California University

Volume 21, Number 2 FEB. 4, 2019
KEEP UP WITH CAL U NEWS ONLINE: calu.edu/news

Black History Month
Celebration Continues

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Cal U begins 2019 with new or renewed accreditations for 21 academic degree programs.

21 Programs Gain or
Renew Accreditation

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alifornia University of Pennsylvania
starts the spring semester with new
or renewed accreditations for 21
academic degree programs, bringing the
total number of accredited programs at
Cal U to more than 50 in all.
Program accreditation is a quality
assurance process designed to verify that
a university’s programs meet nationally
recognized standards of academic and
professional excellence.
Before a program can be accredited,
a team of representatives from a
recognized accrediting agency scrutinizes
all aspects of the degree program,
including its curriculum, faculty
credentials and student outcomes. The
team also holds an in-person “site visit”
at the university.
Once initial accreditation has
been achieved, the program must
be re-evaluated and its accreditation
renewed at regular intervals in order
to verify that high standards are being
maintained.
“Achieving accreditation is
painstaking work, but it pays off for our
students,” says Dr. Bruce Barnhart,

Cal U’s provost and senior vice president
for Academic Affairs.
“When you graduate from an
accredited program, you know your
degree has value. As a job candidate, you
can point to program accreditation as a
sign that your education met the highest
quality standards.”

Business programs
Fourteen degree programs in Cal U’s
Department of Business and Economics
have been newly accredited by the
Accreditation Council for Business
Schools and Programs (ACBSP), the
only organization offering specialized
business accreditation for all degree
levels.
Cal U now offers accredited Bachelor
of Science in Business Administration
(B.S.B.A.) programs in accounting,
economics, finance, human resource
management, management and
marketing, as well as Interdisciplinary
Studies in Business and Commerce.
In addition, the online B.S.
concentration in integrated global
— Continued on page 4

he campus community and
public are welcome to enjoy the
annual Soul Food Luncheon/
Dinner on Feb. 6 as Cal U continues
its Black History Month celebration,
“Black History Through the Decades.”
Lunch will be served from 11 a.m.
to 2:30 p.m. in the Gold Rush;
dinner will be served
from 4-7 p.m.
The menu
will feature
recipes
contributed by
members of the
Cal U community.
Soul food is a term used
for an ethnic cuisine, food traditionally
prepared and eaten by African
Americans of the southern United
States.
Cost is $8.25 for lunch and $10.60
for dinner for those not on a meal
plan. The event is sponsored by Cal U
Dining and Hospitality Services and
the Office of Multicultural Affairs and
Diversity Education.
“The luncheon-dinner has become
a very popular tradition,” said
Sheleta Camarda-Webb, director of
Multicultural Affairs and Diversity
Education. “Members of campus have
become more and more involved,
giving this a real Cal U flavor.
“Also, everyone loves food, which
has the power to unite people.”

Other Black History
Month events
Feb. 5— Documentary viewing
and discussion, 5 p.m., Natali Student
Center Room 321
The Mask You Live In is an awardwinning documentary that follows boys
and young men as they struggle to stay
true to themselves while negotiating
America’s narrow definition of
masculinity. Experts in neuroscience,
psychology, sociology, sports, education
and media weigh in, offering empirical
evidence of the “boy crisis” and tactics
to combat it. Sponsor: Cal U Men
United.

