WCU News

The Wells School of Music at West Chester University (WCU) celebrates a milestone by proudly presenting the 35th Annual Pre-Collegiate National Piano Competition, taking place on Saturday, May 17, with a Winners' Recital and Awards Ceremony scheduled for Sunday, May 18 at 3:00 p.m. in the Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre at the Swope Music Building and Performing Arts Center, 817 S. High Street, West Chester. Both the Winners' Recital and a preceding Master Class at 11:30 a.m. in the Ware Recital Hall are free and open to the public.

Pennsylvania's First Lady Lori Shapiro, Senator Carolyn Comitta '74, and Acting Secretary for the PA Department of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe recently visited West Chester University (WCU) to have an in-depth discussion with students about the many ways that WCU prioritizes students' basic needs in and out of the classroom. Serving-up success to its undergraduate and graduate students, the University's Resource Pantry, which first opened in 2016 and later added multifaceted services by aligning with the Center for Civic Engagement & Social Impact, offers one-stop shopping for non-perishable food, fresh produce, toiletries, and school supplies.

The University has organized 16 separate commencement ceremonies to accommodate 3,176* spring graduates and their guests. The campus ceremonies take place between Friday, May 9, and Sunday, May 11, in Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall in Philips Memorial Building and Hollinger Field House.

West Chester University's (WCU) Wells School of Music (WSOM) and the West Chester University Opera Theatre Presents HANSEL & GRETEL by Englebert Humperdinck on Saturday, May 3, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, May 4, at 3 p.m., in the Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall, Philips Memorial Building, 700 S. High Street, West Chester. Tickets are only $10 for adults, and $5 for non-WCU students and seniors and are available at https://wcupatix.com. Students, faculty, staff, and children under 11 enjoy free tickets (with proper i.d.)

Pack some snacks and bring your lawn chairs! West Chester University's Wells School of Music presents the eighth annual Concert on the Quad on Thursday, May 1, from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. Four ensembles will perform FREE for all students, staff, faculty, and the general public. The concert is FREE and will be played on the quad, just outside of Main Hall, 720 S. High Street, West Chester, PA.

West Chester University (WCU) alumnus Jake Henry won first place and a $35,000 prize at the Philip E. and Carole R. Ratcliffe Foundation Shore Hatchery Program competition, hosted by Salisbury University's Perdue School of Business, in Salisbury, Maryland.

In its first-ever run, West Chester University's new experiential course, MKT440-01 Life Science Innovation, has won two top awards at the prestigious Wistar Institute's Life Science Innovation Shark Tank competition.

The recent death of Pope Francis has brought renewed attention to the people and ideas that defined his papacy - like the concept of the "everyday saint," a term Pope Francis championed throughout his ministry. This idea of holiness rooted in ordinary life resonates powerfully in the stories of both Pope Francis and Italian teenager Carlo Acutis, a soon-to-be canonized saint who died in 2006, said Dr. Michael A. Di Giovine, professor of anthropology at West Chester University.

Every year, West Chester University alumni return to campus to enjoy socializing, soaking in Golden Rams school spirit, and learning what's new at WCU during Alumni Weekend, taking place this year Thursday, April 24, through Sunday, April 27.

West Chester University's (WCU) Department of Theatre & Dance and the University Dance Company (UDC) present the spring dance concert TIMELESS on Thursday, April 24 and Friday, April 25, at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, April 26, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., in the Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre, Swope Music Building and Performing Arts Center, 817 S. High Street, West Chester. General admission tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for all students, faculty, staff, and Seniors, and are available at the door or www.wcupatix.com.

Between 25 and 30 student organizations and community groups will be on the Academic Quad on Wednesday, April 23, for the University's annual Exercise is Medicine Day event. Free exercise classes, health checks, giveaways, snacks, and activities will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

A team of three biomedical engineering undergraduates from West Chester University (WCU) has taken first place in the undergraduate track of the 13th Annual WCU Business Idea Competition - and their journey doesn't stop there. The trio will present their pitch this Wednesday, April 23, at the Life Science Innovation (LSI) Shark Tank Event hosted by the Wistar Institute, where they'll pitch to a panel of biotechnology investors and leading scientific experts.

