Provost's Post

WCU HOSTS REGISTRATION RALLY ON NOVEMBER 4

WCU will host its fall Registration Rally TODAY, November 4.  The goal of the Registration Rally is to connect students with resources to register for the Spring semester, whether it be to connect with their Student Success Coordinator or Faculty Advisor, gain support for using RamPortal for registration, or connecting with offices who can support their success at WCU.    The event also offers students the opportunity to connect with resources to set themselves up for continued success in the spring semester, including help navigating the new RamPortal.

The event is open to all  undergraduate students and registration is invited but not required.  In coordination with the Academic Success & Advocacy Center (ASA), faculty are also encouraged to be present to assist their students in registration.  Additionally, other groups have been invited to participate in doing tabling including ASA, faculty advisors, the Bursar's Office, Financial Aid, the Registrar, Student Conduct, Success Coaching, and other resource offices with whom students need to connect.  

Students can register via RamConnect. 

WCU Celebrates International Education Week 2024

West Chester University joins various colleges, universities, embassies, and community organizations around the world to celebrate International Educational Week (IEW). This year, International Education Week at WCU will be commemorated from November 18-22, 2024.

The Global Engagement Office encourages faculty, staff, and students from all academic and administrative units - from all races, ethnicities and nationalities - to host any type of event or program that celebrates global education inside and outside the classroom. 

International education advances cultural understanding and the protection of cultural heritage while also preparing individuals to work in a global society. This joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education is part of our efforts to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences.

To learn more about International Education Week visit: IEW.State.gov.

IEW events include:

• Information sessions
• Movies Nights
• Open House
• Lectures
• Game Nights

November is National Career Development Month!

There are various ways to celebrate Career Development Month. It can be as simple as asking a student you know if they've thought about their future and if they need a little advice or guidance.  Or, if can be something more structured.  For example...

• Assigning a 15-minute D2L module that gives an introduction to career readiness and the services offered by the Career Center.
• Utilizing the Career Center's pre-packaged assignments, like building or updating a resume, completing an online mock interview, or conducting an informational interview with an alum.
• Encouraging students to visit the Career Center in Lawrence 225 to shop the Career Closet (free professional clothing!) or take a professional photo in the Iris Photo Booth.

If you'd like to utilize the D2L module or career assignments, or would like to schedule a time when your class is visiting the Career Center, email us at cdc@wcupa.edu.

Moon Shot Week Celebrates Mission Accomplishments

WCU celebrated Moon Shot Week, a celebration of the significant accomplishments that have been made for our students in terms of closing equity gaps.  A Mission Update was shared with faculty and staff about the work that has been done by the various committees in the areas of hold reform, retention and micro-grants, developmental courses, transfer and math pathways, and proactive advising using technology.  The following people were recognized as Moon Shot Mission Makers for their notable contributions to promoting equity in student success at West Chester University. 

Congratulations to our Fall 2024 Moon Shot Mission Makers:

• Brian Bowen
• Chris Brenner
• Meg Hazel
• Nilima Inamdar
• Allison Kolpas
• Jen Long
• Lisa Montgomery
• Thom Nixon
• Michael Ogoe
• Ilknur Sancak-Marusa
• JT Singh
• Brenda Small 

GET MOON SHOT STATUS UPDATES HERE

WCU Recognizes Cybersecurity Awareness Month

As part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, IS&T ran a weekly campaign throughout October to provide the campus community with essential tools for safe technology use. The campaign focused on  Phishing, Digital Identity, Strong Passwords, and Data Protection, emphasizing the importance of staying alert to phishing and smishing attacks. Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility across our institution, and practices like reusing weak passwords, approving unexpected multi-factor authentication (MFA) requests, and falling for phishing or social engineering attempts put both your digital identity at risk, and can potentially lead to significant personal and organizational impacts. 

Phishing and smishing remain the most common and effective type of cyberattack. Cybercriminals use phishing and smishing to scam individuals into revealing sensitive information by posing as trusted brands or organizations. Through deceptive emails or fake websites, they gain access to compromised accounts, which can lead to data theft or ransomware attacks.  To protect against such attacks:

• Be Skeptical of Unexpected Requests - You should be skeptical of unexpected requests for personal information, credentials, or money. Verify the legitimacy of the request through alternate means, such as contacting the sender directly via a known phone number.
• Check Links and Attachments - Hover over links to preview the actual URL before clicking and to avoid opening email attachments from unknown or suspicious sources. Attachments can be carriers of malware or malicious code.
• Verify Email Sender - Always check the email sender's address for inconsistencies or deviations from the official domain (wcupa.edu for our organization). Cybercriminals may use similar-looking email addresses to impersonate legitimate senders.
• Beware of Emotional Manipulation - Cybercriminals often use emotional manipulation tactics, such as urgency ("Act now!") or fear ("Your account will be locked!"), to trick users into taking immediate action.
• Verify “Indicators of Trust” - We should always verify emails, especially messages purporting to come from friends and colleagues, contain or address the above-outlined Indicators of Trust. 

