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California University
VOLUME 12, NUMBER 25 OCT. 18, 2010
Global Online Now Ranked No. 1
C
al U offers the nation’s best
Internet-based degree programs,
according to a nationwide survey
of online schools.
The 2010 Online College Rankings
were compiled by SR Education Group,
an educational resource provider based
in Kirkland, Wash. The Top 20 Online
Colleges are listed on its flagship site,
Guide to Online Schools
(www.guidetoonlineschools.com).
“Online learning resources enable
Cal U students to receive the same
caliber of
education as a
traditional
classroom
student,” the
report says.
“Bachelor’s and
master’s degrees
are available,
along with graduate certificates to help
students start new careers without
disrupting their busy schedules.”
Rankings are based on accreditation,
the cost of tuition and books, studentto-faculty ratios, graduation and
retention rates, and the rate at which
Cal U offers the best online degree programs in the nation, according to 2010 rankings compiled
by SR Education Group, an educational resource provider based in Kirkland, Wash. Rankings are
based on accreditation, cost of tuition and books, student-to-faculty ratios, graduation and
retention rates and the rate at which students repay their college loans on time.
students repay their college loans on
time.
The statistics were gathered from the
U.S. Department of Education¹s
National Center for Education Statistics,
the primary federal entity for collecting
and analyzing data related to education.
Guide to Online Schools also takes
into account student feedback and
reviews collected on its website.
The guide’s 2009 survey ranked Cal
U at No. 2, behind Boston University.
Annual Mission Day Addresses
Mobile Technology
T
he traditional classroom, where an instructor assigns
readings from a textbook, is heading to obsolescence.
Cal U addressed this inevitable trend at Mission
Day XII, where nearly 400 students, faculty and staff
examined Cal U Fusion, a campus-wide mobile technology
initiative defined as “the fusing of technology with learning
and life.”
In his opening remarks and call to action, Cal U
President Angelo Armenti, Jr. explained that the main
purpose of Cal U Fusion is both to expand the quantity of
students’ learning, and to improve or enrich their education.
“By making learning interactive, fun, exciting and
rewarding, we can achieve one of the major goals of the
California University mission statement: “To instill not just
learning, but the love of learning,” the President said.
The immediate goal of this year’s Mission Day was to
develop ideas for Cal U’s proposed Teaching and Learning
Best for Vets
Cal U has been honored by
several publications for its
commitment to helping
military veterans pursue
higher education. See story
on page 2.
Center, a place that will be the centerpiece of the Cal U
Fusion initiative.
“I also ask you to share your best thinking on a more
long-term goal,” President Armenti said. “How we can make
Cal Fusion a powerful tool that can propel Cal U to new
heights of academic achievement?”
Delivering the keynote address were George Saltsman
and Bill Rankin, faculty members at Abilene Christian
University, in Texas.
Saltsman is the director of educational technology for the
Adams Center for Teaching and Learning at Abilene
Christian. Rankin has worked closely with Saltsman and a
university-wide team on the school’s mobile technology
initiative.
Presenting together, they showed how information and
learning has changed over the centuries. The educators
— Continued on page 3
Following Cal U on this year’s list are
Iowa Central College; Abilene Christian
University, in Texas; and Norwich
University, in Vermont. The full report is
available at www.guidetoonlineschools.
com/onlinecolleges.
Cal U’s Global Online program has
been growing rapidly. Total enrollment
increased by more than 7 percent this
year, compared to 2009-2010, and the
increase for graduate programs exceeds 9
percent.
Global Online offers bachelor¹s
degree programs in Legal Studies and
Sport Management: Wellness and
Fitness. Graduate students can earn a
master’s degree in programs such as
early childhood or secondary education,
nursing administration and leadership,
rehabilitation science, sports counseling,
technology education, criminal justice
and more. New programs focus on
STEM (science, technology, engineering
and math) education and teaching
English as a second language.
Certification for school principals
also is offered online, along with a
superintendent¹s letter of eligibility and
— Continued on page 3
Event
Examines
Wounds,
Weapons
L
ongbows, horses and an AngloSaxon harp will find their way to
campus for a three-day event that
focuses on the harsh realities of life in
medieval times.
Internationally recognized speakers
will share their insights Wednesday
through Friday during Dancing With
Death: Warfare, Wounds and Disease in the
Middle Ages.
Major events in Steele Hall
Mainstage Theatre include:
A performance from the epic tale
Beowulf by Benjamin Bagby, one of the
world’s foremost interpreters of
medieval music. Bagby plays an AngloSaxon harp as he performs the classic
work in Old English at 7:30 p.m. Oct.
22. Bagby also will conduct a workshop
during his visit.
Two talks by Dr. Piers Mitchell, of
Cambridge University, a practicing surgeon and lecturer in paleopathology, or
historical medicine. Mitchell will examine “Medieval Medical Care:
Stereotypes and Reality” in a keynote
address from 11 a.m.-noon Oct. 21, and
“Paleopathology: the Archaeology of
Health in the Past” from 10-11 a.m.
Oct. 22.
In addition, John France, of the
University of Wales-Swansea, will discuss medieval military history; Kelly
— Continued on page 2
Cal U
among
‘Best for
Vets’
C
alifornia University of
Pennsylvania has been honored
for its commitment to helping
military veterans pursue higher
education.
Military Times EDGE magazine
ranks Cal among the nation’s top 40
colleges and universities in its first “Best
for Vets: College” survey, published in the
October 2010 issue.
Cal U’s No. 37 ranking places the
University in the top 1 percent of the
4,000 schools surveyed.
Just two other Pennsylvania schools
— Penn State University’s World Campus
(No. 59) and the University of Pittsburgh
(No. 71) — were included in the listing.
The magazine ranks institutions based
on programs, policies and resources for
veterans. Criteria include financial
assistance for veterans; academic
flexibility, including policies regarding
military withdrawals; campus culture,
including the percentage of veterans in
the student body and the faculty; staff
members dedicated to working with
veterans; and special programs and events
for those who have served in the military.
“Our University is proud of its service
to veterans,” said Cal U President Angelo
Armenti, Jr. “We recognize the sacrifices
they have made on behalf of our nation,
and we owe them a debt of gratitude.
