Report of the President of King’s College

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Fall 2011 Semester

Forthesecondconsecutiveyear,King’splacedinthetop30ofmorethan550master’sdegreegrantingcollegesanduniversitiesinAmericainarankingwhichemphasizesservicetothecommunityandsocialmobilityofthestudentbody.

Th erankingsappearedintheSeptember/OctoberissueofWashington Monthlymagazineaspartofacoverstorytitled“2011CollegeRankings:WhatCanCollegesDofortheCountry.”Th erankingswerebasedonthreeevenlyweightedselectioncriteria;socialmobility,service,andresearch.

King’sranked25thamong“master’suniversities”intheUnitedStatesandwasoneofonlythreeinPennsylvaniainthetop50,rankingbehindVillanovaUniversityandaheadoftheUniversityofScranton.Th eCollegerankedsecondnationallyamong553institutionsinthemaster’sdegreecategoryforcommunityserviceparticipationandhoursserved,oneoffiveareasthatcomprisetheservicetothecommunityportionofthesurvey.

King’splaced30thinthe2010listandwastheonlyPennsylvania–basedentrytoimproveitsranking.

TheClassof2015consistedof555incomingfirst-yearstudents,whichrepresentedthethird-largestfreshmanclassinhistory,andarecordnumberof115transferstudents.Th eresultingclassof670“new”studentswasaKing’srecord.Arecordnumberof1070studentsbegantheyearinCollege-ownedhousing.

TheKing’scampus,aspartofaprocessinvolving65,000LuzerneCountycitizens,wasorderedtoevacuateonTh ursday,September8,duetorisinglevelsoftheSusquehannaRiverfollowingthreedaysofrecordrainfallaspartofHurricaneIrene.Th eCollegewasgivenapproximatelyeighthourstoevacuateallstudentsandtocloseandsecureallbuildings.

theCountry.”Th erankingswerebasedonthreeevenlyweightedselectioncriteria;socialmobility,service,and

King’sranked25thamong“master’suniversities”intheUnitedStatesandwasoneofonlythreeinPennsylvania

aheadoftheUniversityofScranton.Th eCollegerankedsecondnationallyamong553institutionsinthemaster’s

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Report of the President of King’s College

Th eSusquehannaRivercrestedonSeptember9atmorethan421/2feet,morethanafootandahalfhigherthanthe1972AgnesfloodwhichcausedextensivedamagetotheCollege.AleveesystemthatwasimprovedsinceHurricaneAgnesanddesignedforriverlevelsupto41feetperformedbeyonditscapacityandkeptthecampussafe.ClassesresumedonMonday,September11.

MembersoftheKing’sCommunity,coordinatedbytheoutreacheffortsofCampusMinistryandtheShovalCenterforCommunityEngagementandLearning,rolleduptheircollectivesleevesandparticipatedinavarietyofserviceprojectsshortlyafterreturningtocampus.

VolunteerstravelledtoWestPittstonandExeter,twooftheareashardesthitbythefloodwaters,justonedayaftertheresumptionofclasses.Th efollowingday,acrewfromtheCollegerespondedtoarequestforhelpfromWilkes-BarremayorTomLeighton’82toassistelderlyresidentsintheBrooksideareaofWilkes-Barre.

Th eShovalCenteridentifiedatleastfourKing’sstudents,twostaffmembersandonefacultymemberwhosehomesweredestroyedorwhowereotherwiseinneedofassistance.A“GivingTree”wassetupintheCampusCenterwithlistsofneededitemsandafundwasestablishedintheBusinessOfficetoacceptcashdonationsforKing’sfloodvictims.

Aredesignedwww.kings.eduwebsitedebutedearlylastSeptember.Aredesignofthewebsitewasincludedasagoalinthe2008-2013strategicplan.Insummer2010,college-widefocusgroupswereconductedtodeterminethemostappropriatedesignandstructureforthenewwebsite. Th efinaldesignwasapprovedinlatefall2010andthepageconversionsbegan.

King’sreceivedagrantofalmost$384,000fromtheMargaretA.CargillFoundation.Th egrantrepresentsthesaleof10,000sharesofCargillstockissuedtoKing’sthreeyearsagotosupporttheEnvironmentalProgram.  Th efundswillbeearmarkedfortheendowmenttosupportscholarshipsforsciencestudentswhodemonstrateaninterestinenvironmentalstudiesandforstudent/facultysummerresearch. 