To report a phish, go to https://wcupaprod.service-now.com/sp?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0011256 

IS&T launched mandatory Cybersecurity Awareness training for all employees and students. Employees will complete the training through the KnowBe4 platform, while students will access it via a module in D2L with content from LinkedIn Learning. Training must be completed by December 6, 2024.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS

U.S. Presidential Election Poll Conducted by WCU Statistics Professor & Statistic Students Indicates College Students Have Enthusiastic Voting Intentions

(courtesy of WCU's Communications & Marketing Department)

PA college voter turnout for the 2024 U.S. presidential election is predicted to be historic in one of the most highly contested battleground states, and students’ votes could help define the outcome of one of the most contentious elections ever. West Chester University Assistant Professor of Statistics Laura Pyott and the statistics students in her “Statistical Methods for Political Polling” class decided to, once again, poll a random sample of students attending public higher education institutions in Pennsylvania. The students’ voting intentions for the 2024 U.S. presidential election are particularly compelling.

A Qualtrics survey was emailed to a random sample of more than 20,000 students who are at least 18 years old, are permanent residents of Pennsylvania, and attend one of the public higher education institutions. For the first time, all 10 schools opted to participate in an election poll; a total of 1,048 college students responded. 

According to the 2024 Ram Poll, college students are enthusiastic about the 2024 U.S. presidential election with nearly 95% stating they will probably or certainly vote, or that they have already voted; students who responded hail from 64 of 67 PA counties. This is the highest enthusiasm metric the Ram Poll has ever seen (89% in 2022 and 86% in 2020). Of the undergraduate students polled, 66% say they will vote in person, while 84% will vote at their home address.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ELECTION POLL

Small Business, Big Impact: Women’s Entrepreneurship Conference Highlights Empowerment Through Collaboration

(Story courtesy of WCU Communications & Marketing)

During National Women’s Small Business Month this October, West Chester University’s Cottrell Entrepreneurial Center and SCORE of Chester and Delaware Counties, in partnership with the Chamber Alliance of Chester County, celebrated the important contributions and achievements of women-owned small businesses and entrepreneurs with the WCU Women’s Entrepreneurship Conference, presented by Citadel Credit Union. 

This year's keynote speaker was Gina Schaeffer, co-founder and former CEO of Logan Hardware  (Ace Hardware chain) and author of Recovery Hardware. The closing speaker was Cherri Gregg, WHYY-FM news anchor, lawyer, and entrepreneur.

Themed “Empowerment Through Collaboration: Creating Space for Women Everywhere,” the conference provides an opportunity to make new connections and explore the endless possibilities that come with being an entrepreneur. While the programming is oriented toward women in business, all genders are welcome. This year marks the 11th anniversary of the conference.

Watch 6ABC Coverage of Women's Entrepreneur Conference

WCU Dance Company Presents Re:Awakening Dance Concert on November 8 – 9

(Story courtesy of WCU Communications & Marketing)

West Chester University’s (WCU) Department of Theatre & Dance and the University Dance Company (UDC) present the fall dance concert RE:AWAKENING on Friday, November 8, at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, November 9, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., in the Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre, Swope Music Building and Performing Arts Center, 817 S. High Street, West Chester. General admission tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for all students, faculty, staff, and Seniors, and are available at the door or www.wcupatix.com.

Under the direction of faculty director and Department Chair Gretchen Studlien-Webb, RE:AWAKENING features the choreography of three guest artists, all of whom have ties to the now-closed University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA: Lydia Ciaffone, Jillian Glace, and Albert Quesada. Nine WCU student choreographers also contribute work including Brooke Beheran, Teagan Bittner, Emily Gulligan, Jordan Groeber, Courtney Parker, Hailey Summel, Emily Spatz, Brenna Walukonis, and Laura Whitaker.

RE:AWAKENING casts 73 dancers from WCU’s University Dance Company in 12 pieces. Most of the works are Modern, Jazz, and Contemporary.

Studlien-Webb says, “Our hearts were broken when the sudden closing of the University of the Arts was announced last summer. West Chester University opened its doors to U. Arts students by transferring credits and scholarships for those affected. WCU’s University Dance Company dedicates this performance to those affected by utilizing choreography from former U. Arts students and choreographers. We know audiences will find it both energetic and entertaining.”

PURCHASE TICKETS

WCU Earns Fifth HEED Award for Excellence in Advancing DEI

(Story courtesy of WCU Communications & Marketing)

For the fifth consecutive year, West Chester University has received the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from Insight Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. This national honor recognizes U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion.