“Our Veterans Affairs Office takes the
lead in providing support for both
veterans and active-duty service members.
In addition, I credit our entire Cal U
community for stepping up to help
veterans, military members and their
families feel welcome.”
More than 200 veterans attend classes
on Cal U’s campus in southwestern
Pennsylvania. An additional 250 service
members around the world are enrolled
in Global Online, Cal U’s Internet-based
learning community.
The University’s Office of Veterans
Affairs provides military veterans and
their families with assistance in many
areas, including financial aid, advising
and career counseling. An active Veterans
Club and a periodic Veterans Voice
newsletter offer networking opportunities
and information.
California University has been
honored previously for its service to
veterans and military members:
• For two consecutive years, G.I. Jobs
magazine has named Cal U one of the
nation’s top Military Friendly Schools.
The 2011 list honors just 15 percent of
the 7,000 schools surveyed for their
academic accreditations and their efforts
to recruit and retain military and veteran
students.
• Cal U also has been listed among
America’s top Military Friendly Colleges
and Universities by Military Advanced
Education, a magazine for service
members who are continuing their
studies.
• Since January 2009, Cal U has been
among an elite group of colleges and
universities designated as “eArmyU
schools” — preferred providers of online
education for soldiers through the
GoArmyEd portal. A gateway to higher
education for soldiers stationed anywhere
in the world, GoArmyEd.com gives
service members easy access to programs
offered through Global Online.
2
First Student Applies Using Banner
Adrienne Cummins (left), a senior at Canon-McMillan High School, gets help from Eve Hiller (center) and Tracy Bonde, both of the Admissions
Office, as she applies to Cal U using the new Banner admissions/enrollment module. Cummins, who visited the campus on Oct. 4, was the first
student to complete a Cal U application using the new software. A dozen staff members from the various Admissions areas were instrumental
in implementing the first module; eventually, the Banner suite of administrative applications will track every aspect of a student’s University
career, from application through financial aid, billing, scheduling, graduation and alumni status. The transition to Banner from (SIS) SCT-Plus is a
two-year project involving about 75 team members from a variety of departments. The next Banner module to ‘go live’ will be the financial aid
module in February 2011.
Students Build Bridges to Cairo
S
tudents from a Politics of the
Middle East class met their
counterparts from half a world
away during a videoconference with a
class from The American University in
Cairo (AUC).
Part of an educational project
organized by the AUC, the course was
begun in the wake of the Sept. 11
terrorist attacks. Its goal is to bring
Egyptian and American students
together to discuss issues such as
history, culture, race and politics.
“Over the years, the project’s
purpose has been to provide our
students with a different educational
experience. It allows them not only to
learn about people’s diverse cultural
backgrounds and ways of living, but
also to expose them to the experience
of encountering those differences in
their daily interactions and ongoing
conversations,” said Mourad Sinot,
dialogue coordinator for the AUC.
The AUC was established in 1919
as part of an American mission in
Egypt. Known for its culturally diverse
student body, the AUC serves more
than 5,000 undergraduates.
Dr. Joseph Heim, a professor in the
Department of History and Political
Science, was contacted by Sinot and
invited to participate in the project.
Past participants have included some of
the most recognized schools in the
country, including the University of
Notre Dame, New York University, the
U.S. Naval Academy, Georgetown
During Dr. Joe Heim’s Politics of the
Middle East class, Caroline Shaw
interacts in a live discussion, via videolink, with students from The American
University in Cairo.
University and others.
Heim believed the Sept. 30
videoconference in Duda Hall would
enrich his Politics of the Middle East
class, part of the International Studies
program.
Cal U students agreed.
“Our interaction with these
students will give us a little bit deeper
background and better understanding
of their culture while studying politics
in the Middle East,” said senior
Brandon Echols.
Surrounded by speakers and
multiple video screens, both groups
were hesitant to start the discussion.
Echols broke the ice when he asked the
AUC students to become his Facebook
“friends,” which drew laughs from
both sides of the world.
The dialogue quickly grew into an
examination of culture, as students
from the AUC answered questions
about education, music, dress and
nightlife. Most of the students in Cairo
already were aware of American
culture, it seemed.
The discussion eventually turned to
deeper subjects, including religion, the
occupation of Iraq, politics, class
structure and the economy.
“I was surprised to hear one of the
AUC students talk about the religious
affiliations of different political figures
in Egypt,” said Heim. “That is
something the majority of Americans
don’t care about.”
Heim’s students received extra
credit for attending the
videoconference and were asked to
read relevant course material before the
class. They also learned how to
participate effectively and lead a
discussion session.
“I learned today that there really is
not much of a difference between us
and students throughout the rest of the
world,” said Echols. “I hope I have the
opportunity to talk to them again on
Facebook.”
History Event Examines Wounds, Weapons
— Continued from page 1
DeVries, of Loyola University-Maryland, and Cliff Rogers,
of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, will debate the
effectiveness of the medieval longbow; and John Lennox, of
Wayne State University, will address fencing in theater and
film.
Anthony Adams, of Brown University, will present “The
Succor of Horror: Finding Pleasure in Pain in the Middle
Ages.” And author Anthea Boylston, of the University of
Bradford, England, will sign copies of her book after presenting “Blood Red Roses: Paleopathology and the Battle of
Towton.”
Historical fencing demonstrations are scheduled twice
daily throughout the event, and longbows will be on display
in Steele Hall. Visitors also can see Friesian horses — the
closest modern relatives of medieval war-horses — from 9:30
to 4 p.m. daily.
All events are free and open to the public. For a complete
schedule, visit www.calu.edu.
Mission Day Addresses Mobile Technology
— Continued from page 1
explained how information has been transmitted through the ages, first
in handwritten works, then in printed books and now, in the current age,
as digital data.
“The need for improved mobility and access is something that has
not changed from the Middle Ages,” Rankin said.
The challenge now lies in assessing the almost infinite wealth of
information available, Rankin said. He showed how a Google search for
“educational technology” produces 64.8 million online documents in
0.2 seconds.
