BU, UCLA team up to study Moon samples

Michael Shepard, professor of envionmental, geographical and geological sciences, and David Paige, professor of planetary science at UCLA, recently worked together on campus measuring samples of lunar soil collected on the Apollo 16 mission to the Moon in April 1972. The light reflection measurements were done in Shepard’s lab in Hartline Science Center with his goniometer, one of the few machines in the world capable of this type of measurements. Video

Celebrating the Zapotec way

Liesl Driver, a senior Spanish and anthropology major, is spending the summer in Oaxaca, Mexico, studying the Zapotec language from a native Isthmus Zapotec speaker. Driver gives a glimpse of what it’s like to participate in a Zapotec celebration.

Educating for a positive change

Lisa Lapina, who is researching the effects of poverty on the education of at-risk children in Zambia, Africa, for her independent honors research project, recently expanded her unique classroom teaching experience at another school, which has no electricity or running water.

Yet, Lisa says in her latest update the children’s passion for education filters out the eye-opening images of poverty.

Town parking permits on sale

Red Meter Permits, along with new town permits, will go on sale Thursday, July 1, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Bloomsburg Police Department. The parking permits are valid through Dec. 31. Permits are available for purchase for persons living or working in the downtown area.

Students must be present and only one permit is issued per person. Only a parent can obtain a permit for their son or daughter if the student cannot be present. A signed copy of their lease and vehicle registration is needed. Call (570) 784-6779 for details, including permit prices.

Exploring a virtual world of math and science

Local youths entering sixth, seventh and eighth grades spent June 21 to 24 testing their skills in mathematical problem solving, computer programming and exploring emergence in BU’s annual Math and Science Summer Experience.

Students got a new perspective of math and science through classroom presentations, hands-on activities and demonstrations, ending with them creating their own virtual classroom. Photo gallery | Video

Dancing around the heat in high heels

Katrina Bradley, a junior Spanish and secondary education major, is spending the summer in Xalapa, Mexico comparing how language professors at Bloomsburg University and Universidad Veracruzana assess language learning in the classroom and how they address multiple styles.

Bradley kicked off her first week settling into her apartment, learning the routine of doing laundry and hailing a taxi in Mexico, and beginning her Culture and Civilization Class.

Huskies pick up Super Bowl rings

Bloomsburg University alums Jim Monos, Jr., Lindsey Wyckoff Mitchell, and Jahri Evans, show off the Super Bowl rings they were given as part of the New Orleans Saints recent championship celebration.

Evans, a former Huskies football star, helped the Saints win the Super Bowl in February as a starting offensive lineman. Monos and Mitchell’s husband, Jason, are pro/college scouts for New Orleans. Who got rings?

Class of 2014 previews campus

BU hosted its first flow of incoming freshmen for orientation last week, where newly minted Huskies got an up-close look of campus, met faculty, fellow freshmen and upperclassmen mentors and learned about student activities and support services.
            Photo gallery | Video
 

BU honors students explore Egypt

David Moyer and Hannah Jones recently spent two weeks studying “Mapping Cultural and Historical Egypt” as part of the PASSHE Summer Honors Program, where they completed two courses studying and researching the relationship between culture and geography in contemporary and ancient Egypt.

Dampman to chair Council of Trustees

Robert Dampman ’65 will chair BU’s Council of Trustees for the next two years, following action at the Trustee’s Tuesday, June 8, meeting. Charles C. “Nick” Housenick ’60 will serve as vice chair and Marie Conley Lammando ’94 will continue as secretary. More

Faculty honored for scholarly work

Five faculty members were honored with the Provost's Award for Excellence in Research and Scholarly Activity. (L-R) Jonathan Ohn, associate professor of finance and legal studies; Mark Tapsak, asst. professor of chemistry; Barbara Wilson, asst. professor of exceptionality programs; and Jason Godeke, asst. professor of art and art history.

Each award winner received $1,000 to be used for travel or other faculty development activities and a plaque. Nominations of untenured faculty are made by each dean and evaluated by Dean's Council based upon publications, presentations and other scholarly work.

Penn State professor leads colloquium at BU

BU’s Department of Languages and Cultures hosted its fifth annual Colloquium on Teaching and Second Language Acquisition this past spring semester, featuring James P. Lantolf, professor of language acquisition and applied linguistics at Penn State University.

Lantolf conducted an all-day colloquium on, "A Concept-Based Approach to Foreign Language Teaching,” which was attended by professors from Kutztown, Lock Haven, Millersville, and Bloomsburg universities as well as regional high school teachers and students studying secondary education.

Spring semester dean’s list unveiled

More than 1,900 students made the dean’s list for the 2010 spring semester. To qualify for dean's list, a student must earn a quality-point average of 3.5 or higher (based on 4.0) during the semester. Full list

Student showcases landmark program

Hannah Rae Mael, a Spanish major, presented "Memorial Elementary Pilot Spanish Program" on research and practical experience she gained while conducting the first after-school BU program teaching Spanish in local public schools this past semester.

Mael’s presentation included trends in foreign language learning at the elementary level, types of language instruction, the Spanish Club at Memorial Elementary (including teaching methods and learning assessment), along with reflections and suggestions for the future of the program. The presentation was part of Phi Sigma Iota Senior Exit Presentation Series with faculty advisement and internship supervision provided by Patricia Dórame-Holoviak.

Tenure, promotion and sabbatical approvals

This year’s list of tenure, promotion and sabbatical approvals have been announced with 16 faculty receiving tenure, 21 faculty earning promotions and 13 faculty approved for sabbatical leave. Tenure and promotions are effective fall 2010, while sabbaticals are effective for 2011-12. Full list

Unveiling a new location, website

Just in time for the first summer session, BU’s Office of Social Equity and Accommodative Services has a new home, 054 Warren Student Services Center, and a redesigned website, featuring a streamlined layout of information on its services, staff contacts and related links to useful resources.

COST students, faculty recognized

More than 225 students, faculty, staff and family members attended BU College of Science and Technology Spring Honors Banquet, which recognized student scholarly achievements as well as the inducted students into various disciplinary honor societies. The banquet also recognized the excellence in teaching, research and service of COST faculty.

 
Honored faculty included (L-R) Lori Metzger, nursing; Youmin Lu, mathematics, computer science and statistics; Karl Kapp, instructional technology; Nathaniel Greene, physics and engineering technology; Sandra Kehoe Forutan, envionmental, geographical and geological sciences. (Back) Robert P. Marande, dean; Mark Tapsak, chemistry, and President David Soltz.

Education program nationally certified

BU’s Education of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing master’s program has received certification by the National Council on Education of the Deaf (CED) for its 10-year accreditation review. BU’s program, which is the only deaf education graduate program in PA and one of 72 in the country, remains among the 37 certified by CED.

Pictured (L-R): Lawrence Fritz, assistant VP and dean of Graduate Studies; Tony Martin, CED site visitor; Elizabeth Mauch, interim dean of College of Education; David Soltz, BU president; Ira Blake, interim provost and VP for Academic Affairs; Sam Slike, professor/curriculum coordinator of Education of the Deaf/HH Program; Zanthia Smith, CED site visitor and Deborah S. Stryker, assistant professor of Education of the Deaf/HH Program.