Feb. 7—Panel Discussion, 11 a.m.,
Eberly Hall Room 110
The conversation will focus on how
today’s culture contributes to individual
growth and success. The event is part
of “What Is the T?”, a diversity series
sponsored by Student Affairs that
focuses on how national events
impact the campus and
the community.
Feb. 11 — BHM
Trivia Night, 7 p.m.,
Performance Center
Student teams
will learn and
share their knowledge
about African History in
the United States. Sponsor: Office of
Multicultural Affairs and Diversity
Education.
Feb. 13 — Multicultural Affairs
Night at Cal U Basketball, 5:30 and
7:30 p.m., Convocation Center
Enjoy women’s and men’s Vulcans
basketball against Gannon. Halftime
performances at both games will
include tributes to Black History
Month. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for
visiting students.
Cal U students with valid CalCards
and children under age 12 are admitted
free. Sponsor: Multicultural Affairs and
Diversity Education.
Feb. 22 — BSU Culture Café,
7-10 p.m., Performance Center
Cal U students will perform music,
spoken word and dance. Sponsor:
Black Student Union.
Feb. 25 — African Drum and
Dance Ensemble—11 a.m., Food
Court, Natali Student Center
Feb. 28 — Black Arts Festival,
7 p.m., Vulcan Hall
Cal U student art will be featured
through live painting and spoken
word. Light refreshments, music and
giveaways will all be part of the event.
Sponsors: Department of Art and
Languages, Cal U Women United.
Feb. 1-28 — Dream Legacy
Challenge
For the second year, the Dream
— Continued on page 4

Graphics Student Heads to World Competition

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rittany Whitestone is a junior at Cal U studying
graphics and multimedia. In 2016 and 2017, she
won the SkillsUSA national competition in graphic
communications, which led to her qualification for the
WorldSkillsUSA team. She will compete in the print media
technology category in August 2019 in Russia.
SkillsUSA serves middle school, high school and
college students who are interested in technical education
careers.
Whitestone is from Westminster, Md., where she
attended the Carroll County Career and Technology
Center for Print Production. She talked about her national
successes as she prepares for the international competition.
What kinds of skills are required at the national
competition level?
We are tested on our ability to complete a printed job

from start to finish. We estimate a job, create a file on
Adobe InDesign, print a job on a Heidelberg QM-46 offset
press, print a job on a Xerox digital press, and perform
cutting and folding operations. We also have job interviews
and knowledge assessments.
How did you qualify for the WorldSkillsUSA team
in print media technology?
You have to have medaled in your competition area.
Then the SkillsUSA team leaders and the expert for your
competition area perform interviews with the students
who applied for WorldSkillsUSA team. Two students
are then selected to compete head to head at the national
competition in Louisville, Ky., for each skill. The
students go through a simulation of what the WorldSkills
— Continued on page 3

Brittany Whitestone

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FEB. 4, 2019

Cal U Plans to 'Take a Bite Out of Hate'

n Valentine’s Day, Cal U will
bring together the campus
community to benefit the
victims of the Tree of Life Synagogue
tragedy.
“Take a Bite Out of Hate: Cookies for
a Cause” will take place from 11 a.m.12:30 p.m. Feb. 14 in the Performance
Center.
Cost is $2. Cookies will be prepared
by Cal U Dining and Hospitality
Services. Complimentary coffee and tea
service will also be provided.
All proceeds will go to the Jewish
Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s Fund
for Victims of Terror. On Oct. 27, 2018,
11 people were killed in a mass shooting
at the synagogue, located in the Squirrel
Hill section of the city.
Cal U faculty members
Dr. Emily Sweitzer and
Dr. Christina Toras collaborated
on the fundraiser.
“The purpose of the event is to
promote and celebrate tolerance,” said
Toras, a legal studies professor and
director of the Institute for Law and
Public Policy.
“This is a very open event for
the campus and community to come
together, engage in conversation, enjoy
some cookies and help a good cause.”
Sweitzer, a sociology professor, said
the two disciplines are well suited to
address the issues of tolerance and antidiscrimination.
“We wanted to do something that
shows our disciplines are more than just

The Cal U community gathered last fall to honor the shooting victims at the Tree of Life Synagogue. On Feb. 14, an event will be held in the
Performance Center to raise money for the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s Fund for Victims of Terror.
Photo courtesy: Cal Times

words — they’re community in action,”
she said. “We believe this event will
showcase the compassionate side of our
students, campus and community and
what it means to take a different ‘bite’
out of things.”
The cookies — representing Mexico,
Norway, Germany, France, South
Africa, China, Italy, the United States,
Poland, Scotland, Canada and Israel
— are intended to be more than simply
delicious.
“Our event is more symbolic,” she

said. “What I mean is that the ethnic
and cultural cookie variations introduce
people to cultural, ethnic and religious
differences, naturally,” she said.
“We’re hoping for a light atmosphere
of enjoyment while remembering Tree
of Life and all other instances of hate,
prejudice, and discrimination.”
The Cal U String Orchestra, directed
by Greta Schottman, will provide music,
and children from Calvary Chapel
Christian School in Brownsville will sing
a medley.

