Blog From the 'BURG

Bringing Families Together Around the World Through FSU's Commencement

2011-12-21T07:21:00.000-08:00

So yesterday was an exciting moment for Frostburg State University because not only did we celebrate our graduates, we also shared our Commencement ceremony through livestream, for the first time in our institutional history. It is archived on livestream here.

I wanted to share a very nice message I received from Gail Miller, the mom of Valerie Yurche, who graduated yesterday with a bachelor's degree in Wildlife & Fisheries. It is so rewarding to know that we can help families celebrate their graduates at FSU Commencement all over the world.

Dr. Gibralter- I would like to thank you so much for making yesterday’s graduation accessible on the Web.

My son has been in the military for the past 6 years so he missed his sister’s high school graduation, and again, her college graduation. He is currently stationed in Sicily and I haven’t seen him in three years. He called me on my cell shortly before the commencement began to tell me he was watching. He actually saw us sitting in the stands.

As his sister, Valerie Yurche, walked across the stage, he continually hit screen print and then posted it all on Facebook for all of our relatives to see. It was WONDERFUL!

Although my son is only 25, I tell everyone he is an old soul. His favorite group of all times is the Beatles! Need I say more…… The speech was very memorable and I wish you nothing but the best.

Sincerely,
A VERY PROUD MOTHER
Gail Miller

Meeting This Friday About Merger, Reporting Abuse

2011-12-08T09:56:00.000-08:00

At the request of Chancellor Kirwan, I wanted to inform you all of a special meeting of the University System of Maryland Board of Regents scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9, at University of Maryland University College. At this public meeting, the Regents will discuss and vote on its study of the advantages and disadvantages of merging the University of Maryland, Baltimore and the University of Maryland, College Park. The other agenda item will be the Board's consideration of a policy on reporting suspected child abuse and neglect.

The meeting will be held in Room 1312 of UMUC's West Building in Adelphi. Click here for directions.

As was the case when the Board held public hearings on the merger issue at UMB and UMCP, Friday's Board meeting will be live streamed. Information on accessing the live video stream will be posted on the home page of the USM website here.

In Inside Higher Ed: "Expanding the Conversation"

2011-12-06T06:43:00.000-08:00

On Monday, President Obama, university chancellors and presidents from 10 institutions and experts on higher education cost and productivity met to discuss college affordability. I was inspired to write the following editorial, published in today's Inside Higher Ed. Here is an excerpt from my editorial:

"As President of Frostburg State University, in the University System of Maryland, it is important to me to give voice to the work that we do so well. If one looks across the country we see countless examples of the colleges and universities that are truly the foundations of their communities - without whom the economies and work forces of their region would surely collapse. And our institutions educate and graduate their students with amazingly low per-student costs.

We have no choice but to be affordable, because the resources don’t exist to be anything but lean operations. We continue to find solutions to issues such as diminishing funds and resources, the inability to raise tuition at the same rates as in-state peers, marginalization in our state capitals when compared with our states’ research flagships, and demoralization of our world class faculty for their choice to work at teaching institutions.

Regardless of these obstacles, we persist and provide a high-quality education to our students in support of our missions. We are focused on educating the best and brightest as well as those students who may not have graduated at the top of their class but understand the importance of a college degree and are working hard to earn theirs. Access isn’t just a catchphrase for our institutions, or a new focus - it is at the heart of what we are all about."

You can read the rest on Inside Higher Ed here. Learn more about Monday's discussion with President Obama here.

Happy Holidays

2011-12-05T10:46:00.000-08:00

Dear FSU Faculty, Staff, Students, Alumni and Friends:

The holiday season is a time for all of us to remember and appreciate one of the greatest gifts in our lives—the joy of being part of the Frostburg State University family. That family means so much, particularly as we celebrate our accomplishments and embrace new opportunities together.

Thank you for all that you do to ensure FSU’s success, whether it is through your daily professional contributions as faculty and staff members, your ongoing involvement and dedication as alumni and friends or the ideas, inspiration and experiences you share with us as students.

My wife, Laurie, and I wish you much health and happiness in the coming year. As part of our sustainability efforts, we decided to send our holiday message by e-mail this year. Click here to view our greeting card, and be sure to turn up the volume to hear a seasonal song performed by our wonderful Chamber Choir. Please feel free to forward this to anyone else who might enjoy it.

Best wishes to all of you for a happy holiday season with friends and loved ones and a great new year!

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-21T07:41:00.000-08:00

As we head into the week of Thanksgiving I wanted to wish each and every one of you a very happy holiday. I hope that you have an opportunity to share the holiday with family and loved ones. If you are traveling, please travel safely.

I also want to thank the FSU community for the enormous contribution you all make in the lives of our students. This has been a difficult semester, and your presence and support have been noticed and much appreciated. I have received many notes from the families of Derek Sheely and Kortneigh McCoy who were incredibly heartened by the love and support they felt from our FSU family. In my heart, I know that the support they received from us during a difficult time in their lives all is what truly defines Frostburg State University, and that makes me feel incredibly proud.

Have a wonderful holiday.

"Amid Tragedy, Let Hope Come to All ... "

2011-11-15T08:21:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share with all of you a guest blog post from FSU alumnus Ralph Jordan, Class of '68.

Amid Tragedy, Let Hope Come to All…

As a 1968 alumnus of Frostburg State, where I am still active in a voluntary capacity, I was disheartened to learn the tragic news this week about a murder involving an FSU student. Sophomore Kortneigh McCoy was killed at an off-campus party last weekend, according to FSU’s blog. The Baltimore Sun has published several articles and the news hit the national circuit as well.

How do we make sense of this madness? It’s no longer a rarity, either. Homicide is the third leading cause of death among college-age young adults. In general, violent crimes are on the rise and a huge concern for all of us. I am particularly sensitive to the challenges the FSU college administration is facing in trying to mediate the onslaught of media interest, as well as the inquiries by students, parents, and friends who are suffering the loss. I tip my hat to FSU’s leadership for publishing such helpful content in their blog, responding quickly to provide information and clarity and offering referrals for grief counseling.

Now that this case is in the criminal courts, it will be quite some time before the public is informed of the motivations of the perpetrator and the reason for this senseless crime and others like it. I suspect that the FSU murder was an act of passion, possibly influenced by substance use. If you consider the surrounding source of stressors for young people today (e.g. a difficult economy, few role models, that the “intact” family is the minority dynamic, among others), these are often contributors to criminal acts. One statistic suggests that 44% of all students have been in an abusive relationship by the time they graduate from college (Journal Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 2008). Our young people today may live in a vacuum, not knowing where to vent internal strife.

Pop culture media tends to promote insensitivity to violence. There’s a new great band, Foster the People, which reached the top of the pop music charts these past weeks with their 2011 hit single, Pumped Up Kicks. It’s a song having a beat reminiscent of my generation, which is why I liked it when I first heard it. Sometimes when we “like” a song we hear the beat and the musical arrangement, but don’t realize the lyrics are something different. This song seems to glorify campus killings:

Robert's got a quick hand. He's looking 'round the room, he won't tell you his plan. He's got a rolled cigarette, hanging out his mouth he's a cowboy kid. Yeah, he found a six shooter gun. In his dad's closet with a box of fun things, I don't even know what. But he's coming for you, yeah, he's coming for you. All the other kids with the pumped up kicks, you'd better run, better run, outrun my gun.

According to Songfacts.com the lead singer/songwriter’s intention: Mark Foster explained the song's meaning to Spinner UK: "’Pumped Up Kicks' is about a kid that basically is losing his mind and is plotting revenge.” Foster said that there is no actual violence in the song, as the threats are all the kid's internal monologue.

The best ways FSU can help are the things they are already doing to mediate such intensity, temptation, and recklessness: with strong leadership and communication, which can serve as tools college students can use. For example, FSU has reached out to the student population by providing platforms for them to grieve and express their feelings. By way of social networking (school Facebook page, Twitter updates, and its blog). Certainly there is no one path to crime reduction, but I simply wanted to bring to the forefront an issue that begs for us to care and discern about this sad and unfortunate situation on Frostburg’s campus, our country and its young people.

It is with much sadness and hope for a better tomorrow that this alumnus extends condolences to the family and friends of Kortneigh and to the FSU leaders who are now facing the challenge of the aftermath on its campus. The administration is doing an outstanding job during this difficult time.

Let peace and hope come to all.

What We're Telling Our Students ...

2011-11-10T08:45:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share with all of you a letter from Dr. Thomas L. Bowling, Vice President for Student and Educational Services, that was sent to our students yesterday.

Dear Students,

As a campus community, we are all still struggling to make sense of this tragedy. How can any conflict or argument be worth a human life? There is a simple answer to that question. It can’t. There are absolutely no differences that any of us can have with anyone that are worth the loss of life. The investigation is still under way, so we don’t yet know what instigated the conflict that led to Kortneigh’s death. In so many ways, though, whatever it was doesn’t matter. It’s irrelevant, because it certainly wasn’t worth the life of a bright, talented, and caring young woman.

St. Francis of Assisi once wrote that one should seek to understand, rather than to be understood. It’s wonderfully wise advice, but not always easy to follow. We all have a need to be understood, to feel validated, and to be appreciated. Perhaps this strong, innately human hunger we all feel to be affirmed by others is what stokes much of the interpersonal conflict in our world today. Many of us feel the need to win, to prevail in arguments, to impose our views on others. I believe, though, that one of the defining characteristics of an educated person is a genuine interest in understanding the perspectives and viewpoints of others, and gaining insight into what has shaped perspectives that are different from our own.

Some of you are asking what you can do. First, listen to each other. And, I mean truly listen, with your ears, your eyes, and your heart. If you do so, the person you are listening to will know that he or she has been heard. Just knowing that someone took the time and effort to truly listen can be enormously healing, for all involved. Take the risk of being vulnerable and open to the opinions and thoughts of others.

Pause or think twice before you click “send.” Be thoughtful about the power of words in texts or postings to social media such as Facebook. Many conflicts are escalated in this arena. It is definitely not the place to resolve conflicts. Be gentle with others. You never know what burdens they may have on their shoulders. Therefore, we cannot know how deeply they may be hurt by an insensitive remark or comment.

Be gentle with yourself. Take time for yourself to reflect, to pay attention to what’s going on within you. Find productive ways to deal with stress. Take a walk, go for a swim. Turn off your cell phones. Perform a random act of kindness. Breathe. Know that seeking assistance from others is a sign of emotional intelligence.

Take comfort in knowing that you are part of a caring and resilient campus community, where faculty and staff are genuinely concerned about your safety and welfare, and where we expect that each individual will be treated with absolute respect.

Sincerely,
Thomas L. Bowling, Ph.D.
Vice President for Student and Educational Services

A Call for Courtesy, Humanity and Civility

2011-11-08T10:00:00.000-08:00

Ladies and Gentlemen:

At a time of tragedy I recognize and appreciate that emotions can run high and people have strong thoughts and feelings that they may want to express. We all have the right to speak our minds, but given the tenor of some of the posts I have read today I feel an obligation to respond. Some posts include misinformation about student admissions that I will address, but what concerns me the most are the posts that are hurtful and mean spirited, and those with extremely offensive, libelous statements being attributed to me and other members of the FSU family.

My colleagues and I ask that you pause and reflect on what it means for us to try to lead, comfort and reassure amidst another unforeseen tragedy. We will continue to care, to reach out and to be open to dialogues. Be assured that we are taking additional steps to help our students feel safe and supported. We have made counseling available and plan additional educational programs and opportunities to discuss how violence affects everyone.

