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Past News from BU Today

Thursday, July 31

BU Mourns loss of professor Ervene Gulley

Funeral services for Dr. Ervene Gulley were held today (July 28) at the First Presbyterian Church, 345 Market St., Bloomsburg, with the Rev. Steve Curaton officiating.

Dr. Gulley, chair and professor of English, passed away Friday morning, July 25.

Gulley joined the BU faculty in 1970 after earning a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Bucknell University and master's and doctoral degrees in English from Lehigh University. She taught courses on modern/contemporary American, British and European literature and the works of Shakespeare.

She studied piano performance from her childhood through recent years. Often asked to accompany BU music faculty and senior performance majors, Dr. Gulley performed individually; with bands, orchestras and ensembles; and at graduate commencement ceremonies.

Her family received friends Sunday at the Rodger T. Bunnell Funeral Home, 435 Market St., Bloomsburg. Memorial donations may be made to the Gulley Scholarship or to an organization that serves the needs of animals.

Quest Outdoor Day Camp featured on WBRE, PAHomePage

The Quest program's Kids' Amazon Adventure Outdoor Day Camp was featured on WBRE-TV news. The video news segment and story can be found here. More information about Quest and its programs is available Quest web site.

Knoebels,' Dorney tickets available at Kehr Info Desk

Knoebels tickets and Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom passes are available at the Kehr Union Information Center. Knoebels ticket books are $4 each for $5 worth of ride tickets good any day, any year. Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom passes are $22 each and are good any day during the 2008 season.

Friday, July 25

BU welcomes new dean of graduate studies

Lawrence Fritz, a biologist who taught at universities in Nova Scotia, Arizona and Maine, is Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania's new assistant vice president and dean of graduate studies and research. Fritz fills the vacancy created by the retirement of James Matta.

Most recently chair and professor of biological sciences and director of the professional science master's program at the University of New England, Biddeford, Maine, Fritz previously taught biology and conducted research at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff and Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Details.

Scholarship and Recognition

Angela Hess from biological and allied health sciences recently presented a paper at a conference on cancer research. Others who have recently presented scholarship or been recognized include Mark Decker from English and alumna Victoria Kidd. Details.

Office 07 courses announced

The Microsoft Office 2007 courses for faculty and staff, listed below, are currently being offered. The Fall semester is just around the corner. Use this opportunity to get a head start on fine-tuning your skills. Registration is required. if you wish to attend. Each course is comprised of three each four-hour sessions. Attendance at all three sessions is recommended. The location for all courses is Andruss Library Room 243.

Details.

Thursday, July 24

Fedunchak interns with American Anthropological Association

Aleksandra Fedunchak, a BU major in anthropology and communication studies, is interning at the American Anthroplogical Association this July. Fedunchak was born in Donetsk, Ukraine and is fluent in Russian. She previously volunteered in the placement center at the AAA Annual Meeting in November 2007. Interning in the AAA's public affairs department, she will work to develop an expert database and to expand the social networking opportunities available to members. After receiving her BA, Fedunchak plans to study anthropology and public health in graduate school.

Marcie Haas earns scholarship from law enforcement group

A BU student is the 2008 recipient of the James L. McGovern Scholarship from the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA). Marcie Haas, a senior elementary education major from Riverside, received the $750 scholarship awarded annually to a student who works for campus security or police at an IACLEA member institution and maintains a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher.

Haas works as an office assistant in BU's office of university safety and police. A member of the university's SHARE tutoring program and the Student Pennsylvania State Educators Association, Haas volunteers in the community through the Key Club and visits nursing home residents as part of the Intergeneration Project.

Details.

PASSHE's Board of Governors approves $181 tuition increase

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education's (PASSHE) Board of Governors today voted to increase tuition by $181 for the 2008-09 academic year. For the fourth year in a row, the increase will be below the rate of inflation. The new annual tuition rate for full-time, resident, undergraduate students beginning this fall will be $5,358 - the lowest rate among all four-year colleges and universities in Pennsylvania. PASSHE's total tuition and fee increases over the last five years have been the lowest among all public university systems in the United States. Details from PASSHE.

PASSHE Board approves agreements with professional staff, nurses

The Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) has ratified labor agreements with its admissions, financial aid and student life staff, and its university health center nurses. The Board approved a new four-year agreement with the State College and University Professional Association (SCUPA), which represents about 600 admissions, financial aid and student life staff who work on PASSHE's 14 campuses. The new agreement is retroactive to July 1, 2007 and runs through June 30, 2011. Details from PASSHE.

