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Slippery Rock University: AN OVERVIEW

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Slippery Rock University, founded in 1889, is the region’s premier public residential university. The University is shaped by its normal school heritage and characterized by its commitment to intellectual development, leadership and civic responsibility. SRU provides stu-dents with a comprehensive learn-ing experience that intentionally combines academic instruction with enhanced educational and learning opportunities that will help them succeed in their lives, professional careers and be engaged citizens.

HISTORYSlippery Rock University opened its doors March 26, 1889 as Slippery Rock State Normal School. The citizens of the borough of Slippery Rock founded the school. Its first president was James E. Morrow and the enrollment for the first session was 168 students. Limited to a singular mission in teacher education, SRSNS over the years fulfilled its mandate well, graduating thousands of students to staff the public schools in Pennsylvania and throughout the nation.

In 1926, the institution was purchased by the Commonwealth, renamed Slippery Rock State Teachers College, became a four-year teachers college, and contin-ued the tradition of teacher training. While the curricular preparations were in elementary education and in a number of secondary education subjects, the Pennsylvania Department of Education assigned the institution an academic focus in health and physical education. And it was in that concentration that the institu-tion soon achieved a national reputation for excellence.

Slippery Rock State College was established in 1960 and for the first time, could award undergraduate and graduate degrees in the liberal arts and in the profes-sions. Expanded curricular offerings and an increased number of degree programs created an appreciable rise in enrollment. It was granted university status in 1983.

improved from 70 percent in 2000 to 80 percent in 2009, and the six-year gradua-tion rate improved from 49 percent in 2001-02 (1996 cohort) to 59.2 percent in 2008-09 (2003 cohort.)

The University has committed significant dollars to improve the physical and intellectual learning environment. Since 2000, SRU has invested more than $182 million in new construction and renovation projects. Eighty-four percent of SRU academic programs eligible for profes-sional accreditation are now accredited, and 91 percent of the full-time tenure or tenure track instructional faculty have earned a Ph.D. or other terminal degree. Zero classes at SRU are taught by teaching assistants. Sixty-two percent of the classes have fewer than 30 students, and 80 percent of all classes have fewer than 40 students.

SRU recognizes that increasing the racial and ethnic diversity of its students, faculty and staff is essential to creating an exceptional learning environment. In 2004, less than 8 percent of the entering class claimed minority status. In 2009, more than 9 percent had self-identified as minorities. During this same period, the number of minority faculty increased from 10 percent in 2000 to 19 percent in 2009.

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SRU TODAYToday, Slippery Rock University is a comprehensive university offering a broad array of undergraduate and select graduate programs to more than 8,500 students. The University has built its historic reputation for excellence in physical educa-tion into a range of health and wellness programs, including exercise science and a doctorate in physical therapy.

A member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, the University is a recognized leader in evidence-based planning and decision-making. It strives to provide its students a superior learning environment and the tools to compete in an increasingly complex world.

Since 2000-01, SRU’s admission and retention profiles have strengthened considerably, paralleling its strengthened academic profile.

The University achieved its highest total enrollment of 8,648 in fall 2009, nearly a 24 percent increase from its 2000-01 enroll-ment of 6,952. During this same period (2000 to 2009), the average SAT score for an entering freshman rose from 945 to 1026, and the average GPA increased from 2.99 to 3.39.

In 2001, only five percent of SRU’s enter-ing class graduated in the top 10 percent of their high school class and only 38 stu-dents had earned AP credit. In 2009, 13 percent graduated from the top 10 percent and 96 had earned AP credit.

This increase in selectivity has arguably led to improvements in student persistence. The first to second year retention rate has

FASTFACTSFAST FACTS■ Enrollment total (all students); 8,648

(fall 2009)

■ Ratio of students to faculty: 20:1

■ Number of faculty: 348 fulltime, 61 part-time

■ Percent of fulltime tenure or tenure track instructional faculty who have an earned Ph.D. or other terminal degree: 92 percent

■ Degrees conferred (2008-09): 1,857

■ 2009-10 admission data (freshmen) Applicants: 5,928 Admits: 3,718 Enrollees: 1,545

■ Ethnic and racial minority students made up 9.1 percent of the entering fall 2009 class

■ Average SAT for entering freshmen is 1026; average high school GPA is 3.39

■ Retention rate: 81 percent (freshman to sophomore)

■ Six-year graduation rate: 59 percent

■ Full time undergraduate tuition $5,554(PA), $8,331 (out-of-state)

■ Room and board (Residential Suites) $8,454

■ Mandatory fees $1,681 (PA), $1,785 (out-of-state)

■ Percent of undergraduates receiving Pell grants: 26 percent

■ Percent of undergraduates receiving state grants: 32 percent

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MISSIONMISSIONSince Slippery Rock University was founded in 1889, it has engaged in the three fundamental functions that are associated with educational institutions, namely, to pursue truth and advance the boundaries of knowledge, to prepare students for an array of careers, and to foster responsible citizenship. The mis-sion of the University as approved by the Slippery Rock University Council of Trustees is:

The fundamental mission of Slippery Rock University is to provide high quality undergraduate and graduate academic instruction. Complemen-tary missions are to conduct scholarly research, to promote professional perfor-mance, and to address the educationally related economic, health, environmental, social, cultural, and recreational needs of the region served by the University. In accomplishing these missions, Slip-pery Rock University primarily focuses its efforts on the academic areas of the arts and sciences, teacher education, environmental sciences and studies, health and human services, computer and information sciences, and business and communication.