Our role in the larger community is something I take very seriously. But I need to make it clear that we are not our students’ parents or off-campus landlords. Still, our students’ safety and well being are of deep concern to me. What I can do is reassure you of the strategies already in place to keep the environment conducive to learning and free of fear.

The mission of FSU continues to be that of providing a high quality education to our students so that when they leave us, they are prepared to go out into the world and make their mark. We have recently raised our admission standards, not decreased them as some have suggested. The fall 2011 freshman class has the highest combined SAT and high school graduating average since I became president. Our retention rate has increased by 5 percent over the last several years. Our strategic goal is to continue this progress.

We will continue to focus on teaching our students to carefully consider the choices they make, because that is consistent with our mission. We will continue to be a presence in the larger community and hold our students accountable for their conduct on and off campus. We care about them, we care about our neighbors, and we care about our reputation as a University.
And that is why it is so troubling to me that some of the posts coming into the University website have been filled with disregard for all the good that we are doing here.

For those of you who have called, emailed or posted comments in support, on behalf of the entire campus and the family and friends of Kortneigh, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. For those of you who cannot see past your own ignorance, I hope you will have the courtesy and humanity to keep your thoughts to yourself. It is the ultimate in disrespect to even hint at racism. Because we care about our students, we will continue to teach peace, advocate for making wise decisions and create an environment that encourages healthy and respectful discourse.

Finally, I began this post by acknowledging that tragedy brings forward a full array of emotions. We all have a role to play and we all need to work together. Anything less means we’ve failed.

Jonathan Gibralter, President

Stand By Us and Remember Why We Are Strong

2011-11-08T06:48:00.000-08:00

Over the past 48 hours, I have heard from people who have expressed encouragement, support, sorrow and dismay in response to the terrible tragedy that has affected Frostburg State University. I have also heard from individuals who are very upset and who want answers. I am reaching out because like you, I am deeply concerned and incredibly saddened by the violence that has shaken Frostburg this past weekend. I share your outrage, your alarm and your grief–‒as does our entire campus community–‒that something like this has happened again.

I wish I could tell you that Frostburg State University has not lost lives to violence. That our students have not jeopardized their future with rash decisions and actions. I realize that we’re all looking for something… anything… that can explain what has happened. It is natural to want to react to tragic incidents like Kortneigh McCoy’s death from a place of fear, to have a need to blame someone or something. People are understandably afraid and looking for a reason why this has happened.

Can I tell you that we will never again experience this type of tragedy? No, I cannot make that promise. Believe me, I wish with all my heart that I could. But the truth is that violence is everywhere, and like every college and university across the country, we’re actively working on providing the right resources and addressing issues in a timely, relevant and comprehensive way.

What I can promise you is that we will continue to build upon existing strategies and initiatives addressing student conduct on and off campus. We will continue to enforce policies and procedures that hold our students fully accountable for their behavior. The successful implementation of these efforts is supported by the many strong community partnerships we’ve established with local law enforcement and community leaders in our fight against binge drinking, something that is statistically linked to criminal activity and poor decisions and something for which we’ve received national recognition.

We have always encouraged our students, faculty and staff to address conflict in a sensitive, responsible way. We recently renewed our historically strong partnership with the National Coalition Building Institute, an international leader in conflict resolution. This partnership will play a critical role in strengthening our efforts in this arena. As you read this, we are in the process of organizing several forums to engage our students in discussions about how to most effectively resolve conflict and why some students find it difficult to do so in a constructive, healthy manner.

I can tell you that I have never been prouder of our students than I have been over the past couple of days, watching them support one another during this trying time. There is resilience in our campus community that will always overcome its darker moments, a sense of caring, responsibility and connection that is incredibly important not just now, but in every moment we experience together.

I can tell you that every day on this campus, I see countless examples of students who are making amazing contributions to our community, our state and our world, through their thoughtful commentary, service, scholarship, creativity and leadership. We must hold onto this truth not just now but in the days and years ahead.

I ask you to support Frostburg State University and remember why we are strong, why this tragedy will not define us and will not undermine the positive changes that are happening every day. We have many reasons to be proud. In the days ahead, we hope you will stand by us and help us move forward.

Incident This Past Weekend

2011-11-07T07:39:00.000-08:00

As you know, this past weekend there was a terrible tragedy that took place off campus and took the life of one of our students, sophomore Kortneigh McCoy. Kortneigh was a Physics and Engineering major, a Resident Assistant in Simpson Hall, a member of Unified Voices Under God's Dominion Choir and the University Chorale. The student who is in custody is Shanee Liggins, a senior at FSU. She is charged with first and second degree murder. The incident is under investigation by C3I, which is the Combined County Criminal Investigation Unit. I will let you know additional information as it is made available to us. At this time, all we know is that this occurred off campus at a house party.

An incident like this is extremely upsetting for everyone, especially those of us who knew Kortneigh and Shanee. Over these next few days and weeks, I ask that you be vigilant, and if you notice that students are hurting and unable to cope with their grief, please refer them to FSU's Counseling and Psychological Services. If you notice that a student in your class is acting in a manner that it not consistent with the behavior you have come to know and expect, ask them what is wrong. If they start missing class consistently or their grades suddenly change dramatically, ask them what is wrong. If you notice a difference and don't know what to do, just call Student & Educational Services and Dr. Tom Bowling or Dr. Jesse Ketterman will be sure to follow up. Likewise, if you hear talk about revenge or conversations that reflect intense anger—please also contact Dr. Bowling or Dr. Ketterman. It would not be out of line to mention this or even to discuss it in class, particularly a discussion of the appropriate way to deal with anger and appropriate means of conflict management.

We will all be working very closely with our students, especially those who knew Kortneigh and Shanee, but you can all help by being attentive and by communicating with your students and with us. Thank you for caring and please also know, that if you knew Kortneigh or Shanee and need to talk about how you feel, don't hesitate to contact either Human Resources or our Counseling Center. An incident like this is hard on everyone, and sometimes we quickly forget the impact this has on our faculty and staff who work with our students and get to know them for the wonderful people they are.

Thank you for a wonderful Leadership & Homecoming Weekend

2011-10-24T08:39:00.000-07:00

Our annual Leadership & Homecoming Weekend was truly extraordinary at FSU. We had more alums visiting our campus then have visited in many years. The multitude of activities and events at FSU and in the community were indicative of the love and affection our alumni have for their alma mater. The opportunity for me to thank so many for their support of our University made me very proud. Whether it was dedicating the new football locker room funded by alumni, parents and friends or at our Leadership Donor Gala, where we celebrated the completion of Staking Our Claim, our comprehensive campaign for Frostburg, the sentiment was always the same—our alumni love their alma mater and are so happy to see the path we are on to improve our national reputation in the marketplace of American higher education. In short, there is so much to be proud of, and I hope you were on campus and had an opportunity to share in the many Homecoming events, and to meet with your own alumni and to hear about their lives and their pursuits.

There are simply so many people to thank that I would absolutely err on the side of forgetting someone if I tried to name each person who worked so hard to make this past weekend a reality. People worked for many weeks to prepare the campus, the many programs and our community for this event. In particular however, I want to thank our FSU Physical Plant Department for their incredible effort to ready this campus—it looked beautiful and made me feel very proud. I want to thank our University Police and the local police forces who went out of their way to heighten patrols to be sure our students and even some non-students were as safe as possible. My thanks to ARAMARK for your efforts in providing food for the many, many events held this weekend—I know you brought in people from all over to assist. My thanks as well to the many faculty and staff, and especially Dr. Robbie Cordle, for your efforts with the Career Showcase and the opportunity to bring alumni back to meet with our students. My personal and heartfelt thanks University Advancement and Communications and Media Relations—your efforts to make this a success began a year ago, and you should be very proud of this past weekend. My thanks to our FSU Foundation Board of Directors and our Alumni Board of Directors. Your efforts to advance this University are truly historic for FSU, and I am personally very proud to know and work with you all.

And, even though I know I am leaving people out of this note, I want to thank our students. Your performances at the Gala, on the football field, volleyball court and soccer field—your art exhibit and plays and your general demeanor is to be commended. I had at least six of our alumni tell me that they have never met more polite and kind students then those they met at FSU.

Thank you all for a very successful Leadership & Homecoming Weekend and for the quality of caring that permeates this wonderful community. In closing, I'd like to share a really nice message I got from one of our students, Kylie Carrington. Kylie is part of our FSU volleyball team.

President Gibralter,

I just wanted to personally thank you for making my last Homecoming weekend as a student at Frostburg one to remember! The opportunities to speak at the Hall of Fame dinner and attend the Leadership Donor Gala were truly an honor. Within the last few days I have gained an incredible amount of respect for the all the people that have made my experience at Frostburg the best it can be. Although this email does not do justice to show how thankful I am for all the hard work you put into this university, I want you to know you are greatly appreciated for all you do!

Thank You,

Kylie Carrington

FSU Students: Please Be Safe ...

2011-10-20T07:14:00.000-07:00

Dear FSU Students:

Leadership & Homecoming Weekend is upon us at Frostburg State University and I wanted to reach out to you today for one reason. That is, I want you to have a good time and please keep yourself safe. This is a weekend full of FSU Intercollegiate Athletics and wonderful reunions between FSU Alumni and current FSU students. It is a weekend of reuniting Greeks, both recognized and unrecognized, and it is a weekend where the social conventions of Homecoming sometimes leads students to do things they would not normally do.

Please be safe this weekend. Read carefully the email you received from our University Police chief, Cynthia Smith and from Dr. Jesse Ketterman. I would prefer it if you didn't, but if you are to consume alcohol-remember what you learned in Alcohol.Edu about binge drinking. Likewise, avoid other drugs as well.

Finally, I ask that you do one thing that is a hallmark of this FSU community. That is, please watch out for one another very carefully. If you see one of your fellow students in trouble, get them help immediately. Keep a close eye on one another this weekend and mostly, be safe and have a good time. I do not want this, or any Homecoming marred by any tragedy. Thanks ...

Current and Former FSU Students in Changsha

2011-10-19T10:05:00.000-07:00

While in Changsha, we had the opportunity to meet with current and former FSU students. "Jane" Jie Li, left, attended FSU for the academic year 2009-2010 (Fall semester '09 and spring semester '10) and took courses in the College of Business. She will graduate from Hunan Normal in June 2012 with a Master of Corporate Management. Erin Mooney, right, an FSU student from Myersville, Md., is currently studying at Hunan Normal.

"A World Larger Than This Island ..."

2011-10-17T08:47:00.000-07:00

Above, starting with top photo: An airport simulation lab: second photo: a library; third photo: some of the many smiling faces we saw at Vanung; and bottom photo: College of Management facility.

On Friday, we visited Vanung University near Taipei, Taiwan. We were warmly welcomed by our friend President Thomas Chuang who had visited and "fell in love with" FSU earlier this year. He strongly believes in the importance of study abroad experiences so Vanung students can see "their world being larger than this island," for them to fulfill their dreams and then bring their experiences back to the campus ... enhancing the internationalization of both campuses. He is seeking an exchange partnership with FSU to provide the opportunity for Vanung students to have "an American experience," possibly beginning with five students in fall 2012 and growing from there. Dr. Chuang and I signed a preliminary agreement to begin the process of developing strategies to exchange students and faculty.

Visiting Vanung University was an eye-opening experience in many ways: although the campus is compact, the facilities are modern and spacious. We toured a state-of-the art library, a new residence hall featuring two-student rooms, facilities for hospitality and tourism programs, including simulation labs for air travel services including a travel agency and actual plane seating; hotel services with a model reception area, rooms and suites; and food and beverage preparation including a hibachi-style restaurant set-up (where we were treated to a gourmet lunch prepared by a master chef). The facilities for business programs included real-time stock exchange information on wide-screen monitors and software for finance students to make investments and compete with each other. Vanung finance students have won a national competition several times. The best part of our visit by far was meeting with a very enthusiastic group of students who showed a great deal of interest in coming to FSU.

