The event is in honor of university employees.

Award winners are nominated by readers of the publication, which is the largest and oldest African-American newspaper in the region. Nominees are African-American men from a variety of careers judged as shaping the character of the Pittsburgh community and region by a commitment to excellence.

“This is a tremendous honor for Dr. Atwater and for the entire IUP community,” said Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Chancellor Dr. John C. Cavanaugh. “His leadership is emblematic of the university presidents across PASSHE. This recognition is well deserved.”

The Men of Excellence Award program is in its second year. Last year’ winners included Bill Strickland, president and CEO of Manchester Bidwell Corporation; Larry Davis, dean of the School of Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh; Christopher Allen, cardiologist at UPMC Shadyside Hospital and professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh; former Pittsburgh Steelers running back and community leader Franco Harris; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin; Eric Kevin Mann, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh; and George Miles, president and CEO of WQED Multimedia.

Also included among this year’s award winners is IUP graduate Davie Huddleston, vice president for human resources and college relations for PNC Financial Services Group.

The show is broadcast on WDAD-AM (1450).

The Common Freshman Reader program strives to enrich the intellectual experience of all freshman students through the use of a timely and
stimulating published work. Faculty members' participation in the
program has inspired many students in the last four years to analyze, discuss, and debate issues covered in the common freshman reader.

This year, we are fortunate to welcome to campus Bill Strickland, author of this year’s featured text. In addition to visiting classrooms, he will share his own story at a lecture on Tuesday, November 17, 2009, at 7:00 p.m. in Fisher Auditorium.

That evening, Phi Kappa Phi will recognize him for demonstrating and inspiring excellence in learning, creativity, and service. After his lecture, he will be available for book signing.

I hope to see you in Fisher Auditorium on November 17. To learn more about Bill Strickland, Make the Impossible Possible, and the Common Freshman Reader program, see the following article: Common Freshman Reader Author to Tell His Story.

Tony Atwater
IUP President

Mr. Woodward will deliver an insightful address on the fascinating world of presidential politics during his presentation “From Nixon to Bush: What Can President Obama Learn from Presidents Past?”

Free tickets can be obtained at the Hadley Union Building ticket office.

I hope to see you Wednesday evening as your schedules permit.

Tony Atwater, Ph.D.
President

This weekend also is designed to honor our veterans and active duty military personnel, with all members and former members of the military admitted free to the football game. Please join me in recognizing our families, veterans, and colleagues during this special weekend.

Tony Atwater, Ph.D.
President 

Obviously the death of any member of the IUP community is tragic and difficult to bear for members of the IUP community. I am sure you join me in expressing concern and sympathy for Shawn’s friends and family.

The IUP Counseling Center provides counseling to students. Students may make an appointment by calling 724-357-2621 or by visiting the center at the Suites on Maple East, Room G31, during office hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

A twenty-four-hour crisis hotline is available at the Open Door, 724-465-2605.

Tony Atwater, Ph.D.
President

The state Senate has confirmed the appointment of Jonathan B. Mack of Indiana to the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s Board of Governors.

Mack is an attorney and partner in the firm of Marcus & Mack, P.C., of Indiana. He also is a member of Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Council of Trustees.

The twenty-member Board of Governors has overall responsibility for planning and coordinating the development and operation of PASSHE, which comprises Pennsylvania’s fourteen public universities. The board establishes broad fiscal, personnel, and educational policies under which the PASSHE universities operate.

The board comprises eleven public members and three PASSHE students, all of whom are nominated by the governor and confirmed by the Senate; four legislators; the governor or his designee; and the Secretary of Education or his designee.

Mack is a graduate of Dickinson College, from which he earned bachelor’s degrees in both English and Spanish and a minor in geology, and the University of Toledo School of Law. He has been a practicing attorney since 1983. He also has been a local business owner and has owned and operated businesses in Boulder, Colo.; Tucson, Ariz.; and Spokane, Wash.

He holds memberships in the Pennsylvania Bar Association and Indiana County Bar Association. He is a past member of the Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association and was elected and served as president of the Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association from 2002 to 2003. He currently serves as a panel member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Judicial Evaluation Commission.

Mack was a member of the Indiana Area School District Board of School Directors from 1999 to 2005, serving as president from 2003 to 2005. He currently serves as a board member of the Seeds of Faith Christian Academy, an elder of the First Assembly of God Church, and a board member of the Indiana Experiment. He has been a trustee for the J.S. Mack Foundation since 1985, serving as its president since 2006.

Mack replaces Guido Pichini on the Board of Governors. Pichini had served on the board since June 2005.

Other members of the Board of Governors are chairs Kenneth M. Jarin of Newtown, vice chairs C.R. “Chuck” Pennoni of Bryn Mawr and Aaron A. Walton of Allison Park, Rep. Matthew E. Baker of Wellsboro, Nick Barcio of Erie, Marie Conley Lammando of Harrisburg, Paul S. Dlugolecki of Mechanicsburg, Rep. Michael K. Hanna of Lock Haven, Sen. Vincent J. Hughes of Philadelphia, Richard Kneedler of Lancaster, Jamie Lutz of Tionesta, Joseph F. McGinn of Linwood, Sen. Jeffrey E. Piccola of Harrisburg, Gov. Edward G. Rendell of Harrisburg, Harold C. Shields of Allison Park, Thomas M. Sweitzer of Swarthmore, Christine J.Toretti of Indiana, Mackenzie Marie Wrobel of Bloomsburg and Gerald L. Zahorchak of Harrisburg.

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the commonwealth, with nearly 117,000 students. The fourteen PASSHE universities offer degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. Approximately 454,000 PASSHE alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.

The state-owned universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock, and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. PASSHE also operates branch campuses in Clearfield, Freeport, Oil City, and Punxsutawney and several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg.

The open forum will take place Wednesday, October 21, 2009, from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. in Sutton Hall’s Blue Room.

An interview schedule and vita for the candidate will be posted on the University Relations website by Monday, October 19.

I hope that your schedule will permit your participation at this open forum, which is an important component of the search process for next vice president for University Relations.

Tony Atwater, Ph.D.
President 

Hosted by Dr. Tony Atwater, IUP president, and his wife, Dr. Beverly Roberts-Atwater, the event includes dinner and dancing to the music of the IUP Jazz Ensemble. The evening begins with cocktails at 7:00 p.m. Black tie is optional.

All proceeds benefit the Presidential Scholarship Fund, which assists promising students in their studies at IUP. Thank you to all who are supporting this cause by attending the ball.

We’ll see you there!

The deadline to make your reservation for the annual Homecoming Ball is quickly approaching.

Reserve your spot today by registering on line or by calling the University Events office at 724-357-2145. The deadline for reservations is October 2.

This year’s Homecoming Ball will be held October 9, 2009, at the Indiana Country Club.

Hosted by Dr. Tony Atwater, IUP president, and his wife, Dr. Beverly Roberts-Atwater, the event includes dinner and dancing to the music of the IUP Jazz Ensemble. The evening begins with cocktails at 7:00 p.m. Black tie is optional.