The perspectives of Slippery Rock University are contemporary and futur-istic, national and international. The University provides experiences and opportunities for students to demon-strate leadership and to develop con-fidence and self-reliance; it promotes their intellectual, social and physical development; and it accomplishes this in an open, caring, nurturing, and friendly environment.

The individual and collective excellence for which Slippery Rock University stands will continue to be measured by the quality of its graduates and their successes in serving society.

CAMPUS AND THE COMMUNITYSlippery Rock University is located in the rolling hills of western Pennsylvania and is the western-most institution of the 14-campus Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Increasing, it is being called upon to meet the educational, cultural, social and economic needs of the region.

The 660-acre main campus is less than an hour north of Pittsburgh, one hour south of Erie, and 45 minutes east of Youngstown, Ohio. Two major interstate highways, I-79 and I-80, intersect within seven miles of the University, conveniently linking it to the entire Commonwealth and its contiguous regions.

The campus is situated in the borough of Slippery Rock in Butler County, Pennsylvania. The borough has a population of approximately 3,000 and encompasses a total area of 1.7 square miles. It is a generally safe and friendly community flanked by rolling farm-lands, forests and sparkling glacial lakes. On campus, historic and modern buildings blend a sense of tradition with the latest technologies.

In addition to the academic programs on the main campus, the University provides programming in several other locations. Students interested in marine sciences have the opportunity to participate in summer school sessions at Wallops Island Marine Science Center in Virginia and to utilize the instructional facilities at nearby Lake Arthur and the Jennings Environmental Education Center. The University also operates the McKeever Environmental Learning Center in Sandy Lake, Penn., the Center for Lifelong and Community Learning in Slippery Rock, and manages the Regional Learning Alliance in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania.

The University’s extensive and expanding international studies program, recently ranked 35th nationally by the Institute for International Education for the number of students who participate in learning abroad programs, offers educational opportunities for students in 21 countries. In addition, SRU offers extensive service learning and nonprofit opportunities in the community, including a community center in nearby New Castle, Pennsylvania.

The campus is characterized by a culture of caring, a commitment to excellence and strong relationships between and among students, faculty and the administration. The Chronicle of Higher Education recently named SRU as “One of the Best Colleges to Work At.” The University has a positive relationship with Slippery Rock Borough and Slippery Rock Township. Members of the campus community are active participants in social, cultural and civic organizations.

The University’s physical plant is valued at $650 million.

VISIONSlippery Rock University has embraced a simple but compelling vision for more than a decade: Slippery Rock University will excel as a caring community of lifelong learners connecting with the world.

We will fulfill this vision in the coming years by our commitment to position Slippery Rock University as the premier residential public university for this region. We believe that students who come to SRU will be pro-vided the best educational and personal growth through a sustained immersion in the intellectual community made possible by capable, committed faculty and staff members in the living laboratory of our campus. Our pedagogical approach will rely on personal engagement with students as residents of our community.

The focus of our pedagogy is not only on earning a diploma. Our focus is on developing people capable of making positive differences in the lives of others. We will develop people who understand the problems of our global society and have confidence in their skills and values to address those problems throughout their life. To this end, we have identified five global imperatives around which to shape our strategic plan to address the educational needs for every student. These imperatives are:

• Adapting to global population dynamics, • Advancing our preeminence in the use of science and technology, • Understanding and embracing the contributions of other cultures, • Responding to environmental stewardship and intelligent resource utilization, and • Protecting our commitment to social mobility and the achievement of social justice.

To achieve our pedagogical focus in this residential laboratory, we expect our employees to be models of the values and civic responsibilities to which we wish our students to aspire. Everyone is a potential teacher. Our faculty members will be exemplary teachers first and foremost, fully credentialed, and committed to continuing professional development in their areas of academic responsibility. Our student life and support service employ-ees will be actively engaged in helping our students become better citizens and develop their leadership talents. Our facilities and grounds staff members will demonstrate innovative stewardship of our resources and respect for our environment. Our administration will be the campus’ servant-leaders for continuous improvement of our University goals and providing the support necessary to achieve our vision.

We believe that this “community of learners” is best maintained with an enrollment of approximately 8,500-9,000 for the near term (~2012). This target allows us to have sufficient critical mass to offer a rich variety of substantive academic programs and student support without losing a level of caring service and instruction. This target provides a budgeting model that is sustainable to weather projected demographic and state funding challenges forecast for the foreseeable future without adding undue financial burden on our students and their families.

Consequently, we will focus our primary recruitment on traditional-age undergraduates who seek a residential learning-community and who have the academic portfolio to excel in our competitive environment. We understand that for our community to be a meaningful learning experience within this vision, it must be representative of the diversity of our world. This means that we will affirmatively seek to attract and sup-port students from across a wide-spectrum of life experiences and provide support for their academic, social and economic needs.