I received a very nice message from Dr. Chuang following our visit that I'd like to share with all of you:

Dear Dr. Gibralter:

It was our distinguished honor to have you and your delegation visiting our campus. We are very impressed with your unique education ideas and commitment. We believe strongly that experiential education and immersion teaching are the best way to have students appreciate the foreign culture and language to the fullest extent. We will try every way possible to help exchange students fulfill their dreams.

Changsha University

2011-10-14T06:15:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, the FSU delegation visited Changsha University, where we had an informal meeting with officials from the School of Business and Department of Foreign Languages. Drs. Bowman, Tootoonchi and Bao gave a brief presentation about FSU to an accounting class.

Changsha University occupies a modern campus on the rapidly developing outskirts of Changsha, has 16 departments offering 28 undergraduate degree programs and an enrollment of 12,000 full-time students.

Friendships That Go The Distance ...

2011-10-13T06:30:00.001-07:00

I wanted to share the following, from President Tang, of Hunan University of Commerce.

Dear President Gibralter:
I am very happy to meet you again in Hunan University of Commerce. Though your time here is not long, so many consensuses we have reached, so smoothly the co-operation projects are promoted, and especially the excellent speech you made to our students, all produced far-reaching influences and meaning on our long-term relation. Please allow me here to thank you and your delegation again for what you have done for the co-operation project between these two universities.

I am looking forward to meeting you again in the near future and best wishes to the long-term friendship between us.
Wish you a happy and smooth return trip!

Yours sincerely,
Tang Weibing

Hunan University of Commerce

2011-10-11T13:07:00.000-07:00

FSU and Hunan University of Commerce took the first steps in forging a joint educational partnership with the signing of an agreement today. (see my pics above with HUC President Tang Weibing). The proposed initiative will mainly focus on bringing international economics and business majors to FSU for an academic year, and has tremendous potential for growth.

HUC, an institution of over 11,000 students and 650 staff, is located in Changsha close to Hunan Normal University. We toured the campus, visiting computer and business labs and viewing an exhibition of student artwork. FSU Vice Provost Dr. John Bowman and Dr. Tootoonchi also spoke about FSU to an another overflowing lecture hall of students.

Expanding Our Global Community with Friends and Alumni in China ...

2011-10-10T09:57:00.000-07:00

Yufei Lu '10, a student from HNU who graduated with an MBA from FSU in May 2010, joined FSU officials for dinner in Beijing. Yufei now works for Lenovo. Above, a pic of Dr. Ahmad Tootoonchi, dean of the College of Business, me, FSU alumnus Yufei Lu and Dr. Yan Bao, associate professor in FSU’s Department of Accounting. The dinner was at the famous Quanjude Peking Duck Restaurant, which was established in 1864 during the Qing dynasty. (You can see the photo of duck at the entrance of the restaurant and photo of performers playing traditional Chinese instruments during dinner, above.) Beijing was the first stop on the way to Changhsa to meet with officials and students from HNU and HUC and formalize exchange agreements.

On Oct. 10, Dr. Zhang Guoji, Chairman of Hunan Normal University, and I signed the agreement that renews and strengthens the partnership between our two institutions. FSU and HNU have been working to increase the number of opportunities available for student and faculty exchange.

Earlier in the day, Dr. Ahmad Tootoonchi and Dr. Yan Bao met with Dean of HNU's Business College Dr. Liu Zilan and his staff to discuss study abroad opportunities to be set up specifically for business students and faculty. After a welcoming lunch banquet, I made a presentation about FSU and sustainability to a standing-room-only auditorium of HNU students.

Ni Hăo!

Greetings from China, Frostburg State University.

I’m pleased to report that once again I’m back in this amazing country leading a small delegation of FSU faculty and staff who are here to represent our university and its interests, and create new exchange partnerships in Hunan Province. We will also be visiting Taiwan while we're traveling.

As FSU considers how to best prepare our students to be leaders in a global community, we continue to expand upon our existing partnerships with institutions like Hunan Normal University and to build new ones with colleges and universities in other areas. This is an important opportunity for us to strengthen our relationships here and make new contacts who can help us create great educational experiences for our students and faculty overseas. As you can see from the pictures above, it’s also allowed us to connect with our alumni in China, too.

Through this blog, I will keep everyone “posted” on our developments here while we’re traveling, something I’ve done in years past. It's important to me that you're aware of how we're growing our focus on international education. You can also learn more about our work with colleges and universities in China by doing a search for “China” on this blog and by reviewing the links below, which start with our most recent developments and initiatives.

Hunan University of Commerce, Frostburg State University Sign Letter of Intent

FSU Faculty Expand Professional Horizons, International Education

FSU Welcomes Old and New Friends From Around the World

FSU Delegation’s Trip to China Yields 4 New Agreements with Universities

Frostburg State University Sending Delegation to China to Expand Relationships and International Education

FSU Chamber Choir Enjoys Journey Through Music in China

Our Academic Reputation ...

2011-10-10T09:39:00.000-07:00

I’d like to tell all of you about how FSU’s Strategic Plan has laid the groundwork for us to become an even stronger and more vibrant institution in the years ahead. We have spent the past couple of years refocusing our strategic planning efforts, guided, in part, by several campuswide committees, including the Strategic Planning team, the President’s Advisory Council on Institutional Effectiveness and our Faculty Senate. Thanks to their feedback and leadership, we have identified three key institutional priorities:

improving our academic reputation

developing experiential learning

improving the quality of our academic and residential facilities

Frostburg must identify its niche in the marketplace of American higher education, and I believe these priorities will get us there.Today I’d like to talk to you about how we’re improving our academic reputation. We’re approaching this issue in a variety of ways, everything from raising our admissions standards to working on student retention and graduation rates to creating more merit scholarships. Raising our admissions standards meant we had a smaller freshman class this fall, and we anticipated this change in our enrollment. We knew this was going to happen. But thanks to strong growth in our graduate, transfer and international students, we only saw a decrease of 42 students in our overall enrollment numbers. Frostburg is anticipating new growth through the University System of Maryland at Hagerstown.

New degree programs, like our online MBA program, our RN-to-BSN in nursing and our upcoming Ed.D. in educational policy and leadership will also ensure our enrollment will continue to stabilize as we focus on student quality. Many of our many dedicated faculty are looking forward to teaching a smaller group of better academically prepared students; it’s something they’ve talked about ever since we began addressing FSU’s enrollment several years ago.

Addressing student quality also means pinpointing where we’re losing students and providing better resources to retain them. We have to determine how we can put our students on a path that leads them to successful degree completion in four years. FSU is doing this in a variety of ways: We hope to increase our use of a student-assessment program called MAP-Works with all of our undergraduate students. Through MAP-Works, we are able to gather information that is shared with a network of individuals who can contribute to the success of our students, including academic advisors, faculty, coaches, and professional staff in residence life. If we’re on the same page about some of the challenges that are confronting our students, we can more effectively identify the resources and assistance they need to excel.

We are currently in the process of conducting a search for an Assistant Provost for Student Success and Retention. This person’s top priority will be to improve our retention rate, including assessing our retention strategies and better coordinating those services between our Academics division and Student and Educational Services.

With the help of our faculty, we’re also working on student retention and our graduation rate by through course redesign. We’re trying to redesign our gatekeeper courses, those courses that are most challenging for our students, using the model that has been created by the National Center for Academic Transformation.

Improving our student quality also means making our institution more appealing to promising high-academic achievers so they’ll want to come to Frostburg. Our FSU Foundation Board, in response to my call to recruit more academic achievers has made a commitment to raise $2.5 million in merit scholarships by 2015. These scholarships will allow us to recruit more highly qualified students and free up more institutional funding for need-based scholarships.

As you can see, we’re taking on academic quality in a variety of ways, and if Frostburg focuses on taking these much-needed steps in the years ahead, I have no doubt that we’ll be in a much better place, both locally and nationally.

You can listen to my President's Dispatch about this topic on the mp3 player on this blog or by listening on WFWM's website.

Smoke-Free Policy

2011-09-28T06:38:00.000-07:00

After much work and review, I am happy to announce that the official smoke-free policy is now visible online here. I want to apologize for the delay in getting this and other important information to you. Please know that the University took careful time and consideration to ensure that this policy communicates the spirit of our efforts – to be supportive, educational and to be a campus that seeks to set a positive example for our community.

This policy expresses a community expectation that we all share responsibility to uphold and maintain. Along with work in other areas, we are becoming much more conscious of the manner in which Frostburg State University’s reputation in held in the minds of our students, employees, alumni and beyond.

To give you some background, when the University began taking a hard look at this issue, we realized that the 25-foot perimeter that had been established to prohibit smoking near our building entrances was actually increasing the visibility of smoking on campus. In 2011, the National College Health Assessment survey administered to all full-time undergraduate students found that nearly 16% of participants had smoked cigarettes in the past 30 days, whereas they perceived that 90% of students were frequent smokers.

As an institution of higher learning, we want to communicate our commitment to making FSU a place where we all thrive – where all can work and learn in a healthy environment. This is just one of the areas we are seeking to enhance, and your assistance with this effort is greatly appreciated. I am pleased with the support and compliance that this policy has received thus far. I have personally received correspondence from many people on our campus, in our community and beyond, praising FSU for our efforts to promote a healthier community. Chancellor William Kirwan sent me a personal message congratulating us on this “very good move.”

I want to take the time to thank our Physical Plant employees for helping us to communicate this new beginning through removing ashtrays and remnants of cigarette litter from the campus and posting signs about the policy across the campus. I would like to thank the countless students, staff and faculty who have dedicated their time to champion this effort. From governance groups, student organizations and concerned individuals, this effort has included the work of many FSU Bobcats. This was a movement with at least a decade of discussions behind it, and I know that we are all proud that FSU is becoming a healthier place to work and learn. I also want to thank each of you. The role you play, as we continue to provide quality education and care to each and every student, keeps Frostburg moving forward.

Back to School at the 'Burg

2011-09-06T08:38:00.000-07:00

It’s hard to believe another fall semester is already under way at Frostburg State University. I love this time of year because of the excitement on our campus. There are always new people who join the FSU family-new students, new faculty and staff. The University is also busy with lots of great activities for our community: music performances, events welcoming our students, our faculty holding classes for the first time and setting the stage for a year of scholarship and learning.

A new fall semester is also the perfect time for good ideas to take root. As many of you have read in the local news, we set the stage for a positive and life-changing college experience for our incoming freshmen with a convocation titled Call To Action. As the name suggests, we asked our newest students to make the most of their time at Frostburg by getting involved, doing well in their classes and helping us usher in more technology and innovation on our campus. We also focused on health and wellness, something that is a growing part of our institutional identity. The program for our freshmen included first-hand accounts from our older students about how first-year students can take care of their mental and physical well-being and take advantage of all that Frostburg has to offer.

FSU also launched Frostburg2Go, its new suite of mobile apps, at the event. Frostburg2Go takes many of the University’s existing resources and puts them at the fingertips of anyone who owns a smartphone – maps, course listings, online classes, emergency messaging. We’re excited to continue developing this kind of technology that responds to needs on our campus.
But making sure our students graduate in a timely fashion and excel as scholars remains a top priority. We are implementing new programs to help us better identify students who need more academic support and outreach early on, so we can help them excel at Frostburg and graduate on time. We are also raising funds for merit scholarships that will help us attract more qualified students.

