Winter 2011 - Pitt-Johnstown Home Page - University of Pittsburgh

accomplishments are many and varied, too many to include here. What follows is just a smallsample of various academic activities.More than 300 students from 13 area schools converged on campus for the fourth annualSTEM Professions Day. Among the speakers was Pitt-Johnstown alumni and 2010Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching recipient BeckyPiscitella '99. Scholarships were presented to Victoria Maher, a senior at ConemaughTownship High School who plans to major in secondary education mathematics, andBrosnan McCray, a senior at Conemaugh Valley Junior-Senior High School who intends tofollow the pre-pharmacy curriculum.Members of the Pitt-Johnstown faculty also took part in the event by leading discussionsabout opportunities in the areas of computer science, engineering, mathematics, andphysics. Pitt-Johnstown’s instructor of physics David Willey, who has been featured on theNational Geographic Channel and was a regular guest on "The Tonight Show with JayLeno," conducted an interactive physics demonstration entitled "How Does a Thing LikeThat Work?". Additional presenters included Dr. James Bilitski, associate professor ofcomputer science; Amy Miller, associate professor of mechanical engineering technology;Frank Smigla, assistant professor of computer science; and Joseph Wilson, instructor ofmathematics.Stephen Lindberg is now serving as the eastern section president for the NationalAssociation of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT). Paul Washington is the founding co-editor ofNortheastern Geoscience, a new journal of regional geology to replace the recently defunctNortheastern Geology & Environmental Science.Amy Miller (MET), Andy Rose (CET), and ET students Kelsey Jones, Rachel Lasko, andAbigail Sedlmeyer participated in the AAUW Johnstown Branch's "Girls Tech Over" onNovember 5, 2011 at Penn Highlands Community College. The day's activities wereintended to encourage local girls to become interested in Science, Technology, Engineeringand Mathematics (STEM) and explore career options in STEM fields. The AAUW worked inconjunction with the Girl Scouts of Western Pennsylvania and numerous guest speakersfrom local universities and industries. Amy Miller prepared a presentation on "What isEngineering?" and included hands-on demonstrations of wind and solar power, magneticlevitation and other engineering concepts. Andy Rose prepared a presentation on "Bridgesand Structures" in which the girls built a 6-ft-long truss bridge that they could actually cross.Professors Rose and Miller were assisted by the ET students who are members of Pitt-Johnstown's chapter of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE).Brian Houston and 25 CET students participated in Richland Science Night on November17. Approximately 120 elementary students participated in a robotics-themed eveningsponsored by the Carnegie Science Center.4

Engineering Technology students in the MET Senior Projects course have engaged in anumber of very interesting collaborations with regional industries. Phillip DeIvernois,Cameron Hale, and Ryan McCullough worked with Johnstown Wire Technologies todesign a mechanical stop system that will prevent sections of the wire spools from falling offthe cradle arm during an automated cleaning process. Jeremy Barton, Joshua Fay, and ErikSmith worked with The Cenveo Envelope Factory in Williamsburg, Pa. on a project tocapture the heat they are producing from actual manufacturing and use it as a booster to theexisting HVAC system in the offices. The heat generated from the machines would allow theboiler to run at less than maximum capacity, saving both money and fuel. Tyler Hill, ScottSchnur, and Zachary Todaro partnered with Gautier Steel LTD to design a forgingmanipulator, an attachment on the front of a fork lift-type vehicle, which, in this case wouldhave to be capable of swiveling 180 degrees. Brian Meyers, Jr., and Amber Neilan workedwith North American Hoganas, located in Hollsopple, Pa. In the manufacturing process,ladles are used to transfer molten metal to different locations in the plant, and the students’project was to make the ladle pre-heating process more efficient in order to reduce operatingcosts.CET seniors Anthony Carmassi, Kyla Hiner, Jim Kephart and Jeff Najjar recently completeda senior project on the Johnstown Amtrak Train Station Redesign. Working with RichardBurkert of the Johnstown Area Heritage Association (JAHA), the students were able to gainaccess to the site, survey the property and develop a conceptual redesign for the trainstation. Richard Burkert noted that the aspects of the senior project related to storm waterrunoff and site drainage are expected to be useful to JAHA as they look toward futureredevelopment and use of this historic facility.James Domain, an EET senior, is working on a senior project to support power system studyfor a mine.The physics department hosted the regional meeting of the American Association of thePhysics Teachers at Pitt-Johnstown on October 22. The Keynote speaker was Priscilla Lawsof Dickinson College, who is internationally recognized for her wide-reaching contributionsto Physics Education. This event was organized by Beta Keramati.The Education Division has partnered with the Girls Scouts and Junior Achievement tooffer high quality, real world tutoring experience for teacher candidates. Future teachers areafforded the opportunity to support the learning of local K-12 students while buildingrelationships within the community.The Education Division is collaborating with the Cambria-Somerset Council for Educationof Health Professionals, Inc. to offer a workshop entitled “Creating Safe LearningEnvironments in the Classroom.” The workshop will include topics on the identification andreporting of child abuse and trauma and is open to all current Education majors, alumni,and nursing students.5

David Willey was the invited after dinner speaker at the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry’sNational Conference held this October in New Orleans. He presented an hour of dramaticscience demonstrations.This fall term, three projects were awarded funding from the President’s Mentorship Fundfor Faculty/Student Scholarship. The projects chosen were:Dr. Manisha Nigam and student Aric WolfSynthesis and Characterization of Optically Active Alcohols using Principles of Green ChemistryDr. Thomas Malosh and student Thomas RohrabaughNovel binuclear ruthenium(I) carbonyl carboxylate complexes bearing N-heterocyclic-carbene ligandsas catalytic precursors toward the hydrogenation of acetophenoneDr. Timothy Evans and students Damian McAninch, Soja Rahimian, and Ethan SternStructural Characterization of Human Neuronal Messenger RNA Sequences Predicted to Fold intothe G Quadruplex Secondary StructureIn the area of International Student Enrollment, Pitt-Johnstown welcomed 25 newinternational students for Fall 2011. Overall, international student enrollment has grown to 67students, and 22 countries are now proudly represented on campus, including Belgium,Bulgaria, China, Ghana, India, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, and others.The international students recently formed a student organization called Meet Diversity. Thegroup has been established so that, in an organized way, its student members can: act asambassadors for their countries on campus and in our local community, travel locally andregionally, celebrate their traditional holidays and foods with the campus community, discussinternational issues, sponsor lectures and debates on international topics, make presentationsabout their home countries and cultures, assist other international students to “settle” intocampus, and work with students who are considering studying abroad.International students promoted international awareness to local school children withpresentations on their home countries - China, Belgium, and Kyrgyzstan. They shared theircustoms, cultures, spoken languages, geography, and more with the children. Approximately140 students and 10 teachers/administrators at Forest Hills benefitted from this educationalprogram.In addition, study abroad students shared their experiences in Spain with ConemaughTownship High School Spanish students. Approximately 25 students enrolled in Spanishclasses learned of the students’ programs of study, international cultural experiences, languagepreparation and usage in Spain, and more. The teacher, a proponent of travelling abroad, was6