More than 40 children in grades 3 - 8 from the Global Leadership Academy in Philadelphia will visit West Chester University (WCU) to learn how to dream big and embrace their inner power through Zumba, rock climbing, team games, mindfulness & meditation, and more.

On Saturday April 26th, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated's Theta Lambda undergraduate chapter and Epsilon Omega Zeta graduate chapter will host their first-ever "Step Up for Autism" awareness walk at West Chester University.

Banana Day at West Chester University brought out the bunches -- and the news crews. Covered by multiple TV stations, this beloved spring tradition continues to be one of the most a-peeling day of the year.

A commitment to sustainability is ingrained into the fabric of West Chester University. It's particularly evident annually during Earth Week, celebrated on campus this year Monday, April 21, through Saturday, April 26, when the Office of Sustainability (OoS) coordinates multiple events.

On the first weekend in April, Dr. Ken Clark '09, assistant professor of kinesiology in WCU's College of Health Sciences, was watching as a new era in track began with the first competitions in the brand-new Grand Slam of Track (GST), brainchild of Olympic icon Michael Johnson. Gabby Thomas, a three-time Olympic gold medalist at the Paris Olympics last year, is one of the GST contracted athletes and one of the elite sprinters whose biomechanics Dr. Clark regularly analyzes in person and via video.

On Thursday, April 24, professor and Korean author Dr. Grace Ji-Sun Kim will lecture on "Earthbound: Theology at the Intersections of Climate and Justice" for West Chester University's Sixth Spirituality and Sustainability Colloquium. All are welcome to attend this free event at 6 p.m. in Mitchell Hall, Room 102 (675 South Church Street). The event will close with a Q&A session.

West Chester University's Community Mental Health Services (CMHS) clinic raised its hand high recently when the Philadelphia court system asked several mental health agencies in the area to consider providing free post-trial support to jurors coping with anxiety or trauma following the completion of their civic duty.

'Tis the season for celebrating bunches & bunches of bananas on Banana Day at West Chester University  -- an annual rite of spring that acts as a pre-final stress buster for all Golden Rams. With 2,000 bananas on-hand, Wednesday, April 16, 11 am - 3 p.m., will be the most "a-peeling" day of the year for the entire West Chester University community.

With its goal to expand the STEM workforce for PA's youth, West Chester University's Center for STEM Inclusion will introduce 45 Oxford Area High School 9th through 11th graders to the hands-on world of chemistry and nanoscience on April 24, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the University's Science Complex South, located at 750 South Church Street in West Chester, and its Sciences and Engineering Center & The Commons (SECC), located at 155 University Avenue in West Chester.

The University's Center for Women and Gender Equity (CWGE) is hosting multiple events throughout April in to raise awareness during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Events include the Clothesline Project, Take Back the Night, and more.

Dr. Ellie Brown, WCU psychology professor, co-director of the REACH Lab, and director of the Early Childhood Cognition and Emotions Lab, hosted a conference at Settlement Music School where experts, educators, and researchers discussed how arts education can impact young children and their families. With her students, Dr. Brown studies how arts enrichment enhances emotional wellbeing for preschoolers.

West Chester University (WCU) will celebrate the 45th anniversary of Earth Day with its 3rd Annual Zero Waste Summit. Hoping to inspire more to reduce waste, "It's Not a Disposable Earth" invites the public to participate in a number of "Green Light Specials" --- free informational tables featuring staggered "how-to" demonstrations about living a low- or zero-waste lifestyle, hands-on presentations, eclectic activities, and lots of prizes. Hosted by the WCU Office of Sustainability (OoS), the event will take place on Tuesday, April 22, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the ballroom of Sykes Student Union, located at 110 West Rosedale Avenue, West Chester, PA. The event is free and open to the public, and no registration is required. For more information on this and other sustainability initiatives, visit wcupa.edu/sustainability or email sustainability@wcupa.edu.