Learn more about FSU's priorities as the fall semester progresses by listening to "The President's Dispatch," my monthly radio address on WFWM here.

Derek Sheely

2011-09-01T08:50:00.000-07:00

Frostburg State University is continuing to focus on supporting the family, teammates and friends of Derek Sheely, who died late Sunday night (Aug. 28) after collapsing during football practice on the morning of Monday, Aug. 22.

Derek was a senior History and Political Science major. He was a starting fullback and a two-year All-Atlantic Central Football Conference all-academic honoree. Derek will be posthumously awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Liberal Studies, cum laude.

Following is a message from Derek's family, sent by his mother shortly after his death:

"It is with heavy hearts that we must inform our dear family and friends that our beloved son, Derek Thomson Sheely, passed away moments ago after a courageous fight. We want to thank all of you for your thoughts and prayers. They’ve meant so much to Ken, Keyton, me, and especially Derek. We’re incredibly proud of Derek. He’s all one could hope for to have in a son/brother and more. He’s never run from a challenge and he fought this with everything he had. Please, if you can, go to Derek’s Facebook page and post a note on his wall. Or text us. It would mean so much to us. – The Sheelys"

Funeral services for Derek are being held Thursday, Sept. 1, at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Gaithersburg, Md. Additional efforts to honor Derek's memory are in the planning stages.

All of us at Frostburg State University send our deepest condolences to Derek’s family, teammates and friends, and we ask everyone to keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Additional information:

Once medical professionals make a final determination as to the circumstances of Derek’s untimely death, the University will review such findings as may be available to us, as well as our existing procedures to ensure that FSU is following every contemporary and appropriate standards regarding athletic practices.

That morning’s practice included contact drills with the players in full gear. At some point during the practice, Derek displayed symptoms requiring attention. The athletic training staff made a quick assessment. They were beginning to escort him from the field when he collapsed. Trainers immediately called 911. He was then transported by Maryland State Police medevac helicopter to the local emergency room at Western Maryland Regional Medical Center, then later in the day transferred to R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. He died there late Sunday night (Aug. 28).

From our players’ standpoint, we continue to stress to them the importance of reporting any injury to the trainers, no matter how small it may seem. Before the season, we conduct computerized impact testing that provide us with individualized, baseline information, which is used in case of injury. Players are not allowed to practice or play until their readings return to an appropriate level.

Our coaching staff continues to observe practice situations. We encourage sportsmanlike play both during practice and games. We encourage the students seeing the training staff if any possible injuries have occurred. Our helmets were selected based on the results of a Virginia Tech study that examined the concussion protection afforded by different brands of football helmets.

Derek was wearing a 2011 Schutt DNA Pro Plus helmet and full gear. The weather was moderate.

We continuously review our procedures to ensure that FSU is taking the appropriate steps to protect the safety and well-being of our student-athletes.

A Healthier Community for Frostburg

2011-08-08T12:43:00.000-07:00

By now, many of you may know that Frostburg State University is committed to becoming a safer, healthier campus. This is important to us not only because we care about our students, faculty and staff, but because we care about our relationship with our local community. We want those of you who send your kids to our University to know that we’re giving them the resources to make good decisions focused on wellness. We want you to be proud of our students, and realize we share a common goal in helping them become responsible members of our community.

Our institution is putting a lot of time and energy into developing programs to support these efforts. Earlier this summer, Frostburg State was awarded an NCAA Choices Grant from the National Collegiate Athletic Association. These grants are available to NCAA member institutions who wish to integrate athletics into campus-wide efforts to reduce alcohol abuse. With the grant’s funds, FSU’s Office of Student and Educational Services and our Alcohol Task Force will launch CHILL CHOICES. CHILL CHOICES is a new three-year project that will focus on providing training and outreach to students at risk for binge drinking-- student-athletes, first-year students and the Greek community. Learn more about CHILL CHOICES here. By combining our existing efforts to encourage student wellness with new tools enabled through the NCAA CHOICES grant, FSU will continue to make a real, measurable impact on the alcohol choices of our students.

In addition to the issue of alcohol abuse, FSU also recognizes the health problems associated with smoking and second-hand smoke. We wish to provide the healthiest environment possible for our students, faculty, staff, alumni and visitors. I’m pleased to report that on Aug. 1, FSU became a smoke-free campus.

To many cancer survivors and those who love and support them, Frostburg becoming a smoke-free campus is a logical next step in our overall wellness efforts that was way overdue. I am aware that this presents a challenge to some members of our community, particularly smokers who raise questions about personal freedoms, and I’ve been following the discussion surrounding this issue. But ultimately, if Frostburg is truly committed to becoming a national leader of college wellness, this is a positive development.

If you have questions about the NCAA CHILL CHOICES program, our efforts to become a smoke-free campus, or other wellness issues, contact the Office of Student and Educational Services at 301-687-4311. Listen to my President's Dispatch about these topics here.

FSU: A Smoke-Free Campus

2011-07-29T11:24:00.000-07:00

As many of you are aware, there have been discussions over the past several months about Frostburg State University becoming a smoke-free campus. This discussion has been debated within open forums, at Faculty Senate and Student Government Association meetings and with our colleagues in the University of Maryland System.

To continue our momentum in becoming a leader for college health and wellness, I am pleased to report that Frostburg State University will be a smoke-free campus beginning August 1, 2011.

As you can see, the emphasis of this program is centered on public health and personal responsibility. FSU recognizes the health problems associated with smoking and second-hand smoke, and we wish to provide the healthiest environment possible for our students, faculty, staff, alumni and visitors.

We communicated this message to our incoming freshmen and their families at Preview FSU in June. Our response from our new Bobcat families echoes many of your sentiments: an appreciation for making our campus a healthier place to work and learn. We are aware that this presents a new set of circumstances for some members of our campus community. Brady Health Center, with the support of CHILL, will continue to provide smoking cessation materials for our students. Our Office of Human Resources has also gathered invaluable information for our faculty and staff who wish to quit smoking and avenues are being pursued to fund smoking cessation materials for those employees.

Our goal in all of this is to foster a more healthy community for all of us. This effort was sparked and built off of the concerns raised by our students and staff, and we are happy to present to our campus the fruits of their labor. Thank you to Dr. Mary Mumper, chair of the Faculty Senate; Dr. Art Siemann, chair of the Department of Health and Physical Education; Bernard Wynder, assistant vice president for Student and Educational Services; April Baer, coordinator for University Wellness; and students Lap Nguyen and April McDavid for their efforts to address this concern.

Additional resources and information are available at the Smoke-Free Campus website. We appreciate your support and compliance with the new policy. Here are some of the sentiments that have been expressed so far from members of our campus community:

"Hallelujah!"

"Great move! After watching a beloved family member die of lung cancer August 1st I will celebrate my twentieth year smoke free!"
- Former three-pack-a-day smoker

"This is a big step forward ... thank you."

"Congratulations, Jonathan ... this is a very good move." USM Chancellor William Kirwan

Campus Update

2011-07-28T10:51:00.001-07:00

As the month of July comes to an end, I wanted to update you on a few issues we’ve been focusing on this summer. First of all, yesterday I met with the folks from Maryland’s Department of Budget and Management Office of Capital Facilities, along with David Rose, Dr. Joe Hoffman and Bob Boyce, to discuss FSU’s Center for Communications and Information Technology Building planning. This new building is very much on track so that we can proceed when the funds are released to us in January 2012. Tawes will be demolished this winter so construction can begin. CCIT is scheduled to be occupied in January of 2014. I will show a more extensive overview of the timeline and the actual building itself during Fall Convocation.

The FSU Physical Plant is working very hard this summer to do major modifications in Dunkle Hall for faculty offices in order to move them out of Tawes Hall—we are moving 18 faculty members into these newly constructed offices. Soon after this project is complete, we will begin the remodeling of the Leake Room in the Cordts Physical Education Center building and convert it into a very classy Bobcat Club for FSU Athletics. The Leake Room will still be available for reservation for select purposes but it will be extremely important that this new room be used for appropriate meetings.

Soon after completion of the Bobcat Club, and before the winter is upon us, a new temporary facility will be constructed to house some of the classes that were previously held in Tawes Hall. This new facility will be located between the P.E. tennis courts and the Athletic fields and will serve many purposes, in an effort to use our resources wisely. I am very sorry for the inconvenience; this may seem out of the way to some, but it allows this facility to be used during the construction of the Education and Allied Health Building. Once demolition of Tawes begins, you will see fences go up and construction trailers and, once again, foot traffic will have to be re-routed around this project. In addition, we will break ground on our Sustainable Energy Research Facility in a few weeks; the goal is for SERF to be under a roof before the snow flies this winter.

FSU is also completing three roofing projects this summer, and may attempt to do several others if time permits. Roofing buildings is a part of our regular maintenance program, and we must try to keep up with them. You will also notice that our grounds workers have placed tons of top soil and grass seed around campus to improve the appearance of our grounds. We have tried to rope off these areas but please try to walk around them so that when we do have rain, the seed can begin to grow. There is also a lot of general maintenance happening to the campus. We are not going to fully attend to the Quad around the Clock Tower until CCIT is complete as we feel that construction vehicles may damage anything we attempt. We have put away funds to completely re-do this important area once CCIT is done.

FSU Police Chief Cynthia Smith will be informing everyone of a new and important safety regulation to begin in the fall and that will keep non-authorized vehicles off our campus walkways. The sidewalks are meant for pedestrian traffic and absolutely essential university functions, not general and personal driving. We are doing this to ensure that our students, faculty and staff are as safe as possible on our walkways.

Our enrollment for the fall of 2011 is very strong, with a planned decrease in incoming freshmen students. We will have approximately 150 fewer freshmen this fall, l but will have an increase in transfer students, a slight improvement in our retention rate, and an increase in international students. SAT scores continue to rise with a goal of our average SAT being over 1000 over the next few years. Our Strategic Plan continues to be implemented as we enter the fall 2011 term and the President's Advisory Council on Institutional Effectiveness is moving toward full measurement of our goals and objectives.

There is much more to report on, and I will do so over the next few weeks. However, I hope you all have a great rest of the summer—enjoy vacations if you have one still planned. I look forward to welcoming our students back in a few weeks and to our second Freshman Convocation program.

Summer Always a Beautiful But Busy Season

2011-07-11T12:05:00.000-07:00

Summer is a unique time for Frostburg State University. We welcome lots of new people to our campus, which is very exciting for us. Hundreds of visitors come to Frostburg every summer to take advantage of the various conferences and programs that we provide the community and our region. This includes everything from Coach Wootten’s Basketball Camp, which brings five weeks and hundreds of energetic young basketball players to our campus, to academic enrichment programs for students of all ages in disciplines like physics, music and robotics.

FSU is also proud to help young people get on the road to higher education through the work of Upward Bound and the Regional Math-Science Center, which both organize great programs in the summertime. Upward Bound offers first–generation college-bound students enrichment classes, tutoring and academic advising. The Regional Math/Science Center also provides students with academic support so they can enter and be successful in post-secondary education. It includes career exploration and study skills workshops and a variety of other activities. These students get a first-hand look at Frostburg as a college option while they’re here and they connect with our faculty and staff. Some of them eventually enroll here because of their great experiences with us.

