VOLUME 11, NUMBER 17 JUNE 22, 2009

California University

Anew era in California

University’s nationally respected

women’s basketball program

began officially on June 4 when

President Angelo Armenti, Jr.

introduced Mark Swasey as the

program’s sixth full-time head coach.

Swasey joins Cal U after seven

seasons as head women’s basketball

coach at Franklin Pierce University in

New Hampshire.

This year his team advanced to the

NCAA Division II national

championship game after ending Cal U’s

2008-2009 season by defeating the

Vulcan women 88-73 in the quarterfinal

contest. The Ravens also reached the

NCAA II Elite Eight in 2007-2008.

Over the last four years, Franklin

Pierce has compiled an impressive 89-37

record

Swasey was chosen from a

nationwide search that began with more

than 100 applicants.

“Our women’s basketball program

has been building for some time, and it

has the potential to reach even greater

heights,” President Armenti said. “These

fine players deserve a great coach, so we

looked for the very best. In Mark

Swasey, I believe we found what we

were looking for.”

Swasey was named Russell

Athletic/Women’s Basketball Coaches

Association East Region Coach of the

Year for 2008-2009, as well as the

Northeast-10 Conference Coach of the

Year. He will be inducted into the New

England Basketball Hall of Fame in

October.

He will lead a Cal U program that

has made eight consecutive NCAA

tournament appearances since the 2001-

2002 season and won seven PSAC-West

championships, four conference crowns,

four NCAA Regional titles and the 2004

NCAA Division II National

Championship. Cal’s cumulative record

during this time period was 222-42

(.819) with an 86-14 (.860) PSAC-West

mark.

“My job is to improve a team and a

system that are already in place and

work very well,” Swasey said at a news

conference.

“We just need to fine-tune in some

areas. This will take a lot of creativity

and building of trust with my coaching

staff and players.”

Overall, Swasey owns a 180-111

(.619) career record in 10 seasons, which

— Continued on page 3

Cal U’s Council of Trustees was

given a preview of coming

attractions — the renovated and

expanded Herron Fitness and Recreation

Center — during its quarterly meeting

June 3.

Dr. Allan Golden, vice president for

Administration and Finance, presented a

series of slides highlighting the $10

million renovation project. Herron is

expected to re-open for the start of the

fall semester with renovations

throughout, including an 18,000-square-

foot addition, an indoor walking/jogging

track and a 33-foot-tall indoor climbing

wall.

“I believe the indoor track and the

entire finished product will blow people

away,” Golden said enthusiastically.

“This facility will become a very popular

place for all of the University

community.”

In other finance matters, the Trustees

voted unanimously to have the University

purchase the six-acre Phillipsburg School

property from the Student Association

Inc. No firm plans have been made for

the building and grounds, but Golden

noted that “space is at a premium” on

campus and few other parcels are

available for purchase nearby.

The Trustees also approved the 2009-

2012 Strategic Plan, a document intended

to guide the University’s progress.

President Dr. Angelo Armenti, Jr.

pointed out one major change from

previous plans: a new goal of fostering

civic engagement.

All University members had an

opportunity for input as the plan was

updated, President Armenti told the

Trustees, and the Cal U Forum approved

the final product at its April meeting.

“The objectives and methods actually

support the achievement of the various

goals,” he said of the 33-page document.

Compared to previous plans, “the

revisions better reflect the effort and

involvement of the vice presidents, deans

and directors.”

In their regular reports:

— Continued on page 2

Swasey Introduced as Women’s Basketball Coach

Trustees Get a Peek at Rec Center Renovations

Cal U Wins FarmlandHabitat Restoration Grant

President Angelo Armenti, Jr. introduces Mark Swasey as Cal U’s sixth full-time head women’sbasketball coach at a June 4 news conference.

California University of Pennsylvania’s Partners for Fish

and Wildlife Program has received a $900,000 grant

from the Richard King Mellon Foundation to support

its work in farmland habitat restoration and watershed

conservation.

Partners for Fish and Wildlife has been collaborating since

1995 with conservation groups and a variety of local, state and

federal agencies concerned with restoring the health of

watersheds, wetlands and streamside ecosystems across

Pennsylvania.