Preschool children from the
Karen and Tom Rutledge Institute
for Early Childhood Education will
participate by creating a banner.
The Office of Multicultural Affairs
and Diversity Education will conduct a
Cal U Strong T-shirt raffle.
“Take a Bite Out of Hate: Cookies for
a Cause” is sponsored by the Office of the
President, the Office of Academic Affairs, and
the sociology and legal studies programs. For
more information email sweitzer@calu.edu or
toras@calu.edu.

Professors, Students Team Up for Research

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wo clinical mental health
counseling students joined
Cal U professors to present at the
50th Annual Pennsylvania Counseling
Association in Pittsburgh.
Shannon Kovalchick and
Sarah Walters, along with Cal U
Department of Counselor
Education faculty members
Dr. Grafton Eliason, Robert Mehalik,
and Dr. Jacqueline Walsh participated
in the three-day event, “Professional
Counseling Identity: Working in the
Present, Defining our Future.”
Kovalchick and Eliason were selected
by the PCA — the state branch of
the nationwide American Counseling
Association — to lead an education
session about regret therapy. Walters,
Mehalik and Walsh presented research
and fostered discussions about managing
stress in a changing world.
Kovalchick expanded on an original
regret therapy model that Eliason created
when he was a graduate student that he
now teaches in his theories course.
“The original model only deals with
grief and loss, but Shannon had the
idea that we did not have to limit this to
just that but can apply it to any type of
regret,” Eliason said.
The two are collaborating on a book
about the new model.
“Essentially we are taking an existing
approach to therapy and are refining it
to be more applicable,” Kovalchick said.
“We are trying to take a broad approach
and put it into a more concrete model
that’s easier for therapists to follow to
help people overcome regret.”
Eliason praised Kovalchick for
taking the lead in a room of more
than 30 professors from others
schools and licensed counselors.

Shannon Kovalchick (left) and Sarah Walters hope their presentations at the Pennsylvania
Counseling Association Conference will fast-track their professional careers.

“I gave a little bit of the history, but
then Shannon taught her whole new
model to the attendees and really had the
bulk of the education part,” Eliason said.
“It’s so rewarding and an affirmation
of our work when we pass on knowledge
to our students, who then make a
difference themselves in the field with
their own creativity.”
Kovalchick, who will graduate in
summer 2019, has already been hired
as a counselor and intake specialist at
SPHS Behavioral Health in Latrobe,
Pa., believes presenting at the PCA
conference strengthened her repertoire.

“This helped integrate me into
the counseling community as well as
building my professional credibility and
connections,” she said. “I really enjoy
this setting and hope to be doing these
type of presentations throughout my
career.”
Walters also found the conference
fulfilling.
Her research looked at stress
indicators and different types of
stress management solutions such as
biofeedback and ecotherapy.
“There are now different ways to
manage these type of stressors that

we had not seen in the past,” she
said. “Every person responds to stress
management techniques differently,
and some of these techniques such as
biofeedback really help to individualize a
plan for dealing with stress.”
Mehalik said an interesting aspect of
Walters’ research was how professional
counselors deal with compassion-fatigue
and burnout.
“People are usually in crisis when
they see a counselor, and as professional
counselors, we take a lot of that on. The
changing world involves our changing
clientele and how that affects us,” he said.
“Sarah fielded many questions from
attendees from all over the state who
were fascinated by what she had to offer
them.
“This was her first major conference
that focused on counseling and was a
great tie-in for her.”
Walters, who will graduate in
summer 2019, is doing fieldwork at
SPHS Behavioral Health in Uniontown,
Pa., and also believes the conference
experience has made her more effective.
“I love meeting and hearing
from others, and this type of dialog
really stretches ideas, diversity and
perspectives,” she said. “The feedback
from people there has already helped me
further develop my work.”
Eliason added that students
participating and not just attending
conferences can fast-track their careers.
“We include our students in
everything we do, especially with
presenting and publications, because
that’s what will get them into doctoral
programs,” he said. “They can even skip
their thesis because they can submit
their publications from state or national
conferences.”

