Daily Brief
Sept. 24, 2025
Town Hall with President Cavalier
Thank you to those who attended President Cavalier's inaugural town halls, Sept. 22-23. Stay tuned for details regarding our next town halls in November.
University Relations
KU Rises in 2026 U.S. News and World Report Rankings for Best Regional Universities
Kutztown University has been named a "Best Regional University" for 2026 in the U.S. News and World Report's annual ranking of U.S. colleges and universities. U.S. News lists KU as No. 112 in the first tier of the Best Regional Universities for the northern region, three spots higher than last year. KU has been ranked in the first tier since 2011. Additionally, KU remained No. 42 among Top Public Schools for Regional Universities in the North.
U.S. News and World Report Rankings
University Relations
Weather
Weather forecasts are provided by KU's Dr. Michael Davis and "Monsoon Mike" Regensburger
Patchy fog this morning as a slow-moving cold front will stall across the area. Chance of showers, mainly during the afternoon and evening hours. High temperature near 79.
Announcements
Casting 30 Extras for KU Film
Did you ever want to be an extra in a film? We are now casting extras for the film, "The Murder of Alexander Rae." This film will be shown during Dr. Deryl Johnson's new play, "Centralia: The Fire Below." You must be available 7:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24. Transportation, lunch, snacks and costumes will be provided for free. Filming is at Eckley Miners' Village. No experience necessary. An informational meeting/casting event will take place 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, 135 Rickenbach. The film is set in 1877 and chronicles the murder and trial of the founder of Centralia, Pa. The play, which includes this film, will premiere in Philadelphia next year. Casting is open to faculty, staff and students. Each extra will receive two free tickets to the premiere of the play. For more information, email centralia@kutztown.edu.
Deryl Johnson, Communication Studies
Sacred Spaces: La Vida No Muere
Please join KU faculty Liz Van Verth, Anthony Smith Jr. and Dra. Leslie Sotomayor for an exhibition they developed and curated with Clay on Main based upon Dia De Los Muertos. Artists were invited to create an altar using handmade personal work. Opening reception is 4-6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, Clay on Main, 313 Main Street, Oley, PA. Come meet the artists and curators and enjoy some refreshments.
Liz Van Verth, Art and Design
Open Hour with Provost
Faculty, staff and students are invited to drop by and chat with Dr. Lorin Basden Arnold, provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs, during her open office hour at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, Old Main concourse. Faculty and staff who would like to have a conversation, but for whom this time does not work, are welcome to contact the Office of the Provost at 610-683-4155 to schedule a time to meet.
Anne Imschweiler, Provost Office/Academic Affairs
Flu Vaccine Clinic
Kutztown University will host a flu vaccine clinic 3-7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, McFarland Student Union parking lot. The clinic is sponsored by Lehigh Valley Health Network. No registration is required; vaccines are provided at no cost. Questions can be sent to health@kutztown.edu.
Health and Wellness Services
Faculty First Thursday Presentation
Join us for our monthly College of Visual and Performing Arts Faculty First Thursday Presentation, 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, 120 Sharadin, with Keith Massie, associate professor, communication studies. Massie’s presentation is titled, “Examining the impact of Elon Musk’s Twitter Ownership on Public Sentiment about Colin Kaepernick.” What happens to public opinion when the world’s loudest digital megaphone gets a new owner? This study explores how conversations about Kaepernick shifted on Twitter before and after Musk’s takeover and rebranding of the platform to X. Drawing on hundreds of thousands of tweets, it examines changes in tone, polarization and the way users engage across both eras. Long-time participants and new voices alike tell an evolving story about the state of online debate. The findings raise pressing questions about how platform power can shape public discourse in surprising ways. This free presentation is open to the entire KU community and is presented by the College of Visual and Performing Arts Dean's Office. We look forward to seeing you there.
Faculty First Thursday Presentation
Joselyn Wynter, Dean's Office, College of Visual and Performing Arts
Micro-Internship Program
The Career Development Center is launching a campuswide micro-internship program this semester. Micro-internships are short-term, project-based experiences that allow students to build skills and confidence, expand their networks, gain professional references and enhance their marketability for future internships and jobs. Do you have a project a student could work on? Maybe it's a task that's been sitting on your to-do list, or something you could use help with; a student might be the perfect person to support and enhance it. Watch this short video explaining the program. Review the handout for details. We hope you'll consider joining us in creating a meaningful micro-internship experience for our talented students.