Tickets are $75 per person. All proceeds benefit the Presidential Scholarship Fund, which assists promising students in their studies at IUP.

The University Museum, in cooperation with IUP Special Collections and University Archives and the Institute for Mine Maps and Archival Procedures and Safety are sponsors of the museum’s fall exhibit, “A Walk Through Time: Pennsylvania Coal Culture Featuring the Rochester & Pittsburgh Coal Company Collections.”

Artifacts and documents of coal mining life in Western Pennsylvania are presented by IUP Special Collections and University Archives, the Tri-Area Historical Society and Liberty Museum in Nanty Glo, the Historical and Genealogical Society of Indiana County, and private collectors.

I hope you will be able to attend this event and take advantage of potential opportunities for business, community, and university partnerships.

Tony Atwater, Ph.D.
President

The meeting will include action on resolutions for naming the Sutton Suites, recognition of professor Sally McCombie as a recipient of a national Teacher Educator of the Year award, and recognition of student athlete Nafee Harris as the NCAA Division II Champion in the long jump.

The Council of Trustees is the principal governing body for the university. This meeting offers an opportunity for all members of the IUP community to learn more about actions taking place that impact all sectors of the university. I hope that you will attend as your schedules permit.

Tony Atwater, Ph.D.
President 

Photographs of the ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the completion of the IUP Fairman Centre renovation are now available on the President’s office website: IUP Fairman Centre Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Photo Gallery.

The ceremony took place Friday, September 18, 2009, at the center, located at 101 Mahoning Street in downtown Punxsutawney.

Photos were taken by Keith Boyer, university photographer.

President Tony Atwater and Dr. Beverly Roberts-Atwater invite the university community to the annual Homecoming Ball.

The ball will be held Friday, October 9, 2009, starting at 7:00 p.m., at the Indiana Country Club. The event includes dinner and dancing to the sounds of the IUP Jazz Ensemble. Proceeds benefit the Presidential Scholars Fund, which assists promising students in their studies at IUP.

Contact the University Events office for details at 724-357-2145. Cocktail attire requested.

Homecoming takes place October 9 and 10. See all related events.

The event included remarks by Michael Hood, dean of the College of Fine Arts; Alyssa Stiles, president of the Student Government Association; and IUP President Tony Atwater, who delivered his poem “Flight 93: Paradise Found.”

Atwater wrote the poem in honor of the United Airlines Flight 93 passengers who mounted an assault against the hijackers to gain control of the plane, which later crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pa.

Video footage of the poem is available on IUP’s YouTube channel: “Flight 93: Paradise Found.”

President Tony Atwater delivered the speech on Thursday, August 27, 2009, at 9:00 a.m. in Fisher Auditorium.

The State of the University Address provides an opportunity to review some of IUP’s major accomplishments during the previous academic year and reflect on some of the goals—as well as challenges—for 2009–2010.

Kennedy, a U.S. senator from Massachusetts, died Tuesday, August 25, at age seventy-seven.

Flags should remain at half staff through August 30, 2009.

Office of the President

This memorial event will begin at 8:30 a.m. and will be held in the Oak Grove in front of the September 11 monument and artifact. In case of inclement weather, the event will be held in Gorell Recital Hall.

The program will include reflections offered by Ms. Alyssa Stiles, Student Government Association president, and myself. The ceremony also will include a remembrance of the three IUP alumni lost in the World Trade Center attack.

I look forward to seeing you on Friday, September 11, as we gather as a community to reflect on this historic tragedy.

Sincerely,

Tony Atwater, Ph.D.
President

• On Thursday, August 27, 2009, at 9:00 a.m., we will gather in the Performing Arts Center’s Fisher Auditorium for the annual State of the University address, “Beyond the Storm and Bound for Greatness.” This event will be followed by a continental breakfast in the Oak Grove.
• On Sunday, August 30, at 5:30 p.m., also in Fisher Auditorium, we will hold the annual Freshman Convocation. This is an important initiative for our new students, as it formally welcomes them to our university community and sets the tone and expectation for their role in our community of scholars. Dr. Samuel Heastie will serve as our keynote speaker for the program, and Mr. Bill Strickland, author of this year’s Common Freshman Reader, Make the Impossible Possible, will be a special guest. Following the program, we will gather in the Oak Grove for a cookout.
• The university will gather for its annual September 11 Anniversary Memorial on September 11 at 8:30 a.m. in the Oak Grove.
• We will celebrate the completion of the Fairman Centre in Punxsutawney with a ribbon-cutting event Friday, September 18, at 11:00 a.m.
• We will have a public ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, September 24, at 10:00 a.m. for the Student Residential Revival Phase III buildings, the Suites on Pratt and the Sutton Suites, in the courtyard of the Sutton Suites, along Pratt Drive.
• Lastly, the public fall meeting of the Council of Trustees will take place on Friday, September 25, at 1:30 p.m. in Gorell Recital Hall, on the second floor of Sutton Hall. This meeting offers an opportunity for all IUP employees to learn more about administrative action taking place that impacts all sectors of the university.

I look forward to seeing you at these major, university events. In the meantime, I offer my best wishes for a productive academic year.

Tony Atwater, Ph.D.
President

With 31 years of experience in the advancement field, including twenty-four years at the senior administrative level and seventeen of those years in higher education, Mr. Williams brings an outstanding track record in fundraising and foundation board leadership to IUP. I have unconditional confidence in his ability to advance the University Relations Division and IUP’s development efforts.

Mr. Williams comes to IUP from his role as senior vice president for development at the Saint Louis (Missouri) Science Center, where he was responsible for the organization’s first seven-figure annual gift. He previously served as vice chancellor of university relations at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Foundation from 2000 to 2007. During his tenure there, he set annual fundraising records for seven consecutive years, achieving a 500 percent increase in giving over seven years. He has held a similar position at Lourdes College and Lourdes College Foundation in Sylvania, Ohio. He also has executive experience in health care management companies. He began his career as a finance and fundraising director with the Boy Scouts of America Councils located in Bloomsburg, Wilkes-Barre, and Oakhurst, N.J. 

Mr. Williams has a master's degree in Health and Human Services Administration from Misericordia University and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Kings College. He also has achieved advance certified fundraising executive status from the Association of Fund Raising Executives (AFP), a designation held by only seventy of the 35,000 AFP members.

A reception to welcome Mr. Williams to the IUP and to the Indiana community will be held during the fall semester.

At this time, I want to offer my sincere gratitude to Mrs. Lynn Barger, who served in the role of acting vice president for university relations and acting executive director of the Foundation for IUP for the past four months.

I also want to express my appreciation to Dr. Rhonda Luckey, chair of the vice president for university relations and executive director of the Foundation for IUP search committee, and to all members of the search committee for their excellent and timely work.

Tony Atwater, Ph.D.
President

Corporal Walls was killed in action on August 1, 2009, in Mushan Village, Afghanistan. Corporal Walls was assigned to C Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division based in Fort Carson, Colorado.

Flags will remain at half staff through August 10.

This occasion provides an opportunity for us to review some of IUP’s major accomplishments during the previous academic year and to reflect on some of the major goals ahead for academic year 2009–2010.

