VOLUME 12, NUMBER 15 MAY 24, 2010

California University

Fix Our Finances

SAI Buys 98Acres Beside

Roadman Park

This op-ed by University President Angelo Armenti, Jr.

was submitted to the Post-Gazette and printed there on May 7,

2010.

The decades-long decline in state appropriations

to the 14 universities in the Pennsylvania State

System of Higher Education, coupled with the

policy of keeping tuition rates low for all students —

not just the neediest — is having serious, unintended

consequences for the universities and for the students

we serve.

What’s needed are increases in tuition large enough

to preserve the financial viability of the universities

combined with scholarship assistance for the neediest

students.

When PASSHE was created in 1983, the

commonwealth provided 63 percent of the universities’

educational and general budgets. By 2010, that share

had fallen to 34 percent. During this time,

appropriations fell 19 percent in terms of constant

dollars as full-time enrollments grew by 52 percent. The

result has been a 39 percent decline in appropriation per

full-time student, taking inflation into account.

While the reason for the decline in funding is

financial, the reason for continuing to hold PASSHE

tuitions low for all students is more a matter of politics.

Elected commonwealth officials are rightly concerned

about the effect of rising tuitions on the neediest

Pennsylvania students, especially since the bulk of

PASSHE students traditionally have come from low-

income families.

But over the years, a rapid increase in tuition rates

at private and state-related universities in Pennsylvania,

coupled with the increasing attractiveness of PASSHE

schools in terms of real and perceived quality, has

encouraged families to seek out PASSHE universities

and their much lower tuitions — which, I would argue,

are below market rate.

The increase in full-time enrollments — from 71,000

in 1983 to 108,000 this year — is just one measure of

the increasing attractiveness of PASSHE schools.

Another measure is the shifting demographics of the

students who apply. Let’s use my institution, California

University of Pennsylvania, as an example.

The most rapidly growing segment of students at

Cal U over the last 10 years has been those with

families earning $100,000 or more per year! The second

most rapidly growing has been those with family

incomes of from $70,000 to $99,999.

The shift toward students from more affluent

families means some well-to-do Pennsylvanians may be

getting an unnecessary subsidy from the commonwealth

under PASSHE’s policy of low tuition for all. For these

families, our tuition is too low.

Meanwhile, Cal U students graduate with an

average debt of $23,000, with some borrowing as much

as $60,000. For these, our neediest students, our tuition

is too high. Taken together, it is clear that the policy is

failing at both ends of the financial-need spectrum.

A two-tiered policy, practiced by virtually all private

universities, can solve this problem by combining

market tuition rates with scholarships for the neediest

students, which would reduce the effective tuition to

levels they can manage.

While the political calculus works in favor of low

tuition rates for all families — including affluent ones —

it works against the financial calculus of the universities,

which have only two major sources of revenue:

appropriations and tuition. State appropriations are

declining rapidly in real terms and tuition revenue can be

increased only if enrollments grow fast enough to make

up for the money lost because of below-market tuition

rates. Market rates are the norm in every successful

enterprise and should be adopted if public higher

education is to serve the citizens of the commonwealth.

If rates are too low, at some point an institution

must either shortchange its stakeholders or fail for lack

of money. If rates are too high, clients go to other

providers with similar quality but lower costs —

assuming they exist. Ultimately, institutions with rates

that are too high suffer the same unhappy fate as those

with rates that are too low.

For many years, PASSHE tuition rates have been

kept artificially low with two obvious results: 1) rapidly

increasing enrollments — a market signal that our

tuition is lower than optimal, and 2) wealthier student

families — a sign that our quality warrants higher

tuition rates.

The most effective organizations set rates to

optimize revenues. PASSHE’s failure to do this has

produced tragic consequences for our finances and our

students, especially the neediest students who could get

more financial help if more affluent students were

charged market rates.

PASSHE’s low-tuition-for-all policy needs to be

replaced with market-rate tuitions and scholarship

assistance for the neediest students. Aside from making

a first-rate education available to more Pennsylvanians,

the additional revenue would help preserve the quality

and viability of PASSHE universities by offsetting

continued reductions in state appropriations.

