California University

Volume 21, Number 12 SEPT. 9, 2019
KEEP UP WITH CAL U NEWS ONLINE: calu.edu/news

National
Honor for
Voter
Efforts

C
Dr. Pratibha Menon (left) and Dr. Lisa Kovalchick will train afterschool program providers in cryptography and computer programming.

Grant Addresses Workforce
Needs in Computing

J

obs requiring a computing degree
are in red-hot demand and
projected to stay that way for at
least several years.
Two professors at Cal U have
received a grant that will help
Pennsylvania meet that workforcedevelopment need.
Dr. Lisa Kovalchick and
Dr. Pratibha Menon, who teach in
the computer information systems
program, recently received a PAsmart
Advancing Grant to help fill what the
commonwealth predicts will be 300,000
jobs related to science, technology,
engineering and math (STEM) by 2026.

The grant, for $172,155, will help
train providers of afterschool programs
in the areas of computer programming
and cryptography — secure information
and communication techniques that rely
on mathematical concepts.
“The expected number of
computer science jobs, or even just
computing in general, is expected to
increase dramatically in the next 10 to
20 years,” Kovalchick said. “We don’t
have the interest to fulfill that. We don’t
have enough graduates. We want to
change that.”
Advancing grants encourage
partnerships among local education

agencies, higher education institutions,
businesses and other computer science/
STEM-focused organizations.
Cal U is partnering with the
Pennsylvania Statewide Afterschool/
Youth Development Network
(PSAYDN), Intermediate Unit 1 and the
PA STEM Girls Collaborative Project
to administer the grant, which targets
underserved populations.
Menon and Kovalchick will provide
three daylong sessions using three
STEM training programs, developed
by the University of Chicago, MIT and
Carnegie Mellon University.
— Continued on page 2

alifornia University of
Pennsylvania has been
recognized as one of the
nation’s “schools doing the most to
turn students into citizens.”
The Washington Monthly magazine
lists Cal U on its honor roll of “Best
80 Colleges for Student Voting.” The
information is online today at
www.WashingtonMonthly.com.
Schools on the honor roll received
a perfect score on a scale that awards
points for participation in the National
Study of Learning, Voting, and
Engagement (NSLVE), a project at
Tufts University that calculates voter
registration and turnout rates for
college campuses, and submission of
election-year “action plans” to the ALL
IN Campus Democracy Challenge,
which encourages universities to
promote civic engagement.
Both private institutions and public
universities made the list of honorees.
“Colleges have a responsibility to
inspire students to be active citizens,”
writes Daniel Block, an editor at the
Washington Monthly.
“And because voting tends to
be habitual — if you vote in this
election, you’re far more likely to vote
in the next one, and the ones after
that — colleges and universities have
an opportunity to boost democratic
participation, not only in 2020 but for
— Continued on page 2

Constitution Day Focuses on Polarized Politics

I

s a polarized political environment
the new normal, or is there hope for
a return to civility?
This question will be examined when
Cal U observes Constitution Day with
two events Sept. 17-18.
“Uncivil Wars: The New Normal?”
is the title of a panel discussion at
11 a.m. Sept. 17 in Eberly Hall 110.
On Sept. 18, William Meloy and
Loring Prest, faculty members in
Cal U’s Department of Library Services,
will conduct an interactive session,
“Uncivil Wars: Fake News,” at 8 a.m.
and 10 a.m. in Manderino Library 208.
Faculty panelists on Sept. 17 include
Dr. Sheri Boyle (Social Work);
Dr. Justin Hackett (Psychology); and
Drs. Joe Heim, Sean Madden,
Michael Slaven, and Laura Tuennerman,
all from the Department of History,
Politics, Society, and Law.
Event coordinator
Dr. Melanie Blumberg, director of the
American Democracy Project at Cal U,
will serve as the moderator. Students

will be encouraged to voice their policy
concerns during the discussion.
“Most college students do not
remember the time when officeholders
of different partisan stripes treated one
another with respect or when public
policy resulted from bargaining and
compromise,” Blumberg said. “Politics
today is marked by heated rhetoric, name
calling, and tweet storms.
“Good policy seldom results from a
polarized political environment.”
During their presentations, the
librarians will share practical tips for
detecting and avoiding so-called “fake
news,” particularly as it impacts today’s
divisive political environment.
Participants will learn new strategies
for guarding against misleading
information and engaging in reasoned
and civil political discourse.
Meloy is chair and associate
professor of the Department of Library
Services and the research and electronic
collections librarian. Prest, a past
department chair, is a professor and

