Contact: Ross C. Feltz,
724-738-2919
ross.feltz@sru.edu -
STUDENT AND FACULTY HONORS HIGHLIGHT REPORT TO
SRU TRUSTEES,
DR. DENNIS MURRAY ELECTED VICE
CHAIR
SLIPPERY
ROCK, Pa. -- Slippery Rock University’s Council of
Trustees reviewed reports on student and faculty honors, community
service, and the university’s financial audit as part of
their regular quarterly meeting today.
Interim
President Robert Smith reported on SRU’s progress in being an
engaged intellectual community, a theme he introduced at
September’s meeting of the council.
Saying
that the first requisite is providing “enriched learning
experiences,” he highlighted the collaboration between
Lowe’s Home Center employees and SRU students to construct
improvements to the I CARE House in New Castle, the only on-going
community service project of its kind in
Pennsylvania.
Smith
reported that two SRU students earned prestigious honors in a
neighboring state by being elected to leadership positions in the
New York State Communication Association, an organization made up
primarily of college and university faculty. Jeff Milliner, a
senior from Aliquipa, was elected Student Representative to the
Executive Board and Andrea Romo, a junior from Broadview, Ohio,
became the first student to be elected Director of Advertising and
Public Relations.
He
also noted that SRU’s student accounting team was named one
of five state finalists in the statewide business plan competition
sponsored by the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public
Accountants.
Citing the second requisite as “finding ways to determine our
own destiny,” Smith said that the university has raised more
than $14 million in the first three years of its campaign to raise
$33 million. And, he said construction on the Regional Learning
Alliance project in Cranberry Woods Corporate Park is on schedule
for opening in August 2004.
“An
engaged intellectual community also must be representative of
diverse opinions and different experiences,” Smith said,
which is why the university has intensified efforts to attract and
retain a diverse faculty, staff and student body. “We have
also launched two signature programs to provide professional
development to SRU women students and staff,” he said
referring to the new Women in Leadership Speaker Series and the
Claire R. Schmieler Leadership Institute for Professional
Women.
Smith
reported on several additions to campus: A new Veteran’s
Memorial contributed by alumni classes of 1951, ‘52 and
‘53; the new Leadership Reaction Course, which hosted its
first executive group from Leadership Butler County; and a new rock
waterfall that provides a symbolic representation of SRU’s
connection to the Slippery Rock Creek. “Space determines the
nature of any community and any effort to build an intellectual
community has to pay close attention to the physical as well as
psychological characteristics of the campus, “ he
said.
Using
the acronym “Take Each And Create Hope” from the word
“teach,” Smith cited three faculty who received recent
honors as exemplifying the teaching excellence that fosters the
promotion of hope in an engaged intellectual community. Dr.
Deborah Hutchins, assistant professor of parks and
recreation/environmental education, received the 2003 Outstanding
Professional Award from the American Therapeutic Recreation
Association. Dr. Betsy McKinley, associate professor of physical
education and sport management, was named University Teacher of the
Year by the Pennsylvania State Association for Health, Physical
Education, Recreation and Dance. And, Dr. Christophas Walker,
assistant professor of academic services and director of
SRU’s Frederick Douglass Institute was named on of the top 40
upcoming area professors by the Pittsburgh Courier
newspaper.
Smith
also told trustees that the university’s enrollment
management strategies and its success were featured as part of the
national Strategic Enrollment Management Conference in Boston and
that its marketing and branding efforts were featured at a national
American Marketing Association symposium.
He
also reported that he recently addressed the Eastern Region
Commanders Conference of the U.S. Army to describe how the
university rebuilt its Army ROTC program from one of the weakest in
the country to one of the strongest.
Dr. Dennis Murray elected vice
chair
Dr. Dennis Murray, of Hollidaysburg, was elected vice chair of the
council replacing Howard Meyer whose trustee term recently expired.
Dr. Murray has been a trustee since 1997.
Financial
statements for the year ended June 30,2003 were audited by the
outside firm ParenteRandolph, whose report was presented to the
trustees. “In our opinion,” they wrote, “the
financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the
respective financial position of the
University.”
Fire department
contribution
The council approved a $15,000 contribution to the Slippery Rock
Volunteer Fire Department and requested that it be shared with the
rescue squad. Earlier this year, the university contributed
$100,000 for a new ladder truck. Trustees also approved a $565
donation to be split between the Sandy Lake and Stoneboro Volunteer
Fire Departments for the availability to the McKeever Environmental
Learning Center.
In
other action, the council approved contracts, service and supply
purchase orders, and fixed assets.
Retirements
Trustees
were informed of the following retirements:
Dr.
Hannah Case, professor, modern languages and cultures, of
Washington Court House, Ohio, with 33 years of service.
Dr.
William Chapman, professor, geography, geology and the environment,
of Slippery Rock, with 32 years of service.
Susan
Geiger, assistant professor, government and public affairs, of
Allison Park, with 18 years of service.
Dr.
Barry Hammond, professor, government and public affairs, of Butler,
with 35 years of service.
Debra
Gould, office of the assistant vice president, student development,
of Butler, with 22 years of service.
Nora
Long, Bailey Library, of Harrisville, with 34 years of
service.
The next meeting of
the council is 1:30 p.m. March 19, 2004.