very enthusiastic and the school district is hoping to have a high school excursion to Spainwithin the next two years.International Education Week activities included the following:Monday, September 26“Debunking Study Abroad Myths”“Essentials” – Learn all about the study abroad process!Tuesday, September 27“How to Prepare for an International Career”“Dreaming of Havana; A Look at the Pitt in Cuba Program”Wednesday, September 28Study Abroad Vendor FairPassport Processing (Courtesy of Windber Post Office)Vira I. Heinz Scholarship Information TableOffice of International Services Open House ProgramDuring the Fall Term, 12 students travelled abroad with destinations that included Italy, theNetherlands, New Zealand, Spain, and the United Kingdom. In addition, during the fall, theVira I. Heinz Scholarship Recipients for 2012 were selected. Kristen Chistlow (Berlin), AmberSawtelle (Prague), and Alison Jones (London) have been awarded the 2012 Vira I. HeinzScholarship for Women in Global Leadership. They will travel abroad in Summer 2012.The RealWorld Interest Groups have had many excellent opportunities to work with theGreater Johnstown community as well as the Pitt-Johnstown campus community. Theseexperiences have provided the participating students with a greater sense of the ownership ofthe projects, plus personal growth in the areas of leadership, networking opportunities, andpersonal relationships.At the start of the 2011 Fall Term, 47% of first-year residential students were assigned to aRealWorld Interest Group. As the term progressed, additional students chose to affiliate with aRealWorld Interest Group.Each interest group is assigned one or more liaisons, returning Pitt-Johnstown students chosenthrough an intense selection process. There are currently 11 upper class liaisons who provide alogistical link between the group members and the RealWorld mentor. At present, five facultymembers, four staff, four students, and two alumni/community members are participating inthe communities in the role of RealWorld Interest Group mentors, who function as advisors toeach RealWorld Interest Group. They have been able to connect with the interest groups andwork collaboratively with other university clubs and organization. A monthly meeting is held7

for the RealWorld mentors to discuss what is going on within their interest groups, to reviewconcerns they have, and to identify opportunities they would like to offer to their students.There has been much collaboration between the following departments: Student Life, CareerServices, Academic Affairs, and Housing and Residence Life.To date, RealWorld Interest Group members have participated in a total of 226 hours ofcommunity service.All RealWorld Interest Groups were invited to: the Invisible Children program sponsored bySchools for Schools; the “Talk Over Tea” program, where professionals and faculty shareprofessional experiences based on the groups’ interest; and the lecture by Dr. MichaelMandelbaum, who is one of America’s leading authorities on international affairs.Unique opportunities offered to RealWorld Interest Groups over the course of the fall terminclude the following:Arts and Performance• Students were able to participate in the Haunted House sponsored by the Housing andResidence Life and Phi Sigma Sigma Sorority. With collaboration among the differentorganizations they raised money for the National Kidney Foundation.• Students were invited to go on the Student Life New York City Bus Trip and see “SisterAct” on Broadway.Business-Corporate• Students participated in Make A Difference Day at Camp Harmony in Hooversville, Pa.where students helped to clean up and build cabins for a non-profit camp andconference center.Environment-Ecology• Students were invited to participate in Make A Difference Day at Camp Harmony inHooversville, Pa. where students helped to clean-up and build cabins for a non-profitcamp and conference center.Global-International• Students participated in Make A Difference Day Shack-a-thon sponsored by Habitat forHumanity. The group built houses and educated students on poverty and homelessness.• The liaison facilitated two “international dinners” social programs that allowed tostudents to congregate around a meal and share their experiences with each other.• Students presented information on two countries, Kazakhstan and China, to peers intheir group.• Students were invited to go on the Student Life Bus Trip to Washington, DC.8

• Students were invited to go on the Student Life Bus Trip to New York City to tour theMetropolitan Art Museum and other various landmarks.• Students were invited to meet and greet Sam Childers, "The Machine Gun Preacher"who founded Childers Angels of East Africa, which has rescued more than 1,000orphaned children from starvation, disease, and enslavement by the brutal Lord’sResistance Army.• Students participated in a Career Service Interviewing Techniques sponsored by CareerServices office, advising them how to become more competent on the techniques neededfor domestic and international job interviewing.Health Sciences- Medical• Students were invited to attend a presentation by Deborah Price of the ConemaughHealth Foundation on volunteer opportunities and service projects within theConemaugh Health System• Students were invited to go on the Student Life Bus Trip to Washington, DC.• Students were invited to attend the Faculty Night sponsored by the Biology Department.• Students were invited to Tri-Beta presentations by various community members in theMedical field.• Students volunteered on Make A Difference Day at the Memorial Medical Center maincampus, painting pumpkins and distributing Halloween treats with patients.Language, Literature, & Culture• Students volunteered on Make A Difference Day at Highland Community Library byreading to children.• Students volunteered with the Highland Community Library, and helped with the“Direct Appeal Letter,” and the library clean-up.• Students were invited to go on the Student Life Bus Trip to New York City.Law and Society Students were invited to go on the Student Life Bus Trips to Washington, DCand New York City.Public Service and Government• Students were invited to go on the Student Life Bus Trips to Washington, DC and NewYork City.• Students volunteered for Pitt-Johnstown @ Your Service Week by attending the HumanRibbon ceremony.Science, Technology and Society• Students volunteered on Make A Difference Day at a Science Night in the Johnstownarea school.• The mentor talked to the group about Computer Technology throughout the semester.• Students were invited to go on the Student Life Bus Trip to Washington, DC.9