TheCollegecompletedthepurchaseoftheMemorialPresbyterianChurch,a19thcenturystonebuildinglocatedonNorthStreetbetweenN.MainandN.Franklinstreets.Whilethelong-termCollegeusefortheChurchisyettobedetermined,theacquisitiondoesresultintheadditionofatleast30parkingspacesavailableforimmediateuse.Additionalparkingspaceshavebecomeavailablefollowingthedemolitionofanauxiliarybuildinglocatedattherearoftheproperty.

The highlight of the academic year was the October inauguration of Father John Ryan, C.S.C., as ninth President of King’s College. The celebration included a Mass of Thanksgiving followed the next day by the inauguration ceremony.

Pictured are the more than 50 priests who concelebrated the Inauguration Liturgy. The principle celebrant was Rev. Richard Warner, C.S.C., Superior General of the Congregation of Holy Cross, who fl ew from Rome to be present.

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Asurveybypayscale.comofmediansalariesofgraduatesfromallcollegesanduniversitiesfromacrossthecountryhighlightedtheperformanceofKing’salumniinthebusinessworld.Th emid-careermediansalaryofaKing’sgraduateranked88thintheUnitedStatesand47thintheNortheast.

TheTheatredepartmentreceivedagrantlastfallfromthePennsylvaniaCouncilontheArts(PCA)whichwillprovidefundingforunderservedareahighschoolstudentstoattendperformancesofTh e Merry Wives of Windsor byWilliamShakespeare.IthasbeenatraditionofthetheatredepartmenttoperformaworkbyShakespeareeachseasonandtoconductseveraldaytimeperformancesexclusivelyforareahighschoolstudents.

TheCollege’slatestpublicserviceproject,theLuzerneCountyJuvenileJusticeCollegeMentoringProgram,wasannouncedatanon-campusnewsconferenceinthefall.Th eprogram,inwhichKing’sstudentsmentorfirst-time,non-violentjuvenileoffenders,beganinOctoberandwillrunforfourweeksatleastonceeveryacademicsemester.

PulitzerPrizewinnerMichaelCunninghamvisitedcampusinthefallastheguestoftheAnnualVisitingWritersProgram.Amonghisworks,CunninghamwroteTh e HourswhichwasadaptedasanAcademyAwardnominatedfilm.

King’sreceivedan$8,000grantfromtheFirstCatholicSlovakLadiesAssociationthatwillbeusedtoexpandtheCollege’sfaculty-ledstudy-abroadprogramofferingstoCentralandEasternEuropeancountries,developaSlavicCulturescoursethatwillbecomepartoftheKing’scurriculum,andconductpublicpresentationsonSlaviccultures.

Th egrantwillprovidescholarshipsforstudentstoparticipateinamulti-weekprogramtoSlovakia,theCzechRepublic,andPolandinthesummerof2013.Th efocusofthetripwillbeonestablishingconnectionsbetweenWyomingValleyhistoryandcommunityandtheculturalpracticesandbeliefsofpresent-daywesternSlavs,withaspecialemphasisontheroleoftheCatholicChurchinthedevelopmentofthecultures.

Spring Semester 2012Twolong-timediningroomassistantsatMoreauCourt,theresidenceoftheHolyCrossCommunityatKing’s,

Joe Evan, dean of the faculty, leads the procession of dignitaries through the

faculty lining Lane’s Lane on the way to the Inauguration ceremony in the

Scandlon Center.

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Report of the President of King’s College

wereselectedtoreceivetheSpiritofHolyCrossAward.Th eawardsareanannualrecognitionbytheUnitedStatesProvinceofPriestsandBrotherstorecognizethecriticalimportancelaycollaboratorsplayinlivingoutthevisionandmissionofHolyCrossfounderBlessedBasilMoreau,C.S.C.,tomakeGodknown,lovedandservedineducation,parishandmissionsettings.BettyMarleyandMarionWoodshaveworkedwiththeHolyCrossCommunityatKing’sfor25yearsand15yearsrespectively.

ThelocalofficeofVolunteersofAmericawasawardedastategrantofmorethan$140,000toinitiate“LearningWorks,”athree-prongedprogramdesignedtoincreasetheinvolvementoflocallow-incomefamiliesintheirchild’seducationandtoimproveeachchild’sperformanceinschool.

VolunteersofAmericapartneredwithKing’sfortwoofthethreeprogramphases;King’sstudentstutoredandmentored335th-8thgradestudentsfromDodsonElementary,KistlerElementary,andMeyersJuniorHighschoolsoneafternoonaweekfromJanuarythroughMayandvolunteertutorsandfacultymembersoftheCollegeguidedthestudentsthrougha“hands-on”projectthatincludedelementsofreading,financialliteracy,careerexploration,math,andtechnology.

