Provost's Post

Congratulations Class of 2025!

(Courtesy of WCU Communications & Marketing)

Nearly 1,000 students are poised to begin the next chapters of their lives following graduation from West Chester University at four separate winter commencement exercises being held Friday and Saturday, December 12 and 13.

Three ceremonies organized by college will accommodate the 858 undergraduate students eligible to graduate at the University’s undergraduate commencement ceremonies in Hollinger Fieldhouse on North Campus.  Our graduate-level students from all of the University’s colleges and sites will receive their degrees together at a 3 p.m. ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 13, in Hollinger. 

A West Chester University degree represents an incredible journey of academic dedication and scholastic accomplishment. Graduation day will mark an important milestone in our students' academic career.  West Chester University’s commencement ceremonies serve to salute your success and achievement. Please join me in congratulating the newest WCU alumni!

VIEW THE DECEMBER COMMENCEMENT SCHEDULE

WCU Magazine features community engagement

(Courtesy of WCU's Communications & Marketing Department)

Be sure to check out the fall/winter issue of WCU Magazine which features WCU's impact on the communities it serves as its cover story.  

SHARED COMMITMENT: COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS AT THE HEART OF WCU'S CAMPUS CULTURE

We Want to Hear from You: Community Engagement at WCU 

Beginning Monday, December 9 through December 19, WCU will conduct a campus-wide survey to determine the breadth and depth of community engagement activities taking place at West Chester University.  In alignment with President Bernotsky’s action plan, the Community Engagement Survey will help us understand campus-wide needs and opportunities for strengthening and assessing the University’s community engagement impact.  Please take the time to fill out this survey which should only take you 10 minutes.

The results will be used by WCU, the Center for Community Engagement and Social Impact, and the Community Impact Alliance to: 

• Create a comprehensive community engagement inventory for WCU
• Identify WCU community engagement work, including who is conducting the work and where
• Understand campus-wide needs and opportunities for strengthening and assessing the University’s community engagement impact
• Publicize community engagement initiatives to raise awareness of the work to internal and external audiences
• Apply for grants and other funding

If you answer "yes" to any of the following questions, please complete the survey. You will be able to submit multiple projects/courses via one survey.

• Are you a faculty or staff member who utilizes community engagement in your teaching, research, service, or work?  
• Are you coordinating a community service project with WCU students for a course or another purpose?
• Are your students involved in community-engaged learning (formerly known as service-learning) through a course or project?
• Are you or your students engaged in research to meet community needs?
• Are you engaged in a community service project or initiative to meet community needs (e.g., sharing expertise, serving on a board, etc.)?  
  
  

CBS News Philadelphia features Dr. Jeanie Subach and the Nutrition Department making Thanksgiving meals for a local shelter

(Courtesy of WCU Department of Communication & Marketing)

Watch the CBS News Philadelphia Feature on YouTube

National CBS Evening News features Juror Support Program offered by WCU’s Community Mental Health Services

WATCH: CBS Evening News features WCU's Juror Support Program

WCU’s Wells School of Music presents the 104th Annual Holiday Program on Saturday, December 6

West Chester University’s treasured 104th Annual Holiday Program returns on Saturday, December 6, at 3 p.m. in the 1,200-seat Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall in the Philips Memorial Building, 700 S. High Street, West Chester. A beloved tradition for over a century, this year’s program promises an expanded, joy-filled celebration featuring new collaborations, seasonal favorites, and memorable musical moments. Tickets are $15, and advance purchase is strongly recommended at https://wcupatix.com/schoolofmusic.

The program showcases hundreds of student musicians from across the Wells School of Music, bringing together an impressive roster of ensembles: the WCU Symphony Orchestra, Mastersingers, Criterions Jazz Ensemble, Concert Choir, Oriana, and the Grand Chorus, which will appear in two major features—first with the Symphony Orchestra and later with the Pops Orchestra. Winter-themed songs, including Winter Wonderland, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, and Let It Snow, will fill the hall with festive and cheerful new and traditional favorites.

Audience members will also enjoy a special pre-concert treat: the rare opportunity to hear the hall’s historic Skinner organ, performed by organist Sándor Kádár, in a spirited program of carols and holiday improvisations.

