Towson University President

When they enter the Super Bowl on February 7, for the first time in history, the New Orleans Saints will be led by a pair of former Towson Tigers.  Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers Joe Vitt and left tackle Jermon Bushrod have helped propel the Saints to the top.

Vitt played four years at linebacker for Towson, where he was part of a squad that went undefeated in 1974.  Today, in his fourth season with the Saints, Vitt has been coaching a defensive unit that ranks near the top of the NFL in turnovers generated.

A four-year starter at Towson, Bushrod’07 was drafted by the Saints in 2007.  In his first season as a starting left tackle, Bushrod has helped the Saints in their most memorable season.  As part of the Saints offensive line, Bushrod has contributed to the most prolific offense in the NFL.

Towson salutes our two Tigers as they enter the Super Bowl on February 7!

While we always instill the importance of helping others year-round, the holidays are a special time when we strive to do more.

Once again this year Towson University held the “Stuff-A-Bus” campaign to benefit the MD Food Bank and Marine Corps Toys for Tots. Last year students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members collected 850 pounds of food and 2,000 toys for these great causes. This year’s goal was 25,000 items for distribution in the local community and judging from these pictures, I think we did pretty well.

And just for fun, the Towson University Student Ambassadors filmed a fun little holiday message with the help of many divisions across campus, including some of the staff from my office.  Check out the video to see how the holiday spirit is catching on all over campus. 

Towson University has yet another reason to celebrate. The Towson University TIGER Marching Band is the only university marching band in the nation to claim one of 11 coveted spots to perform in the nationally televised 83rd Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Be sure to tune in on Thursday, November 26, 2009 at 9 a.m. (specifically around 11:43 a.m.) to see our talented, spirited students perform live in New York City before 50 million viewers on NBC and more than 3 million parade spectators.

Our Tiger Marching Band keeps us energized and motivated during countless games and events throughout the year , and now it is our turn to cheer them on as they represent the university on this prestigious stage.

Don’t miss the TU Marching Band Send-Off Celebration on Monday, November 23 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Johnny Unitas Stadium. Please join students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends  as we celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our marching band.

There will be free popcorn, drinks, and giveaways including a Wii, iPod touch, portable DVD player, and a 32″ flat screen. Plus the first 100 people will receive a gift card to local retailers.

Admission and parking is free in stadium Lots 20 and 21.

To make a gift or support the band call 410-704-3375 or go to www.tigertracks.com/band.

Looking forward to seeing you there! Go Tigers!

Did you know it’s International Education Week?

A joint initiative between the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education, International Education Week, which runs this year from November 16-20, aims to promote s and celebrate multiculturalism and international education.

Towson University’s Study Abroad Office sponsors several International Education Week activities, including foreign film screenings,  a cultural quiz, chalking flags outside of Cook Library, and international bingo.  Check out this year’s schedule at www.towson.edu/studyabroad/iew2009.asp for more information.

Did you know that you can study abroad at any time during your academic career at TU?

Here are some quick facts about Towson University Study Abroad.

• 2008-2009 academic year, the TU Study Abroad Office awarded $112,000 in scholarships to 150 undergraduate and graduate students.
• In 2008-2009 the top study abroad destinations by Towson students were the United Kingdom, Spain, and Australia.
• More than 500 TU students study abroad each academic year.
• TU has more than 50 study abroad programs in more than 25 countries.
• TU students can choose programs than range in length from one week to one year abroad.
• All financial aid and scholarships can be used for study abroad and special scholarships are available for study abroad students.

Take some time this week to stop by the study abroad office in the Administration building to get more information about enhancing and expanding your student experience to an international destination!

Join us for Homecoming Week at Towson University!  Capping the week’s activities are the Alumni Homecoming Festival and the Towson Tigers vs. Delaware Blue Hens football game.  Kick-off is at 3:30pm at Johnny Unitas Stadium.  