“The HEED Award demonstrates engagement in a wide array of best practices, in addition to innovation and a collective commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This award is all about what we do, not just what we say,” said Tracey Robinson, WCU Vice President for the Division for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. “We are so proud to receive this national recognition for the fifth time. Diversity is broadly defined and this award recognizes how the University serves all students.”

West Chester was recognized for these diversity and inclusion efforts:

The COMPASS (Commitment to the Objective of Mentoring Perseverance, Achievement, Sustainability, and Success) Program, which had an 87% student retention rate.
The 50th Anniversary of the Gordon Natural Area, which featured new signage throughout that was translated into the Lenape language followed by the English language. In part, this was a partnership with the Delaware Tribe of Indians.

The expansion of services and outreach to pregnant and parenting students.

The Moon Shot for Equity Initiative to close equity gaps through strategic efforts to eliminate barriers such as hold reform, proactive advising with technology, transfer pathways, and more.
“The HEED Award process consists of a comprehensive and rigorous application that includes questions relating to the recruitment and retention of students and employees — and best practices for both — leadership support for diversity, campus culture and climate, supplier diversity, and many other aspects of campus diversity and inclusion,” said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of Insight Into Diversity. “We take a detailed approach to reviewing each application in deciding who will be named a HEED Award recipient. Our standards are high, and we look for institutions where diversity and inclusion are woven into the work being done every day across their campus.”

As a recipient of the annual HEED Award, West Chester will be featured, along with 113 other recipients, in the November/December 2024 issue of Insight Into Diversity magazine.

Insight Into Diversity magazine is the leader in advancing best practices in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in higher education. Since its inception in 2012, the HEED Award has been the only national honor to recognize institutions of higher education for their outstanding commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

LIST OF 2024 HEED AWARD INSTITUTIONS

Fifth Annual Frederick Douglass Institute Lecture

(Courtesy of WCU's Communications & Marketing Department)

On October 10, educator, minister, and social justice advocate Dr. Kyle J. Boyer delivered the Fifth Annual Dr. Clifford E. DeBaptiste Frederick Douglass Institute Lecture on the topic of “America’s Alternative: Embracing the Prophetic Possibilities of Frederick Douglass.”  The Frederick Douglass Institute hosts the Annual DeBaptiste-Douglass Lecture Series as a tribute to Frederick Douglass, the great abolitionist, orator, and statesman. This annual lecture examines issues of social justice to improve the present by learning from the past. It serves to commemorate the abolitionist’s last public lecture on WCU’s campus. It is made possible through the generous gift of Dr. Clifford DeBaptiste, the first African American mayor of West Chester Borough and a recognized champion of education.

Dr. Boyer became pastor of the Mount Carmel Church of God in Christ in West Chester in 2023. A native of Chester County, he received his spiritual development and foundation at Mount Carmel and began his preaching ministry in 2006.  He holds degrees from George Washington University, the University of Pennsylvania, and United Lutheran Seminary. Following his undergraduate studies, he continued serving faithfully at Mt. Carmel, engaging in youth ministry at the local, district, and regional levels. In 2012, he was ordained as an elder in the Church of God in Christ by Bishop Benjamin J. Ravenel. In addition, he has served as the vice president of the West Chester Ministerial Alliance and is currently a member of the Main Line Black Interdenominational Minister’s Alliance.

He is the author of two books: Reflections for the Call: A Devotional for Young Preachers and The Prince, the Priests & the Prophets: The Need for Prophetic Leadership in America.

Dr. Boyer has taught at the middle and high school levels and has also worked as a secondary administrator. He previously served as an elected member of the Tredyffrin/Easttown Board of School Directors. He also served one term as president at the West Chester, PA, branch of the NAACP and has served on numerous community boards.

Upcoming Opportunities from the Teaching and Learning Center

Interested in transforming your teaching practice through reflective practice? Consider participating in these opportunities offered by the Teaching and Learning Center (TLC) in Spring 2025. Whether you are a seasoned professor or new to teaching, these opportunities can help you to refine your instructional methods and better serve our diverse student population. If you would like more information about these and other opportunities available through the TLC, contact the TLC at tlc@wcupa.edu.

Teaching Triangles
The Teaching Triangles Program involves three faculty members in a triad who agree to visit each other’s classes over the semester and meet to discuss what they have learned about their teaching practices from the observations. Modeled after a program developed by Anne Wessely of St. Louis Community College, the focus is on self-reflection rather than peer evaluation, critique, or providing feedback or advice about teaching. Partners observe each other to gather ideas on different teaching approaches that might be used in their own classes. Participants learn from each other’s teaching practices in a respectful and supportive environment. This opportunity is open to all West Chester University faculty (including adjunct professors); selection is based on teaching schedules. 