FEB. 4, 2019

Page 3

New Chancellor Delivers First
‘State of the System’ Address

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ennsylvania’s State System
of Higher Education will
transform itself, with the
member universities working more
closely together to expand educational
opportunities for students while reducing
the costs with which they operate,
Chancellor Dan Greenstein said Jan. 16
in delivering his first State of the System
address.
“In a transformed system, our
universities stop competing on every
dimension. Instead, they organize
to leverage their enormous collective
operating scale, to utilize their
tremendous collective talent in ways that
extend and expand opportunities for
all,” Greenstein said.
“In a transformed system — a
sharing system — every student on every
campus has access to the full breadth of
academic programming at every other
campus across the system.
“To future students thinking about
where to pursue their degree, hear
me on this: in a transformed system,
we organize entirely around you and
your success, rather than asking you to
organize around us.”
Greenstein laid out his vision for the
State System after being formally sworn
in as the System’s fifth chancellor, a
position he has held since September.

— Continued from page 1

During his first State of the System address, Chancellor Dan Greenstein emphasizes that
success will come through transformation, redesign and collaboration.

Board Chair Cynthia D. Shapira
administered the oath of office to
Chancellor Greenstein during the brief
ceremony that preceded his inaugural
address.
Gov. Tom Wolf and several campus
representatives welcomed the new
chancellor with individual remarks.
“Dr. Greenstein comes to the
State System at a time of tremendous

challenge and tremendous opportunity,”
the governor said. “I was proud to
participate in the selection of Dan as
the new chancellor, and I welcome the
opportunity to work with him on a new
vision of our public universities. We
need a strong State System that provides
every student with an affordable
education, so they can succeed in
Pennsylvania.”

Two Win Student of Year Honors

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wo women who have had a
profound impact at California
University of Pennsylvania
were honored by the President’s
Commission for the Status of Women
at a luncheon on Dec. 7 in the
Performance Center.
Carrie Kromer received the
nontraditional undergraduate student
honor, and Lakijai Bynum received
the graduate student distinction. The
Student of the Year awards are given
by the commission to women who are
dedicated to Cal U, successful personally
and professionally, and supportive of
women on and off campus.
Both graduated at Winter
Commencement.
“It’s a privilege to acknowledge
these wonderful women, who create a
positive campus environment,” said
President Geraldine M. Jones. “They are
strong role models for our students.”
Kromer, majoring in business
administration with a concentration in
management and a minor in finance,
is a community manager for the
Pennsylvania State Employee Credit
Union. She also is the auditor for
Luzerne Township, Pa.
She partnered with Cal U Women
United — a student organization that
helps women develop academic skills,
social awareness, civic engagement,
personal responsibility and leadership
abilities — on a program focusing on
financial issues for women in abusive
relationships as part of domestic
violence awareness month.
“I think it’s extremely important
for women to know about financial
matters and be able to be strong and
independent in all aspects of their lives,”
Kromer said.
“Being able to assist students with
financial health questions in order
to help them make better financial

Student to
Compete
in Russia

competition will be like, and the winner
of that competition becomes the USA
team’s representative for that skill area.
  
How do you prepare for
competitions?
Practice for SkillsUSA and
WorldSkills requires a lot of dedication
and passion in what you do. I have
been going to the Lehigh Career and
Technical Institute in Allentown, Pa., on
the weekends to train on the Heidelberg
SM52. The experience has allowed
me to learn the specific equipment that
we will be using at the WorldSkills
competition. I recently went to France to
participate in their national competition
as an exhibition competitor so I could
experience what the competition will be
like at the WorldSkills level.