Pennsylvania’s State System UniversitiesNeed a New Way of Doing Things

In a recent op-ed published in the May 7 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Cal U President Angelo Armenti, Jr.explained how a two-tiered policy of combining markettuition rates with scholarships for the neediest studentscan alleviate the financial challenges for both studentsand the PASSHE universities.

To provide more recreational space for

students as University enrollment grows,

the Student Association Inc. (SAI), a

nonprofit corporation owned and operated by all

students at California University of

Pennsylvania, has purchased a 98-acre parcel

adjoining the University’s south campus.

Paperwork finalizing the sale of land at 377

East Malden Drive, Coal Center, was filed May

4 in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds for

Washington County, Pa.

The $1.1 million purchase of the former

Harris property increases the overall size of the

California University campus by 50 percent. The

property adjoins Roadman Park, home to the

University’s football stadium and track, tennis

— Continued on page 2

A FineDay to

GraduateBlustery winds

and coolertemperatures

hardly dampenedCal U’s first

outdoorCommencement

in more thana decade.

Nearly 1,000undergraduateswere eligible to

receive degrees atAdamson Stadium

on May 8. See storyon page 2.

2

Windswept Grads Urged to Follow Dreams

SAI Purchases 98 Acres— Continued from page 1

courts, softball and baseball practice fields,

and other recreational facilities.

The Student Association also owns

Roadman Park, which was purchased in the

1930s by the Women’s Athletic Association,

a forerunner of the SAI. A shuttle operates

regularly between Roadman Park and Cal

U’s main campus beside the Monongahela

River.

The newly purchased parcel will

enhance the quality of student life and

expand recreational opportunities for Cal U

students. Plans call for adding a track and

playing fields, and using the 100-year-old

farmhouse on the property for club meetings

and other student activities.

“Cal U’s enrollment has reached record

levels for 12 consecutive years, and we

anticipate further growth in the years

ahead,” said University President Angelo

Armenti, Jr. “Expansion of Cal U’s main

campus is limited by its location between

the river and the town, but this parcel

expands the recreation area available for our

students.

“I applaud the SAI for its foresight in

making this purchase, and I expect this land

to become a well-used part of our campus.”

The SAI serves Cal U’s diverse student

body by providing activities and programs

and supporting new facilities on campus.

The nonprofit association promotes the

University’s core values, provides leadership

opportunities and serves as an advocate for

Cal U students. It has been at work

strengthening Cal U since 1937.

Jenna Dunmire (left), recording secretary of the Student Association Inc. board ofdirectors, and Jackie Davis, outgoing president of the SAI, join Donald and LeslieHarris in front of the Harris family home. The family sold a 98-acre parcel adjoiningRoadman Park to the SAI.

Not only was Cal U’s May 8 Undergraduate

Commencement conducted outdoors for the

first time in more than a decade, it was also the

first time a gift was presented by the senior class.

Graduating senior Erin Elizabeth Berstler, chair of

the Senior Gift Drive Committee, presented Cal U

President Angelo Armenti, Jr. with a check for more

than $3,200.

Commencement speaker Fred Gladney ’71 matched

the gift. Funds will be used to help establish an

endowed scholarship.

“Those of us who worked on the senior class gift

drive embrace Cal U for Life, which is an important

initiative,” Berstler said. “Even though we were not

exposed to Cal U for Life as this year’s incoming

freshman were, we take seriously the lifelong

relationship we want to have with our alma mater.”

Graduating seniors who contributed wore special

red, black and gold cords signifying their contribution.

In all, President Armenti conferred degrees on more

than 1,200 students, an increase of more than 50

percent over the number of eligible graduates in May

2007. Graduate Commencement was held May 7 in

Hamer Hall auditorium.

The President emphasized Cal U for Life in his

remarks, delivered in a wind-swept Adamson Stadium.

“Cal U for Life incorporates the idea of sharing

your time, talent and treasure with your alma mater,” he

said. “All of you can give of your time and talent now,

and the treasure will come in future years.

Other speakers at both Commencement ceremonies

told graduates to follow their dreams.

Addressing master’s degree candidates, Robert E.

Eberly Jr., an author, historian and retired attorney from

the General Counsel’s Office of the U.S. Navy, said his

dream was to become a writer.