During the summertime, FSU also focuses on giving our current college students professional experiences and a new understanding of our University through the many activities and events we host, and the people they meet through these events. FSU students are hired each summer as conferences staff, and they usually learn a little bit of everything through their jobs here. They also get a new sense of our University’s history. For example, this summer a group of Sig Tau alumni will return and meet some of the current students, an event that will build a bridge between a generation from Frostburg State College and FSU. FSU’s Summer Session also keeps our students busy and helps them get ahead in their studies. Our University also opens its doors to local and state organizations and businesses so they can develop professional development opportunities for their employees and other community events.

This summer FSU will partner with Western Maryland AHEC for “Exploring Careers in Health Occupations,” with the Maryland Department of Planning for a PlanMaryland day, and with the Maryland Department of Human Resources so they can help young people in foster care throughout the state learn life skills as they transition to adulthood.

Summer is definitely not a slow season for our University, and we’re excited to share this season with our local community. To learn more about our various activities and events, listen to my President's Dispatch here.

Thanks for a wonderful Commencement!

2011-05-23T07:46:00.000-07:00

Commencement is my favorite event of the entire year, and a tribute to all of the hard work we do every day to prepare our students for the world of work, graduate school and whatever lies ahead.

I wanted to take a moment to express my personal gratitude to everyone who worked hard to make Commencement such a wonderful event for our graduates and their families. My thanks to Sheila Pappas and Brittni Teter, who work hard all year long to coordinate this grand event. I am also appreciative of our Physical Plant staff and University Police. Many thanks to the Communications and Media Relations team who create all publications for the event and promote it. Thank you also to the Bobcat Marching Band and Band Director Phil Klickman for providing us the music and creating the atmosphere.

My personal thanks to those faculty who attend Commencement to be there for their students and the administrators who are present throughout both ceremonies. Thank you to Aramark, who provides sustenance for us during a long and hot day, and helps to make the event perfect. My thanks to the FSU Alumni Association for their effort to select two such outstanding distinguished alumni as Tony Zook and Robin Wynder. My thanks to our student commencement speakers for overcoming their fear to speak on front of thousands of people. And, as always, my very personal thanks to Brittany Poindexter for her vocal accompaniment during both ceremonies. Thank you to the ushers and the many other people who I have probably forgotten in this blog post for their effort to create a perfect day for us all.

Finally, my thanks to all of our graduates. Thank you for selecting FSU and for putting your trust in us, and thank you for making us look good through your academic performance. Our very best wishes to you all, and don’t ever forget your time with us at FSU.

"Act Locally" As Campaign Countdown Comes to a Close

2011-05-05T13:00:00.000-07:00

Sandi Saville

Many of us have heard the phrase, “Think Globally, Act Locally.” As Frostburg State University nears the end of “Staking Our Claim: The Campaign for Frostburg” which aims to raise $15 million, we celebrate the actions of our local community and the important role you play in giving our students a world-class education.

You may already know that the name of our campaign, “Staking Our Claim,” refers to the dedicated and hard-working coal miners who ensured their children had a bright future by founding our institution in Western Maryland more than 100 years ago. Sometimes a nickel was all they could spare from their pay to support their dream of making higher education available to their families. Today, that legacy of local support and a shared belief in doing what’s best for our community continues, and has led to some of the greatest moments of our campaign’s success. Watch this video to learn more about our campaign.

There are so many fine businesses and organizations in our area who have led the way in our campaign’s momentum: The Pharmacare Network, NewPage, the LaVale Lions Club, First United Corporation, Borden Mining Company, the Allegany Arts Council and the Appalachian Regional Commission, to name just a few. Frostburg State is also incredibly fortunate to have a strong network of friends and alumni who have recognized an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of our students: Carl and Jane Belt, Gary Horowitz, Gladys Faherty, Dr. Hopwood Wooddell and Karen Wooddell, Larry and Debbie Boggs, Sam and Pam Griffith, Sandi Saville. And these are just a few examples. The list goes on and on and is filled with the names of the good people of our community. Read their stories here.

As “Staking Our Claim” comes to a close on June 30, consider the ways Frostburg State has enriched your life and the lives of your children. Do you and your friends and loved ones work at FSU? Have your children – or your children’s children – earned degrees at FSU, perhaps with the help of financial aid? In the 2010- 2011 academic year, FSU awarded more than $435,000 in scholarships to students, including nearly $183,600 to Allegany County residents and more than $25,000 to Garrett County residents. Read more about our scholarships here. Do you enjoy the numerous events and activities we organize throughout the year through resources like the Center for Creative Writing, the Children’s Literature Centre and the Performing Arts Center?

The future of our area depends on the strength and success of those who live and work here, and who create opportunities here. With your help, Frostburg State can continue to create those opportunities and help our area grow and thrive. This growth can only happen through strong community partnerships and a common goal to help local families afford a Frostburg education.

With just weeks left in our campaign, which ends June 30, I invite you to join Frostburg’s legacy of acting locally on behalf of higher education and stake your claim in the future of this community. To find out how to get involved, click here or call 301-687-4161.

International Education and Study Abroad at FSU

2011-04-28T11:59:00.000-07:00

Nearly 80 FSU students from around campus — and around the world — came together to celebrate the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival this past fall. Organized by FSU's Chinese Culture Club, the event included singing, dancing, charades and the legendary stories explaining the Festival's significance and meaning.

Our international education and study abroad programs have truly been evolving under the leadership of Tracey Klickman, Director of our Center for International Education. Let me start with our international education program at Frostburg State University, which has continued to expand and has added so much to the academic and co-curricular environment.

This spring semester we have had 72 international students at FSU representing 21 countries, including 29 F-1, degree-seeking students and 43 J-1, exchange students (non-degree seeking). China, Ireland and Saudi Arabia are the top countries represented.
International students attending FSU have been enrolled in 12 of our undergraduate programs and five of our graduate programs. The top choices of major for the undergraduate students has been Business Administration and International Studies and at the graduate level, our Master’s in Business Administration, Education and Counseling Psychology.
It is still too early to accurately predict the number of international students for next year, since our application deadline is not until June 1, 2011, and we will not receive the applications from Hunan Normal University until after that date. However, based on preliminary information received from our current exchange partners and our predicted return from other recruitment efforts, we expect our international student enrollment to increase to 90-100 students for the 2011-2012 academic year. (Our international enrollment tends to be higher during the spring semester because most of our Irish students from Mary Immaculate College prefer to study at FSU during the spring.)

Study abroad is another area that has been expanding at a rapid rate. It is such a great opportunity for our students to spend some time in another country. These can range from a few weeks to full semesters:

For the current academic year, we have had 42 study abroad participants. They have studied in approximately 15 countries, and these students have represented 20 of our academic majors.
Fifteen students experienced an international program in the summer of 2010, eight during the fall 2010 semester and 20 during this current semester. Of the total number of students, 22 have been overseas from 2-8 weeks, 19 have studied abroad for a full semester and 1 for a full academic year.
China, France, Ireland, Mexico, Australia, Spain and Italy are the primary countries where our study abroad students have studied. All other countries have had only one participant each, but the range of these countries is from New Zealand to Ghana.
The number of study abroad applications for Summer 2011 and Fall 2011 has already surpassed the total number of students studying abroad for the entire 2010-2011 academic years, with the CIE receiving over 50 applications so far. We anticipate the total number of study abroad participants for the 2011-2012 academic years will be between 80 to 90 students.

When I think back upon my own undergraduate education I have only one regret—that I didn’t take advantage of study abroad. Every student who has spent time studying in another country has come back and told us the same thing—it has forever changed his or her life. I hope our campus community will encourage our students to consider studying abroad, and that you will continue to support our international students as you always have in the past.

To learn more about international education and study abroad opportunities at Frostburg, contact CIE here.

Support of Professional Development at FSU

2011-04-25T08:19:00.000-07:00

During my meeting last week with Dr. Mary Mumper, Chair of the Faculty Senate, our discussion turned to the manner in which Frostburg State University has continued to invest in its people, even during tough economic times. We both thought it might be helpful to remind faculty and staff of the professional development opportunities that have been made available. I particularly want to highlight the $25,000 Faculty Professional Development Fund administered by the Faculty Senate’s Professional Development Committee, the recently developed President’s Experiential Learning Enhancement Fund and the Human Resources and Employee Development Fund administered by the Frostburg State University Foundation.

In my role as President, I have an opportunity to spend a significant amount of time with a remarkable group of people who are our Foundation’s Board of Directors. As an ex-officio member of the Foundation Board, I attend their three annual business meetings and their yearly two-day retreat held in the spring. As a group of key volunteers and leadership donors, the Foundation’s Board of Directors are constantly looking for ways to more tangibly align their work with our strategic plan, and decide how the impact of the funds they raise can make a difference and advance our university. This was their primary reason behind opening up a substantial portion of unrestricted Annual Funds each year to the campus community in a competitive RFP process, now going through its fourth cycle. During the previous three award cycles, the Foundation has provided a total of just over $200,000 in support of 57 programs. Grants have been made through this process to virtually every College and aspect of student life. You may have noticed that this year the Foundation added the call for proposals for the Al & Dale Boxley Faculty Research Award, Catherine R. Gira Campus to Community Fund and the Stephen M. Spahr Student Activism Fund to the general Foundation RFP process.

In my role, I have the opportunity to interact with a substantial number of other university presidents and have come to realize how unique and unprecedented this process is. We are very fortunate to have such an active and caring Foundation Board of Directors. At its June 3, 2011 meeting, the Foundation’s Budget Committee will entertain 47 proposals requesting $149,000 for this current RFP process. The Foundation continues to strengthen its work with institutional leadership in hopes that some of the projects might be supported with institutional funds, thus allowing more of these innovative and important projects to be funded.

The Faculty Professional Development Fund that is administered by the Faculty Senate Sub-Committee has been in place for quite a while and has been subject to the economy and to our budget. During one cycle I increased this fund from $25,000 to $50,000, and hope to be able to increase the amount again in the future. However, $25,000 has been the minimum amount allocated annually and over these past five years they have allocated $150,000.

The President’s Experiential Learning Enhancement Fund was created as a recommendation made by the President’s Advisory Council on Institutional Effectiveness. The primary goal of this fund is to support faculty, through an RFP process who develop projects that specifically engage students in some experiential opportunity. This year over $36,000 was distributed, and this fund will continue into the future. Lastly, a large number of you took advantage of the special Employee Appreciation Day Luncheon held on April 19. I applaud our Human Resources Office for organizing this. The funding came from a variety of sources and partially from a new fund created at the FSU Foundation.

The FSU Human Resources and Employee Development Fund was opened by numerous gifts from members of our executive team. This new fund will allow the HR Office to host workshops and bring outside speakers on campus expressing our sincere desire for providing a rewarding and motivating work environment. As your President, I want to make you aware of how much you are valued by this university.

Since my arrival, through these and other initiatives, we have invested approximately $400,000 in the development of our faculty and staff. I also want you to know that I look forward to better budgetary times and the ability to provide you with the raises that are so richly deserved.

Environmental Education Central to FSU’s “Going Green” Success

2011-04-18T11:57:00.000-07:00

Dr. Dan Fiscus, an assistant professor of biology at FSU, presented t the seminar “Campus Conversation Toward a Paradigm Shift in Life Sciences to Aid Environmental Sustainability in March 2011.

So spring is finally coming back to the mountains of Western Maryland, and everything is going green again. Frostburg State University is committed to going green year-round, through our institutional commitment to sustainability and our focus on environmental education.

We’ve been on our way to becoming a more sustainable campus ever since 2007, when FSU became a signatory member of the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment. Since then we’ve focused on making sustainability part of our university’s identity and educational mission. In fact, we’ve been working so hard on this that we were recognized in “The Princeton Review’s Guide to 286 Green Colleges,” which highlights institutions that have demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainability through their campus infrastructure, activities and initiatives.

