New 2011-2012 University Theme

For the 2011-2012 school year, the University community can look forward to the implementation of a new University theme, “Seize the Opportunity: Create, Innovate, Engage.”

The committee decided to adopt as its recurring theme the identity signature, “Seize the Opportunity,” and combine it with the words “Create, Innovate, Engage.” Millersville University-Lancaster, at 42 N. Prince St., has the words “Creativity, Innovation, Engagement” on the outside wall of the building. The purpose of the new theme is to create more coherence between the various marketing initiatives on campus and to solidify the relationship of the theme to other events and programs on campus.

The committee will be looking for faculty, staff and students to develop events and activities that highlight how creativity and innovation can stimulate learning as well as lead to strong, vibrant programs and opportunities within the community.

A new program that the committee has implemented is called “Scholars-in-the-Classroom,” which allows faculty to apply for grants to bring a scholar or expert citizen practitioner into a specific class or group of classes to interact directly with students. The first round of grants were submitted in December 2010 and the second round in January 2011.

Dr. Dominique Dagit, assistant biology professor, recently received a grant from the committee to bring artist Ray Troll to campus on March 15, to spend the day with Dagit and lecture to her “Evolution” class.

“We are excited to have the chance, through the auspices of the theme, to offer students a way to learn from an expert in their field,” said Dr. Beverly Schneller, acting chair of the University Theme Committee. “Also, almost all the scholar-practitioners are local, so this has increased the visibility of Millersville students in the community.

The theme was established nearly two decades ago to act as a showcase for enriching curricular and co-curricular learning on campus. “We decided last semester to integrate the University’s theme into larger programming efforts on campus in an effort to streamline the promotion of the events and activities,” said Schneller.