Local leaders and residents recently visited campus to learn about the University's geoexchange system and commitment to renewable energy during a "Voices for Clean Energy" tour organized by PennEnvironment.

April 8, 2025 - Dr. Laurie Bernotsky Is the Second Woman President in the History of WCU

West Chester University proudly welcomed renowned journalist and Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts on Friday, April 4, for a powerful and inspiring evening as part of the President's Speaker Series.

Tamagawa University returns to West Chester University for a performance of thundering Taiko drumming and folkloric Japanese dance on Tuesday, April 8, at 7:30 p.m. The event takes place in the Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall, Philips Memorial Building, 700 S. High Street, West Chester. Tickets range in price from $15 - $25, and are now on sale to the public at https://www.wcupatix.com/wculive or 610.436.2266.

Members of the Sykes Union and Student Activities (SUSA) team recently won international recognition from the Association of College Unions International (ACUI) at that professional association's annual conference.

The West Chester University (WCU) Center for STEM Inclusion (CSI) is collaborating with Deloitte's Smart Factory Believers program and Heights Philadelphia to empower Pennsylvania's K-12 students to boldly pursue fields in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

West Chester University's annual Research and Creative Activity Day showcases excellence in academic inquiry from all of the University's six colleges and two schools in a celebration of knowledge and discovery. Nearly 100 faculty and students are participating in this year's program on Friday, April 4, held in Sykes Student Union ballrooms.

"Come As You Are: Autonomy, Joy, & Resistance" is the theme of the fifth Annual Gender Justice Conference hosted by the West Chester University Center for Women and Gender Equity on Wednesday, April 2. Keynote speakers are authors S. Bear Bergman and Ling Ling Huang.

West Chester University's Department of Theatre & Dance proudly presents a high-energy, rock concert interpretation of RENT, the iconic rock opera by Jonathan Larson, from April 3-6, 2025. Directed and choreographed by Associate Professor Liz Staruch, this reimagining blends live music, multimedia elements, and a contemporary perspective, channeling the musical's raw energy. Performances will run Thursday through Saturday, April 3-5, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, April 6, at 2:00 p.m., in the MainStage Theatre at the E.O. Bull Center for the Arts, 2 E. Rosedale Avenue, West Chester. While tickets for RENT are now SOLD OUT, members of the public continue to be invited to submit the names of HIV/AIDS patients, members of the LGBTQ+ community who have experienced discrimination, as well as others for a special tribute that will be made during the production.

News stations highlighted the historic inauguration of Dr. Laurie Bernotsky as the 16th president of West Chester University.

West Chester University is proud to announce the launch of its new Sports Media Production Certificate, designed to provide undergraduate students with hands-on experience and essential skills for careers in sports media and sports broadcasting. This 12-credit certificate program will officially begin in Fall 2025 and is open to students of all majors who wish to enhance their expertise in sports media production.

This year, 57 West Chester University students have been recognized with the 1871 Awards. Established in 2018, the 1871 Award represents the year in which West Chester University was founded. The awards were presented at a ceremony on March 20.

6ABC features American Idol contestant and WCU Alumna, Penny Samar and her performance that granted her the golden ticket. Penny will be heading to Hollywood to continue auditions.

A RAMpage showcase at the annual WCU Step Show. The evening was filled with extravagant performances.

RegisteredNursing.org has recognized West Chester University's online RN to BSN program as the #1 program in Pennsylvania for 2025.

Volcanoes are responsible for building more than 80 percent of the Earth's surface, and a subject of fascination and research for Dr. Terry Plank, who has studied them in Alaska, Italy, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Iceland, and at sea. She will deliver West Chester University's Second Annual Mather Scholar Lecture on Wednesday, March 26, at 6 p.m. in the Sciences & Engineering Center and The Commons (SECC) Room 108. The program is free and open to the public.

On Tuesday, March 25, West Chester University will honor the achievements and history of William Chester Ruth (1882-1971), an African American inventor, entrepreneur, and minister from Chester County who built and sold his patented farm equipment and other machinery throughout the United States.