The title of this year’s State of the University Address is “Through the Storm and Bound for Greatness.” 

Please join your university faculty, staff, and administrative colleagues, along with Indiana area community leaders, as we mark the beginning of a new academic year.

Refreshments will be served following the program.

Tony Atwater, Ph.D.
President 

The award recognizes the partnership among the Washington Center, the commonwealth, and PASSHE universities. PASSHE sends more interns to the Washington Center than any other system in the United States.

PASSHE will receive the award during the Washington Center’s annual Academic Affairs Awards luncheon October 19 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

The award will also be acknowledged during a gala—for which PASSHE is a Silver Sponsor—that evening at the National Building Museum. Sponsorship was achieved through a $5,000 gift from the PASSHE Foundation, Inc., to the Washington Center. Included with the sponsorship are three $1,000 scholarships to the Washington Center’s internship program. These scholarships will be awarded via lottery to three PASSHE universities whose president attends the gala.

The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars is an independent, nonprofit organization serving hundreds of colleges and universities in the United States and other countries by providing opportunities for students to work and learn in Washington, D.C., for academic credit.

We have just received official notification of the death of Matthew P. Laird, a junior Communications Media major from Pittsburgh. Matthew died on July 4, 2009.

We also have learned of the death of Cory Michael Denlinger, of Conestoga, who passed away after an automobile accident July 10, 2009. Cory was a sophomore Communications Media major.

Obviously the death of any member of the IUP community is tragic and difficult to bear for members of the IUP community.  I am sure you join me in expressing concern and sympathy for Matthew and Cory’s friends and families and the Communications Media Department.

The IUP Counseling Center provides counseling to students. Students may call the Counseling Center at 724-357-2621 or stop by at Suite G-31 of Suites on Maple East to make an appointment. A twenty-four-hour crisis hotline is available at The Open Door, 724-465-2605.

Tony Atwater, Ph.D.
President 

The interview schedule and vita for the first candidate will be posted to the IUP website no later than Wednesday, July 8, 2009.

We have scheduled open forums as an opportunity for you to meet the candidate. The open forums are scheduled as follows:

Candidate 1 Open Forum

• Date: Thursday, July 9, 2009
• Time: 3:30 p.m to 5:00 p.m.
• Location: Blue Room, John Sutton Hall

Candidate 2 Open Forum

• Date: Monday, July 13, 2009
• Time: 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Location: Blue Room, John Sutton Hall

The interview schedule and vita will be posted to the IUP website the day before the open forum meeting.

Candidate 3 Open Forum

• Date: Thursday, July 16, 2009
• Time: 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Location: Blue Room, John Sutton Hall

The interview schedule and vita will be posted to the IUP website the day before each open forum meeting.

I hope you are able to participate in this opportunity to meet the candidates for the position of vice president for University Relations.

Tony Atwater, Ph.D.
President 

A historic groundbreaking ceremony for Phase IV, the final phase, of the Student Residential Revival Project will be held Tuesday, July 7, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. at a tent in front of the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology.

This project is directed by the Foundation for IUP and is a partnership between the foundation and the university. The Phase IV groundbreaking symbolizes the launch of the final stage of this $270 million student housing replacement project. It is the largest capital project of it kind in the nation, and it is transforming the way that students live and learn on the Indiana campus.

As part of Phase IV, the Governors Quad—Lawrence, Scranton, and Shafer halls—is being razed to make way for the Crimson Suites.

I am also pleased to inform you that the new Phase III housing facilities, Sutton Suites and the Suites on Pratt, are on schedule to open in August 2009.

I hope that you will be able to attend this exciting event to celebrate this special moment in the life and history of IUP.

Sincerely,

Tony Atwater, Ph.D.
President 

Mr. Spratt, who will study in China during the 2009–2010 academic year, is the ninth IUP student to be selected for this prestigious scholarship since 2006. This year, scholarships were limited to only 850 recipients throughout the nation.

I know that you join me in offering Mr. Spratt our most sincere congratulations on this honor and our best wishes for a successful time of study.

Tony Atwater, Ph.D.
President 

Miller was killed from wounds he received while responding to a call in Monroe County. Flags will remain at half staff through Friday, June 12.

Amelia Vaught, a freshman Finance major from Finleyville, Pa., died May 31, 2009, following a traffic accident earlier that day near her home. Amelia was a member of Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority. 

Obviously the death of any member of the IUP community is tragic and difficult to bear for members of the IUP community.  I am sure you join me in expressing concern and sympathy for Amelia's friends and family.

The IUP Counseling Center provides walk-in crisis counseling to students on a daily basis. Students also may call the Counseling Center at 724-357-2621 to make an appointment or to speak to a counselor. A twenty-four-hour crisis hotline is available at The Open Door, 724-465-2605.

Sincerely,

Tony Atwater, Ph.D.
President

The alumni of Indiana University of Pennsylvania have provided it with many success stories. One of the most inspiring relates to alumnus Dick Macedonia, former CEO of Sodexho Incorporated, the largest food service provider in the world. When Mr. Macedonia arrived at IUP to pursue his studies, he came with only two paper bags containing clothing and a few other essentials. He was a young man of modest means and did not know if he would be able to make it at IUP, financially or academically. Fortunately, for him, he had generous mentors and supporters at IUP who provided the material and academic support that translated later into his amazing professional success.

Many IUP students, like Dick Macedonia, come to our campus as first-generation college students from low- and middle-income households. The escalating cost of higher education represents an ever-increasing burden in both pursuing a college degree and in paying off the related financial debt after graduation. Simply put, the increased cost of higher education has become prohibitive for many families and prospective students, particularly those from low-income families and rural areas of western Pennsylvania.

Governor Ed Rendell has developed an innovative and critical solution to the challenges faced by first-generation college students and by students from low-income families who aspire to attain college degrees. The solution is the governor’s Tuition Relief Act. And, it is essential that Pennsylvanians express their strong support for this legislative proposal to insure public higher education affordability in the commonwealth.

Indiana University of Pennsylvania is an institution that takes great pride in its mission of providing access to first-generation college students and of offering them opportunities for success.

We take this charge very seriously. These young men and women are our future citizens and leaders. IUP is committed to providing the means to assist them. We will not permit economic circumstances to eliminate their opportunities for higher education.

The Tuition Relief Act, in tandem with our commitment to providing access to qualified students, is our opportunity to foster success for first-generation college students.

Governor Rendell’s proposal represents a timely and innovative solution to the ongoing concerns of access and affordability as they relate to higher education in the commonwealth.

The consequences of failing to support the Tuition Relief Act would be devastating. We need it to provide access and opportunity for people like IUP alumnus Dick Macedonia, who arrived at IUP with only two bags of clothing and became CEO of the world’s largest food service provider. Our nation and our world benefit when we make public higher education accessible and affordable to all citizens of the commonwealth, regardless of their financial status.

Following are excerpts from media coverage of the event:

Indiana University of Pennsylvania President Dr. Tony Atwater said beyond the financial crisis gripping the country, there is another crisis that will affect generations to come if it’s not fixed now. ‘It is a crisis of our college students and our potential students in terms of access, affordability and indebtedness of higher education,’ Atwater said. Atwater was one of 11 people to testify on the proposed Tuition Relief Act before the state House Gaming Oversight Committee during a public hearing Thursday at Westmoreland County Community College near Youngwood.

