Mansfield University Alumni Newsletter - February 2021

THE MANSFIELD F E B R U A R Y

2 0 2 1 A L U M N I

N E W S L E T T E R

A L U M N I N E W S L E T T E R

INTEGRATION AN

OPEN FROM

THE BUZZ ON THE HILL

LETTER CASEY

WOOD

'02

Dear Fellow Mounties, I am pleased to share that our Alma Mater is at the forefront of shaping the future of higher education in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Through integrated partnerships with Bloomsburg and Lock Haven Universities, Mansfield looks to expand access to degree programs and build new credentials infused by career pathways that support regional and statewide needs.

Integration • P. 1-4

Black History Month • P. 5

Return to Play • P. 6

Spring Semester • P. 7

INTEGRATION Integration serves as an opportunity for each campus to emerge stronger by leveraging each other’s strengths, increasing services offered, and broadening alumni, faculty, and employer engagement. Combining the scale and support of three institutions will position us to appropriately serve an increasingly diverse student population. As we integrate our commonalities and leverage our strengths in best practice, our alma mater will naturally become stronger. Earning a degree from Mansfield has always been a respected accomplishment. As we grow stronger together, the prominence of holding a Mansfield degree will also grow.

As we forge ahead in designing the future of higher education in the Northern Tier, President Patterson and I commit to updating you as we reach key milestones. You will find regular updates in our monthly Alumni Newsletter. If at any time you wish to provide feedback or have questions regarding integration, you can submit your communications by visiting the integration website.

WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW WITH INTEGRATION? We are in the initial stages of a multi-year process that includes designing an integration implementation plan. We are pursuing a structure that has a single administration, faculty cohort, enrollment management strategy, academic program array, and budget while also maintaining local institutional identity, Mountaineer Athletics, student housing, campus life, and critical student support structures at all three campuses.

The integration team is expected to submit preliminary implementation plans to the Board of Governors in April, and, if approved, integration plans will be subject to a public comment period lasting 60 days. The Board will then review the public comments and consider final implementation plans as early as July. This means the first cohort of students to enroll in an integrated university would take place in the fall of 2022.

WHAT DOES INTEGRATION MEAN FOR OUR ALMA MATER? We remain committed to retaining the Mansfield name and honoring our identity, brand, and traditions while opening the door to new opportunities through integration. The cherished and historic Mansfield name will continue to appear on diplomas now and in the future.

Our Mansfield Alumni Association – a vibrant and proud network – 33,000 strong and counting – will remain. Integration offers exciting opportunities to expand our network with more than 111,000 new friends who share similar experiences and offer incredible professional connections and – together – valuable connections and opportunities for our students and you – our alumni.

INTEGRATION HOW WILL INTEGRATION AFFECT ALUMNI AND DONOR SUPPORT? When you give to Mansfield University directly all financial contributions follow donor intent and any applicable donor restrictions. All gifts to Mansfield University will support Mansfield University and our students. The personalized philanthropic service we provide to you today will not go away. Through integration, Mansfield University's customer service and engagement opportunities will only expand.

INTEGRATION AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS Integrating with our partner institutions will expand opportunities for future Mountaineers by providing flexibility and positioning Mansfield to sustain an accessible and affordable education.

Mountaineer Athletics: As you know, athletic programs are a valued aspect of our campus enrollment and student life, contributing so much to what we love and remember about our Mansfield experience. We are pursuing a path with the NCAA that will maintain an athletic complement at each university. While we are unsure what our athletic complement will look like at this time, we will have Mountaineer Athletics!

INTEGRATION NEXT STEPS To gain further insight into the integration process please visit our integration website.

I am thankful to be deeply involved in this process as we define our future together. I look forward to continuing this important work with our administrators, faculty and staff, integrated universities, and with you, our alumni. Together, we will incorporate the strengths of all three storied-institutions to ensure a bright future for Mansfield University and higher education opportunities in the Northern Tier.

Respectfully,

Casey M. Wood '02 Director of Alumni Affairs & Advancement

"We are committed as a Borough Council and as a community to supporting this integration because it gives us the opportunity to thrive.

We’re going to be better because of this.�

STEVE MCCLOSKEY '91 Director of Athletic Operations (retired) Mansfield Borough Council Member

BLACK HISTORY MONTH PUTTING A FOCUS ON JUSTICE In honor of Black History Month, in this issue of the alumni newsletter, we pay tribute to alumnus John V. Elmore, class of 1979.

A practicing attorney for over 35 years, Elmore has dedicated his professional career to making sure that hardworking families are treated fairly by the legal system.

Residing in Buffalo, John charts years of service with the New York State Attorney Grievance Committees and multiple appointments by Governor Cuomo to serve on judicial screening committees.

JOHN V. ELMORE, ESQ. '79

In October 2020, Elmore was recognized as "Lawyer of the Year" by the Erie County (NY) Bar Association.

Referred to as "The Real Deal" by Superlawyers.com, Elmore, a former Golden Club Boxer, is said to bring his grit in all arenas.

In addition to earning several professional accolades throughout his distinguished career, Elmore is also a community advocate and is recognized as an Uncrowned Community Builder.

DID YOU KNOW? Elmore authored Fighting for Your Life: The African-American Criminal

Elmore was actively involved as an undergraduate student at Mansfield and a member of the 4x100m Track & Field relay team, which still holds the university record with a time of 42.5 in 1978.

Justice Survival Guide.

MOUNTAINEER ATHLETICS TO COMPETE THIS SPRING!

VIEW SCHEDULES: Baseball Softball Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field

PLAY BALL

SPRING CLASSES AT MANSFIELD On February 1, we kicked off the Spring semester. To mitigate the risk of exposure to COVID-19 and to keep our campus community safe, our student residential population has been reduced. Most classes will be offered remotely, with a limited number of in-person courses available on Mansfield University's campus and at the Sayre Campus at Robert Packer Hospital.

We continue to maintain and adjust our Health & Safety Plan to meet the needs of our students and our campus community.

Stay abreast of our campus safety plan and our COVID-19 tracker:

Health & Safety Plan Covid-19 Tracker

SHOP THE MOUNTIE SPIRIT STORE FOR MOUNTIE MASKS LIKE YOU SEE HERE.

OFFICE OF ALUMNI AFFAIRS & ADVANCEMENT 31 S. Academy St. Mansfield, PA 16933 888-305-6505