Weeklong Events Celebrating WCU Include Campus-wide "Sweet 16 Spirit Day" on March 25 & Professional Clothing Drive Competition on March 26 to Benefit Students Using Free Career Closet

Fifteen students from West Chester University recently returned from an intensive nine-day study abroad program in Europe, where they explored transatlantic relations, engaged with European peers, and gained firsthand experience in international institutions.

The Department of Political Science at West Chester University (WCU) is pleased to announce that State Representative Chris Pielli is currently serving as the University's Legislative Fellow, a term which will run for two years beginning with the 2025 spring semester.

West Chester University President Dr. Laurie Bernotsky's one prerequisite for an inauguration is that it celebrates not one, but all -- all students, all faculty, all staff, all alumni, all supporters, all community partners and neighbors.

Registration is now open for summer music camps at West Chester University for students in grades 3 - 12. Information and links to registration can be found at https://www.wcupa.edu/music/specialPrograms.aspx. All programs are held in on-campus, state-of-the-art facilities and instructed by expert faculty from the Wells School of Music and outside professionals. Select camps offer on-campus residential opportunities for high school-aged campers.

If you're looking for vibrant live jazz in a picturesque suburban setting, the Wells School of Music at West Chester University (WCU) invites you to take a seat. Now in its 35th year, the WCU Jazz Festival delivers world-class entertainment from March 19 - 22, 2025, with most performances being FREE and open to the public. All events are held at the Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre, Swope Music Building and Performing Arts Center, 817 S. High Street, West Chester. Full program details and ticket information for select events are available at www.wcupa.edu/jazzfest and www.wcupatix.com/schoolofmusic.

West Chester University's Department of Theatre and Dance presents Student Written One Acts (SWOAs) from March 21-23, 2025, in the J.P. Adler Studio Theatre, E.O. Bull Center for the Arts, 2 E. Rosedale Ave., West Chester. The production runs Thursday, March 21, at 7 p.m.; Friday, March 22, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and Saturday, March 23, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 and available at wcupatix.com/theatreanddance.

The Pennsylvania Theatre Institute summer camp at West Chester University (WCU) returns for the 8th summer with multiple sessions for students aged 8-14, and a separate session for high school-aged students. Camps will take place in WCU's state-of-the-art facilities in the E.O. Bull Center for the Arts, 2 E. Rosedale Avenue, West Chester.

With the rush of many feet hitting the ground running, the spring job-hunting and internship-mining season has officially begun for college students.

West Chester University Assistant Professor of Philosophy Dr. Adebayo Oluwaymi is set to release his much-anticipated book, Foundations of Black Epistemology: Knowledge Discourse in Africana Philosophy, this July.

West Chester University will welcome famed journalist and co-host of ABC's Good Morning America ROBIN ROBERTS on Friday, April 4, at 7 p.m. Roberts will speak as part of the University's President's Speaker Series in the Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall, Philips Memorial Building, 700 S. High Street, West Chester. Tickets are $20 - $55 and are on sale now at www.wcupatix.com or 610.436.2266.

In front of a crowd of more than 1,600 during Wednesday's West Chester Univ. vs. East Stroudsburg Univ. men's basketball game, the West Chester University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) resumed its unique Golden Rams Division II tradition --- granting a wish to a deserving child in partnership with the Make A Wish Foundation.

On Thursday, February 27, journalist and historian Michael Wolraich, author of The Bishop and the Butterfly: Murder, Politics, and the End of the Jazz Age, will make a guest appearance at West Chester University. All are welcome to attend this free lecture, book signing, and reception at 3:30 p.m. in Philips Autograph Library (700 South High Street). Paperbacks of The Bishop and the Butterfly will be available for sale.

On Friday, February 28, WCU's Office of Sustainability (OoS) welcomes WCU staff to the Brandywine Project, an interactive opportunity to expand understanding of environmental, social, and economic sustainability on the WCU campus. Registration is open to WCU staff at this link; returning participants are welcome.

WCU students recently volunteered alongside Stroud Water Research Center scientists to collect and test water samples from area streams to determine the concentration of road salt making its way to local freshwater ecosystems.