Along with fellow faculty member Loring Prest, William Meloy, chair of Cal U’s Department of
Library Services, will share practical tips for detecting and avoiding ‘fake news.’

electronic resources librarian.
This year’s Constitution Day program
is an American Democracy Project
initiative sponsored by the Office of the

President, the Office of the Provost/
Academic Affairs, the College of Liberal
Arts, and the Department of History,
Politics, Society, and Law.

Page 2

SEPT. 9, 2019

Grant
Addresses
Workforce
Needs
— Continued from page 1

Students Bring
Excitement to
Campus
Cal U welcomed first-year students on Friday,
Aug. 23, as part of Welcome Weekend.
A team of more than 150 volunteers —
including faculty, staff, and returning students
— was ready to help at the residence halls
on Cal U’s main campus and Vulcan Village
on the upper campus. In addition to the
many on-campus weekend activities, which
included a New Student Convocation the first
night and fireworks the following evening,
students also attended the California Borough
Recreation Authority’s seventh annual
RiverFest celebration. Above, University
President Geraldine M. Jones meets sisters
and roommates Avrey (center) and
Riley Barnes, and women’s volleyball players
Kiandria Cowart (left) and Tyana Quivers lend
a helping hand during Move-in Day.

C

Cal U Welcomes Families

al U students will welcome their
families to campus Sept. 20-22
with a series of special events.
Family Weekend festivities begin at
6 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Convocation
Center with a painting event designed
to allow participants to tap into their
creative sides.
At 7:30 p.m., a cookout, sponsored
by the Alumni Association and Student
Alumni Ambassadors, will be held at
Kara Alumni House. On the menu:
glow-in-the-dark sticks and plenty
of games.

Saturday
Registration for Family Day begins
at 9 a.m. at the information desk on the
first floor of the Natali Student Center.
Free T-shirts will be given to the first
300 people. A complimentary pancake
breakfast for all registered guests will be
available from 8:30-10 a.m. in the Natali
food court.
At 10 a.m., the University Choir
will perform a free concert in the
Convocation Center courtyard. In case
of rain, the performance will be moved
to the Morgan Hall auditorium.
Family yoga will be available at
10 a.m. on the Quad.
An assortment of family-fun
activities will take place from
11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Third Street, in front
of the Natali Student Center. The rain
location will be inside the facility.
A pumpkin patch with painting and
other special activities will be held at
SAI Farm from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Vulcan

Crypto Club teaches cryptography
and math skills; Scratch teaches coding
and also encourages collaboration
and teamwork, necessary 21st century
skills; and the Alice Project teaches
fundamental programming skills.
Participants will receive a $100
stipend and curriculum materials
to implement programming for
their organizations.
The PSAYDN and IU1 will serve
as training locations. Harrisburg dates
are Sept. 16, Sept. 30 and Oct. 14. IU1
dates are Oct. 9, Oct. 21 and Oct. 25.
For registration information, email
kovalchick@calu.edu.
Engaging minds at a young age
in a computing field is important,
Kovalchick and Menon said.
“I work with schools and nonprofits
in the western Pennsylvania region, and
you can see the disparity in access to
computing education,” Menon said.
“Some children have access to highquality computing education as early
as kindergarten, but not every child
in the region has that exposure, and
those students get left behind. This tech
divide only widens in high school and
college. We want to start early and close
this opportunity gap so that we have
more people from all regions to work in
computing fields.”
Kovalchick, who is the collaborative
lead for the PA STEM Girls
Collaborative, also wants to encourage
more diversity in the sciences.
“My bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D.
are in computer science, and with every
degree, I was often the only female in
the room,” she said.
“Even now, I’m sometimes the
only female in the room. So I want to
get more girls involved, but also kids
in general. We know that students are
figuring out their majors in middle
school, so we want to get younger
students interested in computing before
they choose something else.”

