Daily Brief

Passing of Officer David Gross

It is with heartfelt sadness that Kutztown University Public Safety and Police Services mourns the loss of Officer David Gross, who passed away Monday, April 29, 2024. Officer Gross started at Kutztown University in 2019. He was the department NRA MPOETC Firearms Instructor, Field Training Officer and MPOETC Defensive Tactics Instructor. He was a committed law enforcement professional and valued member of the Kutztown University community. Officer Gross was also a proud retired officer from South Whitehall Township Police Department, where he gave three decades of service to the citizens of South Whitehall Township. He was married to Cheryl Gross and was the loving father to Justin and Courtney.
Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, May 8, Stephens Funeral Home, 274 N Krocks Rd., Allentown Pa. Calling hours will be 10 a.m. to noon, followed by a Celebration of the Life Service. Burial services will be at Grandview Cemetery, 2735 Walbert Ave., Allentown, Pa. Full Honor Guard services will be rendered. Kutztown University Public Safety and Police Services extends our deepest condolences to the Gross family for their loss.

Public Safety and Police Services

Kutztown University in Harrisburg

Student representatives from the Student Government Board and students who participated in the Career Development Center's Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars program visited the State Capitol Monday, April 29, to meet with legislators to thank them for their support and advocate for continued funding for PASSHE. They had individual meetings with legislators, a tour of the Capitol building and were welcomed from the house floor.

University Relations

2024 UGRC Faculty Mentorship Award Recipients

Four faculty members were honored at this year's Undergraduate Research and Creativity (UGRC) Faculty Mentorship Awards Ceremony Wednesday, April 17. The award recognizes excellence in the mentorship of undergraduate researchers and carries $500 in professional-development funding. See criteria and past recipients here. Pictured from the left are Darren Achey, Kyleigh Ivory and Michael Covello. Not pictured is Dylan Schwesinger.

Lynn M. Kutch, Undergraduate Research and Creativity

FDI Honors #BlackLivesMatter with 1619 Project Critical Book Club Celebration

The Fredrick Douglass Institute’s Critical Book Club featuring "The 1619 Project" concluded its semester with a thought-provoking discussion facilitated by FDI Scholars Dra. Leslie Sotomayor (Art Education) and Dr. SungEun Min (EMLT). Participants in the meeting reflected on the final chapters of Hannah-Jones' compelling text and engaged in discussion focused on underrepresented voices in historical narratives, the lived experiences of BIPOC in the United States and the ongoing quest to learn ancestral lineages when records are missing or distorted. 
The participants highlighted the importance of even small gestures of kindness and advocacy as signals of acknowledgment and support for marginalized people. Participants also explored methods to build communication channels and break barriers to foster inclusivity within academic spaces. They recognized the power of storytelling in challenging societal norms and fostering micro-conversations that lead to tangible change. The meeting also featured discussions on the intersections between Asian American and African American histories, generational wealth disparities and the struggle for equality in educational institutions. Dr. Amber Pabon, Director of FDI, remarked, "Our discussions underscored the importance of recognizing and preserving diverse histories. Through our book club meetings, we aim to empower individuals to share their stories and advocate for positive change on campus and within their communities." As the semester concludes, the FDI Critical Book Club looks forward to reconvening in the fall for further enriching discussions and initiatives. To stay connected to FDI’s events and/or get involved, follow us on Instagram at ku_douglass_institute or visit our website at the link below.

Frederick Douglass Institute

Sienna Sky, The Fredrick Douglass Institute

Condolences

Human Resources is saddened to share news of the passing of Richard Garrow, Sr., father of our colleague Jeanette Forster. Mr. Garrow unexpectedly passed away at home Monday, April 29, at the age of 70. Services will be held 6-9 p.m. Monday, May 6, Delaware Valley Cremation Center, 7350 State Road, Philadelphia, PA 19136. Please join us in sharing our support for Jeanette and her family. Expressions of sympathy can be sent to her attention in Human Resources.

Richard Garrow Obituary

Jennifer Weidman , Human Resources

May 2024 Parents and Family Bulletin

This month's edition of the KU Parents and Family Bulletin has been sent to registered subscribers and can be found online.

University Relations

Finals Week/Summer Hours

Student Recreation Center hours for finals week and summer:
 - 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, May 6-8.
 - 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, May 9.
 - 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, May 10.
 - Closed Saturday and Sunday, May 11-12.
Summer hours begin Monday, May 13, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, and are closed for the following holidays: 
 - Monday, May 27.
 - Wednesday, June 19.
 - Thursday, July 4.