So how have we earned this accolade and made sustainability an important part of our campus culture? Well, shortly after we joined the ACUPCC, FSU formed a campuswide committee called Learning Green, Living Green, or LGLG for short. Thanks to LGLG, FSU successfully submitted a Climate Action Plan in September 2009, as part of the pledge we made to the ACUPCC. This Climate Action Plan will guide FSU to climate neutrality by 2030. Adding to this effort, FSU’s faculty formed a Sustainability Studies Committee, which is developing our interdisciplinary sustainability studies minor.

Together, LGLG and our sustainability studies committee have spearheaded many of our activities that focus on environmental education – everything from big events, like our annual Earth Week, to lectures by speakers who introduce our campus community to a variety of environmental issues. For example, thanks to our sustainability studies committee’s efforts, Ethan Nuss, field director of the Energy Action Coalition, spoke to our students this past February about getting involved in the youth green movement. LGLG helped organize screenings of the films “GasLand” and “Shale Gas and America’s Future,” two documentaries on natural gas drilling, an issue that will shape the future of our area.

This week, as part of Earth Week events, LGLG will host Focus Frostburg, our annual day of learning that includes a variety of presentations on sustainability and climate awareness issues.

And these are just the latest of the numerous educational opportunities organized and facilitated by our campus. If you share our goal in supporting sustainability through education and outreach, we welcome your involvement and support. Stay updated on FSU’s various events and activities by visiting www.frostburg.edu/lglg or joining the LGLG community on Facebook.

Record-Breaking Relay for Life at FSU!

2011-04-18T10:26:00.000-07:00

Nearly 900 Frostburg State University students, faculty and staff members took to the Bobcat Stadium track on Friday, April 15, for FSU’s annual Relay for Life. (Photo by FSU student Brittany Fisher)

This year’s Relay for Life was incredibly successful. At the present time, with more donations to tally, we have raised close to $51,000 of a $52,000 goal. This is a record for Relay for Life at Frostburg State University and it brings the 10-year total to over $250,000 raised for the American Cancer Society. There are so many people and organizations to thank, and I will do so in a day or so when I receive the complete list. In the meantime, I wanted to thank each and every one of our faculty, staff, students and supporters who have helped to make Relay for Life such an important event for our University.

I cannot imagine being more proud of our students for their efforts this year. I have not seen as much engagement and activity in the past as I saw this year as we walked around the track. Every club and organization that was present was working hard to raise money. Once again, my personal and sincerest thanks to each and every one of the students who have spent the entire year organizing this year’s Relay. You have a lot to be proud of.

Buckle Up: Seat Belt Initiative

2011-04-14T13:35:00.000-07:00

This photo is a Creative-Commons-licensed image by Ffîon.

Beginning today, April 15, University Police will be joining police officers statewide in the annual safety belt enforcement program. University Police will be closely monitoring vehicle occupants for proper safety belt and child safety seat use.

For the sake of yourselves and your families, I urge you to always wear your safety belt, during this campaign and throughout the rest of the year. I also want to remind all of our faculty, staff and students that texting while driving and use of cell phones without a hands free device while driving is now illegal in the State of Maryland. Please keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road at all times. Thank you.

President's Advisory Council Against Gender-Based Violence

2011-04-13T11:19:00.000-07:00

Here's a picture of the clothesline from the Vagina Monologues Information Festival and Clothesline Project held earlier this year at FSU.

I am pleased to announce to you all the newly formed President’s Advisory Council against Gender-Based Violence. The President’s Advisory Council Against Gender-Based Violence will make recommendations to me to assist in the campuswide effort to educate students, faculty and staff about the issue of gender-based violence and related programming, policies, and services. The Council will help coordinate campus messages, initiatives, and programs that focus on gender-based violence, including but not limited to sexual assault, stalking, intimate partner violence and homophobic hate crimes. The Advisory Council will review policies and procedures and make recommendations in light of State and Federal expectations and best practices. For the first year, Dr. Julie Hartman, Professor of Sociology and Women’s Studies has agreed to chair the Committee. Membership on the President’s Advisory Council against Gender-Based Violence will consist of:

Administrators

One (1) Brady Health Center member to be appointed by the Director of Brady Health Center.
One (1) Residence Life member to be appointed by the Director of Residence Life.
One (1) Counseling and Psychological Services member to be appointed by the Director of Counseling and Psychological Services.
One (1) administrator at large to be appointed by me.
One (1) appointee with a focus on programming and activities related to gender-based violence, to be appointed by the Vice President of Student and Educational Services.
Director of ADA/EEO and Title IX Compliance
The Chief of University Police or a designee.

Faculty

One (1) faculty member affiliated with the Counseling Psychology Program, to be appointed by the President.
Two (2) faculty members-at-large appointed by the President
One (1) faculty member to be appointed by and from the Women’s Studies Steering Committee.

Students (one-year term; not eligible for officer positions)

One (1) student selected by the Student Government Association (SGA)
One (1) student selected by the Women’s Studies Steering Committee based on nominations from V-Day @ FSU, BTGLASS, and Students for Women’s Issues (SWI).
One (1) student selected by the Greek Council.

If you are a faculty member and have an interest in being considered as one of the two faculty members at large appointed by me, please email me and let me know. I look forward to the recommendations made by this committee to continue to make FSU one of the safest campuses in the State of Maryland.

Civility Focus of Tonight's Chat Session

2011-04-04T01:01:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone, Thanks for joining me for tonight's online chat session. The topic of tonight's discussion is civility, as part of Frostburg State University's participation in the national "Enough is Enough Campaign." This week, FSU joins campuses across the country in providing programs, creating opportunities for dialogue and encouraging members of this campus community to take action to stem the tide of societal violence. Learn more about FSU's "Enough is Enough" programming here.

Joining me this evening is Dr. Tom Bowling, Vice President for Student and Educational Services. Dr. Bowling has many years of experience in working closely with students to create opportunities for positive dialogue and proactive change.

We welcome your thoughts, comments, ideas and suggestions about the role civility plays in our campus culture, and how we can strengthen that role. Thanks for focusing on this important topic tonight with us.

Here's how this will work: Log in here with your FSU ID info at 6 p.m. EST. This link will take you to a separate web page where you can share your question or comment with me by typing a post in the space provided. You can also type a comment or response on this web page in the area provided below each post's box. Whatever you post on this separate web page will also appear on Blog From the ‘BURG in the box below.

Alternately, you can post directly on the Blog in the box below, but your comment will appear as “Anonymous.” If you are an alum or anyone else who does not have an FSU ID who would like to join in during tonight's forum, this is how you can participate. If you are posting as "Anonymous," please feel free to give me your name and other contact info, if you're comfortable doing so. I've followed up with several alumni via email following these chat sessions, and it would be great to be able to contact you.

A few things to keep in mind:

Our goal is to answer each question or share our thoughts on each post as it appears. If there is more than one person asking a question at the same time, we will do our best to answer them in the order that we see them.

For your convenience, you will also notice that when someone posts a new comment or question, it will automatically appear at the top of the box. So if you see that we're responding to someone, please know that we will do our best to get to your question if you have already posted it and we haven't answered it yet.

If you have questions or suggestions for future online forums and chats, email burgblog@frostburg.edu. Thanks!

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Appreciative and Proud of FSU, As We Complete the Semester

2011-03-31T06:46:00.000-07:00

We have so many things to be proud of at Frostburg State University because we work so hard to make our University community a supportive place for our students. I really believe the environment at FSU distinguishes us from our peer institutions and provides our students with enormous support and guidance. I am pleased that the IPR and Academic Affairs Committees of the Faculty Senate are reviewing our Strategic Plan. This plan focuses on the importance of our academic mission and I believe, with sufficient feedback, that this plan will make us a stronger academic institution.

I am also extremely grateful to the President’s Advisory Council on Institutional Effectiveness. This group has been working with the Strategic Plan and determining those metrics by which we can and will measure our success. I am also eternally grateful to the Enrollment Management Task Force. This group has been meeting several times a month for the past five years to review enrollment strategies and targets as we move ahead. I truly believe that the collective wisdom of these professionals that includes all deans and faculty has been responsible for our enrollment progress.

I also want to thank the many, many people who assist with our Open Houses and who provide tours for prospective students and families all year long. We always put our very best foot forward when we bring people to campus and I have seen first hand many prospective students and families decide that FSU is for them once they have visited campus and met with our faculty and staff.

Before Spring Break we reported that the numbers of freshmen that had applied to FSU and had paid their deposits for Fall 2011 had declined, and that we were close to 100 students off our projection. This has actually started to recover and we have closed the gap in half and, at the same time we are up 40 percent in community college transfer students to FSU. The really good news is that the average SAT score for the freshmen students who have paid their deposits is well above 1,000. While the high school graduating average has been increasing each year, our intent is that our SAT average will also be increasing to make FSU a more selective university. Our faculty and students all asked for us to do this and we have started. The plan is that over the next couple of years we will continue to raise our standards and that the overall perception of FSU will continue to improve in the marketplace.

I also wanted to make you aware that during the month of April construction will begin on the new Sustainable Energy Research Facility. This new facility will be completed approximately 6 months from the start of construction and my hope is that it will become nationally known for the quality of undergraduate and graduate research and technology transfer opportunities that will be created as FSU remains at the forefront nationally of renewable research and development.

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that Relay for Life is quickly approaching and will be April 15. I have been so pleased with everyone’s support of this critically important annual event but, especially proud of our students. They begin preparing for Relay and raising money for the American Cancer Society each and every year. If you haven’t joined a team I hope you will, because so many of our lives have been affected in one-way or another by cancer and we really can make a difference.

I hope you have returned from Spring Break renewed and ready to complete the semester. I will keep you informed of progress as I always do. Thank you and as always, I welcome your comments and suggestions.

It Takes a Whole Campus to Raise Academic Standards

2011-03-01T12:37:00.000-08:00

This past fall, I issued a call to action to Frostburg State University students, faculty, staff, friends and supporters to get involved in how FSU can raise the bar on academic excellence and achieve national distinction. As part of this discussion, I talked about a Middle States Periodic Review Survey FSU completed to help us identify our most important initiatives. This survey revealed that our campus community identifies recruiting high academic achievers as our highest priority. During my Fall Convocation, I also highlighted how improving our graduation rate – making sure we aren’t losing promising students – is important to our success. I talked about how FSU’s transformation would be a collective effort that would involve compromise, sacrifice and putting our time and energy into the right places.

Right now, FSU is starting to take a closer look at next year’s freshmen. At this point in time, we are tracking an incoming freshmen class that is approximately 70 to 90 students fewer than last year’s class. We anticipated this would happen because we’ve refined our admissions process so it’s more selective. As FSU accommodates this drop in our enrollment, now more than ever, it will be extremely important for our community to come together and remember what our priorities are.

I am asking every single member of the FSU community – students, faculty, staff, parents of students and friends of our University—to be a part of how we can continue to recruit and retain our most promising students. We all have a vested interest in a more academically talented freshman class, better retention rates and continued success with our transfer and international student population. I want Western Maryland to feel that Frostburg State University is a top choice for our local kids who are considering college. I want Frostburg’s neighbors to feel inspired by and interested in knowing our students, who enrich our community through their service and involvement, and who have an opportunity to learn about the rich history and knowledge of this area. And I want our many hard-working faculty and staff who put endless hours into reaching our students to feel like they’re a part of a professional environment that is rewarding and meaningful and supports their talent and initiative as educators.

