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
SRU’s actions to address power and HVAC outages
SRU is taking the following steps to evaluate the causes and implement reforms regarding the University’s preparedness related to recent power and HVAC outages, as mentioned in President Karen Riley’s message to campus last week:
1. Supporting our students
- The University has expanded the contracts with two electrical contractors, Right Electric and Blackhawk Neff, to include 24/7 emergency response and consultative services to investigate issues and facilitate repairs as promptly as possible.
- The University will have multiple contracted HVAC technicians on site, joining our dedicated in-house staff, to provide real-time assistance for student concerns during the beginning of each semester.
- Emergency supplies are being sourced and funded to keep in inventory; they include sleeping cots, chargers, flashlights, emergency blankets, portable HVAC units, power strips, and basic hygiene items.
- Housing plans include the ability for students to access their rooms to retrieve clothing, bedding, and basic toiletries, as well as a supply of pillows and blankets that may be provided to students unable to access their rooms.
- Aramark will increase their on-site inventory of bottled water and nutritional snacks for emergency use.
2. Building a resilient infrastructure
- Water filtration systems have been installed on the main cooling tower water supply and building heating/cooling loop for Buildings D and E, with four additional buildings scheduled now through Summer 2025.
- Heat pumps in Buildings D and E were replaced in 2019. A multi-year, needs-based replacement schedule is being developed for Buildings A, D and F.
- 40 heat pumps were purchased for inventory in case existing units in Buildings A, B, D and Watson fail.
- 59 new heat pumps were added and an additional 76 heat pumps for Building F were ordered for installation after the filters are installed.
3. Preparing for the future
- Penn State Facilities Engineering Institute performed infrared scans of buildings impacted by the January power outage and found no additional damage. Upper campus buildings will be taken offline for 4-6 hours during spring break for further inspection and preventative maintenance to the upper campus switchgear.
- Aebersold Student Recreation Center and Boozel Dining Hall are being prepared for quick connections to building-wide generator backup. The next step is building load studies to determine the size of generators needed for each facility to ensure the University is minimizing its costs and carbon footprint.
- Morrow Field House is being prepared to receive a dedicated backup generator as part of a design phase expected to begin late 2025.
- SRU now has spare heat exchanger plates in inventory to reduce the downtime of impacted systems by half should a heat exchanger become clogged with sediment and need to be replaced. Removing a heat exchanger for cleaning typically takes 4-6 hours.
Parking at All Saints not available on Wednesdays
Due to church programming, supplemental parking at All Saints Lutheran Church, at 351 S. Main St., is no longer available to faculty, staff and students on Wednesdays. For more information, contact the Parking and ID Office at 724.738.4785 or email at sruparking_id@sru.edu.
SRU’s application for Carnegie Community Engagement reclassification
SRU’s application for the Carnegie Community Engagement reclassification is available for viewing.
- The application will be submitted by April 1.
- Feedback and questions should be submitted by March 19 to steering committee chair Jeffrey Rathlef, director, Center for Community Engagement, by emailing at jeffrey.rathlef@sru.edu.
- SRU first earned this classification in 2020.
- The University will be notified about its reclassification status in January 2026.
- Steering committee members also include Mohammad Kazemi (College of Engineering and Science, Melissa Swauger (College of Liberal Arts), Betsy Kemeny (College of Health Professions), Amy Orville (College of Education), Douglas Strahler (College of Business) and Josette Skobieranda-Dau, associate director, Center for Community Engagement.
SRU celebrates Women’s History Month
SRU is celebrating the contributions and accomplishments of women during March. The University is also empowering women and educating the entire campus community with a series of Women’s History Month programs and events. See all events and more details on the University’s news release.
Kind Closet seeking donations, providing clothing
SRU’s Kind Closet is now accepting donations of new or gently used professional and casual clothing for college students attending field/clinical experiences, internships, job interviews and more.
- Donations can be made 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, in Carruth Rizza Hall, Room 012.
- Students can access items for free.
For more information, contact Katie Leckenby, associate professor of special education, at 724.738.2457 or katie.leckenby@sru.edu.
Dates & Deadlines
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 4, 13, 18 and 27: Academic Records and Registration drop-in sessions
Faculty and staff are invited to attend open drop-in sessions 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 during the following periods:
- March 4, from noon to 1 p.m. (click here).
- March 13, from noon to 1 p.m. (click here).
- March 18, from noon to 1 p.m. (click here).
- March 27, from noon to 1 p.m. (click here).
For more information, contact Academic Records at 724.738.2010 or academic.records@sru.edu.
March 6, 18 and 27: OneSIS training
Training is available for faculty and staff using the OneSiS student information system that the University is currently transitioning to. The training will provide a brief overview of the project and how it will impact the Fall 2025 semester, and it is for anyone who frequently uses the MySRU portal, Banner or is preparing to advise students for fall registration. The training will take place during Zoom:
- March 6, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. (click here).
- March 18, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. (click here).
- March 27, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. (click here).
For more information, contact Academic Records at 724.738.2010 or academic.records@sru.edu.
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.
March 19: RSVP for the Employee Service Recognition Celebration
Employees planning to attend the Employee Service Recognition Celebration must RSVP by completing an online form on or before March 19. The event is happening from 12:30-1:45 p.m., April 8, in the Smith Student Center Ballroom.
On campus this week
- March 4, 10-11:30 a.m.: Think, Talk, Transform: When Nothing Seems to Be Going Your Way: Here’s Exactly What to Do.
- March 5, 7:30 p.m.: Symphonic Wind Ensemble Concert.
- March 6, 12:30 p.m.: Speaker from Northwestern Mutual, Matt Reitler.
For more campus events, visit CORE, SRU’s online platform for student organizations and events.
HR Updates
Spring Break hours
The University will observe a temporary change to the regular work schedule for office personnel during spring break, March 8-16.
- During this period, the University will observe an 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. work schedule with a half-hour lunch. Business casual dress is permitted. Offices currently open during lunch will remain open during this temporary schedule.
- The University will resume its regular work schedule, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with a one-hour lunch, March 17.
- Some campus services and offices that are available for students will have modified hours of operation during spring break, March 8-16. A listing is available online.
Please direct questions to the Human Resources Office at 724.738.2070.
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
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, 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.
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 Pillar #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.
In the News
Recent media coverage of SRU from around the web:
- ‘Inevitable’: Many physicians unsurprised by measles outbreak in Texas, New Mexico –– Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
- Butler County colleges focus on student mental health –– Butler Eagle
- State higher education system requests funding to keep tuition frozen –– Butler Eagle
- New group to tackle population loss in rural Pa. communities –– New Castle News
- Fall Dean’s List –– Grove City Allied News
- Shohola native in SRU Theatre’s ‘Junie B. Jones, the Musical’ –– Narrowsburg (N.Y.) River Reporter
- Latrobe native to participate in SRU Theatre’s ‘Junie B. Jones, the Musical’ –– Latrobe Bulletin
- Philipsburg native to participate in SRU’s upcoming musical –– Clearfield Progress
- ‘The Price Is Right’ Shares Rare Images of All the Models Together –– TV Insider