“While it is infallibly trite to say, never be afraid to

have a dream, to nurture it and to work toward its

fulfillment,” Eberly said. “A career as a lawyer and the

reality of having to raise a family unavoidably put my

dream on hold for a number of years. Writing appellate

briefs had to suffice during my years as a trial lawyer.

But I never did let go of the dream.”

Cal U held a book-signing event for Eberly’s first

book in 2005. He reflected on that day, and spoke of his

father, Robert Eberly Sr., whose statue sits in front of

Manderino Library.

“Your careers are vital, of course, and giving of your

spare time to charities and the community is

commendable,” he said. “But in the big scheme of

things, family is paramount, and I am reminded of that

when gaze at my father’s statue. He would be proud of

all that you’ve accomplished at Cal, and so am I.”

Gladney, a successful corporate executive in the

information technology sector, began his career with

IBM and Compaq Computer, now part of Hewlett-

Packard. He then joined the leadership team of

Isearch.com and served as senior vice president of

Pittsburgh-based Development Dimensions

International. A founder and CEO of a software

development firm, he currently works as a business and

executive coach.

Despite his corporate achievements, Gladney said it

took awhile before he achieved real success.

“With the help of the Bible, I learned that life is not

Award-winning comedianCraig Shoemaker happilyaccepts his undergraduatedegree from PresidentArmenti. Shoemaker saidthat his years at Cal Uhelped make his childhoodaspirations become areality.

a journey of myopic self-interest,” he said. “I discovered

my passion was to help others, and only then did I have

a purpose.”

Gladney told the undergraduates to look for the

“DNA of success” in the real world—dream, networking

and attitude.

“You have to dream big, brand yourself and

remember that your attitude is a choice,” he said.

“Follow your passion, fulfill your purpose and unleash

your potential. Class of 2010, I’ll see you at the top.”

Award-winning comedian Craig Shoemaker received

an honorary doctorate at the undergraduate ceremonies

— and he fulfilled a long-held dream by receiving his

bachelor’s degree, as well.

A successful writer and producer, Shoemaker

attended Cal U from 1977-1979. He was named

Comedian of the Year at the American Comedy Awards

on ABC-TV, and viewers voted his half-hour Comedy

Central special one of the network’s top 20 stand-up

specials of all time.

Yet he still recalls the time he spent at Cal U.

“This was the California I really needed 30 years ago

as a confused teenager, to find direction and hope for my

future,” he said. “This is the place that provided me with

the education and opportunity for my childhood

aspirations to become a reality.”

Shoemaker praised faculty members such as Marcy

Blout, Pat Miller and Malcolm Callery, and commented

on the University’s growth under President Armenti.

“It was here that I first understood that all is possible,

and am very proud of what this school has become,” he

said. “Cal U for Life!”

As he congratulated the new graduates, President

Armenti pointed out that this year’s class joins more than

55,000 living alumni, many of whom have distinguished

themselves since receiving their diplomas.

“Our alumni constitute a very accomplished group of

individuals and, as you join that elite company today, I

have every confidence that you will distinguish

yourselves in similar fashion,” he said.

She Said Yes!

California University of Pennsylvania’s 170th

Commencement ceremony proved to be an extremely

memorable occasion for graduate Joshua Troutman and

Cal U student Whitney Graham.

Troutman, 22, a technology education major from Bedford,

Pa., used the top of his graduation cap to propose to Graham,

22, of Johnstown, Pa., who was watching from the stands at

Hepner-Bailey Field at Adamson Stadium on Saturday.

Graham, an early childhood education major who will

graduate from Cal U in December, said she saw “something” on

Troutman’s cap as he processed onto the field with the other

graduates, but did not know what it was –“Will you marry me?”

– until she used a camera to zoom in on the words.

“All I could do is zoom in to see him,” she said. “So I had to

sit here in agony, waiting” until she could give him an answer.

Which was? “Yes!”

Graham said the couple has not set a date for the wedding.

After waiting ‘forever’ in the stadium stands,Whitney Graham greets her soon-to-be husbandand Cal U graduate Joshua Troutman after theMay 8 commencement.