BU to host cooperating teacher workshop

There are just a few remaining seats available in the Cooperating Teacher's Workshop that BU will host on Thursday, Aug. 7. Registration is required and seating is limited. Those interested, please register on or before, July 18, by contacting Carla Rodenhaver at (570) 389-5342 or by e-mail.

Osuna Drive closed near Columbia

Osuna Drive from Simon Hall to Columbia Hall is closed to traffic with the exception of maintenance and emergency vehicles.

Monday, July 21

Alumni and parents donate $392,000 through phonathon

BU's annual phonathon program, administered by the development office, experienced tremendous success in fiscal year 2007-2008 raising funds to support many students, faculty, and programs. Again this year, BU partnered with RuffaloCODY, an organization which assists hundreds of universities and colleges throughout the country with their telephone fundraising programs. BU's phone program generated more than $392,000 in gifts and pledges. Details.

Facilities management changing work request system

Facilities management department is changing the computerized system for requesting service. The MAPPER system, in use for over 15 years, is being replaced with a system that has improved communication and tracking tools. The new system will provide several improvements to the maintenance work order process. Details.

Friday, July 18

PASSHE receives $18 million grant to help prepare students for college

The U.S. Department of Education has awarded the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), of which BU is a part, a six-year, $18 million grant to help students in the Allentown, Harrisburg and Philadelphia school districts prepare for and succeed in college. Details from PASSHE.

Freshman earns 'twisted' scholarship

BU freshman Meggan Remenar of Hazleton received a $5,000 scholarship from Auntie Anne's Inc. in recognition of her community commitments and educational accomplishments. Remenar, who graduated from Hazleton Area High School, started taking classes at BU this summer. She is employed at the Auntie Anne's store in Hazleton's Laurel Mall and volunteers at the YMCA. She was a member of the Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) chapter at her high school.

Auntie Anne's, a leader in on-the-go snacks which plans to open its 1,000th store by year's end, recognized five students from across the country for their outstanding achievements both in and out of the classroom. Now in its third year, this post-secondary scholarship is available to all Auntie Anne's employees as well as their dependents and grandchildren.

BU's Quest adds two sessions of Outdoor Day Camp

BU's Quest program has added two additional sessions to its schedule for Kids' Amazon Adventure Outdoor Day Camp. The new sessions of the program for youths ages 10 to 14 are scheduled for Monday to Friday, July 21 to 25, and Monday to Friday, Aug. 4 to 8. The camp will meet daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on BU's upper campus.

Participants will be able to experience activities such as rock climbing, kayaking, hiking, orienteering and high ropes at locations including the upper campus climbing wall and the Danville rock climbing area. Parents are responsible for providing transportation and must pick up campers at 3 p.m. every day.

For information or to register, contact Quest by email or by phone at (570) 389-4323. The registration fee is $120 per child. For more information, visit Quest on the web.

Tuesday, July 15

Aramark contributes $2 million to food service facilities improvements

Aramark, which operates BU's campus dining services, has contributed $2 million to the university to be used for improvements to campus dining facilities. Aramark's eastern region vice president Barbara Timm-Brock presented the check to BU president David Soltz. Shown from left are Aramark district manager Bill Bauman, Aramark senior food service director David Giron, BU vice president for student life Preston Herring, Timm-Brock, Soltz, BU residence life director Linda Sowash, and BU assistant director of residence life James McCormack. Campus dining outlets include the Scranton Commons, the Husky Lounge in Kehr Union, Roongo's in Warren Student Services Center, Starbucks in Andruss Library and Monty's on upper campus.

Alumni Association plans football trip

Don't miss this chance to see two great Pennsylvania football teams in action. The Alumni Association is running a chartered bus trip to see the Pittsburgh Steelers vs the Philadelphia Eagles in pre-season play, Friday, Aug. 8.. Cost is $125 per person for bus trip and game ticket - non-refundable. Bus will leave the Alumni House at 2 p.m. Game time is 7:30 p.m. at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. The bus will return to Bloomsburg approximately 3 a.m. A limited number of tickets are available, first come, first serve. To register and pay for the event visit www.bloomualumni.com or call (570) 389-4215. Contact person is Nathan Conroy, assistant director of alumni affairs.