So what are simple things you can do to be involved with our efforts? Here are some ideas:

If you know of a student who has expressed interest in transferring or who seems less engaged than usual, reach out to them. Let them know we care, we want them here, and refer them to appropriate FSU resources.
Always exhibit a positive attitude about this University as you are go about your personal life. Word of mouth remains the best advertising. Many of us have friends with children thinking about what college to attend. Speak up for FSU!
Now more than ever, examine your programs and be open to the possibility of letting go of what’s not working and refining what is. We must focus our time and resources on our priorities: improving our retention and continuing to improve our academic standards.
If you are a local resident who knows FSU through a business or some other community partnership, consider how you can become involved in FSU’s success and share your ideas with us. Help our students feel welcome here, so they can have a positive impact on our area. We are always interested in forming the best collaboration possible with the talent and leadership our area provides us.

Listen to The President's Dispatch to learn more about this topic.

How the Lane University Center Serves the Community

2011-02-02T07:46:00.000-08:00

After 15 months of construction, planning and patience from our campus community, Frostburg State University’s Lane University Center has reopened. This renovated building feels like an entirely different place, thanks to new finishes and nearly 12,000 square feet of new space.

As you enter the building you will pass a wall of water that has etched into it the following words by Martin Luther King: “Life's most pressing and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'" The new Lane University Center will be the center of activity on the FSU campus but also a place that embodies those words.

For a long time, we’ve needed more areas for our students, faculty and staff to get together, share ideas and truly feel a sense of community on our campus. With numerous small and large meeting rooms and wired lounges, the newly renovated Lane University Center greatly expands opportunities for FSU students to share ideas and plan activities for our campus and for our local area. So many of these activities often focus on service, whether it is Relay for Life, volunteering for local organizations, or the many events organized by our Greek organizations that serve others.

The Lane Center was also renovated with the purpose of better serving our student body and their needs and interests. This project was driven by student input, every step of the way. Students voted to use their fees to pay for this renovation. Students provided ideas and feedback on everything from the design of the Alice R. Manicur Assembly Hall to what resources should be added. We responded to their requests for better fitness facilities and ways to feel more connected and engaged with the campus; the new building includes a 21-seat computer lab, a fitness center with cardio equipment and a state-of-the-art game room featuring Xbox 360 and Wii gaming stations. The Aramark serving area has expanded, with new food options in Appalachian station. The FSU Bookstore has also been given increased retail space in the new facility.

By providing a better facility, the University is also reaffirming a commitment to our area to provide quality educational experiences for our students and economic and cultural opportunities for Western Maryland. Lane Center employees work more than 8,700 hours in a given year and 25 students work there annually; we’ve seen many of these students go on to exciting careers in entertainment, hospitality and events planning. The Lane University Center also hosts more than 3,600 events, which are often free and open to our students, faculty and staff and include art, music, entertainment and guest lectures.

If you haven’t done so already, I invite you to check out this renovated facility and see how much it has added to our University. It’s truly a sign of how FSU continues to grow, improve and better serve our community.

Learn more about the renovated Lane Center by listening to my latest broadcast of The President's Dispatch, my monthly radio address on FSU's WFWM.

Congrats to FSU's College of Business on Maintaining Accreditation!

2011-01-24T11:51:00.000-08:00

It is my pleasure to inform everyone that maintenance of accreditation for the undergraduate and master’s degree programs in business offered by Frostburg State University’s College of Business has been ratified by the Board of Directors of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. I want to personally congratulate Dr. Ahmad Tootoonchi, dean of the College of Business (pictured at right), and the faculty and staff of the College of Business for such an outstanding job in achieving the highest of praise from the Peer Review Team when they visited our campus for the Site Visit. I will not recount the entire letter that was received, but I did want to share with you some of the positive statements made by the Peer Review Team.

Dean Ahmad Tootoonchi encourages inclusion, mutual respect, a positive and open culture, and a commitment to the continuous quality standards of AACSB.

The Assurance of Learning review groups that consisted of faculty and students to focus on objectives, review evidence of progress, suggest standards for performance, and provide suggestions for change are strengths of the program and evidence of a commitment to continuous quality improvement.

The members of the Advisory Board, faculty teams, and student groups all reflected the culture of openness and transparency during the PRT visit, as suggested by the Dean.

These comments reflect an environment that promotes openness, collaboration and continuous improvement. My personal congratulations to the College of Business as they celebrate their successful maintenance of accreditation.

Update on Lane Center Opening

2011-01-06T08:49:00.000-08:00

As our faculty, staff and students return to campus, I know we are all looking forward to the re-opening of the Lane Center. I wanted to update everyone on its progress.

First of all, I wanted you all to know that the renovation and new additions are spectacular. The new office and meeting spaces, new University Bookstore and the fitness center will exceed all of our expectations. In short, this much-needed and anticipated renovation will provide an important hub of activity to our campus.

Unfortunately, with all major construction and renovation projects, there are unanticipated issues that occur over which we have no control. One of these occurred this past weekend when a pipe in one of the new bathrooms flooded parts of the building. While the Bookstore suffered the most significant damage, other areas of the facility were also affected. Luckily, we hadn’t yet occupied the building, so the contractors are working to remediate the situation. However, this means the Lane Center opening will now be delayed by up to two weeks.

Please note that the Bookstore will temporarily remain in Tawes Annex to accommodate this unexpected delay. Check the Bookstore web page for specific details about book purchases. The food court is now scheduled to open on Jan. 31. As we assess the damage and repairs are made, we will keep the campus community informed of any additional changes or delays to other offices and activities.

Thanks to everyone for your patience.

As the New Year Begins ...

2011-01-04T07:08:00.000-08:00

As we begin 2011, I am incredibly thankful - this year and every year - that there are so many caring people who make up the Frostburg State University community, which includes students, faculty, staff, friends, alumni and the local residents who work closely with our University. Thank you for the many ways you contribute to FSU’s excellence through your commitment, your involvement and your willingness to give so much of yourselves to our institution.

I think the idea of community has been especially significant in 2010, as we have all had to endure some stress in our lives as a result of the economy. It’s been a tough year, but despite the challenges, I’ve witnessed some remarkable moments when FSU has demonstrated that we can pull together and make amazing things happen. I’ve seen lots of people who have made a conscious effort to be truly great human beings, no matter what may be going on in their lives. This is so important.

One moment that especially stands out is when members of the Frostburg Police and Fire departments risked their lives trying to rescue FSU students Alyssa Salazar and Evan Kullberg from a fire. These students’ deaths represent the worst nightmare to someone who has dedicated themselves to protecting lives. These individuals who tried to save them should have our support.

The New Year is a time of renewal that gives everyone a new focus to how we live our lives. In 2011, I want to ask everyone to consider your community—your family and your friends, and how you will give to others.

What gifts can you give your community not just during the holidays, but year-round? FSU faculty, staff and students work to give so much to Western Maryland and the surrounding region. For example, throughout the year, the American Red Cross Blood drives at Frostburg State University and throughout the community help to save lives. FSU’s Student Center for Volunteerism sends FSU students out into the community to provide countless hours of service. Our faculty and staff give their time, effort and leadership to local organizations. And these are just a few examples.

With that in mind, I invite you to consider contributing to the FSU community, in whatever way you can, whether it is through your daily professional involvement, your support of FSU scholarships or the little ways you make an effort to do something positive and collaborative with your colleagues. Thanks, as always, for listening. May the joy and peace of the holidays be with you now and throughout the New Year.

Learn more about how FSU is contributing to our area by listening to my latest broadcast of The President's Dispatch, my monthly radio address on FSU's WFWM.

The Recent Tragedy

2010-12-10T11:00:00.000-08:00

Dear Frostburg State University Faculty, Staff, Students and Friends of the University:

As the days have passed since this community suffered the tragic deaths of Alyssa Salazar and Evan Kullberg, many of us have been trying to make some sense out of this loss. Alyssa and Evan were two young people of great potential, much loved by their friends and admired by their teachers. But as our Student Government Association President Ian Spears said at Sunday’s memorial service, this tragedy won’t make sense tomorrow, next week, next month or ever.

As investigators continue to learn more about the entire chain of events involved in this tragedy, I hope our community can collectively examine these facts with an eye toward preventing such heartbreaking events in the future. I have pledged my support to the efforts of FSU’s student government association and those members of Alyssa’s sorority and Evan’s fraternity in working to improve safety for everyone. I encourage us to have a constructive and respectful dialogue about this topic.

In everything, there is room to improve and learn. My first priority remains the safety of our students, but I also encourage all of you to take your safety in your own hands. Dr. Jesse Ketterman sent out a message Tuesday providing a number of resources. It emphasized in particular the importance of regularly checking your smoke detectors and planning escape routes. Please take some time today to do just that, as well as to review the information in the links he provided.

Finally, we want to express our gratitude to those members of the Frostburg Police and Fire departments who risked their lives, some even suffering injury, to try to rescue Evan and Alyssa. Their deaths represent the worst nightmare to someone who has dedicated themselves to protecting lives, and these individuals should have our support.

It is never easy to move ahead following such an enormous tragedy, but we all need to do what we can to heal. Some need to grieve alone, others need to reach out to friends or to counselors. I want those who are grieving to know that we in the FSU community will be there for them.

While we face the tasks and excitement of exams, commencement, holidays and winter break in the coming days, we will do so with Evan, Alyssa and their loved ones in our thoughts.

Happy Holidays

2010-12-07T13:59:00.000-08:00

Dear FSU Faculty, Staff, Students, Alumni and Friends:

The holiday season reminds us of the many ways we give to each other, whether it is through a present we share, an act of service or a thoughtful conversation.

I want to personally thank each and every one of you for the gift you make every day through your support and involvement with Frostburg State University. You each make a difference through your professional contributions as faculty and staff members, your ongoing participation and dedication as alumni and friends and the experiences you share with us as students.

My wife, Laurie, and I wish you joy, peace, health and happiness in the coming year. As part of our ongoing sustainability efforts, we’ve a digital version of our holiday message that we’re sharing through email this year. Click here to view our greeting card, and be sure to turn up the volume to hear a seasonal song performed by our wonderful Chamber Choir. Please feel free to forward this to anyone else who might enjoy it.

Best wishes to all of you for a happy holiday season with friends and loved ones and a great new year!

Sad News for Our University Community

2010-12-03T08:59:00.000-08:00

I am terribly saddened to inform you that that two of our students perished in an early morning fire on Main Street in Frostburg. I am now able to report that Alyssa Salazar and Evan Kullberg are the two students who died. All of our thoughts and prayers go out to their families, who have been notified of this tragic event.

This is a particularly difficult time to absorb the impact of such a painful loss as we are otherwise focused on the tasks that face us this close to the end of the semester and year. It will be important that we take the time to reflect on this loss and its impact on our community and on Evan and Alyssa’s loved ones. We will keep the campus community informed of any arrangements that are forthcoming.

Please reach out if you need someone to talk to. Call the Counseling Center at 301-687-4234, Father Ed Hendricks at 301-689-5041 or the Rev. Cindy Zirlott at 301-687-7490. It will be important at this tragic time to come together to comfort one another.

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-23T06:57:00.000-08:00

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, I wanted to take a moment to tell Frostburg State’s faculty, staff, students, friends and alumni how grateful I am for the sincerity and dedication you show our University.

I feel very fortunate for our faculty and staff’s compassion, and for your willingness to share your intellect and heart with our students every day. It is because of you that our students have many caring people who light the paths they are on in their lives. I know they appreciate your support as much as I do.

Students, I am appreciative of the ways you strive for excellence, whether it is doing well in your classes, completing service projects, or treating one another with sensitivity and respect. You are such an important part of how FSU is represented, and your involvement and commitment really matter to how FSU can become a great institution.