—“IUP President Commends Bill Applying
Gambling Revenue to Tuition Relief,”
Greensburg Tribune-Review, May 8, 2009

The presidents of Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Beaver County Community College testified about the positive impact the program would have, especially for low- to moderate-income students. Kathleen Shaw, state deputy secretary of postsecondary and higher education, touted the benefit of giving Pennsylvania a better-educated workforce without piling debt onto families.

—“Video Poker Merits Debated at Hearing,”
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 8, 2009

YOUNGWOOD, Pa. — On Thursday, a public hearing was held at Westmoreland County Community College as the debate regarding Gov. Ed Rendell’s plan to legalize video poker machines and use the tax revenue generated to fund college education revved up. It was the second of four hearings that will be held across the states by representatives gathering input on the issue. Indiana University of Pennsylvania President Dr. Tony Atwater welcomed the possible relief from gaming revenue, citing how some students are racking up debt and can no longer afford to go to class. ‘It is a crisis that deserves a solution and a solution now,’ said Atwater.

—WTAE-TV (Pittsburgh, Pa.), May 7, 2009

A public hearing on legalizing video poker machines to provide college students with tuition relief will be Thursday at Westmoreland County Community College. Scheduled to testify are representatives from the state departments of Revenue and Education, the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, the Pennsylvania Tavern Association, the Pennsylvania Amusement and Music Machine Association as well as Dr. Joe D. Forrester, president of Community College of Beaver County, and Dr. Tony Atwater, president of Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

—“Hearing at WCCC Will Focus on Legalizing Video Poker,”
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, May 6, 2009

See an Op-Ed written by Atwater in support of the Tuition Relief Act and distributed to regional media in April 2009.

I also encourage all members of the IUP community to attend the public meeting of the Council of Trustees on Friday, May 1, 2009, at 1:30 p.m. in Gorell Recital Hall, located on the second floor of Sutton Hall.

There are several items to be acted upon by the trustees: 

1. The review and approval of a new Master of Arts in Spanish program
2. A resolution honoring and in memory of Officer Stephen Mayhle, a 2002 graduate of IUP’s Criminology Department, and David L. Johnson, a 29-year alumnus, friend, and member of the IUP Council of Trustees
3. Resolutions honoring athletics

Resolutions honoring Distinguished Faculty in research, service, and teaching as well as resolutions of appreciation will be presented to Vice President for University Relations Robert Davies, student trustee Chad E. Buckwalter, and student Board of Governors representative Jessica E. Carson.

I hope that you will be able to join other university community members in attending this important meeting as your schedule permits.

Tony Atwater, Ph.D.
President 

The reception will be held Thursday, April 23, 2009, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. on the main floor of Stapleton Library (next to Java City). Published works and projects will be on display. I will give remarks at 1:30 p.m. 

Please join me in congratulating and recognizing our colleagues for their recent accomplishments as published authors, artists, journal editors, videographers, and composers.

Tony Atwater, Ph.D.
President

He is survived by his wife, Shandra; daughters Jennifer, 6, and Brooklynn, 3; his parents, of Indiana; and many members of his extended family. I have conveyed the deep sympathies of the IUP community to Mrs. Mayhle and her family.

A formal viewing for Officer Mayhle and his fallen comrades will be held Wednesday from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the City County Building in Pittsburgh, and a funeral service for the officers will be held Thursday at 1:00 p.m. in the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh.

Locally, friends will be received from noon to 9:00 p.m. Friday at the John A. Lefdahl Funeral Home, Indiana. A private funeral service for family only will be conducted Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home with public internment to follow in Oakland Cemetery in Indiana.

I know that you join me in remembering Officer Mayhle and his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Tony Atwater, Ph.D.
President

The Indiana County Coroner is working to determine the cause of death.

Obviously the death of any IUP student is tragic and difficult to bear for members of the IUP community. I am sure you join me in expressing concern and sympathy for Brenton’s friends and family.

The IUP Counseling Center provides walk-in crisis counseling to students on a daily basis. Students also may call the Counseling Center at 724-357-2621 to make an appointment or to speak to a counselor. A 24-hour crisis hotline is available at The Open Door, 724-465-2605.

Details regarding funeral arrangements and a memorial service will be shared at a later date.

Sincerely,

Tony Atwater, Ph.D.
President

Dr. Atwater will talk with Bill Otto, the program host, at 8:45 a.m. He will discuss recent events at the university, including the recent $1-million gift to the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex by Indiana businessman Ed Bratton; the KCAC contractor’s briefing; Elaine Light’s donation to the Fairman Centre in Punxsutawney; and upcoming events at IUP, including the Undergraduate Scholars Forum.

Several items to be acted upon by the trustees include the review and approval of a proposed Ph.D. degree in Safety Sciences, a resolution honoring athletic championships in women’s track and women’s basketball, and a resolution honoring the benefactor of the second individual one-million-dollar gift for the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex.

I hope that you will be able to join other university community members in attending this important meeting.

Tony Atwater

The gala will be hosted by IUP President Tony Atwater and his wife, Dr. Beverly Roberts-Atwater, at the Carnegie Museum Music Hall Foyer.

This black-tie event will feature cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and a silent auction beginning at 6 p.m. Dinner will be served at 7:30 p.m., with music and dancing at 9 p.m.

The program features the presentation of the Presidential Legacy Award for Civic Service to Bill Strickland, president and CEO, Manchester Bidwell Corporation and its subsidiaries, Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild and Bidwell Training Center; the Presidential Legacy Award for Alumni Distinction to Lynette Singel Horrell, a 1984 graduate of IUP, office managing partner, Ernst & Young, Pittsburgh office; and the Presidential Legacy Award for Philanthropy to George D. Zamias Sr. and Marianna Zamias, the founders of George D. Zamias Developer.

Pennsylvania Auditor General Jack Wagner, a 1974 graduate of IUP, will serve as master of ceremonies for the event.
For more information or to reserve a table or seat for the IUP Legacy Gala, call 724-357-2145 or send an e-mail to rsvp-events@iup.edu. Tickets are $175 per person (table purchases are encouraged).

Items being offered include dinners at well-known regional restaurants, stays at area resorts, a horseback tour of the Gettysburg battlefield, and an outdoor custom landscape and architectural lighting system.

Bids on these items may be made at the event or before the event on line at the Legacy Gala Silent Auction website starting March 16. All proceeds from the gala benefit the University Fund for Academic Excellence.

“While Allegheny County is not physically ‘home’ to IUP, we feel very at home in this community,” said Dr. Robert O. Davies, vice president of University Relations and executive director of the Foundation for IUP. “Almost 2,000 of our current student body of 14,200 and more than 13,000 of our 90,000 alumni not only make their homes in Allegheny County, but are community leaders.

"Last year’s premiere event raised close to $150,000, well past the stated goal of $100,000. The University Fund for Academic Excellence is used to enrich the student experience, assisting with costs for students to participate in academic, programmatic, and experiential opportunities that expand the classroom experience."

