California University

VOLUME 12, NUMBER 3 FEB. 1, 2010

Study: Cal U Nation’s No. 2 Online College

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nationwide study of online
schools has ranked Cal U at
No. 2 for its Internet-based
degree programs.
The Top 25 Online Colleges study
was conducted by SR Education Group,
an educational resource provider based in
Kirkland, Wash. The study appears 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, but with the convenience of
studying from home and with a flexible,
student-directed schedule,” the study says.
Rankings are based on accreditation,
tuition cost, number of students and
faculty, student-to-faculty ratio,
graduation rate and retention rate, all
derived from the latest data compiled by
the National Center for Education
Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of
Education. Guide to Online Schools also
takes into account student feedback and
reviews collected on its website.
Cal U’s score was exceeded only by
Boston University. Also in the top 10 are
Abilene Christian University, Iowa
Central College, Bowling Green State
University and Northeastern University.

Cal U’s Global Online program was recently ranked No. 2 in a nationwide study of
online schools.

The full study is available at
www.guidetoonlineschools.com/
online-colleges.
Cal U’s Global Online program has
been growing rapidly. Compared to 200809, undergraduate enrollment increased
by 11 percent this year, and graduate
enrollment is 21 percent higher.

Online learning has been important to
Robert Prah, director of the Office of
Veterans Affairs. The Global Online
program allowed him to continue his
studies even while he was on active
military duty overseas.
“Prior to leaving, while I was gone
and since I’ve been back, I don’t recall

having any negative comments about our
Global Online program,” he said. “The
customer service and one-on-one
assistance from the staff at the Office of
Web-Based Programs, individual
attention from instructors, and all the
‘behind the scenes’ work that is done ... is
commendable.”
Global Online offers bachelor’s
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.
Certification for school principals also
is offered online, along with a
superintendent’s letter of eligibility and
post-master’s certificates in performance
enhancement and injury prevention,
wellness and fitness, and sport
psychology.
Cal U is a preferred provider of
online education for soldiers, who
connect to Global Online through the
GoArmyEd.com portal.
A full list of programs is available at
www.calu.edu.

Larmi Retires; Thorn Interim VP

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Eric Larmi

fter a 35-year career that
blended finance and higher
education, Eric Larmi retired
on Jan. 29.
Larmi, who became Cal U’s first
comptroller in 1991, had served as Cal
U’s interim vice president for
Administration and Finance since Oct.
31, when longtime vice president Dr.
Allan Golden retired.
Larmi’s association with the State
System of Higher Education began in
1976, when he was an auditor with the
state Auditor General’s Office. In that
role, he assisted in the joint
management of the first financial audit

of Clarion University with Coopers &
Lybrand, now
PriceWaterhouseCoopers.
He also managed joint audit
engagements with audit firms KPMG
Peat Marwick and Deloitte & Touche at
Edinboro, Clarion, Slippery Rock and
Lock Haven universities.
“It has been a pleasure serving the
University as interim vice president for
Administration and Finance,” Larmi
said before his departure. “It has been
an exceptional experience to culminate
my career in higher education and state
service.”
President Angelo Armenti, Jr.

announced that Bob Thorn will serve as
interim vice president during a national
search to fill the position. Thorn, who
joined Cal U in 1993 as financial aid
director, recently was promoted to
assistant vice president for
Administration and Finance.
“I am deeply appreciative of Eric
Larmi’s many years of service to the
University,” said President Armenti.
“He is one of many ‘behind-the-scenes’
professionals whose meticulous work
has helped Cal U to flourish. I wish
him well as he enters this new phase of
his life.”
— Continued on page 2

Enrollment Up, Faculty Told

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n increase in spring semester
enrollment and a look at the
University’s new television ad were
among the highlights of Faculty
Convocation on Jan. 21.
The gathering is held twice a year, in fall
and spring, so faculty can question
President Angelo Armenti, Jr. and hear his
“State of the University” report.
That report highlighted gains in firstday-of-class enrollment compared to last
spring. Undergraduate FTE enrollment
increased by more than 6 percent over 2009
figures, and graduate FTE is up more than
20 percent. The total FTE increase amounts
to 8.3 percent for the semester start.
Noting the ties between enrollment and
marketing, the President rolled out the

