Daily Brief

Employee Planetarium Matinee Shows This Spring

The Kutztown University Planetarium, in response to requests from university staff, will be giving four special matinee shows for university employees. Each show will start with a brief alert to potential naked-eye-observable astronomical events in the coming month or exploration of other cool space stuff using the stellarium 360º projection on the dome (we can observe the sky as it would appear from any point on Earth or from any point in the Milky Way or adjacent galaxies at any time in the past million years or future million years. Each presentation will be followed by a 25-30 minute documentary projected on the dome. It’s an easy way to learn interesting information and the dark room is a relaxing atmosphere.
Shows will be held 11 a.m. on the following Thursdays in the Grim Science Building. Shows will run 45 minutes so people have time to get some lunch (no food in the planetarium) before getting back to the grind. The documentaries in this series will be:
- Feb. 16 – Birth of Planet Earth
- Mar. 17 – Planet 9
- Apr. 20 – Incoming!
- May 11 – Black Holes - Journey into the Unknown
This is free of charge and no tickets required. There will be no assessment of learning outcomes following each show, either – you’ll relax and learn what you learn, and the world will continue to spin merrily along regardless of your retention.

https://www.kutztown.edu/about-ku/administrative-offices/planetarium.html

Kurt Friehauf, Department of Physical Sciences

JEDI at KU Preliminary Report and Feedback

The Kutztown University Commission on the Status of Minorities recently prepared a report to examine, analyze and evaluate our current status in achieving an inclusive environment that is just, celebrates our diverse backgrounds and celebrates equal opportunity in our community. As a result of the Commission’s work, a preliminary report has been posted on the documents page of the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) website. The Commission invites all members of our university community to review the preliminary report and submit your feedback in the comments section of the website. Insights, corrections, reactions and alternative recommendations are all invited. All comments are anonymous. It is the hope of the Commission that the report will foster additional conversation and thoughts on the goals of JEDI.

Commission on the Status of Minorities

JC Penney Suit Up

You are invited to attend a KU/JCPenney Suit-Up event 3-6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 5, Lehigh Valley Mall. Get up to 50% off professional clothing exclusively for KU faculty, staff, students and alumni. No registration needed just bring your KU ID. 

Jeann Cengeri, Career Development Center

Save the Date - Women's History Month Speaker - Gabby Rivera

The Women's Center will celebrate Women’s History Month with keynote speaker, Gabby Rivera, 6 p.m. Thursday, Mar. 30, 218 MSU. Rivera (she/her) is a Bronx-born, queer Latinx writer. Author of young adult novel, Juliet Takes a Breath, and creator of Marvel’s first Latina lesbian character, America Chavez, Rivera will speak on her experiences as a QTPOC writer, an LGBTQ youth advocate and the importance of centering joy in our narratives as Latinx people and people of color.

https://engage.kutztown.edu/organization/kutztown-university-women-s-center/events

Diane Biehl, Women's Center

Collegiate Recovery

Please share with students, open meetings are held 7-8 p.m. Thursdays, 119 Beck. These meetings are an opportunity for students to pursue their education and commitment to substance-free lifestyles, feel supported in recovery and learn strategies to help guard against risky substance use by family and friends. For more information, contact Frances at 610-683-4240 or cortez@kutztown.edu.

Frances C. Cortez Funk, Health & Wellness Center

Health and Wellness Center Open House

Students, faculty and staff are invited to visit the Health Center 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Jan. 25 and 26, for a tour, light refreshments and to meet our campus nurses, medical providers, health promotion champions, recovery advocates, medical records assistants and licensed medical health professionals. The Health Center is located on the first floor of Beck Hall.

Health and Wellness Center

Sabbatical Applications Collection Spring 2023

The Sabbatical Leave Committee will be available 1-3 p.m. Jan. 30, 11 a.m. to noon and 2-3:45 p.m. Jan. 31, and 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 1, 130 Lytle Hall to collect your sabbatical applications for Fall 2024-Spring 2025. Please bring one original copy and seven back-to-back photocopies of your application for the sabbatical committee to review. Each application should include the following items: signed verification of eligibility form from the provost's office (signatures of the applicant and the provost representative are required), signed application form (signatures of the dean, the department chair and the applicant are required), written sabbatical proposal and updated CV. More sabbatical application information including the forms and rubrics can be found here on the APSCUF-KU website. 

https://www.apscuf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/2022SabbaticalGuidelines.pdf

Yun Lu, Sabbatical Leave Committee

Faculty First Thursday Presentation

Professor Ali Akarcesme will present a 60-minute documentary film in development, “Preacher Moss: Hilarious and Halal,” 11 a.m. to noon, Thursday, Feb. 2, 13G Schaeffer. As writer/director, Akarcesme has been filming Preacher Moss for more than two years and will show visuals and talk about his latest film’s journey. This profile-based documentary is about a Black, Muslim American comedian who was on the path to stardom in 1990’s Hollywood, writing for the George Lopez show. A career that would have brought him into the limelight of popular American entertainment took a hard left turn when he refused to compromise his religious and moral values for fame. Thirty years later, Moss has forged his own path and now stands at the intersection where success, faith and humor collide. This free presentation, presented by the VPA Dean’s Office is open to the entire campus community.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=591703259631908&set=a.247792937356277

Joselyn Wynter, KU-CVPA Dean's Office

CEL Faculty Learning Circles Forming Now

The CEL is seeking KU faculty and instructional staff who are interested in participating in, facilitating or forming a learning circle during Spring semester 2023. A learning circle is a small group of faculty and instructional staff (ideally six to eight tenure-track, adjunct, tutors, etc.) who meet, with the support of the Center for Engaged Learning (CEL), throughout the semester to discuss a learning topic that they can explore as a group and collaborate to develop expertise. To get involved, please fill out the registration form or visit the CEL website to find out more about the learning circles being offered this spring or about forming your own learning circle.

Douglas Scott, Center for Engaged Learning