Funds are available to students for scholarships; travel and expenses related to conference presentations, research supplies, and equipment; classroom materials and equipment; and faculty professional development that translates directly to improvement of current academic programming.

In his current work, Presidential Legacy Award for Civic Service recipient Strickland recently completed the development of a new 40,000-square-foot production greenhouse, created for horticultural training; a 70,000-square-foot medical technology complex; and a 62,000-square-foot facility as a mortgage-free asset for both Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild and Bidwell Training Center. The facilities also serve as a demonstration site for Hewlett Packard and Steelcase products.
Strickland was born in Pittsburgh in 1947 and graduated from David B. Oliver High School in 1965. In 1969, he graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in American history and foreign relations from the University of Pittsburgh. He founded the Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild while still a student at the university.

Throughout his career, Strickland has been honored with awards for his contributions to the arts and the community. In 1999, he received the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Arts Leadership and Service Award. In 1998, he received the Kilby Award and Coming Up Taller Award, presented in a White House ceremony by first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.

In 1996, he received with the MacArthur Genius Award for leadership and integrity in the arts. Strickland was honored by Pittsburgh Magazine as the 2007 Pittsburgher of the Year and by Ernst & Young in 2007 as the Entrepreneur of the Year in Arts and Education.

He has served as chairman of the Expansion Arts Panel of the National Endowment for the Arts in Washington, D.C., and served a six-year presidential appointment as a council member. He has served on the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, a trustee at the Carnegie Museums, and as a consultant with the British American Arts Association in London.

In 2002, Strickland was sworn in as a member of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. He also serves as a consultant, grant evaluator, and mentor in the field of arts and arts education, community development, and workforce development training.

He is the author of the 2007 book Make the Impossible Possible, co-authored by Vince Rause.

Strickland, his wife, Rose, and two daughters, Julie and Olivia, live in Pittsburgh.

Presidential Legacy Award for Alumni Distinction winner Horrell has more than twenty-five years of experience with Ernst & Young. Horrell started her career with the firm as an intern in 1984.

Early in her career, she worked with large manufacturing clients and technology companies, traveling extensively to San Francisco and New York City. She was promoted to partner in 1999.

Horrell took on additional responsibility while serving as partner, including becoming the Pittsburgh office resource production manager in 2005. In this two-year role, she supported hiring, staffing, and people management for the assurance practice.

In 2007, she became the office managing partner of the Pittsburgh office, leading a team of 250 professionals, while serving as assurance cluster leader for Pittsburgh, Charleston, and upstate New York. She continues to serve in this capacity.

In this role, Horrell oversees the assurance practice, including retail, distribution and manufacturing, technology, communications and entertainment, and health care practices.

She has extensive Securities and Exchange Commission experience, serving as coordinating partner on multiple initial public offerings and public registrants during her career.

Horrell actively participates in her community, serving on the boards of the United Way, Pittsburgh Technology Council, and an advisory board of Robert Morris University.

Horrell, her husband, Jeff, and their three daughters, Brienna, Kaitlyn, and Taylor, reside in Gibsonia.

Presidential Legacy Award for Philanthropy recipients George D. Zamias Sr. and Marianna Zamias have been consistent supporters of IUP student-athletes through participation in the Corporate Crimson Club and the university’s priority needs through a challenge gift to the IUP Annual Fund. They have also supported IUP’s Eberly College of Business and Information Technology, the university’s annual homecoming celebration, and outreach efforts to new students.

The couple is responsible for the establishment of the Zamias Aquatic Center at the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown. They also established the Demos Zamagias Memorial Scholarship for student-athletes at UPJ.

One of the nation’s first shopping mall developers, George Zamias has been ranked as one of the top 100 developers in the nation. He founded George D. Zamias Developer in 1957, a sole proprietorship owned by George D. Zamias. Since that time, he has been actively engaged in the retail real estate business and has developed more than 30 million square feet of retail space.

George D. Zamias Developer and Zamias Services Inc. own and manage twenty-two open air centers in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia covering 4.4 million square feet. The companies own and manage six enclosed malls in Pennsylvania: Cranberry Mall, The Dubois Mall, The Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills, Indiana Mall, The Johnstown Galleria, and Warren Mall, and four other malls in Georgia, New York, Vermont, and West Virginia, totaling 5.4 million square feet.

The companies have six properties with more than 2.4 million square feet currently in development.

A 1953 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration, George Zamias also earned a Master of Letters degree in real estate and insurance in 1954. He began his career by teaching real estate and other related subjects at the University of Pittsburgh. He then worked as a real estate salesman for Penn Real Estate Company in Johnstown from 1953 to 1961, at which time he became a licensed real estate broker in Pennsylvania. He started George D. Zamias Real Estate Company in 1961.

He became engaged in the construction and development of shopping centers in 1962. In 1967, he established Zamias Construction Company Inc. as sole stockholder.

In 1996, Zamias Services Inc. was formed as the successor company to George D. Zamias Developer as the leasing and management arm to Zamias affiliated and third-party owned facilities.

George Zamias was recognized in April 2008 by Retail Traffic magazine as one of the top fifty owners and as one of the top fifty managers. He is an active member of the International Council of Shopping Centers.

He and his wife, the former Marianna Dallee, are the parents of four sons, three of whom are active in the companies. They make their home in Johnstown.

Master of ceremonies Wagner is a 1994 IUP Distinguished Alumni Award recipient.

Wagner, of Beechview, is in his second term of office as Pennsylvania’s fiftieth elected auditor general. He brings twenty-five years of public service to his role as the commonwealth’s independent fiscal watchdog.

Before he was elected auditor general, Wagner represented Allegheny County as a state senator. He served in the leadership of the Senate and as the Democratic chairman of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee. He also served on the Appropriations, Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness, Rules and Executive Nominations and Policy committees.

Wagner was a member of the Pittsburgh City Council for ten years, representing all city neighborhoods, and was Pittsburgh City Council’s president from 1990 to 1993.

After graduating from South Hills High School in Pittsburgh, Wagner was employed by Duquesne Light Company in various capacities and was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers for five years.

While employed by Duquesne Light Company, Wagner enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served from 1966 to 1968. Wagner received a Purple Heart and other military commendations while serving in the Vietnam War in 1967.

Following his military service, Wagner enrolled at IUP. While a student, he worked as a paramedic with Citizens’ Ambulance Service.

He serves on the boards of the Senator John Heinz History Center, the Obediah Cole Foundation for Prostate Cancer, the Veterans Leadership Program, the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Sharing and Caring Inc., and World War II Veterans of Allegheny County Memorial Fund Inc.

He is a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers, German American National Congress, Italian Sons and Daughters of America, Knights of Equity, Ancient Order of Hibernians, Lions Club, Elks Club, and Moose Club.

Wagner also belongs to the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Vietnam Veterans Institute, and Veterans Political Action Committee.

He received the Veteran of the Year award from the Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program and the Outstanding Legislator Award from the Pennsylvania Veterans of Foreign Wars. He also received the Clarion Young Democrats John Shropshire Award.