We understand that we have a responsibility to be transparent to our con-stituents in our claims of quality and value. We will demonstrate accountability and stewardship by publicly posting understandable and comparable measures of educational outcomes, costs and the results of our educational practices. We will demonstrate the credibility of our programs by achieving accreditation for all programs where accreditation is available. We will demon-strate our dedication to the teaching profession by employ-ing 90 percent of our faculty members as full time. We will demonstrate the commitment of our faculty members to their disciplines by employing at least 90 percent who have earned terminal degrees in their disciplines.

Finally, in our role as a public university we must provide for the betterment of the Commonwealth by creating new knowledge, generating economic growth, and elevating the cultural experiences of our citizens. Most noble of all is our public responsibility to produce competent, civil and caring citizens who will make their communities and our world a better place for all people to live and work.

VISION

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CORE VALUESCORE VALUESUnderlying the existence and opera-tions of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) and Slippery Rock University are core values. The core values that are reported in Leading the Way (The PASSHE Stra-tegic Plan) are endorsed and supported fully by Slippery Rock University. Thus, Slippery Rock University is dedicated to:

■ Stimulating intellectual growth by promoting teaching and learning through creativity and scholarship;

■ Developing and energizing the personal commitment of students, faculty and staff for contributive citizenship, global awareness, and social responsibility;

■ Promoting diversity as a key element in the intellectual and interpersonal devel-opment of members of the University and extended communities;

■ Applying the knowledge and experi-ence gathered within the University to enhance the social and economic well-being of the Commonwealth;

■ Practicing effective stewardship of public funds, private contributions, and tuition revenues in pursuing the System’s public mission; and

■ Advocating for the unique role of public higher education in contributing to the life of the Commonwealth and responding to its needs.

The University’s strategic thinking and long-term planning is influenced by the significant global trends facing the next generation of educated citizens. Our purpose is to provide as best as possible an in-depth understanding of the issues this generation will be asked to address. By focusing on the educational needs of the future, 2025 and beyond, our hope is that our students will have the skills and the leadership talent to make a differ-ence in the quality of life on our planet throughout their lifetimes.

We have organized our proposed work into two sets of strategies. The first set identifies those global trends that we believe define the direction we should follow for our students to have the education that fulfills our vision. The second set identifies those trends that the University must address to assure its continued viability as a healthy, dynamic organization capable of serving our vision.

SET ONE/TRENDS1 Changing population dynamics2. Our nation’s fate depends on maintaining our world leadership

in science and technology3. The need to understand other cultures4. Increasing challenges to higher education’s commitment to

social mobility5. The world is reaching a point of diminishing returns regarding

resource utilization

SET TWO/TRENDS1. Pennsylvania’s college-age population will continue to grow for

a few more years and then decline through a period of approxi-mately eight years before rebounding

2. The World of the academic is constantly changing and will place a premium on those institutions that are responsive to the needs of quality faculty

3. Competition for state appropriations will increase and private dollars will become more essential.

ACADEMICS Slippery Rock University enjoys the reputation of being a high quality, coedu-cational, comprehensive university that is student learning centered. Our 8,648 students are enrolled in more than 60 pro-grams of study in four colleges (Business, Information and Social Sciences; Educa-tion; Health, Environment and Science; and Humanities, Fine and Performing Arts) and Graduate Studies.

The University has a primary commitment to teaching and a mission to provide an interactive undergraduate education along with select high quality graduate programs.

Slippery Rock can best be described as a traditional college-aged population, with the majority of students coming to the University from public and parochial high schools. Admission is offered to students on a rolling basis. The average admitted student has completed college preparatory course work, has a GPA of 3.30 or better with 42 percent graduating from the top 25 percent of his or her class and has an average SAT score (critical reading and math) of 1026 or an ACT score of 20.2.

SRU offers Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of

Science, Bachelor of Science in Busi-

ness Admin-istration, Bachelor of Science in Education, Master of Arts, Master of

Education, Master of

Science, and Doctor of Physical

Therapy degrees as well as numerous majors, minors and program tracks within the academic disciplines.

The University also offers special affiliation programs that lead to professional degrees at an accelerated pace. Students may enroll in one of several baccalaureate degree programs that precede SRU’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program, including the 3+3 (three years of undergraduate work and three years of professional/graduate study) accelerated options in biology, exercise science, and other allied health and safety programs. New affiliation programs include a 3+4 track with the Lake Erie College of Medicine in Erie, Pennsylvania, for a Doctor of Osteopathy and 2+3 and 3+3 options for a Doctor of Pharmacy with the same institution. A 3+3 affiliation program for students pursuing a

Doctor of Chiropractic degree is available with the Logan College of Chiropractic in Chesterfield, Missouri. A dual-degree pro-gram in engineering is offered with Pennsyl-vania State University. The program involves three years of pre-engineering course work at Slippery Rock and two years of engineering study at Penn State. Students in this 3+2 program are awarded Bachelor of Science degrees from both institutions.

Internships and co-curricular experi-ences are recommended in most academic disciplines. Students in teacher education programs are required to take a semester of student teaching in their senior year. Student teaching experiences occur in many of the surrounding school districts. The University also offers student teaching experiences overseas and in high growth job markets throughout the United States.

An Honors Program provides unique oppor-tunities for curious, enthusiastic, high caliber students to learn and grow in and out of the classroom, to promote leadership skills while working toward the development of the individual, and to promote the advancement of the University and the community.