Teaching and Learning• Students were invited to go on the Student Life Bus Trips to Washington, DC and NewYork City.In an annual program coordinated by the Academic Success Center, in conjunction with theUniversity Scholarship course, the required summer read for first-year students was Sir KenRobinson’s The Element, which guides readers to find the place where one’s personal passionmeets his or her talents and strengths. The book’s theme served as a framework for the First-Year Program Series, which is a function of the first-year transition course, UniversityScholarship. The Series featured programs (like Talk Over Tea and Epiphany Stories), whichconnected first-year students with professionals and faculty representing various fields anddisciplines. In addition, a talent show took place to celebrate the many talents and skills of ourstudents. First-year students displayed their talents to about 300 of their peers—with actsranging from Celtic dancing to a dramatic interpretation of Roald Dahl’s version of Goldilocksand the Three Bears. Upper class Mentors for Academic & Personal Success (MAPS), as well asfaculty judges (Dr. Kristen Majocha, Dr. Eric Schwerer and Richard Cosgrove) shared theirtalents to the delight of the student audience. The talent show is slated to become an annualevent and new tradition among first-year students.The use of The Element dovetails with the Academic Success Center’s goal to help newstudents assess the “fit” of their selected majors and to help undeclared students discovermajors in a more expedient fashion. To further assist undeclared students in this regard, theASC instituted an online module for students to complete prior to their academic planning dayin the summer. The module educated students about general education requirements and Pitt-Johnstown majors, while collecting information about students’ interests and strengths—andany concerns they had about starting college. ASC counselors used this information to buildschedules and to familiarize themselves with their new advisees. As a result, students took fallclasses matching their interests and advisors got acquainted with their advisees sooner. Thisadvising relationship was furthered strengthened by another new initiative that streamed allundeclared students into specific sections of University Scholarship.As always, the overall profile of Pitt-Johnstown students, and the freshman profile inparticular, are key elements of the academic environment, and new student recruitment is acritical ongoing activity. This fall, admissions staff expanded the schedule of high school visitsfrom 305 to 329, and increased participation from 84 to nearly 100 information programsthroughout Pennsylvania, and areas of Maryland, New Jersey and the District of Columbia.During high school visits and information programs in the travel season, admissions counselorshad contact with more than 4,700 students – high school seniors, juniors and sophomores – anincrease over last year of about 4.5%.This recruiting travel off-campus was complemented by a series of popular on-campus summerand fall Admissions Reception Programs, attended by approximately 500 prospective studentsand their parents and families.10

A number of recently developed recruitment marketing initiatives, designed to supplementthe travel, publications, programs, and web-based communications, were continued this fall.These included the following.oooooA project designed to recruit from the growing number of Latino prospective studentshas been continued; for the second year in a row, about 6,000 names of Latino studentswere obtained through the College Board Student Search Service and the NationalHispanic Recognition Program, and selected publications were being translated intoSpanish for this communications project.A set of web pages at the Pitt-Johnstown website, designed to appeal especially toParents and Families, is being refreshed with updated information.Recruiting publications have been updated.There has been expanded use of a mobile phone “app” linked to the Pitt-Johnstown website, an “app” which has been well-received and extensively used.Social networking vehicles such as Facebook and Twitter are being used in recruitingrelatedactivities.The Admissions Office and the Financial Aid Office are collaborating to refine the meritscholarship program for freshmen, analyzing past practices and adjusting award templates toenhance efforts to attract the best scholarship-caliber students possible. Freshmen receive about$600,000 a year in merit-based scholarships from designated University funds and Pitt-Johnstown gift and endowed funds. These first-year scholarships account for about 31% of totalscholarship funds awarded annually.11

A New Dimension of Excellence – Theme IITO STRENGTHEN A HIGH QUALITY AND SUPPORTIVECAMPUS EXPERIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT…THAT FOSTERS STUDENT SUCCESSAND ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT IN THE REAL WORLD.This is Pitt-Johnstown’s third cycle of students participating in all facets of the RealWorldAction Program. During the Fall Term, first-year students completed 577 plans in at least oneof the four components, an increase of 10% from 2010. Overall 1,983 students have been activelyengaged in at least one aspect of the RealWorld Action Program, which is on par with lastyear’s rate of involvement for the Fall Term.Our student organizations completed a total of approximately 6,191 hours of communityservice working with a total of 35 different community agencies, such as the American RedCross, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Conemaugh Hospital, and the YWCA, raisingmore than $3,400 in donations. In addition, 172 hours of service unrelated to a particularpartnership were reported, bringing the total to 6,363 hours. Overall, 613 students were activelyengaged with these agencies in community service – 21.5% of our student population, anincrease from 14% in fall 2010.Specific projects of special interest included:The Habitat for Humanity Trip to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canadaduring the summer (August 6-14, 2011), involved six students from Pitt-Johnstown.During their time in Charlottetown, they worked with the Charlottetown Habitat forHumanity affiliate in the construction of a complex of 3 homes in partnership withvolunteers and the families-to-be of the homes. They worked 10-hour days beginningaround 7 or 8 a.m. and lasting until 5 or 6 p.m., totaling 300 total hours of service by theteam. They performed a multitude of different tasks, including building frames andwalls, putting up drywall, adding insulation, siding, shingling, and installing windowsand doors. In their off time, they toured the small town of Charlottetown.The Pitt-Johnstown Sororities (Alpha Sigma Alpha, Alpha Gamma Delta, Phi SigmaSigma and Kappa Zeta) sponsored this year’s 4 th annual Salix Head Start ChristmasParty for 47 children on December 9. The students purchased gifts for the children,donated meals from their meal plans to provide food at the party, helped Santa Clausdistribute out the gifts, and played games with the children.The four-day orientation model that was implemented in 2008-2009 continues toprovide incoming students with a program aligned with the four Program Plans of theRealWorld Action Program. Students attended sessions on Financial Management,Career Exploration, Critical Thinking & Decision Making, and Diversity. Sessionsreceived an average 92% satisfaction rating, which is on par with last year’s ratings.12

Efforts to effectively develop, evaluate, and implement career and educational plans haveafforded Pitt-Johnstown’s Career Services Office an opportunity to move beyond the practice ofone-time drop-in appointments, and to establish more long-term counseling relationships witha greater number of students than ever before. New programs and events implemented duringthis term have been focused on integrated career support, teaching students to articulate thevalue of what they are studying, and how their education applies to the workplace.In the 2011 Fall Term, 1,410 students have taken advantage of various programs and servicesoffered through and/or in conjunction with Pitt-Johnstown’s Career Services Office. Incomparison to this time last year, this reflects a notable reduction, but it must be pointed outthat, for much of the term, the Office operated with only two part-time staff members. With therecent replacement of two full-time staff members, we have full expectation that we will sustainand increase key service areas.Contact Type Fall 2010 Fall 2011Student Appointments 394 265Business Appointments NA 22Alumni Appointments 92 11Total StudentContactsTotal AlumniContactsTotal BusinessContacts2139 1410NA 14310 267New Programs in the 2011 Fall Term included The Element Program Series. RealWorld CareerServices partnered with the Academic Success Center to organize the first-year program seriesfacilitated through the University Scholarship class. Students were required to attend at leastone career-related event, inspired by the first year summer reading program text The Element byKen Robinson. Students had the option of attending eight different events over the course ofthe semester in the form of small group discussions entitled Talk Over Tea, or the larger forumcalled the Epiphany Stories.In Talk Over Tea, students had the opportunity to share informal round-table discussions withprofessionals working in six areas of interest. Professionals were encouraged to speak abouttheir individual career paths and to provide valuable information about the process to live outtheir “element.” Forty-three professional took part, and 145 students attended.In The Element, Ken Robinson refers to the route in which individuals arrive at their “element,”often through pivotal moments he refers to as “epiphany stories.” Two separate events13