In the fall of 2008, Wagner was awarded a lifetime, honorary membership to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

Wagner is a member of St. Catherine of Siena Church in Beechview. He and his wife, Nancy, are the parents of Luke and Sara.

At the inaugural Legacy Gala in 2008, Atwater presented the Presidential Legacy Award for Alumni Distinction to Terry Dunlap, a 1981 IUP graduate and president of Allegheny Ludlum; the Presidential Legacy Award for Civic Service to Keenan Holmes, a 2003 IUP graduate and attorney based in Pittsburgh; and the Presidential Legacy Award for Philanthropy to the Fairman family, of Jefferson County.

Individuals must be nominated for the listing. The editors select honorees who are a “representative sampling of the people who fuel the engines of economic development in central Pennsylvania” and make “an impact on the organizations, businesses and quality of life here.”

Atwater was recognized for his leadership with the IUP Residential Revival project, a $270 million public-private partnership replacing all university-owned student housing facilities; his work to advance the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex project, a $53.4 million facility scheduled to open in 2011; his role in completing the $12 million renovation and completion of the $40 million Performing Arts Center; record enrollment; and IUP’s selection for inclusion in national guidebooks and publications.

Publication editors praised Atwater for “making a difference” and for helping IUP to “create a legacy of excellence in teaching, scholarship and student success.”

“It is gratifying personally to be selected by this prestigious publication for this listing, but more importantly, it recognizes the significant role that IUP plays not only in this community, but in the commonwealth,” Atwater said.

Pennsylvania Business Central, based in State College, is a biweekly business publication serving a sixteen-county region in central Pennsylvania.

The family will receive visitors Saturday, February 28, 2009, at the Hope United Methodist Church, 1108 Steel Road, Havertown, from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 11:00 a.m.

The Frank C. Videon Funeral Home in Broomall is in charge of arrangements. The family has asked that memorial donations be made to the Foundation for IUP.

In addition to his wife, Audrey, Mr. Johnson is survived by his son, Ward, and wife Elaine, of Bryn Mawr; his daughter, Lee, and husband Donald Faulconbridge, of Grove City; and four grandchildren.

Mr. Johnson died Sunday evening, February 22, 2009. He served on the Council of Trustees since January 1980 and was liaison to the Office of Public Policy of the Association of Governing Boards.

Tony Atwater, Ph.D.
President

Arrangements are incomplete at this time.

Johnson lived in Havertown with his wife, Audrey. He served on the Council of Trustees since January 1980 and was liaison to the Office of Public Policy of the Association of Governing Boards.

He held degrees from both IUP and New York University. He was vice president and corporate secretary of Pennsylvania Manufacturers Corporation in Philadelphia, retiring in July 1992 after thirty-eight years of service. He was a retired member of the board of directors of First Commonwealth Financial Corporation and NBOC Bank, Indiana.

“I know that you join me in offering our thoughts and prayers to Mr. Johnson’s family at this difficult time,” Atwater wrote in his message. Information about the funeral arrangements will be shared as it is confirmed.

This honor reflects the university’s demonstrated commitment to civic engagement, community service, and citizenship. This national recognition also demonstrates the significant involvement of IUP’s students and faculty members in community service and service learning activities throughout Indiana County and Western Pennsylvania.  Community service has a long and impressive history at IUP, and our university community is continuing that grand tradition.

Launched in 2006, the Community Service Honor Roll is the highest federal recognition a school can achieve for its commitment to service-learning and civic engagement. Honorees for the award were chosen based on a series of selection factors, including scope and innovation of service projects, percentage of student participation in service activities, incentives for service, and the extent to which the school offers academic service-learning courses.

Tony Atwater, Ph.D.
President

Obviously the death of any IUP student is tragic and difficult to bear for members of the IUP community. I am sure you join me in expressing concern and sympathy for Douglas’s friends and family.

The IUP Counseling Center provides walk-in crisis counseling to students on a daily basis. Students also may call the Counseling Center at 724-357-2621 to make an appointment or to speak to a counselor. A 24-hour crisis hotline is available at 724-465-2605.

A memorial service for Douglas will be scheduled at a later date.

Sincerely,

President Atwater

The National Science Teacher Education Association is a prestigious accrediting organization of National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, the professional accrediting organization for schools, colleges, and departments of education in the United States. All of IUP’s teacher education programs and eligible graduate programs are fully accredited by NCATE.

Please join me in congratulating Dean John Eck, Dean Mary Ann Rafoth, and all of the members of the accreditation teams, including Mr. Jeff Frantangeli, the IUP NCATE assessment coordinator, and the program coordinators who worked collectively on the accreditation report: Dr. Mike Briggs, Chemistry; Dr. Ken Coles, Geoscience; Dr. Stan Sobolewski, Physics; and Dr. Holly Travis, Biology.

This is another significant external validation of the quality of IUP programs and faculty, and an accomplishment in which we should take great pride.

Tony Atwater, Ph.D.
President 

While members of the facilities staff worked diligently throughout the night and morning to mitigate icy conditions on sidewalks and roads, it became evident by mid-morning that continuing inclement weather conditions posed a risk to allow safe travel on campus. The university cancelled all classes for the remainder of the day and evening, and that information has been communicated through all of the established communications procedures.

Please note that because we are a residential facility, we remain open to serve our students, and essential employees are expected to report to work. Employees from all shifts who elect not to report to work will be granted leave as appropriate.

Tony Atwater, Ph.D
President

This black-tie affair features dinner, dancing, a silent auction of memorabilia and luxury items, and the presentation of the Presidential Legacy Awards for Philanthropy, Civic Service, and Alumni Distinction.

The schedule is as follows:

• 6:00 p.m., Cocktails, Hors d'oeuvres, and Silent Auction
• 7:30, Dinner and Presentation of Presidential Legacy Awards
• 9:00, Music and Dancing

To be placed on the mailing list for this event, please call 724-357-2145 or send us e-mail: rsvp-events@iup.edu.

Join IUP President Tony Atwater and Dr. Beverly Roberts-Atwater for this celebratory evening. Proceeds benefit the University Fund for Academic Excellence; table purchases are encouraged.

Learn more about

• Sponsoring the Legacy Gala 
• Taking part in the silent auction of memorabilia and luxury items

Mr. DiStanislao will begin work in this new position on January 5, 2009, through a joint appointment to the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs. 

During the past four years, Mr. Distanislao has served as a member of the SYTEC SAP initiative at the PASSHE office. Mr. Distanislao previously served IUP for more than thirty years in positions including registrar and assistant dean of the Kittanning campus, IUP at Northpointe. In this new role at IUP, Mr. Distanislao will work directly to advance the retention and graduation of undergraduate students. Please join me in welcoming Mr. Distanislao as he returns to IUP.

Tony Atwater, Ph.D.
President 

Sincerely,

Tony Atwater, Ph.D., IUP President

Indiana Fire Department officials have ruled the cause of the fires as arson.

Several of the cars are believed to be owned by members of Sigma Chi fraternity. Appropriate support is being offered to students involved.