The University operates on a two-semester (fall, spring) system. The summer term is divided into two 5-week sessions, a three-week session, and a seven-week evening session. A minimum of 120 semester hours and a minimum grade point average of 2.0 are required for graduation. Higher grade and academic standards may apply for certain programs.

Through a continuing education pro-gram, the University offers credit and noncredit courses and workshops at on- and off-campus sites, including the

Regional Learning Alliance in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania.

Interested students may participate in the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program on campus. Completion of the ROTC program may result in a student’s commissioning as an officer in the U.S. Army Reserve or National Guard upon graduation.

The University’s student-to- faculty ratio (20:1) enables the institution to provide rich oppor-tunities for outstanding education programs and excellent advising by committed faculty. And, because 80 percent of all classes have fewer than 40 students, faculty members have time to men-tor students and provide the per-sonal attention that has become a hallmark of a Slippery Rock University education. The depth of experi-ence and outstand-ing level of dedication of its faculty is perhaps the most distinc-tive asset of Slippery Rock University.

HIGHER EDUCATION IN 2025 AND BEYOND

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ACCREDITATIONSlippery Rock University is a Carnegie Masters-L, four-year, public, coeducational university. The University has earned full institution-al accreditation through the Middle State Commission on Higher Learning and discipline specific accreditation by the following:

• American Physical Therapy Association: Physical Therapy

• National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission: Nursing

• Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education: Exercise Science

• Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education: Athletic Training

• Nation Recreation and Park Association: Park and Resource Management, Resort Management / Tourism, Therapeutic Recreation

• Institute for Safety and Health Management: Safety and Health

• National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education: College of Education

• Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs: Community Counseling, School of Counseling

• American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages: Spanish, French Education

• National Association for the Education of Young Children: Early Childhood Education

• Association for Childhood Education International: Elementary Education

• National Council for Teachers of English: English Education

• National Council for the Social Sciences: Social Studies Education

• National Science Teachers Association: Science Education

• Council for Exceptional Children: Special Education

• National Council for Teachers of Mathematics: Math Education

• Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology: computer Science, Information Systems

• Council on Social Work Education: Social Work

• The Association to Advance the Collegiate Schools of Business: In third year of a five-year pre-accreditation process

• National Association of Schools of Art and Design: Art, Fine Arts

• National Association of Schools of Dance: Dance

• National Association of Schools of Music: Music Instrumental, Music Performance, Music Therapy

• National Association of Schools of Theatre: Theatre

• Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care: Health Services

• National Association for the Education of Young Children: Child Care Center

In 2000, the University set a goal for all programs eligible for accreditation to achieve accreditation and thereby achieve the highest academic standards within their disciplines. Currently, the University only has one program remaining to achieve this goal and that program is in candidacy for accreditation.

ACCREDITATIONSTUDENT LIFECommunity building and student leadership development are hallmarks of a Slippery Rock University experience. The University is rec-ognized for its first-year initiatives including:

• The FYRST program, which offers stu-dents a close-knit peer group and a men-toring relationship with an experienced professor or staff member;

• Its residential living-learning communi-ties that allow students who share similar academic, career or personal interests to live together; and

• Programs that are intentionally designed to help students develop community-building skills while finding their own individual strengths.

The Division of Student Life has adopted the principles of Learning Reconsidered as the foundation for its work. “Learning Reconsidered defines learning as a com-prehensive, holistic, transformative activity that integrates academic learning and student development – processes that have often been considered separate, and even independent of each other.”

“In Greater Expectations, the Association of American Colleges and Universities posits three key learning outcomes that are fundamental to the development of intentional, life long learners in the 21st. century. These require that:

• Students should become empowered through the development of many intel-lectual and practical skills;

• Students must take responsibility for their own learning and their participation in the civic processes of our democracy; and

• Students must become informed about conditions that affect their lives in the U.S. and as citizens of many wider communities.”

Student Life partners with Academic Affairs and other areas of the University to

provide unique opportunities for students to achieve these goals through a myriad of learning processes – “action, contempla-tion, reflection and emotional engagement as well as information acquisition.”

The test of effectiveness then, in part, for our Student Life programs is the degree to which each contributes to the learning outcomes it provides for students. These core-learning outcomes include:

• Engaged citizenship; community service, social justice

• Career planning• Ethical approaches to business, relation-

ships, problem solving and conflict• Practical leadership• Emotional intelligence• Critical thinking; evaluating sources

of information• Informed decision making• Working in teams and groups;

conflict resolution• Cultural competency and cross-

cultural understanding• Civility and tolerance

To achieve these out-comes, Student Life provides opportuni-ties for students to organize, lead and participate in more than 150 social, honorary and special-interest clubs.

The SRU Student Government Association, Inc. is an independent corporation funded through a student general service fee. The SRUSGA is comprised of an elected six member executive board and a 27-member Senate. It is the primary student governing

body. The SRUSGA owns and operates the University Bookstore and Child Care Center; promotes spirit and unity; encour-ages student participation in University activities; helps fund recognized student organizations and SRU athletics; and serves as the advocate for student interests and concerns. SRUSGA is responsible for allocating more than $1.6 million in student fees annually. SRUSGA’s annual budget is $22,000.

The Union Program Board (UPB), com-prised entirely of students, is the major sponsor of student activity events. UPB offers activities featuring local, national, and international entertainers in areas such as performing arts, concerts, films, lectures, and travel. UPB is responsible for all aspects of the program including budgeting, scheduling, marketing, sales and event management. Students involved in UPB annually manage funds in excess of $350,000.