AteamofKing’sstudentswasselectedasatopfinisherinanationalmarketingcompetitionsponsoredbyChevroletandEdventurePartners.

Th eKing’steam,consistingofDavidCastro,JamieCybulski,ShaneGibbonsandKellieRhielandfacultyadvisorDr.AmyParsons,finishedamongthetop11ofalmost50entriesfromcollegesanduniversitiesintheChevroletSonicMarketingChallenge.

ParticipatingteamswereaskedtodesignanintegratedmarketingcommunicationsplanthateffectivelyincreasedawarenessoftheChevroletSonicautomobileonacollegecampusbyutilizingsocialmediatacticsandevent-basedanddigitalpromotion.

StaffmembersfromWRKC-FM,King’son-campus,non-profit,educationalradiostationwererecognizedbystate,regionalandnationalbroadcastingorganizationsduringthispastacademicyear.

TwelvestudentstaffmemberswerefinalistsforIntercollegiateBroadcastingService(IBS)Awards.King’splacedfinalistsin10ofthe38categoriesinwhichawardswerepresented.WRKC’s10nominationswerethemostfromamongIBSmemberstationsinPennsylvania.ProgramDirectorSaraScinto’sreport,“BreakingtheSilence”wonanIBSawardforspotnews.

Inadditiontotheindividualnominations,thestationwasamongfournomineesforbestradiostationforcollegesoruniversitieswithanenrollmentfewerthan10,000students.

Tim Faber (right), who served as chair of the College’s board of directors from 1998 through 2010, carries the Presidential Medallion that was presented to Father Ryan at the inauguration. Pictured to Faber’s right is Charles Parente ’62, who was chair of the King’s Board of Directors from 1988 through 1997. Faber and Parente served as co-chairs of the Presidential Search Committee.

Report of the President of King’s College

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ThestationalsoreceivedthreeMarkofExcellenceAwardsfromRegionIofTheSocietyofProfessionalJournalists(SPJ).

ThestationbeatnomineesfromHofstraUniversityandSwarthmoreCollegeforfirstplaceinBestAll-AroundRadioNewscastforthe“Newsat5”.PaulOfscharsky’sreportonthe2011King’sfootballteamnotonlywonthefirstplaceawardforRadioSportsReportingforRegionI,butwentontowintheNationalMarkofExcellenceAwardfromSPJ.

NewsDirectorKellyCalowaywonathirdplaceregionalSPJawardforRadioIn-DepthReportingforher“Ruth’sJourney”feature.

Laterinthesemester,threestationmembersreceivedrecognitionfromthePennsylvaniaAssociatedPressBroadcaster’sAssociation.

King’sstudentspairedupwithspecialvalentines –seniorcitizensfromtheCharlesT.AdamsSeniorCenterinWilkes-Barre –fordinnerandaplayinFebruary.Elevenseniorcitizenswereshuttledtocampus,atedinnerwiththeirKing’sstudentcompanions,andthenattendedthetheatredepartmentproductionofThe 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

TheCorporationforNationalandCommunityServicenamedKing’stothePresident’sHigherEducationCommunityServiceHonorRollforthesixthconsecutiveyearbasedonexemplaryserviceeffortsduringthe2010-11academicyear.King’sistheonlycollegeoruniversityinLuzerneandLackawannacountiestobenamedtotheHonorRolleachyearsinceits2006launch.

Duringthe2010-2011academicyear,King’sstudentscombinedformorethan174,000servicehours.ThestudentservicehoursdonotincludetheeffortsofmanyKing’sfaculty,administrators,andstaffmemberswhoparticipatedalongsidestudentsinserviceactivitiesandacademicservicelearning.

TheCommunityServiceHonorRollisthehighestfederalrecognitionaschoolcanachieveforitscommitmenttoservice-learningandcivicengagement.Approximately80percentofKing’sstudentsparticipatedinserviceeffortsduringthelastacademicyearandtheaveragestudentdedicatedmorethan82hourstopublicservice.

MariaMontero,liaisontoPennsylvaniaGovernorTomCorbett’sAdvisoryCommissiononLatinoAffairs,meton-campusinAprilwith20localhighschoolstudentsparticipatinginREACH-HEI,aprogramthatencouragesstudentsfromlow-incomefamiliestoconsiderhealth-relatedcareers.

REACH-HEI(RegionalEducationAcademyforCareersinHealth–HigherEducationInitiative),isamulti-yearfederallyfunded“pipeline”programdevelopedbyTheCommonwealthMedicalCollegeinwhichKing’swasapartner.Theprogramisdesignedtoprovidesupporttoparticipantsfromtheirsophomoreyearofhighschoolthroughcollege.