Jenelle Henry, Career Development Center
Hojnacki to Serve as Student Advocate for Academic Exceptions Committee
Please note the following change: Academic Exceptions Committee (AEC) petition referrals should now go through Kelly Hojnacki in the Dean of Students office. The AEC meets monthly during the academic year. Students are encouraged to meet with Hojnacki in Student Assistance for help in understanding the process and preparing their petition. Hojnacki is located in 119 Stratton and can be reached at hojnacki@kutztown.edu or 610-683-4075.
Benjamin Trout, Registrar's Office
Frederick Douglass Institute
Dr. Amber Pabon, director of KU's Frederick Douglass Institute, is on leave for the Fall 2025 semester. During this time, inquiries related to FDI may be directed to Dr. Steve Lem, lem@kutztown.edu, chair of the department of Academic Advising and Student Development.
College of Education
Academics
GEPAC to Assess SLO-4 Category D Courses This Fall
The General Education Program and Assessment Committee will be assessing Student Learning Outcome No. 4, “Engage critically with creative or artistic works," during the Fall 2025 semester. All faculty who teach GE Category D courses will be asked to submit student artifacts. The approved rubric can be found on the General Education website. More detailed information will be sent to those faculty in the weeks ahead.
General Education Program and Assessment Committee
Spring 2024 SLO 6 and 8 Annual Reports Now Available
The General Education Program and Assessment Committee (GEPAC) has published the Spring 2024 Annual Assessment Reports for Student Learning Outcomes (SLO) 6 and 8. Faculty and staff are encouraged to review the report.
General Education Program and Assessment Committee
Upcoming Events
| Date | Time | Event |
| Sept. 25 | 11 a.m. | CEL AI Workshop 6 Rohrbach |
| Sept. 25 | 11 a.m. | University Curriculum Committee Zoom |
| Sept. 25 | 1:30 p.m. | Council of Trustees Committee Meetings 322, 323, 324, 325 MSU |
| Sept. 25 | 3 p.m. | Council of Trustees Plenary Session 250 MSU |
| Oct. 1 | 10 a.m. | Faculty and Staff Headshots 195 MSU |
| Oct. 1 | 2:30 p.m. | Open Hour with Provost Old Main Concourse |
| Oct. 1 | 3 p.m. | Flu Vaccine Clinic MSU Parking Lot |
| Oct. 2 | 10:30 a.m. | Faculty First Thursday Presentation: Keith Massie 120 Sharadin |
Athletics
Leyman, Pfautz earn First Career PSAC East Athlete of the Week Awards
The Golden Bear football team won its latest game over the weekend with some very unique plays, including a blocked punt, which was returned for a touchdown, and numerous other big plays from the defense and special teams unit. Two standouts from the defensive and special teams units in Austin Leyman and Quintin Pfautz were recognized for their efforts Saturday as this week's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference's East Division Athletes of the Week. Leyman was named the East Defensive Athlete of the Week and Pfautz is the East Special Teams Athlete of the Week.
Leyman, Pfautz earn First Career PSAC East Athlete of the Week Awards
Sports Information
| Date | Time | Event |
| Sept. 24 | 5 p.m. | Swimming vs. Shippensburg (M&W) Keystone Natatorium |
| Sept. 24 | 6 p.m. | #2 Field Hockey vs. Millersville Andre Reed Stadium (Watch | Stats) |
| Sept. 25 | 6 p.m. | Women's Volleyball vs. Georgian Court Keystone Arena (Watch | Stats) |
Accommodations
Persons with a disability, and who require accommodation, should notify the Disability Services Office two weeks prior to the event at 610-683-4108 or email DSO@kutztown.edu, TDD number: 610-683-4499, in order to discuss accommodations. Every effort will be made to provide reasonable accommodations. Please note: Kutztown University does not provide wheelchairs or other mobility devices.
Non-Discrimination Statement
Kutztown University does not discriminate in employment or educational opportunities on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or veteran status. To discuss a complaint of discrimination, please contact the Office of Social Equity, Old Main A-Wing, Room 02, by phone at 610-683-4700 or by email at pena@kutztown.edu. Pursuant to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Kutztown University does not discriminate on the basis of sex and prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates, including admissions and employment. Any inquiries regarding the application of Title IX at Kutztown University may be made to Bradley Davis, the university’s Title IX coordinator, located in Old Main A-Wing, Room 02A, by phone at 610-683-4782 or by email at titleix@kutztown.edu. You may also contact the Office for Civil Rights located in the Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Bldg., 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202-1100, by phone at 800-421-3481 (TDD: 800-877-8339), by fax at 202-453-6012, or by email at OCR@ed.gov.