Slippery Rock University encourages all students to explore and develop their skills, abilities and practices of leader-ship in order to enhance their educa-tional experience. The Center for Student Involvement and Leadership (CSIL) helps students achieve this goal through a vari-ety of programs, activities and services. A signature program within the CSIL is the Compass Leadership Program.

Compass Leadership offers programs designed to appeal to a wide range of inter-ests and experiences. Students may choose to attend parts of the program, or follow a recommended sequence of workshops in order to receive certification as completing basic, intermediate or advanced leadership competencies. Participation in Compass Leadership workshops is recorded and posted on the student’s Co-curricular

Experiences Transcript.

At SRU, students are active on all major University

committees and on the Council of Trustees, one of the University’s govern-ing boards.

Utilizing a Learn-ing Reconsidered approach, Student

Life helps to ensure the University deliv-

ers on its promise to provide students with a

comprehensive learning expe-rience that intentionally combines

academic instruction with enhanced educa-tional and learning opportunities that make a positive difference in their lives.

SPORTS AND RECREATION

The Intercollegiate Athletic Department provides excellent oppor-tunities and facilities to support a competitive intercollegiate experi-ence at the NCAA Division II level. SRU

fields 17 athletic teams, 7 for men, and 10 for women. It is

the only University in the PASSHE system to be fully Title IX compliant.

The intercollegiate athletic program at SRU has demonstrated excellence both on the field and in the classroom. The University was named the winner of the 2007-08 Dixon Trophy, emblematic of the most successful overall athletic pro-gram in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. For that same period, a school-record total of 181 student-athletes were named recipients of PSAC “Scholar-Athlete” honors. Seventy-nine student-athletes received Academic Achievement Awards from the Division II Athletic Directors Association.

The University’s comprehensive Aebersold Student Recreation Center, funded by student fees, provides students with an abundant array of recreational, intramural and fitness experiences. A new intramural complex with multiple ball fields, play courts, and facilities is under construc-tion to provide more outdoor recreational opportunities for students. SRU consis-tently is a leader among PASSHE institu-tions in the number of students participat-ing in recreation and intramural activities.

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SATIS

FACTION STUDENT SATISFACTION

Results from the 2008 national Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) show that Slippery Rock University students consistently rate their experience at SRU higher than do students attending peer institutions.

The survey is designed to obtain, on an annual basis, information from scores of colleges and universities nationwide about student participation in programs and activities that institutions provide for their learning and personal development.

To focus discussions about the importance of student engagement and guide institutional improvement efforts, NSSE created five clusters or “benchmarks” of effective education practice:

1. Level of academic challenge2. Active and collaborative learning3. Student-faculty interaction4. Enriching educational experiences, and5. Supportive campus environment

The benchmark report compares the performance of Slippery Rock University with our selected peers, selected Carnegie peers and all NSSE institutions.

Freshman SRU students recorded mean scores that were higher than their respective peer institutions (PASSHE and Carnegie Class) on ALL five categories and exceeded the national average of all partici-pating NSSE institutions in four of five categories – active and col-laborative learning, student-faculty interaction, enriching educational experience, and supportive campus environment.

Seniors at SRU recorded mean scores that were higher than their peer institutions in four of five categories (active and collaborative learning, student-faculty interaction, enriching educational experience and support-ive campus environment) and exceeded the national average of all NSSE institutions in three of five categories – active and collaborative learning, student-faculty interaction, and supportive campus environment.)

ALUMNI SATISFACTIONResults from the 2006-07 State System of Higher Education Alumni Survey show that 98 percent of SRU alumni would recommend SRU to others; 91 percent were satisfied with the institutions intellectual life; 93 percent were satisfied with the physical facilities; 91 percent were satisfied with the course curriculum; 94 percent were satisfied with the University’s reputation; and 97 percent felt the University was concerned for them as an individual.

FINANCIALS• Slippery Rock University’s FY09-10

combined budget for all operations is $148,397,522

• Slippery Rock University Founda-tion assets as of Sept. 30, 2009 total $164,515,209

At Slippery Rock, the strategic plan drives the University budget. Annually, budget allocations are based on two primary processes: (1) Project-based funding to meet specific initiatives that support the strategic plan; and (2) funding-by-rounds, where recurring budgets are evaluated to assure consistency and focus on strategic directions.

The budgeting process is driven by these basic principles:

• Student comes first. Educating students is always the highest priority.

• Academic programs are a higher priority than nonacademic programs.

• Consultation with faculty, students, and administration on matters of the strategic plan and budget decisions are an inherent integral part of the shared governance of the University.

• Cuts and/or increases are not made “across-the-board.” Doing so violates the purpose of the strategic plan and is a formula for mediocrity.

• The University cannot be all things to all people. The budget reinforces the strate-gic priorities of the University to preserve the overall quality of the institution.

The University is an excellent steward of its resources. SRU received an unqualified opinion and no material weakness com-ments as it pertains to internal controls during the last audit. The credit-worthiness ratio was .020 in 2007. This ratio indicates the institution is continuing to maintain a positive credit worthiness position.

Consumers Digest has named Slippery Rock as the fifth “best value” public uni-versity in America based on its quality plus affordability.

