Dear alumni and friends,
What a whirlwind year it has been for Penn
State Altoona. In the spring 2004 issue of the
Ivy Leaf, I was introduced to you as the
College's first female to oversee academic
affairs, as I began my tenure as associate dean
for academic affairs in July 2004, following the
retirement of Dr. Kjell Meling.
Fast forward one year and I address you in the
spring 2005 issue having been the Interim
CEO and Dean of the College after the
departure of Dr. William G. Cale, Jr., who
assumed the Presidency of the University of
North Alabama. I am truly honored to have
this opportunity to provide leadership to our
College. I am thankful to our talented faculty,
staff, and administration for working with me
to make this transition as seamless as possible.
Every day I see the commitment of our faculty
and staff to our students and their education; I
share in this commitment and am proud to be a
part of Penn State Altoona.
Our recent spring commencement ceremony at
Penn State Altoona held particular significance
for our campus community. The ceremony
recognized the academic excellence of 258
students and marked the fifth year that
baccalaureate degrees have been conferred by
Penn State Altoona since its designation as a
four-year college in 1997.
It was exciting for me to preside over my first
commencement, and I am even more excited
by our College's continued advancement in
areas ranging from academics and physical
plant to philanthropy and student services. I
cherish the achievements of our faculty, staff,
students, and alumni because The
Pennsylvania State University has been my
academic home for the past 21 years, including
20 at Penn State Altoona, and because I care
about our College and its future.
I assure you that this interim period has not
been static. Our College has developed a
strategic plan that will guide us over the
next three years. One of its most important
goals is to cultivate academic excellence. To do
so, we are committed to maintaining and
improving the quality of our academic
programs. We have developed an assessment
process and plan that will help us to continue
revising and improving our curriculum and to
remain competitive in the recruitment and
retention of quality students.
We continue to recruit highly qualified and
diverse faculty, staff, and students. We also
have developed strategies to facilitate student
participation in international education and
out-of-the-classroom learning experiences, and
we will pursue adding selected new degree
programs as our resources permit.
In an effort to enhance the academic
experience at Penn State Altoona, our facilities
must keep pace with the needs created by
growth. Hawthorn, our new classroom and
faculty office building, opened at the beginning
of the spring semester. The building also is
the new home for the computer labs
previously located in the Computer and
Learning Resource Center. I invite you to visit our
college news section to learn more about the
Hawthorn Building, as well as future
building plans for our College.
Eiche Library and the Community Arts Center
will soon expand. The library project, which
began in May, will allow the library to increase
its collection from 80,000 volumes to 130,000
over the next ten years. The expansion of the
Community Arts Center, beginning in fall
2005, will include a new $3.8 million
performing arts and communications suite.
These advancements reflect a commitment to
providing our young scholars with resources
and services that will facilitate entry into their
respective professions with every possible
advantage. The development of Penn State
Altoona also reflects the dedication and vision
of generous benefactors who have helped to
propel the College into the twenty-first century
as one of our nation's finest institutions of
higher learning. The continued philanthropic
efforts of alumni and friends truly have helped
to create the margin of excellence that sets
Penn State Altoona apart.
Penn State Altoona continues to be a shining
star of the Penn State system. Since 1989, each
year the University has honored four Penn
State faculty with the Atherton Award,
recognizing excellence in teaching at the
undergraduate level. Seven Penn State Altoona
faculty have received this prestigious
university-wide award in the past; with the
selection of Dr. Peter Shull, associate professor
of engineering, as a 2005 Atherton Award
recipient, our College's total soars to eight.
Dr. Shull's accomplishments, as well as the
many professional achievements of our faculty
and staff, are highlighted throughout this issue.
As you peruse
the Ivy Leaf,
you'll notice a
number of stories concerning diversity. As a
College, we celebrate diversity in all of its
forms, continually striving to make our campus
environment welcoming to all. I hope that
you'll enjoy reading about Jen deCoste, our
new director of institutional equity and
diversity, as well as learning about the research
of Drs. Karyn McKinney and Amir Marvasti,
who have published books on the subjects of
race and homelessness.
Next year again will be one of change for Penn
State, as the University recently unveiled its
organizational plan for the future, effective
July 1, 2005, entitled Building on the Past,
Preparing for the Future. The plan is designed to
better position Penn State for emerging
challenges and will create stronger and better
integrated academic programs across all
campuses. One of the most immediate changes
for Penn State Altoona will be the re-titling of
the CEO and Dean's position. Hence the fall
issue of Ivy Leaf will bear greetings from the
Chancellor of Penn State Altoona.
A nationwide search for our new Chancellor
began early in the spring semester. Following
it, I have been selected to fill the position
and will assume that title on July 1. I am
humbled by the trust placed in me. Thanks
to the leadership of Dr. William G. Cale, Jr.,
our Advisory Board, and many other
supporters of Penn State Altoona, we
inherit a College with a bright future, well-positioned
to be a leader in undergraduate
education for many years to come.
Warm regards,
Lori J. Bechtel, Ph.D.
CEO and Dean