“Now we have to narrow down this informational explosion,” he
said. “Teachers and students have to work together as colleagues and
peers, because that’s how you’re going to help process that information.”
Saltsman emphasized the importance of understanding the
technology and how it can be used as a tool for learning.
“Through these devices I have been able to bring the world into my
classroom, and that’s an exciting place for us to be in the education
world,” he said.
“This information revolution is a force to be reckoned with, but do
not be distracted by the device. It’s not about that,” he told faculty.
Addressing students, he said, “You have all the knowledge in the
palm of your hands. Embrace it, understand it, equip yourself with it
and change the world with it.”
After late-morning breakout sessions, Saltsman and Rankin returned
to Steele Hall to moderate a panel that reviewed the Mission Day
discussions. Panelists were C.J. DeJuliis of University Technology
Services, who initially proposed the Cal U Fusion idea; graduate student
Katie Mercadante; and faculty members Christina Fisanick, Marcia
Hoover, Laura Hummell, Yugo Ikach and Ryan Sittler.
Saltsman praised the collective efforts of the Cal U community.
“You are asking the right questions, and I commend you for stepping
back and taking the time to look at where you are as an educational
institution,” he said. “Hopefully, the Teaching and Learning Center can
centralize and enhance the many things you are already doing with
mobile technology.”
Cal U students
Luke Schriefer
and Brianna
Blaze-Hoover
work together
on iPod
Touches in
Keystone Hall
during one of
the breakout
sessions.
Bill Rankin, a
professor
from Abilene
Christian
University,
speaks about
‘Equipping the
Academy for
the Age of
Mobility.’
For a look at Mission Day XII, visit http://www.calu.edu/news/pressreleases/2010/09/MISSION-DAY-XII-EXPLORES-MOBILE-DEVICES.htm
Campus BRIEFS
Students in Language Competition
High school students will attend the 10th annual Modern Language Day
contest from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Thursday in the Performance Center.
Organized by Cal U’s Department of Modern Languages and Cultures, the
event allows local high school students to take part in a friendly language competition.
Students will present original dramas and posters incorporating this year’s
theme, “The Americas (Latin America, the United States and Canada).” They also
will read poetry and prose in Spanish and French.
Professors and students in the Modern Languages and Cultures Department
will judge the presentations.
“Knowing various languages opens up opportunities and awareness of other
cultures,” said Dr. Mariana Pensa, chair of the department. “It also bridges the gap
between our differences and makes us closer to our fellow human beings.”
For more information, e-mail Pensa at pensa@calu.edu.
Procurement Fair Set Wednesday
Cal U’s Government Agency Coordination Office (GACO) and the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers will sponsor the 23rd annual Procurement
Opportunities Fair from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Holiday Inn
Meadowlands, in Washington, Pa.
Businesses interested in selling products or services to federal, state or local
In the Spirit
of Jennie Carter
President Angelo Armenti, Jr. presents a
plaque to Aaron Walton ’68, the first
alumni recipient of the Jennie Carter
Leadership Award, as Walton’s wife,
Gloria, looks on. Walton, senior vice
president of corporate affairs at
Highmark Inc., is a member and former
president of the University’s Council of
Trustees and a member of the Board of
Governors for the State System of Higher
Education. The award is given annually to
honor the spirit of Elizabeth ‘Jennie’
Adams Carter, Class of 1881, the first
African-American graduate of South
Western Normal School, the forerunner
of Cal U. Also attending the awards
luncheon was William Carter, a
descendant of Jennie
Carter. Cal U holds its annual Jennie
Carter Day celebration on or around
Oct. 9, her birthday.
government agencies and prime contractors may attend.
GACO provides companies with contracting and subcontracting information.
The fair will feature about 70 booths and tables occupied by government
agencies, corporations, regional service organizations and area businesses.
In addition, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will present an overview of
the agency and explain its post-award contract administration process.
Procurement Fair admission costs $30. For more information, contact Tracy
Julian at 724-938-5881 or julian@calu.edu.
Group Plans Presidential Roast
The Circus Saints and Sinners Club will be “roasting and toasting” President
Angelo Armenti, Jr. and First Lady Barbara Armenti at the group’s 2010 Couple
of the Year Dinner.
The event begins with a reception at 6 p.m. Oct. 27 at the Hilton Garden Inn
at Southpointe. Dinner starts at 7:15 p.m., followed by the program.
Proceeds benefit the California University Scholarship Fund and local charities. Cost is $100 per person; a variety of sponsorship opportunities are available.
Reservation deadline is Friday. For details, call 412-304-2766.
Circus Saints & Sinners Club of America Inc. is a national charitable organization that raises money for local charities. It was founded in 1926 by a group of
circus enthusiasts, and the club’s events often have a circus theme.
Online No. 1
— Continued from page 1
post-master’s certificates in performance
enhancement and injury prevention,
wellness and fitness, and sport
psychology.
California University is fully
accredited by the Middle States
Association of Colleges and Schools, the
National Council for Accreditation of
Teacher Education, and various programspecific professional organizations.
Information about Global Online,
including a full list of programs and
accreditations, is available at
www.calu.edu.
3
Cal’s Third President Fostered Vulcan Athletics
opened in February 2007.
Since 1987, Cal U’s Alumni Association has
presented the Michael Duda Award for Athletic
Achievement at its annual awards luncheon. The
recipient of this award in 1993 was Jeff Petrucci ’69,
who was an All-American quarterback at Cal from 196668. His memories of Dr. Duda remain vivid more than
40 years later.
“He had that aura around him, and you knew Dr.
Duda was in charge,” Petrucci said. “He was a strong
person who cared about academics, athletics and you as
a person. You could walk by his office and his door was
always open. He would see you and if he wasn’t real
busy, he’d ask you to come in and sit down. He was that
kind of person. He was at all our games and so
supportive.”
The Vulcans hosted the 1968 PSAC Championship
game the same day as Duda’s funeral. Cal U, led by
Petrucci at quarterback, rallied twice from 14-point
deficits that day to tie perennial power East Stroudsburg
University at Booster Field, 28-28.