Student-Faculty Teaching Collaborations
The Student-Faculty Teaching Collaborations program pairs two students with a WCU faculty member for a semester-long collaboration. This is an opportunity for the students to help faculty and the institution better understand their experiences and leverage that insight to improve teaching practices. The program is designed to help faculty gain insight and perspective on teaching and learning from students' perspectives. Through this collaboration, faculty gain valuable real-time insights into the student experience through this unique partnership while strengthening their teaching practices. The program has been running at WCU since Spring 2024. Past faculty participants report that the program helped them:

·         Gain fresh perspectives by "stepping out of their professor mindset."

·         Receive diverse, continuous feedback throughout the semester.

·         Revitalize their passion for teaching.

·         Build greater confidence in their pedagogical approaches.

Student collaborators have shared that they learned about the unknown side of being a professor and appreciated seeing how their feedback translates into tangible improvements for their faculty's teaching.

This opportunity is open to all faculty members (including adjunct professors) at any stage of their careers who wish to enhance their teaching skills. Only courses that are not fully online, lab courses, practicum courses, collaboratively taught courses, or grad courses will be considered for the program. 

Two WCU Biologists Named to New Online Directory Recognizing Contributions of Hispanic and Latinx Scientists

(Story courtesy of WCU Communications & Marketing)

Dr. Oné R. Pagán and Dr. Manuela Ramalho, both WCU biology faculty, have been named to the Atlas of Inspiring Hispanic/Latinx Scientists, a grassroots effort developed to showcase the expertise, talents, and diversity of Hispanic and Latinx scientific faculty in the United States. The atlas was created as a space to build community and create mentorship opportunities.

In his native Puerto Rico, Dr. Oné Pagán earned a bachelor’s degree in natural sciences and a master’s degree in biochemistry. He was a non-traditional student in his late 30s with a family to support when he came to the United States to earn his doctorate in pharmacology at Cornell University.

A cell and molecular biologist from Brazil, Dr. Manuela Ramalho studied at UNESP – Rio Claro and is broadly trained in host-microbe interactions at the genomic, cellular, organismal, and ecological levels. Her research focuses on understanding the mechanisms that impact microbial communities, unraveling the role of ecology, diet, behavior, stage of development, and also phylogeny of the host in these symbiotic interactions. To better understand these mechanisms, she uses ants as a study model. In several ant genera, symbiotic interactions with microbial communities have been shown to have profound impacts on the host.

In addition to focusing on studying the microbiome of ants, Ramalho also advocates for a more diverse and inclusive scientific community. In her Ramalho Lab, a diverse group of scientists with different backgrounds conduct quality science with a commitment to promoting diversity supported by Dr. Ramalho’s experiences as a first-generation college student, a Latina woman in STEM, a parent in science, and an immigrant. Visit Dr. Ramalho’s lab here.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DR. PAGAN AND DR. RAMALHO

Advance Registration Process For Sykes Student Union Now Available

After a successful inaugural year, Sykes Student Union is pleased to begin the 2024-2025 Advance Reservation process. Please review some of the FAQs in the link below and note the tentative timeline.

Advance Reservation is the process that Sykes Union and Student Activities implemented in 2022 to assist student organizations and university departments with reserving space within Sykes Student Union for future events.

Advance Registration   Submit an Advance Reservation Request

How to Submit Your Event to Online Campus Calendar

The WCU Calendar is populated by events submitted in 25Live, WCU's room reservation and calendaring program. Faculty/Staff may submit events to the calendar by selecting "WCU Featured Events Calendar" in the "Resources" section of the 25Live Event Form.

WCU Event Calendar   How to Submit your event to wcu calendar

Professional Headshots Available via Iris Photo Booth at Twardowski Career Development Center

Students, Faculty, and Staff now have access to the Iris Booth, a free professional photo booth located in the

Career Development Center (Lawrence 225).

Students, Faculty, and Staff can stop by anytime Monday through Friday between 8:30am and 4pm to get a photo taken, no appointment needed.

FAST Schedule & Offerings

Check out what IS&T has on tap for the semester! The Faculty and Staff Training (FAST) unit supports WCU faculty and staff in becoming proficient in various applications, in addition to providing best practices in trending platforms (e.g., OneDrive, D2L, RamCloud). Courses are designed to accommodate all levels of learning and allow users to build on acquired skills. Click below for the full schedule or take self-paced options.

FAST Schedule

Want to learn more about Navigate?

Visit our webpage. You’ll find an overview, information about Progress Reports, and our training site.

You can also check out the FAST training site and search “navigate” to final all of the Navigate-specific offerings. Here's a quick guide to the offerings.

Navigate Home page

FREE LinkedIn Learning Content Available to WCU Faculty, Staff and Students

LinkedIn Learning with Lynda.com content is an industry leader in online training, with a digital library of over 180,000 videos, covering a wide range of technical, business, software, and creative topics. West Chester University faculty, staff and currently enrolled students have unlimited access.

Access LinkedIn Learning