Come join your fellow alums, celebrate Homecoming and reconnect with Towson University.  Reunion Row has become a popular part of the homecoming experience.  With nearly 2,500 attending from over 50 alumni groups – made up of Greek alumni, many historically Black fraternity and sororities, independent groups of friends and former classmates, and even some academic alumni groups – Reunion Row offers something for alumni of every background!

Pairing Reunion Row with the Alumni Homecoming Festival gives an opportunity for all alumni to feel welcome and bring their families.  This year the festival will have a variety of games and entertainment for all ages, including the TU Dance Team and TU Marching Band!  The Alumni Association will be offering walking tours of campus at their Welcome Tent and plenty of free food and giveaways will be available at the GEICO Hospitality Tent!

At game time, hop on the free shuttles provided by the Alumni Association and enjoy a quick ride to the stadium or relax on Burdick Field and enjoy radio feed of the game as the Towson Tigers take on rival University of Delaware.

I’ll see you at the Alumni Festival and the football game!

 
Towson University Provost, Dr. Marcia G. Welsh

Many of you may have already met our new provost, Dr. Marcia G. Welsh, or seen her out and about campus.  I wanted to take a moment to introduce you to your new chief academic officer with a quick and informal Q & A session so you can get to know her a little better.

Bob’s Blog:  What excited you most about coming to Towson University?

Provost Welsh:  I wanted to get back to a larger university and Towson is not only large, but the institution’s mission and vision really appeal to me.  I like Towson’s classification as a metropolitan university that combines researched-based learning with practical application.  I also like the emphasis that Towson has to serve those students who are disadvantaged because of socioeconomic issues, and I am passionate about the need for higher education to get back into the communities we serve.  Universities were started in this country with the goal of educating the citizens in preparation for living and participating in a democracy, and I believe Towson’s mission serves to advance that goal. 

BB: What are you looking forward to accomplishing in your first semester on campus?

PW: I want to learn all I can about the institution, and hopefully finish some initiatives that were started by my predecessors.  The economy has proven challenging and I want to be sure the academic priorities and the mission of the institution are held as harmless as possible, so I will be working with the Deans to evaluate what we do and what we can do without.  As 2010 comes to a close, it will be important to help lead the academic voice as we begin the next strategic planning process and determine what Towson should look like with 25,000 students. 

BB: What do you do for fun in your free time?

PW:  What free time?  I find that most of what I do is in some way related to work, including many of my social events.  I also love spending time with my family, although they now live quite a distance from me and we see each other primarily through Skype!  My husband and I enjoy going to movies and plays, finding good restaurants, and I do love to shop and typically drag him along!  Our vacations are always around water, as we both enjoy snorkeling and scuba diving.  And I’m addicted to Sudoku.

BB: Will you most likely be seen at a sports event, arts event, or film or lecture series?

PW:  Great question.  Fortunately, the timing of these events typically don’t overlap, so you will absolutely see me attending most types of events on campus, although I won’t make it to everything.  I love to see students perform, either on the court or field, marching down the street (I’ll be at the Macy’s Parade), on stage or in a black box theatre, so you might say my priority will be at student events.  I also enjoy indies, and have the list of films being shown this fall, so will try to get to some of those.  We are quite privileged to have such quality visual arts programming at Towson, so I’ll see you there, too!

Check out my new widget on how Towson University uses all kinds of technology on our campus!

http://www.towson.edu/president/widget.asp

 My latest podcast is up and ready for listening. This time I sat down with Kim Fabian, president of the Towson University Alumni Association and member of the class of 1988.

Be sure to tune in to find out:

-how you can get involved or continue your involvment at Towson University post-graduation through our alumni network

-how alumni giving plays a part in our national rankings

-little-known facts about Towson University that all alumni should know to help us “tell the Towson story”

-ways to show your Towson University pride!

After you listen, leave a comment here to tell me what you think and what you would like to hear on future podcasts.

Join me this week when I host my first virtual study break in Second Life!

