January 14 2015: NEWS: UPJ adds business division Tags: UPJ

It is anticipated that in addition to updating core courses and competencies, the program will include a business-related, real-world “culminating experience” or capstone.

The new division is expected to develop several new degree programs in areas including accounting, marketing, management, finance, human resources and information systems.

Raymond Wrabley, social science division chair, will lead the division until a search is conducted to identify a new chairperson

See More: University Times

January 20 2015: NEWS: Fair has few attendees but many tables  Tags: Acacia, Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Sigma Alpha, Delta Chi, Delta Sigma Chi, Kappa Delta Rho, Kappa Zeta, Phi Sigma Sigma, Sigma Tau Gamma

Despite the high turnout of club representatives, students interested in joining them seemed few and far between.

Thomas Plutt, Role-Playing Games Club president, said that last semester at the activities fair, club members had approximately 30 students sign up with new interest.

“We had only one or two names on our list from this semester’s activities fair,” said Plutt.

Plutt said he felt the Role-Playing Games Club did not have enough time to fully prepare for the fair.

Among the students who attended the fair to learn about different organizations was Pitt-Johnstown junior Joseph Walker.

“I didn’t even know about the fair until I was walking past it in the Student Union,” said Walker.

January 20 2015: NEWS: Housing update timeline vague Tags: UPJ, Housing

Victoria Grattan, Staff Writer
January 20, 2015 
Filed under News

Pitt-Johnstown’s strategic plan lists objectives to enhance the quality of living and learning on campus. Among other objectives described in the seven-year plan, is a renovation schedule for campus facilities.

Renovations listed as objectives include athletic facilities, classrooms and student housing. These renovations are to begin during the 2015 fiscal year. 

Mark Dougherty, Executive Housing Director, said that the residence hall renovations are to be completed by the end of the strategic plan, which expires in 2021.

“Decisions about what those renovations will entail will be a joint decision among several university departments:  Housing, Plant Operations, Student Affairs, and Finance and Administration,” Dougherty said.

Walkthroughs of residence halls were to have been performed by Pitt-Johnstown President Jem Spectar to evaluate what may need to be changed. However, university officals may instead utilize a contractor to inspect the buildings. 

Andrew Walbeck, Facilities Management director, said that planning for capital projects is a continuous task.

“It is something we are constantly evaluating and redefining,” Walbeck said.

Nicholas Digiorgio, a Student Government Association senator on the association’s Campus Development Committee said that Spectar is pushing to get the proposed seven-year strategic plan completed in five years.

“[Spectar] is taking an aggressive approach to remodeling resident facilities,” Digiorgio said.

- See more at: The Advocate

January 8 2015: NEWS: "Former Alumnus" Suspicious Activity Tags: UPJ