Daily Brief

Moss Receives 2024 Wiesenberger Award for Excellence in Teaching

Dr. Lauren Moss, professor of Counselor Education and Student Affairs, received Kutztown University’s 2024 Arthur and Isabel Wiesenberger Award for Excellence in Teaching. The award is presented annually to a faculty member who has demonstrated superlative teaching skills and service to the university. Moss is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), certified school counselor and special education teacher. She has extensive professional experience working with children who have diverse needs in variety of settings and school systems. Read More.

University Relations

Campus Community KU Doodle Day

Campus Community KU Doodle Day will be held 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 10, MSU Lawn (rain date Sept. 17). Stop at a table, draw and win prizes for doodling and learn how doodling relieves stress and improves focus and retention of concepts. Free markers and doodle pads for the first 200 doodlers, with prizes, plants and giveaways. Contact Frances C. Cortez Funk, director of Health Promotion and Alcohol and Other Drug Services, at cortez@kutztown.edu or 610-683-4240.

Frances C. Cortez Funk, Health Promotion and Alcohol and Other Drug Services

Functional Forms Wheel Throwing Workshop

Explore the art of wheel-thrown pottery in our Functional Forms workshop, where creativity meets utility. You'll learn the fundamentals of throwing on the wheel, from centering the clay to creating functional vessels such as mugs, bowls and plates. Perfect for any skill level, this hands-on course will introduce you to the basics of wheel-throwing and allow you to connect with your inner creativity. Taught by Artist-in-Residence Lindsay Flack, the workshop is 6:30-8:30 p.m., Mondays from Sept. 23 to Nov. 4, 108 Sharadin. Cost is $125. For more information and to register, contact kuclayclub@gmail.com.

Gwendolyn Yoppolo, Clay Club

Return to Campus Event

Join us at the Return to Campus event 10:30 a.m. to noon, Thursday, Sept. 5, Schaeffer Lawn, to meet and chat with faculty and staff, get your questions answered, enjoy some free ice cream and enter for a chance to win raffles.

Stacey Gambler, Dean's Office, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Week-by-Week Workplace Wellness – Fall Pilot

You are invited to join a fall semester pilot designed to cultivate wellness in our work lives with minimal time investment -- a continuation of a summer pilot that 50 people participated in, with the fall semester being more inclusive of faculty as well as staff​. It will begin with an in-person launch 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, 138 Old Main. During the launch, we'll clarify the purpose of the initiative, workshop and articulate individual priorities and goals, set up wellness partners for anyone interested and review the plan. If you can’t be there for the launch, we'll send you the activity to do on your own. 

Every weekday, Monday, Sept. 16 to Monday, Nov. 11, participants will receive a brief email prompt, which you can decide to do (or not). Each day's action is designed to take minimal time, be integrated into everyday life and have maximum impact when adopted regularly.
- Motivation Monday: Set a personal intention for the week.
- Tune-In Tuesday: Pay attention to your breath and your physical body.
- Wisdom Wednesday: Enjoy a wellness tidbit that may improve your quality of life.
- Thankful Thursday: Thank yourself for something, thank someone else (either verbally or in writing) and notice something beautiful.
- Fun Friday: Do something that causes you and others to laugh or do a creative, playful activity. To multiply the effectiveness, involve at least one other person in the fun or creative activity. 

If you want to participate, email danrutt@kutztown.edu by Tuesday, Sept. 10, with the subject line “Workplace Wellness.”

Workplace Wellness

Laurie McMillan, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Join Us for The Frederick Douglass Institute's First Fall 2024 Lecture

Faculty, staff and students are invited to attend Kutztown University's Frederick Douglass Institute's first Fall 2024 public lecture, "Sowing Seeds of Change: Cultivating Critical Research in a Polarized World," 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 16, 116 MSU. Meet the new and returning FDI Faculty Scholars and learn about their research, teaching and service to the Kutztown University campus community. We will also:
- explore the vital role of critical research in addressing pressing social and political challenges;
- learn about practices to nurture transformative ideas;
- strategize ways to navigate challenges.

This event is a great opportunity to connect with colleagues, engage with thought-provoking insights and contribute to the ongoing dialogue on resilience and advocacy to support critical research. Don’t miss this chance to be part of a meaningful discussion that supports the growth of impactful research at our university. All members of the campus community are welcome to attend. Let’s come together to plant the seeds of change. Due to space limitations, attendance is limited to the first 20 guests. RSVP online.

