Dear students and colleagues,
Greetings to all! Whether you are here for the first time or are returning, I bid you a warm welcome!
This year, we welcome 1,252 new students, including freshmen, transfer and graduate students. Thank you to the new students and to our returning students for making us part of your educational journey.
Four new tenure-track faculty members, along with many new teaching faculty and staff, have also joined the Clarion family. They are a welcome addition to our valued colleagues who assist our students every day, in every way, to enable them to follow their academic and career dreams.
Throughout the spring and summer, we celebrated multiple significant designations that show what we’ve always known: Clarion University competes well and ranks right up there with the nation’s – and in some cases the world’s – best universities! Visit www.clarion.edu/rankings to see for yourselves. Prepare to be wowed!
The True North Initiative – the plan to move the university forward – advanced in its work:
- The Student Success Task Force defined student success and provided recommendations;
- The Common Hour Group finalized plans and will present to Faculty Senate and APSCUF in September, with plans to implement in fall 2020;
- The Centre Group (teaching and learning excellence) defined its purpose, created a mission statement, suggested staffing patterns and scouted locations. Review is underway with a launch goal of January 2020;
- The search for the Dean of Workforce Development and Continuing Education for Venango Campus is in progress.
We have all been busy, and I am grateful to all who served.
It’s almost done! The Tippin Gymnasium/Natatorium renovation, that is. If you follow me on Instagram at CUPresident, you may have seen a preview. We’re excited to gain access in September and begin transitioning back to full occupancy and use this fall!
Another exciting project is the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s $5 million investment in Clarion University to bring Stevens and Moore halls into ADA compliance. Final designs and successful bids will be awarded this winter, and work will begin in spring 2020.
Our Venango Campus is also seeing many improvements. Roof replacement projects are almost complete for Montgomery Hall and Suhr Library. Upgrades to the HVAC and electrical systems and conversion of a Learning Commons for Suhr Library are proceeding; completion is expected in early spring.
Our Facilities Department spent the summer months renewing and refreshing our beautiful campus on the hill, their own way of extending a heartwarming welcome. They have done a wonderful job! They’ve also been busy relocating offices:
- Provost Gent and Academic Affairs relocated to Founders Hall;
- Dr. Jeffery Allen, dean of Health and Human Services, moved to Harvey Hall; and
- Dr. Laura Delbrugge, dean of Arts and Sciences, is now in Marwick-Boyd.
Stop by to see how they’ve set up their new digs!
As the semester gets into full swing, we look forward to coming events. Our annual Founders Day celebration is Sept. 11. On Sept. 17, the Presidential Commissions will host a social and will launch our new Commission on Sustainability. Homecoming weekend is Oct. 4-6. Chancellor Dan Greenstein returns to campus Oct. 8. And it’s not too early to mark your calendars for our Dec. 13 holiday luncheon.
Finally, I want each of you to know how happy Dr. Bob and I are that you selected us to join the Clarion family. Our first year was wonderful, and we look forward to many more with you. I have worked hard this past year to serve our students and this institution and to represent you well, and I will continue to do so.
I wish each and every one a wonderful academic year!
Onward and upward!
“Dr. Dale”
President