featured four panelists who arrived at their "Element," both conventionally andunconventionally. For the two programs, the panelists included: Dr. Gerald Zahorchak, formerPennsylvania Secretary of Education and current Director of Strategic Initiatives, AllentownSchool District; Dr. Matthew Masiello, Chief Wellness Officer, Windber Research Institute; AmyBradley, Director of Marketing Communications, Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center, Dr.John McGrath, Associate Professor of Business – Marketing at Pitt-Johnstown; Eric Shiner,Director, Andy Warhol Museum; Dean Howard, Vice President of Sales, North AmericanHoganas; Kerry O’Donnell, Director, Falk Foundation; and Jed Hughes, Principal, SpencerStuart. Four hundred sixty-three students attended.In the New Student Orientation, Career Services staff addressed incoming students about theservices provided by RealWorld Career Services and introduced career-related eventssponsored by Monster.com.In Mr. Neatrour’s Professional Education Seminar, Career Services staff, presented graduatingseniors in Education with an overview of services and resource materials available to them inthe RealWorld Career Services office. Mock interviews were also conducted, providingstructure and feedback in a panel-type interview akin to an actual interview format.During the Fall Term, several workshops on international careers were presented inconjunction with International Education week. The presentations discussed variousopportunities abroad, as well as provided basic information regarding pursuing and securinginternships internationally. Additionally, the workshops offered information related tointegrating previous international experiences into a resume. In addition, a professionalismworkshop was presented to Phi Sigma Sigma at a chapter meeting, and a presentation oninterviewing skills and resume writing was given to the RealWorld International InterestGroup.Three new student organizations (ICES-International Culture Enthusiast Society, Pitt-Johnstown Players, and Meet Diversity) as well as the reorganization of a fourth (KappaAlpha Mu Math Honor Society) brought our active organization total to 93. For the Fall Term,1,789 students were involved in at least one recognized club and/or organization, an increaseover the total of 1,654 at this time last year.With efforts that involved Student Affairs, Student Life, the Programming Board, Athletics, andthe Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center, 148 programs for students were offered during 2011Fall Term. There were 60 weekend programs, often centered around the Mountain Cat Club, onpar with the 2010 Fall Term.Some noteworthy programs included the following:One-Day Saturday Trip Series14

More than 200 students took part in one or more of three bus trips provided throughout thefall term to provide students the opportunity to explore nearby cultural hubs, includingBaltimore, Washington, DC, and New York City. A fourth trip to Philadelphia was plannedbut canceled due to severe weather.Pitt Football Home GamesNearly 500 tickets and 378 bus seats were used by Pitt-Johnstown students, who respondedto a joint effort between the Student Life Office and the Student Government Association toprovide 100 free student tickets to every Pitt Football home game at Heinz Field, as well asoffer bus transportation for 50 students per game.Homecoming 2011This year’s Homecoming celebration included Fireworks by Zambelli, two full days ofcarnival rides, our annual parade, a live animal show, a performance by Dave Willey and afaculty/staff picnic that, while moved indoors due to inclement weather, boasted a recordattendance by the campus community. The Animal Show was the most highly attendedevent, with 225 people crowding the Cambria Room for a glimpse at the varied wildlife,including a beautiful leopard. Overall, at least 600 students, faculty, staff, alumni, andcommunity members attended the weekend’s events.Mountain Cat ClubEvery Friday and Saturday from 10 p.m. until 2 a.m., music with a live DJ was provided inthe Mountain Cat Club.As previously reported, 1,983 students have been actively engaged in at least one aspect of theRealWorld Action Program, reflecting a 70% overall percentage of programmatic participationand campus engagement.It is worth noting that of the 2,909 total students enrolled within the RealWorld ActionProgram, 1,217 are commuter students. Within this subgroup, 697 have been actively engagedin at least one aspect of the RealWorld Action Program, reflecting a 57% overall rate ofprogrammatic participation and campus engagement thus far, which is on par with previousyears.The Office of Health & Wellness Services has been ambitious in implementing theUniversity’s Healthy Campus Initiative, a commitment to provide services and programs thatguide healthy decision making, support academic success, and inspire personal growth. Thefocus of these services and programs address the critical areas of student needs delineated bythe American College Health Association: alcohol, drug, and tobacco use; mental health andwellbeing; physical health, exercise, and nutrition; sexual health and decision making; andsafety. Core services include providing mental health counseling, treating clinical health issues,addressing campus wide accommodations, and delivering testing services and healthpromotion. The data for the 2011 Fall Term reflect consistently positive levels of student15

engagement across all Office of Health and Wellness services and programs which enhancestudent wellbeing and retention.To this end, students have embraced a variety of complimentary preventative programs andservices offered through the Office of Health and Wellness Services in partnership with theWellness Center, the Division of Student Affairs, and several community agencies including,Victim Services, Inc., Pennsylvania Department of Health, Cambria County EmergencyManagement Services, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Office of Blind and Visual Services,National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), and the COMPASS Program for Veterans.Notable programs and services include: Kick Butt, a smoking cessation program; Campus 10, aweight loss and exercise program; Seasonal Flu, Gardasil, and Allergy Clinics; Test Anxiety,Stress Management and Meditation sessions; educational programs on sexual health, decisionmaking and safety; and weekly wellness promotions. An average of 393 students used theWellness Center daily during the fall 2011 term, further demonstrating that students are bothdelighted with the Wellness Center and embrace programs that promote student health andwellbeing.Programs and initiatives that serve to “foster greater inclusion, pluralism, and interculturalawareness” included a number of notable efforts:• The new student orientation included “Diversity According to South Park and FamilyGuy,” which was the second highest rated program during the four days ofprogramming, with a 97.8% satisfaction rating.• Commuter Appreciation Day in November included a free lunch bag giveaway, aparking pass raffle for those who completed a short survey, Commuter Student Bingo(with Bookstore prizes), and free cookies and coffee sponsored by Career Services.Financial Aid, the Wellness Center, and University Police also provided tables andinformation throughout the day. During the day, 285 students participated, nearlydoubling last year’s 152.• For National Coming Out Day, the Pitt-Johnstown Alliance partnered with Penn-Highlands Community College in a program featuring Pitt-Johnstown faculty memberDr. Catherine Cox. The Alliance was also invited to march in the Johnstown CommunityHalloween Parade with representatives from the Keystone Alliance, and nearly a dozenmembers participated.• The Black Action Society adopted the Women’s Help Center and the fight againstdomestic violence, for their philanthropy project. They sold awareness bracelets to raisefunds and sponsoring a speed-dating event that featured relevant information andstatistics to raise awareness of the issue.• Pitt-Johnstown was once again selected to be a host site for V-Day activities in February.Last year a student-run production of “The Vagina Monologues” raised $1000 forVictims Services, Inc., and Haiti relief efforts, and selection is currently underway forour student director of the follow-up program “A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant and APrayer.”16