Returning for its second year, the WCU Pops Orchestra will once again energize the program—and for the first time, it will join forces with the Grand Chorus for a powerful, immersive finale designed to bring the concert to a dazzling close.

Director of Jazz Studies and Director of the Criterions Jazz Ensemble, Jonathan Ragonese, says, “Each year, this concert is the one opportunity to see most of our Wells School of Music students onstage together. The WCU Pops Orchestra performed together for the first time last year, and the response was incredible. Bringing them together with the Grand Chorus for the finale takes that energy to an entirely new level.”

Each year, a faculty panel selects one exceptional student soloist to perform O Holy Night. This year’s soloist is Vocal Performance major Julia Webster ’26.

As always, Asplundh Concert Hall will be transformed with lush greenery, seasonal lighting, and vibrant poinsettias, creating a warm and inviting winter setting that reflects the spirit of one of WCU’s most cherished traditions.

Parking is conveniently available across and along the street from the Philips Memorial Building in G Lot, in M Lot beside the Swope Music Building and Performing Arts Center, and in the Sharpless Street Garage. A campus map is available at wcupa.edu/campusMap. Due to the program’s popularity, advance ticket reservations are strongly encouraged.

PURCHASE HOLIDAY CONCERT TICKETS

Digital Accessibility: What you need to know

West Chester University is working together to meet new federal accessibility requirements by April 24, 2026, ensuring that all web content, mobile apps, and digital materials align with WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards. The Office of Equal Opportunity and Compliance is leading a Web Accessibility Task Force (WATF) made up of staff from TLC, OEA, Web, and IS&T. Starting in Fall 2025, the task force will offer training and resources to help the campus community make digital content more inclusive and accessible. These resources can be found on the Website and Digital Accessibility resource page.  

 As Golden Rams, we must all work together to make sure nobody is left out. One Herd, All Access.

This is a campus-wide initiative, and everyone who creates digital content plays an important role. Simple steps like using accessible templates, adding alt text to images, and ensuring video captions are accurate can have a big impact.  

We’re all in this together! Stay tuned for more updates and ways to get involved as we move forward with this important work. 

WEBSITE AND DIGITAL ACCESSIBILITY RESOURCES

WCU Nutrition Department issues a "Call to Action" to fight food insecurity

As experts in food and nutrition, the West Chester University Department of Nutrition regularly implements a “Call to Action” to fight food insecurity.  During the federal government’s recent shutdown, Dr. Subach, Dr. Chrissy Riccardo, assistant professor of nutrition, and nutrition majors banded together to make sure nutritious food was available to those who needed it.

Dr. Riccardo organized a meal bag donation program to assist the federal workers at Philadelphia International Airport, many of whom receive SNAP assistance. The meal bags also went to area food pantries. WCU’s Department of Nutrition faculty joined in and stocked the St. Agnes Nurses Center with an order of healthy nonperishable food found on the "wish list" of the registered dietitian who counsels the clients on diet-related chronic diseases. The effort also enabled St. Agnes to have a place to obtain healthy food to help prevent and treat their diet-related diseases.

Following the example of their professors, nutrition students’ good deeds multiplied. The Food Systems Management (FSM) Club held two coffee fundraising events that raised $150. Now, club members plan to continue their efforts for the rest of the semester with proceeds going to the WCU Resource Pantry and the West Chester Food Cupboard. The Ram Chefs, young adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD) in the community who gain cooking independence and self-confidence through the Ram Chef [culinary] Program, pitched in by making and selling trail mix for $5 per bag. With the goal of selling five bags each, the Ram Chefs raised $300 for the very worthy cause. Dr. Subach’s nutrition class even sold chicken noodle soup and raised $200. All in all, more than $1,200 was raised by Department of Nutrition faculty and students to purchase food that was given to local food pantries and cupboards at a time when critical need was significantly high.

“This is what nutrition education is all about,” says Dr. Subach. “We take what we teach in the classroom and use it to make a real difference in our community. Preparing these 40 Thanksgiving meals for the residents of Safe Harbor isn’t just about food; it’s about dignity, compassion, and showing our neighbors they’re not forgotten during difficult times. I’m incredibly proud of our students who raised funds and are rolling-up their sleeves to cook alongside us. This is hands-on learning at its best, and it’s at the heart of what we do as nutrition professionals.”