University’s latest television ad, which uses
an animation style similar to Cal U’s new
website. The 30-second TV spot showcases
the campus and reinforces the message of
“building character, building careers.”
“Our image is critical to our future
success,” President Armenti said.
He drew the faculty’s attention to the
new website, noting that Azorsky and New
Science halls — missing from the
homepage’s virtual tour — will be added
soon. The design for the homepage was
drawn from the model in the Grand Hall,
he explained, which shows the campus as it
is likely to appear a number of years from
now.
President Armenti also addressed the
— Continued on page 3

Martin Luther King Day of Service
Sophomore Matt Spencer helps clean in the United Methodist Church during the
seventh annual Martin Luther King Day of Service Jan. 21. See story on page 2.

MLK Speaker: Make Most of Your Time

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efore students tackled their
community service projects on the
seventh annual Martin Luther
King Day of Service, alumnus George
Simmons ’65 urged them to emulate the
slain civil rights leader’s preference for
thoughtful dialogue instead of violence.
Simmons has been regional director
of the Pennsylvania Human Relations
Commission for the past 35 years. The
office enforces federal and local laws that
prohibit discrimination.
Simmons attended Cal U during the
tumultuous era when civil rights
legislation was taking shape. A standout
basketball player, he was one of just 14
African-American students on campus.
“Those times tried the souls of
everybody in this country,” he said. “The
discrimination was so devastating that
you wanted to rise up in anger and react.
Instead, I became a part of discussions
and dialogue, because just like Dr. King,
I had to think things through, work it out
and come up with a plan.”
Simmons is the former vice president
of the NAACP’s Pittsburgh office and a
member of many national and local civil
rights groups. In addition to Cal U, he
attended the University of Pittsburgh’s
Graduate School of Public and
International Affairs and Pitt’s law
school, and he graduated from the
Federal Executive Institute in
Charlottesville, Va.
“You need to appreciate your

George Simmons ´65 emphasized the importance of using knowledgeable dialogue as
opposed to acts of violence in dealing with any form of adversity during his keynote address
Cal U’s seventh annual Day of Service honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

opportunity to sit at your desks and
think of the alternative to violence,” he
told students on Jan. 21. “Once you
leave these halls, you have to put
everything you’ve learned into practice.”
Simmons recalled using his wits to
counter prejudice during his student
days. He described a Halloween party
where three white students appeared in
Ku Klux Klan robes. Simmons left the
party and returned wearing a suit, with a
sign on his back indicating he was James

Meredith, who in 1962 became the first
black student to gain admittance to the
University of Mississippi.
“It was a psychological violence that
deterred your studies, and race was
always on your mind,” he said. “We
were revolutionaries seeking change.”
Simmons urged the students to help
make Dr. King’s dream a reality.
“Martin Luther King made the most
of his time, and that’s what you have to
do,” he said. “What you are doing today

is helping to turn things around. It’s part
of a chain of success, a collaboration
that is extremely effective.”
Before the keynote speech, Dr.
Lenora Angelone, vice president for
Student Development and Services,
praised the student volunteers and others
who participated in the Day of Service.
“Your efforts today set the tone for
the service work the University will do in
2010 which makes the community a
better place, and you leave a legacy for
future students to follow,” she said.
Emcee for the event was Ashley
Munoz-Briggs, president of the Black
Student Union. Student government
President Jackie Davis introduced
Simmons. LaMont Coleman, associate
dean for Student Development and
Services, coordinated the event.
President Armenti was unable to attend
because Faculty Convocation was held
during the same Common Hour.
“We are responding to the late
Coretta Scott King, who asked that the
day commemorating her husband be ‘a
day on, rather than a day off,’” MunozBriggs said. “As Dr. King did, we are
paying it forward by creating healthy
communities.”
After the program, student volunteers
performed service work off campus at
the United Methodist Church and the
Center in the Woods senior center, while
others took on projects on campus at
Manderino Library and Old Main.

