Under the Arch

GANNON KEEPS TOP-TIER RANKING, AGAIN NAMED BEST VALUE BY U.S. NEWS

Gannon University has maintained its Top Tier ranking and for the second consecutive year has been named a “Best Value” in U.S. News & World Report’s annual college guide, America’s Best Colleges 2007.

Gannon University is ranked 10^th in the list of Best Values in its category within the northern region of the United States. The Best Values are determined by several factors, including a school’s academic quality and its net tuition cost. “These high national rankings reaffirm Gannon University’s academic excellence and affordability,” said President, Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D.

The guide ranks 15 schools in Gannon’s region as Best Values. Among those schools, Gannon is tied for first in terms of percentage of grants awarded to students based on need (83 percent). In addition, Gannon ranks second among those schools in another of the criteria used to compile the list: average tuition cost after receiving grants based on need. The University’s cost in this area is $16,891; some schools in the top 15 ranged as high as $25,580.

And, for the third consecutive year, Gannon is ranked as a Top Tier school in its geographic region and classification category. According to the publisher of U.S. News & World Report, the schools in Gannon’s category, Universities – Master’s, “provide a full range of undergraduate and master’s degree programs. The 557 universities in this category are ranked within four geographic areas – North, South, Midwest, and West – because they tend to draw students heavily from surrounding states.”

In the 2007 guide, Gannon is ranked 40^thin the northern region, which includes Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Washington, D.C. and the New England states.

Gannon remained competitive relative to its peer schools in terms of the criteria used to compile the overall rankings. Gannon fared particularly well with regard to its percentage of classes with fewer than 20 students (57 percent), average freshman retention rate (81 percent), average graduation rate (65 percent), student-faculty ratio (13/1), percentage of faculty who are full time (82 percent), and freshmen in the top 25 percent of their high school graduating class (48 percent).

NEW STUDENTS ATTEND CONVOCATION, OFFICIALLY BEGIN COLLEGE LIFE

Gannon University President Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D., on Sunday welcomed to campus nearly 620 freshmen at the university’s annual New Student Convocation.

Convocation, held the Sunday before the start of fall semester classes, is an academic ceremony designed to help new students and their families make a lasting connection with the university. During the ceremony, the Office of Admissions, which recruited the new students, formally turned them over to the faculty, staff, and administrators.

“We wish you much success during your college years, and we all look forward to getting to know you personally,” Dr. Garibaldi said. “Parents and relatives, thank you for entrusting your sons and daughters to us – please know we consider it a privilege to educate them, the next generation of leaders.

“Students and parents,” he added, “four years will pass by very quickly, and, before you know it, graduation in May 2010 will be here. So I urge all of you to take advantage of every opportunity you have during this once-in-a-lifetime college experience.”

During the ceremony, held in the university’s Hammermill Center, faculty members presented each student with a Gannon University pin. Students were asked to accept the pin and all that it symbolizes – soundness of mind, knowledge, and holiness of life.

Earlier in the day, some students and their families attended an optional mass in the Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel, 512 Peach Street. Following Convocation, they attended a reception in the Waldron Campus Center, 124 West Seventh Street.

With approximately 90 transfer students beginning classes this week, Gannon’s new students number more than 700.

In addition to attending Convocation, those students also will participate in Preview GU, a series of events designed to help new students get acquainted with campus life. Preview GU is also intended to create a common focus and sense of belonging for students as they set out on their college experience.

Through the program, students make important social and academic connections and are more likely to participate in curricular and co-curricular activities.

Preview GU events include:

Monday, Aug. 21 – Clubs and Organizations Activities Fair: Hammermill Center, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Representatives from various clubs and organizations will be on hand to meet with students and answer their questions.

Monday, Aug. 21 – Late Knight Gannon: Waldron Campus Center, 8:30 p.m. Students can take part in card games, video games, billiards, and more. Music and food will be provided.

Tuesday, Aug. 22 – Promise Photo: Schuster Theatre, 620 Sassafras Street, 6:15 p.m. The freshmen will gather for their class photo and will make the PROMISE (Promoting Responsible Ongoing Management in Social Environments) pledge:

To make healthy and responsible decisions.
To show respect for God, themselves, others, and the environment.
To support the Gannon Community and wear their PROMISE and Gannon apparel with pride when they attend various university events.

Tuesday, Aug. 22 – Ice Cream Social: Friendship Green (located outside the Waldron Center), 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 23 – First day of fall semester classes for all students.

Interesting data about the new students:

The class includes 17 high school valedictorians.
161 freshmen were members of the National Honor Society.
The freshmen come from high schools with graduating classes as small as 15 students and as large as 693.
In addition to the United States, the freshmen and transfer students come from four countries: the Bahamas, Canada, India, and Trinidad & Tobago.
In addition to New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, the freshmen and transfer students come from 22 states, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia.
127 freshmen and transfer students plan to play for one of Gannon’s intercollegiate athletic teams.