Frederick Douglass Institute

Amber Pabon , Frederick Douglass Institute

KU Advance: Beginners Jewelry Course

The Office of Extended Learning hosts "Absolute Beginners Jewelry Course," 6:30-9 p.m., Wednesdays from Sept. 18 to Nov. 20, 107 Sharadin. This 10-week course will introduce students to jewelry and metalsmithing. Students will learn the basics of sawing, hammering and soldering. Students can expect to make a ring with a set stone, a chain and a project of their own design. Must be 18 years of age or older. Cost of $400 includes a $100 jewelry-making kit. For more information and to register, email extendedlearning@kutztown.edu.

Extended Learning

Lori Lentz, Vice Provost's Office

NYTimes, WSJ, Washington Post and LA Times Access

The Rohrbach Library is pleased to remind the KU community that you have free online access to a number of America's most popular newspapers: The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and now the LA Times. Instructions for how to sign up for an account or renew your access can be found online. Please contact Bob Flatley at flatley@kutztown.edu with questions.

Rohrbach Library

Bob Flatley, Rohrbach Library

Student Organization Searching for Advisor

Theta Phi Alpha is searching for an on-campus advisor. Theta Phi Alpha is a national women's social fraternity and is a member of the National Panhellenic Conference. The mission of Theta Phi Alpha encompasses far more than providing a social network for college women. For more than 90 years, the sisters of Theta Phi Alpha have maintained a history rich in educational excellence, professional achievement and a deep commitment to social service. Our mission is to create close comradeship, to advance educational, social and philanthropic interests and leadership training; to encourage spiritual development and adherence to the highest moral standards; and to promote lifelong bonds of friendship. Please reach out to Payton Price, president of Theta Phi Alpha, at ppric811@live.kutztown.edu, or Laura Fenimore, assistant director of Student Involvement, at fenimore@kutztown.edu, if you have any questions or are interested.

Laura Fenimore, Office of Student Involvement

Fall 2024 Attendance Verification Process

The initial attendance verification for Fall 2024 courses – required federally for awarding of financial aid – will be available for faculty in Starfish beginning 6 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 4, and will remain open until 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11. 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 visit Starfish in D2L, email starfish@kutztown.edu, call 610-683-4106 or attend a Starfish drop-in training session.

Starfish

Nancy Brynildsen, The Center for Student Success and Academic Excellence

KU Esports Teams to Compete at Riptide 2024

Please excuse the following Esports students from your classes Sept. 6-8: Alex Stepien, Andrew Manley, Austyn Merl, Christian Moyer, Christina Hoff, Christopher Secula, Ian Sipe, John Rygiel, Jonathan Liveli, Kyle Rautzhan, Madison Katein, Maria Parisiou, Meg Hess, Mike Cuomo, Oksana Wojcik and Pearson Uelses. Thank you in advance for your consideration in this matter.

Thiep Pham and Griffin Nye, Computer Science and Information Technology

Free Walk-in Math Tutoring

The Department of Mathematics offers free walk-in peer tutoring for students in mathematics classes from MATH 17 through and including the Calculus sequence. Please encourage your students to take advantage of this valuable resource. Tutors are available 2-5 p.m., Monday through Thursday, 207 Lytle.

Math Tutoring

Brian Kronenthal, Mathematics

GEPAC to Assess FYSM Courses This Fall

The General Education Program and Assessment Committee will be assessing Student Learning Outcome #7, "Demonstrate an understanding of various models for the development of the whole self," during the Fall 2024 semester. All faculty who teach First-Year Seminar will be asked to submit student artifacts. The approved rubric can be found on the General Education website. More information will follow in the weeks ahead.

Karen Rauch, Provost's Office

Faculty Awarded Promotion, Fall 2024

The Office of the President is pleased to announce the following faculty were awarded promotion effective with the 2024 fall semester:
Assistant Professor to Associate Professor
- Scott Bastedo, Cinema, Television and Media Production
- Sally Hyatt, Counselor Education and Student Affairs
- Pierette Kulpa, Art and Design
- Dannell MacIlwraith, Art and Design
- Brenda Muzeta, Secondary Education
Associate Professor to Professor
- Christopher Bloh, Special Education
- Alexander Hernandez, Biological Sciences 
- Michael Johnston, Cinema, Television and Media Production
- Joshua Miller, Art and Design
- Lindsey Runell, Criminal Justice
- Jennifer Schlegel, Anthropology and Sociology

Kenneth S. Hawkinson, Office of the President

Free Tickets for KU Football vs. Assumption

Faculty and staff get four free tickets to the KU football home opener vs. Assumption, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5, Andre Reed Stadium. Free tickets are only available online, so make sure you have your ticketing account set up. Check out our FAQ page for more information.

Tickets

KU Box Office