Keystone Hall Pool hours:
 - Regular hours Monday through Wednesday, May 6-8.
 - 8-9 a.m., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 6-7 p.m. Thursday, May 9.
 - 8-9 a.m., noon to 1 p.m. Friday, May 10.
 - Closed Saturday, May 11 to Sunday, May 19.
Summer hours begin Monday, May 20, 8-9 a.m. and noon to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday and are closed for the following holidays:
 - Monday, May 27.
 - Wednesday, June 19.
 - Thursday, July 4.

Tracy Turner, Recreational Services

Senior Exhibition for Communication Design Seniors

Please join us in the Miller Gallery to view the artwork of seniors graduating with a BFA in communication design. Concentrations in this major include Graphic Design, Advertising Design, Interactive Design and Illustration. The public reception will be held 2-4 p.m. this Sunday, May, 5. The exhibition will be on view during finals week until Friday, May 10. Gallery hours are:
 - Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday.
 - 2-4 p.m. Sunday.
 - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Miller Art Gallery

Karen Stanford, CVPA Galleries and Community Outreach

Important Year-End Due Dates - Business Office

As we approach the end of our fiscal year, Sunday, June 30, please remember important due dates for procuring goods and services, processing travel expenses, utilizing your purchasing card and making budget transfers. A listing of due dates can be found on our website.

Fiscal Year End

Jon Vavro, Office of the Controller

Submit Proposals for 2024 PASSHE Diversity Summit

A team from the offices of Academic Affairs, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Student Affairs from across PASSHE are excited to announce the release of our Request for Proposals (RFP) for the 2024 PASSHE Summit. These offices and the Summit Planning Committee collaborated on the RFP to create an opportunity to explore policies, practices, research, partnerships and related matters in "Uniting for Inclusive Student Success," our theme for this year's Summit. The 2024 PASSHE Summit will be a hybrid Summit Monday and Tuesday, October 28-29, with in-person sessions held at Millersville University and virtual/hybrid sessions held on Zoom. We invite faculty, staff, administrators, students, Board members, trustees and other PASSHE stakeholders to submit a proposal about how to cultivate and maintain environments that promote inclusive student success. The Summit aims to serve as a dynamic platform for dialogue, reflection, learning and collaboration, centered on the theme of inclusive student success. We welcome proposals that address the theme from a wide range of perspectives, life experiences and academic disciplines. We invite you to read the entire RFP and to submit a proposal. The due date for proposals is Thursday, Sept. 5. We have three drop-in Q&A sessions scheduled for anyone who has questions or is unsure about whether to submit a proposal.
 - 1-2 p.m. Wednesday, May 8 (Register here)
 - Noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, June 20 (Register here)
 - Noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27 (Register here)
You can reach out to the PASSHE Summit co-chairs with any questions: Christa Cobb (ccobb@passhe.edu), Emily Howe (ehowe@passhe.edu) and Carlos Wiley (carlos.wiley@millersville.edu).

2024 PASSHE Submit

Jerry Schearer, Diversity and Inclusion

Your Voice Matters to the CEL

You are central to our mission. Please help us out by offering your anonymous feedback.
Please visit the webpage below to fill out the survey. Thank you.

CEL Needs Assessment

Center for Engaged Learning

New CEL Journal Post

Please take a few minutes to visit the KUtztown exCEL faculty journal to read our latest post. This month, we are featuring Erin Kraal, CEL Director and professor in the Department of Physical Sciences, who discusses making some time to reflect at the end of the semester, focusing on what went well and preparing for the next time using a simple organizational tool. Also, be sure to check out our previous post featuring Maddie Anthes and all of our posts from the 2023-24 academic year.

Center for Engaged Learning

Pennsylvania School Social Workers’ Trauma-Informed Practices: Status and Future Needs

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Department of Social Work, is pleased to announce that Jessica L. Schoonmaker, MSW, LCSW, will defend her Doctor of Social Work dissertation, “Pennsylvania School Social Workers’ Trauma-Informed Practices: Status and Future Needs” 4:30-5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 8. Please join online using this link below with meeting ID: 935 2141 6368. The dissertation chair is Dr. John Vafeas.

Zoom Link

Sharon C Lyter, Department of Social Work