SUSTAINABILITYCAMPUS SUSTAINABILITY

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Each gown keeps an average of 23 plastic bottles from winding up in a landfill.

Student-led sustainability initiatives include:

• The Green Bike Initiative. This program rescues and refurbishes bicycles for use by students. The bikes are painted green and are left outside campus building for people to use for transportation rather than driving.

• The Growing Green Program, which designates student and University funds to promote the planting of trees through-out campus, and

• A “Green Fund” which is administered by a campus wide group charged with allocating funds for “green” projects. In Fiscal 09, the Green Fund distributed more than $70,000 for a variety of diverse “green” initiatives including: trash and recycling containers; electrical meters, a campus clean up campaign; expansion of the Green Bike program; support for the Power Shift 2009 Conference and the purchase of a recy-cling baler among others.

The University raised the bar for sustain-ability expectations when it joined the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment network of signatory schools in 2009. Representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia, network members pledge to address global warm-ing, commit to neutralize greenhouse gas emissions, and accelerate the research and educational efforts of higher education in an effort to equip society to re-stabilize the earth’s climate.

The University utilizes a campus wide program to employ “sleep mode” on 2,000 University-owned computers as a way of reducing elec-trical consumption, and nearly all locker rooms, residence hall show-ers and public restrooms employ restricted flow showerheads and/or faucets to save water.

SRU standards call for all cleaning supplies, such as glass and window cleaner, floor cleaners, bathroom cleaners and general-purpose cleaners purchased by the University to carry the “Green Seal” of approval as a way of helping the environment. The University also considers the use of post-consumer content of paper in purchases for on-campus use.

University policy requires LEED (Leader-ship in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for new building construction and adherence to LEED guidelines for all building renovations on campus. The SRI Foundation’s $110 million Residential Suites are LEED certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.

The University has a robust recycling program. In total, the University annually recycles more than 273,000 tons of mate-rial that would have been sent to landfills. In addition, 16 tons of pre-consumer food scraps are taken from campus dining halls and combined with leaves collected on campus and from the local community to make compost at the Macoskey Center. The compost is then used for campus beautification projects.

The greening movement is taking hold in University Dining. A number of all-natural options have been introduced, including T&B Naturally Café, the first venue nationally on a college campus to offer organic beverages and snacks. The dining halls and grills now offer produce from 25 sustainable local growers.

SRU, which pioneered greening education when it launched a masters program in sustainable systems more 15 years ago, uses biodegradable green ware cups made from corn resin and Eco-Clam Shells for take-out dining.

Effective May 2010 all bachelor’s and master’s degree candidates will wear com-mencement regalia made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled plastic bottles.

SRU’s history with self-sustainability can be traced to its early days when students helped out by farming the land, handling dairy and beef production around the original school, and even mined coal used to heat the buildings. The tradition continues today through a variety of programs, activities and services.

The University’s Robert A. Macoskey Center for Sustainable Systems and Research is the University’s premier demon-stration program for reducing energy con-sumption, improving recycling efforts, and creating and improving sustainability sys-tems. The facility for the Center is a living laboratory for innovative demonstrations of wind and solar energy systems as well as many other environmental applications.

SRU also administers the McKeever Environmental Learning Center at Sandy Lake, which provides programs to assist citizens in becoming better stewards of the earth’s resources. And, SRU is the home to the Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education, a centralized information-clearing house for increasing access to environmental education through service, education and research.

Nearly every academic building has an energy control system in place. Heat-ing and air conditioning are centrally controlled via computers linked to outside temperature probes that allow shut down or temperature set back when a build-ing is in not in use – overnight and on weekends. The new campus residence hall systems automatically track outside temperatures to reduce energy consump-tion. On-campus buildings without formal systems employ set back thermostats to aid energy conservation.

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As a business enterprise…• SRU is the 9th largest employer in Butler

County, providing 876 jobs directly and creating a total employment impact

in the county of an additional 1,165 jobs.

• SRU generates more than $309.6 million annually in direct and indirect busi-ness stimulus, including $111.9 million per year in Butler County alone. This encompasses the impact of spending by the institu-

tion, faculty, staff, students and visitors.

• The Commonwealth receives $3.41 million per year from state

sales tax generated by employee and student spending and state income tax

generated by employee salaries.

• SRU brings money into the region through federal, state and private grants. In FY 08 the University attracted 94 grants totaling $7,147,605.

• SRU returns $10.04 to the people of Pennsylvania for every $1 in state funds appropriated.

Preparing a skilled workforce…• SRU’s undergraduate research program

provides students with faculty-mentored research opportunities in fields related to their careers. Students work with state-of-the-art equipment that expands their skill sets and employability.

• SRU supports a robust internship pro-gram. Most academic majors provide for internship opportunities that help stu-dents refine their skills and knowledge in actual work situations, provide valuable human resources to business and indus-try, and which often result in permanent employment with the company.

• Through the Center for Student Involve-ment and Leadership Development, the Institute for Community Service-Learning and Nonprofit Leadership, and academic based outreach programs, SRU students experience thousands of hours annually in hands-on learning.