Why are print-making skills so
important?
I think there is a misconception about
the printing industry that we are only
printing newspapers and books. The
printing industry is so much more. Every
sign we see is printed, and every product
we use involves printed packaging.
What kind of support have you
gotten from faculty?
The professors at Cal U have been
very supportive of my WorldSkills
journey. They are willing to offer help
whenever I need it. They also work with
me when I am away for training and help
me continue to work toward my degree.  
What made you choose Cal U?
I originally went to the Art Institute of
Tampa in Florida for graphic design. After
completing two semesters, I decided that I
preferred a career in the printing industry
and researched transferring to a school
that had that program.
What else keeps you busy on
campus?
I am the treasurer for the Screen
Printing Student Association and a
member of Sigma Kappa.

Nancy Skobel, associate dean for Student Affairs and chair of the President’s Commission
for the Status of Women (left) and President Geraldine M. Jones (right) gather with Lakijai
Bynum, graduate Student of the Year (second from left) and Carrie Kromer, undergraduate
nontraditional Student of the Year.

decisions and hopefully not make
bad choices has become one of my
professional passions.”
Kromer brings a “been there,
done that” mentality toward money
management that comes from
experience.
“I enjoy sharing anything I may have
learned along the way with students —
don’t make the same mistakes I did!” she
said.
Cal U Women United is special to
Bynum, who is majoring in business
administration with a concentration
in health care management. She is the
organization’s graduate adviser and was
a member of its executive board as an
undergraduate.
She is the graduate student
representative on the Student
Association Inc. board, and she is a
residence hall director for Carter Hall

and Residence Hall E.
In 2017, Bynum earned bachelor’s
degrees in business administration and
sociology and associate degrees in liberal
studies and technical studies. She is an
assistant manager at PSECU.
As an undergraduate, she was
treasurer and executive board member
of the Black Student Union, a Peer
Mentor, and treasurer and executive
board member for the Young and
Gifted Gospel Choir. She was Cal U’s
Homecoming Queen in 2016.
“I never thought I would ever be so
involved and make an impact on this
campus,” she said. “Cal U Women
United is an amazing organization
of minority women who uplift and
empower all women of color. The
bond of sisterhood and friendship that
motivates and encourages each and
every one does not go unnoticed.”

How important are role models in
this industry?
Role models were extremely
important throughout my journey. When
I first started competing, my mentors,
David Hutchison and Michael Born,
were the ones who inspired me to join
the printing industry. Not only were
they the ones who trained me for the
competition, but they also believed in
me. I started this journey back in 2016,
and they have always been there to coach
me and encourage me every step of
the way. Another role model I had was
the previous competitor who went to
WorldSkills in 2017, Chandler Kerr.
I go back to my high school to help
train the competitors, and I have started
helping to judge events for the regional
and state competitions. Giving back to
the competition is really important to me
because if I can encourage someone else
to reach their dreams, then I know that
what I am doing is worth it.
Follow the WorldSkillsUSA team
on Facebook, Instagram and
Twitter @WorldSkillsUSA or at
worldskillusa.org.

Page 4

FEB. 4, 2019

21 Programs
Gain, Renew
Accreditation

— Continued from page 1

business and the management
information systems concentrations
have been accredited, along with the
Master of Business Administration
degree and MBA programs in
business analytics, entrepreneurship,
healthcare management and nursing
administration.
“California University of
Pennsylvania has shown a commitment
to teaching excellence and to the
process of quality improvement by
participating in the accreditation
process,” said ACBSP Chief
Accreditation Officer
Dr. Steve Parscale, who will present the
Certificate of Accreditation in June at
the ACBSP Conference 2019.
“This accreditation is evidence that
Cal U is committed to providing the
highest quality business education for
their students.”

Sophomore volleyball player Madeleine McKenna is Cal U’s first student-athlete to be named to the NCAA Division II Student-Athlete Advisory
Committee.