Larmi Retires; Thorn
Named Interim VP
— Continued from page 1

President Angelo Armenti, Jr.

Ryan Jerico

Amy Lombard

Presentation Examines
Cal U for Life

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hrough the Cal U for Life
initiative, The Univeristy is
rapidly becoming a sought-after
leader in student philanthropy.
Last week, Cal U President Angelo
Armenti, Jr. gave three presentations at
the Building a Culture of Student and
Young Alumni Philanthropy Institute in
Atlanta, Ga. Accompanying him were
Amy Lombard, executive director of
Alumni Relations and Annual Giving,
and Ryan Jerico, coordinator of student
and young alumni programs.
Academic Impressions, a Coloradobased organization that provides
professional development for
administrative and academic leaders in
higher education, offered the three-day
institute.
In the event’s opening session,
President Armenti shared his vision and
strategy for student philanthropy and
discussed the atmosphere and context of
higher education that makes intentional
student philanthropy so important.
His second presentation emphasized
that the philanthropic message drives an
institution’s entire program. A unique
message should be tailored to each
school’s mission and specific student
population, he said.

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“Through awareness, appreciation
and, ultimately, giving, we must have
our students forge and maintain a
lifelong relationship with Cal U,”
President Armenti said. “We chose ‘Cal
U for Life’ as our brand because the
name was also the goal. You must instill
a culture of philanthropy immediately
among students, faculty, staff and
alumni.”
With input from Lombard and
Jerico, President Armenti then led
participants through the development of
Cal U’s student philanthropy program,
including the comprehensive student
orientation program for freshmen and
other first-year students.
In December, this same Cal U trio
explained the Cal U for Life initiative to
more than 400 higher education
professionals through an online seminar
hosted by Academic Impressions.
“The student philanthropy
conference is excellent for any school
looking to create or expand a student
fundraising program,” said Amy
Hasquet, assistant director for
Development and Alumni Relations at
California Institute of Technology.
“Many ideas were explored that can
lead to a successful program.”

Licensed in Pennsylvania as a
certified public accountant, Larmi is a
member of the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants and the
Pennsylvania Institute of Certified
Public Accountants.
“California University has grown
enormously since my arrival in 1991,
and is poised for greater success,” he
said. “I must acknowledge my many coworkers in Administration and Finance
who have aided me in my successful
career here. Further, I thank President
Armenti for the opportunities he has
afforded me, and I wish him and the
entire University community continued
success.”
Thorn is past president of the 700member Pennsylvania Association of
Student Financial Aid Administrators.
Under his leadership, the Office of
Financial Aid received numerous
perfect audits from PHEAA, the
Pennsylvania Higher Education
Assistance Agency.
Before coming to Cal U 17 years
ago, Thorn served as associate director
of financial aid and accounting at Ohio
University for nearly seven years. Prior
to that, he was director of financial aid
at Alderson-Broaddus College in West
Virginia.
“I am looking forward to the
opportunity to serve the President in
this interim capacity until a new vice
president is on board,” Thorn said. “I
also look forward to learning from
many capable individuals within our
division as I take this interim leadership
role.”
Thorn’s experience and exemplary
work history make him ideal to fill the
interim position, President Armenti said.

Bob Thorn

“In his long tenure as director of the
Office of Financial Aid, Bob Thorn
helped thousands of families find
workable answers to their financial
questions,” he said. “In this time of
transition, the University as a whole
will rely on his expertise and his sound
advice.”
To assist with the transition, Fawn
Petrosky and Rosanne Pandrok will
serve as interim assistant vice presidents
in Administration and Finance. “These
two individuals will be extremely
valuable in providing leadership and
insight to our division,” Thorn said.
In addition, the Financial Aid Office
will now be under the leadership of Jeff
DeRubbo, who has been promoted to
interim director. He brings many years
of financial aid leadership to the
position, Thorn said, both as associate
director at Cal U and as director of
financial aid at Bethany College in West
Virginia.