The grant supports the farmland habitat project led by

supervisor Jose Taracido. Project staff members work with

farmers and other landowners to restore wildlife habitats along

small waterways in agricultural areas, often in fields or pastures.

— Continued on page 2

The much-anticipated fall opening of the renovated and expanded Herron Hall Fitness Centerwas one of many topics reviewed at the Council of Trustees’ June quarterly meeting.

President’s

Gala

Cal U students(from left) Bryan

Tolle, MargueriteSmith, Sarah Tuke,

Jenna Dunmire andRyan Jerico enjoy a

light momenttogether at the

President’s Gala.For story and morephotos, see page 2.

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President’s Gala Raises Scholarship Funds

Trustees Hear Enrollment,Marketing, Development Reports

I would like to publicly

acknowledge the efforts and

thank the students in my

Recreation Program

Planning class, the Parks

and Recreation Student

Society and the other

student volunteers for all

the hard work they put into

the 14th annual Pike Run

Youth Fishing Festival.

It was a very successful

University and Cal

community event, with

almost 170 kids from the

Mon Valley and beyond participating.

Everyone had a great time, most

caught at least one fish and the

students gained important hands-on

experience in planning and running a

large community recreation event.

Casey Durdines, the mayor of

California Borough, even came down

at the end of the event to publicly

thank and congratulate the students

for a job well done.

What a great event and what

remarkable students we have!

John Confer

Assistant professor,

Department of Earth Sciences

Thankyou

About 330 members of the Cal U community

spent “A Night on the Riviera” June 6 to boost

the University’s scholarship fund. Dr. Angelo

Armenti, Jr. and First Lady Barbara Armenti hosted the

16th annual President’s Gala at the Omni William Penn

Hotel, in Pittsburgh.

Guests enjoyed fine dining, Monte Carlo games and

dancing to the music of the Benny Benack Orchestra.

Net proceeds from the event — the University’s largest

annual fundraiser — support student scholarships.

“This was a year of remarkable achievement at Cal

U,” President Armenti told the crowd. “In the past 12

months our academic offerings have been strengthened

and expanded. Our athletic teams have won statewide

and regional titles. Our beautiful campus continues to

evolve, and our enrollment continues to grow.”

The program featured a videotaped “year in review”

and presentation of awards. Dr. Rose Greco Hughes ’25

received the Lillian M. Bassi Core Values Award.

Faculty award winners were Dr. Rebecca Hess for

teaching, Dr. Joseph Heim for research and Dr. Mary

O’Connor for service. Emeriti honorees were William

B. Kania and Leslie Parkinson.

The celebration also included the announcement of

the public phase of the University’s $35 million capital

campaign, The Campaign to Build Character and

Careers.

“The goal of this campaign for student enrichment

and support is to bring a Cal U education within reach

of more students, so they can graduate less burdened by

debt and better positioned to achieve continued

success,” President Armenti said.

William Booker ’74, the campaign chairman,

reported that that “silent” phase of the fund drive has

brought it nearly halfway to the goal.

President Angelo Armenti, Jr. makes a toast with Sharon Thomas Fisher ´95 (left) and Gala co-chairs Thomas ´64 and NancyCrumrine ´66.

— Continued from page 1

Fencing out livestock makes an

immediate impact on these waterways

by reducing erosion, removing animal

waste from the stream and allowing

streamside plants to thrive. Planting

warm-season grasses and native plants

in riparian (streamside) buffer zones

introduces shade that cools the water

and creates a more hospitable habitat for

insects, fish, birds and mammals.

The conservation project also

benefits farm operators: Planting warm-

season grasses boosts hay production;

providing clean water for livestock

reduces veterinary bills; and planting

streambanks with wildlife-friendly

vegetation increases the value of the

land.

Since 1996, Cal U’s Partners for Fish

and Wildlife has fenced more than 355

miles of streambank, restored more than

3,300 acres of wetlands, planted more

than 4,500 acres of warm-season grasses

and completed more than 400 acres of

border edge cuts to provide cover and

habitat for farmland wildlife.