The university community condemns this unfortunate act of property destruction, and we are working with authorities to support the ongoing investigation.

I would encourage any member of the university community who has information about this incident to contact the Office of University Safety at 724-357-2141.

Tony Atwater

A reception will be held in the Blue Room of Sutton Hall following the ceremony.

All are welcome. Please come and enjoy the festivities and refreshments as we celebrate the holiday season with IUP and the Indiana community.

Tony Atwater 

The Council of Trustees is the principal governing body for this university. This meeting offers an opportunity for all IUP employees to learn more about actions taking place that impact all sectors of the university. I hope that you will attend as your schedules permit.

Tony Atwater

Mrs. Knoll, the state's first female lieutenant governor, passed away November 12. In observance of Mrs. Knoll's position and service to the commonwealth, Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell has ordered all U.S. and Pennsylvania flags at commonwealth facilities throughout the state to be flown at half-staff and remain at half-staff until Mrs. Knoll's interment next week.

Tony Atwater 

Applications are now being accepted for the student seat on the university’s Council of Trustees. Eligible candidates must have at least first-semester sophomore standing, must be in good academic standing, and must have an expected graduation date of no less than two years from the start of the appointment. Interested students are encouraged to attend the Council of Trustees meeting December 5 at 1:30 p.m. in Gorell Recital Hall, John Sutton Hall. Applications are available in the President’s Office, Sutton Hall, Room 201. Application deadline is 5:00 p.m. December 8, 2008.

Powers, Duties, and Responsibilities of the Student Trustee

Act 188 of Section 20-2009-A.—Powers and Duties of Councils of Trustees

1. In accordance with the rules and regulations adopted by the board, the council of each institution shall have the power and its duty shall be
2. To make recommendations to the chancellor for the appointment, retention, or dismissal of the president following consultation with students, faculty, and alumni
3. To assist the president in developing proper relations and understanding between the institution and its programs and the public, in order to serve the interests and needs of both
4. To review and approve the recommendations of the president as to standards for the admission, discipline, and expulsion of students
5. To review and approve the recommendations of the president pertaining to policies and procedures governing the use of institutional facilities and property
6. To approve schools and academic programs
7. To review and approve the recommendations of the president pertaining to annual operating and capital budget requirements for forwarding to the board
8. To review and approve charges for room and board and other fees except student activity fees
9. To conduct an annual physical inspection of facilities and make recommendations regarding maintenance and construction to the board
10. To review and approve all contracts and purchases negotiated or awarded by the president with or without competitive bidding and all contracts for consultative services entered by the president
11. To represent the institution at official functions of the commonwealth
12. To take such action as may be necessary to effectuate the powers and duties herein delegated
13. In accordance with the evaluation procedure established by the board, each council shall conduct an evaluation of the president and forward the results of that evaluation with recommendation to the chancellor for submission to the board.
14. By resolution adopted by the council to authorize campus police who have completed firearms training in accordance with 53 Pa.C.S. § 2167 (a) (relating to police training) to carry firearms in the course of duty for any institution whose campus police are authorized to carry firearms on the effective date of this paragraph, the authority to carry firearms shall remain in effect unless the council by resolution dissolves such authority.

IUP Addendum

• Chairs the search committee for the student trustee
• Appointed yearly by chair of the Council of Trustees to serve on trustee committees and other committees where appropriate
• Serves on the Student Congress Executive Board as ex-officio
• Attends quarterly meetings of the Council of Trustees
• Participated in commencement ceremonies and other official functions of the university

Please do not let inclement weather prevent you from attending what is sure to be a truly historic occasion. The site has been appropriately prepared to accommodate you comfortably. Free parking for the KCAC groundbreaking will be available in the parking lot of the former BiLo store along Wayne Avenue.

Trolley service to the ceremony also will be available from several campus locations between 9:15 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.

Pick up points will include the following:

• Memorial Field House main entrance
• Parking lot in front of Clark Hall
• Sutton Hall at the circle along South Drive
• Cul-de-sac between the HUB entrance and Whitmyre Hall
• Folger Hall and Crimson Event Center along Pratt Drive
• Robertshaw Building front entrance

The trolley will complete this loop several times between 9:15 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Return service will be provided immediately following the ceremony, from 11:00 a.m. until 12:15 p.m.

Tony Atwater, Ph.D.

Traditional Christmas carols will be performed by campus and community groups. A Blue Room reception will include seasonal treats and the opportunity to vote in the annual Christmas tree decoration competition. The event, which entails voting by donation, benefits a local organization and an IUP scholarship fund.

This event starts at 10:00 a.m. with a groundbreaking celebration on the construction site along Wayne Avenue, adjacent to the university. A reception will follow. Through the combined efforts of Indiana University of Pennsylvania and federal, state, county, and local officials and organizations, the complex is becoming a reality. November 13 will truly be an extraordinary day for the Indiana and IUP communities.

When completed in the spring of 2011, the $41-million Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex will comprise 150,000 square feet on six and one-half acres along Wayne Avenue, adjacent to the university. The complex will include an arena/convention facility that will accommodate large events, including Commencement; sporting events; concerts and other cultural gatherings; conferences; and trade shows. An estimated 111,000 patrons are expected to attend more than 120 events at the complex each year. Nearly 5,000 of these patrons are projected to be high-impact/overnight visitors.

I hope that you will be able to join us on November 13.

Tony Atwater

IUP freshman Sutan Aquil Nafis Magruder was selected as the second recipient of the Dr. Tony Atwater and Dr. Beverly Roberts-Atwater Presidential Scholarship. Tony Atwater is president of IUP.

Magruder, son of Michael and Kimberly Dzikowski, Lafayette Parkway, Williamsport, is a 2008 graduate of Loyalsock Township High School. He is a psychology major at IUP and a member of the IUP Marching Band.

The scholarship, established by the Atwaters, is designed to recognize and support outstanding high school graduates who are first-generation college students. The scholarship also honors students who demonstrate leadership qualities and who contribute to their communities.

Magruder received the scholarship at the annual IUP Homecoming Ball on Oct. 4.

Dr. Atwater is expected to discuss the upcoming Homecoming festivities; recent and upcoming ceremonies marking construction achievements—including ribbon-cuttings for the Performing Arts Center and Phase II of the Residential Revival student housing project, as well as the groundbreaking for the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex; and the awarding of the Presidential Scholarship, which he and wife Beverly Roberts-Atwater sponsor.

The meeting will include action on resolutions for naming areas and recognition of the two students who completed a “Tour for the Cure” fundraising event for the American Cancer Society.

The Council of Trustees is the principal governing body for this university. This meeting offers an opportunity for all IUP employees to learn more about actions taking place that impact all sectors of the university. I hope that you will attend as your schedules permit.

The University Performing Arts Center project reflects a $12 million investment devoted to a significant renovation and a 20,000 square-foot addition linking Fisher Auditorium and Waller Hall. The project also includes a grand atrium lobby. This center will serve as a stronger resource for local economic development, enhancing cultural life in our region.

I hope that your schedules permit your attendance for this gala evening. If you can attend, please RSVP to the Office of University Events at 724-357-2145 or by e-mail at rsvp-events@iup.edu.