3

Alumni Weekend, GalaSet for June 4-5

California University will honor alumni,

recognize faculty and raise funds for

student scholarships during the 2010

Alumni Weekend and President’s Gala, set for

June 4-5.

President Angelo Armenti, Jr. and First

Lady Barbara Armenti will host the annual

President’s Gala, “The Golden Age of

Hollywood,” in the Grand Ballroom of the

Omni William Penn Hotel in downtown

Pittsburgh. Proceeds from the fundraiser benefit

student scholarships.

The Gala reception begins at 6 p.m. June 5,

followed by dinner at 7. A silent auction, casino

games and dancing also are on the agenda.

During the festivities, President Armenti will

honor Dr. Jay D. Helsel ’59, ’63, winner of the

Lillian Bassi Core Values Award.

Also being honored are faculty members Dr.

David Boehm of the Department of Biological

and Environmental Sciences, who will receive

the President’s Faculty Award for Teaching; Dr.

Andrae Marak of the History and Political

Science Department and the Cal U Honors

Program, who will receive the President’s

Faculty Award for Research; and Dr. Mohamed

Yamba, also of the History and Political

Science Department, recipient of the President’s

Faculty Award for Service.

Retired professors Dr. Anthony Saludis and

Joanne Raleigh will receive the President’s

Emeriti Faculty Awards.

Honorary chairs are Dr. David ’70, ’72 and

Kathleen Amati.

The President’s Gala is the highlight of

Alumni weekend festivities that begin June 4

with a 5 p.m. reception at the Kara Alumni

House. The annual Pioneer Dinner follows at 6

p.m. Special recognition will be given to the

classes of 1960 and 1985, but all alumni may

attend; ticket price is $15.

On June 5, the annual meeting of the

Alumni Association will open at 9 a.m. in

Room 206 of the Natali Student Center. At 11

a.m. guests will convene for the annual Alumni

Association Awards of Distinction Luncheon in

the Performance Center of the student center.

Cost is $15.

Alumni award recipients are Dr. Paul

Gentile ’62, receiving the John R. Gregg Award

for Loyalty and Service; Dr. Mary Seman ’82,

the C.B. Distinguished Faculty Award; Dr. John

Cencich, the W.S. Jackman Award of

Distinction; coach Darcie Vincent, the Michael

Duda Award for Athletic Achievement; Joan

Helsel, the Pavlak/Shutsy Special Service

Award; Joe Grushecky ’71, the Professional

Excellence Award; Thea Kalcevic ’06, the

Young Alumni Award; and Dr. Charles

Gorman ’57, the Meritorious Award.

Alumni weekend will conclude with the President’s Gala on the evening ofJune 5. Proceeds from this event support student scholarships.

Cal U’s stellar women’s tennis team officially has a

home court to match.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new Roadman

Park facility was held May 5, the day before the Vulcans

hosted the first two rounds of this year’s NCAA Division II

Regional championships.

The team has won the past four consecutive Pennsylvania

State Athletic Conference and NCAA regional championships

in addition to six straight division crowns. Cal finished the

2010 season with a 24-6 overall record and advanced the

NCAA II quarterfinals for the second straight season and

third time in four years.

The new, lighted $1.5 million facility consists of six

courts, which have the same Deco Turf surface used at some

of the world’s most prestigious tennis competitions, including

the U.S. Open and the NCAA championships.

“As I’m sure you know, Cal U’s Bill of Rights and

Responsibilities says, “We have the right to expect the best.

We have the responsibility to give our best,” President Angelo

Armenti, Jr. said. “That’s exactly what we have done here at

Roadman Park. Cal U can host any visiting team with pride.

And this is one more example of Cal U at its best.”

Echoing the President’s comments was Cal U athletic

director Dr. Tom Pucci.

“This facility is second to none in our conference and one

of the best in all of the regions,” said Pucci, a former

collegiate tennis coach and player. “Having each of the six

courts individually separated from each other shows that it

was designed with the players in mind.”

Cal U women’s tennis head coach Pablo Montana, who

has also guided the Vulcans to seven NCAA post-season

appearances in the past eight years, called the dedication and

new facility a great day for the tennis program, school and

local community.