In an ongoing effort to “promote civility, respect, dignity, and justice for all persons,” thefollowing initiatives were undertaken during the fall term:Know the CodeKnow the Code, in its third year, is designed to further educate the student body in regard tothe Student Code of Conduct and, in the process, challenge student’s decision making.Under the direction of a graduate assistant at Pitt-Johnstown, a comprehensive marketingcampaign was developed that targeted the first-year student population. To date, 39students have completed the program and 94% have passed.Alcohol-WiseIn this program that is now in its fourth year, all first-year students were required tocomplete Alcohol Wise, an attempt to educate students about alcohol consumption and tochange potentially damaging behavior. With the term nearly complete, 76% percent of firstyearstudents have completed all the required components, and additional students willcontinue in the program until the end of the term. These online modules have assistedstudents in making more value-based decisions. To date, overall reported alcohol violationare down 47% (although November and December incidents have yet to be categorized).The Event Management Team continues to develop and provide support to organizationshosting registered events. This team is comprised of the Vice President for Student Affairs,and staff from Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution, Housing and Residence Life,Student Life, and Campus Police. An Event Management Training session was hosted byStudent Conduct and Conflict Resolution to educate all organizations on best practices fororganizations. An additional 50 students, as well as, all Greek leadership completedtraining in proper event management protocols.In coordination with the Office of Student Life, all new members of Greek organizationswere asked to attend T.I.P.S. (Training for Intervention Procedures) training, facilitated byMr. Joe Rosenberg, Executive Director of Kappa Delta Rho. This program addresses threekey areas: the different settings in which drinking among college students takes place, whata student can do to prevent alcohol-related issues, and the attitudes of fellow studentstoward drinking. This program provided a certification to the 40 students who attended.CORES IThe CORES I (Communication on Responsible Ethical Solutions) program is in its third yearand has continued to receive positive evaluations, with 60% of the students who havecompleted the course vowing to reexamine their use of alcohol. To that end, the office ofStudent Conduct and Conflict Resolution has continued their partnership with the District17

Magistrate of Johnstown to refer our students back to the CORES program, which greatlyenhances our outreach and educational efforts in this area.CORES IICORES II program is in its third year and has received positive evaluations that showparticipants have a commitment to change behavior, increased knowledge regarding therisks associated with alcohol consumption, and impressions that the facilitator did anexcellent job.As always, our student-athletes continue to make us Mountain Cat Proud!Andrea Dalton was awarded an NCAA Degree Completion Scholarship after completing herathletics eligibility. The scholarship recognizes her outstanding work in the classroom and onthe basketball court. Dalton was also chosen as the sole female representative of the UnitedStates by the International University Sport Federation (FISU) to attend the 11th FISU Forum inTaipei from March 26 to 31, 2012. The main theme of the Forum is "University Sport: A Platformfor Sustainable Development."This summer 12 student-athletes received Academic Achievement Awards from the NCAADivision II Athletics Directors Association (completed at least two full years of school with acumulative grade point average of 3.5 or above).NCAA data released during the fall term shows that Pitt-Johnstown student athletes’ six-yeargraduation rate was 86%. This was the highest in the WVIAC. The student-athletegraduation rate continues to exceed that of the general student body.The National Collegiate Scouting Association ranked Pitt-Johnstown 35 among all Division IIcolleges and universities in its ranking of the best academic and athletic programs nationally.In the area of community service, Pitt-Johnstown has been ranked fifth among more than 280schools in the NCAA Division II for fundraising. Last year, Pitt-Johnstown student-athletescontributed $6,370 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation through a number of fundraising initiativesincluding an annual charity basketball game featuring the Pitt-Johnstown faculty/staff againstthe students. Also last year, through a number of events, student-athletes raised more than$1,500 for the Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center and Windber Research Institute and completed1,650 hours of community service with the Alternative Community Resource Program (ACRP),where the students assisted with neighborhood clean-ups, assisted with after-school programs,and served as positive role models for ACRP clients.As part of the community service campaign:oWomen’s Soccer helped first-year students move into residence halls,18

ooooooooWomen’s Soccer Breast Cancer Awareness Game vs. Mount Aloysius College raisedmoney for the Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center,Women’s Volleyball Breast Cancer Awareness Game vs. Ohio Valley University raisedmoney for the Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center,Men’s Soccer team helped to clean up the ACRP Moxham GardenWomen’s Soccer and Wrestling helped to clean up the ACRP Kernville GardenWomen’s Cross Country decorated the ACRP Kernville Office for the holidaysWomen’s basketball offered a youth basketball clinic at North StarThe Student Athlete Advisory Committee sponsored a Dodgeball Tournament oncampus in support of Make-a-Wish.The Men’s and Women’s Basketball Teams promoted Pancreatic Cancer Awareness andraised $80 at their home games against Glenville State College.In Fall Term sports, Men's Soccer, under Head Coach Eric Kinsey, earned a spot in the WVIACTournament for the fifth straight year. The team ranked 2nd in saves per game and 16th in savepercentage, as senior goalkeeper Mike Cuccaro led NCAA Division II in saves per game and was13th in save percentage. Derik Swope was named First-Team All-WVIAC. Women's Volleyball,coached by Linda Renzi, also earned a spot in the WVIAC Tournament. Jessica Heidenthal wasnamed Honorable Mention All-WVIAC, and Kelsey Shanabrook was named to WVIAC All-Freshman Team. The Men's Golf team, under Head Coach Patrick Greer, finished second at2011 WVIAC Championships and also finished second at Penn State-Altoona Invitational. TheWomen’s Cross Country team, led by Head Coach Jim Bowser, participated in the NCAARegional meetAs part of the overall renovation project involving Biddle and Krebs Halls, the Office of theRegistrar was relocated during the fall term from Biddle Hall to 279 Blackington Hall. InOctober, the Registrar’s Office sponsored a Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA)workshop for Pitt-Johnstown faculty and staff. The Registrar’s staff collaborated withindividuals from the Financial Aid Office and the Business Office in continuing the outreacheffort to freshmen, conducting questions & answer sessions in the first year residence halls.In the area of Financial Aid, staff participated in the October campus campaign to encouragestudents to get “registration ready” for the process of registering for Spring Term. Joni Trovato,Assistant Director of Financial Aid, was named “Emerging Leader of the Year” by thePennsylvania Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.Campus Police recently acquired four new Powerheart AED G3 defibrillators. These newdevices replace older models located at the Living Learning Center, Sports Center, PasquerillaPerforming Arts Center, and the Campus Police Office. Two similar units are already in place atthe Wellness Center. The units offer the latest technology, and certified responders will findthem more user-friendly.19