StartinginMarch,thehighschoolstudentsattendedweeklyworkshopsatKing’storeceiveintensiveacademicsupportalongwithstructuredhealthcareersexplorationandcollegeplanning.ThehighschoolsophomoresandjuniorsthatcomprisedtheinitialREACH-HEIclassalsoparticipatedintheMcGowanHispanicOutreachmentoringprogram.

MichaelDeeganandChristineGuarino,twomembersoftheClassof2012,wereselectedtoreceiveaFulbrightEnglishTeachingAssistantship(ETA)andwillspendalmostayearteachingEnglishinaEuropeancountry.

DeeganleftforBulgariainAugustandGuarinobeganherassignmentinGermanyinSeptember.Bothassignmentsarefor10months.

TheFulbrightProgramistheflagshipinternationaleducationalexchangeprogramsponsoredbytheU.S.governmentandisdesignedtoincreasemutualunderstandingbetweenthepeopleoftheUnitedStatesandthepeopleofothercountries.TheFulbrightProgrambeganin1946,thesameyearasthefirstclasstoenterKing’sCollege.

TheselectionofDeeganandGuarinomarksthefirsttimeinKing’shistorythattwostudentswereselectedforFulbrightAwardsinthesameyear.ThelastKing’sstudenttoreceiveaFulbrightawardwasJosephDeegan,Michael’sbrother,in2008.

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Report of the President of King’s College

TheCantoresChristiRegisChoircelebratedthe10thanniversaryofitsfoundingwithaconcertheldintheChapelofChristtheKinginMay. 

Th egroup’sfirstconcertwasheldonApril21,2002. Th econcertincludedapproximately24alumnimembersofCantoresChristiRegiswhosangseveralselectionswiththe27currentmembers.Th erewereapproximately275peopleinattendance. 

CoachBillEydler,inhis33rdseasonasthemen’stenniscoach,wonhis400thmatchintheteam’sfinalregularseasoncontestinMay.King’sdefeatedAlverniaUniversitytobringEydler’soverallrecordto400-296.

All15graduatingseniorsoftheAthleticTrainingEducationProgram(ATEP)passedthenationalBoardofCertification(BOC)certificationexaminationontheirfirstattempt,thelargestnumberofgraduatestocompletethefeatintheprogram’s13-yearhistory.

Passageoftheexaminationisnecessarybeforecandidatescanbeginpracticingasathletictrainers.Anationalaveragefirst-timepassrateforthisyear’sexaminationisnotavailable;theratewasaslowas60percenttwoyearsago.

Previously,membersoftheClassesof2001and2003achieveda100percentpassrateontheirfirstattempt.

TheKing’sEarlyLearningCenter,locatedinO’HaraHallandmanagedbyHildebrandtLearningCenter,recentlyearnedaccreditationfromtheNationalAssociationfortheEducationofYoungChildren(NAEYC)–thenation’sleadingorganizationofearlychildhoodprofessionals.

ToearnNAEYCAccreditation,theEarlyLearningCenterwentthroughanextensiveself-studyprocess,measuringtheprogramanditsservicesagainstthe10NAEYCEarlyChildhoodProgramStandardsandmorethan400relatedAccreditationCriteria.Th eprogramreceivedtheaccreditationafteranon-sitevisitbyNAEYCAssessorstoensurethattheprogrammeetseachoftheprogramstandards.NAEYC-accreditedprogramsarealsosubjecttounannouncedvisitsduringtheiraccreditation,whichlastsforfiveyears.

FormerKing’sPresidentFatherTh omasO’Hara,C.S.C.,waselectedthesecondProvincialoftheCongregationofHolyCross’sUnitedStatesProvinceofPriestsandBrothersinJune.

King’sreceivedagiftofmorethan$473,000fromtheestateofNorbertandVictoriaGustitusofExeter.Accordingtotheestatedocuments,thefundswillbeusedtoestablishanendowedmemorialscholarshipinthecouple’snametobegivento“studentswhoarefinanciallyinneedofassistanceandwhoareacademicallyqualifiedtoattendKing’sCollege.”

Brother John R. Paige, C.S.C., president of Holy Cross College in Notre Dame, Ind., provided the inauguration keynote address. Brother Paige was director of the formation faculty at the Holy Cross Novitiate in Waterford, New York, when Father Ryan was a second-year seminarian. Between Brother Paige and Father Ryan is a cross-and-anchor sculpture that was presented to Father Ryan as a gift from the College Community.