Daily Brief

President's Open Hour

Due to a scheduling conflict, President Hawkinson's open hour has been moved to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, 301 Stratton Administration Center. President Hawkinson welcomes your thoughts, concerns and suggestions regarding KU. If you are planning to stop by, please call the Office of the President, 610-683-4101 to RSVP.

Office of the President

Red Sand Project

Join us 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5, 203 Academic Forum, for the Red Sand Project in collaboration with the Lehigh Valley Anti-Trafficking Collaborative. Participate in an interactive display, listen to a panel presentation and connect with advocates and service providers.

Learn More

Kara Barrell, Psychology

Graduate Assistant Requests

We are pleased to announce the call for Centrally Funded Graduate Assistant (GA) applications for Fall 2025. This year, we've implemented a revised evaluation process to ensure our GA positions align with both student educational benefits and university operational needs.

Key Points:

1. Application Deadline: Friday, Nov. 15.
2. Online Form.
3. Separate application required for each position.
4. Priority given to positions with returning GAs.
5. All GA positions require an application.

The evaluation process will involve university vice presidents and the dean of graduate studies. Positions will be ranked based on their importance to university operations and educational value to students.

Timeline:

• Dec. 6, 2024: Department chair/area director reviews due
• Jan. 10, 2025: Academic dean/VP reviews due
• Jan. 31, 2025: Final committee review
• Feb. 14, 2025: Decision notifications sent

Remember, GA duties should align with students' academic and professional goals. Appropriate tasks include research assistance, peer counseling, lab work and faculty support. Note that GAs cannot instruct lectures or labs without faculty present.

For positions not approved for central funding, a separate call will be issued for department-funded or externally funded GAs. These require departments or grants to cover the stipend and 50% of in-state tuition. The deadline for department-funded applications is Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. Externally funded positions have no set deadline.

We encourage all eligible departments and faculty to consider how a GA could enhance your area while providing valuable experience to our graduate students. This program is vital to our mission of academic excellence and student success. For questions, please email viceprovost@kutztown.edu.

GA Application Form

Carl Sheperis, Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies

12th Annual UNESCO World Philosophy Day Lecture

The Department of Philosophy and Government present the 12th Annual UNESCO World Philosophy Day Lecture, 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, 183 MSU. The lecture is titled "Knowledge is Action: What This Means and Why it Matters," by Professor Ernest Sosa, Board of Governors Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, Rutgers University. Sosa is one of the most famous contemporary philosophers and has been described as "one of the most important epistemologists of the last half-century." In this lecture, Sosa will argue that the nature of human knowledge has been a central concern of philosophical reflection across cultures and millennia. He will first touch on some highlights of this shared human interest across a diversity of cultures and will then focus on a positive contemporary account. On this account, human knowledge turns out to be a form of action, so that the place of human knowledge in our lives and our assessment of it, fall into place as a special case of the assessment of human action. He will consider how this matters and what it explains. Sosa is a past president of the American Philosophical Association and a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. He edits the philosophical journals Noûs and Philosophy and Phenomenological Research. In 2005, he delivered the John Locke Lectures at Oxford, which formed the basis of his 2007 book. Sosa received the 2010 Nicholas Rescher Prize for contributions to systematic philosophy. More information on Sosa can be found online.

Dr Ashraf Adeel, Philosophy and Government

The Frederick Douglass Institute Presents at the PASSHE Summit

The Frederick Douglass Institute proudly represented Kutztown University at the 2024 PASSHE Summit: Uniting for Inclusive Student Success. Dr. Donato Fhunsu (FDI Faculty Scholar), Daniel Sleiman (FDI Debate Coach, EdD doctoral candidate), June Rogers (FDI Executive Committee, EdD doctoral candidate) and Aaliyah Nelson and Devin Looney (FDI Student Interns) attended the conference with FDI Faculty Director Dr. Amber Pabon and former executive director Dr. Joseph Croskey.

Along with FDI Directors across PASSHE, including Laura Kieslbach (East Stroudsburg), Carolyn Reed-Brown (Bloomsburg), Chris Awuyah (West Chester), and Franklyn Charles (Slippery Rock), Dr. Pabon facilitated the session More than 'Doing Diversity': Leading and Sustaining the Frederick Douglass Institute across PASSHE campuses. Panelists discussed critical themes related to honoring Douglass' historical legacy in Pennsylvania, culturally relevant and sustaining student enrichment, building inclusive learning communities and supporting the pipeline of diverse faculty through the FDI Fellows and Scholars programs.

During the Q&A, attendees in this packed session representing students, staff, faculty, administration, politics and industry offered insightful feedback on sustaining and expanding impact in these turbulent times of intense scrutiny of DEI efforts.

FDI is thankful for the generative discussion and looks forward to implementing strategies to strengthen our collaboration and collective mission, increase high-impact practices, and improve communication and reporting structures. The FDI Directors wish to also thank the office of Dr. Denise Pearson and our respective campus colleagues for their ongoing support of efforts and students.

Frederick Douglass Institute

Amber Pabon, Frederick Douglass Institute

Fall 2024 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 Wednesday, Oct. 30, through Tuesday, Nov. 5. 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 attend a  Starfish drop-in training session.

Starfish Resources

Nancy Brynildsen, The Center for Student Success & Academic Excellence

Field Hockey Hosts Mansfield Monday in PSAC Quarterfinals

Third-ranked KU field hockey earned the No. 3 seed in this week's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference tournament following the conclusion of the regular season and will host the No. 6 seed, Mansfield, in a quarterfinal round game 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4, Andre Reed Stadium. This is a cashless event. Individuals will be encouraged to purchase tickets in advance through the PSAC website, or they can purchase on location, one hour prior to the contest (card only). Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance. Tickets are $10 for faculty/staff; KU students are admitted free with KU ID. The winner of Monday's quarterfinal will meet the No. 2 seed, East Stroudsburg, at Shippensburg University, the site of the PSAC Final Four, Friday, Nov. 8.

Sports Information

Football Wins Seventh PSAC East Title

No. 4 Kutztown returned two interceptions for touchdowns during a 28-point first quarter and went on to wrap up its second straight PSAC East title with a commanding 49-17 victory over Millersville Saturday afternoon, Nov. 2, at Biemesderfer Stadium. Kutztown clinched its fifth PSAC East title under current head coach Jim Clements (2016, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024), fourth in the last five seasons and seventh all-time. The Golden Bears will represent the Eastern Division in the PSAC Championship game Saturday, Nov. 16, against PSAC West champion California (Pa.) at Cal's Adamson Stadium. KU, the defending PSAC and Super Region One champions, can earn the outright PSAC East crown and secure its fourth unbeaten run through the division since 2019 with a victory over West Chester next Saturday, Nov. 9, on Senior Day at Andre Reed Stadium. Kickoff is at noon.

Sports Information