Business assistance…• The Regional Learning Alliance in

Cranberry Woods, managed by SRU, is the nation’s largest collaborative learning campus with 14 educational partners. The RLA provides workforce skills and train-ing to adult learners through its unique partnerships with business, industry and educational providers. Last year 37,568

CATALYST FOR CHANGESlippery Rock University plays a critical role regionally as an engine for economic development and growth in the Commonwealth, and elevating the cultural and social experiences of its citizens.

Historically, universities were often viewed as being apart from, rather than a part of, the corporate community. This relationship has shifted over the years. In the 80s it was allowed, in the 90s encouraged and today it is expected. Indeed, as Richard Rosan of the Urban Land Institute said, “Few institutions have more to offer in propelling economic development on a national and local basis than our nation’s colleges and universities. As leading institutions in their communities, they are powerful drivers, technology centers, employers, developers and investors.”

Slippery Rock impacts the regional economy and the Commonwealth as a whole in a variety of ways. As a business enterprise, SRU helps create jobs; supports Pennsylvania companies by purchasing supplies, services and materials; and brings new money into the economy through out-of state dollars. The University provides a skilled workforce to Pennsylvania employers and prepares graduates that support and create business opportunities. SRU also provides services to help businesses develop and prosper.

participants received training and 209,612 person-hours of training were delivered. Since its inception in 2004, the RLA has provided more than 1 million people hours of professional development training to regional business. Westinghouse cited the RLA as one of eight reasons why it retained its world headquarters in Pennsylvania rather than moving out-of state.

• SRU, in collaboration with the Butler County Development Corporation and the SRU Foundation, is building a busi-

ness Innovation Center that will offer a variety of support services to entrepreneurs seeking to start a business. The Center will provide office space, access to University facilities and faculty and student assis-tance. The School of Business received a PASSHE sponsored grant in the amount of $90,246.50 to conduct planning and feasibility work for the Center. The three-year grant runs from June 2008 through May 2011. In the first year of the grant, Dr. John Misner, former project director, researched best practices, visited universi-ties with successful incubators, formed an Advisory Board, assessed the level of commercially viable research on the SRU campus, conducted focus groups with local entrepreneurs, wrote a business and strategic plan for the venture, formed and met with a review team consisting of repre-sentatives from nearby county community development organizations, contributed to the design of the Center facility, and inte-grated an entrepreneurship program into the Center’s program statement. WTW Architects have developed a site plan for the Center and is assisting with the develop-ment of bid documents for infrastructure development. Permits for road access devel-

opment were received from the Pennsyl-vania Department of Transportation; the base of the access road is completed. The School of Business was successful in hiring three faculty members with entrepreneur-ship experience. One faculty member will be responsible for curriculum development of a minor in entrepreneurship.

• SRU’s College of Business, Information and Social Sciences provides students and faculty as consultants on projects ranging from financial planning, to

marketing, to public relations to strategic planning for small businesses.

• The Macoskey Center for Sustainable Systems Education and Research assists communities and individual business in formulating effective energy and sustain-ability strategies.

• SRU provides leadership expertise to local and regional economic and busi-ness organizations including the Butler County Development Corporation, the Slippery Rock Downtown Development Authority, the Slippery Rock Business Association and the Butler Chamber of Commerce. Staff. Faculty and staff routinely volunteer as members of local non-profit boards and associations.

• As the premiere undergraduate public residential university in the region, SRU is a selling benefit for community and economic development agencies seeking to attract new businesses to the area. The University provides a pool of skilled graduates and available part-time employ-ees. The University’s library, recreational facilities, performing arts and sports programs enrich the educational, cultural and social life in the community.

CHANGE GOVERNANCESlippery Rock University is a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. A 20-member Board of Governors leads PASSHE. The Board establishes broad educa-tional, fiscal and personnel policy, and oversees the efficient management of PASSHE. Among other tasks, the Board appoints the chancellor and university presidents, approves new academic programs, sets tuition, and coor-dinates and approves the annual PASSHE operating budget.

A 12-member Council of Trustees governs the University. Its members are nominated and appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate serving a term of six (6) years, and until their succes-sors are appointed and qualified. At least two (2) members of the group are to be alumni of the institution and one (1) member is to be a full-time undergraduate student.

The president serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the University and reports to the Chancellor and the Council of Trustees. Reporting to the Office of the President are the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Vice President for Finance and Administration, the Vice President for Student Life, the Vice President for Advancement, the Executive Director for Public Relations, the Senior Officer for Diversity and Inclusion, and the Executive Assistant to the President.

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• Slippery Rock University was among one of only 150 colleges and universities nation-ally to be recognized as a Great Place to Work by The Chronicle of Higher Education as part of the 2009 Great Colleges to Work For Survey. SRU ranked in the top 10 in five of 26 categories

• The Princeton Review cited Slippery Rock University as one of the 218 best college and universities in the Northeast.

• The Daily Beast named Slippery Rock University one of the nation’s Top 25 Safe Campuses.

• Shardea Croes, an SRU sophomore exercise science major from Aruba, was a finalist in the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award presented by Diverse: Issues in High Education magazine. Croes was the only non-Division I, female student-athlete in the finalist pool.

• Pittsburgh Magazine named Slippery Rock University’s “Leave It Green” project as one of the 50-best eco-friendly projects in the region.

• For the third consecutive year, Slippery Rock University’s math students placed in the world’s top 20 out of 1,600 stu-dent teams worldwide competing in The Mathematical Contest in Modeling.