The program has a strong

educational component and employs as

many as 15 field staff.

The grant from the Richard King

Mellon Foundation, one of the largest

independent foundations in the United

States, will be paid over three years. The

foundation makes grants that serve the

public interest, emphasizing regional

economic development, the quality of

life in southwestern Pennsylvania, land

preservation, and watershed restoration

and protection with an emphasis on

western Pennsylvania.

Partners for Fish and Wildlife, based

at California University of

Pennsylvania, has worked in

collaboration with conservation entities

including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service, the U.S. Department of

Agriculture, the National Fish and

Wildlife Federation, the Pennsylvania

Game Commission and county

conservation districts. Organizations

such as Pheasants Forever, Habitat

Unlimited and the Ruffed Grouse

Society also have taken part in projects.

To learn more about Partners For

Fish and Wildlife, visit

workforce.cup.edu/Taracido/. For more

information about California University,

visit www.cup.edu.

Cal U Awarded Grant for Farmland Habitat Restoration

— Continued from page 1

• Provost Geraldine Jones offered

encouraging enrollment projections for

the fall semester. As of May 13, the

number of freshmen accepted to Cal U

was 5.6 percent higher than last year’s

total. The increase for transfer students

was more than 22 percent.

• Dr. Lenora Angelone, vice president

for Student Development and Services,

highlighted Cal’s student media with

slides and podcasts depicting the work of

CUTV, the Cal Times student newspaper

and the multimedia access center.

Angelone described these activities as

“important learning opportunites” for

students.

• A multi-media presentation by

Angela Burrows, vice president of

University Relations, emphasized the

strategic approach used in working with

the media, developing a new Cal U

website, marketing the University and

using social media to reach current and

prospective students.

“Our team’s reach has become even

more global,” she said, “while at the

same time its touch is increasingly

targeted.”

• President Armenti reported on

development. Although the total number

of donors is slightly down from a year

ago, total giving has shown an increase of

nearly $1.2 million, and endowed

scholarships have increased by almost $1

million as the fiscal year comes to a close.

The amount received from gifts of $1,000

or more has nearly doubled during this

time.

“I believe that endowed scholarships

continue to be our best hope for the

future,” he said. “We are getting larger

gifts, which is obviously important.”

At a brief reorganization prior to the

quarterly meeting, Leo Krantz and

Robert Irey were re-elected chair and vice

chair of the Council of Trustees through

June 2011. Krantz has been the chair

since June 2007.

Cal U’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, under the supervision of Jose Taracido, hasbeen awarded a $900,000 grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation to support itswork in farmland habitat restoration and watershed conservation.

Luke Edmonds (right) and his brother Seth take acloser look at a fish he caught during the Pike RunFishing Festival.

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Cal U’s GIS Students Help Make Springdale Safer

Finance Their DreamsThis op-ed, written by Dr. Angelo

Armenti, Jr., was published June 3 in the

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

The Pennsylvania Tuition Relief

Act proposed by Gov. Ed Rendell

would open a window of

opportunity for students who hope to

build a better life by earning a college

degree.

Education has become increasingly

important in an increasingly complex

global economy, which needs talented,

highly trained professionals to thrive. Mr.

Rendell’s plan would make college tuition

more affordable for every Pennsylvania

family earning less than $100,000 per

year, helping about 170,000 students

across the state. It would place the

achievement of a college degree within

reach for 10,000 students who otherwise

would be unable to afford tuition.

These students are the reason I

support the governor’s plan. The global

economic downturn has hit hard across

many sectors, including higher

education. This year’s state budget

emergency has resulted in a cut of 4.25

percent — $1.6 million — in state

funding to our university, the California

University of Pennsylvania.

While we are working

hard to cope with this

funding cut, we remain

deeply concerned about the

plight of our students.

Many are struggling to pay

tuition, and they are likely

to face even greater

challenges in the months

ahead.

Many of our students

accumulate crushing debt

over the course of their

college careers, even

though Pennsylvania’s

state-owned universities, such as ours,

have worked hard to remain affordable:

Tuition this year is $5,385, and the

average total annual cost of attending

one of the 14 state-owned institutions is

$13,794 — half the cost of attendance at

the branch campuses of state-related

Penn State or the University of

Pittsburgh.