Each semester I  sit down with students to talk about your campus experience at Towson University.  In an effort to find new and interesting ways to reach out to students, I decided to host a study break in Second Life this semester in addition to the traditional study breaks.

My hope is that we not only engage students already using Second Life, but also bring in new interest to those who have not yet discovered SL or my study breaks.

The best thing is, you don’t have to be a Second Life pro to join the discussion. There are several different ways to participate.  Check out the TU Daily Digest announcement this week for more details.

So plan to join me for this exciting endeavor on the new Towson University Innovation Lab Island in Second Life.

Please let us know where you are logging on by submitting your RSVP here.

Well the buzz about all of the great things happening and coming to Towson University is rising.

With all of the talk about the proposed construction in the athletic precinct of campus, much attention has been diverted from one of the largest campus construction projects in the history of our campus, the new College of Liberal Arts building (College of Liberal Arts Rendering PDF).

As the first new academic building on campus in 30 years and the University’s largest, nearly every student on campus (except for this spring’s graduating seniors) will have the chance to take at least one class in the College of Liberal Arts building, beginning this fall.

Even better, the building opening this fall is only the first phase and first third of the final product. 

With the new building Towson will retain what gives our university its small campus feel, small class sizes.  With more than 250,000 square feet, the LEED silver certified building includes office space for faculty and small classrooms that accommodate lTowson’s competitive 18:1 student teach ratio.

  Last week Towson University celebrated the accomplishment of one of our alumni, musician Douglas Purviance, who won a Grammy Award with his group Vanguard Jazz Orchestra for best jazz ensemble album.

According to Dan Roddrick’s Baltimore Sun column , Mr. Purviance plays bass trombone and also serves as the group’s business manager.

After graduating Dundalk High School in 1970, Douglas came to then Towson State University as a music major.  Today, Doug is an accomplished musician in New York City and has played for several Broadway shows.

Congratulations Doug, we’re proud to call you a Tiger. We’ll be calling you soon to come home and share your talents with Towson’s many other aspiring musicians.

To find out more about Doug visit the following websites  http://www.douglaspurviance.com/  and  http://www.vanguardjazzorchestra.com/index.htm .

 Google searches turn up the most interesting things. Did you know that December is National Stress Free Family Holiday Month? 

For most of you, when all of your final exams are finished, you will travel back home to your families.  For some, it will be the first time you return home after living somewhat ‘on your own’ in college. Trust me, home may feel a little different.

Many of you will have to conform to your parents’ rules and curfew once again. You may have to get used to your old room or even pick up some household or sibling responsibilities you left behind when you came to school.  This is all part of the college experience and the transition between college living and home can be a tricky one.

For those of you going home, I have some advice.  Having been where you are, both excited to catch up with friends from home, but also a dad whose kids returned from college (but were often nowhere to be found during the holiday break), I’d like to remind you to take some time to spend some quality time with your family. Don’t forget about your siblings, either. They look up to you and your parents will appreciate you for spending time with them.

Here’s more to think about. Choose to enjoy yourself. Choose to not sweat the small stuff.  Don’t worry about not being able to get your family the perfect gifts. From personal experience, I can tell you that parents are simply happy to hear that you are doing your best.

So during this holiday season and winter break try to indulge in stress-free holiday break, by helping out when you can, spending quality time with family and/ friends, and, my favorite, always making curfew.

Happy New Year and return to campus rejuvenated for an exciting spring semester!

As the holidays approach (including the biggest shopping weekend of the year) financial responsibility is just as important as making a solid academic finish this semester.  

Towson University wants to help students practice financial responsibility and wants your help in naming a unique, comprehensive financial literacy program launching this year! Exclusively through my blog, students will be able to name this university-wide program.  The student with the winning entry will receive a $25.00 University Bookstore Gift Certificate! The winner will be announced in a future blog post (early December).

Towson University’s financial literacy program will be geared toward helping you become financially literate and will provide support services on campus by partnering with local area experts and service providers who want to offer their services for free to students. In developing this unique program, Towson University wants to help students practice financial responsibility in every aspect of your life from managing your personal finances, to paying your college bills, and preparing you for post graduate financial security and success.

