University of Scranton Announces Additional April Events The following is a list of University of Scranton events planned in the month of April 2022. Apr. 9-102 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. sessions on Saturday and Sunday. Pysanka workshops to teach the art of decorating Ukrainian Easter eggs with traditional folk designs using a wax-resist method. Smurfit Arts Center. $25 fee will be donated to humanitarian aid in Ukraine via World Central Kitchen. Registration required at surveymonkey.com/r/PysankaApril2022. Call 570-941-4419 or email community@scranton.edu. Apr. 206 p.m. Earth Day “Evening of Environmental Science” with University student-run interactive science experiments and exhibit of University of Scranton Earth Day Essay Contest submissions. Essay contest awards will be announced at the event. Loyola Science Center. Free. Call 570-941-6267 or email info@scranton.edu. Apr. 217:30 p.m. Lecture by renowned American climatologist and geophysicist Michael Mann, Ph.D., author of “The New Climate War: The Fight to Take Back Our Planet.” McIlhenny Ballroom, DeNaples Center. Free. Call 570-941-6267 or email mark.murphy@scranton.edu. Apr. 255:30 p.m. Art show address by environmental artist Laura Kern. Loyola Science Center. Free. Call 570-941-6267 or email mark.murphy@scranton.edu. Apr. 285 p.m. Take Back the Night. Event includes a pre-rally with information booths and the Clothesline Project display from 5 to 7 p.m.; followed by a march at 7 p.m. and a speak out at 7:15 p.m. Dionne Campus Green. Free. Call 570-941-7902 or email maria.marinucci@scranton.edu. Note: Access to the campus is currently limited to members of the University community, invited guests and others as listed in the Royals Back Together plan. Campus access and other health and safety information will be updated throughout the semester and can be seen on the Royals Back Together webpage.
Lackawanna College Receives BHE GT&S Grant Lackawanna College has been awarded a $15,000 grant from BHE GT&S, a Berkshire Hathaway Energy company, to finance technology upgrades at the College’s satellite center in Towanda, Pa. The funds will be used to replace outdated TeamBoards (interactive whiteboards) and projectors with state-of-the-art, wall-mounted televisions in three classrooms and a computer lab. “The BHE GT&S grant will improve classroom instruction and support our priorities of aligning our teaching methods with today’s technical capabilities,” said Brad Reid, Center Director of Lackawanna College—Towanda. “With the support of the Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company, we can enhance faculty-student interactions and help students make an impact in their chosen field.” Lackawanna College—Towanda offers affordable, career-focused online, in-person and hybrid courses. With 16 bachelor’s and associate degree programs and four certificate programs in health sciences, the satellite center currently serves over 100 students in Bradford county
The Wright Center Joins CEOs Against Stigma Campaign To promote the well-being of its employees, The Wright Center announces it will participate in an initiative that seeks to shatter stigma in the workplace surrounding mental health issues and encourages the timely treatment of conditions such as depression and anxiety. Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, has joined the CEOs Against Stigma campaign – a project of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)’s state organization to prioritize mental health in the workplace. The Wright Center’s executive team will follow the campaign’s guidance, using a six-step toolkit to closely examine and address factors commonly associated with employee depression, anxiety and burnout. This new collaboration with NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania – the official state organization of the NAMI – is part of The Wright Center’s ongoing effort to become an optimal employer as well as to respond to the increased mental health challenges resulting from the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. “This partnership will help us more effectively understand and address the whole-person health needs of our employees and also the patients, families and communities we are privileged to serve,” Thomas-Hemak said. Owen Dougherty, The Wright Center for Community Health’s recovery supports manager and behavioral health community liaison, will help to implement the campaign across the organization’s multiple sites and departments. Dougherty has served as president of NAMI’s Northeast Region Pennsylvania chapter. “We are confident that our engagement in this initiative will empower our executive team, providers, staff, residents and fellows to be better equipped and proactive in optimizing their personal well-being, interpersonal and cross-departmental relationships, and the care we provide to patients and families,” Thomas-Hemak said. Depression is a leading cause of disability, costing the U.S. economy an estimated $210.5 billion per year in medical costs, absenteeism and lost productivity, according to NAMI. During any given year, one in five workers will experience some form of mental illness, such as depression or anxiety. Many of those people won’t seek treatment because of stigma. Others simply won’t know where to turn. The CEOs Against Stigma campaign seeks to correct those system failures so that workers and their families don’t suffer in silence. The Wright Center’s participation in the campaign is one of a number of steps the health center is taking across its primary care practices and training sites to strengthen employee resiliency and job satisfaction.