Dean of the College of Health Sciences Dr. Scott Heinerichs agrees. “Our Nutrition Department exemplifies the very best of West Chester University’s commitment to community engagement and social responsibility. Faculty members’ efforts show how our students are being prepared not just as professionals, but as leaders who understand their responsibilities to serve their communities, improve healthcare outcomes, and make a real difference in people’s lives.”

Dr. Tori Nuccio honored with PASSHE’s Keepers of the Flame Award

Dr. Tori Nuccio, WCU deputy director of financial aid, has been honored with the Keepers of the Flame Award by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). This year’s awards were presented October 29 during the PASSHE Summit, held at PennWest Clarion.

The award, established in 2022, recognizes an individual from each of the 14 State System university campuses for their contributions to creating and promoting diverse, equitable, and inclusive environments that cultivate a sense of belonging. Recipients are students, staff, faculty, or administrators who inspire others, engage in collaboration, and enact positive change.

Dr. Nuccio has been a dedicated member of the University’s financial aid team for 13 years. In her role, she has made it her mission to ensure that students from all walks of life can access and afford a quality education.

One of the founders of the WCU Resource Pantry, Dr. Nuccio has secured and continues to secure funding for students’ basic needs security, the WCU Promise Program for housing-insecure and foster students, and students facing hardships. As a Moon Shot for Equity team member, she is dedicated to eliminating barriers that students face, including holds on their accounts that hinder or prevent registering for classes.

For her work in support of WCU students, Dr. Nuccio has previously been honored with the WCU Civility Award 2018-2019 and the 2017 Alumni Recognition Award.

Dr. Nuccio thanked campus leaders for their support and vision, her current and former supervisors and colleagues “who weave together to create the network of support that benefits our students,” but most of all WCU students themselves. “So many of the good ideas we carry on today came from their bravery and honesty in sharing what they don’t know, what they want to know, and, most importantly, what they need to be successful.”

You're invited to a Holiday Open House!

Join President Bernotsky and your colleagues in spreading some holiday cheer at the Holiday Open House on December 9 at Tanglewood (12:00 pm - 2:00).  Please RSVP using the link below.

RSVP HERE

Community Engaged Learning and Pathways courses offered for Winter and Spring

If you have student advisees interested in making a difference in the community, have them take a look at the following CEL and CEP courses for the winter and spring semester!  Contact the Center for Community Engagement and Social Impact to learn more: ccesi@wcupa.edu. 

Applications for the Paradigm Scholarship for Working Women are Now Open!

The Paradigm Scholarship for Working Women is a catalyst for women pursuing their undergraduate degree while working full-time at Chamber member companies. Since 2000, 248 scholarships totaling 982,000 have been awarded to working women pursuing their undergraduate degrees.

Recipients of this merit-based scholarship will receive $5,000 within a two-year period, which must be used for tuition and course-related expenses required for enrollment or course instruction.

Application Deadline: Friday, December 19, 2025.

LEARN MORE AND APPLY 

Quench Your Thirst for Knowledge with Science on Tap Talks

Anyone with an appetite for scientific knowledge is sure to enjoy a new series of free monthly Science on Tap talks by WCU experts that will take place monthly at Barnaby’s Restaurant (15 South High Street, second floor). Each session will feature a different WCU expert sharing interesting ideas and research, new information, and discoveries. The program invites audience participation with opportunities to ask questions, spark discussion, and connect with fellow science enthusiasts. And of course, the audience can order from Barnaby’s food and beverage menus for a full dining and learning experience. 

The next Science on Tap program is on Tuesday, December 16, with Dr. Megan Fork from the Department of Biology.  For a complete list of upcoming presentations click the button below.  

The University’s Science on Tap series is modeled after similar programs that pair scientific presentations with a restaurant atmosphere. WCU’s series aims to make scientific concepts accessible; connect the public with approachable, knowledgeable scientists; and overcome mistrust/misunderstanding of science. It is directed by Dr. Christopher Roemmele, associate professor and assistant chair of the Department of Earth and Space Sciences, who wants to “bring science out of the labs and the halls of academia and share it with the public in an informal setting. 