Information Technology (IT) developed a new Support Desk software applicationimplemented for the start of the Fall Term. The new software, PJIT Help, provides a userfriendlyinterface for the campus community to submit technology problems, questions andrequests to any of the IT units (Information Systems, Printing Services, Technical Services andUser Services). The PJIT Help software provides a number of advanced features, including:category-based routing; IT analyst reach out communication to the ticket submitter; Ticketsubmitter express post directly into the ticket; Student Support Desk integration via theTechnology Support Center; and advanced ticket management functions for IT staff. Thesoftware is designed to enable IT to provide superior support services to the campuscommunity. Submitting tickets to PJIT Help is the best way for the university community toseek technology assistance, and tickets submitted to the Support Desk during the 2011 FallTerm increased by 16% over the prior year.After several years of outsourcing document binding (at a premium cost), InformationTechnology has acquired a cost-efficient binding system in Printing Services. The newsystem will allow in-house binding for existing applications and will provide a wide variety ofpossibilities for new projects. Annual net cost savings is estimated to exceed $1,500. Faculty andstaff are encouraged to contact Printing Services to learn more about the potential uses for thisnew system.Various PC replacements were performed during the Fall Term. The computer labs received80 new PCs for the start of the Fall Term. Forty faculty PC desktops were replaced and 30 newstaff PCs were installed. Information Technology has also been addressing several projectsthat include state-of-the-art virtualization technologies. A team within IT has been researchingand implementing infrastructure to support “thin-client” desktop technologies. Also known asdesktop virtualization, this technology provides a Windows ® desktop on a terminal device thatis centrally supported, easily updated, virtually virus-proof, and half the cost of a traditionalPC. This prototype project will deploy “thin-client” devices to several staff volunteers toevaluate functionality, network impact, and manageability. Another team within IT has beenaddressing server virtualization efforts. This project will allow old servers to be retired, reduceoverall server support costs and reduce energy consumption. Ideally, the project will result in afaster, but “greener,” server footprint for the campus.As part of the Biddle Hall renovation project, the existing video conferencing facilities wereconsolidated, as portions of the existing facilities were still dependent upon 15-year-oldtechnology and design. At a minimal cost, Information Technology staff re-engineered theserooms, enhancing their capabilities for both video conferencing and distance education.Eleven new Technology-Ready Classrooms were created in Biddle Hall as part of therenovation project. In addition, three new TRCs were created in the Living Learning Center. Allof these new TRCs were added to the “smart podium” system, which provides direct intercomcommunication to the IT Support Desk, and allows for remote diagnosis of the technologyshould problems occur in these facilities.20

Information Technology software developers, working with staff from Human Resourcesand Finance and Administration, have completed a software system to support campusemployment management on campus. The Campus Employment Management System(CEMS) will provide modules that will enable students to enter their time online and managersto approve the time submitted; CEMS will provide HR with better monitoring and auditing ofthe entire process. The system will eliminate a considerable amount of paperwork and manualprocessing, providing an efficient and “green” operation.The Physical Plant staff was exceptionally busy during the Fall Term, completing a numberof major physical plant projects, which included: Biddle Hall lobby, corridor, classroom, andoffice upgrades; Briar Lodge interior renovations; demolition of the old maintenance buildingfor landscape improvements at University Square; erection of The Heroes Memorial, andcampus exterior signage upgrades.Other projects completed in the fall included, among others:oooooooooRelocation of the Registrar’s Office to 279 Blackington HallRenovation of the Human Resource Office in Blackington HallRenovation of the Institutional Advancement Office in Blackington HallRenovation of the Academic Affairs Office in Blackington HallRenovation of the Physical Plant receiving dock for scene shop relocationRelocation of Jazzman’s to Biddle Hall lobbyConversion of G-27 Owen classroom to IT officesConversion of the former Jazzman’s LLC location to a conference roomRenovation of Student Union Information Desk and meeting roomOther projects that have been begun during the Fall Term include: Krebs Hall classroom andoffice upgrades, part of the larger Krebs Hall renovation project; conversion of Biddle 132 fromthe former Registrar’s Office to a classroom; Physical Plant expansion for the Baja vehicleworkshop; conversion of the Sports Center Dance Studio to Hall of Fame Lounge; andconversion of G-24 Owen Classroom to Continuing Medical Education Offices.Purchasing Services underwent a personnel realignment in early fall. Dolores Berkey’s rolehas been expanded to include purchasing functions. Loretta Zerby’s (Business Office)responsibilities were adjusted to allow her to assist in Purchasing Services on a limited basis.The department’s focus is on enhanced customer service, greater departmental efficiency andcost savings for campus units. Requisitions submitted to Purchasing Services leading to fullyexecuted purchase orders have increased by more than 3.5% during the period July throughNovember as compared to the same period last year. The department processes on average 175orders monthly. Purchase orders created within the Prism/Oracle purchasing system average51% of all types of purchases. PantherBuy orders make up the next largest segment at almost43%, followed by Pcard orders at approximately 6%.21

The purchasing and accounts payable modules within the Prism/Oracle system underwent majorupgrades in October. Some aspects of the upgrade had ramifications affecting the length oftime necessary to complete processes.The Bookstore introduced textbook rental as an option for students. The Campus Shuttle, whichran from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday between Blackington Hall and College ParkApartments, has been expanded to now provide transportation to the Richland Town Center.Additional hours have been added to the service. The shuttle now runs seven days per weekuntil 6 p.m.On-campus student laundry service has changed this semester. As a result of Student Affairsand Auxiliary Services working with the Student Government Association (SGA), all residentstudents now have access to free laundry services in the Residence Halls. SGA did acomprehensive survey of the students during the Spring 2011 term, at which time this proposedchange was overwhelmingly supported by the students.A major effort to make the campus easy to navigate for visitors was completed with theinstallation of several new signs across campus. In addition to the installation of 12 roadsidebuilding identification signs, directory signs are now in place at both entrances to campus. Thesign at the Highfield Avenue entrance also includes an LED messaging system that can be usedto direct visitors to special events on campus and to broadcast important announcements.Special thanks to the members of the signage team (Andy Csikos, Mark Dougherty, KevinGrady, Bob Knipple, Kimberly Miller, Joyce Radovanic, BJ Sarneso, Chris Stumpf, and BryanValentine) and the IT staff for their great work.Sgt. Mike Burgan from Richland Township Police and Commander Tom Owens from theCambria County Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) conducted the annual training formembers of the Pitt-Johnstown Critical Incident Response Team. The session, conducted inOctober, focused on information collected from the 2007 shootings at Virginia Tech. A test ofthe Emergency Notification Service (ENS) was also conducted in October. If you did not receivethe test message, visit the Pitt Portal (my.pitt.edu) to subscribe to the service.22

