Grad students get snapshot of career field

Students in BU’s Education of the Deaf Graduate Teacher Preparation Program continued their summer session work recently with an on-campus Preschool Mini-Camp for Deaf/Hard of Hearing. Graduate students, who enrolled in a Teaching Speech to the Deaf and a Practicum for the Deaf this summer, were paired with a deaf toddler for individualized instruction and therapy in addition full group activities.

Student work featured at regional symposium

A number of Bloomsburg University students will display research posters at the second annual Susquehanna Valley Undergraduate Research Symposium Thursday, Aug. 2, at Geisinger Medical Center’s Henry Hood Center for Health Research.

This symposium, sponsored jointly by the Geisinger Center for Health Research, and Bloomsburg and Bucknell universities, provides an opportunity for students to showcase their research activities, learn about other methods and disciplines and gain the experience of presenting at a professional conference.

The 2011 conference showcased the research of students from Bloomsburg University and Bucknell; this year, the conference expanded to include student research interns at Geisinger and an open invitation to students from other regional universities. Conference organizers were Heather Feldhaus, assistant dean of BU’s College of Liberal Arts; Amy Wolaver, Bucknell Institute for Public Policy, and Judith Argon, Geisinger Center for Health Research.

Field school students prepare for symposium

Susquehanna Valley Field School students discussed their summer research at a seminar on July 27 in the Student Services Center. Field school students are preparing for the Susquehanna Valley Undergraduate Research Conference on Thursday, Aug. 2 at Geisinger’s Henry Hood Center for Health Research, where they will be joined by field school students from Bucknell University to present their research.

(L-R) Weston Brehm, Kyle Oram and Chris Podeschi (faculty), Shannon Bilder, Brock Minnich, Ryan Funk, Laurel Downs and Keyanna Webb.

Act 101/EOP students celebrate Mandela Day

Nearly 250 BU students enrolled in the Act 101/EOP Mindsets and Mindfulness Seminar recently observed Mandela Day with community service projects (July 16 to 20) at AGAPE headquarters and the YMCA day camp. Since 2009, approximately 860 students have given about 430 hours of service to the Bloomsburg community in projects coordinated by the SOLVE Office and Sharon Solloway, who teaches Mindsets and Mindfulness.

Mandela Day, in its third year, is an international event designed to inspire individuals to help build a global movement for good. It coincides with the July 18 birthday of Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa and Nobel peace laureate, who was a political prisoner for 27 years.

Camp Aspen youths unearth local history

Several local middle school students recently enjoyed their own Indiana Jones’ experience, combining outdoor adventure with archaeology, through the annual Quest Anthropology Camp — BU’s first collaborative summer camp experience. The week-long camp, coordinated by anthropology students, interns and alumni, taught campers how to do archaeological fieldwork, cultural resource management and anthropological analysis through hands-on experience.

In partnership with Quest, the camp also featured several outdoor activities. Among the artifacts found included several lithic cores, arrowheads (lithic biface tools) and many flakes left from someone making stone tools thousands of years ago. Photo: Alex Lindenfeld, 12, and Will Bodenman, 11, hold what is possibly a Baker’s Creek lithic (stone) tool they found.

Kozloff scholar explores Alaskan wilderness

Gessica Barry, a junior anthropology and Jessica S. and Stephen R. Kozloff Scholarship recipient, spent a month in the remote Alaskan wilderness studying with the Adelphia University archaeology field school. There, she investigated Native Alaskan economic transitions using some of the most advanced technologies currently used in the field.

“Completing this fields school proved I am able to adapt to adverse conditions in the field and will open up doors to work on some of the most remote and fascinating sites in the world.” — Gessica Barry.

Campus donors achieve success in numbers

Nearly 70 units of blood were collected during BU’s recent campus blood drive, equating to roughly 204 lives saved. In addition, 24 first-time donors were drawn to the July 31 drive. More than 675 units of blood and 2,000 lives have been saved through BU campus blood drives so far this year! #BUServes

New library director has been named

Charlotte Droll has joined the campus community as director of library services. Before coming to BU, she was chair of Colgate University’s reference and instruction department for five years and humanities librarian at Wright State for nine years.

She earned two master’s degrees from the University of Michigan — a master’s in Germanic languages and literatures and a master’s in library and information services — and a bachelor’s degree in German and history from Shippensburg University. Droll replaces David Magolis, who served as interim director of library services for the past three years. Magolis is now assistant professor of mass communications.

Another summer of success for TRiO Upward Bound

More than 30 high school students from Columbia, Northumberland and Schuylkill counties were recently honored by TRiO Upward Bound at the 2012 Summer Academy Recognition Banquet.

The six-week residential summer academy is designed to simulate a college experience; from developing time management and strengthening academic skills, to living in a residence hall and navigating campus. This summer's educational theme, "World Wise," guided programming activities, academic projects and guest speakers. All of the participating students will be the first in their families to attend college.

Professor gives insight on digital forensics program

BU’s highly regarded digital forensics program was recently featured by Forensic Focus, an online forum for digital forensics and ediscovery professionals, which profiled John Riley, professor. Riley discussed why he teaches digital forensics, the structure and content of BU’s competitive program and the long-term success it has had on students. Forensic Focus features daily discussions on electronic evidence, data recovery news, course lists, weblogs and related links.

Saving a life just got sweeter

A blood drive will be held Tuesday, July 31, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the KUB Ballroom. Every donor receives a coupon for a free carton of Friendly’s ice cream. Walk-ins welcome. Donors can also make an appointment at redcrossblood.org or at 1-800-RED Cross. Nearly 60 first-time blood donors were drawn to BU’s campus blood drive last February, adding to the 271 pints of blood collected for the local chapter of the American Red Cross. According to organizers, 813 lives will be saved by this recent campus blood drive.