“Some did not agree, but it was decided that the
game would go on as a tribute to him,” said Watkins,
who served as Cal U’s president for 15 years beginning in
1978. “I’m quite sure he would have understood and
appreciated that. The game marked a significant event,
which was a culmination of his efforts to develop the
athletic program at California.”
Since Duda’s initial efforts, Cal U athletics has
emerged as one of the premiere programs in the entire
NCAA Division II. In 2009-2010, the Vulcans finished
second nationally in the final standings of the Learfield
Sports Directors’ Cup, the highest finish ever by a PSAC
athletic program.
Clearly, the Vulcans have come a long way, but Duda
set the initial path, Watkins said.
“Athletics was done but not ballyhooed back then,”
said Watkins, a 2000 Cal U Hall of Fame inductee. “You
have to give him credit for taking an athletic program
that was moribund and starting it on its way to where it
is today. The beginnings were modest.
“Michael Duda had his hands full when he came
here, but he handled things remarkably well.”
Carrying on the Duda legacy with her vivacious and
warm spirit is Veronica “Verne” Duda, who married
Duda in June 1934 and now resides in Monongahela,
Pa. The family includes her son, Michael, and the
couple’s daughter, Karen Duda Hermiller.
Editor’s Note: Cal U held its 16th annual Athletic Hall of
Fame Banquet Oct. 15 at the Performance Center. Throughout
the fall, The Journal will profile each of the 2010 Hall of Fame
inductees.
A
visionary leader, University President Emeritus
Dr. Michael Duda helped California State
College transition from a teacher training
institution into a four-year liberal arts college. During his
presidency from 1956 until his death in November 1968,
a Master of Education program was instituted, in 1961;
enrollment quadrupled; and a dozen new buildings were
constructed on campus.
California’s third president, Duda received special
recognition from the State Board of Education for
implementing the trimester program, which allowed
students to complete their bachelor’s degrees within three
years.
An avid sports enthusiast, Duda oversaw the
constructions of both Hamer Hall and Adamson
Stadium, which opened in 1964 and 1971, respectively.
He was a strong proponent of student involvement in the
school’s decision-making processes.
“He came to the university at a time of significant
transition,” said Emeritus President Dr. John Pierce
Watkins ’53, whom Duda hired as an English professor.
“He had so many issues that he had to deal with, but
he understood and appreciated the importance of
athletics, the relative place of athletics, and he did what it
made sense for him to do to get things started.”
A 1927 graduate of Donora High School, Duda was
an academic honor student, outstanding in debate and
dramatics, and a star athlete in football, basketball, track
and field, and baseball.
Duda completed his undergraduate studies at Saint
Vincent College, near Latrobe, Pa., where he played
football and earned his bachelor’s degree in education.
He received both a Master of Education degree, in 1939,
and a Doctor of Education, in 1942, from the University
of Pittsburgh.
After working as an accountant in a steel mill, Duda
joined the Donora School District as a teacher and coach
in 1935. Learning from legendary coach James K.
Russell, he coached football, basketball and baseball,
while also officiating at WPIAL football and basketball
games.
During his early teaching and coaching days, Duda
became a mentor and lifelong confidant to many fine
An avid sports enthusiast, University President Emeritus
Dr. Michael Duda, who died in 1968, oversaw the
constructions of both Hamer Hall and Adamson Stadium,
which opened in 1964 and 1971, respectively.
scholar-athletes, including eventual Major League
Baseball Hall of Fame member Stan Musial.
A tireless worker, Duda served as a teacher, guidance
counselor, director of playgrounds and scoutmaster
before becoming a principal in the Donora school district
from 1942-1951.
He then was named superintendent of the Monessen
School District, a position he held until becoming
president at California. Duda was inducted into the MidMon Valley All Sports Hall of Fame in 1956, the same
year he began his California presidency.
In 1962 Duda received an honorary Doctor of Laws
degree in Humane Letters from Saint Vincent College,
and Cal U continues to honor his memory. In 1968 the
Duda World Cultures Building opened and was named
in his honor, and the new state-of-the-art Duda Hall
Professor’s Research Wins Awards
D
Creativity on Campus
Jerry van de Beek (left) and Betsy De Fries, co-owners of Little Fluffy Clouds
production company in San Francisco, Calif., pause to chat on the Cal U
campus. The animation team visited Oct. 7 to collect images that will be used
to create a new animated television ad for Cal U.
r. Shirley A. Lazorchak,
associate professor of
marketing, has recently
received two awards for her
research efforts.
She and her research partners
from West Virginia University,
Professor Nora M. MacDonald
and Kristi M. Currie, were honored at the 101st annual
Conference and Expo of the
American Association of Family and Consumer
Sciences for their article, “African-American
Women’s Satisfaction with the Design and
Marketing of Ready-to-Wear Clothing.”
It was selected as Outstanding Scholarly
Article by the editorial board of the Family and
Consumer Sciences Research Journal and was
runner-up for Best Paper of the Year among all
articles published across seven
tracks in 2009.
Also, information generated from Lazorchak’s published article
“Business Etiquette and Protocol:
Preparing Students for the Global
Business Environment” was included in the document Protocol for the
Modern Diplomat, published by the
Foreign Service Institute, Transition
Center, which is located within the
U.S. Department of State.
Lazorchak has accepted a position on the
board of directors for Dress for Success
Pittsburgh’s branch in Washington, Pa.
Founded in 2005, Dress for Success Pittsburgh
is an independent affiliate of Dress for Success,
a nonprofit organization that has served more
than 550,000 women around the world.
The California Journal is published weekly by California University of Pennsylvania, a member of The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.
Dr. Angelo Armenti, Jr.
University President
Dr. Charles Mance
Vice President for University Technology Services
Craig Butzine
Interim Vice President for Marketing and University Relations
Geraldine M. Jones
Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs
Ron Huiatt
Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations
Christine Kindl
Editor
Dr. Lenora Angelone
Vice President for Student Affairs
Robert Thorn
Interim Vice President for Administration and Finance
Bruce Wald, Wendy Mackall, Jeff Bender
Writers
Office of Communication and Public Relations
250 University Avenue
California, PA 15419
724-938-4195
wald@calu.edu
The Journal is printed on paper made from trees harvested under the principles of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (www.SFIprogram.org).
