attended" by utilizing one of two flags. Please be sure to verify the attendance status of every student. For additional assistance, please email starfish@kutztown.edu, call 610-683-4106 or join a Starfish Express Workshop.

Nancy Brynildsen, Center for Student Success and Academic Excellence

Faculty First Thursday Presentation

The College of Visual and Performing Arts will hold its Faculty First Thursday Presentation titled, "Elevating Organizational Culture by Facilitating Mental Health Disclosures at Work," 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, 120 Sharadin. Refreshments provided 10:30-11 a.m. Presenters include professors Diana Ebersole and Yuxia Qian, Communication Studies. This free presentation is open to students, faculty and staff and is presented by the College of Visual and Performing Arts' dean's office.

Faculty First Thursday Presentation

Josie Wynter, Dean's Office, Visual and Performing Arts

Sheperis to Deliver Keynote at ESU's Social Work Professional Development Day

Dr. Carl J. Sheperis, vice provost and dean of Graduate Studies, will serve as the keynote speaker at East Stroudsburg University's eighth annual Dr. Barbara G. Collins Social Work Professional Development Day, Monday, Nov. 24. This year's theme, AI and the Implications for Social Work, will bring together educators, practitioners and students to explore how artificial intelligence is shaping the future of social work practice. Sheperis will deliver a keynote address titled "Artificial Intelligence, Human Responsibility: Social Work Ethics for a Digital Era," focusing on the ethical and human-centered considerations of emerging technologies in the helping professions. The event will include expert-led presentations, an interactive panel discussion and hands-on demonstrations such as “When Clients Are Code” and “Battle of the Bots: ChatGPT, Copilot and Google AI in Social Work." The daylong workshop, hosted by ESU's Department of Sociology, Social Work and Criminal Justice, will be held at the Rosenkrans Learning Center. Registration is open through Wednesday, Nov. 19. Congratulations to Sheperis on representing Kutztown University as a featured speaker at this regional professional event.

Registration

Melissa Lincoln, Office of the Vice Provost

Student Course Assistant Requests Due Nov. 25

Tutoring Services is now accepting requests from faculty for Student Course Assistants (SCA) for Spring 2026. Learn more about the SCA position online. To request an SCA, please complete the Student Course Assistant Request Form by Tuesday, Nov. 25. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact tutor@kutztown.edu or 610-683-4207.

Adam Troxel, Tutoring Services

Knerr Named PSAC Women's Cross Country Champion Scholar

Kutztown University's Sophia Knerr earned the 2025 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference's (PSAC) Women's Cross Country Champion Scholar Award, the conference office announced on Saturday at the conclusion of the 2025 PSAC Women's Cross Country Championship in Edinboro, Pa. Knerr, a graduate student from Columbia, N.J., has maintained a 4.0 grade point average through 152 credits while studying social work. She graduated summa cum laude with a degree in social work in December of 2024 before embarking on her graduate program. The PSAC Champion Scholar Awards are modeled after the NCAA's Elite Scholar-Athlete Award (formerly Elite 90 Award) and honor the student-athlete with the top grade point average who is competing at the site of each of the PSAC's finals sites.

Knerr Named PSAC Women's Cross Country Champion Scholar

Sports Information