“My goal is to promote science and science literacy. My colleagues here at WCU do wonderful and thought-provoking science in their diverse respective fields. And I want the greater West Chester community to be made aware of that. We do a lot of teaching, but we also do great research here, and that should be communicated.” 

Parking is available directly across from Barnaby’s at the Bicentennial Parking Garage on High Street. 

For additional information, contact Dr. Roemmele. 

SCIENCE ON TAP FULL SCHEDULE HERE

How to Submit Your Event to Online Campus Calendar

The WCU Calendar is populated by events submitted in 25Live, WCU's room reservation and calendaring program. Faculty/Staff may submit events to the calendar by selecting "WCU Featured Events Calendar" in the "Resources" section of the 25Live Event Form.

WCU Event Calendar How to Submit your event to wcu calendar

Getting Around: Transportation Support

In addition to the Matlack Court shuttle, there are two new off-campus shuttle routes and additional enhancements to several routes. Campus shuttle buses are free to WCU students, faculty, and staff and while the Matlack and West Goshen routes are intended for students, these shuttles are available for employees as well. Plus, new shuttle shelters are being installed at the Q-Lot and R-Lot bus stops to enhance the campus shuttle experience. They’ll be completed early this semester.

New this year is a shuttle serving apartments where many of our students live. The West Goshen Loop operates M-F 6:45 a.m. to 10:45 p.m. Stops include Aldi, West Goshen Shopping Center (beginning at 11 a.m. for these first two), Goshen Manor, Goshen Terrace, Golf Club Apartments, The Willows, RamsGate Court, The Edge, Wayne Hall. As a one-year pilot program, the free West Goshen Loop will be evaluated, and feedback will be sought from riders at the end of the fall 2025 semester.

A new Late Night Loop operates Thursdays through Sundays from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Check the schedules, routes, and adjustments for holidays and access the live shuttle tracker by clicking the buttons below.  

A collaboration between WCU and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) gives WCU students and employees the opportunity to purchase discounted monthly commuter passes.

As of August 25, 2025, all SEPTA routes to the West Chester campus — including the Paoli-Thorndale Regional Rail Line and the Route 104, 92, and 135 buses — continue in operation, although during off-peak hours there will be approximately 20% fewer vehicles on the 104 bus route and on the Paoli-Thorndale line.

If you rely on public transit, we encourage you to review your usual travel plans and watch for updates from SEPTA and the University. SEPTA’s Trip Planner is useful for understanding your options. In addition, WCU’s Transportation and Commuter Options website provides information on other public transit services, carpool, WCU shuttle, bicycling, and other commuter choices.  

WCU’s Bicycle Lending Library offers members of the WCU community the opportunity to borrow a bike for a two-week period or for the entire semester. Cyclists who own bikes can check out tune-up tool kits from the library help desk or attend any of the weekly bike maintenance workshops.

Professional Headshots Available via Iris Photo Booth at Twardowski Career Development Center

Students, Faculty, and Staff now have access to the Iris Booth, a free professional photo booth located in the

Career Development Center (Lawrence 225).

Students, Faculty, and Staff can stop by anytime Monday through Friday between 8:30am and 4pm to get a photo taken, no appointment needed.

FAST Schedule & Offerings

Check out what IS&T has on tap for the semester! The Faculty and Staff Training (FAST) unit supports WCU faculty and staff in becoming proficient in various applications, in addition to providing best practices in trending platforms (e.g., OneDrive, D2L, RamCloud). Courses are designed to accommodate all levels of learning and allow users to build on acquired skills. Click below for the full schedule or take self-paced options.

FAST Schedule

Want to learn more about Navigate?

Visit our webpage. You’ll find an overview, information about Progress Reports, and our training site.

You can also check out the FAST training site and search “navigate” to final all of the Navigate-specific offerings. Here's a quick guide to the offerings.

Navigate Home page

FREE LinkedIn Learning Content Available to WCU Faculty, Staff and Students

LinkedIn Learning with Lynda.com content is an industry leader in online training, with a digital library of over 180,000 videos, covering a wide range of technical, business, software, and creative topics. West Chester University faculty, staff and currently enrolled students have unlimited access.

Access LinkedIn Learning