4
VOLUME 12, NUMBER 25 OCT. 18, 2010
Global Online Now Ranked No. 1
C
al U offers the nation’s best
Internet-based degree programs,
according to a nationwide survey
of online schools.
The 2010 Online College Rankings
were compiled by SR Education Group,
an educational resource provider based
in Kirkland, Wash. The Top 20 Online
Colleges are listed on its flagship site,
Guide to Online Schools
(www.guidetoonlineschools.com).
“Online learning resources enable
Cal U students to receive the same
caliber of
education as a
traditional
classroom
student,” the
report says.
“Bachelor’s and
master’s degrees
are available,
along with graduate certificates to help
students start new careers without
disrupting their busy schedules.”
Rankings are based on accreditation,
the cost of tuition and books, studentto-faculty ratios, graduation and
retention rates, and the rate at which
Cal U offers the best online degree programs in the nation, according to 2010 rankings compiled
by SR Education Group, an educational resource provider based in Kirkland, Wash. Rankings are
based on accreditation, cost of tuition and books, student-to-faculty ratios, graduation and
retention rates and the rate at which students repay their college loans on time.
students repay their college loans on
time.
The statistics were gathered from the
U.S. Department of Education¹s
National Center for Education Statistics,
the primary federal entity for collecting
and analyzing data related to education.
Guide to Online Schools also takes
into account student feedback and
reviews collected on its website.
The guide’s 2009 survey ranked Cal
U at No. 2, behind Boston University.
Annual Mission Day Addresses
Mobile Technology
T
he traditional classroom, where an instructor assigns
readings from a textbook, is heading to obsolescence.
Cal U addressed this inevitable trend at Mission
Day XII, where nearly 400 students, faculty and staff
examined Cal U Fusion, a campus-wide mobile technology
initiative defined as “the fusing of technology with learning
and life.”
In his opening remarks and call to action, Cal U
President Angelo Armenti, Jr. explained that the main
purpose of Cal U Fusion is both to expand the quantity of
students’ learning, and to improve or enrich their education.
“By making learning interactive, fun, exciting and
rewarding, we can achieve one of the major goals of the
California University mission statement: “To instill not just
learning, but the love of learning,” the President said.
The immediate goal of this year’s Mission Day was to
develop ideas for Cal U’s proposed Teaching and Learning
Best for Vets
Cal U has been honored by
several publications for its
commitment to helping
military veterans pursue
higher education. See story
on page 2.
Center, a place that will be the centerpiece of the Cal U
Fusion initiative.
“I also ask you to share your best thinking on a more
long-term goal,” President Armenti said. “How we can make
Cal Fusion a powerful tool that can propel Cal U to new
heights of academic achievement?”
Delivering the keynote address were George Saltsman
and Bill Rankin, faculty members at Abilene Christian
University, in Texas.
Saltsman is the director of educational technology for the
Adams Center for Teaching and Learning at Abilene
Christian. Rankin has worked closely with Saltsman and a
university-wide team on the school’s mobile technology
initiative.
Presenting together, they showed how information and
learning has changed over the centuries. The educators
— Continued on page 3
Following Cal U on this year’s list are
Iowa Central College; Abilene Christian
University, in Texas; and Norwich
University, in Vermont. The full report is
available at www.guidetoonlineschools.
com/onlinecolleges.
Cal U’s Global Online program has
been growing rapidly. Total enrollment
increased by more than 7 percent this
year, compared to 2009-2010, and the
increase for graduate programs exceeds 9
percent.
Global Online offers bachelor¹s
degree programs in Legal Studies and
Sport Management: Wellness and
Fitness. Graduate students can earn a
master’s degree in programs such as
early childhood or secondary education,
nursing administration and leadership,
rehabilitation science, sports counseling,
technology education, criminal justice
and more. New programs focus on
STEM (science, technology, engineering
and math) education and teaching
English as a second language.
Certification for school principals
also is offered online, along with a
superintendent¹s letter of eligibility and
— Continued on page 3
Event
Examines
Wounds,
Weapons
L
ongbows, horses and an AngloSaxon harp will find their way to
campus for a three-day event that
focuses on the harsh realities of life in
medieval times.
Internationally recognized speakers
will share their insights Wednesday
through Friday during Dancing With
Death: Warfare, Wounds and Disease in the
Middle Ages.
Major events in Steele Hall
Mainstage Theatre include:
A performance from the epic tale
Beowulf by Benjamin Bagby, one of the
world’s foremost interpreters of
medieval music. Bagby plays an AngloSaxon harp as he performs the classic
work in Old English at 7:30 p.m. Oct.
22. Bagby also will conduct a workshop
during his visit.
Two talks by Dr. Piers Mitchell, of
Cambridge University, a practicing surgeon and lecturer in paleopathology, or
historical medicine. Mitchell will examine “Medieval Medical Care:
Stereotypes and Reality” in a keynote
address from 11 a.m.-noon Oct. 21, and
“Paleopathology: the Archaeology of
Health in the Past” from 10-11 a.m.
Oct. 22.
In addition, John France, of the
University of Wales-Swansea, will discuss medieval military history; Kelly
— Continued on page 2
Cal U
among
‘Best for
Vets’
C
alifornia University of
Pennsylvania has been honored
for its commitment to helping
military veterans pursue higher
education.
Military Times EDGE magazine
ranks Cal among the nation’s top 40
colleges and universities in its first “Best
for Vets: College” survey, published in the
October 2010 issue.
Cal U’s No. 37 ranking places the
University in the top 1 percent of the
4,000 schools surveyed.
Just two other Pennsylvania schools
— Penn State University’s World Campus
(No. 59) and the University of Pittsburgh
(No. 71) — were included in the listing.
The magazine ranks institutions based
on programs, policies and resources for
veterans. Criteria include financial
assistance for veterans; academic
flexibility, including policies regarding
military withdrawals; campus culture,
including the percentage of veterans in
the student body and the faculty; staff
members dedicated to working with
veterans; and special programs and events
for those who have served in the military.
“Our University is proud of its service
to veterans,” said Cal U President Angelo
Armenti, Jr. “We recognize the sacrifices
they have made on behalf of our nation,
and we owe them a debt of gratitude.