To our friends and alums, I want to express my gratitude for the ways you support and believe in our University, in so many ways. Thank you for your involvement and your understanding of why higher education is incredibly important to our country and our world.

I hope all of you enjoy your time with family and friends. If you are traveling, travel safely. Get some rest - eat good food, but not too much. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

FSU Athletics is Putting Us in the Spotlight

2010-11-09T11:26:00.000-08:00

I'm proud to inform the campus community that the NCAA Division III Volleyball Committee announced yesterday that Frostburg State University has been selected as one of the final two sites for the regional round of the 2010 NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship. This is the first time that FSU has ever hosted this tournament. The Cordts Physical Education Center will play host to eight teams from Friday, Nov. 12, through Sunday, Nov. 14.

The volleyball team's success is putting FSU in the spotlight, as we are one of only seven tournament host schools nationwide. This is an additional honor for the Bobcats after the volleyball team swept Mary Washington on Saturday to capture the Capital Athletic Conference title.

I'm also proud to announce that the Frostburg State University football, swimming and women's soccer teams will be hosting events this week on campus.

Women's soccer earned the No. 1 seed in this year's ECAC Tournament and kicks things off on Wednesday when they host Lebanon Valley College at 5 p.m. If the women win, they will host the ECAC Championships Finals on Saturday and Sunday.

Football kicks off the day on Saturday when they host in-state rival Salisbury in the 12th Annual Regents Cup at Bobcat Stadium at 1 p.m. Swimming is next on the schedule when the men's and women's teams host Fairmont State at Bobcat Natatorium at 2 p.m.

Get the latest on FSU Athletics and learn more about all of our great student-athletes on Facebook and on our Frostburg Sports website.

Understanding Our Diverse World

2010-11-05T07:13:00.000-07:00

We all begin with a certain perception about the world. This perception is made up of everything from race, gender and class to ethnicity and nationality. It changes over time as we meet different people, travel and share ideas with one another.

Colleges and universities play a major role in how our perception of the world around us grows beyond our initial understanding. Higher education is instrumental to the ways in which we embrace cultural diversity and global community.

Frostburg State University has a responsibility to provide an environment that embodies diversity and embraces global citizenship. It’s a major factor that shapes not just our educational experiences, but also the environment we provide for our employees and our student body. It extends to the local area and the ways in which we learn from one another through our shared community.

Cultural diversity is truly significant to how Frostburg State can improve as an institution. We certainly have a diverse representation of students, but we need to do more in recruiting and retaining minority employees and keeping young professionals in our area. We are working on growing our international education opportunities and ensuring our campus is sensitive to and welcoming of cultures from around the world. This fall, 45 new faculty and staff, including a visiting Fulbright scholar from Denmark, and 22 new adjunct instructors joined FSU. And 34 new students from countries around the world arrived at FSU this fall, for a total of 56 international students.

FSU’s President’s Advisory Council on Diversity is a huge part of how Frostburg State can and should create a welcoming environment that facilitates a truly diverse community. The Council’s accomplishments include organizing receptions for new faculty and staff, providing feedback and direction on University initiatives and, most recently, launching a new website on cultural diversity. You can find it here. I invite all of you to visit this new online resource to discover more about how FSU is preparing our students to approach our world with an open mind. It includes helpful links that highlight our academic programs that focus on global community, our various organizations, statistics about our student body and information on how we intend to retain and recruit employees that better represent our world.

I hope that everyone joins Frostburg State in our efforts to embrace the global community we all share by ensuring cultural diversity is a part of everything we do. Your involvement matters to what FSU becomes today, tomorrow and in the years ahead.

Learn more about how FSU is focusing on diversity by listening to my latest broadcast of The President's Dispatch, my monthly radio address on FSU's WFWM.

Chat Session Tonight

2010-10-26T08:37:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

Thanks for joining me for tonight's online chat session.

Here's how this will work:
Log in here with your FSU ID info at 6:30 p.m. EST. This link will take you to a separate Web page where you can share your question or comment with me by typing a post in the space provided. You can also type a comment or response on this Web page in the area provided below each post's box. Whatever you post on this separate web page will also appear on Blog From the ‘BURG in the box below.

Alternately, you can post directly on the Blog in the box below, but your comment will appear as “Anonymous.” If you are an alum or anyone else who does not have an FSU ID who would like to join in during tonight's forum, this is how you can participate. If you are posting as "Anonymous," please feel free to give me your name and other contact info, if you're comfortable doing so. I've followed up with several alumni via email following these chat sessions, and it would be great to be able to contact you.

A few things to keep in mind:

My goal is to answer each question or share my thoughts on each post as it appears. If there is more than one person asking a question at the same time, I will do my best to answer them in the order that I see them. For your convenience, you will also notice that when someone posts a new comment or question, it will automatically appear at the top of the box. So if you see that I'm responding to someone, please know that I will do my best to get to your question if you have already posted it and I haven't answered it yet. We will be holding this chat session until 7:30 p.m. EST, so I'm here for the next hour to talk to you.

If you have questions or suggestions for future online forums and chats, email burgblog@frostburg.edu. Thanks!

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Sea Change at FSU

2010-10-11T14:46:00.000-07:00

The tide is turning at FSU. These currents of change running through our institution right now are guiding us to new destinations, places we’ve never been before. The old idea of Frostburg State being known as a last resort or back-up school is fading. A new truth is emerging that reflects not just the past four years but a whole history in the making.

This new truth belongs to everyone who has been working tirelessly to bring Frostburg to greatness: faculty, staff, students, alumni, FSU’s friends and supporters, the coal miners who founded Frostburg with high hopes for their children’s education. It’s a truth that’s seen in things like the steady growth of our enrollment and the outside constituents who are recognizing our successful programs and initiatives and sharing them with the world.

This fall we reached our highest enrollment ever–5,470 students, including 4,866 undergraduates. We’re seeing better retention, and our fall 2010 freshman class has a higher mean grade point average and SAT score. More kids are completing their degrees here, and smarter students are choosing Frostburg for their college education. With stable enrollment, FSU is also in a stronger position to be more selective about whom we admit. We can focus more on how to better serve our smart students who believe in Frostburg and want to be here.

We know incoming students are increasingly identifying Frostburg as their first choice. There’s a Facebook Group for Frostburg’s Class of 2014 where students list the colleges they turned down in favor of going to FSU. It includes the University of Maryland College Park, Virginia Tech and UMBC. Several members of this group said they knew Frostburg was the right place for them because they liked the sense of community we share in everything we do and how dedicated our faculty and staff are. They also sought out our beautiful location in the mountains because it helps them feel safer and more focused on learning and discovering who they are.

We’re also getting accolades from outside sources who have realized our programs and initiatives should be acknowledged for their excellence. GetEducated.com, a consumer group that reviews online academic program for cost, quality and credibility, has ranked FSU among its best values in AACSB-accredited online MBAs. “AACSB” stands for the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. FSU’s online MBA ranks ninth on this national list.

FSU’s focus on experiential learning—the various hands-on experiences we provide to ensure students discover life-changing ideas—is opening new doors for us. For years now, we’ve provided students with outstanding internships, service learning activities and community involvement. We’ve put students in touch with mentors to guide their professional development and given them access to state-of-the-art laboratories and unique on-site research areas right here in the mountains. We’re now asking ourselves how we can continue to shape and refine these experiences and resources, share them more with the rest of the world so that they become a defining and central part of our educational identity.

Learn more about how FSU is raising the bar by listening to my latest broadcast of The President's Dispatch, my monthly radio address on FSU's WFWM.

Raising the Bar at Fall Convocation

2010-10-01T07:30:00.000-07:00

FSU honored three outstanding employees, Ann Townsell, Dean Bolden and Karen Frink, during Fall Convocation. The annual Staff Awards for Excellence recognize outstanding service to the institution, and the recipients are nominated and chosen by their colleagues. Read more about this achievement here.

Frostburg State University held its Fall Convocation for the campus community earlier this week. The theme of the presentation- how we're going to make FSU a distinctive and distinguished institution with national recognition. As part of this effort, we're going to focus on these priorities:

Raising the bar on our students' academic quality and improving our graduation rate

Making more intentional our focus on experiential and applied learning opportunities for students both inside and outside the classroom

Improving our facilities so that our students live and learn in a modern and technologically sophisticated environment

We also announced the launch of a new budget website, where you can monitor how funds are being spent and put back into our campus.

You can also read speech, download an mp3 of the entire presentation and check out the PowerPoint that illustrates it here.

Welcome to Tonight's Chat Session

2010-09-22T08:17:00.000-07:00

USM Chancellor Visits FSU

2010-09-02T13:21:00.000-07:00

Top photo:From left, Colleen Peterson, director of The Greater Cumberland Committee and former vice president for University Advancement at FSU, and Dr. Brit Kirwan share a smile during the presentation.

Today Frostburg State University enjoyed a visit from Dr. Brit Kirwan, Chancellor of the University System of Maryland. Dr. Kirwan, a nationally recognized authority on critical issues shaping the higher education landscape, was the featured speaker at the Sept. 2 meeting of The Greater Cumberland Committee, held on the FSU campus. He shared insights on the Chesapeake Crescent Initiative, a public/private partnership involving government entities, the higher education community and entrepreneurial business leaders in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. The goal of the Initiative, formalized in 2007, is to focus on regional collaboration; environment/energy; innovation/economy; and secure and sustainable development.

Dr. Kirwan talked about the corresponding university alliance, the Chesapeake Crescent Innovation Alliance, which is the first in the nation to extend across three distinct political jurisdictions. The intent of the Innovation Alliance is to determine areas of potential cooperation, foster entrepreneurial development and early stage investment and motivate research-based inventions to marketplace commercialization.

FSU Gearing Up for Exciting New Year

2010-09-01T07:20:00.000-07:00

Above, top photo: students mug for the camera, as part of their first week of the fall semester. Library director Dr. David Gillespie shares a smile with librarians Pam Williams and Kim Detterbeck during a special reception organized for new faculty and staff.

We all have reasons to be excited this time of year. Some of us are sending our kids off to school. Some of us are heading back to school ourselves. At Frostburg State University, every fall we get to welcome a whole new group of students, faculty and staff who are experiencing our campus—and Frostburg itself—for the first time. In fact, once again, we anticipate that we will be welcoming one of the largest freshmen classes in our institution’s history. We are also excited about helping the 45 new faculty and staff and the 22 new adjunct instructors feel at home. And 34 new students from countries around the world are coming to FSU this year, for a total of 56 international students.

And FSU itself remains a vital economic and cultural resource to the entire area. Our students, faculty and staff and their families support local businesses with their spending. The University brings in world-class performances, creating jobs and community resources and providing educational outreach in local schools. Just look at some of the great events that happen every year, thanks to our hard-working faculty, staff and students and their dedication and innovation:

The annual Appalachian Festival
The numerous activities organized by our Children’s Literature Centre every year
FSU’s Leadership & Homecoming Weekend, which brings alums back to their alma mater and their dollars back to our local economy
The Trident Initiative and its focus on supporting local business and entrepreneurship
The University’s annual Block Party in downtown Frostburg, which gives many of our new students their first introduction to Frostburg’s Main Street
WFWM, our NPR affiliate, which keeps us connected as a community and to important news and events

And these are just a few examples. The students, faculty and staff we welcome to our community not only bring their new perspectives and enthusiasm to these efforts but they also bring new projects and ideas to enrich our community.

Listen and learn more about this topic by listening to The President's Dispatch, my monthly broadcast on WFWM, or by pressing play on my mp3 player to right, on my Blog.