PennDOT Accepting Unsolicited Public-Private Partnership Proposals The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Office of Public-Private Partnerships (P3) announced today that it is accepting unsolicited proposals for transportation projects from the private sector through April 30. The submission period applies to PennDOT-owned projects, infrastructure, and services. During this period, the private sector can submit proposals offering innovative ways to deliver transportation projects across a variety of modes including roads, bridges, rail, aviation, and ports. Proposals can also include more efficient models to manage existing transportation-related services and programs. Unsolicited proposals are being accepted through 11:59 PM on April 30. Instructions on how to submit a project and information on the unsolicited proposal review process can be found on the state’s P3 website, www.P3.pa.gov. PennDOT holds an unsolicited proposal period in April and October each year. The private sector may also submit applications for non-PennDOT-owned assets directly to the P3 board during this time. Transportation entities outside of the governor’s jurisdiction, such as transit authorities and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, may establish their own timelines or accept proposals year-round. The state’s P3 law allows PennDOT and other transportation authorities and commissions to partner with private companies to participate in delivering, maintaining, and financing transportation-related projects. As part of the P3 law, the seven-member Public Private Transportation Partnership Board was appointed to examine and approve potential public-private transportation projects. If the board determines a state operation would be more cost-effectively administered by a private company, the company will be authorized to submit a proposal and enter into a contract to either completely or partially take over that operation for a defined period of time. The next unsolicited proposal acceptance period will occur in October. To learn more about P3 in Pennsylvania, including active projects, visit www.P3.pa.gov. MEDIA CONTACT: Alexis Campbell, alecampbel@pa.gov, 717-783-8800
Local Veterans Honored During National Vietnam War Veterans Day As part of its commitment to military members and veterans, Geisinger recognized National Vietnam War Veterans Day by holding a “welcome home” ceremony at its Geisinger 65 Forward Health Center locations on Tuesday, March 29. Nearly 50 Vietnam War veterans and guests were honored during the event, which concluded with a pinning ceremony. Events took place at eight 65 Forward locations, including Coal Township, Hazleton, Scranton and State College. The ceremony included local Vietnam War veterans sharing their experiences both in Vietnam and at home. Staff presented certificates and recognized each veteran for their service. “We have an ongoing commitment to military members and veterans at Geisinger,” said Chris Grill, Geisinger’s diversity, equity and inclusion program manager, who is a U.S. Army veteran. “Many of our local Vietnam War veterans returned home to no fanfare or ‘thank you,’ and they deserve our gratitude for their service. It was humbling to see many of them moved by the ceremony and appreciative of recognition on this special day.” Geisinger’s commitment to the military community includes military and veteran recruitment programs and educational initiatives to help care teams understand military culture and veterans’ unique health needs. The health system has been recognized for its work, including being named a Military Friendly employer. 65 Forward Scranton Vietnam Vets (pictured above): From left, Vietnam War veterans John Frank, Dan Hulse, David Lennick, William Bechtel, Perry Hoffpauer and Kenneth Anderson Sr. Also in attendance but not pictured was Jack Neuls.
First Responder Friday Tickets Available Now As a small token of gratitude, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are giving away 50 complimentary tickets to our area’s great first responders every Friday home game during the 2022 season at PNC Field. These brave men and women have protected and served us beyond measure over the years and we are thrilled to welcome them into the park.Tickets are given away on a first-come, first-serve basis, and are limited to four per week per first responder.First responders can register for tickets by filling out the form on the First Responder Friday page on swbrailriders.com. Our Community Relations department will contact the first responders that will receive tickets in advance of each Friday home game this season with information regarding the seats and to make further arrangements.For more information, please contact Jordan Steiner, the Director of Community Relations for the RailRiders, at jsteiner@swbrailriders.com or by calling (570) 558-4616.
University of Scranton Joins National Cohort for Advancing First-Generation College Students As a result of the commitment to improving experiences and advancing outcomes of first-generation college students demonstrated through The University of Scranton’s THR1VE programming, Scranton was selected to join the national 2022-23 First-gen Forward cohort. The cohort is sponsored by The Center for First-generation Student Success, which is an initiative of the Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education and The Suder Foundation. Colleges selected to the First-gen Forward program receive professional development, community-building experiences and have access to research and other resources of the Center to further improve programming for first-generation college students. “Through the application process, it was evident that The University of Scranton is not only taking steps to serve first-generation students but is prepared to make a long-term commitment and employ strategies that foster an environment of success for this important population,” said Dr. Sarah E. Whitley, assistant vice president, Center for First-generation Student Success. “First-gen Forward now recognizes and supports nearly 300 diverse institutions across four cohorts, all of which continue to lead the nation through their commitment to first-generation student success.” First-generation (first-gen) college students are the first in their family to attend a four-year college or university. At Scranton, first-gen students make up 22 percent of the undergraduate student population. In 2019, the University launched the THR1VE program in an effort to meet the diverse needs of first-gen students and foster their success at Scranton. According to Shannon Fennie Murphy, assistant dean of students who oversees the University’s first-gen programming, THR1VE focuses on three pillars: understanding and celebrating the first-generation identity; connecting students to resources; and celebrating students’ successes. Programming was initially based on a first-generation needs assessment conducted in late 2018 and is further guided by current needs identified through a student advisory council. THR1VE programming begins at orientation and continues throughout matriculation. Programming includes the GU1DE peer mentoring program, which pairs first-year first-gen students with upper division first-generation volunteer mentors; a community awareness component that identifies staff and faculty members who were also first-gen college students; and participation in the National First-Generation College Student Day, among numerous other initiatives. “The THR1VE monthly newsletter scaffolds student resources based on the time of the academic year and the class year of the student,” said Murphy Fennie. “For example, the October newsletters focus on tutoring services, imposter syndrome, and wellness resources for first-year and sophomore students, and on career development, internships and financial wellness for juniors and seniors. We find providing students with appropriate resources just prior to them needing the information reduces stress and allows students to navigate the systems independently.” Murphy Fennie noted there are also many opportunities for involvement in THR1VE for faculty and staff who are first generation college students themselves or want to be advocates for current first generation students at Scranton. Faculty and staff members interested in becoming involved with the THR1VE program can complete this online survey. Murphy Fennie wrote an article about THR1VE programming in the January 2022 issue Connections, published by the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. The Center for First-generation Student Success is the premier source of evidence-based practices, professional development and knowledge creation for the higher education community to advance the success of first-generation students. Based in Washington, DC, the Center offers an outlet for sharing cutting-edge research and current media conversations, opportunities for engagement through online learning, conferences and events, as well as access to numerous programs and services intended to improve first-generation initiatives across higher education.