The main problem is the ongoing,

multi-year shift from grants to loans in the

typical federal- and state-funded financial

aid packages available to our students. As

a result of that shift, graduating seniors

leave Cal U with an average

debt load of $23,000, which

is somewhat larger than the

$19,000 average for students

attending all public

universities in Pennsylvania,

and significantly larger than

the $15,000 average for

students attending all public

universities nationwide.

(Even though our tuition is

lower than other state

universities, our students

often incur more debt

because their families have

fewer resources.)

We must ensure that all Pennsylvania

students have access to higher education

without incurring thousands of dollars in

debt. The Tuition Relief Act would help

accomplish this.

At Cal U, we believe in wise

stewardship of all the funds we receive,

and we will continue to make every

dollar count. But personal resources,

private scholarships and government

dollars only go so far — and right now,

even in combination, they are

insufficient to meet our students’ needs.

Gov. Rendell’s plan for tuition relief

would make higher education more

accessible to thousands of Pennsylvania

residents, who make up the vast majority

of students at state-owned institutions,

including Cal U. Most of our graduates

remain in Pennsylvania after graduation,

contributing to the vitality of the

commonwealth.

I am aware of the concerns about

using video-gaming revenues to fund the

act. Those concerns can be addressed

only by the legislators who craft the

annual budget and who are in the best

position to know whether other viable

funding alternatives exist. But regardless

of the ultimate source of funds, the

need for scholarship aid is so

compelling that the debate about

funding the Tuition Relief Act should

focus on the plight of the thousands of

Pennsylvania students whose chance at

the American dream depends on its

passage.

As the first member of my working-

class family to attend college, I

understand both the dreams and the

struggles of our students. The Tuition

Relief Act would be an investment in

their future, and in the future of

Pennsylvania.

Cal U President Angelo Armenti, Jr.

Because of a three-year

collaborative project with Cal U

GIS (Geographic Information

Systems) students, the Springdale

Township VFD will be better prepared to

protect its citizens from fire or any

natural emergencies.

Spearheaded by current student

Jessica Wright and recent graduates

Stacey Stanley and Lisa Leyh, Cal U has

set up a GIS database for the fire

department of the Allegheny County

borough, which consists of 1,856 homes.

Cal U students from Dr. Tom

Mueller’s GIS class input information

gathered from surveys sent to the

residents from the fire department.

Wright created a tutorial, which she

presented to Curt Funkhouser,

Springdale assistant chief, who is also a

technology education teacher at Mars

Middle School.

“The tutorial shows how to query an

address once that call comes in,” said

Wright, a Fredericktown native who will

graduate from Cal U this December.

“Once that address is queried it brings

up a street. Through their laptops the

firefighters can then zoom directly to

that street and identify all the attributes

associated with that survey.”

Wright explained that the mapped

information includes not only the names

of who lives in each house but also the

number of pets; entrances and exits;

utility providers; chemicals in the house;

such as chlorine for pools or gas or

propane for grills; and even the closest

hydrant. The work was completed in the

Department of Earth Sciences’ Peter J.

Daley Geo-Technology Institute

“Basically all the available

information en route or at the scene

gives us a better opportunity to pre-plan

for the house and provide better

emergency services for people because

we know what we’re getting into ahead

of time,” said Funkhouser.

The project became a reality when

Funkhouser participated in a Governor’s

Institute for Technology Education

Workshop on the Cal U campus, where

he took a GIS session taught by Mueller

and fellow Cal U faculty member Dr.

Glenn Hider.

“I started talking to those guys about

how to use GIS in both my classroom

and fire department and found out we

could implement this,” Funkhouser said.

Mueller lauded Wright and the other

students involved while crediting Cal U’s

administration for its support in

technology upgrades. In particular

University President Angelo Armenti,

Jr., and Dr. Len Colelli, dean of the

Eberly College of Science and

Technology. Cal U provided the service

free of charge to Springdale Township

VFD.

“One of this University’s biggest flags

that I believe it flies under is the service-

learning component, and I think this is a

great example of that,” said Mueller.