Enrollment, TV Ad in Spotlight at Convocation
— Continued from page 1
subject of gender equity, both in athletics and in faculty
hiring and promotion.
By aggressively seeking scholarship funding for
female athletes, Cal U’s athletics program has nearly
achieved a male-female balance comparable to the
student population on campus. Mandated by federal
Title IX regulations, gender equity is difficult to
achieve, the President said.
To match the student population, 53 percent of
varsity athletes must be women. Cal U now has 236
female and 240 male athletes on varsity rosters.
“It took us 10 years, but we are nearly there,” he
said.
Using a series of slides, President Armenti also
looked at the male-female composition of the current
faculty. Today, females comprise more than 45 percent
of the faculty, compared to fewer than 25 percent when
his tenure as President began.
Since 1992, more women than men have been
hired, and the promotion rate has been roughly equal,
he said.
In addition, the President:
— Congratulated Dr. Chadwick Hanna for earning
his doctorate, and announced that Dr. Keith Hepner
will serve as interim chair of the Special Education
Department, while continuing to chair Secondary
Education, as well.
— Praised the faculty and staff of Global Online,
ranked No. 2 in the nation in a survey of online
education providers. Information is available at
www.guidetoonlineschools.com.
— Noted that Cal U once again received more
performance funding — $4.87 million — than any
other PASSHE school. The formula for performance
funding appears likely to change, President Armenti
said, so that high-performing schools do not
“cannibalize” those with lower performance scores. For
Cal U, this could mean a significant decrease in
revenue.
— Recapped his “privatization” message and listed
steps the University can take in response to declining
state support. They include the Cal U for Life initiative
and an effort to upgrade classroom technology across
the campus.
— Gave a master plan update: The River Lot
improvements are complete, and emergency call-boxes
are in place; construction of both the Convocation
Center and the Manderino Parking Garage is on
schedule; and a contract for shuttle service to and from
Roadman Park is being finalized.
The Convocation began with a welcome by
Provost Geraldine Jones and brief remarks from
student Janet Koposko, a senior psychology major

President Angelo Armenti, Jr. presents his ‘State of the University’ report at the Spring 2010 Faculty Convocation.

During the
Convocation,
President
Armenti
acknowledged
the efforts of
all the faculty.

who is working toward an Aging Specialist certificate.
The recipient of the William O. and David W.
Hambacher scholarship, Koposko said she had
clarified her goals and taken advantage of
professional development opportunities since
transferring to Cal U.

APSCUF president Linda Toth used her time at the
podium to express gratitude for the faculty’s
scholarship, diligence, patience and concern for
students.
“Warmth is the vital element … for the soul of the
student,” she said. “I thank you.”

Campus BRIEFS
Professor Publishes Again
Dr. Charles P. Nemeth, director of Graduate
Legal Studies and Cal U’s Institute for Law and
Public Policy, has published an overview of
organizational changes and strategic initiatives that
have emerged within
the federal Department
of Homeland Security.
Homeland Security:
An Introduction to
Principles and Practices
(CRC Press, 518 pages)
is available at
www.crcpress.com.
Nemeth has written
a number of books and
articles on law and
justice.
In his latest work,
he attempts to give
order to the very
complex and highly bureaucratic Department of
Homeland Security, created in 2002. The text
provides students and practitioners with the latest
developments in the makeup, organization and
strategic mission of the department.

“Homeland Security involves a complex network
of government agencies and private organizations
collaborating to ensure the safety and security of
the United States, its domestic and global interests,
and its citizens,” said Nemeth. “Homeland Security,
by any measure, is a massive enterprise that gets
larger by the moment.”
To reach the author, e-mail nemeth@calu.edu.

Cal U Welcomes Scholastic
Art and Writing Awards
The creativity of area high school and middle
school students is on display at Cal U for the 2010
Scholastic Art and Writing Awards of Southwestern
Pennsylvania. The University is hosting the event,
which began in 2003, for the first time.
The 441 submissions will be on display through
Sunday in Gallagher Hall. Hours are 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Monday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, 8
a.m.-2 p.m. Friday and by appointment at 724-9384182.
Winners have been selected by judges to receive
Gold Keys, American Vision and Voice recognition,
Silver Keys and/or Merit Awards. Gold Key
winners will head to New York City in June for a
national competition.