Fall Open
Houses Set

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Mechatronics majors Jake Williams and Lely Gonzalez and Lely’s mother and grandmother,
Vivian and Ana Rosa de Jesus, enjoy last year’s Family Weekend.

Flyer shuttle service will be provided to
and from the SAI Farm every hour.
The student chapter of The Wildlife
Society will present its 14th annual
Family Field Day from noon to 4 p.m.
at Frich Hall. The public may attend
this free event, which is conducted in
cooperation with the Pennsylvania
Game Commission.
Cal U’s football team will host
Shippensburg University at 1 p.m. at
Adamson Stadium
Students, faculty and staff with valid
CalCards will be admitted free, as will
children ages 12 and younger. A Kids
Zone outside Adamson Stadium from

11 a.m.-1 p.m. will feature inflatables,
face painting, henna tattoos. The Vulcan
Huddle tent for alumni and families, also
outside the stadium, opens at 11 a.m.

Sunday
Family Weekend concludes on
Sept. 22 with Cal U Relay for Life,
coordinated by the Cal U Center
for Volunteer Programs and Service
Learning, from noon-6 p.m. at Adamson
Stadium. Relay for Life is a team
fundraising event for the American
Cancer Society.
For more information, visit
calu.edu/familyweekend.

al U invites prospective
students to explore all that the
University has to offer at three
undergraduate Open House events
this fall.
The fall 2019 dates are:
• Saturday, Sept. 28
• Monday, Oct. 14
• Saturday, Nov. 9
Oct. 14 is an Academic Experience
Day, where visiting students will sit in on
classes taught by Cal U faculty members.
During each of the Open House
events, students and families will learn
more about programs of study, housing
and student life.
Each event will begin with
registration at 9:30 a.m. in the Natali
Student Center followed by a welcome
and overview. All students receive a free
Cal U T-shirt at the end of the day.
To register, go to calu.edu/visit or
call 724-938-4404.

SEPT. 9, 2019

Page 3

Two New Criminal
Justice Specialties

F

Diana Rodriguez, a business major, and Carlos Miguel, a mechatronics major, speak with students
at their International Club booth at last year’s Club and Organization Fair.

Club, Organizational
Fair set for Sept. 10

C

al U students can get a firsthand look at the many available extracurricular
opportunities on campus during the Fall 2019 Club and Organizational Fair.
More than 100 clubs and organizations are expected to be represented. The
fair will be on Third Street, near the Convocation Center, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Sept. 10.
In case of rain, the event will take place on the second and third floors of the Natali
Student Center.
“The fair is a win-win for everyone,” said Jamison Roth, director of recreational
services. “This is an excellent way for first-year students and underclassmen to explore
and find out about the many clubs and organizations that might be fit perfectly with
their interests.”
For more information email Roth at roth_j@calu.edu.

Health Fair
Sept. 18

C

al U’s Health Education
Awareness Resource Team
(HEART) presents the 32nd
annual Health Fair, “Ride the Health
Wave,” from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 18 in
the Convocation Center.
The free event and is open to
Cal U students, faculty and staff, as
well as members of the community.
More than 50 healthcare industry
representatives will staff booths
addressing health and wellness topics
such as diabetes, smoking cessation,
orthopedics, healthy eating and more.
Participants can take part in
screenings and interactive activities.
Rite-Aid pharmacy staff will administer
flu shots for a fee; insurance cards will
be accepted.