“The students really want these real

world projects.”

He also pointed out the important

role played by the Allegheny County

GIS office and Katherine Reed in

helping with the parcel data.

Wright said he enjoyed the

experience and hopes to continue this

endeavor with Springdale and other fire

departments. As of early May only 45

percent of Springdale Borough had

returned surveys and been mapped

“It’s rewarding to do something that

will be really used,” Wright said. “I hope

I am giving back some way. I will help

them after I graduate and hope this goes

forward to other townships, because I

think it is great for everyone involved.”

Mueller intends to carry out Wright’s

hopes.

“One of the things we want to do is

use this as a pilot,” he said. “We

welcome other fire departments to come

to us and talk about setting this up.”

Funkhouser is certainly a satisfied

customer.

“It just goes to show you that a

university, fire department and

municipality can work together at little

cost to provide a better service for the

community,” Funkhouser said. “It’s kind

of unique, because to the best of my

knowledge no other fire department is

doing this. If others knew this was out

there I believe they would at least

attempt the data collection to provide a

better service.”

— Continued from page 1

includes a three-year stint at Division III Norwich

University in Vermont prior to coaching at Franklin

Pierce.

He praised Cal U and joked about there being more

people at his introductory news conference than there

were at his first game at Franklin Pierce.

“This is a different level here, even though it’s still

Division II,” Swasey said. “I am very impressed with

the resources, people and support here at California.

You can sense the family atmosphere here, and the

tradition. I am very excited to become a part of one the

premier athletic programs in all of Division II.”

Lenora Angelone, vice president for Student

Development and Services, welcomed Swasey and

noted that Cal U’s athletic program is very close to

achieving perfect “gender equity” — equal

opportunities for men and women, as mandated by

federal Title IX legislation.

“We are proud to provide our female student-

athletes with world-class facilities, coaches and support

staff to succeed on the playing surfaces, and more

importantly, in the classroom,” she said. “Today is very

special as we move forward into a new era with our

perennial power women’s basketball program.”

Swasey received a bachelor’s degree from Lyndon

State College in Vermont. He and his wife, Jennifer,

have two young daughters, Addison Elizabeth and

Avery Marie.

Dr. Tom Mueller and Jessica Wright review the GIS database they put together for

the Springdale Volunteer Fire Department.

Mark Swasey Introduced as New Women’s Basketball Coach

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Dr. Angelo Armenti, Jr.University President

Geraldine M. Jones Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dr. Joyce Hanley Executive Vice President

Dr. Allan J. Golden Vice President for Administration and Finance

Dr. Lenora Angelone Vice President for Student Development and Services

Dr. Charles ManceVice President of Information Technolog

Angela J. Burrows Vice President for University Relations

Office�of�Communications�and�Public�Relations,�250�University�Avenue,�California,�PA�15419

724-938-4195�����wald@cup.edu��

The California Journal is published weekly by California University of Pennsylvania, a member of The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

The Journal is printed on paper made from trees harvested under the principles of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (www.SFIprogram.org).

Christine KindlEditor

Bruce Wald, Wendy Mackall Writers

Capping a year marked by five

conference championships, Cal

U has won the Pennsylvania

State Athletic Conference’s Dixon

Trophy for the first time.

The trophy is awarded annually to

the PSAC member institution with the

most successful all-around program. The

winner is determined by a point system

based on the results of conference

playoffs and/or regular-season records.

Each institution’s point total is

calculated by adding its top six women’s

finishes and top six men’s finishes in 23

conference sports.

Cal U compiled 161 points in 2008-

2009, a conference record. The

University placed third in the standings

last year.

Shippensburg University finished

second in this year’s trophy race with

158 points. Lock Haven and Slippery

Rock tied for third with 153 points each.

The trophy first was awarded in

1995-1996. It is named for the late F.

Eugene Dixon Jr., former chairman of

the Board of Governors of the

Pennsylvania State System of Higher

Education.

