‘It’s on Us’ video seeks solutions to sexual assault
The Rocket captures multiple student newspaper awards
Slippery Rock University has joined the “It’s On Us” national movement to engage more young people to be active bystanders in the fight against sexual assault. The Office of University Communication and Public Affairs developed a campus-specific video encouraging people to sign a four-point pledge to be part of the solution. “It’s On Us” encourages everyone to step up and realize that sexual assault isn‘t just an issue involving a victim and a perpetrator, but one that involves everyone. The campaign works to support survivors and educate individuals on how they can be part of the solution. SRU’s video can be seen at: https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=qrS9X7XJYis
SRU named a 2016 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School awardee The White House Council on Environmental Quality and the U.S. Secretary of Education named Slippery Rock University as a 2016 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School Postsecondary Sustainability Awardee. SRU, which was nominated for the honor by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, was the only institution of higher education in the state to be recommended for the postsecondary sustainability award. “It is an honor to be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education with this award and a tribute to our staff, students and faculty that contribute daily to our efforts to support sustainability initiatives at SRU,” said Cheryl Norton, SRU president. The award recognizes schools, districts and institutions of higher education that adhere to the trio of Green Ribbon Pillars, including: reduction of environmental impact
The Rocket, the independent, student newspaper serving Slippery Rock University, captured first place in overall newspaper excellence (for publications published weekly or less) from the Society for Collegiate Journalists. The Rocket also earned third-place honors for its companion website, www. theonlinerocket.com. The awards were part of SCJ’s 2015-16 annual contest recognizing excellence in collegiate journalism. In addition to the two newspaper awards, Rocket staffers won 21 awards for individual excellence, including The Society for Collegiate Journalists is the nation’s oldest organization designed solely to serve college media leaders. SCJ has more than 100 active chapters in the U.S., serving 1,200 members. The Rocket was also recognized with four “Mark of Excellence” awards from the Society of Professional Journalists. The MOE Awards honor the best of collegiate journalism from a calendar year. The Rocket won three awards for photography and one for its website.
and costs; improvement of the health and wellness of schools, students and staff; and providing environmental education, which teaches many disciplines and is especially good at effectively incorporating STEM, civic skills and green career pathways.
SRU earns Buffalo Business First ranking Slippery Rock University was the lone representative from Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education to be ranked in the Buffalo, New York Business First’s 2016 academic rankings of U.S. public colleges. Overall, Business First analyzed 477 four-year public colleges, using the latest data available from the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Census Bureau‘s American Community Survey. College rankings recently issued by three national publications – Forbes, Kiplinger‘s and U.S. News and World Report – were also taken into account. SRU landed at No. 140 in a field of the top 250 ranked institutions. The remaining 227
institutions were grouped in the “lower echelon,” according to Business First. A 20-part formula was created to identify those schools that offered the best educational experiences to their students. It gave the highest marks to schools with highly selective admissions processes, strong retention and graduation rates, prestigious reputations, generous resources, affordable tuitions and housing costs, diversity and economically robust communities.
SRU wins 2016 Healthiest Employers of Western PA award The University’s efforts to encourage employees to take 10,000 steps a day, relax through yoga and mindful meditation and take time to play are paying off in more ways than just having a healthier staff. The University was recently awarded a 2016 “Healthiest Employers of Western Pennsylvania Award” from the Pittsburgh Business Times. This is the second consecutive year SRU has been recognized for its coordinated efforts to change
the campus culture toward improved health and wellness. The award recognizes companies that have made a commitment to make wellness a priority for employees. Award recipients were judged based on their responses to an online survey conducted by the Business Times.
Online master’s degrees earn national rankings Slippery Rock University‘s online master‘s degree in criminal justice has been ranked among the top 25 programs nationally by GoGrad.org and among the top 45 programs in the country by affordablecolleges online.org. Affordablecolleges online.org also recognized another trio of SRU online graduate programs – English, history and math – with rankings among the top 20 in the country. English was ranked 19th; history, 12th; and math, 19th.
Spring 2016
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