A New Dimension of Excellence – Theme IIITO FOSTER GREATER INTERCONNECTIONS, COMMUNICATION ANDRESPONSIVENESS BETWEEN PITT-JOHNSTOWN, ITS COMMUNITY,CONSTITUENCIES AND THE REAL WORLD BEYOND THE CAMPUSWhen more than 300 students from 13 area high schools visited campus for the fourth annualSTEM Professions Day, Pitt-Johnstown alumni and 2010 Presidential Award for Excellence inMathematics and Science Teaching recipient Becky Piscitella '99 was among the speakers whoencouraged local students to become interested in Science, Technology, Engineering andMathematics (STEM) and explore career options in STEM fields.The fifth annual Pitt-nic in the Park drew more than 800 community members to Johnstown'sCentral Park. This annual celebration coincides with Homecoming week and Pitt-Johnstown'sanniversary.The start of the fall term marked the official launch of the Pitt-Johnstown Student AlumniAssociation (SAA). With 56 members registered within the first month, the SAA providesstudents with a direct link to Pitt-Johnstown's more than 19,500 alumni. Sponsored by theAlumni Association, SAA members are provided with networking opportunities with alumniand receive discounts at the Bookstore and several Sodexo locations.The Pitt-Johnstown Alumni Association has sponsored a number of events over the past fewmonths, beginning with the annual Homecoming celebration. The weekend kicked off withthe traditional Alumni Golf Classic followed by a welcome back reception on the campus malland a spectacular fireworks display, which illuminated the skies over Richland Township.Saturday of Homecoming weekend started with the first-ever Mountain Cat 5k Run/Fun Walk,which was followed by the annual parade. Senior civil engineering technology major LaurenDziagwa was crowned the 2011 Homecoming Queen at a ceremony held at University Square.The weekend culminated with a campus-wide progressive dinner, which also served as an 80 thbirthday celebration for retired Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Lowell Shaffer. Morethan 80 people turned out for the event.Homecoming was one of many efforts to connect with our alumni during the fall. More than20 alumni and guests attended a first-ever reception for alumni residing in the Philadelphia area(where Pitt-Johnstown boasts more than 550 alumni) and nearly 50 alumni and guest attendedan informal get together at the Hofbrauhaus in Pittsburgh.The 2011 Distinguished Alumni Award was presented to retired Air Force Colonel KarenEsaias '79 at the annual Alumni Gala (formerly known as Pitt-Johnstown Proud). The fivecoursedinner with wine/beer pairings, was held on the mainstage of the Pasquerilla PerformingArts Center and raised more than $4,600 for the Alumni Association's scholarship fund. SashaMcCreary was recognized as the recipient of the Alumni Association's 2011 Student23

Achievement Award, and board member Jeanne Feathers '87 was presented with the President'sAward by Association President Jeffrey Philibin '88.In recognition of its support of Pitt-Johnstown and our students, the Alumni Association washonored with a Gold Banner Award from the Pitt Alumni Association. The award includes a$500 contribution to the Association's scholarship fund.Faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community members braved the cold temperatures to jointhe celebration at our fifth annual Light Up Night at University Square. Approximately 150attendees joined PJ the Mountain Cat on the traditional stroll under the Goodwill Arches.For the third year in a row, Pitt-Johnstown was designated a Military Friendly School by GIJobs. This designation recognizes Pitt-Johnstown's efforts to assist veterans and active dutymilitary personnel in their transition to becoming students, through the MountainCat VeteransProgram. Recognition as a Military Friendly School places Pitt-Johnstown among the top 20% ofcolleges, universities, and trade schools that are providing outreach to military service membersand veterans.A capacity crowd was on hand for the Pasquerilla Lecture Series, featuring New York Timesbestselling author Dr. Michael Mandelbaum. One of America’s leading authorities oninternational affairs, Dr. Mandelbaum is the co-author (with Thomas L. Friedman) of the NewYork Times bestselling book, That Used to Be Us: How America Fell Behind in the World It Inventedand How We Can Come Back. The work has been described as “a book of exceptionalimportance” that “should be read by policy-makers and every American concerned about ourcountry’s future.”Conference Services provided support for more than 1,200 internal events including:Freshman Convocation; Homecoming Activities; Pitt-Johnstown @ Your Service; Model UN;The Heroes Memorial Dedication; Accounting & Business Job Fair; Study Abroad ServicesWeek; Veterans Day Program; STEM Professions Day; Light Up Night; and all Pitt-Johnstownalumni functions. Conference Services also hosted more than 50 external events, including: PAState Nurses Summit, a two day conference attended by 100 Nurses; JARI Safety Conference;Clara Barton (through the Red Cross) at which more than 150 high school girls attended a daylong mentoring program and toured campus; Head Start Professional Development, at which200 professionals attended a day-long symposium; the Chamber of Commerce John B. GunterCommunity Leadership Initiative Series, as well as a number of alumni wedding receptions.The Whalley Chapel provided support for more than 225 events in the Chapel.During the Fall Term, Outreach and Professional Services coordinated and ran the Fall SATReview Series, with 25 high school students attending the Verbal Review and 23 studentsattending the Math Review. Outreach and Professional Services also offered the Discover Fallprogram, a slate of 12 non-credit classes that ran from late October to early December andattracted more than 100 registrants.24

The Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center had a busy Fall Term schedule with threeperformances of Menopause the Musical, one of which sold out; Deer Camp the Musical, whichsold out; Ragamala Dance – “Sacred Earth” Indian Dinner and Show, which included an excellentIndian Dinner prepared by Sodexo;Capitol Steps – Desperate Housemembers, a perennial favorite that received two standing ovationsthis year; Neil Berg’s Broadway Holiday; and Church Basement Ladies: Away in the Basement aChurch Ladies Christmas. The PPAC also began a $150,000 sound system upgrade, to becompleted in JanuaryThis year’s Pitt-Johnstown @ Your Service Week, which took place October 16-22, includedmore than 30 projects and involved more than 150 student, staff and faculty volunteers.Renovations to Biddle Hall were highlighted during an open house on September 28, 2011.The open house and related publicity focused attention on the upgraded facilities and the newhome it provides for faculty and students in Pitt-Johnstown’s growing business program.On November 11, 2011, at 11 a.m., Pitt-Johnstown dedicated The Heroes Memorial, ateachable monument. The Heroes Memorial is believed to be the only memorial of its kind onany college campus in the United States. It pays tribute to the more than 3,000 victims ofSeptember 11, 2001, as well as the service men and women who have been killed in Afghanistanand Iraq. Currently, The Heroes Memorial contains 9,208 names. The names will be updatedperiodically as the Pentagon releases the names of the fallen. The Memorial also pays tribute tothe more than 46,000 member of the military who have been wounded in hostile action inAfghanistan and Iraq.More than 5,550 of the service men and women who were killed in Afghanistan and Iraq werebetween the ages of 18 and 24, representing the traditional college-age population of ourcountry and the Pitt-Johnstown campus. The dedication ceremony was attended by 200members of the campus and greater Johnstown community. Photos, testimonials, and detailsabout the memorial and the dedication ceremony can be viewed at www.pittjohnstown.pitt.edu/theheroesmemorial.News of the memorial and its dedication has been carried on media websites nationwide and inlocal broadcast and print media. Visitors have signed the memorial guest book from severaleastern states. The project is also receiving very strong support from a number of donors whoare making significant financial contributions. A brochure was published to encouragevisitation to The Heroes Memorial. Supplies of brochures have been distributed to the GreaterJohnstown/Cambria County Visitors Bureau and Chamber of Commerce offices in Bedford,Cambria, and Somerset counties, as well as to Veterans organizations in the region and our ownconference center.25

Selected advertising campaigns were renewed as part of our overall recruiting efforts, andincluded mobile device campaigns with WJAC, WWCP, WATM. An initiative was alsolaunched using Cinemission, a newly available on-screen advertising program at RichlandCinemas. Online advertising programs also continue with GI Jobs, Tribune-Democrat, and otheroutlets, as well as well as with traditional print advertising in regional media. Pitt-JohnstownSignage programs have also been renewed at the Greater Johnstown Chamber of Commerce,CCWM, Altoona Curve and John Murtha Airport.26

A New Dimension of Excellence – Theme IVTO STRENGTHEN THE RESOURCE BASE NECESSARY TO ADVANCE OUR MISSIONAND STRATEGIC GOALS AND TO ENSURE PITT-JOHNSTOWN EXCELS INPREPARING REAL-WORLD READY STUDENTS.At the time of the Fall Term “census date,” the point at which the University establishes anofficial enrollment mark, Pitt-Johnstown enrolled a total of 2,971 students (2852 full-time, and119 part-time). This amounted to a full-time equivalent figure of 2900.For comparison, last year’s enrollment totals for the same date were 2,979 students (2862 fulltime,and 117 part-time), with a full-time equivalent of 2909. In this time of decreases in thecollege-age population in Pennsylvania, coupled with employment worries and economicuncertainty, maintaining a stable enrollment has been a central focus for Enrollment Services inrecent years, and will continue to be a serious focus in the future.As of November 30, Auxiliary revenues totaled $15,625,550. At the end of November last fiscalyear, revenues totaled $15,481,069 representing an increase of $144,481. Expenses have alsoincreased from $7,654,665 in FY11 to $7,875,069 in FY12 an increase of $220,404.Overall Education & General expenditures through November are on target at 37.6% ascompared to 37.2% in FY11. Non compensation E&G expenditures through November, 42.1%,indicate a slight increase from FY11, 39.6%.Pitt-Johnstown prepared an updated campaign prospectus to review the campus’s contributionto the Building Our Future Together Capital Campaign, including its progress toward meetingits assigned goal of $20 million. Highlights of the prospectus include the following:o As of June 30, 2011, Pitt-Johnstown has raised $26.2 Million of its $20 M goal (131%),completing its goal well before the projected end of the campaign.o Pitt-Johnstown secured funding to create 72 new endowed funds since Fiscal Year 1998.Most of these funded scholarships; however, some funded awards, lecture series,performing arts programming, annual events, and the library.ooPitt-Johnstown has averaged $1,872,790 per year through the course of the campaign.A new development plan has been developed and is being implemented to addressannual, planned, and major giving and to engage alumni beyond the greaterJohnstown/Cambria County/Western Pennsylvania region to continue raising privatesupport for Pitt-Johnstown’s mission and vision.27

oThe Blue and Gold Classic golf event, held on September 30 at Indian Lake Golf Course,raised $27,000 for athletic scholarships at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.Funds raised through the Blue and Gold events will create an endowed fund for athleticscholarships.The Mountain Cat Athletic Society, an annual giving/all sports booster club program to raisefunds to support athletic scholarships and operating enhancements, has been launched and isbeing rolled out throughout this fiscal year.28

A New Dimension of Excellence – Theme VTO INSTITUTIONALIZE A CULTURE OF EFFECTIVE PLANNING, ASSESSMENT ANDACCOUNTABILITY…TO HELP MEASURE OUR SUCCESS IN PREPARING STUDENTSFOR THE REAL WORLDAt Pitt-Johnstown, institutional planning is an ongoing process, and tracking our progresstoward our planning goals is important. Efforts to inform the campus community of the manyaccomplishments we achieve each term include this series of periodic Community Reports andthe fiscal year Annual Report, generally completed in August or September.One of the key campus evaluation efforts is the project to assess student learning outcomes.Under the leadership of Dr. Janet Grady, Vice President for Academic Affairs, very significantprogress was made during the Fall term to complete “assessment matrices” for each academicprogram, and for our general education program – a project which has been ongoing for anumber of years. Moving forward, these assessment matrices will serve as tools to help usevaluate the manner in which we determine how students achieve the desired learningoutcomes.The Office of Housing and Residence Life has recently conducted their in-house Campus LivingSurvey which is administered each semester. Results are in the process of being compiled.To continue an ongoing assessment practice, Pitt-Johnstown has registered for the NationalSurvey of Student Engagement (NSSE). This web-based assessment tool is administered to allfirst-year students and graduating seniors during the spring term.In another ongoing assessment activity, Pitt-Johnstown has again registered for the Noel-LevitzStudent Satisfaction Survey, also a web-based assessment tool that is administered to allstudents during the spring term. Results recently released from the Noel-Levitz SatisfactionSurvey conducted in the Spring of 2011 show that Pitt-Johnstown is ranking above our peersin several areas. Among the areas where Pitt-Johnstown out-ranked our peers are: quality ofcampus service; services to help student decide a career, an area central to our core value ofgetting students Ready for the REAL World; and overall service to students. Each tool is beingutilized in ongoing programmatic efforts to assess the effectiveness of the RealWorld ActionProgram and related Student Affairs initiatives.29