Freshmen begin BU career with food drive

BU’s Orientation Workshop Leaders (OWLs) led the incoming freshman Class of 2016 in their first community service experience during the new freshmen orientations. The non-perishable food items collected will be donated to the Bloomsburg Food Cupboard.

Although the new freshmen will be making tremendous contributions to the university community throughout their time on campus, this can drive represents their first contribution to the Town of Bloomsburg community. In total, more than 1,400 items of food were collected over the course of six days.

Law students visit birthplace of Constitution

Students in Mark Usry’s Law and Legal Environment class, currently studying the U.S. Constitution, recently took a field trip to the Center for the Constitution and Independence Hall in Philadelphia. One of their tour stops included the legislative chamber where the Constitution was signed.

Located on Independence Mall, the National Constitution Center brings the U.S. Constitution to life through multimedia exhibitions, live performances, timely public programs and dynamic educational resources. The center illuminates constitutional ideals and inspires acts of citizenship, so that "We the People" may better secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.

Future business leaders excel

Three members of BU’s chapter of Phi Beta Lambda (Future Business Leaders of America) were recently honored at the National Leadership Conference in San Antonio, Texas, which featured more than 1,800 participants from institutions all across the country. They were accompanied by Ed Pitingolo, advisor and associate professor of accounting.

• Jeremy Rhen finished fifth nationally in the Business Law competition.
• Bryce Liggins finished seventh in the Marketing Concepts competition.
• Carol Bachman finished seventh in the Future Business Teacher event.

In addition, Pitingolo was recognized regionally and nationally for his service to BU’s chapter and state chapter. (L-R) Jeremy Rhen, Carol Bachman, Bryce Liggins and Pitingolo.

Business Education showcased in national publication

BU’s business education program was recently recognized as a model program in Trends and Issues in Business Education, the 2012 National Business Education Yearbook, a refereed publication. John Olivo, chair of the business education and ITM department, and Dennis Gehris, associate dean of the College of Business, are quoted in the chapter, “Model Business Education Programs.”

Academic and Cultural Immersion

During the 2012 Cameroon-Ethiopia Summer Study Abroad program, a group of BU students participated in a wide variety of academic and cultural enrichment activities, including visits to the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa and the Ethiopian National Museum — where a replica of Lucy is housed. The students also:

• took cooking lessons
• performed African dances and choral music to an audience of more than 300 Cameroonian students and faculty
• played and read with Cameroon children
• presented gifts to an orphanage
• took a canoe ride up the river Lobe to visit a camp of Pygmies and the Baka people
• hiked into the Korup Rain Forest and up Mount Cameroon

PASSHE sets 2012-13 tuition rates

The Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education approved a 3 percent tuition increase Monday, July 9, for the 2012-13 academic year, honoring its commitment to the Legislature and the governor, and marking the fifth time in eight years the increase has been either at or below the rate of inflation. The $188 increase — $94 per semester — ensures PASSHE will remain the lowest-cost option among all four-year colleges and universities in the Commonwealth. The total cost of attendance — including tuition, fees, room and board — also likely will remain below the national average, and significantly below the average in the Middle States region, which comprises Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

Governor signs Higher Education Modernization Act

A series of bills known collectively as the Higher Education Modernization Act will provide Bloomsburg University and her sister PASSHE institutions with new competitive and cost-savings opportunities. Under the act, signed into law by Gov. Tom Corbett, the universities also will be able to offer advanced degree programs to meet the needs of employers in the region and commonwealth. The signing comes as the final step in an 18-month process, and the measures will take effect in about two months.

Pichini re-elected chair of PASSHE Board of Governors

Guido M. Pichini has been re-elected to a second term as chairman of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s Board of Governors. Pichini last year became the first PASSHE university alumus to chair the Board that oversees the State System. The Board also elected as its vice chairs, Marie Conley, a BU alumna who serves as executive director of the recently formed Paterno Foundation, and Aaron A. Walton of Allison Park, a retired senior vice president for Highmark Inc. Both also are PASSHE university graduates.

As director of the Paterno Foundation, Conley oversees the organization that was established by the family of former Pennsylvania State University football Coach Joe Paterno to fund a variety of initiatives whose purpose is to “improve lives though education.” Conley also has been a fundraising and political consultant, having served on numerous statewide campaigns. She also served as the director for the Pennsylvania delegation to the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Republican National Conventions.

Scam targeting students

Bloomsburg University Police are investigating a scam targeting Bloomsburg University students. Students have received checks from someone who claims to be coming here from another country to attend classes or teach and needs a “personal assistant.” When students deposit the checks into their accounts, the scammers get banking information and remove money from the account.

The checks are then returned from closed accounts and students are liable for the funds. Bloomsburg University’s email is not being used. If you receive this message, do not share personal information or deposit the check. Incidents should be reported to Bloomsburg University Police at (570) 389-4168.

Campus Alert: Wednesday, Aug. 1

At approximately 9:40 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 1, Bloomsburg University Police responded to an alert of a bulletin board on fire in Columbia Hall. Police were alerted by the fire alarm system in the residence hall. The fire was immediately put out.

Bloomsburg University Police is investigating the incident. An officer is onsite in the residence hall for the evening. Any information regarding the fire should be provided to Bloomsburg University Police at (570) 389-4168. Always be vigilant of your surroundings. If you see anything suspicious do not hesitate to notify police. This campus alert is issued in accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Police and Crime Statistics Act of 1990.