• Karen Brown, a 1973 Slippery Rock University graduate and principal at Boyce Middle School, received the 2009 National Middle School Association Distinguished Educator Award.

• Slippery Rock University was profiled in the 2009 edition of “Beyond the Books,

ROCK SOLID successesGuide to Service-Learning at Colleges and Universities.” SRU was once of only four institutions nationally that was featured in a chapter on the schools that teach students to use academic skills for community projects.

• The Institute for International Education ranked Slippery Rock University as num-ber 35 in its Top 40 list of master’s degree-granting institutions offering study abroad programs. SRU was the only Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education institu-tion recognized.

• Boozel Dining Hall, the primary, on-campus student dining facility at Slippery Rock University, won the American School and University Magazine’s Educational Interiors Showcase Outstanding Design Award in the cafeteria/food service areas category.

• Slippery Rock University used a $549,4354 grant from the U.S. Corporation for National and Community Service to launch a RecoveryCorps program in Pittsburgh and Beaver and Venango coun-ties. The program focuses on three areas: the welfare of children, agency and job referral, and home energy audits for low-income household.

• Slippery Rock University’s Boozel Dining Hall was identified in Univer-sity Business as a “Dining Hall of Distinction.”

• Slippery Rock University’s dance program has been named one of the top 200 programs in the country for creative students by “Creative Colleges: A Guide for Student Actors, Artists, Dancers, Musicians and Writers.”

• The National Dance Education Organization named Thom Cobb, SRU associate professor of dance, the 2008 Outstand-ing Dance Educator for Post-Secondary Education.

• Slippery Rock University’s graduate program in adapted physical activity received a four-year, $773,990 grant

from the U.S. Department of Education/Office of Special Education Programs to support 11 graduate students a year with full-tuition scholarships. SRU’s program prepares graduates to help people with disabilities lead healthier, more active lives.

• Charles Curry, vice president for finance and administration at SRU, was pre-sented a Minority Achievement Award by Minority Opinion Magazine.

• Stephen Barr, assistant professor of music at SRU, was awarded the 2008-09 ASCAPLUS award by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.

• SRU’s “I Can Do It, You Can Do It” mentoring program was selected by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Disability to be the charter institution for a national expan-sion of the program.

• The Storm Harbor Equestrian Center at SRU became the only university-based equestrian center in Pennsylvania to receive a Premier Center accreditation from the North American riding for the Handicapped Association.

• Kathy Dillaman, a former Slippery Rock University student and award-winning criminal background investigator, was selected to receive the prestigious United

States 2008 Presidential Rank Award. Dillaman manages a $500-million investigations program for the Office of Personnel Management, Washington, D.C.

• Talk Magazine named Jessamine Montero, senior officer for diversity and inclusion, as a 2009 Minority Achiever.

Alumni Achievements• C. Vivian Stringer, a 1970 and 1993

Slippery Rock University graduate and head women’s basketball coach at Rutgers University, was honored by Nike, the Oregon-based footwear com-pany, which named a child development center after her. The facility includes a wing for toddlers called “The Rock.” Stringer was inducted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

• Robert Stevens, a 1976 Slippery Rock University graduate, is president and chief executive officer for Lockheed Martin Corp., a global security company that employs about 140,000 people worldwide.

• Charles Sanders, a 1986 Slippery Rock University graduate, and his wife, Elisa, had their Pittsburgh-based business, Urban Settlement Services Inc., ranked as one of the Top Black Businesses in the country by Black Enterprise Magazine.

• F. Dennis Riegelnegg, a 1972 Slippery Rock University graduate, was named the first lay president of St. Joseph’s College in Indiana.

• Joe Finney, a 1986 Slippery Rock University graduate, is president and chief executive officer of Tire Centers LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Michelin North America Inc.

• Ron Hunt, a 1974 Slippery Rock University graduate and senior vice president for First Niagara, was selected by The New Pittsburgh Courier as one of 50 African-American men in the region who has made significant contributions to the community and business world.

• Helen Sobehart, a 1972 Slippery Rock University graduate, was named the first lay president of Cardinal Stritch University in Wisconsin.

• Kathe House Posey, a 1979 graduate and sixth-grade teacher at Mount Union-Kistler Elementary School in Mount Union, was named Teacher of the Year in Pennsylvania in the 12th annual Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club State Teacher of the Year program.

• SRU sustainable systems graduates Jeff Jaeger, Greg Boulos and Joe Jenkins were featured on the national edition of

PBS’ “The News Hour with Jim Lehrer” regarding how the Grow Pittsburgh Braddock’s Urban Farm Project is becoming an eco-showcase for green technologies and jobs.

Student Successes• James Goetz, Slippery Rock University

environmental geosciences major, has been accepted into the NASA 2009 Student Airborne Research Program at the University of California, Irvine.

• Anna Cypher, a Slippery Rock University senior in vocal performance, took top honors in the senior women classical division of the National Association of Teachers of Singing Tri-state auditions.

• Jeremy Gebhart, an exercise science major at Slippery Rock University, was admitted to Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and awarded an $80,000 scholarship.

• Lauren Banko, a Slippery Rock University graduate, is in the doctoral program at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London.

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www.SRU.eduA member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education

rock solid education

1 Morrow WaySlippery Rock, PA 16057

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