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McKenna Named to NCAA
National Committee

al U sophomore volleyball
player Madeleine McKenna
has been named to the NCAA
Division II Student-Athlete Advisory
Committee as the representative
from the Pennsylvania State Athletic
Conference.
McKenna serves as president of
SAAC at Cal U after serving as secretary
for the organization during the 2017-2018
academic year.
This marks the first-ever appointment
of a Cal U student-athlete to NCAA
Division II SAAC.
This past fall she completed her
sophomore season as a member of the
Cal U volleyball team and played in 11
matches, as the Vulcans advanced to the
semifinals of the PSAC Tournament and

earned an at-large berth to the NCAA
Division II Tournament.
McKenna is pursuing a bachelor’s
degree in psychology while being
a member of Alpha Lambda Delta
national honors society with a 3.86
cumulative grade-point average. The
Ohio native has been featured on the
Dean’s List and the Cal U Athletic
Director’s Honor Roll in each her first
three semesters.
The NCAA Division II SAAC
serves as the primary governance arm
representing student-athlete interests in
NCAA Division II affairs. Committee
members serve as student-athlete liaisons
that monitor and discuss happenings on
campuses, within conference and at the
national level.

Other programs

McKenna began serving on the
committee last month and will serve that
role until January 2022.
Athletic Director Dr. Karen Hjerpe
praised McKenna and said she has been
active with Cal U’s SAAC since she
began her freshman year in fall 2017.
“Our athletic department is
absolutely elated that Madeleine has
been selected to such a prestigious
committee,” Hjerpe said. “She brings
forth great ideas and initiatives and I
know she will just shine on National
SAAC. In addition, we are excited for
her future work not only in the PSAC
but on our campus as well.
“Madeleine is a tremendous
leader both on and off of the volleyball
court.”

Vulcans Continue Academic Success

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al U’s athletic program heads into 2019 having
compiled a cumulative grade-point average of
3.10 or higher for 17 of the past 18 semesters.
During the Fall 2018 term, the Vulcans’ 16 NCAA
varsity athletic programs collectively achieved a 3.19
GPA, with 38 student-athletes earning a perfect 4.0.
The softball team earned the highest team GPA, at
3.61. On the men’s side, the baseball team posted the
highest GPA at 3.21.
In all, 199 Vulcan student-athletes were named
to the Fall 2018 Athletic Director Honor Roll for
achieving a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher.
“These significant achievements show the
commitment of our student-athletes to their academic
program, as well as the hard work of our athletic
academic area and the Cal U faculty,” said
Dr. Karen Hjerpe, Cal U’s athletic director.
“We are proud of our student-athletes’ work in the
classroom.”

All-conference catcher Brooke Wilson is one of 38 Cal U student-athletes to
earn a perfect 4.0 grade-point average during the 2018 fall semester.

Cal U programs re-accredited
this fall are the bachelor’s and
master’s degrees in social work, both
recognized by the Council of Social
Work Education; Master of Science in
Nursing (MSN) programs in Nursing
Administration and Leadership and
Nursing Education, accredited by the
Commission on Collegiate Nursing
Education; the Master of Science in
School Psychology, recognized by
the National Association of School
Psychologists; and the B.S. degrees
in computer information systems and
computer science, both recognized
by the Computing Accreditation
Commission of ABET.

Black History
Month Continues

— Continued from page 1

Legacy Challenge in honor of
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is part
of Cal U’s Black History Month
celebration.
Teams of students, faculty and
staff should register through OrgSync.
Points will be awarded for each hour
volunteered, attendance at a Black
History Month event and for each item
donated at the Cal U Cupboard.
Sponsors: Center for Volunteer
Programs and Service Learning, Office
of Multicultural Affairs and Diversity
Education.
For information about the challenge,
email volunteer@calu.edu. For information
about Black History Month events, contact
the Office of Multicultural Affairs and
Diversity Education at 724-938-5758 or
email camardawebb@calu.edu.

The California Journal is published by California University of Pennsylvania, a member of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education.
Geraldine M. Jones
University President
Dr. Bruce Barnhart
Provost and Senior Vice President
for Academic Affairs

Dr. Nancy Pinardi
Vice President for Student Affairs
Christine Kindl
Vice President for Communications
and Marketing

Office of Communications and Public Relations

250 University Avenue

Robert Thorn
Vice President for Administration and Finance
Anthony Mauro
Vice President for University Development
and Alumni Relations

California, PA 15419

724-938-4195

Wendy Mackall
Editor
Bruce Wald
Writer

wald@calu.edu­­­­­­­­­