“The Dixon Trophy is emblematic of

athletic supremacy in the Pennsylvania

State Athletic Conference — the PSAC,

the premier Division II athletic

conference in America today,” said Cal U

President Angelo Armenti, Jr. “We are

very proud of our student-athletes,

coaches and many individuals behind

the scenes who are responsible for the

magnificent accomplishment we

celebrate today.”

During the 2008-2009 academic year,

the Vulcans won PSAC conference

championships and gained 16 Dixon

Trophy points each in football, women’s

volleyball, men’s soccer, women’s golf

and women’s tennis. Additional points

came from women’s basketball (15),

women’s swimming (14), softball (13),

baseball (13), men’s golf (10), men’s

outdoor track and field (8) and men’s

cross country (8).

Collectively, California’s six top

women’s teams totaled a league-high 90

points — a point of pride for Cal U,

whose athletic program is working

diligently to achieve complete gender

equity under Title IX.

In addition to the state champion

football team, Cal U’s women’s

basketball, softball volleyball and tennis

teams won PSAC-West titles. The

women’s swimming team finished a

strong third at the PSAC Tournament.

An on-campus Dixon Trophy

celebration and rally is planned for the

2009 fall semester.

Vulcans Win First Dixon Trophy

Before their quarterly meeting on June 3, the Council of Trustees gathered with Cal U’s head coaches and several administrators around the Dixon Trophy. Cal U earned this coveted awardsignifying athletic supremacy in the PSAC after compiling a conference record 161 total points.

Annual Honor Goes to School

with Best All-Around Record

Campus BRIEFS

Children entering grades 1-8

this fall may register for the

Summer Educational

Enrichment for Kids program

(SEEK), to be held on campus.

SEEK will offer two weeklong

sessions: This week and July 20-24.

The program is conducted through

Cal U’s Office of Lifelong Learning.

Launched in 2000, SEEK

provides learning experiences that

are entertaining, yet academically

challenging.

“Our goal is for children to

explore new topics in a fun learning

environment,” says Terrie Greene,

Cal U’s executive director of

Lifelong Learning.

Classes run from 8:30 a.m. to 4

p.m. daily. Children are escorted

between classes and supervised

during lunch. Each child will need

to bring a bag lunch; refrigeration is

not available.

Registration is on a first come,

first served basis. Once a child is

registered, the family will receive a

confirmation letter listing the

classroom location. This

confirmation letter must be

presented on the first day of class.

Cost is $125 per child for a full-

week, full-day program, or $80 per

child for a full-week, half-day

(morning or afternoon) program.

In 2007, the Learning Resources

Network, an international

association in lifelong learning,

honored California University for

excellence in generational

programming. Cal U was recognized

for developing SEEK in response to

needs expressed by area parents. The

program was selected from a field of

more than 100 entries from four

countries.

Those interested in SEEK may

register by mail, in person or by

calling 724-938-5840.

Seek Offers Two Summer SessionsFire Prompts Fund Drive: A fire last month

destroyed the home of Dr. Mark Nowak, a

longtime professor in the Department of Applied

Engineering and Technology. Neither he nor his

family was injured. The Cal U community has

responded by raising funds for the family.

Contributions can be made to: Fund Raiser For

Nowak Family, Cal Ed Federal Credit Union,

P.O. Box 497, California, PA 15419.

July 4th Celebration Canceled: Because

construction projects are ongoing at Roadman

Park, Cal U’s annual Fourth of July celebration

and fireworks display will not take place this

year. Other fireworks displays and celebrations

will be held nearby, including events along the

riverfront in Charleroi and Fredericktown.

Alumni Go Out to the Ballgame: Alumni

Night at PNC Park, a Cal U tradition, will be

held July 18, when the Pittsburgh Pirates host

the San Francisco Giants at 7:05 p.m. The Cal U

picnic in Pirates Cove begins at 5:30 p.m. Cost is

$50 per person. For tickets, call the Alumni

Relations office at 724-938-4418.

Thank You: Meghan Clister of Career

Services would like to offer her sincere thanks to

the Cal U community for their kind expressions

of sympathy following the passing of her father,

Martin Redigan.

Brent Zavislak (right) and Jonathan Susick are deep in thought as they program asmall robot during last year’s popular summer SEEK program.

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