“Our Veterans Affairs Office takes the
lead in providing support for both
veterans and active-duty service members.
In addition, I credit our entire Cal U
community for stepping up to help
veterans, military members and their
families feel welcome.”
More than 200 veterans attend classes
on Cal U’s campus in southwestern
Pennsylvania. An additional 250 service
members around the world are enrolled
in Global Online, Cal U’s Internet-based
learning community.
The University’s Office of Veterans
Affairs provides military veterans and
their families with assistance in many
areas, including financial aid, advising
and career counseling. An active Veterans
Club and a periodic Veterans Voice
newsletter offer networking opportunities
and information.
California University has been
honored previously for its service to
veterans and military members:
• For two consecutive years, G.I. Jobs
magazine has named Cal U one of the
nation’s top Military Friendly Schools.
The 2011 list honors just 15 percent of
the 7,000 schools surveyed for their
academic accreditations and their efforts
to recruit and retain military and veteran
students.
• Cal U also has been listed among
America’s top Military Friendly Colleges
and Universities by Military Advanced
Education, a magazine for service
members who are continuing their
studies.
• Since January 2009, Cal U has been
among an elite group of colleges and
universities designated as “eArmyU
schools” — preferred providers of online
education for soldiers through the
GoArmyEd portal. A gateway to higher
education for soldiers stationed anywhere
in the world, GoArmyEd.com gives
service members easy access to programs
offered through Global Online.
2
First Student Applies Using Banner
Adrienne Cummins (left), a senior at Canon-McMillan High School, gets help from Eve Hiller (center) and Tracy Bonde, both of the Admissions
Office, as she applies to Cal U using the new Banner admissions/enrollment module. Cummins, who visited the campus on Oct. 4, was the first
student to complete a Cal U application using the new software. A dozen staff members from the various Admissions areas were instrumental
in implementing the first module; eventually, the Banner suite of administrative applications will track every aspect of a student’s University
career, from application through financial aid, billing, scheduling, graduation and alumni status. The transition to Banner from (SIS) SCT-Plus is a
two-year project involving about 75 team members from a variety of departments. The next Banner module to ‘go live’ will be the financial aid
module in February 2011.
Students Build Bridges to Cairo
S
tudents from a Politics of the
Middle East class met their
counterparts from half a world
away during a videoconference with a
class from The American University in
Cairo (AUC).
Part of an educational project
organized by the AUC, the course was
begun in the wake of the Sept. 11
terrorist attacks. Its goal is to bring
Egyptian and American students
together to discuss issues such as
history, culture, race and politics.
“Over the years, the project’s
purpose has been to provide our
students with a different educational
experience. It allows them not only to
learn about people’s diverse cultural
backgrounds and ways of living, but
also to expose them to the experience
of encountering those differences in
their daily interactions and ongoing
conversations,” said Mourad Sinot,
dialogue coordinator for the AUC.
The AUC was established in 1919
as part of an American mission in
Egypt. Known for its culturally diverse
student body, the AUC serves more
than 5,000 undergraduates.
Dr. Joseph Heim, a professor in the
Department of History and Political
Science, was contacted by Sinot and
invited to participate in the project.
Past participants have included some of
the most recognized schools in the
country, including the University of
Notre Dame, New York University, the
U.S. Naval Academy, Georgetown
During Dr. Joe Heim’s Politics of the
Middle East class, Caroline Shaw
interacts in a live discussion, via videolink, with students from The American
University in Cairo.
University and others.
Heim believed the Sept. 30
videoconference in Duda Hall would
enrich his Politics of the Middle East
class, part of the International Studies
program.
Cal U students agreed.
“Our interaction with these
students will give us a little bit deeper
background and better understanding
of their culture while studying politics
in the Middle East,” said senior
Brandon Echols.
Surrounded by speakers and
multiple video screens, both groups
were hesitant to start the discussion.
Echols broke the ice when he asked the
AUC students to become his Facebook
“friends,” which drew laughs from
both sides of the world.
The dialogue quickly grew into an
examination of culture, as students
from the AUC answered questions
about education, music, dress and
nightlife. Most of the students in Cairo
already were aware of American
culture, it seemed.
The discussion eventually turned to
deeper subjects, including religion, the
occupation of Iraq, politics, class
structure and the economy.
“I was surprised to hear one of the
AUC students talk about the religious
affiliations of different political figures
in Egypt,” said Heim. “That is
something the majority of Americans
don’t care about.”
Heim’s students received extra
credit for attending the
videoconference and were asked to
read relevant course material before the
class. They also learned how to
participate effectively and lead a
discussion session.
“I learned today that there really is
not much of a difference between us
and students throughout the rest of the
world,” said Echols. “I hope I have the
opportunity to talk to them again on
Facebook.”
History Event Examines Wounds, Weapons
— Continued from page 1
DeVries, of Loyola University-Maryland, and Cliff Rogers,
of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, will debate the
effectiveness of the medieval longbow; and John Lennox, of
Wayne State University, will address fencing in theater and
film.
Anthony Adams, of Brown University, will present “The
Succor of Horror: Finding Pleasure in Pain in the Middle
Ages.” And author Anthea Boylston, of the University of
Bradford, England, will sign copies of her book after presenting “Blood Red Roses: Paleopathology and the Battle of
Towton.”
Historical fencing demonstrations are scheduled twice
daily throughout the event, and longbows will be on display
in Steele Hall. Visitors also can see Friesian horses — the
closest modern relatives of medieval war-horses — from 9:30
to 4 p.m. daily.
All events are free and open to the public. For a complete
schedule, visit www.calu.edu.
Mission Day Addresses Mobile Technology
— Continued from page 1
explained how information has been transmitted through the ages, first
in handwritten works, then in printed books and now, in the current age,
as digital data.
“The need for improved mobility and access is something that has
not changed from the Middle Ages,” Rankin said.
The challenge now lies in assessing the almost infinite wealth of
information available, Rankin said. He showed how a Google search for
“educational technology” produces 64.8 million online documents in
0.2 seconds.