“We have a great bunch of student-athletes, and our

program is enjoying a lot of success,” he said. “None of this

would be possible without the support of President Armenti,

the Council of Trustees and administration. It’s a team effort.”

Junior Nina Kowalski spoke on behalf of the team.

“I’ve been part of the team since 2007, and I never thought

I would get the chance to play on the new courts during my

college career,” she said. “This is a dream come true and the

team is proud and appreciates being able to play on such

clean, beautiful and bounce-free courts.”

Christopher Haupt, Architect, L. Robert Kimball

Associates, stated that just as the main campus there’s a

master plan for athletics at Roadman Park

“The tennis complex is the first element of this master

plan,” Haupt said. “Cal U is all about building character and

building careers. One of the primary goals behind this to

produce winning varsity sports programs, which Cal certainly

has done. We hope this new tennis facility helps Cal U

continue its tradition of recruiting the best student-athletes

available.”

President AngeloArmenti, Jr.(right) shares alaugh withwomen’s tenniscoach PabloMontanafollowing the May 5 ribboncutting dedicationceremony for CalU’s state-of-the-art tenniscomplex atRoadman Park.

Cal U Dedicates Tennis Complex

Through grant funding from the

Faculty Professional Development

Travel Fund and the College of

Liberal Arts, Dr. Marianna Pensa gave a

presentation at the 63rd annual

Kentucky Foreign Language Conference,

held April 15-17 at the University of

Kentucky.

Her paper, originally written in

Spanish, was titled “Postmodernism,

Identity and Immigration: An Approach

to Fronteras Americanas by Guillermo

Verdecchia.”

The paper explores “immigration

writing” and how Guillermo Verdecchia,

an Argentinean playwright living in

Canada, addresses issues such as identity

and memory.

Pensa, assistant professor of Spanish

in the Department of Modern

Languages and Cultures, said she has

been researching Argentinean theater

since completing her undergraduate

studies in the late 1980s at the

Universidad de Buenos Aires in

Argentina.

Pensa emphasized that she is

introducing her students to Latin

American theater in her courses at Cal

U, including this semester’s Survey of

Spanish-American Literature class.

ArgentineanTheater Foc us

of Paper

Thank YouDonna Hoak of the Women’s

Center/P.E.A.C.E. Project wouldlike to thank the Universitycommunity for their support,generosity and acts of kindnessduring the recent loss of herfather. The thoughtfulness issincerely appreciated

4

Students from California Middle

School came to Cal U recently for

a “Girls Night Out” focusing on

careers in science, technology,

engineering and mathematics (STEM).

The event — “CSI: California, Pa.”

— was part of the 2009-2010 Campus

Action Project (CAP) sponsored by the

AAUW, formerly known as the

American Association of University

Women.

The goal of the “Breaking through

Barriers in Science, Technology and

Engineering and Mathematics for

Women and Girls” initiative was to

address some of the obstacles women

still face in these areas.

The girls participated in hands-on

activities related to forensic science, such

as finger printing, footprint casting,

evidence collecting and crime scene

investigations. Nicole James, a forensic

scientist at the Allegheny County

Medical Examiner’s Office, Division of

Forensic Labs, addressed students and

parents. Parents and students also had an

opportunity to speak with female faculty

teaching in the STEM areas.

Cal U was one of 12 CAP teams

from across the nation chosen to

implement recommendations from the

AAUW’s 2010 research report, “Why So

Few? Women and Girls in Science,

Technology, Engineering and

Mathematics.”

Local middle school girls, Cal U

female undergraduates and female

faculty engaged in a two-tiered

mentoring model to highlight STEM

topics through hands-on activities. The

mentoring program focused on two after-

school events for the middle school and

college students, and faculty members

have helped the college students plan

and carry out the events and meet with

them as part of a mentoring

relationship.

“The goal is to engage and inspire

middle school girls to participate in

STEM classes,” said Katherine Weber,

an instructor of technology education at

Cal U. Weber was the principal

investigator for the AAUW “Why So

Few” grant.

The April 23 event, which took place

in Keystone Hall, was the culmination

of the CAP. Other projects in the

program took place earlier in the year at

California Middle School.

