ROCK bytes Ziegler joins SRU as IT associate provost
John Ziegler, a veteran in technology development and implementation, has been named SRU’s new associate provost for information technology. Ziegler most recently served as executive director of computer and technology services at Duquesne University. Ziegler said his initial goals are to assess the University’s current state of technology, determine future needs and examine how better procedures might boost technology use. He also hopes to develop a new email system for faculty and staff. “We are putting together a number of ideas and people to make technology a real campus effort,” he said.
Students bring cosmos to light The earth, stars and galaxies exploded in color when SRU students gave stargazers celestial tours during a spring cosmos program. Captivating audiences during a multi-week series were students who expressed thanks for the education that has enabled them to become night sky explorers, video technicians and cosmos presentation artists. “As a computer science major, producing a planetarium show has really helped me grow by giving me an outlet; a goal to achieve,” said Daniel Arnett of Butler and head presenter. “I am solving problems that have never been solved before and in ways that have never been attempted, all because SRU gives students all the resources we need to thrive.”
SRU earns safety honors SRU has been keeping some good company – and some safe company. The University has been cited as one of the Top 60 Safest Colleges in America. The report, compiled by University Primetime, lists SRU at 34th for 2014. “Safety is always our top priority,” said SRU Police Chief Michael Simmons. “We strive to keep our students, faculty, staff and visitors safe. That safety depends in large part on everyone who is on our campus. We urge everyone to be aware of their surroundings and to report, and avoid, any suspicious activity they might see.” “While our officers are vigilant, it is truly the fact that our entire community works hard to keep our campus a safe place to grow and learn,” he said.
SRU earns world sustainability ranking SRU’s sustainability initiatives earned recognition when the University was ranked 43 of 301 universities worldwide in the University of Indonesia’s 2013 Green Metric University Sustainability Ranking. The survey assessed and compared higher education sustainability practices, with more emphasis on preservation of the campus environment than other green surveys.
The Rocket captures 37 awards The student newspaper, The Rocket, earned 37 awards in a variety of competitions including eight 2013 Mark of Excellence Awards from the Society of Professional Journalists. Alex Mowrey, the newspaper’s photo editor and a communication major from San Diego, Calif., earned five awards, among them the top spot in three categories. The Rocket scored 27 honors from the Society for Collegiate Journalists including eight first-place awards, and it earned the First Place with Special Merit Award and was one of two student newspapers nationally to receive theMost Outstanding University Newspaper for 2013-14 from the American Scholastic Press Association.
PASSHE approves special education doctorate The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education has approved a doctorate degree in special education at SRU. The doctorate, the first such doctoral degree in the system, will equip college faculty to prepare teachers to be effective in inclusive classroom settings and/or to serve in special education leadership positions in the K-12 system or with related support service agencies. A launch is planned for 2015.
SRU launches online history master’s degree SRU is bringing back the master of arts degree in history, this time as an online program that gives students anywhere convenient access to graduate level education. The program targets recent graduates, teachers who want to enhance their credentials and military personnel. www.SRU.edu
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