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9/4/2002
Contact: Ross Feltz -- 724-738-2919; home
412-344-5493 e-mail: ross.feltz@sru.edu
SRU TRUSTEES
HEAR REPORT ON ‘DEVELOPING AN ENGAGED INTELLECTUAL
COMMUNITY’
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- As Slippery Rock University
begins its 115th academic year, Interim President Robert
Smith suggested to the university’s council of trustees that
“we are at a special moment in the history of this
institution.”
“We
are continuing to bring new forces together to complete the
development of what ought to be known nationally as a uniquely
engaged intellectual community,” Smith said in his report at
the council’s regular quarterly meeting held
today.
He
explained five characteristics present in the SRU
community:
Providing enriched learning experiences: Smith pointed to the
more than 345 students who participated at professional academic
conferences, the student newspaper’s 30 national journalism
awards and SRU students who swept all the awards at a statewide
philosophy conference as examples of the increasing recognition SRU
students earn for academic achievement outside the
classroom.
He
noted that 92 percent of incoming students are part of the
First-Year Studies Program (FYRST) and explained that
“compelling data from that program prove its value to our
retention success.”
As
technology plays an increasing role in teaching and learning, Smith
said that faculty reports he read this summer “demonstrated
clear evidence that we’re enhancing student learning through
the creative application of technology in the
classroom.”
Determining our own destiny: Sustaining an engaged intellectual
community requires the generation of revenue independent of other
traditional sources, Smith told trustees. He reported on the
continued progress of the university’s capital campaign,
which produced a record $3.6 million in gift income in the fiscal
year completed June 30. He also said that an October groundbreaking
is planned for the new 70,000-square-foot Regional Learning
Alliance facility in the Cranberry Woods Corporate Office Park in
Marshall Township, Allegheny County. This project will bring
together 12 education providers under one roof to “be an
important stimulus to the Pennsylvania
economy.”
Gathering diverse people: “An engaged intellectual
community must be representative of diverse opinions and
representative of different experience,” he said. “We
have started to make progress in attracting a diverse faculty and
staff. We have increased the percentage of women faculty again this
year. Of new tenure-track faculty hired this year, 40 percent are
people of color. And, we’ve increased the number of students
of color, especially African-Americans and
Hispanics.”
Creating accepting space: “We are giving a great deal of
strategic attention to the way our campus reflects a nurturing
environment. This summer we refurbished 37 classrooms, two
laboratories and one auditorium. We also refurbished 51 faculty
offices and two conference rooms, and opened 14 new faculty offices
in Carruth Rizza Hall,” he reported.
Calling
it an “innovative interdisciplinary use of our campus,”
Smith described how the campus is “a laboratory for learning
and educational enrichment and that we have interpretive signs to
identify trees, plants and other educational features on the
600-acre campus.”
Promoting hope: “The most precious and defining element
of an engaged intellectual community is that it promotes hope for
all of its participants,” Smith said. He quoted from the
“Princeton Review” report on 98 Great Schools in the
Mid-Atlantic in which SRU student comments included “my
professors all know me by name and are very approachable, and help
in any way they can so that you will
succeed.”
“Creating
hope; that’s what we do,” Smith
concluded.
Trustee Actions
Trustees
reviewed and approved the 2003-04 education and general operating
budget of $79.9 million. The two major components of revenue
are $44.9 million derived from tuition and fees and $30.3
million coming from state appropriations. On the expense side,
compensation accounts for $63.6 million with the balance allocated
for services, supplies, capital expenditures and
transfers.
The
council also approved a 2004-05 capital budget request to the state
system of $16.2 million for renovation of Vincent Science Hall and
$13.8 million for renovation of Morrow Field
House.
Contracts,
service and supply purchase orders and changes to fixed assets were
also reviewed.
Former trustee Howard Meyer
honored
The
council of trustees passed a resolution thanking former trustee
Howard Meyer of Slippery Rock for his distinguished service. He
served on the council from January 1999 to January 2003.
“Howard and his wife, Florence, are long-time, generous
friends and benefactors to the university,” Interim President
Smith said.
Retirements
Trustees acknowledged the following
retirements:
Dr.
Paul Black, professor, secondary education/foundations of
education, Wexford, with 31 years of service;
Dr.
David Taylor, professor, chemistry and physics, of Slippery Rock,
with 35 ½ years of service;
Bruce
MacDonald, tactical leadership/senior professional 190, Director of
Construction and Design, of Slippery Rock, with 11 years of
service;
Hazel
Allen, switchboard operator 2, information technology, of Slippery
Rock with 33 years of service;
Sal
Gesualdi, maintenance repairman 2, facilities and planning, of
Slippery Rock, with seven years of service;
and
Reardon Deal, stock clerk 3, central receiving, of Ellwood City,
with 24 years of service.
The next quarterly meeting
of the trustees is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Friday, December 5,
2003.
PN, PgN, WPN, S
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