Campus Update – Apr 21, 2025
Dates and Deadlines HR Updates Reminders In The News Dates & Deadlines May 2: Deadline to sign up to become a commencement volunteer…
University Announcements
State System requests funding to keep tuition flat again
Christopher Fiorentino, the interim chancellor of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education, encouraged the Pennsylvania General Assembly to increase state funding. While testifying before the Senate Appropriations Committee and the House Appropriations Committee last week, Fiorentino encouraged an increase in state funding to enable SRU and all State System universities to keep tuition frozen for an eighth year and invest in student success initiatives.
- The request calls for an appropriation of $661.1 million, which represents a $40.3 million, or 6.5%, increase over the current fiscal year.
- Learn more online about PASSHE’s 2025-26 funding request.
Register early for Summer Session classes
Students planning to register for Summer 2025 session classes need to be aware of the following:
- Registration begins at 8 a.m., March 3.
- Because of the OneSIS transition, Summer 2025 registration is opening early this year.
- Students are strongly encouraged to register on March 3 or soon thereafter to help prevent unnecessary prerequisite restrictions when registering for Fall 2025 classes in April.
- Learn more about Summer Session and registration online.
- Visit the OneSIS FAQ page for more information about the OneSIS transition.
If you have more questions, contact the Office of Academic Records and Registration at academic.records@sru.edu or 724.738.2010.
Dates & Deadlines
Feb. 25: Academic Records and Registration Drop-In Sessions
Faculty and staff are invited to attend an open drop-in session via Zoom hosted by the Office of Academic Records and Registration to learn more about Rock Audit, registration, graduation, OneSiS, or any other academic record inquiries. No appointment is necessary. Just log on using your SRU single-sign-on at any time on:
- Feb. 25, from noon to 1 p.m. (click here).
For more information, contact Academic Records at 724.738.2010 or academic.records@sru.edu.
Feb. 24: Abstracts due for SRU student research symposium
SRU students are invited to submit abstracts for the SRU Symposium for Student Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity. Faculty are also invited to encourage students to submit.
- Complete an online submission form on CORE.
- The deadline is 5 p.m., Feb. 24.
- The symposium will occur April 17 in the Smith Student Center Ballroom.
For more information, visit the symposium webpage or email student.symposium@sru.edu.
Feb. 26: Nominations due for Outstanding Service Award
SRU employees are encouraged to nominate a faculty or staff member for the President’s Award for Outstanding Service. The award recognizes “extraordinary commitment to University service and citizenship beyond the scope of an individual’s normal functions at SRU as demonstrated through active participation in functions on or off campus that benefit the University.”
- To be eligible, nominees must be a full-time employee with at least five years of service and who have not previously won the award (listed here).
- The nomination must include a personal letter of nomination documenting why the candidate should be considered and be submitted to the executive leadership team member who represents the nominee’s division.
- The deadline to complete and submit the nomination form is Feb. 26.
March 4: Student research grant application due
Applications for SRU’s Student Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities grant are due by 4 p.m., March 4. The grant supports independent research or a scholarly project to be conducted in collaboration with a faculty or staff mentor of up to $1,500 in funds. Download the RFP for more information about how to apply or visit the Grants Office webpage.
March 6: Faculty orders for commencement regalia due
The deadline for faculty members to order regalia (for rental or purchase) for the spring commencement ceremonies is March 6. To order, visit the SGA Bookstore in the Smith Student Center or call 724.738.2104.
March 8: Nominations due for Outstanding Senior Award
Faculty and staff are encouraged to nominate a student for the SRU Alumni Association’s Outstanding Senior Award, which is
- Given to first- or second-semester seniors who display academic excellence, leadership, involvement in campus activities and good moral character;
- Recipients receive a $500 gift from the Alumni Association; and they are
- Recognized at an awards banquet on April 12.
- The submission form is available online and the deadline is March 8.
For more information, contact Hope Pietrocarlo at 724.738.2182 or hope.pietrocarlo@sru.edu.
March 17: SCORE grant proposals due
Proposals for SRU’s Summer Collaborative Research Experience grant program are due 4 p.m., March 17. This grant provides up to $5,000 in funding to introduce undergraduate students to academic research and gives faculty a research assistant during the summer months. Download the RFP for more information about how to apply or visit the Grants Office webpage.
March 18: Faculty Travel Grant applications due
Applications for the Faculty Travel Grant are due March 18. The grant supports the professional development of SRU faculty members by providing funds to present the results of their research or creative activity at professional conferences or artistic venues. Applications submitted by March 18 are for travel scheduled between July 1 and Dec. 31, 2025). Download the application form for more information about how to apply or visit the Grants Office webpage.
On campus this week
- Feb. 25, 5-7 p.m.: Laws, Bills, & Executive Orders: Understanding the USA Government
- Feb. 28 to March 4: “Junie B. Jones, The Musical” (visit sru.edu/tickets for all show times and tickets)
- March 1, 4:30 p.m.: International Dinner and Celebration
For more upcoming campus events, visit CORE.
HR Updates
SRU mourns the loss of former trustee Mary Jo White
Mary Jo White, who served on the SRU council of trustees from 2013-19, passed away Feb. 21 at her home in Franklin at the age of 83. After a professional career as an attorney and public defender, White was a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate, representing the 21st District, from 1997 to 2013. More information is available in her obituary.
Retirement planning sessions available
SRU employees can receive one-on-one counseling for retirement planning from Vincent Roney, a representative from TIAA. Appointments are available for:
- Feb. 25, 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., in Old Main, Room 008.
- March 11, 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., in Old Main, Room 008.
- March 25, 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., in Old Main, Room 008.
Appointments can be scheduled by visiting TIAA.org/schedulenow or by calling 800.732.8353.
Reminders
Student Code of Conduct updated for Title IX rules
In accordance with the recent change to Title IX rules, the SRU Student Code of Conduct has been revised. It can be downloaded here or accessed from the Student Conduct webpage. If you have questions regarding these changes, please contact Scott Irlbacher, assistant dean of students, at 724.738.4985 or scott.irlbacher@sru.edu.
Take a community impact and collaboration survey
Employees are invited to take a survey that will be used by the SRU’s Strategic Plan Piller #3 implementation working group that is centered on the University’s “Commitment to Community Impact and Collaboration.” Responses will be used by the group to assess:
- Which community partners you are engaging with,
- What types of activities you are engaging in, and
- How the University can collect and use data about community collaborations for informed internal decision-making.
The brief survey can be completed online and the group will not contact your collaborators or publish their names and contact information. For more information, contact working group co-chair Melissa Swauger at melissa.swauger@sru.edu.
SRU launches updated page for University news
There’s a new online home for articles, stories, photos and other content about SRU.
- Visit news.sru.edu to see the refreshed and reorganized news website.
- There are category sections for faculty, students, university news, awards and rankings, and alumni, as well as pages for event previews and Good News.
- The new website has content from the last year, and the complete archives are available on the legacy news site.
- The site is developed and maintained by the Office of University Marketing and Communication.
- We need fresh content to fill the site: Share your news or stories, even if it is a testimonial about a positive experience at SRU, by completing this online form or emailing news@sru.edu.
In the News
Recent media coverage of SRU from around the web:
- RU students get to work at Super Bowl –– Butler Eagle
- Rescue Cat Adopted by Frat Boys Living Best Life as ‘Official House Mom’ –– Newsweek
- How giving back can lead to a journey of success –– Grove City Allied News and Sharon Herald