Community Survey results available
A Powerpoint presentation given by President David Soltz on Feb. 25 to the Forum summarizes a Campus Community Survey and is now available for download (Powerpoint, 200k).
Also at the Forum meeting, Richard Rugen, vice president for administration and finance, discussed changes in the state's Right to Know Law. While previously, the law defined public information relatively narrowly, the revised law defines the exceptions to public information narrowly, said Rugen. He noted particularly that, with few exceptions, e-mail written on university servers is considered public information and can be requested.
Provost James Mackin gave a presentation on the recruitment and retention of minority faculty, staff and students. He noted that the percentages of minority students and faculty have increased over recent years, both at BU and in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education as a whole. Among the initiatives undertaken at BU to increase minority recruitment are weekend overnight visits , receptions and day-long bus trips for potential students. Retention initiatives include an improved orientation for faculty and staff and a growing system of Living and Learning Communities for students. Mackin also noted that BU has established relationships with historically black colleges and universities, which has helped recruitment of faculty.
At the meeting, there were first readings of the revised Identification Card Policy – PRP4955 and the revised Student Code of Conduct – PRP 4802.
Richard Baker, chair of the Middle States Reaccreditation Steering Committee, reported that the eight members of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education Visitation Team will be on campus from April 5 to 8. BU's Self-Study Report is now available at the Bloomsburg University Reaccreditation Web Page.
During April 5-8, 2009 to conduct a site visit as part of Bloomsburg University's Middle States reaccreditation. Middle States institution wide accreditation is required by the U.S. Department of Education. The accreditation is necessary for Bloomsburg University and its students to be eligible for any form of financial assistance from the Federal Government; including grants, scholarships, and federally guaranteed student loans. During the visit, you may be approached by one or more members of the Middle States Visitation Team who may want to talk with you about your experiences at the University. Please be cordial and answer their questions honestly and to the best of your knowledge.In the standing committee reports, Julie Kontos, chair of the Bloomsburg University Curriculum Committee (BUCC) noted that the committee has met six times since the last Forum meeting in the fall. Three of those meetings were devoted to revisions to BU's education programs needed to meet changed requirements from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The committee also approved academic calendars for fall 2010 and spring 2011. The fall 2010 calendar will preserve a Friday reading day in mid October, but with Friday classes being held on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. The spring 2011 calendar will have the last day of classes meet on the Monday of finals week. However, Monday evening classes will be extended by approximately 12 minutes each through the semester. During finals week, Monday evening classes may have finals on the Monday instead of a regular class.