“Now we have to narrow down this informational explosion,” he
said. “Teachers and students have to work together as colleagues and
peers, because that’s how you’re going to help process that information.”
Saltsman emphasized the importance of understanding the
technology and how it can be used as a tool for learning.
“Through these devices I have been able to bring the world into my
classroom, and that’s an exciting place for us to be in the education
world,” he said.
“This information revolution is a force to be reckoned with, but do
not be distracted by the device. It’s not about that,” he told faculty.
Addressing students, he said, “You have all the knowledge in the
palm of your hands. Embrace it, understand it, equip yourself with it
and change the world with it.”
After late-morning breakout sessions, Saltsman and Rankin returned
to Steele Hall to moderate a panel that reviewed the Mission Day
discussions. Panelists were C.J. DeJuliis of University Technology
Services, who initially proposed the Cal U Fusion idea; graduate student
Katie Mercadante; and faculty members Christina Fisanick, Marcia
Hoover, Laura Hummell, Yugo Ikach and Ryan Sittler.
Saltsman praised the collective efforts of the Cal U community.
“You are asking the right questions, and I commend you for stepping
back and taking the time to look at where you are as an educational
institution,” he said. “Hopefully, the Teaching and Learning Center can
centralize and enhance the many things you are already doing with
mobile technology.”
Cal U students
Luke Schriefer
and Brianna
Blaze-Hoover
work together
on iPod
Touches in
Keystone Hall
during one of
the breakout
sessions.
Bill Rankin, a
professor
from Abilene
Christian
University,
speaks about
‘Equipping the
Academy for
the Age of
Mobility.’
For a look at Mission Day XII, visit http://www.calu.edu/news/pressreleases/2010/09/MISSION-DAY-XII-EXPLORES-MOBILE-DEVICES.htm
Campus BRIEFS
Students in Language Competition
High school students will attend the 10th annual Modern Language Day
contest from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Thursday in the Performance Center.
Organized by Cal U’s Department of Modern Languages and Cultures, the
event allows local high school students to take part in a friendly language competition.
Students will present original dramas and posters incorporating this year’s
theme, “The Americas (Latin America, the United States and Canada).” They also
will read poetry and prose in Spanish and French.
Professors and students in the Modern Languages and Cultures Department
will judge the presentations.
“Knowing various languages opens up opportunities and awareness of other
cultures,” said Dr. Mariana Pensa, chair of the department. “It also bridges the gap
between our differences and makes us closer to our fellow human beings.”
For more information, e-mail Pensa at pensa@calu.edu.
Procurement Fair Set Wednesday
Cal U’s Government Agency Coordination Office (GACO) and the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers will sponsor the 23rd annual Procurement
Opportunities Fair from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Holiday Inn
Meadowlands, in Washington, Pa.
Businesses interested in selling products or services to federal, state or local
In the Spirit
of Jennie Carter
President Angelo Armenti, Jr. presents a
plaque to Aaron Walton ’68, the first
alumni recipient of the Jennie Carter
Leadership Award, as Walton’s wife,
Gloria, looks on. Walton, senior vice
president of corporate affairs at
Highmark Inc., is a member and former
president of the University’s Council of
Trustees and a member of the Board of
Governors for the State System of Higher
Education. The award is given annually to
honor the spirit of Elizabeth ‘Jennie’
Adams Carter, Class of 1881, the first
African-American graduate of South
Western Normal School, the forerunner
of Cal U. Also attending the awards
luncheon was William Carter, a
descendant of Jennie
Carter. Cal U holds its annual Jennie
Carter Day celebration on or around
Oct. 9, her birthday.
government agencies and prime contractors may attend.
GACO provides companies with contracting and subcontracting information.
The fair will feature about 70 booths and tables occupied by government
agencies, corporations, regional service organizations and area businesses.
In addition, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will present an overview of
the agency and explain its post-award contract administration process.
Procurement Fair admission costs $30. For more information, contact Tracy
Julian at 724-938-5881 or julian@calu.edu.
Group Plans Presidential Roast
The Circus Saints and Sinners Club will be “roasting and toasting” President
Angelo Armenti, Jr. and First Lady Barbara Armenti at the group’s 2010 Couple
of the Year Dinner.
The event begins with a reception at 6 p.m. Oct. 27 at the Hilton Garden Inn
at Southpointe. Dinner starts at 7:15 p.m., followed by the program.
Proceeds benefit the California University Scholarship Fund and local charities. Cost is $100 per person; a variety of sponsorship opportunities are available.
Reservation deadline is Friday. For details, call 412-304-2766.
Circus Saints & Sinners Club of America Inc. is a national charitable organization that raises money for local charities. It was founded in 1926 by a group of
circus enthusiasts, and the club’s events often have a circus theme.
Online No. 1
— Continued from page 1
post-master’s certificates in performance
enhancement and injury prevention,
wellness and fitness, and sport
psychology.
California University is fully
accredited by the Middle States
Association of Colleges and Schools, the
National Council for Accreditation of
Teacher Education, and various programspecific professional organizations.
Information about Global Online,
including a full list of programs and
accreditations, is available at
www.calu.edu.
3
Cal’s Third President Fostered Vulcan Athletics
opened in February 2007.
Since 1987, Cal U’s Alumni Association has
presented the Michael Duda Award for Athletic
Achievement at its annual awards luncheon. The
recipient of this award in 1993 was Jeff Petrucci ’69,
who was an All-American quarterback at Cal from 196668. His memories of Dr. Duda remain vivid more than
40 years later.
“He had that aura around him, and you knew Dr.
Duda was in charge,” Petrucci said. “He was a strong
person who cared about academics, athletics and you as
a person. You could walk by his office and his door was
always open. He would see you and if he wasn’t real
busy, he’d ask you to come in and sit down. He was that
kind of person. He was at all our games and so
supportive.”
The Vulcans hosted the 1968 PSAC Championship
game the same day as Duda’s funeral. Cal U, led by
Petrucci at quarterback, rallied twice from 14-point
deficits that day to tie perennial power East Stroudsburg
University at Booster Field, 28-28.
