Daily Brief

Visit the Updated History Display in Old Main Concourse

The university’s history display has been updated for the upcoming academic year. Located in the Old Main Concourse and managed by Jason and Karin Graver, this year’s display showcases: original artwork by Dr. John "Jack" Grossman, an esteemed 1949 graduate of Kutztown State Teacher College and KU art professor from 1958 until 1987; an authentic team jacket from Kutztown State College's 1981 and 1982 Powerlifting National Championship teams; an original lithograph crafted by Dr. Elizabeth Adams Hurwitz, an art professor at KSTC and KSC, from 1938 until 1965; letters from the KSC sign that stood in front of Nathan Schaeffer Auditorium in the 1970s and early 1980s; a digital archive of 21 letters written by Benjamin F. Hartman (Kutztown State Normal School Class of 1890) to his parents while he was a student at KSNS from 1887 until 1890; artwork from the 1944 Keystonia yearbook commemorating the members of the 338th Army Air Corp who both resided and studied at KSTC in preparation for their service during World War II.

University Relations

KU Science Students Present Research at the Ecological Society of America Conference

Three Kutztown University science students presented their independent research projects with impressive performance, poise, and confidence at the national Ecological Society of America Conference in Portland, Oregon during August 2023:
- Nicholas Harms (ENVSCI/Geography): Modeling the effect of NDVI, weather, and other raptors on migratory raptor observations.
- Shannon Keller (BIO/Organismal/Ecology): Effects of human presence on mammal occupancy at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Pennsylvania.
- Grace Miloszar (ENVSCI/Biology): Initial assessment of helminth parasitism in Yucatan howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra) from Toledo District, Belize.
Three KU faculty accompanied these scholars to the conference: Drs. Christopher Habeck, Andrew Mashintonio and Matthew Stone. Drs. Kaoutar El Mounadi and Alex Hernandez were unable to attend the conference but were important research mentors and authors on one of the talks. Congratulations to all.

Chris Habeck, Department of Biology & Environmental Science Program

Faculty and Staff Convocation and Celebration

We cordially invite you to join us for the Faculty and Staff Convocation and Celebration on Friday, Aug. 25 in Schaeffer Auditorium, as we welcome the university community back to campus. During this event, we will be announcing the recipients of prestigious awards including the Schellenberg Award for Teaching and Learning, Chambliss Faculty Award, the Wiesenberger Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching, Employee of the Year and the Coaches of the Year. It will be an esteemed gathering that recognizes outstanding achievements in our academic community.
A continental breakfast will be available in the lobby at 8 a.m., with the program beginning promptly at 9 a.m. Kindly reply with your attendance plans by registering online through the link below.  https://fs7.formsite.com/kutzuniv/2023FSCC/index

Sarah Wallace, Office of the President

University Senate News

Please join the University Senate Executive Board in welcoming our new University Senate President, Dr. Lisa Frye, and our new Management Technician, Gabby Wilson.  For questions about University Senate or its committees, please email senate@kutztown.edu.

Deryl Johnson, KU University Senate

Return Discontinued Multiday Parking Hangtags

Departments: Please return all orange-colored multiday parking hangtags as they are no longer valid. You may drop them off or return them via campus mail to: KU Business Services, 107 Academic Forum.

KU Business Services

Employee of the Month

Now is the time to submit nominations for the August 2023 Employee of the Month. 

https://fs7.formsite.com/kutzuniv/EOM/index.html

Alexis Martin, Human Resources

Bear Essentials - Weekly Student Email Newsletter

Bear Essentials is the student email newsletter sent every Wednesday to all students throughout the academic year. If you have an announcement or an event that is of interest to and open to all students, Bear Essentials is your place. The deadline for submission is noon the Tuesday before publication. This year's first issue will be sent Wednesday, Aug. 23, so the deadline is noon, Tuesday, Aug. 22.

https://www.kutztown.edu/BearEssentials

Web and Digital Media

New Student Orientation

The final orientation programs for Fall 2023 take place today, Monday, Aug. 21 and tomorrow, Tuesday, Aug. 22, McFarland Student Union Building. Please join us in welcoming new freshman, their family members along with new transfer students. Go Bears!

https://www.kutztown.edu/orientation

Lisa Grabowski, New Student Orientation

AFSCME Monthly Meeting

Join us 4:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 21, in 103 Academic Forum for the AFSCME monthly meeting. Light refreshments will be served.

Dave Isett, AFSCME

Workshop: "Considering AI’s Role in Your Fall Courses"

Join us for a joint Center for Engaged Learning (CEL) and Comp Conversations workshop “Considering AI’s Role in Your Fall Courses.” The primary focus of the workshop will be writing assignments across the disciplines; however, we welcome perspectives and ideas concerning AI’s use in art, design, math, computer science and more.
When: Thursday, Aug. 24:
- 10-11 a.m. "Sharing of Resources and Practical Advice for Your Syllabus and Assignments"
- 11-11:30 a.m. "Conversation & Consultations with Amy Lynch-Biniek and Erin Kraal"
You can join us in person at CEL headquarters, 6 Rohrbach Library, or via Zoom: https://kutztown.zoom.us/j/95187699965
We encourage you to register here. Of course, you can just drop in for any portion of the event, but at registration, we’ll gather your input on what issues you’d most like addressed in this and future workshops concerning AI.

Amy Lynch-Biniek, Department of English / CEL

Student Success & Academic Excellence

Student Success is excited to continue to provide personalized academic support for students. Please share the paragraphs below about our services with your students and feel free to include the information in your syllabi.
Student Success and Starfish:
The Center for Student Success and Academic Excellence provides students with individualized success plans, study skills support and connections to campus resources. Students can request help and connect to resources on campus through Starfish using the same login credentials as MyKU and D2L. For more information use the "I Need Help" button in Starfish, contact success@kutztown.edu, call 610-683-4007, or stop by The Center for Student Success and Academic Excellence, 11 Rohrbach Library. The Center for Student Success and Academic Excellence
Tutoring Services:
Tutors are available for most 100 and 200-level courses and some upper-level courses. Academic Peer Mentors (APM) are available to all students. Students can sign up for an APM or tutor directly in Starfish using the tutor link next to their course or by using the "I Need Help" button in Starfish. Tutoring Services is located in 26 Rohrbach Library. Contact Tutoring Services at 610-683-4207 or tutor@kutztown.edu with questions or visit the website for additional information: Tutoring Services.

https://www.kutztown.edu/about-ku/administrative-offices/student-success-center.html

Nancy Brynildsen, Student Success & Academic Excellence