West Chester University (WCU) is making a major statement in higher education marketing through an impressive advertising campaign with The Chronicle of Higher Education. On Wednesday, February 19, WCU will dominate the Chronicle’s homepage, ensuring maximum visibility as it takes its place as a thought leader on a national stage.

Registration for West Chester University's Visual Arts Summer Camp will open on February 21, 2025. From WCU's Dept. Of Art + Design comes a two-week art adventure for students ages 7 - 15. Camp dates and hours are July 7 - 18, 2025, Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the state-of-the-art E.O. Bull Center, 2 E. Rosedale Avenue, West Chester, PA. Spots are limited so patrons are encouraged to register as soon as possible. Priority enrollment will be granted to prior year attendees and WCU employees.

This year's West Chester University Martin Luther King, Jr., celebration, organized and hosted by the Society of WCU (formerly WCU's Frederick Douglass Society), saw the presentation of several awards.

West Chester University's WCU Live! series will present Yesterday and Today: The Interactive Beatles Experience on Friday, February 28, at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $20 - $30 and are now on sale to the public at www.wcupatix.com/wculive or 610.436.2266. The event takes place in the Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall, Philips Memorial Building, 700 S. High Street, West Chester.

West Chester University student Gabby Kopczynskie was crowned Miss West Chester University (WCU) during the 26th live competition held on Saturday, February 1, in Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall on the University's campus. Kopczynskie is an early childhood education major with a special education minor from Freeland, PA.

For 10 consecutive years, West Chester University's Master of Business Administration (MBA) program has been ranked in U.S. News' top 100 Best Online MBA programs in the nation.

Every Wednesday at 12 p.m., WCU's Office of Sustainability (OoS) offers a look at how WCU scholars, students, and staff explore and apply principles of environmental, social, and economic sustainability in their research and practice.

FOX's Good Day Philadelphia featured members of West Chester University's Golden Rams football team during an Eagles pep rally, celebrating the city's excitement for the NFC Championship game. The event brought energy and spirit, with special guest Gillie Da Kid joining in the festivities alongside the Rams.

Comedian/Entertainer Joe Conklin and the City Rhythm Orchestra make a triumphant return to West Chester University (WCU) for one performance only on Friday, February 21, 2025, at 8 p.m., in the Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall, Philips Memorial Building, 700 S. High Street, West Chester. Tickets range from $70-$110, and can be purchased at http://wcupatix.com/organization-events. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.

The Wells School of Music at West Chester University opens the spring semester with an esteemed faculty recital lineup to educate and entertain students and members of the surrounding community alike. All listed performances are FREE and open to the public or can be live-streamed here. For more information and a full schedule of spring semester arts events at the Wells School of Music click here. Programs for faculty recitals can be found closer to the date of the concert here.

During December's commencement ceremonies, three WCU College of Arts and Humanities faculty were recognized for their excellence in the classroom and beyond.

Composer-arranger-saxophonist Jonathan Ragonese, professor and director of jazz studies in the University's Wells School of Music, was honored with the E. Riley Holman Memorial Faculty Award at December's commencement ceremonies.

West Chester University will host special events across several days honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., whose federal holiday is January 20 this year. So that the entire campus community can participate, this year's events will take place January 22 through January 29.

WCU's Wells School of Music student Alyssa Gabrilovich '28 - a first-year student studying Piano Performance - was one of only 23 students invited to recently compete in the prestigious 11th National Chopin Piano Competition from January 4 - 12, 2025, in Miami, Florida. The competition was held at the University of Miami's Frost School of Music.

From January 21 - March 30, 2025, West Chester University will exhibit Cheryl Harper's Passages: An Installation in Progress (Passages) in the John H. Baker Gallery, E.O. Bull Center for the Arts, 2 E. Rosewood Ave., West Chester. The exhibit is FREE and open to the public. Gallery hours are Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays by appointment only. Information at artinfo@wcupa.edu or call WCU's Dept. of Art + Design at 610.436.2872.