RECENT NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTS

News of interest on and around campus...

This Friday, Aug. 25, University Advancement will host a party with a purpose. Join the Tropical Transformation as the university celebrates the Comprehensive Campaign kickoff. The event will be held from 5-8 p.m. in the Hammermill Center and will include food, fun, mock margaritas, contests and more. Grab your flip-flops and a guest (adults only) and plan to attend the biggest beach party this side of Margaritaville. The event also will include live music from Key West Express. Prizes will be awarded for the best decorated hats and flip-flops. And be sure to practice for the Hula Hoop and Limbo contests! For more information, call Lori Bly at ext. 7201.
Special thanks to Dawna Mughal, Ph.D., associate professor and director of the dietetics and medical technology programs. Dr. Mughal did an interview with David Bruce of the Erie Times-News on how new college students can eat healthy and avoid putting on weight once they begin college. The story ran on Monday, Aug. 14.
Margaret Juang, adjunct lecturer, foreign languages, served as an interpreter for a group of Chinese exchange students who were in Erie as part of the D’Angelo Cultural Exchange Music Camp. The Erie Times-News ran a story on the exchange students on Aug. 10.
Annmarie George, associate professor, fine arts, served as president and executive director of the Erie Summer Festival of the Arts this past summer. George was mentioned in Meg Loncharic’s “People” column that ran in the Erie Times-News Sunday, Aug. 20.

CAMPUS EVENTS

Thursday, August 24 – Gathering in Praise Welcome: Offered at 11 a.m. in Friendship Green.
Friday, August 25 – Gannon Faculty-Staff Community Meeting: The meeting will be held from 3-4:30 p.m. in the Yehl Room. The agenda will include updates on the Strategic Plan, the Gannon Marketing Initiative, new student enrollment and fall 2007 recruitment activities, the 2005-06 annual fund, the Comprehensive Campaign, and 2006 Alumni Homecoming/Reunion Weekend.
Friday, August 25 – Tropical Transformation: The Comprehensive Campaign kickoff event will be held from 5-8 p.m. in the Hammermill Center. There will be food, fun, mock margaritas, contests and more. The event also will include live music from Key West Express. Please RSVP to ext. 7201 or bly001.
Thursday, August 31 – Opening Mass of the Holy Spirit: Offered at 11 a.m. in Friendship Green. Bishop Donald Trautman will be the celebrant.
“Our Events” is intended to serve as a random sample of campus events. For a more complete listing, refer to Eventcal.

THE PRESIDENT’S SCHEDULE

Monday, August 21 – Preview GU Activities and Picnic. Tuesday, August 22 – P.R.O.M.I.S.E. photo. Wednesday, August 23 – United Way of Erie County meeting. Thursday, August 24 – Gathering in Praise; student hour. Friday, August 25 – Gannon Faculty and Staff Community Meeting; Comprehensive Campaign Kickoff Event - “Tropical Transformation.”

PRAYER CONCERNS

Please remember all in your prayers as regretfully we announce the death of:

Leonard “Lenny” Przybyszewski, father of Janet Larson, adult student, Senior Nursing Program.
Prayers are requested for Lisa Wenner’s mother, Sally, who was to undergo surgery. Please keep Lisa, Sally, and her caregivers in your prayers.

CURRENT BIRTHDAYS

Elaine Harrison. MaryAnne Kozak. Michael DeSanctis. Michele Roth-Kauffman. Kim Hajec. Richard Lewis. Linda Fleming. Christine Augustine. Kathleen Friday. Carol Hayes. William Krowinski. Thomas Morrison. Deborah Pelinsky. Nancy Kujawinski. Robin Powers. Anita Snider. Terry Kriner. Linda Loader. Jim Finegan. Cindy Kurczewski. Bill Strub. Scott Shaw. William Howell. Tanya Butler. Rev. Nicholas Rouch. Mary Pol. Anne O’Neill-Klemensic. Danielle Mignemi. Patricia Proper. Mary Heberle. Raymond Olson. Justin Bailey. Mary Wagner. Ibrahim Kacar. Honey Marburger. Melissa Olivett.

FROM THE EDITOR

Gannon University faculty, staff, and administrators: As an employee newsletter, Under the Arch is your publication. The goal is for Under the Arch to be a complete resource for you: a place where you can stay up to date on everything happening on campus: events, news related to the university and its employees, important announcements, etc. Your help is needed to make Under the Arch as effective as possible. Please notify us of any news, specific to you or your department, that would be of interest to the Gannon Community. For example, if you attend a conference, present a paper, complete work on an advanced degree, or have any other news to share with your colleagues, please send it to Nick Pronko, media relations officer. Submissions can be e-mailed to pronko001@gannon.edu. To be included in a forthcoming Monday edition, information should be submitted by the preceding Thursday. Look forward to hearing from you!