The campus community is invited to attend the September 11 Remembrance program on Thursday, September 11 at 8:30 a.m. in the Oak Grove at the World Trade Center relic located between Stapleton Library and Sutton Hall.

IUP lost three alumni in the destruction of the World Trade Center: William Moskal ’79, Donald Jones ’80, and William Sugra ’93.

Learn more about the relic.

The intent of the message is for Chancellor Cavanaugh to introduce himself to students, faculty, and staff and wish everyone well as the new academic year begins.

To view the video, go to the PASSHE website.

President Tony Atwater’s State of the University Address is now available online.

Atwater made his annual address on August 21, 2008. It was the first event to take place in the newly renovated Fisher Auditorium.

The complete text of the speech is available, as is an audio version that can be listened to with the Windows Media Player.

The State of the University Address takes place Thursday, August 21, at 9:00 a.m. in Fisher Auditorium. At this event, President Tony Atwater will review last year’s accomplishments and set the tone for the new academic year.

The Freshman Convocation also takes place in Fisher Auditorium. It provides a significant start for members of the Class of 2012, comparable to the way students end their college careers. Faculty and staff members are invited to help them mark the beginning of their IUP career, help to set the tone for the next four years, and encourage them to be involved in their campus community. The convocation takes place Sunday, August 24, at 5:30 p.m. in Fisher Auditorium. A celebration in the Oak Grove follows the program.

In cooperation with IUP, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board has produced a DVD called Be Vocal, Be Visible, Be Visionary.

The DVD is based on a booklet of the same name and that was designed for college and university presidents to demonstrate how they can and should be a force in reducing and eliminating dangerous and underage use of alcohol. A copy of the thirteen-minute video was sent to all college and university presidents in Pennsylvania. The video features a discussion between PLCB Chairman P.J. Stapleton and IUP President Tony Atwater.

You can view the video on the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board’s website.

Held at the Carnegie Museum Music Hall, the gala was a fundraising initiative to benefit the University Fund for Academic Excellence. It raised close to $150,000, well past the stated goal of $100,000.

“The University Fund for Academic Excellence is used to enrich the student experience, assisting with costs for students to participate in academic, programmatic and experiential expenses that provide direct benefit to current IUP students and expand the opportunities students can have beyond the classroom,” said Dr. Robert O. Davies, vice president for University Relations at IUP and executive director of the Foundation for IUP.

Funds are available to students for scholarships, travel and expenses related to conference presentations and research supplies and equipment, classroom materials and equipment, and faculty professional development aimed at improving academic programming.

Funding is also available for on-campus speakers and student participation in cultural, recreational and academic events away from IUP.

During the gala, Dr. Tony Atwater, IUP president, presented the Presidential Legacy Award for Alumni Distinction to Terry Dunlap, 1981 IUP graduate and president of Allegheny Ludlum; the Presidential Legacy Award for Civic Service to Keenan Holmes, 2003 IUP graduate and former attorney at Law for Eckert Seamans Cherin and Mellott, LLC, Pittsburgh; and the Presidential Legacy Award for Philanthropy to the Fairman family, of Jefferson County.

“We were gratified to celebrate our recipients of the Presidential Legacy Awards at the IUP Legacy Gala in conjunction with enjoying IUP’s continued success and achievement as a national university that makes this region its home,” Davies said.

The evening included a silent auction with donated items valued at close to $50,000.

Items won by bidders included a tour of YouTube and dinner with YouTube founder Chad Hurley, a 1999 IUP graduate; a Disney Package; advertising on Comcast Cable; Steelers and Penguins packages; an Atlantic City trip; golf packages at Oakmont, Totteridge and Laurel Valley; and a private tour of the Andy Warhol Museum plus golf at the Aronimink Golf Club. People could bid on the items in advance of the event on the IUP website.

“It is very gratifying to have such an incredible response to both the Legacy Gala and the auction,” Davies said. “This certainly speaks to the generosity of our alumni and friends, and the commitment they feel to helping IUP students achieve beyond expectations. 

“We also appreciate the support of First Commonwealth as our presenting sponsor, and the overwhelming support of the auction donors and Legacy Gala sponsors and attendees.”

Photos, from top:

Dr. Tony Atwater, IUP president, right, with Terry Dunlap, winner of the Presidential Legacy Award for Alumni Distinction.

Atwater, left, with Keenan Holmes, recipient of the Presidential Legacy Award for Civic Service.

Atwater with Beverly Fairman, center, and Joyce Fairman. The Fairman family, of Jefferson County, was honored with the Presidential Legacy Award for Philanthropy.

I hope you can join me for this event to help us celebrate this important initiative.

Tony Atwater, Ph.D.
President
 

The Council of Trustees is the principal governing body for this university. This meeting offers an opportunity for all IUP employees to learn more about administrative action taking place that impacts all sectors of the university. Please attend as your schedules permit.

WDAD’s Bill Otto interviewed IUP President Tony Atwater on the March 20, 2008 edition of Indiana in the Morning. Listen to their discussion of the Crimson Hawks women’s basketball team; IUP student successes in the National Art Education Association and in the Pennsylvania Black Conference on Higher Education Scholarship competition; campus construction and Susan Delaney Hall; awarding the President’s Medal of Distinction to Rodney and Ellen Ruddock; the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex and its associated hotel; and the upcoming Undergraduate Scholars Forum.

In addition, the Interfaith Council will offer a time for meditation and support. More details on this program will be released as details are finalized

As president, I strongly encourage you to register for Reverse 911, IUP’s emergency alert system. Log onto URSA and update your emergency contact information. Reverse 911 allows IUP to immediately alert you of important safety issues on campus. This technology improves communication to the university community at critical times. Please know that your personal safety is among the university’s highest priorities. Help us help you have optimal safety on campus. Learn more about Reverse 911 and the university’s Emergency Plan.

Thanks for your cooperation on this matter.

Sincerely,

Tony Atwater, Ph.D.
President

Dr. West will present a lecture titled “To Your Health.”  He is the author of the bestselling Race Matters and Democracy Matters.  A graduate of Harvard, Dr. West has published a total of 17 books and edited 13 texts. He was involved in the development of the storyline for the popular Matrix film trilogy.  He also serves as spokesperson for the series and has had recurring roles in the final two volumes.

I hope that your schedules permit you to attend this special university program.

The VSA stems from a partnership between the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC).  The purpose of the VSA project is to:

1. Provide consistent, comparable, and transparent information on the undergraduate student experience to key higher education stakeholders, including prospective students and their families, public policy-makers, legislators and campus faculty and staff,
2. Improve public understanding of how public colleges and universities operate, and
3. Affirm the significance of the many diverse missions of U.S. higher education.

The VSA includes a “College Portrait” which is a five-page document organized by:

1. Student and Family Information
2. Student Experiences and Perceptions [National Survey of Student Engagement]
3. Student Learning Outcomes [Collegiate Learning Assessment]

The IUP College Portrait will be available and accessible through our web in April.  If you would like further information please visit the Voluntary System of Accountability website. 
 
Sincerely,
Tony Atwater