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June 13, 2003
Contact: Ross Feltz (724) 738-2919;
e-mail ross.feltz@sru.edu
STUDENT RETENTION HIGHLIGHTED BY SRU
TRUSTEES
SLIPPERY
ROCK, Pa. -- National awards presented for student retention
and facilities innovations were highlighted in today’s
regular quarterly meeting of Slippery Rock University’s
Council of
Trustees.
Interim
President Robert Smith reported that SRU’s Learning Community
Cluster and FYRST Seminar was honored with a National Award for
Excellence in Student Retention by Noel-Levitz organization.
“The award recognizes the state-of-the-art caliber work we
are doing to foster student success, especially in their first year
of studies,” Smith said.
The
university’s facilities and planning staff received the
national award for Effective and Innovative Practices from the
Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers, Smith also
reported. SRU was recognized for success in streamlining its
custodial supply chain to eliminate inventory, save on costs and
increase productivity.
Achievement
milestones
Smith told the trustees that the
fiscal year will close (June 30) with additional milestones
achieved in fund raising, enrollment and student journalism
honors.
Enrollment
projections indicate that a more than 5-percent increase could be
recorded when registrations for the coming year are complete.
Market promotional activity and targeted student recruitment
resulted in a 12.6-percent gain in applications and increased
selectivity in admitting first-time students.
Charitable
contributions will exceed $3.4 million, which will be a record for
SRU fund raising. Now in its third year, the university’s
10-year, $33 million capital campaign is at 37-percent of goal.
Smith also emphasized, “We now have 324 named scholarships
awarded to nearly 700 recipients.”
The
university’s student newspaper, The Rocket, captured more
than 30 journalistic awards in national competitions, including
first-place honors from both the Society of Professional
Journalists and the American Scholar Press Associations, Smith
reported.
Officers elected
In the annual election of officers: Dr.
Robert Marcus, of Harrisburg and an SRU alumnus, was elected chair
of the council; Howard Meyer, of Slippery Rock, was elected vice
chair; and Gary Rose, of Sharon, was elected
secretary.
Trustees also
reviewed and approved contracts, service and supply orders, and the
Annual Inspection of Facilities Report.
Retirements
Trustees
acknowledged the following retirements:
Ms. Jane Scott Cleary,
associate professor, library, of Grove City, with 25 years of
service;
Dr. Elizabeth Curry,
professor, English, of Slippery Rock with 34 years of
service;
Ms. Susan Ferrandiz,
assistant professor, library, of Portersville, with 17 years of
service;
Ms. Hazel Hadden, assistant
professor, nursing, of Hermitage, with 19 years of
service;
Dr. George Highland,
professor, chemistry and physics, of Grove City with 36 years of
service;
Dr. Priscilla Kelly,
assistant professor, English, of Slippery Rock, with 26 years of
service;
Dr. Joe Normand, assistant
professor, communication, of Slippery Rock, with 24 ½ years
of service;
Dr. Gary Pechar, professor,
exercise and rehabilitative sciences, of Slippery Rock, with 27
years of service;
Mr. Fred Powell, assistant
professor, physical education/sport management, of Slippery Rock,
with 36 years of service;
Dr. W.G. Sayre, professor,
chemistry and physics, of Boyers, with 34 years of
service;
Ms. Claire Schmieler, assistant vice president for student
affairs, of Harrisville, with 37 years of service;
Ms. Mary Decker, executive staff assistant, student affairs, of
Slippery Rock, with 39 years of service;
Mr. Richard Dillaman,
facilities and planning, of Harrisville, with 19 years of
service;
Ms. Christine Ferguson,
facilities and planning, of Harrisville, with 26 years of
service;
and Mr.
Walter Stephenson, facilities and planning, of Slippery Rock, with
35 years of service.
The next quarterly
meeting of the trustees is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Friday,
September 12, 2003.
PN, PgN,
WPN
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