In today’s economy, now is an important time to develop good financial behavior in saving, investing, and spending. Did you know, for example, that the second largest group filing for bankruptcy are those between the ages of 25 and 34?  This is a significant reality some of you may have to face, and we want to help prevent that.

In additional to a number of other services this “unnamed program,” can help you:

-Improve your credit score to obtain a top-level security clearance.

-Get debt counseling and debt management guidance.

-Learn how to avoid identity theft and fraud.

-Get help filing your taxes.

- Develop a spending plan.

- Understand the importance of savings.

What you would call a program that does all of that for students and more?

Get creative and give us all of your ideas! You may enter multiple times.  (For Example: Common Cents, Dollars and Sense, etc). While you’re typing tell us what other kinds of services you may find helpful.

 Did you know it’s International Education Week?

A joint initiative between the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education, International Education Week, which runs this year from November 17-21, aims to promote  and celebrate multiculturalism and international education.

Towson University’s Study Abroad  program sponsors several International Education Week activities, including foreign film screenings.  Check out http://www.towson.edu/studyabroad/internationaleducationweek.asp for more information.

Here are some quick facts about Towson University Study Abroad:

• 2008-2009, TU helped 549 students study abroad
• TU study abroad participation has increased 156 percent since 2000-2001.
• TU has more than 50 study abroad programs in more than 25 countries.
• TU students can choose programs than range in length from one week to one year abroad.
• Top study abroad destinations by Towson students are Italy and United Kingdom.
• TU students can choose to study abroad at any time during your academic career at TU.
• All financial aid and scholarships can be used for study abroad and special scholarships are available for study abroad students.

If you never thought about it before, take some time this week to stop by our study abroad office just off the second floor entrance of the Administration building and grab some information.  If you find something you like, it’s perfect timing to talk it over with the family during the Thanksgiving holiday! 

Have you studied abroad or ever considered it? I am interested in hearing your experiences or your questions.

Elections don’t get more exciting than the one before our nation this week. Whether you are Republican or Democrat, between presidential candidate Barack Obama and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, America has a choice between making history and making history.

For many freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and some seniors, this will be your first opportunity to cast your vote for the nation’s highest office. This may have been the first time you actually carefully weighed how each candidate’s platform personally affects your life and your future. Welcome to your role in society–being thoughtful involved citizens.

You followed the news articles on the candidates, read their books, saw their commercials, watched them debate, followed their blogs, attended their rallies, listened to the political pundits, and even became their friends on Facebook. When you put it all together, it sounds so exhausting that it could make you thankful presidential elections only happen every four years.

Democracy is a wonderful thing, but it only works if you participate. So, hopefully by now you have already cast your absentee ballot or at least located your local polling place.  There are tons of election day activities including free shuttle buses to local polling places.  TU is also bringing live election results through WTMD and National Public Radio, where some of Maryland’s deaf and hard-of-hearing community will be able to experience live radio coverage for the first time.

Take advantage of this exciting time in your life and become part of the political process. Gather your friends and watch the results at PAWS in the University Union from 7:30 p.m. to midnight.

 If this is your first presidential election, it is a memory and feeling you will never forget.

One of the advantages of attending a school like Towson University is the university’s rich 140-year history. Over the years, many stories (or legends) have developed about certain buildings, people, and places on campus.
One of those stories is about the Auburn House, located adjacent to Unitas Stadium and the Towson Center. Towson University first acquired the Auburn House back in 1971, and today the property is used primarily as office space for Athletics and for special events.

However, the white mansion we see today on Auburn Drive is not the original structure built by Charles Ridgely in 1790. In 1849, on a “dark and stormy night” the original mansion was struck by lightening and ultimately destroyed by a fire, killing a woman named Martha, who was allegedly a maid or nanny working late that evening in the mansion. There is also conjecture that a child could have also died in the fire.

