Under the Arch

GANNON AGAIN RANKED IN TOP TIER; NAMED TOP UP-AND-COMING SCHOOL

Gannon University is ranked for the sixth straight year as a Top Tier university in “America’s Best Colleges 2010,” published by U.S. News & World Report.

“Gannon is honored to be ranked again in the Top Tier for the sixth consecutive year,” said Gannon President Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D. “These national rankings are a compliment to both the high quality students who attend and graduate from Gannon and the outstanding faculty and staff who provide an excellent education at an affordable price.”

Gannon’s overall ranking was 51st out of 172 colleges and universities in the northern region of the United States and in its classification: Master’s Universities, which is defined by the guide as those that offer a full range of undergraduate programs as well as some master’s and doctoral degree programs. Only 87 schools were selected for the Top Tier category. Gannon offers almost 20 master’s programs and doctoral programs in physical therapy and organizational learning and leadership.

For the first time this year, Gannon was also listed in the publication’s “Top Up-and-Coming Schools” category. This relatively new category, which is determined by a peer assessment survey of high-ranking college officials, recognizes institutions “that have recently made the most promising and innovative changes in academics, faculty, students, campus or facilities.” The guide suggests that these are “schools everyone should be watching.”

More about the Top Tier ranking

For the guide’s ranking purposes, Gannon falls within the northern region of the United States, which includes Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Washington, D.C. and the New England states. In terms of the individual criteria used to determine the overall rankings, Gannon stands 51st out of 87 schools selected as Top Tier institutions in its region. Other criteria used to determine the overall rankings, with Gannon University’s figures in parentheses, include classes with under 20 students (55 percent); classes with 50 or more students (1 percent); student to faculty ratio (14:1); SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile (910-1,140); and freshmen in the top 25 percent of their high school class (43 percent).

NEWS AND NOTES

News of interest on and around campus...

Now that the academic year has begun, Under the Arch will revert to its normal, weekly schedule. In the coming weeks, stay tuned for a newly-designed Under the Arch, as was described at the Community Meeting. As always, your submissions are welcome, and can be e-mailed to pronko001. Let us know what you are up to!
An event hosted on Saturday by Gannon’s Erie Technology Incubator, (ETI) “Opportunity Knocks,” was a tremendous success, according to the ETI’s executive director, Russ Combs. The event was designed to help area entrepreneurs, as well as individuals hoping to start a business, receive a free, on-the-spot consultation as to whether their idea/product is viable and marketable. The Erie Times-News previewed the event with an article, and it was covered live on Saturday by WJET-TV. Combs said Opportunity Knocks had 30 individuals registered.
Berwyn Moore, associate professor, English, has been named Erie County’s inaugural Poet Laureate. Congratulations, Berwyn! Erie County Executive Mark DiVecchio is planning a press conference to make an official announcement next week.
In addition to the Health Center moving to Harborview, 210 West 6th, so too has Counseling Services as part of a merger with the Health Center. If you have not yet had a chance to see their new, renovated spaces, take a minute and do so.
Twitter, anyone? Gannon has expanded its online presence and is now on Twitter! You can sign up as a follower at http://twitter.com/GannonUniv. Also, you can send “tweet” ideas to Karla Wludyga at wludyga001@gannon.edu. Happy tweeting!

EVENTS ON CAMPUS

Tuesday, September 1 – Service Fest: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Yehl Room. Gannon students interested in volunteer work and community service will be able to meet with representatives from some 30 local nonprofit agencies and organizations.
Thursday, September 3 – Community Mass: 11 a.m. at Friendship Green. The Mass will be offered in memory Kyle Stunkard, a Gannon student who passed away this summer. Rain location is the Chapel.
Saturday, September 5 – Jam for Justice: Free concert that will be held from 2-6 p.m. under the Gannon arch. Attendees will be treated to two local musical acts. Aaron Forsyth of “Letters to the Dead” will open, followed by “The Heliotropes,” featuring Gannon faculty members David Blaetz and Katie Chriest. Students organized the concert to increase awareness of the plight of migrant farmworkers as well as the work done on their behalf by the Student/Farmworker Alliance, based in Immokalee, Fla.
Thursday, September 10 – Opening Mass of the Holy Spirit: To begin at 11 a.m. in the Chapel. Bishop Trautman will preside and Rev. Michael Kesicki will be the homilist.
Friday, September 18 – Annual Constitution Day lecture: To be given by Judge Richard L. Nygaard, a United States Circuit Judge, United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit (Erie and Philadelphia). The topic of his lecture is, “Our Constitution – the ‘Bestseller’ No One Reads.” 12 p.m. in room 1200 of the Palumbo Center.
“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 31 – Welcome back cook-out for student athletes. Wednesday, September 2 – Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper visit and press conference regarding Yellow Ribbon Program. Thursday, September 3 – Community Mass.

LIGHT THE CANDLES:

Cindy Kurczewski. Bill Strub. Scott Shaw. Tanya Butler. John Connelly. Rev. Nick Rouch. Mary Pol. Daniel Mifkovic. Anne O’Neill-Klemensic. Katie Glusko. Nate Walters. Danielle Mignemi. Colden McDowell. Mary Heberle. Raymond Olson. Justin Bailey. Jim Kiernan. James Toohey. Mary Wagner. Honey Pezzimenti. Eric Pope. Barbara Townsend. Mary Harsh. Theresa Howell. Shawn Dawley. Tom Camillo. Ronda Hogan. Lori Steadman. Jay DiFrank. Ludwik Medeksza. Jill Crable. Sue Grande. Vincent Verna. Judy van Rheenen.

MAKING THE PROMISE

Gannon’s new students last week made the pledge during the annual PROMISE (Promoting Responsible Ongoing Management in Social Environments) photo, taken at the Robert H. Morosky Academic Center, 150 West 10^th St. The students pledged to: make healthy and responsible decisions with regard to alcohol and other situations; show respect for God, themselves, others, and the environment; and support the Gannon Community and wear their PROMISE and Gannon apparel with pride when they attend university events. Dr. Garibaldi is shown with some of the students who participated in this annual Gannon tradition. The Erie Times-News sent a photographer to the event and ran a picture the following day.