The Office of Social Equity, The

Women’s Center, Provost Geraldine

Jones, the College of Education and

Human Services and the Eberly College

of Science and Technology supported

the “CSI: California, Pa.” event.

Students from the Forensic Science Club

helped with the hands-on activities.

Donna Hoak, Dr. Laura Hummell,

Dr. Marta McClintock, Karen Posa,

Nancy Skobel, Gena Sproul and Dr.

Kim Woznack also helped to coordinate

the program.

‘Girls Night Out’ Encourages STEM Careers

Jordan Powell (from left), Alexa Angelo and Nina Victoria look at a mock-crime-scenephotograph the group took during the ‘CSI: California, Pa.’ event. More than 35 middleschool girls participated in the program, which was intended to increase interest in STEMcareers.

Cal U’s Student Marketing Association (SMA)

and its adviser, Dr. Shirley A. Lazorchak, won

recognition last month at the American

Marketing Association’s 26th annual International

Collegiate Conference in New Orleans.

Lazorchak received the Hugh G. Wales Award for

Outstanding Faculty Advisor, which honors the

recipient for chapter guidance, training of chapter

officers, planning assistance, motivation,

communication and general support for the chapter.

The SMA was selected as Outstanding Collegiate

Chapter for the second consecutive year. This

distinction puts Cal U among the top 25 schools out of

approximately 200 that entered.

For Lazorchak, the individual award is the

culmination of the effort she began when she came to

Cal U in 2001. The following year, she changed the

Marketing Club into the Student Marketing Association

and applied for affiliation with the American Marketing

Association. The student marketers began competing

with the AMA in 2004-2005.

Allison Harsh, a senior marketing major and SMA

president, nominated Lazorchak for the outstanding

adviser award.

“I was very surprised, grateful and humbled by the

faith that my students and peers have in me,”

Lazorchak said. “The runner-up was the faculty adviser

from the Wharton School (at the) University of

Pennsylvania, a truly deserving individual. So we are

keeping great company.”

“Dr. Lazorchak has been a great adviser and

mentor,” Harsh said. “She has helped our club grow

and mature. She has real-world experience (as an

apparel buyer, district retail manager, writer on retail

issues and the host of a career program while on the

faculty at West Virginia University). She has a lot of

things to teach us.”

Both said the international chapter competition was

even more competitive this year.

Chapters are judged on the development of a

strategic plan and the events and other activities that

each chapter participated in to fulfill the requirements

of that plan. The Cal U SMA, which has about 25

members, planned events such a seminar on dressing

professionally and a business-dining tutorial.

“I estimate the quality of our strategic plan

increased about 15 to 20 percent,” Lazorchak said.

“This win means that Cal U is recognized

internationally, first of all, as we were an unknown

entity prior to reaching the elite status of the awards

last year.

“It increases the confidence our students have in

their abilities, and that translates into stronger

accomplishments reported on their resumes —

accomplishments that set them apart from the

competition — to increase their chances for

employment with organizations promising growth and

potential.”

Harsh agreed, also citing the experience SMA

members have gained by working with local businesses

on marketing needs such as logo development and

other branding projects.

“A lot of students just go to class and learn about

marketing, but in SMA you actually do it,” she said. “It

gives students such an advantage in building their

resumes.”

The goal of the

‘Breaking through Barriersin Science, Technology and

Engineering andMathematics for Womenand Girls’ initiative wasto address some of the

obstacles women still face in these areas.

Student marketers, adviser ‘outstanding’

Dr. Shirley A. Lazorchak was honored for her work as theStudent Marketing Association adviser.

Dr. Angelo Armenti, Jr.University President

Geraldine M. Jones Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dr. Joyce Hanley Executive Vice President

Dr. Lenora Angelone Vice President for Student Development and Services

Angela J. Burrows Vice President for University Relations

Dr. Charles ManceVice President for Information Technology

Ron HuiattVice President for Development and Alumni Relations

Robert Thorn Interim Vice President for Administration and Finance

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

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

Christine KindlEditor

Bruce WaldWriter

Wendy MackallWriter

Office of Communications and Public Relations • 250 University Avenue, California, PA 15419 • 724-938-4195 • wald@calu.edu