The Auburn House was ultimately rebuilt in 1850, and it is said that to this day the ghost of Martha still has a presence there.  Accounts from both visitors and staff include lights flickering, strange noises, or even that Martha, herself, can sometimes be seen from the attic window. By the way, the rathskeller in the basement is named in her honor.

 According to TU Foundation President Dan McCarthy, a few years ago university police reported to the Auburn House for noise complaints and the K-9 dog accompanying the officer refused to enter the house.

As recent as last year, a ghost hunter even discovered “paranormal” activity in the Auburn House.  

Whether you believe in ghosts or not, you have to admit that it sure makes Halloween–or your next visit down Auburn Drive–a little more interesting.
Have a safe weekend.

 My latest podcast, the second of the academic year, is up and ready for listening. This month I sat down with SGA president Kristen Guy and we discussed how our roles as campus leaders intersect as well as her goals for the academic year.

Be sure to check it out. I think you’ll be interested to find out about the many ways in which we work together including the SGA-sponsored student study breaks, where I get a chance to hear from you one-on-one.

Like the blog, the podcasts have a new format this year.  Instead of being an audio version of my blog, this year’s podcasts will follow more of a radio format and from time to time I will invite special guests, like Kristin, that you may find interesting.

After you listen, leave a comment here to tell me what you think and what you would like to hear on future podcasts.

This year’s homecoming theme, “There’s No Place Like Home” perfectly captures the sentiment of what this special week is truly supposed to be about every year. Homecoming should evoke a sense of pride from not only Towson University alumni, but also the students that are still walking about campus every day, taking classes, going to performances, and attending our thrilling Tiger athletic events.

Some of our freshmen got a sneak preview of that at this year’s fall sports pep rally.

In addition to your academic pursuits, your college experience should be about cultivating lifelong relationships, and as I’ve said before, one of the most important connections is the one you feel with your school. If you haven’t taken the time to develop that bond called “school spirit” yet, homecoming is the perfect time and place to start.

Homecoming, the ultimate breeding ground for school spirit and pride, is often the place where you meet the few people in the world that can identify with you and understand what it is like to be part of the Towson University community.

After all school spirit and pride is really about feeling a sense of ownership about the positive reputation of your school, memories of your time here, the success of your athletic teams, the appearance of your campus, and (what most people remember) the behavior and accomplishments of your fellow classmates. All of those things add to the quality of your college experience, and ultimately, will make you proud to be a graduate of Towson University.

Unfortunately, some people get so caught up in the excitement of enjoying their new found freedom as young adults that their celebrations ruin the experience for others. We cannot let this happen. Remember to remind your friends this week, and even this year, that with freedom comes responsibility. For your own safety and for the safety of others we must all be responsible and keep in mind our “clean, safe, pretty, happy” campus mantra.

There’s truly no place like Towson University, so remember to take care of our campus home and each other. Have an enjoyable homecoming week! 

By now you may have heard that as of September 11, 2008, the University System Maryland (USM), initiated a hiring freeze on all 11 USM campuses-including Towson University.

The hiring freeze is all inclusive and affects any faculty or staff positions that were not filled by September 11, 2008. While the duration of the freeze is unclear at this time, each campus, through the president, has been given flexibility in saying yes or no to a particular hire or critical hires.

Freezes are one way to respond to a reduction in budget or the potential of shortfall in budget revenues. A freeze usually comes after budget cuts, but in this case the hiring freeze will help brace USM campuses for possible cuts suspected after State leaders recently announced an expected State budget revenue shortfall.

In my 5+ years as President of Towson University, there has never been a hiring freeze, although the system and university has had them in the past. As a designated growth institution, we will have to handle the hiring freeze differently than an institution that is not growing.  With our enrollment headcount cracking the 21,000 mark last week, there are many demands we must meet in order to continue to deliver quality academic programs, support students, and provide a safe campus community. We will meet those demands.

You hear me say all the time that we are an institution on the move. Towson University is thriving, and the excitement and momentum will continue.