Students will receive their awards at 2 p.m.
Sunday in Steele Hall. A pre-award reception will
begin at 1 p.m. Jessica Lottman, who earned a Gold
Key as a high school student from Uniontown High
School and is a 2008 graduate of Cal U, will be the
guest speaker.
The awards are sponsored by the College of
Liberal Arts, the Department of English and the
Department of Art and Design.

FPDC Merit Award
Nominations Due Feb. 15
The deadline for the FPDC’s 2010 Merit Award
Nominations is quickly approaching.
Each FPDC Subcommittee (Research, Teaching
and Learning, Technology, Service and ServiceLearning, and Grants and Contracts) offers a $1,000
award that can be used for professional activities (as
appropriate in relation to the award).
The form to nominate a faculty member for the
Merit Award can be downloaded from the Faculty
Professional Development Committee’s website.
Self-nominations for the merit award are also
acceptable.
The completed nomination form must be received
in the Faculty Center, 134 Azorsky, by noon on Feb. 15.

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Olympian at Sport Management Conference

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Four-time Olympic gold medalist Teresa Edwards

lympic gold medalist Teresa Edwards will be
among the speakers Feb. 4-5 at the Cal U Sport
Management Conference.
The conference aims to help students and alumni find
jobs or internships, while building partnerships with
industry personnel. It is presented by the University’s Sport
Management Program in collaboration with the Cal U
Internship Center and Office of Career Services.
Many potential employers are expected to participate,
representing professional sports teams, sports marketing
firms and collegiate athletic conferences.
In addition to Edwards, who earned four Olympic gold
medals in women’s basketball, speakers include Steve
Murray, president of the Pennsylvania State Athletic
Conference; John I. Nubani, president of Sport
Management and Marketing Inc.; and Natasha Brison, a
sports agent and lawyer for Georgia State University.
Edwards, a two-time All-American guard at the
University of Georgia, is the first basketball player, male or
female, to have played in five Olympics. She is a 2010

Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inductee who played in
both the ABL and WNBA, where she also coached. In
2000, Sports Illustrated placed her 22nd among the “100
Greatest Female Athletes of the 20th Century.”
Cal U also will welcome back alumni Patrick Sadler
’07, of PONY Baseball and Softball; Paul Klein ’07, of the
Washington Nationals; and keynote speaker Ricci Rich
’01, athletic director at Moon Area High School.
Conference registration will be held 9-10:45 a.m. Feb 4
in Hamer Hall lobby with the keynote address by Rich at
11 a.m. in Steele Hall Mainstage Theatre. Registration will
begin at 8 a.m. Feb. 5 in Hamer Hall lobby. Presentations
on best practices, interview techniques and networking will
follow.
“This event is a win-win situation for everyone,” said
Dr. Charles Crowley, assistant professor of Sport
Management Studies. “Listening to leaders from the sport
management field, combined with networking and
interviewing opportunities, will be invaluable to our
students, internship providers and employers.”

Cal Now Third in Dixon Standings

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fter an exciting autumn sports season, Cal
U’s athletic department ranks third among 16
schools in the 2009-2010 Pennsylvania State
Athletic Conference (PSAC) Dixon Trophy standings.
Led by 16 points from the women’s volleyball
team, which won its third consecutive PSAC
championship, the Vulcans have amassed 74.5 points.
Also achieving double-digit point totals for Cal U
were football (15), women’s soccer (14) and men’s
golf (11).
The football team won a fifth straight PSAC-West
title to earn an appearance in the PSAC
championship while the women’s soccer team won its
first-ever PSAC-West division crown and reached the
conference’s semifinals. The men’s golf team finished
tied for second. The women’s cross country team
produced four Dixon points and the men’s cross
country and soccer teams combined for 14.5 points.
The women’s volleyball, women’s soccer and
football teams also won NCAA Regional team
championships, which do not figure into the Dixon