Convocation
Sept. 12;
Trustees Meet
Sept. 18

U

niversity President
Geraldine M. Jones will deliver
her “state of the University”
report at the 2019 Fall Faculty-Staff
Convocation, set for 11 a.m. Sept. 12
in the Performance Center, inside the
Natali Student Center.
The University’s Council of
Trustees will hold its third quarterly
meeting of 2019 at 7 p.m. Sept. 18
in the Grand Hall of Old Main. The
meeting is open to the public.

orensic scientists are in high
demand and undergraduates
who enroll in Cal U’s popular
criminal justice major can now
specialize in new programs in forensic
investigation or cyber forensics.
In the forensic investigation
concentration, students apply their
knowledge of forensic science to the
complex task of investigating crime
scenes. Building on their knowledge
of criminal justice principles, forensic
science and the law, students learn to
utilize physical evidence — everything
from fingerprints and body fluids to
DNA evidence and computer data —
to assist in solving crimes.
The cyber forensics concentration
builds knowledge and skills for
students with an interest in computer
forensics and solving cybercrimes.
Students learn to contribute to
criminal investigations by undeleting
files, restoring social media data,
identifying encryption techniques,
analyzing cellphone records and more.
A strong background in criminal
justice allows investigators to maintain
the proper “chain of custody” as they
uncover digital evidence.
Both concentrations provide
advanced, hands-on training for
practical problem-solvers with a
passion for law enforcement and
justice. According to the Bureau

of Labor Statistics, students can
anticipate a high demand for these
specialized skills when they graduate
and enter the workforce.
Cal U’s new programs include
a blend of online and face-to-face
courses. All classes are taught by
highly qualified, full-time faculty
members who bring top academic
credentials and years of professional
experience to the classroom.
For example, program coordinator
Dr. Raymond Hsieh has consulted pro
bono on the high-profile case of the
so-called “Smiley Face Killer” and
contributed to a textbook authored
by one of the world’s most renowned
forensic scientists, Dr. Henry Lee.
However, Hsieh is perhaps best known
on campus for creating realistic mock
crime scenes that allow students to
develop and demonstrate their skills.
Cal U is enrolling students for the
Spring and Fall 2020 semesters. Learn
more at calu.edu, or explore all of
Cal U’s academic programs at
calu.edu/academics.

Student-Voter Efforts Honored

— Continued from page 1

years, or even decades, to come.”
This is not the first time that
California University of Pennsylvania
has been recognized for encouraging
students to vote. This spring, the Fair
Election Center’s Campus Vote Project
designated Cal U a “Voter Friendly
Campus” for developing a plan to get
students involved in the 2018 midterm
elections, facilitating voter engagement
and analyzing the initiative’s success.
It was the second time Cal U
received the “Voter Friendly”
designation.
The campus chapter of the
American Democracy Project leads the
University’s voter engagement efforts.
The nonpartisan student organization
organizes voter registration drives on
campus, holds campaign-season events
to educate students about the candidates

and issues, helps students get to the
polls on Election Day, and brings
experts to campus to analyze
election results.
Cal U will mark National Voter
Registration Day with a registration
drive from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 24
in the lobby areas of Manderino
Library and the Natali Student Center.
Students, faculty and staff interested in
helping with National Voter Registration
Day should email Katie Yohe,
yoh0589@calu.edu.
Dr. Bruce Barnhart, provost and

senior vice president for Academic
Affairs, will ask faculty to set aside the
first five minutes of class on Sept. 24
for students to register to vote by using
their smart phones, tablets and laptops.
Faculty teaching online classes will also
be asked to encourage their students
to register.
“It is heartening to know that
Cal U’s efforts to mobilize students to
vote is recognized by a publication as
prestigious as the Washington Monthly,”
says Cal U political science professor
Dr. Melanie Blumberg, American
Democracy Project adviser.
“Cal U is committed to educating
students about the importance of civic
engagement, whether it is volunteering
in the community or voting on Election
Day. The hope is that students will see
themselves as stakeholders and realize
they can impact decisions that affect
their lives both directly and indirectly.”