“Some did not agree, but it was decided that the
game would go on as a tribute to him,” said Watkins,
who served as Cal U’s president for 15 years beginning in
1978. “I’m quite sure he would have understood and
appreciated that. The game marked a significant event,
which was a culmination of his efforts to develop the
athletic program at California.”
Since Duda’s initial efforts, Cal U athletics has
emerged as one of the premiere programs in the entire
NCAA Division II. In 2009-2010, the Vulcans finished
second nationally in the final standings of the Learfield
Sports Directors’ Cup, the highest finish ever by a PSAC
athletic program.
Clearly, the Vulcans have come a long way, but Duda
set the initial path, Watkins said.
“Athletics was done but not ballyhooed back then,”
said Watkins, a 2000 Cal U Hall of Fame inductee. “You
have to give him credit for taking an athletic program
that was moribund and starting it on its way to where it
is today. The beginnings were modest.
“Michael Duda had his hands full when he came
here, but he handled things remarkably well.”
Carrying on the Duda legacy with her vivacious and
warm spirit is Veronica “Verne” Duda, who married
Duda in June 1934 and now resides in Monongahela,
Pa. The family includes her son, Michael, and the
couple’s daughter, Karen Duda Hermiller.
Editor’s Note: Cal U held its 16th annual Athletic Hall of
Fame Banquet Oct. 15 at the Performance Center. Throughout
the fall, The Journal will profile each of the 2010 Hall of Fame
inductees.
A
visionary leader, University President Emeritus
Dr. Michael Duda helped California State
College transition from a teacher training
institution into a four-year liberal arts college. During his
presidency from 1956 until his death in November 1968,
a Master of Education program was instituted, in 1961;
enrollment quadrupled; and a dozen new buildings were
constructed on campus.
California’s third president, Duda received special
recognition from the State Board of Education for
implementing the trimester program, which allowed
students to complete their bachelor’s degrees within three
years.
An avid sports enthusiast, Duda oversaw the
constructions of both Hamer Hall and Adamson
Stadium, which opened in 1964 and 1971, respectively.
He was a strong proponent of student involvement in the
school’s decision-making processes.
“He came to the university at a time of significant
transition,” said Emeritus President Dr. John Pierce
Watkins ’53, whom Duda hired as an English professor.
“He had so many issues that he had to deal with, but
he understood and appreciated the importance of
athletics, the relative place of athletics, and he did what it
made sense for him to do to get things started.”
A 1927 graduate of Donora High School, Duda was
an academic honor student, outstanding in debate and
dramatics, and a star athlete in football, basketball, track
and field, and baseball.
Duda completed his undergraduate studies at Saint
Vincent College, near Latrobe, Pa., where he played
football and earned his bachelor’s degree in education.
He received both a Master of Education degree, in 1939,
and a Doctor of Education, in 1942, from the University
of Pittsburgh.
After working as an accountant in a steel mill, Duda
joined the Donora School District as a teacher and coach
in 1935. Learning from legendary coach James K.
Russell, he coached football, basketball and baseball,
while also officiating at WPIAL football and basketball
games.
During his early teaching and coaching days, Duda
became a mentor and lifelong confidant to many fine
An avid sports enthusiast, University President Emeritus
Dr. Michael Duda, who died in 1968, oversaw the
constructions of both Hamer Hall and Adamson Stadium,
which opened in 1964 and 1971, respectively.
scholar-athletes, including eventual Major League
Baseball Hall of Fame member Stan Musial.
A tireless worker, Duda served as a teacher, guidance
counselor, director of playgrounds and scoutmaster
before becoming a principal in the Donora school district
from 1942-1951.
He then was named superintendent of the Monessen
School District, a position he held until becoming
president at California. Duda was inducted into the MidMon Valley All Sports Hall of Fame in 1956, the same
year he began his California presidency.
In 1962 Duda received an honorary Doctor of Laws
degree in Humane Letters from Saint Vincent College,
and Cal U continues to honor his memory. In 1968 the
Duda World Cultures Building opened and was named
in his honor, and the new state-of-the-art Duda Hall
Professor’s Research Wins Awards
D
Creativity on Campus
Jerry van de Beek (left) and Betsy De Fries, co-owners of Little Fluffy Clouds
production company in San Francisco, Calif., pause to chat on the Cal U
campus. The animation team visited Oct. 7 to collect images that will be used
to create a new animated television ad for Cal U.
r. Shirley A. Lazorchak,
associate professor of
marketing, has recently
received two awards for her
research efforts.
She and her research partners
from West Virginia University,
Professor Nora M. MacDonald
and Kristi M. Currie, were honored at the 101st annual
Conference and Expo of the
American Association of Family and Consumer
Sciences for their article, “African-American
Women’s Satisfaction with the Design and
Marketing of Ready-to-Wear Clothing.”
It was selected as Outstanding Scholarly
Article by the editorial board of the Family and
Consumer Sciences Research Journal and was
runner-up for Best Paper of the Year among all
articles published across seven
tracks in 2009.
Also, information generated from Lazorchak’s published article
“Business Etiquette and Protocol:
Preparing Students for the Global
Business Environment” was included in the document Protocol for the
Modern Diplomat, published by the
Foreign Service Institute, Transition
Center, which is located within the
U.S. Department of State.
Lazorchak has accepted a position on the
board of directors for Dress for Success
Pittsburgh’s branch in Washington, Pa.
Founded in 2005, Dress for Success Pittsburgh
is an independent affiliate of Dress for Success,
a nonprofit organization that has served more
than 550,000 women around the world.
The California Journal is published weekly by California University of Pennsylvania, a member of The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.
Dr. Angelo Armenti, Jr.
University President
Dr. Charles Mance
Vice President for University Technology Services
Craig Butzine
Interim Vice President for Marketing and University Relations
Geraldine M. Jones
Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs
Ron Huiatt
Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations
Christine Kindl
Editor
Dr. Lenora Angelone
Vice President for Student Affairs
Robert Thorn
Interim Vice President for Administration and Finance
Bruce Wald, Wendy Mackall, Jeff Bender
Writers
Office of Communication and Public Relations
250 University Avenue
California, PA 15419
724-938-4195
wald@calu.edu
The Journal is printed on paper made from trees harvested under the principles of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (www.SFIprogram.org).
4