Black History Month
Kicks Off This Week

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wo events this week mark the start of Cal U’s
celebration of Black History Month 2010.
At 6:30 p.m. tonight the Rev. Montele
Crawford, of Pittsburgh, will lead a church service in
rooms 206-207 of the Natali Student Center. The pastor
of Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Rankin since 2007,
Crawford’s efforts have helped this church double its
membership.
On Thursday, a “Talk Back” discussion forum will be
held at 5:15 p.m. in the Carter Hall multi-purpose room,
following the Black Student Union’s weekly meeting.
Tamanika Howze, director of the Kingsley-Lincoln
Freedom School, will discuss the history of Freedom
Schools, which provide summertime and after-school
enrichment programs.
The BSU and the Office of Multicultural Affairs
sponsor the annual Black History Month events.
A link to the complete list of activities is on the Cal
U homepage; or visit the BSU web page at
http://sai.calu.edu/sai/clubs/bsu/bhm.html.

Trophy standings.
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania leads
the Dixon Trophy standings with 79.5 points.
Bloomsburg University is in second place with 75.
Seven different institutions have won the Dixon
Trophy, including Cal U, which won the 2008-2009
award after totaling a league-record 161 points.
The PSAC has awarded the Dixon Trophy
annually since the 1995-1996 academic year to a
member institution whose athletic program earns the
best overall finish in conference championships
and/or regular-season play.
During the course of the academic year, points
are awarded based on an institution’s finish in 22
conference sports. Only a school’s best 12 finishes, six
men’s and six women’s, are used in the final
calculation of the Dixon Trophy standings.
Seven PSAC championships will be contested in
the 2009-2010 winter season: men’s and women’s
basketball, men’s and women’s swimming, men’s and
women’s indoor track and field, and wrestling.

Strong performances by Cal U’s fall athletic teams have put the
Vulcans in contention for a second consecutive Dixon Trophy.
Shown above is President Angelo Armenti, Jr. accepting the
2008-2009 Dixon Trophy last May in Harrisburg.

Call for Faculty Nominations
to the California University Forum Academic Policy Committee
The California University Forum has
announced a call for the nominations of faculty
members for election to the Academic Policy
Committee of the University Forum.
The Forum Constitution calls for the election of
six (6) regular (tenured or tenure-track) faculty
members to the Academic Policy Committee, with
each undergraduate college having two (2)
representatives.
The Executive Committee will supervise the
election and certify the results. The terms of office
are for three years. Self-nominations are
permitted. The nominees will be contacted to
confirm acceptance of their name to be placed on
the electoral ballot.
Six faculty members will be elected to the
Academic Policy Committee by confidential
ballot, following the nominations. All regular (i.e.
tenured and tenure-track) faculty may vote.
The voting will take place electronically on
February 17th and 18th. Further information will

be provided via e-mail to faculty members who
are eligible to vote.
The Academic Policy Committee meets
periodically to tackle certain issues and make
recommendations to the full Forum. For further
information and details of the Academic Policy
Committee visit the Forum website at
www.calu.edu/forum.
Nomination forms will be sent to the campus
mailboxes of all regular tenure and tenure-track
faculty members. The nomination form is also
available in Public Folders/Campus-Wide
Resources/University Forum of the university’s
Microsoft Outlook Software.
All nominations must be submitted to Mrs.
Dana Turcic, Forum Recording Secretary, Campus
Box 99, by Friday, February 5, 2010. For more
information contact her at 724-938-1633 or via
email at CalForum@calu.edu or turcic@calu.edu.
You may also write her at University Forum Office,
250 University Avenue, California, PA 15419.

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. Lenora Angelone
Vice President for Student Development and Services

Ron Huiatt
Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations

Geraldine M. Jones
Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs

Angela J. Burrows
Vice President for University Relations

Bob Thorn
Interim Vice President for Administration and Finance

Dr. Joyce Hanley
Executive Vice President

Dr. Charles Mance
Vice President of Information Technology

Christine Kindl
Editor

Bruce Wald
Writer

Office of Communications 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).

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Wendy Mackall
Writer