Athletic Day of Giving is Sept. 24

F

ans can help Cal U student-athletes continue to succeed
on the field and in the classroom during the second
annual Cal U Athletic Day of Giving on Sept. 24.
Donations can be designated for a particular team or given
to the Athletics Department. State funds cannot be used for
athletic scholarships.
The Vulcans field 18 NCAA Division II men’s and
women’s teams.
Cal U teams have won an impressive 27 Pennsylvania State
Athletic Conference championships over nine different sports
in the last 10 years, plus a combined 82 league titles in the
sports of cross country, golf, swimming, and track and field.
The Vulcans have produced 58 Academic All-Americans
over the past 10 years. Collectively, Cal U student-athletes have
compiled a cumulative grade-point average of 3.10 or higher
for 18 of the past 19 semesters. Last spring’s cumulative GPA
was 3.26.

In Spring 2019, 208 student-athletes — more than half
of the total number of participants — achieved a grade-point
average of 3.00 or higher, and 25 of them earned a perfect
4.00. More than 150 student-athletes were named PSAC
Scholar Athletes for having a GPA of 3.25 or higher.
Of the 326 student-athletes enrolled at Cal U last year, 209
received an athletic scholarship.
In 2018, the inaugural Athletic Day of Giving raised more
than $17,000.
“Every gift, no matter the amount, helps our studentathletes earn an education and gives them an opportunity
to prosper beyond athletics,” said Dr. Karen Hjerpe, Cal U’s
athletics director.
“Our student-athletes are doing wonderful things
academically and athletically, and your support is an
investment in them and the future of Vulcans athletics.”
To donate, visit calu.edu/athletics-give.

Page 4

SEPT. 9, 2019

University Marching Band Begins Busy Season

I

t’s a busy season for junior
Kayla Hutter, and she wouldn’t have
it any other way.
The biology major with a
concentration in mortuary science is
taking 18 credits this semester while also
serving as field commander for the Cal U
Marching Band.
The musicians perform at all Vulcans
football games at Adamson Stadium, and
the 2019 season begins with 1 p.m. home
games against Kutztown on Sept. 14 and
Shippensburg on Sept. 21 (Family Day).
The band’s 2019 field show,
“California Dreamin,” features songs
associated with sleep — “California
Dreamin’,” “Mr. Sandman,” “Enter
Sandman,” “Livin on a Prayer,”
“I Dreamed a Dream,” and
“Sweet Dreams.”
“It’s a fabulous show with so many
good tunes, and everyone will know at
least one song in it,” Hutter said. “The
crowds will really enjoy this.”
The busy season for the band will
also include games at Edinboro (noon
Sept. 28); the Coal Bowl at IUP (2 p.m.
Oct. 5); at Slippery Rock (1 p.m. Nov. 2);
high school band festivals at West Mifflin

Junior Emily Bond and the Cal U Marching Band are looking forward to a busy season.

High School (Sept. 21) and California
High School (Sept. 28); the Collegiate
Band Festival in Allentown, Pa. (Sept.
29); the Cal U Homecoming parade
(Oct. 12); and the California Borough
Halloween parade (Oct. 30).

Hutter welcomes the active autumn.
“Since the fifth grade bands have
been a really big part of my life,” she
said. “I can’t give it up because it is who
I am, and I absolutely love it.”
For the fifth year the Cal U Band will

Law Enforcement Takes Aim
at School Safety

“I

f you see something, say something.”
The Department of Homeland Security’s
well-known tagline sums up the best advice
law enforcement can give to students and others who
want to keep schools safe.
Castle Shannon police chief Ken Truver, who
earned a master’s degree at Cal U in 1995, made that
point as the University hosted a School Shooting
Prevention Leadership Forum Aug. 21-22 at the
Convocation Center.
About 90 people, primarily law enforcement
officials from municipal, county and state agencies,
attended the forum.
It was presented by the FBI National Academy
Associates (FBINAA) and the School Safety
Advocacy Council (SSCA).
“In 81% of school shootings, someone had prior
knowledge of the shooter’s plan,” said Truver, a
graduate of the FBI National Academy and second
vice president of the FBINAA’s executive board.
“If you hear something, see something, don’t
assume that someone else will speak up. Students
need to report what they know.”
John Kennedy, director of education and
training for the FBINAA, said the FBI monitors and
investigates reported threats in an effort to minimize
the potential for violence. Someone speaking up, even
if they are unsure about whether a threat is real, truly
can make a difference.
“You need to get that information to the
professionals, so they can investigate to see if it’s
credible,” Kennedy said.
The forum focused heavily on the need for schools,
law enforcement agencies and first responders to
work collaboratively before and during an emergency,
Kennedy said.
Participants reviewed “lessons learned” from