Donor contributes $5,000 to instructional technology

Bill Jacobs, seated right, presented a $5,000 donation to the Department of Instructional Technology to support its master's degree program. Jacobs of Center Valley, president of both ASERT, an inVentiv health company, and Dialog Coach personal role play system, became interested in supporting the program after attending a conference where professor Karl Kapp, seated left, was a featured speaker. Shown standing are Robert Marande, left, dean of the College of Science and Technology, and Tim Phillips, chair of instructional technology.

Faculty promotions announced

President David Soltz has announced the following faculty promotions:

To Assistant Professor:

Allen Larson

To Associate Professor:

Joseph Andreacci

Kristen Brubaker

Clay Corbin

Pamela Donovan

Meredith Re' Grimsley

Eric Hawrelak

Ruth Kennedy

Michael M. Patte

Pamela A. Smith

To Full Professor:

William Calhoun

Kevin Ferland

Darlene Perner

Blair Staley

Vivian Yenika-Agbaw

Campus movie: 'Baby Momma'

"Baby Mama" will be shown Wednesday, July 16, at 8 p.m. and Thursday, July 17, at 7 p.m. in the Kehr Union Hideaway. Admission is free with a BU ID, all others $1.

Manga and Anime club to meet Tuesdays

The BU Manga and Anime Club will hold summer meeting Tuesdays until August 12 from 7 to 10 p.m. in Bakeless Center, room 103. Meetings will feature screenings of anime and live-action Asian films. All are welcome to attend.

Tuesday, July 8

State Senate salutes PASSHE's 25 years

The Pennsylvania State Senate has adopted a resolution recognizing the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) for "25 years of significant work in this Commonwealth."

PASSHE was created by the Legislature in November 1982 and began operations on July 1, 1983, bringing together the 13 former state colleges and Indiana University of Pennsylvania under a unified System. All former normal schools, then teachers colleges, the 14 PASSHE institutions are now comprehensive universities, together offering high-quality degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study.

The PASSHE universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock, and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. PASSHE also operates branch campuses in Oil City (Clarion), Clearfield (Lock Haven) and Freeport and Punxsutawney (IUP), as well as several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg.

The universities combined enroll more than 110,000 students, making PASSHE the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth, with the lowest cost among all four-year institutions in Pennsylvania. Nearly 90 percent of PASSHE students are Pennsylvania residents. Approximately 405,000 of PASSHE's more than 650,000 alumni live and work in Pennsylvania, earning an aggregate annual income of more than $7 billion, contributing significantly to both the regional and statewide economies.

Students: Change your mind about living on campus?

New and returning students who are scheduled to live on campus and have decided to live off-campus or who will not be attending are asked to contact the residence life office as soon as possible. Call 800-287-7543 or email Tom Kresch or Michele Stout.

Library exhibit celebrates campus green spaces

The Harvey Andruss Library's latest exhibit, "The Grove, the Lawn, and the Academic Quad: 100 Years of Green Space on Campus," celebrates the many years in the early to mid-part of the last century when large areas of trees, shrubs and grass were found on campus, and then the return last year of a green area. One hundred years ago this summer, the Grove of trees that ran from Old Science to the current site of Northumberland Hall, and in small part is still there, was landscaped as a gift to the normal school by the Class of 1908. The display shows what these areas were like and what they were used for, and the role that longtime faculty member Daniel Hartline played in maintaining them. The exhibit is located on the third floor of the library and will be up until Aug. 29. More information.

Emmaus student earns Verizon scholarship

Bree Washburn, of Emmaus, was recently awarded the Verizon Foundation Scholarship. Washburn, an incoming fall freshman, will receive $5,000 per academic year at BU. She plans to major in business administration/marketing. The scholarship was award to 250 students who are children and dependents of Verizon employees. The program selects recipients based on financial need, academic achievement and extracurricular activity. Since 2001, children of Verizon Employees have benefited from more than $32 million in scholoarships.

Scholarship and Recognition

Jerry Wemple, associate professor of English, and Michael Hickey, professor of history, have recently published articles and made presentations. Details.

Incoming student Jeaneen Alleman awarded scholarship

Jeaneen Alleman, Chambersburg, recently received the Nathan Tappen Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $250. Alleman will major in special education at BU in the fall as a freshman. The Arc of Franklin and Fulton counties sponsors the award each year for students entering the special education field.