Certificate Program Focuses on
Threat Identification, Response

Cal U offers a nine-credit graduate certificate
program, Threat Assessment and Management in
Schools, for K-12 and university educators. The
fully online program merges the perspectives of
criminal justice and school psychology to help
school personnel identify threats of violence
and respond appropriately before and during an
emergency.

previous school shootings and worked together to
create coordinated emergency response plans.
Speakers included retired police
Chief Tony Pustizzi, a 30-year veteran of the Coral
Springs Police Department, which responded to the
2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High
School in Parkland, Fla.
Western Pennsylvania is a national model for
cooperative law enforcement efforts, Truver noted.
In addition to the primary presenters, the Western
Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association, Allegheny
County Chiefs of Police Association and local
FBINAA chapter supported the program. Cal U
personnel were among those in attendance.
“We collaborate. We know each other. Many
of these men and women have worked and trained
together,” Truver said.
Similar forums have been held in Columbia, S.C.
and Kansas City, Kan., with future events scheduled
for Denver, Houston, Chicago and Boston.
“The response has been very positive,” Kennedy
said. “We’re starting that dialogue between school
administrators and law enforcement.”

incorporate local high school bands into
home football game activities.
Visiting bands will perform their high
school halftime shows before Vulcans
games. After the pregame performance,
the high school musicians will join Cal U
band members in the stands.
California and Charleroi High School
bands will perform during the Sept. 21
and Oct. 26 games, respectively. On Nov.
9, Mass Bands Day will take place for a
second year and include halftime show
participation. Last year 99 musicians
from 12 different schools performed.
“We are looking forward to doing
this again, and it’s a nice recruiting
tool,” said Dr. Frank Stetar, director of
University Bands and co-chair of the
Department of Music and Theatre. “We
enjoy giving the younger musicians a
more personal look at who we are, and
everyone has a good time.”
Hutter also enjoys the tradition.
“They get to see what we do and how
much fun a college band is and can be,”
she said.
“You make so many new friends in
the band, and once you do it you won’t
want to stop.”

Less Debt for
Cal U Grads

S

tudents who graduate from California University
of Pennsylvania have less student loan debt, on
average, than graduates of any public university in
the commonwealth.
That’s according to LendEDU.com, whose fourth
annual state-by-state “Student Loan Debt by College”
report ranks Cal U No. 9 on its list of Pennsylvania
schools whose student-borrowers incur the least amount
of debt.
Ninety percent of Cal U’s Class of 2018 borrowed
money to help pay for their education. According to
LendEDU.com, those Cal U graduates left school owing
about $8,000 less than typical student borrowers across
the state.
Other “top 10” Pennsylvania schools in the 2019
report are private institutions with a far smaller
percentage of students who borrow money for college.
Nationwide, Cal U’s average student debt per
borrower is in the 11th percentile among all public
colleges and universities.
“At Cal U, we are committed to offering top quality
academic programs that are affordable for students at all
income levels,” says T. David Garcia, vice president for
Enrollment Management.
“We recognize that both the costs and the benefits of
higher education have a long-term impact on the lives of
our graduates.”
Cal U works hard to make higher education a good
value for students and their families. Tuition for 20192020 is just $7,716 per year — the same tuition cost as
in 2018-2019. Academic fees also remain the same.
Room costs on campus have held steady for nine
consecutive years, and Cal U awarded $3.2 million in
merit and need-based institutional scholarships during
the 2018-2019 academic year.
This is the third consecutive year that LendEDU
has recognized Cal U in its state-by-state report on
student borrowing.

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

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

250 University Avenue

California, PA 15419

T. David Garcia
Vice President for Enrollment
Management

724-938-4195

Wendy Mackall
Editor
Bruce Wald
Writer

wald@calu.edu­­­­­­­­­